Thursday, December 31, 2009
Our Audiobook of the Year from Audible.com A Touch of Dead best collection.
The Help really ran away with the win this year. Not only is it the highest-rated audiobook of 2009, but it is also the highest-rated audiobook of all time. And, in the less-than-scientific, but more-than-passionate opinion of the editors The Help was the book that truly stole our hearts in 2009. And not just ours - you, our listeners, also voted overwhelmingly to make it this year's Customer Favorite.
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:57 AM 1 comments
Labels: short stories, Sookie Stackhouse books
True Blood Music Video of the Day : Heartless by The Fray
Heartless by The Fray
thanks
bandchick59
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:48 AM 2 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
True Blood Paper Dolls by Andy Swist
Make sure that you have all the paper dolls -there are a few extras that must have gotten by me ..and check out how nicely it's all laid out now on Andy's site.
Thanks so much to the wonderful Andy for so much fun!
Get some light cardboard stock for your printer !
http://www.andyswist.com/TrueBlood-dolls.html
Don't miss Brian's
CampBlood’s Ten Best (and Three Worst) horror flicks of 2009
Posted by " Dallas " at 1:55 PM 3 comments
Labels: Camp Blood
True Blood: Best of list #37
I’m not big on 10 best lists. I’d rather salute 10 favorites for the past year. Here are the 10 scripted series that provided me with the most entertainment:
1. “Mad Men” continues to set the standard for TV drama with its sharp writing, nuanced acting and vivid period detail. And it taught a valuable lesson: Don’t take a riding lawn mower to the office. (January Jones and Jon Hamm are pictured.)
2. “The Good Wife” is a superb CBS drama with a winning leading lady (Julianna Margulies), a top-flight supporting cast and an engrossing style. This freshman entry just gets better each week.
3. “True Blood” is television’s best vampire series. Its stellar second season featured fierce contributions from Alexander Skarsgard as the sexy, underhanded vampire Eric; Michelle Forbes as the mischief-making, orgy-throwing Maryann; and Ryan Kwanten as the surprisingly heroic Jason. Of course, Anna Paquin remains the show’s vital center as lovable, mind-reading heroine Sookie Stackhouse.
10. “The Vampire Diaries” for being TV’s second best vampire series and for showing there is life in the struggling CW.
read all from Orlando Sentinel
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:43 AM 1 comments
Labels: Season 2
True Blood a little history
True Blood is an American television drama series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is loosely based on the The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris. The show is broadcast on the premium cable network HBO in the United States. It is produced by HBO in association with Ball’s production company, Your Face Goes Here Entertainment. It premiered on September 7, 2008.
The show’s second 12-episode season premiered on June 14, 2009. On July 30, 2009, HBO confirmed that True Blood will be renewed for a third season.Alan Ball has said that he plans to start shooting the third season before Christmas 2009.
True Blood details the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional small Louisiana town. The series centers on Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic waitress at a bar, who falls in love with vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer).
The first season received critical acclaim and won several awards, including one Golden Globe and an Emmy.
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:40 AM 0 comments
Labels: Season 1
Stats Junkie: True Blood, Burn Notice and Sons of Anarchy top scripted cable shows of 2009 with adults 18-49
Three shows I really enjoy topped the scripted cable world with adults 18-49 in 2009. The first airing of new episodes of the second season of HBO’s True Blood topped all scripted cable shows for 2009 with adults 18-49 with an average 3.522 million (includes week’s worth of DVR viewing, and the rest of the numbers listed are Live+7, too).
Season three of USA’s Burn Notice was second with adults 18-49 with 3.339 million, followed by the second season of my favorite show, FX’s Sons Of Anarchy.
True Blood was also the number one show with adults 18-34 with 2.013 million, followed by South Park’s 1.796 million and Sons of Anarchy with 1.655 million.
Among Men 18-49, Sons of Anarchy led with an average of 1.979 million followed by True Blood with 1.751 million and South Park with 1.742 million.
more from TVbytheNumbers
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:26 AM 2 comments
Labels: HBO
True Blood Music Video of the Day: Scar tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Scar tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Thanks,cheery22
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:16 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
'True Blood' scoop: Will Alcide win Sookie's heart?
Alcide is about to put a major kink in True Blood’s polarizing Eric/Sookie/Bill triangle. At least that’s the word from the werewolf’s portrayer, Joe Manganiello, who makes a strong case for an Alcide/Sookie pairing in Part 2 of our exclusive Q&A. (You can read Part 1 here.) The 33-year-old actor also weighs in on the length of his commitment to the show and why he isn’t afraid of those crazy Team Bill and Team Eric fans.
Will your Alcide be different from the Alcide in the books?
JOE MANGANIELLO: Alan Ball and I had a conversation about that at one of my auditions. I think it’s up in the air. I know that, at least initially, fans of the book will be pleased with my character.
What’s your take on Alcide?
MANGANIELLO: He’s really big. He’s giant. When Sookie first meets him, she opens the door and looks up, and then has to look up some more. So there’s this giant presence standing in the doorway with dark hair and dark features. He’s strong and protective. He comes from a construction background; his father is in the construction business. He’s heroic and romantic. I don’t think it’s a secret that he has a broken heart when he shows up. He had a really rough go of this relationship with Debbie Pelt, so there’s a lot of friction there. Debbie’s doing a lot of things to get back at Alcide.
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:28 AM 4 comments
Labels: season 3
It’s Not TV, It’s the HBO iPhone App
DIGITAL: Users can view clips, use program guide, share on social networking sites DIGITAL: HBO has launched an iPhone app aimed at existing and potential new customers, offering clips from its TV lineup and an interactive program guide.
No full-length episodes are available, but the app enables users to easily buy episodes of HBO shows from iTunes and Amazon with a “Buy Episode” button.
The app offers plenty of other video, however. Users can view clips of HBO shows True Blood, Entourage and others, watch behind-the-scenes featurettes and access cast photos. The app also boasts an interactive episode guide that lets users check on upcoming programs for their area. Fans can sign up for alerts for favorite programs and add those shows to their “favorites” to easily find info on them.
The app also connects to Facebook and Twitter so users can share info on HBO programs with friends on the social networking sites.
Rival Showtime launched its own iPhone app in October. Unlike HBO, Showtime is streaming some episodes of Dexter, Californication, Nurse Jackie and other shows for free with its app.
Both the HBO and Showtime apps are free and require users to confirm they are 17 or older to download them.
http://www.hbo.com/events/iphoneapp/index.html
http://mashable.com/2009/12/24/hbo-iphone/
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:17 AM 0 comments
Labels: HBO
Sookie makes Parenting Magazine Best Baby Names of 2010
Ella and Aiden moved on up. This year - movie names, vampire monikers, and trends for 2010. By Kate Goodin, Parenting.com
Top names of 2009---Girl names
1. Ella
2. Ava
3. Grace
4. Lolita
5. Emma
6. Elizabeth
7. Genevieve
8. Aurora
9. Isabella
10. Bella
11. Charlotte
12. Lily
13. Saria
14. Sookie
While Jacob and Emma reigned as the top baby names of 2009 on Social Security's list, Parenting.com readers set their own naming trends. From vampires and Harry Potter to Obamarama and celeb picks, here's what you named your kids in '09 -- and what you might be naming them in 2010.
Vampire Mania: Bella, Jacob, Sookie
Vampires have invaded pop culture: books, movies, TV shows - why not baby names? Bella (Latin, beautiful) is a top 10 girls' pick, while Parenting.com readers are decidedly Team Jacob, at least when it comes to the name; Edward (English, prosperous guardian) didn't even make the top 100 (though Team Edward fans can rest easy knowing Jacob means "substitute".)
http://www.parenting.com/article/Pregnancy/Baby-Names/Best-Baby-Names-of-2010
The name Sookie (American, unknown) has crept into the top list for girls, which could be attributed to the star of Charlaine Harris' vampire series True Blood. But Sookie may also be a throwback to Gilmore Girls; Lorelei (German, seductress), Rory (Irish, famous brilliance), Luke (Latin, form of Lucius), and Logan (Irish, meadow), also characters on the show, are all top-100 names.
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:11 AM 1 comments
Labels: Sookie Stackhouse
True Blood Music Video of the Day:Human by Civil Twilight
Human by Civil Twilight
Thanks , apparently365
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:04 AM 1 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Monday, December 28, 2009
True Blood HBO Schedule for January 2010 and Season 1 Marathon !
HBO will air all of season 1 this week, beginning tonight through December 31, at 7:00 pm c. Check here for complete listings. They are playing three episodes each night also here is the January schedule in pdf.
hbo_jan10_ce
Posted by " Dallas " at 3:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: HBO
UK True Blood Convention Friday 6th - Sunday 8th of August 2010
Bitten is a 3-day unofficial convention to celebrate the new HBO television series "True Blood" based on the best-selling novel series 'The Southern Vampire Mysteries' by Charlaine Harris. This event will be held from Friday 6th - Sunday 8th of August 2010. This unofficial convention aims to bring together fans of the series and books to enjoy various events over the weekend. There will be activities each day from the usual guest talks and photograph sessions to quizzes and late night parties - for more information on these, check out our events section. This event will take place in The Park Inn, Northampton for more information on this venue and room rates see our venue page. Registration will begin at 2pm and the Opening Ceremony will be at 7pm on the Friday evening!
http://www.massiveevents.co.uk/bitten/
Posted by " Dallas " at 3:17 PM 0 comments
Labels: events
True Blood' hunk on landing Alcide
Now that you’ve had time to adjust to the idea of Joe Manganiello in the role of Alcide on True Blood, it’s time to get to know the man behind the monster. In Part 1 of an exclusive two-part Q&A, the One Tree Hill hunk opens up about the phone call that changed his life, the childhood incident that foreshadowed his casting, and the punishing “werewolf workout” that will turn him into a half-human heartthrob.
How did you find out that you won the role?
JOE MANGANIELLO: I had three meetings with Alan Ball. [After the last one], I got a call from my agent and manager. And whenever you get a call from your agent and manager, you have a pretty good idea that something good is about to happen.
What was your reaction when they told you?
MANGANIELLO: I’m not afraid to admit that I started crying. I was just so excited. It’s a dream come true. When I was a little kid, the nun at my elementary school said if you pray for something hard enough, it’ll happen. And I would pray every day with all of my heart that God would turn me into a werewolf. And when it didn’t happen, I kind of thought, “You know what? Maybe this stuff doesn’t work. Maybe I’m getting gypped.” So here it is 25 years later and my prayers got answered and I’m going to be a werewolf.
Posted by " Dallas " at 3:15 PM 1 comments
Labels: Alcide Herveaux, season 3
True Blood Music Video of the Day: Corrupt by Depeche Mode ( new version)
Corrupt by Depeche Mode ( new version)
Thanks, Aislynn815
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:36 AM 3 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Sunday, December 27, 2009
New Year’s resolutions for Sookie Stackhouse and other Sookieverse characters
Please post your favorite New Year's Resolutions for True Blood S3 characters and Sookie bk 10 characters !
From NY Post
TV characters have their share of bad habits (why else would we watch?), so in the spirit of the New Year, Mama has these suggested resolutions for her favorite dramatic wrecks.
* Sookie Stackhouse (“True Blood”):
To listen, just once, when Bill or someone else tells her that she’s walking into danger. This girl is supposed to be psychic and she makes more bad decisions than an NBC programming executive.
New Year’s resolutions for Sookie Stackhouse and other TV characters
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/new_year_resolutions_for_sookie_75HwgvJH54DHy7STb9r5LL#ixzz0auKqyAqk
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:32 AM 4 comments
Labels: cast, New Year's 2010
2009: The year of the vampire
But will the same hold true in the coming year?
In 2009, fangs were the new black.
Although fangs and their blood-sucking owners have been around for centuries turning into bats, hiding from the sunlight and avoiding garlic, this past year their popularity seemed to explode into pop culture. From television to movies to books, consumers have sunk their teeth into the vampire frenzy in 2009, but will the same be true for 2010?
"Vampires look like us," said Jerry Pierce, an assistant professor of history at Indiana University Northwest, who said part of the attraction to vampires is their human sensuality. "We can identify even with that sex element. And they always wear leather. Werewolves in leather just doesn't work."
Glenn Sparks, a professor of communication at Purdue University Lafayette, said what made recent vampire stories, such as TV's "The Vampire Diaries" and the books and movies of the "Twilight Saga" popular is the stories are about how we relate to each other. He said people are aware that we need human connection beyond social networking sites and cell phones, and teens especially are exploring those relationships.
read on NWITimes
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:27 AM 1 comments
Labels: Vampires
True Blood Music Video of the Day : Wolf Like Me (TV On The Radio)
Posted by " Dallas " at 10:23 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Fan Art : Bon Temps Village by Rita
Here are fantastic houses Rita has created as a Bon Temps village !
She will post in the comments area a little about the famous people she sent them to and let you know what they had to say ....
Thanks Rita for sharing
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:07 AM 24 comments
Labels: fan art
Leaders In The Arts, "True Blood" Cast
This week’s choice for Leaders In The Arts is the television series “True Blood,” which has transformed the landscape for all TV shows today and in the future. Some series like the many awful reality shows have damaged the television industry. With soaps sliding into cancellation, so many crime and drama series making their debut every season, when Alan Ball signed on with HBO to create the series from the famous books everyone debated whether or not the series would be successful.
Two seasons later HBO and Alan Ball have created a cult classic. Actors like Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgard and Stephen Moyer have become huge stars because of their work on the vampire series. Other vampire shows are now popular and even though “Twilight” has much different vampire-types, “True Blood” stands alone in its creativity, individuality and great storylines. From evil maenads to vampires and shape-shifters, Alan Ball and his spectacular writing team simply doesn’t seem bored and their fans are certainly not.
Read on Canyon News
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:01 AM 2 comments
Labels: cast
Things I’ve learned from vampires
Yup. Vampires. It was bound to happen. I’ve learned a lot of vampires in my years. This is a list of the most interesting, or most mind boggling, lessons from my time spent researching, reading, and watching vamp pop culture.
- Creeping up on girls in dark alley ways, subsequently stalking them, and watching them while they sleep is mind-numbingly sexy, and will make a woman fall madly in love with you.
- Being a vegetarian is more than a political statement or a dietary choice.
- You can travel super cheap by shipping yourself in a crate of dirt, but your meal choices won’t exactly be five star.
- Financial worries are for mere mortals/plebes, and you can easily integrate yourself into upper class society if you select the right clothing and mannerisms. Same with being a rock star.
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:59 AM 0 comments
Labels: Vampires
An interview with… Alexander Skarsgard
Nice interview with Alexander Skarsgard from SciFiNow
see more at :http://www.alexskarsgard.net/wordpress/?p=4972
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:55 AM 1 comments
Labels: Alexander Skarsgard
True Blood Music Video of the Day : Come on over (turn me on)
Come on over (turn me on) by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Thanks , traube7
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:47 AM 1 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sookie gift Trivia - It's better to give than recieve
We have a number of Christmas gifts mentioned in the Sookie books/stories
Name 3 gifts sookie buys and for whom ?
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:04 AM 7 comments
Labels: trivia
Sookie's Sweet Potato Casserole
- 4 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups cornflakes cereal, crushed
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
Preparation
Bake sweet potatoes at 400° for about 1 hour or until tender. Let cool to touch; peel and mash sweet potatoes.
Beat mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, and next 5 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Spoon potato mixture into a greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.
Combine cornflakes cereal and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle diagonally over casserole in rows 2 inches apart.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle alternate rows with marshmallows; bake 10 additional minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/easter-side-dish-recipes-00400000041365/page7.html
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: recipes
Have yourself a very Sookie Christmas !
Oh--I forgot if you haven't read the Sookie short story 'Gift wrap'
READ IT TODAY!
"Gift Wrap" by Charlaine Harris
Sookie is spending the Holiday alone, she is currently not speaking with her brother, her roommate and her boss are out of town and she just doesn’t feel like imposing on the friends that are in town. So Sookie settles in for the long winter’s night, only to be disturbed by noises in the woods that she feels she needs to investigate. And what should she find but a wounded werewolf? She helps him into the house, treats his wounds and protects him from those out to get him. But is it all as it seems?
You can buy it on itunes or as an ebook from Amazon -if you don't have a Kindle you can download an ebook reader from Amazon to use on your computer!
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:47 AM 1 comments
Labels: short stories
True Blood Season One marathon on 28th
Giiiiiidyup! It's been months since you've had any new True Blood, which is enough to batter down even the strongest of souls. But fight on, fellow fangbanger. Help is coming.
On December 28 HBO is airing a marathon of Season One episodes.
If you can make it until 2 a.m., you'll get hours of the characters you first fell lin love with, including the snarky Lafayette, Tara at her most vibrant, and an Eric you love to hate.
Plus, it's that week between Christmas and New Years, so you know you'll be sitting around in your jammies, overstuffed on turkey, ham and those buttery cookies you can't turn down. Let's face it, the couch is the only place you're going.
Get comfy. This is gonna be a long ride.
From PhillyBurbs
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/92/2009/december/23/true-blood-season-one-marathon.html
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:28 AM 0 comments
Labels: Season 1
"True Blood" Season Three Secrets Revealed
HOLLYWOOD —“True Blood” may be on hiatus and fans may be waiting so impatiently for their favorite shape shifter, vampires and fairy to return, but in the meantime genius Alan Ball is not waiting around. He’s filming his great series and he’s making casting decisions that will make for the best season so far for Bon Temp fans.
In response to a feature I recently wrote for Canyon News titled “True Blood, Stars or Icons?” I received many responses from some of the most loyal Trubies on the planet. Lizzie from Australia says, “I am glad you wrote about Ryan [Kwanten]. Actors like Ryan and Sam Trammell are practically ignored by the media and on posts. He is such a great actor, it is unbelievable the way he plays Jason! He plays a redneck to perfection. He has been written about in local media quite a bit of late, which is good not only for Ryan, but for True Blood. The Sydney Morning Herald did a listing of all the Aussie actors playing American roles and gave them a rating out of 10 for their accent and our boy Ryan got 9/10!”
690425_TB_JJ_ep3_day2_65_1.jpg
While fan of the show Nia said, “It is so good to see Ryan [Kwanten] and Alex [Skarsgard] are enjoying the fame and good fortune that comes with the affiliation of such a wonderful show and the casting genius of Alan Ball. Both fit perfectly into their respective roles of Jason and Eric. No other could wear their titles. They have taken their character and have flown with it to heights that have kept us laughing, intrigued, even somber, and just generally enjoying their on screen time.”
While poster Pbartteacher, who is a huge Alexander Skarsgard and Eric Northman fan stated, “Straw Dogs is currently in post-production and is slated to be released in February of 2010. Of course this is the film that Alexander just finished with Kate Bosworth, James Woods, Billy Lush and James Marsden. Entirely filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana and is loosely based on the Sam Peckinpah production by the same name.”
read on from Canyon News
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:22 AM 2 comments
Labels: season 3
Fanart- Merry Christmas by Michelle Dawson
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:05 AM 0 comments
Labels: Christmas
True Blood Music Video of the Day: Merry Fricking Christmas
I just couldn't decide....
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:58 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Thursday, December 24, 2009
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas- Oh wait ...
Yes. we are completely; snowed in 2-8 inches for N. Texas is really amazing .. but on Christmas Eve it's magical ....
Merry Christmas to all
Dallas
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:21 PM 3 comments
Holiday Goodies from Charlain Harris forum recipes: Pam's Chocolate Mint Brownies
Bake your favorite brownie recipe and cool. If you don't have a favorite, let me know.
2 Cups confectioner's sugar
1 stick of softened butter or margarine
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
green food coloring (or skip if you wish)
1 Cup chocolate chips
An additional 3/4 stick butter
Combine the 2 cups sugar with 1 stick butter and peppermint extract and food color. Spread this mixture on brownies still in pan.
Make chocolate glaze by melting together the 1 cup chocolate chips with 3/4 stick butter. Pour onto the mint filling and spread. Refrigerate until set. Bring to room temperature to cut. Make squares small--these are yummy and rich!
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:10 AM 0 comments
Labels: Recipe Index
True Blood Christmas Carols: 'Twas the Hour Before True Blood
'Twas the Hour Before True Blood, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse.
The clickers were laid by the TV with care,
I sat by the TV and started to stare.
The dog was nestled all snug in his bed,
while visions of Milk Bones danced in his head.
And Hubby in his jammies, and I in my gown,
Plopped ourselves on the sofa and settled down.
When from the TV there arose such a sight,
I bounced up and down - True Blood tonight!
The opening credits flew by in a flash,
Then the previous season was mostly rehashed.
The moon on the face of Bill Compton just shone
As he looked down at Sookie, they weren't both alone,
A dog in the bushes kept them in sight
My heart was just pounding - True Blood tonight!
With all of the plots the hour went by quick,
I knew if Lafayette was dead I'd be sick.
I hoped to see Eric, I hoped to see Pam,
I hoped to see Tara I hoped to see Sam:
"Now Jason! Now Terry!
Now, Arlene and Hoyt!
On, Jessica! On, Maryann!
On, Eggs and Andy!
To Sookie's porch!
To the front of Merlott's!
Now down to Shreveport!
Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
The plots swirled around - who would live, who would die?
Jason is making a terrible mistake,
MaryAnn smiles her smile that is fake.
And then, in a twinkling, the hour was done
I was panting for more, though I had fun.
I went over the episode to see what was planned,
I'd watch it again and again on Demand.
Then rush to the forums to visit with folks
Go over the details, make lots of jokes .
Debate the merits of Eric or Bill
Look for hidden clues, I can't get my fill.
Before I turn off the computer and turn out the light
"Happy True Blood to all, and to all a good night!"
Thanks to the forum !
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:06 AM 0 comments
Labels: Christmas
Merry Christmas from Eric
Have yourself a pink spandex kind of Christmas ...
Court at True Blood Art Blog shared her little pink spandex Christmas drawing of Eric with us for Christmas
Thanks , Court !
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:04 AM 2 comments
Labels: Christmas
True Blood : Top TV Picks of 2009
from Televisionary blog
As 2009 begins to wind down, I figured now was the perfect time as any to look back at the series that that have entertained and inspired me over the past calendar year.
And what a year it was for the television industry, which was (and is) still recovering from the writers strike of 2007/08. This past year also saw NBC box up the 10 pm hour for scripted programming, a move that hasn't had quite the effect that the network hoped (I do feel for poor scapegoat Jay Leno), while sending viewers scurrying over to cable, which continued to make huge inroads this year.
True Blood (HBO)
In its second season, HBO's vampire drama True Blood went from being a guilty pleasure to a series that balanced the outright campy with the truly transcendent. By pushing supporting players such as Alexander Skarsgard's Eric, Rutina Wesley's Tara, Sam Trammel's Sam, Nelsan Ellis' Lafayette, Deborah Ann Woll's Jessica, and Allan Hyde's Godric to the foreground, creator Alan Ball and the series' writers deepened the universe of Bon Temps and gave True Blood some of its most heartbreaking and compelling moments with the suicide of Eric's maker Godric and the doomed relationship between Woll's Jessica and Jim Parrack's Hoyt. There are few series that are as gleefully unpredictable than True Blood, a series that rewrites the rules about storytelling while spinning a bloody good yarn.
read on
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Season 2
Quiz: Test your vampire knowledge
USA TODAY
So you think you know your hunky vampires, Twilight fans? It was a very hot year for the undead — in novels, of course. And Stephenie Meyer wasn't the only writer successfully spinning supernatural tales. Test your knowledge by matching the title with the gory detail:
Read on
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:56 AM 1 comments
Labels: puzzles and quizzes
Lafayette gets a boyfriend
From EW
usielloscoop@ew.com
Question: Thanks for all the True Blood casting news! Do you have any other scoop on season 3? –JKH
Ausiello: It’s happening: Lafayette is getting a boyfriend! A True insider tells me that Alan Ball is quietly searching for a sexy Latino actor in his 30s to play a lust interest for everyone’s favorite same-gender-lovin’ blood dealer. (Over the summer, Ball confirmed that viewers would see a more “vulnerable” Lafayette in season 3.) Got casting tips? Head to the comments! Here’s one to get you started: Um, Adam Rodriguez, hello.
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:53 AM 0 comments
Labels: Lafayette
True Blood Music Video of the Day: Al I want for Christmas is you !
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:49 AM 1 comments
Labels: Christmas, Music Video of the Day
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
True Blood Christmas Carols - I Rescind
I Rescind (sung to the tune of "Let It Snow")
Oh, the vampire outside is frightful
But in here it's so delightful
Since I won't let him in
I rescind I rescind I rescind
He doesn't show signs of stopping
And his fangs they are a popping
He snarls "You let me in!"
I rescind I rescind I rescind
When I kissed the vampire last night
I thought he was a nice guy
But now he looks like he'll bite
So I have sent him outside.
Oh the vampire's eyes are glowing
And his fangs are really showing
So I won't let him back in
I rescind I rescind I rescind
*thanks to everyone at the HBO forum
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:02 AM 0 comments
Labels: Christmas
True Blood / Sookie Trivia Christmas Reindeer Sweater
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:01 AM 4 comments
Labels: trivia
Holiday Goodies from Charlain Harris forum recipes: Sookie's Cereal Cookies
Sookie's Cereal Cookies
Cream together: 1 stick softened butter
1/2 cup butter flavor crisco shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
Stir in: 2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Fold in: 2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal(not quick cook)
2 cups rice crispies
Batter will be very stiff, but be sure to mix well.
You can add raisins, nuts, or dried fruits, but not chocolate(it doesn't hold up well). My favorite add ins are 1 cup chopped dried cherries and 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
Drop by generous tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Wait 2 minutes after removing from oven before taking cookies off baking sheets. Cool on parchment paper on flat surface.
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:52 AM 1 comments
Labels: recipes
True Blood : CNN Some of the best of 2009's TV
Let's just get the obvious out of the way: this show doesn't suck.
Instead, let's focus on what made this show so bloody good this season: stories and characters that have bite to them, as well as lots of sex and violence served up among the residents of the steamy Louisiana town of Bon Temps.
In a year that continued the "Twilight" craze of vampires as sexy, misunderstood loners, "True Blood" featured a "good versus evil" battle in which it was hard to tell the good from the evil -- the blood-suckers or the cracked Christian cult out to destroy them.
Sookie (Anna Paquin) continued to heat things up with Bill (Stephen Moyer), a relationship made even more thrilling for "True Blood" worshippers given that the actors are engaged in real life. But they weren't the only passionate pair -- Jason (Ryan Kwanten), Sookie's less-than-bright brother, managed to hook up with Sarah (Anna Camp), wife of the leader of the Fellowship of the Sun church, for some graphic action that became water-cooler fodder.
The healthy serving of gore, mystery and soap-opera-like shenanigans led New York Magazine to dub the show "cable catnip." Meow!
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:50 AM 1 comments
Labels: Season 2
Skarsgard Weighs in on the Rumored Eric-Sookie Hook-Up
The second season of True Blood has repeatedly toyed with the idea of a Sookie-Eric hook-up, whether it's just in Sookie's dreams or in palpable hints insinuated by Eric himself. This very premise has seemingly divided fans of the HBO vampire series--- with some rooting for Bill and Sookie, while others are hoping for a Sookie-Eric pairing. To shed light on the subject,
Warning: Spoilers ahead!!!
read on Buddy TV
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:47 AM 4 comments
Labels: season 3
True Blood creator Alan Ball praises his actor Ryan Kwanten, formerly of Home and Away
From Herald Sun
AUSSIE actor Ryan Kwanten has hit it big in the US vampire drama True Blood and no one could be happier for him than the show's creator, Alan Ball.
Ball - whose credits include Academy Award-winning film American Beauty and Emmy-winning Six Feet Under - is full of praise for the former Home and Away actor who plays Jason Stackhouse in the series.
For True Blood all the actors have to leave their inhibitions behind, especially Kwanten who seems to get his clothes off in most episodes.
The series is set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, where humans co-exist with vampires, and stars Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and Kwanten.
"One of the things I really appreciated about Ryan is his willingness to look foolish," Ball says
read onPosted by " Dallas " at 7:42 AM 0 comments
Labels: Ryan Kwanten
True Blood Christmas : All Bill wants for Christmas
Posted by " Dallas " at 7:33 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Holiday Goodies from Charlain Harris forum recipes: Pumpkin Pie Dip
Yield
3 cups
Ingredients
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• Garnishes: ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks
Preparation
Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add pie filling, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ginger, beating well. Cover and chill 8 hours. Serve with gingersnaps and apple or pear slices. Garnish, if desired.
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:46 AM 0 comments
True Blood Christmas Carols - Away in a Graveyard
Away in a graveyard,
Just dirt for his bed,
Vampire Bill Compton
lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky
looked down where he lay
The Vampire Bill Compton,
asleep in the day.
The maenad is roaming,
The vampire wakes,
But Vampire Bill Compton,
no victim he takes;
I love you Bill Compton,
I see how you try
To only drink True Blood
so no one will die.
Be near me, Bill Compton
And let us not fight
Just love me forever,
and love me tonight
I know you're a vampire
You can drink from me
Just don't bite my neck, dear
Where others can see.
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:44 AM 0 comments
Labels: Christmas
Dead and Gone :Penguin Group Achieves Success in 2009
For the last edition of Spotlight of the year, we wanted to take a look back at some of the highlights from among Penguin Group (USA)’s extraordinary 2009 successes.
Great 2009 Publishing Stories Led by Bestsellers from Charlaine Harris, Kathryn Stockett, Nora Roberts, and Greg Mortenson
Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris and the other eight books in her Sookie Stackhouse mystery series have sold more than 10 million copies. Harris made publishing history in 2009 when all nine of the books in the series were on the New York Times bestseller lists simultaneously in the same week twice in August. Her books spent a combined 169 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists in 2009, and she had at least one New York Times bestseller 76% of the year. She became a full-fledged pop phenomenon with the arrival of the second season of the hit HBO television show, “True Blood,” which is based on Harris’s novels and continues to help drive her ongoing success.
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/blogs/penguin-group-usa-achieves-success-2009
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: Sookie Stackhouse books
True Blood Music Video of the Day :Come with Me by Puff Daddy
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:33 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Monday, December 21, 2009
Alexander Skarsgard Says A 'True Blood' Hook Up Between Eric And Sookie Is 'Bound To Happen'
From MTV
Alexander Skarsgård is currently hard at work on the third season of "True Blood," in which he continues to revel in his much loved role as Eric Northman, the vampire bad boy with a soft spot for Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) — even though it sounds like he'll have another lover to contend with this year.
But even if a new love interest comes onto the scene for a short time, Alexander thinks that his character and Sookie will eventually find their way into each other's arms. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor revealed that the question he gets asked the most from fans is, "When are you going to hook up with Sookie?" Luckily, his answer should satisfy fans of Team Eric.
"It's bound to happen at some point," he revealed. "There is definitely something between Sookie and Eric."
Posted by " Dallas " at 2:51 PM 2 comments
Labels: season 3
True Blood Christmas Carols- Eric the Vampire
it's almost Christmas we have to get the last few in... Thanks Forum folks
Eric the vampire
Was a very scary guy
With his ice blue eyes and his big white fangs
And the fact that he could fly
Eric the vampire
Owned a
He sat on a throne and it was well known
That he lay as dead all day.
There must have been some magic in that
Telepath they found
When Sookie solved Longshadow’s crime
Eric thought “She will be mine”.
Eric the vampire
Was determined as can be
He brought Bill to trial, with a wicked smile,
Brought back Jessica with glee
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Look at Eric’s eyes.
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Through the night sky he flies.
Eric the vampire
Wants a telepath we know
With Pam by his side Eric tried and tried
To get Bill to let her go
Sookie is frightened
Of the ancient Viking vamp
Can Bill keep her safe? Will his vampire waif
Drive Sook into Eric’s camp?
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Look in Eric’s eyes.
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Through the night sky he flies.
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:23 AM 1 comments
Labels: Christmas
Holiday Goodies from Charlain Harris forum recipes
Caramel Brownies
Preheat oven to 350
1 box German chocolate cake mix
1 stick margarine or butter, melted
1 package Kraft caramels
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1 can evaporated milk
First, get caramels ready to melt on stove. Add 1/3 cup of evaporated milk. Heat on medium temp. Be sure to stir frequently.
Next, mix the cake mix with stick of melted butter and 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Divide mixture in half. Spread half in a 13 X 9 pan. This will be thin, so pat it out with your hands to get it even. Bake for 6 minutes and remove.
Evenly sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped pecans on top of baked mixture. Pour melted caramel evenly over this. Add 2nd half of cake mix by dropping tablespoon sized chunks evenly over the pan. Then gently spread with a fork. It will mix with the caramel, but that’s ok. When it’s baked it will form a crust.
Bake for approximately 17-18 more minutes. The brownies will come out kind of soupy. Let them cool several hours before cutting them. I like to make them at night and cut them the next morning.
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:21 AM 1 comments
Labels: recipes
Holiday Book Giveaway Sookie Stackhouse Novels
Broad Brush is giving away her Sookie books
HERE
Posted by " Dallas " at 9:16 AM 0 comments
Labels: Sookie Stackhouse books
True Blood Music Video of the Day: Song for a Winter’s Night
Song for a Winter’s Night
Thanks Thellou
Posted by " Dallas " at 8:58 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music Video of the Day
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Dead in the Family -Chapter 1 is up !
Read chapter one here :
http://www.charlaineharris.com/DITFChpt1.pdf
it will open as an adobe pdf file ...let the comments begin!
Page 6 should be ok now !
Posted by " Dallas " at 3:17 PM 17 comments
Labels: Dead in the Family
The Vampirization of America An era of fear and uncertainty has helped fuel a sex-and-death wave in pop culture.
From the LA Times
In times of political rot and confusion and pain, one needs something like cosmic silliness, not to make sense of things, but for those who don't expect a life after death, we need an experience, in this life, of the dream of heaven. Tossed into fear, like children, we need a childish vision to restore faith in life. The worse things get, the more we need greater art. Since Pina Bausch wasn't in town, there was Mozart's "Magic Flute" at the L.A. Opera not long after 9/11. We needed Mozart because the country was Wagner, pinned to false mythologies of necessary doom.
The genius of that 2001 production was that it felt like it had been put on by a high school with the best singers in the world. It was adolescent joy, with one image that stayed with me. Rodney Gilfry as Papageno the bird catcher, wearing a fool's cap and bells in a costume with more colors than Joseph's coat, was singing on stage while a rowboat on wires sailed overhead, carrying three boys dressed like Harry Potter, with his glasses. Young magicians, "Magic Flute," makes sense.
Who would they put in the boat a decade later? A Harry Potter reference now would seem like product placement, not a little wink.
read on
Posted by " Dallas " at 3:13 PM 0 comments
Labels: vampire movies, vampires television
Authors put Louisiana in the spotlight in 2009
The year brought dozens of wonderful books from Louisiana authors — and those outside the state writing about Louisiana. Here are a few of the year's literary highlights:Self-taught writer Louis Maistros created a dark, fascinating tale of death and rebirth in the Crescent City during the Jazz Age in The Sound of Building Coffins.
Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse paranormal mystery series set in the town of Bon Temps in northern Louisiana, which gave birth to the HBO series True Blood, gave us an update on Sookie in May with Dead and Gone.
New Orleans author Nevada Barr, who spent years in the National Park System, now spins mysteries around a park ranger named Anna Pigeon. Barr's latest novel in the series, Borderline, took Pigeon to Big Bend Park in Texas.
read on
Posted by " Dallas " at 6:42 AM 0 comments
Labels: Charlaine Harris, Louisiana
Have a Fangtastic Christmas
Merry Christmas from the True Blood Boys
How cute are these ?
Click to enlarge
Krystal has more here on the wiki!
http://truebloodwiki.hbo.com/photos/album/148421/Happy+Holidays+2009
Posted by " Dallas " at 6:22 AM 1 comments
Labels: Christmas