True Blood returned for its fifth season last night.
As always, no slacking in picking up the pace. Read below for our thoughts and take on it but beware there are spoilers.
True Blood
Blackout not as “explicit” a Trainspotting
Ewen Bremner has said that his new BBC thriller Blackout is not as “explicit” as Trainspotting in dealing with addiction. Bremner featured in Danny Boyle’s 1996 film as Spud.
French and Saunders reunite
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders will reunite for a comedy special set in rehab for comedy channel Gold.
I’ve blogged about my favourite TV series’ numerous times now and upon reflection, have noticed that all of them are American shows. No real surprise but why?
As BBC costume drama Upstairs Downstairs has been axed, we ask, why are British drama series’ just not up to scratch with their US counterparts?
Sunday nights should have been all about Upstairs Downstairs and Titanic while instead most people abandoned ship on Titanic before it even got underway. In stark contrast, Channel 4 have seen a steady viewer count with the successful US show Homeland and we must say, quite rightly so.
Homeland has been a huge success in the States and we’re glad that its seen similar acclaim over here in the UK. We like Homeland because its star is a) female and b) played by the incredibly talented Claire Danes. The plot swings in roundabouts and keeps us guessing which is no doubt a talent its creators have refined and honed since they worked on 24.
It also stars Brit Damian Lewis who despite the annoying voice, if you get past that, he’s both well cast and a great actor.
Delving deeper than the surface in Homeland are the various different relationships between the different actors and its enough to detract from the main plot line while providing great sub plots; something the creators have clearly also refined since their 24 days and the ridiculous sub plots involving Jack Bauer’s daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert).
The US also have two huge vampire serials; True Blood and The Vampire Diaries while over here, despite their best efforts, nothing can compare in terms of fan base or popularity. I’ll admit that I haven’t really given them a chance, namely I mean Being Human. While the premise sounds like something i’ll love, for some reason TVD and True Blood seem to keep me occupied so I’ve never watched one episodee and how many things can I watch?
The US also have huge girly drama serials such as Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and The Secret Circle. It’s nothing new, they always have done and done it well but the UK have yet to really match them. In fact the only TV series’ that come to mind that have captured the hearts of the UK and even the US is Downton Abbey and Doctor Who and in all honesty, I haven’t seen either of those. Am I missing out?
I love my US TV shows. For as long as I can remember it’s been all about US shows which have captured my attention from my teenage years – from the Buffy days to Smallville (which, while not the most critically acclaimed show in the world, I do deeply miss) to the greatly and universally missed Lost and 24. It seems like every moment there is a US show being worked on and while some have not worked, there’s always a replacement lurking around the next corner. Am I wrong in my thinking that there really are no great British dramas out there? Tell me I’m desperate to know.
Longoria rules out DH movie
Eva Longoria has ruled out a Desperate Housewives movie, saying she is not interested in taking part in one. “I’m not open to a movie, no,” she said. “I wouldn’t even pay money to go to a movie when I could see these characters and these girls in my own home. It would be nice to close this chapter.”
Downton Abbey casts maids
Downton Abbey has cast Cara Theobald and Lucille Sharp as maids for the show’s third season.
Boyle joins US Bad Girls
Downton Abbey actress Zoe Boyle has joined the new American remake of Bad Girls. Boyle appeared in the second season of Downton Abbey and has also featured in Sons of Anarchy.
Ball stepping down from True Blood
True Blood showrunner Alan Ball will step down from the series at the conclusion of the fifth season. Ball will stay with the series should it be picked up for a sixth season but only in an advisory role.
Nielsen joins I’m A Celebrity?
Actress Brigitte Nielsen has reportedly signed up to feature in I’m A Celebrity this year despite already having competed in the German version of the show.
X Factor to have iPhone app
The X Factor 2011 will have a new revamped website and the show’s first ever iPhone app. The app will feature a ‘Tap to Clap’ system for fans to applaud acts.
Geordie Shore facing issues
The second season of Geordie Shore may have to be filmed outside of the city of Newcastle due to the cast’s bad reputation. Producers are said to be struggling to find anywhere to house the cast and are concerned at the number of clubs to have banned them.
True Blood renewed
True Blood has been officially renewed for a fifth season by HBO. “I am thrilled that ‘True Blood’ continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics,” Michael Lombardo, HBO president, said.
MacFarlane to roast Sheen
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane has been confirmed as the host for the upcoming Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen. It will be the third Roast gig for MacFarlane, who last hosted the Donald Trump special.
True Blood has been renewed for a fifth season by the HBO network.
The network said in a statement that the vampire series, which is currently midway through its fourth season, will return next year.
“I am thrilled that True Blood continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics,” said the network’s president of programming Michael Lombardo. “Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV.”
Showrunner Ball said he is thoroughly enjoying his work on the series.
“I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers,” he said. “I can’t imagine having more fun than this.”
Source: Digital Spy
The Daily Mail today reports that True Blood star Alexander Skarsgard “had some clothes on for once” when he donned a mortar board and gown to collect an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan University – despite having dropped out of his studies after just six months there.
Here’s the rest of the paper’s report…
The Swedish star, 34, who is best known as vampire Eric Northman in the hit show, was presented with an honorary doctorate degree in the arts at the northern seat of learning today.
Born in Stockholm, Alexander enrolled at LMU in 1996 to study English after completing a stint of national service.
However, the star, who now lives in California, has since confessed he didn’t study much and instead ‘had a blast’ and partied in Leeds.
Other honorees at LMU today included BBC Look North’s Harry Gration and rugby player Ikram Butt.
The son of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander enrolled in a theatre course at Marymount Manhattan College and moved to New York City after leaving Leeds.
Again, he quit after six months and returned to Stockholm, but says that his time spend there studying theatre fuelled his appetite to become an actor.
As reported by Mail Online earlier today, the Scandinavian hunk has got his kit off again in the new series of True Blood.
The sexy scenes of Alex almost naked come from an episode called I’m Alive And On Fire which aired on Sunday night in the U.S.
In one of the scenes, Skarsgard is seen emerging naked from a lake and baring his fangs, as the show’s female protagonist Sookie Stakehouse, played by Anna Paquin, looks on.
The latest series of the cult vampire show, season four, is due to be screened on Sky later this year.
Gathering the entertainment news, so you don’t have to
The Sun today reports that True Blood star Stephen Moyer has claimed his wife and co-star Anna Paquin has given him permission to bite fans boobs should they ask! Here’s the story…
TRUE Blood star Stephen Moyer has revealed his wife and co-star Anna Paquin lets him sign – and BITE – his female fans’ boobs.
The British actor plays vampire Bill Compton and is besieged by women who want him to sink his teeth into them. He reckons wife Anna, 28, who plays telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse, is happy about it.
But he admits sometimes she will veto a request if she doesn’t like the woman.
Essex-born Stephen, 41, said: “I get to sign boobs a lot. I get to bite boobs occasionally, when I’m allowed. If my missus is there and she approves of the person I get to bite boobs – and necks.”
He revealed how he wooed Anna on internet phone service Skype after they met in a US screen test for the HBO show.
Stephen told Men’s Health magazine: “I remember getting back to London and just going, ‘I have to keep speaking to this person’. We began speaking every night on Skype.”
They wed in 2010 in Malibu, California.
As a fan of HBO’s True Blood, I’m lucky enough to get emails about the show from the network, and today, I had an awesome little Facebook app sent to me which enables you to put yourself and your friends right into the action!
Called ‘Immortalize Yourself’, all you need to do to star in True Blood is ‘Like’ their Facebook page – which you can go to by clicking here – then start your video.
You can make as many as you wish, putting different friends into different parts of the scenes.
Give it a go! It’s absolutely addictive!
True Blood teaser released
HBO have released this promo for the upcoming fourth season of True Blood.
Sheen supports Kutcher
Charlie Sheen believes that Ashton Kutcher is the right man to replace him on Two and a Half Men, tweeting over the weekend: “#Winning Congrats to the cast and crew…CBS & WB..! My best to @aplusk [Kutcher]!! The show must go on… You got the right guy! c (sic).”
Brothers and Sisters axed
Brothers and Sisters has been officially axed by ABC in the US, alongside V and No Ordinary Family.
Eurovision ratings way up
The TV ratings for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest hit an 11-year high in the UK, with 9.53 million viewers tuning into BBC One’s coverage on Saturday night.
Loading ...
