--- PopWrap: The reveal of Eric last night with tinfoil in his hair was amazing. How did that come about?

Alexander Skarsgård: We had a lot of fun with that scene. I worked on that with the costume designer, wanting to find something weird or disturbing and flip flops was probably the weirdest outfit we could come up with for a badass vampire to wear while killing a guy.

PW: Was it hard looking scary in that outfit?

Alexander: That's what I loved about the scene; I could have come down in a long black leather cape, looking tough. But I came down with foil wrapped tips. Look, Eric's beauty session with Pam was interrupted. What can I say?

PW: And after a whole summer of wondering Lafayette was dead, you actually had him chained up in the basement!

Alexander: Nelsan [Ellis] who plays Lafayette is so amazing. He's created such an incredible character. I mean, you can not kill that guy! He's too good. We need him on the show! ---

Full Article:
http://blogs.nypost.com/popwrap/archives/2009/06/alexander_skarsgard_interview.html

Tags: Articles, Alexander Skarsgard, True Blood

--- Did you find it helpful to read Charlaine's novels to build a backstory for Eric, or did show runner Alan Ball discourage that, since the show isn't a literal adaptation?

Skarsgard: No. Before we started season one, I read the first five books just to give me some backstory and to help me dive into the world and understand the world that Charlaine created and my character of Eric. But once we started shooting season one, it was a little confusing reading the books and the scripts at the same time, because they are a little bit different. Actually, it was quite confusing to try and figure out what was from the books and the series. But it was great to have them as a backstory in creating the character.

Has Alan given you a lot of notes and direction for how he wants you to interpret Eric?

Skarsgard: Alan has given me a tremendous amount of freedom, and he really lets us go and explore our characters. It's given me a lot of confidence and energy and enthusiasm as an actor to have that from a show runner.

There's a sort of hilarious too-cool-to-exist vanity about Eric, with his foil highlights in the season premiere and his casual track suits. Do you invest a lot of your own time in creating Eric's look?

Skarsgard: Yes, it's a collaboration I have with Audrey Fisher, the costume designer. She's amazing. We have a fantastic relationship. We have fittings every week where we get together and talk to bounce around ideas. It's something we play around with and come up with together. ---

Full Article:
http://scifiwire.com/2009/06/what-secrets-does-true-bl.php

Tags: Articles, Alexander Skarsgard, True Blood

/ These interviews with actors Alexander Skarsgård, who plays Viking vampire Eric Northman, and Stephen Moyer, who plays Southern vampire Bill Compton, were conducted by E! News at the True Blood season-two premiere party at the Paramount lot in Hollywood on the evening of June 9, 2009. /

Full Article & Videos:
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b128607_true_blood_eric_bill_talk_season_two.html

Tags: Articles, Video, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard, True Blood

The Paramount Theater in Los Angeles hosted the second season premiere party for "True Blood" on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009. Members of the cast and crew were in attendence, including Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Alan Ball, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, Carrie Preston, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelsan Ellis, Todd Lowe and several others.

You can view video from the event at:
http://extratv.warnerbros.com/videos/channels/?channel=channels/79356

Forum member Beerwolf is posting numerous photos from the event in our forum:
http://thebluewhalepub.com/viewtopic.php?p=132501#p132501

Tags: Appearances, Cast, Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Alan Ball, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, Carrie Preston, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelsan Ellis, Todd Lowe, True Blood

Alexander Skarsgard Takes Your Questions
Uinterview

"Q: There’s a lot of sex and violence on the show. I was wondering what your feelings are regarding this. Have there been any scenes that made you pause at all?
-Micah, Boston
A: No, Micah, I did not hesitate at all. I’m Scandinavian, damn it. We love to be naked! It was kind of liberating. I’ve worked on movies before when people come with contracts–20 pages–if you show this nipple from this angle, but not that one. I did not grow up in that kind of movie climate. It’s quite different in Sweden. I don’t mind it all. Nudity is great!"



Full Article:
http://www.uinterview.com/videos.php?i=40


'True Blood' actor Nelsan Ellis credits Thornridge teachers with on- and off-screen success
By Andrew Herrmann
Sun Times News Group

"When actor Nelsan Ellis is on the set of HBO's vampire saga "True Blood," show producer Alan Ball says, "We all just stand back and point the camera in his direction.''

Ellis, Ball has said, "channels from his own planet.''

Ellis is, of course, from this planet. He grew up in the south suburbs -- metamorphosing from troublemaker to an artist commanding critical acclaim and expanding parts.

For that, he credits two of his teachers at Thornridge High School in Dolton. Without their support, he figures, he would have ended up just another statistic."

Full Article:
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/people/1294133,CST-NWS-blood23.article


Music man sets the mood
By Geoff Boucher
LA Times

"Meet Gary Calamar, a man whose hilltop home has a garage with sliding shelves three-deep to handle just the old stuff in his CD library. Calamar is a sort of Mr. Sunday Night when it comes to handpicked music; there's his KCRW-FM (89.9) show "The Open Road," and it's also the night HBO airs " True Blood," the vampire show that has music in the, uh, spooky vein but also songs speaking to the Louisiana setting.

"True Blood," which has its season finale tonight and has been renewed for a second season, is part of a string of shows Calamar has worked on, along with " House, M.D.," "Six Feet Under," " Weeds," "Dexter" and " Entourage.""

Full Article:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-ca-newcalamar23-2008nov23,0,7559819.story


Taste For 'Blood': HBO's vampire series has slowly built an audience
By David Bauder
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS / Winston-Salem Journal

"Catching the wave of a public fascination with vampires, HBO's True Blood has steadily increased in stature to become the cable network's most popular series since The Sopranos and Sex and the City.
Based on the series of Sookie Stackhouse novels written by Charlaine Harris and starring Anna Paquin in the lead character's role, True Blood has increased its Sunday-night viewership by 66 percent since its debut in September."

Full Article:
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/nov/23/taste-for-blood-hbos-vampire-series-has-slowly-bui/


HBO Draws 2.4 Million For `Blood’ Finale
By R. Thomas Umstead
Multichannel News

"More than 2 million viewers sampled the Nov. 23 finale of HBO’s vampire-tinged True Blood drama series.

The series, based on Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels with Anna Paquin in that role, averaged 2.4 million viewers in its finale, nearly double the 1.4 million viewers for the show’s Sept. 7 premiere, according to the network. Overall the series, which also stars, which also stars as Stephen Moyer as Sookie’s vampire love interest Bill Compton, sucked up an average of 2.2 million viewers during its 13-episosde run.

HBO is hoping the cume showings of the finale will exceed the 7 million viewers the show is averaging thus far."

Full Article:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6617782.html


Exclusive: FEARnet talks Vampires with 'True Blood's' Michelle Forbes!
FEARnet

"FN: You’re known for playing quite strong women, and your character on True Blood is pretty much in that vein.

MF: She is, indeed. I have yet to see where it’s going to go. But when it starts off, yes, she really has her own strength. But I have to say, having done In Treatment, it was really nice to play a repressed woman, a housewife, with no self esteem. That was actually a great luxury and gift to me. It was really fantastic to play someone who was not leading everyone and knew what was best, it was nice to be a woman who was like every person, who, you know, doesn’t know all the answers. You’re in a muddle, and you make wrong decisions. And she was all sort of elbows and knee joints emotionally. It was great fun to play, because I normally play very smart, together people, which I’m not."

Full Article:
http://www.fearnet.com/news/b13886_exclusive_fearnet_talks_vampires_with.html


Talking HBO's True Blood with One of Its Writers - Raelle Tucker
By Mary Borsellino
Sequential Tart

"Sequential Tart: The attitudes writers take in adapting a story from one medium to another vary quite widely. How does the True Blood team approach the task?

Raelle Tucker: We’re extremely lucky — Charlaine Harris has created such a cool, cinematic world, with so many unique characters ... and managed to keep them fresh and entertaining for eight novels, that it’s really an embarrassment of riches.

Obviously there are certain challenges in translating something so beloved to the screen. It was hugely important to honor Charlaine and the fans of the books, but it was equally important to allow the show to take on its own life."

Full Article:
http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=1156


Int'l Press Academy announces nominations Satellite Awards to be presented Dec. 14
By Gregg Kilday
Hollywood Reporter

"Actress in a Series, Drama

ANNA PAQUIN True Blood (HBO)
HOLLY HUNTER Saving Grace (TNT / Fox Televsion)
GLENN CLOSE Damages (FX)
KATHRYN ERBE LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT (NBC / USA)
KYRA SEDGWICK The Closer (TNT)
SALLY FIELD Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Actor in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for television.

JIMMY SMITS Dexter (Showtime)
ZELJKO IVANEK Damages (FX)
JOHN SLATTERY Mad Men (Lionsgate, AMC)
JOHN NOBLE Fringe (FOX)
NELSAN ELLIS True Blood (HBO)
HARVEY KEITEL Life On Mars (ABC / Twentieth Century-Fox)"

Full Article:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i4fc2c2322d54edacc0e7fd33aff21998


True Blood's Nelsan Ellis On Sexy Season Two & His Dad Hating His Character
By Jen Smith
Fancast

"Before heading inside to attend the Junior Hollywood Radio & Television Society holiday party Wednesday night in Hollywood, Ellis chatted about True Blood and his character's possible departure.

Will we see Lafayette on Season Two? "Naturally I love working on the show, so I want to come back," he said. "But it's up to the powers that be. So we'll see.""

Full Article:
http://thebiz.fancast.com/2008/12/nelsan_ellis_story.html


2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced
WGA

"NEW SERIES

Breaking Bad, Written by Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Patty Lin, George Mastras, J Roberts; AMC

Fringe, Written by JJ Abrams, Jason Cahill, Julia Cho, David H. Goodman, Felicia Henderson, Brad Caleb Kane, Alex Kurtzman, Darin Morgan, J.R. Orci, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, Zack Whedon; Fox

In Treatment, Written by Rodrigo Garcia, Bryan Goluboff, Davey Holmes, William Meritt Johnson, Amy Lippman, Sarah Treem; HBO

Life on Mars, Written by Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Becky Hartman Edwards, David Wilcox, Adele Lim, Bryan Oh, Tracy McMillan, Sonny Postiglione, Phil M. Rosenberg, Meredith Averill; ABC

True Blood, Written by Alan Ball, Brian Buckner, Raelle Tucker, Alexander Woo, Nancy Oliver, Chris Offutt; HBO"

Full Article:
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3410


True Blood's Harris Looks Ahead
By John Joseph Adams
Sci Fi Wire

"SFW: I'm sure you and your publishers expected to get a sales bump from the TV series, but I'm sure no one expected you to end up with seven New York Times best-sellers all at once--what was that like?

Harris: That's still ongoing, believe it or not. All the books have been on the extended or print list for the last five weeks, give or take a week. And the boxed set is a hugely popular Christmas gift, apparently. Thanks, Alan Ball! For me personally, it hasn't made that much difference. I'm still faced with the problems I had before: a looming deadline, a book that won't write itself. Being the prom queen for a season hasn't changed the work any."

Full Article:
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?id=62676


2009 Golden Globes Award Nominations
HFPA

"Best Television Series - Drama
Dexter (SHOWTIME)

House (FOX)
Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with Universal Media Studios

In Treatment (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Mad Men (AMC)
Lionsgate

True Blood (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order

January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)

Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)"

Full Article:
http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/index.html

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelsan Ellis, Michelle Forbes, Charlaine Harris, True Blood

Christina Radish of Media Blvd recently had the chance to chat with Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Eric on HBO’s True Blood:

“MediaBlvd> What’s it like to play a character that’s so old? Do you create a backstory for that, or do you just try to play him in the present?

Alexander> He’s been around for a millennium, so there’s much to do. I play a lot with the thought of a guy who’s seen everything. He’s been around for 1,000 years, so he’s seen everything, and he doesn’t waste his time. He doesn’t play any games. He’s very straight-forward. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it, basically. So, I just try to have fun with that directness to him. He’s very grounded and very confident, and he knows what he wants, all the time, and he doesn’t waste his time. Falling in love with humans, and all that kind of stuff -- some of the other vampires do that -- is just a waste of time to him.

MediaBlvd> What has it been like to work with Anna Paquin?

Alexander> She’s amazing! We’ve had so much fun. Most of my stuff is with her and Steve Moyer, who plays Bill, the other vampire. Eric is Bill’s boss, so he brings them there, all the time. And, I work a lot with Kristin Bauer, who plays Pam, Eric’s right-arm and sidekick. Eric turned Pam and made her a vampire, 200 years ago, so she’s always by his side. We’re having so much fun. We really are. And, Anna is very humble, down-to-earth, fun to work with and a very generous actor.”

Full Article:
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/celebrity/alexander_skarsgard_in_%22true_blood%22_200809251300.html

Tags: Articles, Alexander Skarsgard, True Blood

Discussion of Alexander Skarsgard’s current work for HBO, including True Blood, was recently covered by Hal Boedeker at Orlando Sentinel”

“He joins True Blood as Eric in the fourth episode. TV critics are raving over that series at their summer tour here.

"Eric is a really important role in the show," said Ball, who adapted the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. "It's the one that Charlaine's fans seem to be most interested in who they were going to cast, even though they were pitching professional wrestlers and models. I was very pleased to find Alex and that he was willing to do the show."

Eric is the boss of the Louisiana area where the story is set. Skarsgard tosses in a Swedish line every so often although the Nordic vampire has lived in this country almost a century.

"It's one of the main characters in the books," Skarsgard said. "He's probably going to be featured a while."”

Full Article:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/tv/orl-alexander2008jul20,0,6187116.story

Tags: Articles, Alexander Skarsgard, True Blood