This sneak peek is very, very funny. I so love Uncle Andy (Justin Kirk) and Alexander Gould just gets better each season. Having literally grown up in his role of Nancy's misunderstood (some call him 'weird') younger son 'Shane,' he really seems now more than at any time, to exude complete comfort when wearing his 'Shane suit'.
Weeds - 'Game Time'
Doug tells an old friend about his relaxed lifestyle, but gets a sales pitch to re-enter "the game."
HEY!:
Weeds/The Big C Poster Art Giveaway:
Of course, I'm giving away posters! Drop me an email: foreverafangirl@gmail.com. Be sure to put 'Weeds' in the subject line and if I pick your name out of a hat on July 13, you win the poster art for both Weeds and The Big C!
Is Weeds' Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) 'the same ol' Nancy'? Do you really need to ask? Even if you don't, it is big fun finding out how much of 'old' Nancy remains and how much 3 years in prison have changed her--for good or ill.
Then there are 'the guys' -- Nancy's family plus 'Doug' (Kevin Nealon), for whom Nancy, as creator Jenji Kohan states, is their 'True North.' Watch for them to abandon Amsterdam for Nancy's new stomping grounds--New York City--but don't expect each of them to be on board for the move.
Weeds Season 7, Episode 2 - From Trauma Cometh Something
Struggling to create a new life for herself in New York, Nancy is thrown for a loop when Andy and Shane show up on her doorstep; Silas seeks to launch a state side modeling career; Doug looks up an old friend.
SPOILERS: Nancy - Gay For the Stay?:
Q: How could Nancy betray her cellmate/lover like that on Weeds? Is that the last we'll see of her?
A: Don't count on it, executive producer Jenji Kohan says. But also don't count on it being all hearts and flowers next time they meet. (Remember, said girlfriend did set fire to her last boyfriend.) "Zoya is a woman of passion," she adds. "[But Nancy was just] gay for the stay."
Everyone's favorite TV troublemaker, Michelle Trachtenberg, is set to cause some serious trouble for Nancy Botwin on 'Weeds' this season.
Like Mary Kate Olsen before her, Trachtenberg will play a pot dealer on the Showtime series -- but her character will be one of Nancy's rivals, not one of her coworkers. Look for the actress also known as Georgina Sparks to pop up in two episodes this season.
I have a sneaking suspicion that also 'like Mary Kate Olsen before her,' Trachtenberg's character is going to be bedding Silas (Hunter Parrish). Call it a hunch because it isn't a spoiler. ;)
After the jump: The FULL Season 7 Episode 1 of WEEDS!
New Season 4 True Blood Scenes Video and Screencaps (6.28.11)!:
True Blood Season 4: Critics Spot (6.28.11) [VIDEO]
This NEW True Blood tease is kinda cool because it, as is True Blood's way, answers some questions (sort of) and raises a few more. Like for example, what is up with Eric (Alexander Skarsgård)?! In the clip, 'Eric' has dropped fang, looks angry and/or distraught, has a pretty ladder beside him and someone has just shut him inside...whereever he is--his luxury 'hidey hole' at Sookie's rehabbed home, perhaps?
I also dig seeing the beginning of the end of SPOILER!!! witch Hallow Stonebrook in the 1700's as she is being burned (I presume) at the stake. I'm pretty certain that that scene will entail torture preceding the actual burning--my cue to cover my eyes. 'Hallow' is the present day malevolent spirit inhabiting Marnie's (Fiona Shaw) body--giving her crazy strong black magic powers. Enjoy the video and be sure to scroll down for the screencaps from this and another very recent True Blood promo video--and click through to my True Blood screencaps, photo stills, wallpapers and screensavers albums for hundreds more.
Catch the new season of True Blood on Sunday nights at 9pm. For more information on True Blood, go to http://itsh.bo/ibzU7X or jump in on the Twitter conversations http://twitter.com/truebloodhbo #TBWITHDRAWAL.
Watch True Blood online at HBO GO® http://itsh.bo/hWfz80. Free with your HBO subscription through participating TV providers.
*Based so far, on The Big C, Episode 1, 'Losing Patients':
1. It's LOL funny in part due to the appearance of someone entirely unexpected...
2. It's REAL. If you've lived any life at all you know how valuable it is and how scary it is to contemplate losing it. The BIG C conveys this quite clearly with an awareness of the adage that the best medicine is laughter...supplemented by medical marijuana, if needed.
3. In 30-minute increments I'm quite convinced that this little show is going to continue to encourage me to think about my life and what I do with it because comedy or not--truth is, we are all on the clock. It's what we do with the time we have. Cliche? Maybe, but there's nothing cliche about how The Big C reminds me of important stuff we tend to shove aside in favour of 'stuff' we have to deal with RIGHT NOW. In truth, all we know for certain is there is nothing else but right now.
Happy viewing!
HEY!:
Weeds/The Big C Poster Art Giveaway:
Of course, I'm giving away posters! Drop me an email: foreverafangirl@gmail.com. Be sure to put 'Weeds' in the subject line and if I pick your name out of a hat on July 13, you win the poster art for both Weeds and The Big C!
While Nancy's jail time has certainly made her tougher, Cathy's cancer is in for a fierce fight! Following the WEEDS premiere, catch a fresh season of The Big C. Here's a brand new season 2 trailer: http://youtu.be/PKRp5FBhxuk.
BRING IT ON. Mondays are hotter than ever, on SHOWTIME ®.
After explaining why in a recent post that if you enjoy award-winning, edgy comedy television why you should be tuning in to Weeds on Monday, June 27 at 10 E/ 9pm Central on Showtime, I'm going to tell you a bit about The Big C, which is also an edgy half-hour comedy starring another award-winning stage and screen actor, Laura Linney, which is premiering on Monday night, too.
The Big C directly follows Weeds on Mondays at 10:30 E/ 9:30 Central on Showtime.
Full disclosure: I started watching The Big C last year as 1. Laura Linney is amazing and 2. It followed Weeds so it was easy to just spend an hour and see two complete shows, plus 3. More and more in recent years I find myself really intrigued by Showtime's off-beat offerings.
(To put it diplomatically, I'm finding most of the television that I enjoy best on the two major premium cable channels.)
I wanted to love The Big C but after nearly half it's run, I quit watching.
I didn't dislike it exactly. There were just aspects of it that sort of struck a weird chord with me. The show after all, is a very dark comedy about a woman in her 40's who is struggling to deal with a diagnosis of Stage 4 breast cancer. That is one heavy topic to take on in any context, never mind a comedic one.
Despite my not following through, Laura Linney struck gold--a Golden Globe to be specific, as best actress in a comedy which further validates that the show had and has huge potential. The people that make the show listened to some of the feedback--both positive & negative and they responded by segueing into season 2 with a bit of a different tone.
For one, and I think it was the primary thing that I wished was different, the character of 'Cathy' who was estranged from her husband last season will help him 'grow up' this season, as Linney puts it. I've embedded cast interviews in a Weeds /Big C mash-up video selection in this post.
Her husband is played by the very likable actor (I want to say 'lug') Oliver Platt. Cathy was just so mean to him last year and though I understood why--because he's a bit thick about certain subjects--I also felt sorry for him and I felt irritated with her.
Also, at times in season 1, Cathy's attitude seemed really over-the-top, with almost a slapstick feel to some scenes. Again, Linney addresses this in the interview that Cathy's 'relationship with her cancer' is now 'evolving'. I would like to see Kathy retain the fire in her belly but express it in a somewhat less expansive/destructive way and I'm pretty sure season 2 will move more in that direction.
Finally, Cathy's decision to not seek treatment for her cancer left me feeling really unsure about her future (and thus, the future of the show). I didn't know whether to commit to it or not plus I was a bit annoyed with her that she wouldn't even try to help herself medically. This too changes in the upcoming season 2.
It's looking like there are some really strong positives to this season. First, the excellent primary cast returns (sans of course, 'Marlene'). One of the relationships I got the most enjoyment from in The Big C, season 1, was that of Cathy and her brother Sean, a homeless manic-depressive who now lives on Marlene's front lawn, across the street from Kathy.
Actor Benjamin Hickey who plays Sean, is an especially good acting match-up with Ms. Linney so this is good news.
As I mentioned before, I really enjoy Oliver Platt in his believable denseness. Women have known, and many of us are in relationships with guys like Paul. The bottom line is that he seems like a really decent chap who is hard not to like despite his foibles and it would seem in Season 2 that Cathy comes to the same conclusion.
I stopped watching before I saw much of Cathy and Paul's teenage son, Sean (played by Oliver Basso). Tonight I watched a short fan clip from The Big C with the title 'The saddest scene in The Big C,' in which Basso was the only character. (cont.)
(Above is a bit longer version of it which gives it more context).
The scene lived up to it's title as tears were streaming down my face as Cathy's son discovers that she is so sure she's not gong to be there for him in the years to come that she's bought and wrapped a storage room full of birthday, Christmas, and graduation gifts as well as a pretty, red sports car. The kid just loses it--cue audience to do the same.
To sum up, I'm sold on taking another look at The Big C in season 2 as I like what I'm hearing about it. Also, I'm totally jazzed that guest actors include Alan Alda, Parker Posey, Cynthia Nixon & Hugh Dancy.
What do you think about watching these two show? Have you been watching them both. One? None? Would you consider giving them a shot?
Showtime describes The Big C thusly:
Laura Linney returns in her Golden Globe® winning role for a new season of The Big C, the hit Showtime Original Series about living… with cancer. After spending most of season one ignoring her illness, Cathy Jamison has decided to fight back. “Bring it on,” says Cathy, as she enters an experimental clinical trial while continuing to live life to the fullest in this heartfelt and surprising comedy.
HEY!:
Weeds/The Big C Poster Art Giveaway:
Of course, I'm giving away posters! Drop me an email: foreverafangirl@gmail.com. Be sure to put 'Weeds' in the subject line and if I pick your name out of a hat on July 13, you win the poster art for both Weeds and The Big C!
Vampire 'Jessica' (Deborah Ann Woll) and human roomie, 'Hoyt Fortenberry' (Jim Parrack) in a scene early in season 4 True Blood: Sam Merlotte's (Sam Trammell) new shapeshifting honey, 'Luna,' (Janina Gavankar). Sam told her he'd enjoyed the view and would try to take her from behind--when they next shift into horses and race wild together.
Plus! Episode Three True Blood Preview - 'If You Love Me,Why Am I Dyin?':
True Blood Season 4 Episode 3 "If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin?" Promo:
Having just watched episodes one and two of Season 4 True Blood on HBO and HBOGo, I think the character that surprised me most was the generally composed, very self-assured vampire sherrif Eric Northman, with his frequent displays of emotion. And this is before the big 'thing' happens near the end of episode 2! (cont.)
Warning True Blood Episode 2 SPOILERS:
Is it the vampire backlash in the wake of Russell Edgington killing the news guy on live TV killing Fangtasia business 'cos Pam seems very snarky as well?
Could Bill's !SPOILER! assendence to being the King of Louisiana be chaffing Eric just a bit or has Eric truly missed Sookie?
Not only is Eric more sentimental- sounding in eppy 1 but he's sort of mood-swingy as well. This sets the stage for the SPOILER totally new Eric not being such a jarring change from the bad boy Eric of (in Sookie's mind/time-frame) just a week ago.
She needed a plausible way to segue into bedding this guy and as of episode one we have him buying and refurbishing her house whilst she was "away"...to control her he says, but we know he means (too), protect her. He's made it clear to his second in command, vampire Pam, that he has significant feelings for Sookie-- feelings of the almost human kind. And Pam makes Sookie aware of this, causing eyebrows to be raised.
Episode 1 of True Blood went fast and was very amusing. Episode 2 has a different pace. I want to watch it again not on my HBOGo before I have a real comment on it.
True Blood Season 4 - Recap s04e01 (#37) - 'She's Not There'
Jessica - A House Is Not a Home [VIDEO]:
Babyvamp Jessica Soliciting Homemaker Tips?!
After the jump: Synopses for True Blood Episodes 1-6:
Stephen Moyer,'s True Blood Season 4 'In 3 Days Promo: Here are the some screencaps (new scenes/angles):
Check out the screencap albums for lots more:
True Blood Season 4: 3 Days PromoStephen Moyer (Bill Compton) 'Vampire Bill', 'Sookie Stackhouse's' former paramour.
True Blood Season 4: 4 Days Promo Rutina Wesley ('Tara Thorton')
OK. One question. Did Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) just throw Lafayette across the Fangtasia dungeon floor and if so, is he now putting the whammy on her? Her fierce look is getting sort of unsure--bewitched?
We've seen her dispatch with Lafayette previously in this scene and she looked very confident.:
I can't even believe how fast the season 4 premiere of True Blood has come! (pause) Kidding!
True Blood Fans have endured the sucking, waiting since August 2010 for a fresh full-length episode of True Blood to savour. But here we are, teetering on the very brink of the Sunday, June 26 9pm E HBO offering of a brand new episode and (if you signed up for HBOGo) the second episode shortly thereafter! It should pack one helluva one-two punch in the space of 24-hours or so and with any luck, the sky-high ratings will shake up 'talks' between the most brilliant Alan Ball and the 'one true premium cable network,'HBO, so that our man remains on board with the show for season 5.
I'll have more on that later--in the next couple of days--but if you have not read it before be aware this could be Alan Ball'slast season at the helm of True Blood! (again, quote attribution from the source--Ball himself) a bit later. I have both a spousal birthday and other deadlines that must be attended to ASAP!
OK. Here we go with the fishing contest in the pool full of Spoiler-ish/ True Spoilers material that Source: TVGuide has unleashed upon us! 'EDIT's are MINE!
"True Blood has brought witches, werewolves and vampires to life over the last three seasons, but everything you think you know about the supernatural beings will be upended this season.
"Everything you thought you can count on, you can't," executive producer Alan Ball says. "Vampires are not stronger than certain humans, shapeshifters can do things other than shift and there are ghosts."
Here are 10 things we TVGuide knows do know about what's coming up, straight from the cast of True Blood:
1. It's all about the witches (EDIT: Duh!): A band of witches tap into a new form of power, causing Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) to lose his memory. At the head of the coven is Marnie (Fiona Shaw), a (formerly mild-mannered, now possessed by a 1700's) vengeful witch coming into her powers and out for revenge. Unfortunately Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) will be dragged into the increasing vampire vs. witch tension. "Lafayette loves his boyfriend, [Jesus, a practicing brujo], so he's trying to deal with [magic] in stride, but it keeps sucking him in and he doesn't know what's going on," Ellis says.
"He discovers who he is in the middle of all this stuff."
SPOILER: You knew already that Lafayette is a witch, right? There have been no clues or anything. (snicker)
2. Sookie, independent woman: After discovering that Bill (Stephen Moyer) was working for (his) Queen Sophie-Anne, to gain information on her, Sookie is "learning to stand on her own," Anna Paquinsays. "At the end of last season, she was at a point where she was willing to walk away from everyone and everything, particularly those troublesome boys. It's not that she doesn't want or need anyone, she just isn't dependant anymore." That's OK for Bill, though. "Bachelorhood kind of turns out all right for Bill," Moyer says. "He's decided to enjoy it while he can."
3. Vampires in trouble: Eric's unfortunate run-in with the witches will send his lieutenant, Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten), into a downward spiral, which is bad timing in the current vampire climate. "The post-Russell Edginton world is hard for Pam," Bauer says. "It's a political environment this year, so she's supposed to be doing what the other vampires are doing — holding babies and shaking hands — but she's incapable. So we see her cause some trouble."
Pam in a downward spiral? Our vicious, beautiful, font-of-sarcastic quips Pam?! Progeny of Eric Northman, Pam? I have not been privileged as the Almighty (j/k)TVGuide to get the first three episodes of season 3 to watch but if Pammy wasn't 'downward spiralling last season when she thought Eric Dead for Sure (I suggest this as the final title in the SookieStackhouse series) and after she'd been horribly tortured by the Magister, I don't believe she's gonna 'spiral downward' in the human sense. She may act out. And when vampires act out...look out!
4. Tara returns as a new woman (EDIT/ Sorry: snooze): After getting out of Dodge in the season finale, Tara (Rutina Wesley) will return to Bon Temps hoping to turn over a new leaf, but will immediately find herself in a mess of trouble. "She gets swept back into the world of vampires so quickly," Rutina says. "She doesn't want it, but she has no choice." Fortunately, there may be hope for her yet. "If there was to be love for Tara, I think she's ready for it because I think she's learned to love herself and has opened up in a way."
Holy double-entendre, Batman! As my favourite source, "Spoiler TV" put it, (a character) is 'turning gay.' True Blood could step on a landmine with this one but I'm going to assume, given the open-mindedness in portrayal on the show of the sexual preference spectrum that this will not feel forced or cliche.
My one concern as far as I can care about the character of Tara and TBH, I don't really (but I do care about the True Blood narrative) is that in three seasons she has shown no hint at all in being attracted to women. Also, she's not particularly at an age (late 20's) where one discovers this. On top of all that she's been written as having a not-so-secret crush on Sookie's brother, Jason for most of her life. Maybe 'turning gay' is the right term but oh, they'd best be careful in making this seem, as they like to say, 'organic.'
5. Shifty shapeshifters: The days of Sam (Sam Trammell) turning into a dog or bird are child's play compared to what he'll do this season. "My character explains the full-range of capabilities that shapeshifters have, and a lot of people that she's talking to at the time don't even know some of that," says Janina Gavankar, who'll be a love interest, 'Luna,' for Sam this season. "There's a really dark side to shapeshifters as well and that's something we'll explore this year. There's potential wrongdoings that can happen."
6. Jessica, domesticated? Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Hoyt (Jim Parrack) will make a go of living together, but a human and a vampire cohabitating isn't going to be easy. "Jessica is a vampire and I'm not quite sure that domestic life is really what she's in for or what she desires," Woll says. "She's still gotta figure that out because they moved into this very quickly." Helping her navigate this life is Pam, who acts as a "big bad" older sister, says Bauer. "Pam is a very different kind of mentor for Jess than Bill is," Woll adds. "The things you might not want to tell your dad, you may tell your cool aunt."
7. Jason's growing up: Once the older slacker brother of Sookie, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) has now stepped into a role of responsibility that will get him into even more trouble. "This is the season of the biggest growth for Jason, where the young boy turns into a man," Kwanten says. "He's forced to try and raise a tribe of people and eventually fight for his life."
8. PD's into V: The end of last season teased impending trouble for Andy (Chris Bauer) when it comes to V, otherwise known as vampire blood, an addictive drug that can ruin your life (See: Jason Stakchouse, Debbie Pelt and the rest of the werewolves from Season 3). "It's like old demons, new problems," Bauer says of Season 4 for Andy.
"At first V does a lot of good. He had that cast on forever, but after a couple of drops, all of a sudden he's ready to box. He's a guy who we know has issues with substance, and he keeps saying he's done, but he's not done."
I love Chris Bauer so I'm hoping that the 'V' that he gets into (he's a semi-recovering alcoholic) gives him many juicy scenes in S4! (Get the pun? Wasn't even on purpose!)
Arlene and Terry tackle parenthood: As if Arlene (Carrie Preston) could ever be the voice of reason, she's especially on edge this season. "I wouldn't be playing Arlene correctly if I wasn't playing her fully, fully stressed out," Preston says. "When you're talking about a child or potential child, and you're talking about it having a father that was a serial killer, in Arlene's mind, she's absolutely justified in freaking out. Luckily, Arlene has found Terry [Todd Lowe], who will put up with all her insecurities." On a possibility related note, Preston adds, "Arlene is going to come face-to-face with something that we haven't even seen on the show yet." (EDIT/ Common-sense?)
10. Debbie's back, baby: Alcide's psychopathic, V-addicted ex-girlfriend, Debbie Pelt (Brit Morgan), will return this season with a new prerogative. "You're going to get to see a different side of Debbie," Morgan says, adding that Debbie will attempt to make amends with Sookie and find some normalcy. But the werewolf in her isn't gone. "You're going to get to see cool things with some of the wolves that you didn't get to see last season," she says."
Season 4 Role of 'Caroline Bellefleur', the grande dame of Bon Temps Cast and Terry's Army Buddy is in Town!:
The first thing that sprang to mind when I read that the luminous Katherine Helmond was set to appear in two episodes of True Blood in Season 4 was, 'She's still alive? Yay!'
Though folks who are not in my age demographic may not recall her as far back as 1977, one of the best television roles she had (that I've watched from start to finish) was as 'Jessica Tate' in the 30-minute TV series soap opera spoof, 'Soap" which ran from 1977-1981.
Katherine Helmond's most memorable scene in Soap--one that not only was sidesplittingly funny, but was truly a useful piece of 'life' or perhaps 'love' advice, was when Jessica coached her slightly-younger, albeit into-her-forties sister, 'Mary Campbell' (Catherine Damon), on what lovemaking position to use after you become a woman of a certain age so as not to not appear of a certain age.
After completely sincerely trying to describe it to her sister and failing, Helmond's Jessica hopped atop the kitchen table to demonstrate her point. I will not ever not be able to picture that scene in my mind, it was so funny and done so well. And dare I say, it's actually crossed my mind during, well, you know. (The gist is assume a position that allows for less 'hang' or droop of the lady's sagging parts--'nuff said?)
BOOK SPOILERS AHEAD - PROCEED WITH CAUTION:
Now the ginger-haired Ms. Helmond is set to take on a role which, though alluded to fairly often in some of the Sookie Stackhouse novels was more of a bullet point-type character--not fleshed out. (Old Mrs. Bellefleur, Andy & Portia's grandmother, was 'famous throughout Bon Temps' for her 'award-winning chocolate cakes', for being from old money-old Bon Temps, and for being short on humour.)
Helmond will guest star as Caroline Bellefleur on HBO's True Blood as grandmother to Bon Temps sheriff Andy Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) and his sister, Portia (season 4 role cast, Courtney Ford). The actress is set to appear in two episodes of Season 4, which premieres Sunday.
In the Charlaine Harris novels, Caroline Bellefleur isn't a fan of Sookie at first* and it's later revealed that Bill is Caroline's great-grandfather.
Ms. Helmond was most recently part of the voice cast for the character of Lizzie for Disney/Pixar’s Cars and it's sequel so I'm really hoping that her voice lives on forever as part of the gargantuan 'Cars' attraction going up next to Disneyland.
It should be fun to see what the True Blood writers give Caroline Bellefleur to do. I believe she was infirm in the novels, too--at least wheelchair-bound(?). The character in the book series is quite old. I want to say in her 90's(?)
*Note: Ms. Bellefleur isn't a fan of most everyone not family in the books.
In Response to True Blood Casting Call, Scott Foley Cast As Terry’s Army Buddy Patrick:
Description of character:
[PATRICK DEVINS] 35 to 45, tough and ruggedly attractive, he served in the military with Terry Bellefleur, and they share a serious history: Terry saved Patrick’s life twice. 7 out of 13 episodes next season.
Andy Milder is returning to Showtime's Weeds. The actor, who was heavily recurring in Seasons 1, 2, 4 and 5 and a regular on Season 3, did only one episode of the show during the most recent sixth season.
Now Milder is set to recur on the upcoming seventh season, reprising his role as Dean Hodes, former husband of the infamous Celia and good buddies with 'Doug' (Kevin Nealon) who remains part of the Weeds season 7 cast.
Weeds Season 7 Theme Song (Spoiler) This video was created to be similar to the Weeds Season 1-2 'Agrestic Theme'. Music: 'Black Seesaw' by Lauren Alegre 'New York. New High.'
Q: How will Nancy be different after "Plan C"? A: Don't assume that being behind bars (for 3 years) has taught Nancy anything. You'll see that her shrewd manipulation skills are as honed as ever — and she'll put them to good use on her cellmate. On the outside, things will be less copacetic, as Nancy's plan to reunite her far-flung family won't go smoothly, as not everyone will want to see her. "This year is the chickens (are) coming home to roost," executive producer Jenji Kohan says. "You can only push your family so far before they start to rebel to a certain extent, and it's about what happens then."
Some of Nancy's family doesn't want to see her initially. Shocking. Lemme guess. The kid who just prior to his Mom finally getting arrested found out that she lied to him his entire life about 'who' his father is. (That would be Silas, played by Hunter Parrish).
Also, little 4-year-old Stevie won't want to be with Nancy--at least not at first. She's a stranger to him and he's been raised by her sister, Jill!
Weeds: Mary-Louise Parker: Plan C
Mary-Louise Parker discusses where we pick up this season, Nancy's life in prison and shooting in New York City.
Weeds Season Premiere Monday June 27, 2011 only on SHO
'A little bird' told Eric of Marnie's coven and he demands that they no longer meet--ever (or else).
True Blood Season 4: Eric Clip:
True Blood Season 4: Jessica and Hoyt Clip:
Hoyt, just home after a grueling day fixing Bon Temps infrastructure complains that his dinner is not made (like mama used to?)
'Do understand how gross human food is to a vampire? It's all dead! - Jessica to Hoyt
Then Hoyt blows it by making it too personal: 'Do you think bleeding out into your mouth wasn't gross for me at first?!,' he retorts.
True Blood Season 4: Lafayette and Jesus Clip
Just a little bedroom banter about light and dark magic... Jesus assures Lafayette that he (Laffy) is 'light.'
Lafayette worries that they may be 'steppin' in on a place... where (they) don't belong.'
Update 6.24.11
'True Blood: Season 4 New 8 Clips (HBO) '
Vampire Pam goes further in her conversation with Sookie about Eric...taking a surprising tone with the part-faery telepath.
“I did some crazy stuff last year. I almost had sex with a Greek man and I was covered in his goo. Everything from here on is pretty childish. Everything’s quite innocent.” - Alexander Skarsgård:
Eric fans could have plenty to salivate over this season, which begins June 26 on HBO. This year, True Blood is inspired by book four of the Stackhouse series, Dead to the World, which features a steamy shower scene between Sookie and the tall, light and handsome vamp. Unfortunately, Skargard isn’t in the mood to kiss and tell. He will say, however, that sex this year is, um, a little more down to earth. -
Though these covers look fun, I'm more interested in any tidbits that can be gleaned from the 'behind-the-scenes' True Blood preview within. Hopefully, my (free) copy will be here um, later today.
*There's Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux, too, but I still sort of feel that he's not going to get much time with the 'sunshine in a pretty blond bottle' girl--this season anyway (just a feeling, not a spoiler).
After the jump - The Eric and Bill True Blood Season 4 EW covers:
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Eric (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Eric from the Season 3 finale.
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Jessica (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Jessica from the end of
Season 3.
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Lafayette (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Lafayette from the
Season 3 finale.
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Sookie (HBO)
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Bill (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Bill from the Season 3 finale.
The new season of True Blood premieres on June 26th only on HBO.
Here are a couple of screenshots which I maintain positively show Bill (Stephen Moyer) using his vampire super-speed to leave Queen Sophie- Anne (Evan Rachel Wood) behind instead of waging a battle--which he would surely lose--with her. I don't know, obv., if Bill locks her in and burns down the place or runs away or what...but he leaves (and his home in the new season is completely refinished or rebuilt). My guess is that the 'fight' between Vampire Bill and Queen Sophie-Anne is very short.
Check out the sceencaps from this scene and from the other characters cliffhangers!:
Seems a foregone conclusion--Bill is going to leave the Queen behind--and destroy the mansion!
More True Blood Season 3 Cliffhangers Are After the jump!:
Everyone in the regular cast of True Blood here at the Dome at the Arclight Hollywood season 4 premiere event looks really nice of course, but pretty much themselves (meaning their real-life selves) except Sam Trammell ('Sam Merlotte') who, though he often has the lovely Missy Yager at his side, has not to my knowledge appeared by her side whilst she was blooming, soon to be a mother! Congrats to both of them!
This photo is just the best!
(Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup.co)
Todd Lowe 'True Blood' Season 4 Premiere: Red Carpet:
(Image Credit: Tina Gill/PR Photos)
I just wanted to again note how much Todd Lowe transforms himself into the character 'Terry Bellfleuer', the shell-shocked Gulf War vet-short order cook on True Blood. "
He is one fine-looking man and I think more pics of him---maybe in his band would be really nice in addition to the MANY shots of the "big three." Love them too, but oi, they are everywhere and there are only so many poses and facial gestures they can make for variety (and it's been 4 years!) So more Todd Lowe, please?
Finally, for looking her age (early 20's) and adorable:
Weeds Season 7 - Let's Give 'em Something To Talk About! Nancy's Jailhouse Lesbian Scene:
With the premiere of Weed's on Showtime soon upon us, media clips from the show are sprouting up like well, weeds!
Of course, Nancy Botwin hooks up with her cellmate! In the face of the seductive power of Mary-Louise Parker, we are all helpless. Showtime's ever-excellent Weeds returns for season seven on June 27, and we learn that when Nancy went to prison to escape Esteban (Demián Bichir), she settled in just fine, thank you very much, as evidenced by her romance with Russian-born "roommate" Zoya (Olga Sosnovska).
Scroll down and press play on the E! video to see Nancy and Zoya make out, and find out why Nancy is less than overjoyed that she's being released from the big house. SOURCE: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b248483_weeds_exclusive_sneak_peek_nancys.html#ixzz1PzbGaQhw
Pot-selling single mom turned Mexican mafia princess turned escape artist:
Nancy Botwin turned herself in to the FBI rather than face certain death at the hands of her vengeful ex Esteban and his goon squad. It's now three years later and Nancy is sprung from the joint and making a fresh start in New York City. Will Nancy be able to successfully reunite her far-flung family and keep her hands clean? Don't miss a minute of Season 7 of the hit Showtime Original Series. New episodes beginning Monday June 27th at 10PM ET/PT.
Nancy's Jailhouse Lesbian Love Affair Behind the Scenes Video:
Published on Jun 20, 2011 by SHOWTIME
Weeds is back for a whole new season, get a behind the scenes look at what's to come.
BONUS: After the jump - Nancy's Jailhouse Lesbian Love Affair Behind the Scenes Screencaps:
Vampire Pam & Sookie the Part-Faery Telepath Bond Over Their Mutual Dislike Of Estrogen-fueled Bookclubs:
Am I mistaken or is this one of the first times that Pam (played by Kristen Bauer van Straten) has used Sookie's (Anna Paquin) first name other than when speaking of her, like when talking to (then glamouring) Sookie's brother Jason when he first went to Fangtasia in search of V?
Pam's voice is just dripping wih sarcasm though Sookie doesn't seem to be intimidated. Should be a very cool scene.
SOOKIE STACKHOUSE BOOK SPOILER!!!:
Wonder if, like in the books (you knew that was coming!) Sookie and Pam will become friends? Pam refers to Sookie as her 'best human friend' in the books though obviously not in that 'estrogen' girls-bonding way. LOL.
What could she be referring to when she tells Sookie that 'Eric is (Pam's) maker so Sookie couldn't have possibly believed that Pam 'would side with her' (Sookie)?
NEW & Same-scene Sneak Peek Screencaps:
True Blood Season 4: One Week Promo (below)
True Blood Season 4: 6 Days Promo Ater the jump: True Blood Season 4: 7 Days Promo - True Blood Season 4: The Blood is Back Promo
Will You Be As Shocked By the Big Reveal As Jackie Is?:
Whether it is the delicate topic of mental illness (United States of Tara), drug-dealing moms (Weeds), sex addiction (Californication), drug addiction (Nurse Jackie) or living with incurable cancer (The Big C), the Showtime network never seems to flinch in taking on these topics while simultaneously injecting biting humour into their half-hour comedy offerings.
There's nothing inherently funny in any of the overarching themes in these series but having made their way onto the premium network, many have gone on to earn high accolades and great success.
Next on Episode 12: Jackie dodges a urine test; Kevin makes a stunning confession.
Nurse Jackie's third season-ender, 'Deaf, Blind Tumor Pee-Test' is tonight (Monday June 20) and for me, the success of this particular episode is mixed.
Season 3 of Nurse Jackie had a different tone to it than the previous two seasons. It had to, as at the end of season 2, Jackie's secret was out to both her husband and her best friend, who joined together in attempting--and failing at-- a hastily-called intervention.
The last 12 episodes of Nurse Jackie have been about her dealing with aftermath of that intervention and though there were plenty of laughs surrounding the supporting characters, there was also quite a bit of 'gallows humour' involving those closest to Jackie (the Emmy & Golden Globe-winning and currently Tony-nominated, Edie Falco).
I commend the Nurse Jackie writers for making Jackie face the consequences as viewers of better television dramas (which this is), even comedy dramas, can be quite demanding in 'keeping it real.' It was time.
They could have gone a few different ways after Jackie's dark secret was discovered. As it happened, Jackie flipped off both her spouse, Kevin (played by Dominic Fumusa--above) and her best friend, Dr. Eleanor O'Hara, played exquisitely by Eve Best (below). I'm really hoping to see some awards-time recognition for Best's performance as she was pitch-perfect.
With Jackie still in denial about her pain-killer drug addiction, life went on but she remained on a very rocky path. Jackie tried lying about quitting only to run out of her stash and start showing obvious withdrawal symptoms. When you are surrounded by medical caregivers that is tough to hide. But as her former paramour 'Eddie' (played by Paul Schulze) told Jackie, her ability to prevaricate is beyond any he's witnessed in his lifetime (paraphrase). Most of the time she had almost everyone fooled, especially those that were in denial themselves that a high-functioning nurse like Jackie could have such a huge monkey on her back.
After Jackie's smarmy drug-dealer was (fittingly) run over by a Mack truck before her eyes as he prepared to cross the street to meet her, Jackie was forced to go cold-turkey. The sudden withdrawal left her wide open for being found out so, in real pain and desperation she stole some morphine patches that were being sent over to Oncology. The missing patches were quickly noted and an investigation by HR was underway.
All of the additional stress kept the heat on at home. Both the kids, who were unaware on a conscious level of their mother's problem, reacted to what must have been an atmosphere of a powder keg about to blow by acting out. Younger daughter 'Fiona', tried to set a fire in school and the eldest, 'Grace' (so very sadly) secretly pulled out handfuls of her own hair. Finally, Fiona asked to be medicated. Spouse Kevin'appeared to do a stitch-by-stitch coming apart at the seams until the final episode--the season 3 finale tonight, in which there is the 'big reveal.'
In the Season 3 finale tonight Jackie will find herself in a truly unique situation.
Synopsis Nurse Jackie Season 3 Finale:
Jackie dodges Akalitus's request for a urine sample and forgets to order a cake for Coop's wedding; Kevin makes a stunning confession that leads to a marital split; Coop's bride stands him up at the altar.
Given the very short half-hour slot that it had to fit in, I would have preferred to see both episodes 11 and 12 back-to-back as the big reveal felt a bit rushed to me. It is going to be very interesting to find out just how she handles things now that Dr. O'Hara has begun supplying 'Jacks' with pain-killer dosages that are meant to be reduced until Jackie is drug-free. That is the plan, anyway. Will it actually come to fruition in combination with the consequences of the big reveal?
You are just gonna have to tune in to season 4 to find out.
Iconic rock saxophonist Clarence Clemons died Saturday at age 69 of complications from a stroke, bandmate Bruce Springsteen said:
Clarence Clemons performs with Aretha Franklin on her 1985 recording 'Freeway Of Love': (VIDEO after the jump)
The story of how Bruce Springsteen and The Big Man began making history together--as told by Clarence Clemons:
One night we were playing in Asbury Park. I'd heard The Bruce Springsteen Band was nearby at a club called The Student Prince and on a break between sets I walked over there. On-stage, Bruce used to tell different versions of this story but I'm a Baptist, remember, so this is the truth.
A rainy, windy night it was, and when I opened the door the whole thing flew off its hinges and blew away down the street. The band were on-stage, but staring at me framed in the doorway. And maybe that did make Bruce a little nervous because I just said, "I want to play with your band," and he said, "Sure, you do anything you want."
The first song we did was an early version of "Spirit In The Night." Bruce and I looked at each other and didn't say anything, we just knew. We knew we were the missing links in each other's lives. He was what I'd been searching for. In one way he was just a scrawny little kid. But he was a visionary. He wanted to follow his dream. So from then on I was part of history.
Cover art featuring Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen on The E Street Band's breakthrough album, 'Born To Run':
In concerts Bruce would always introduce "The E Street Shuffle" with a monologue about how they met with the magicl moment immortalized in the song 'Tenth Avenue Freeze out,' the second song on Bruce Springsteen's breakthrough album 'Born to Run.'
Clarence Clemons' E Street Band 'Jungleland' Solo - Stockholm - June 7th 09 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011), also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the tenor saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985 had a hit single with "You're a Friend of Mine", a duet with Jackson Browne. As a guest musician he also featured on Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love" ...Clemons published his autobiography, Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales, in 2009. Clemons suffered a stroke on June 12, 2011 and died due to complications from the stroke on June 18 at 69 years old.
In announcing Clarence Clemons' death, E Street Band leader Bruce Springsteen said:
"Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage," Springsteen said in a statement.
"His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years. He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."
Clemons played on such classic Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band hits as "Born to Run" and "Thunder Road" and is widely credited with helping to shape Springsteen's sound.
After the jump: Clarence Clemons talks about his the musical 'marriage' with Bruce Springsteen; Clemons performing with Aretha Franklin on 1985's 'Freeway Of Love':
Dexter is currently in production (see photo) with the Showtime series about a serial killer promising that the upcoming sixth season (premiering this fall) will bring the character, played Michael C. Hall, 'back to his roots'.
This week Dexter is filming at an auto repair shop around Cherry Ave & E Burnett St in Signal Hill, CA.
OLV reader Charlotte stopped by the set yesterday and spotted Michael C. Hall shooting a scene at the location which will be used throughout the season.
SPOILER: For this particular scene, it appeared that Dexter had gotten into a car accident and that’s why he was there. He was also spotted running out of shop with someone chasing him during the shoot.
New cast members announced thus far include Edward James Olmos, Colin Hanks, and the recently cast Molly Parker (Deadwood). New information about the season 6 guest actors seems to trickle out several times per week so I'll take a stab (pun entirely intentional) at tying it all together.
According to TV Line, Molly Parker, the esteemed Canadian actress who many know from her memorable turn in Deadwood, will play the sister to Colin Hanks’ character, Travis. (He’s “a brilliant expert on ancient artifacts who somehow becomes linked to a series of grisly murders in Miami.”).
Though Dexter showrunners have stated that there will be no 'one' big bad in Season 6, with Edward James Olmos on board it is hard to fathom him in a passive role and really satisfying to envision him as a scary son-of-a-gun.
TV Line alluded to this when they chatted with CS Lee, who plays Masuka, who says that the character played by EJO is almost certainly a villain, and may be the villain.
“It seems to be that way… The guy is such a wonderful actor and such a presence that you would probably shoot yourself in the foot if you didn’t do that. He’s going to be great.”
And this makes me even more curious:
In episode four of season six, called 'A Horse of a Different Color,' Dex faces off a preacher, a pastor and a "bit of a religious fanatic."
Anyone wondering if Olmos will be one of these guys?
TVLine has exclusively learned that Parker will appear in several Season 6 episodes of the Showtime drama as 'Lisa Marshall', the sister of Colin Hanks’ mysterious new character, Travis. Sounds innocent enough, but details surrounding Parker’s role are scarce — which piques our interest even more.
As TVLine first reported, Hanks will appear in all 12 episodes of Dexter‘s sixth season as a brilliant expert on ancient artifacts who somehow becomes linked to a series of grisly murders in Miami. It remains unclear if Travis will turn out to be a friend or foe of a certain Dark Passenger. Either way, as Showtime president David Nevins recently told TVLine, this year’s installment “ is not [about] one big bad.”
So the 'not about one big bad' statements, combined with one of the the season's taglines: 'going back to (Dexter's) roots,' sounds like it means that as in the early seasons, Dexter will take on multiple bad guys.
I have to wonder though if the writers are not responding to the mixed reaction to season 5, which featured Julia Stiles as 'Lumen,' a torture and rape victim that Dexter stumbled upon, then helped in her recovery by teaching her how to exact revenge on the men responsible. Lumen knows Dexter's secret as well as how to wield a knife, though after the last of her abusers was 'put down,' Lumen seemed repulsed at the notion of any more killing and made a hasty exit.
Here’s Showtime’s blurb about Dexter season six:
This season, Dexter goes from happily married husband to guilt-ridden single dad. How will it affect his ability to maintain an average-guy facade while satisfying his need to kill? Dexter Morgan spent Season 5 atoning for the death of his wife Rita. He committed to being a part of her children’s lives, and entered into a deep, passionate relationship with Lumen, unlike anything he’d ever had before. But Dexter’s need to kill overpowers his desire for human connection. And now that one person knows the truth about him, and a few others are close, how much longer will America’s favorite serial killer be able to keep his dark side a secret?
Even though I thought this was it... the trailer below, released June 16, 2011, is in fact, "the very last" preview TRAILER you shall get of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II prior to it's July 16 premiere:
I just finished watching this trailer approximately 47 times in order to secure some gasp-inducing screenshots which after you too find yourself pressing 'play again' again, you can take a leisurely look through.
Don't forget to enlarge them to full size in order to appreciate what is positively going to be the Harry Potter film that packs both the most emotional wallop as well as every other permutation of wallop imaginable. Oi, the soundtrack itself it just mind-bending! The soundtrack in a 2 minute clip!
Once again *ahem* Warner Bros. has released the latest spot for their epic wizard finale, which features the final face off between the absolute good of Harry Potter and the pure evil of Voldemort.
Directed by David Yates, the film strikes a tone of bleak darkness, yet contains the thread of hope that The Boy Who Lived can save the world, once and for all, from the Dark Arts uprising.
On a recent Friday, on a soundstage representing a New Age shop in Shreveport, La., another sign warned “Live panthers on set,” but those terrifying predators were nowhere to be seen. Instead, Sookie Stackhouse, the mind-reading, vampire-attracting waitress portrayed by Anna Paquin, and her friends Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) were cowering in fear of a sinister Wiccan, played by Fiona Shaw, who appeared to be carrying on a conversation with herself — or maybe with someone else inside her.
When Ms. Paquin visited behind the cameras during a shooting break and sprawled herself across a director’s chair, she playfully declined to explain what exactly had transpired in this scene from the next-to-last episode of the coming “True Blood” season.
“Would you want to know what you’re getting for Christmas on Christmas Eve?” she asked. “There’s something about anticipation that makes it more exciting.”
TRUE BLOOD kicks off its 12-episode fourth season SUNDAY, JUNE 26 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), on HBO, followed by other new episodes on subsequent Sundays at the same time.
E!Online reported on Wednesday that a True Blood 'set spy' (loose lips sinks ships) says there is a statue of Michelle Forbes' evil maenad Maryann in the back room of the Moon Goddesses magic shop that features heavily in this season's witch storyline.
Had a brief encounter with an old friend just now. It's going on 6 years since I first came upon him on the Showtime network. Since then, I've spent only about 12 hours each year in his company but he always has made a tremendous *ahem* impression.
I'm truly, deeply moved that he's taken time to tell me that soon we will reunite.
Despite a false start or two last year, he now seems stone-cold certain that he is 'renewed, recharged (and) refocused with nothing to stop (him) from being 'Dexter'.
More Answers About What's Happened in WEEDS 3-Year Time Jump to Season 7:
You already know that Season 7 (debuting June 27) picks up three years after the events of Season 6. What you don’t know is what Doug has been up to during those lost three years, other than he was in Copenhagen. And that’s where the scoop comes in.
“Doug got a job working as an accountant for IKEA — if that is in Denmark,” reveals his portrayer, Kevin Nealon.
Bring it On! Promo for Weeds & The Big C (June 07, 2011) The Big C and Weeds return for all new seasons June 27th beginning at 10PM ET/PT.
Weeds/The Big C Poster Art Giveaway:
Of course, I'm giving away posters! Drop me an email: foreverafangirl@gmail.com. Be sure to put 'Weeds' in the subject line and if I pick your name out of a hat on July 13, you win the poster art for both Weeds and The Big C!
WEEDS : A PEEK A LIFE THREE YEARS LATER
When Weeds returns for its 7th season on June 27, there will be much for us to catch up on in the world of Nancy Botwin, who at the end of last season turned herself into police.
So, what’s waiting for her on the other side of the fence? A halfway house, for one. And also her family, which had been holding up in Copenhagen and went through some changes of their own, according to creator Jenji Kohan. Silas got into modeling, Shane kept busy doing puppet theater, Doug joined them overseas*(see 6.15.11 update above), and Andy “had a nice little thing going” with a woman. But, Kohan says, despite their new lives, Nancy’s release causes them to “quickly mobilize” and return.
“They had their relationships and their things, but there was a sense that they were always treading water because Nancy seems to be their True North. When you don’t have that star in the sky, you get a little lost,” Kohan says.
But while their dedication to Nancy has not changed, Kohan couldn’t say the same for their physical appearance.
“Shane has mutton chops and a Mohawk and he looks pretty cool, and Silas is very buff, and Andy’s a little grayer, but nothing radical.”
Unless you count Stevie.
“Oh, Stevie, yes! Stevie’s now almost 4 so he’s a little boy, and he talks. That’s a whole new ballgame — the toddler game. It’s not an infant anymore — not a little blob — it’s a person."
I think it is safe to say that Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) is never going to cop to having any regrets. Or if she does, she won't contemplate them long enough to use the new-found insights to change her perpetually self-destructive behaviour. For as long as we've known this character she's seemed to operate in a permanent state of 'emergency mode' plastered over with a veneer of zen-like calmness with a not insignificant amount of 'eff it' thrown into the mix. It is a hat trick that few actresses could pull off as convincingly as Parker does. Showtime certainly picked the right gal to get the job done.
SPOILERS BELOW:
I really, really like that Nancy was arrested and served 3 years time for the bludgeoning death of 'Pilar,' Nancy's now-ex's ex, a powerful Mexican gangster. Shane actually clubbed the woman, who was making serious death threats against the Botwin kids. Though Weeds is obviously not grounded in 'reality' reality and in fact Nancy has had to endure many consequences, jail time should appease those who felt she was getting off too easily.
Mary-Louise Parker, Justin Kirk, Kevin Nealon and the boys, played by Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould, are all immensely likable and really know their way around these characters after 6 seasons of playing them. It's a fun show to watch and at one-half hour running time, there's very little time investment. (You already subscribe to Showtime, don't you? Need reasons? Try Dexter, Shameless & Californication, for starters.)
Martin Short and Aidan Quinn are the latest additions to the seventh season of Showtime’s Weeds, which is now confirmed to pack the one-two punch of a time jump and a major change in location--to New York City.
Sneak Peek Photos from Weeds Season 7, Episode 7.02 "From Trauma Cometh Something" (July 4)
Pretty sure that this is a shot of Andy (Justin Kirk) and Shane (Alexander Gould) attempting to see Nancy in the half-way house. Note that 'Shane' does not have 'a mohawk' as show creator Jenji Kohan interviewed (above). Shane has a 'fauxhawk,' which combed a different way, would look like his 'normal' hair. Really can't say much about the mutton chop sideburns other than they look really fake and I doubt if they'll last more than an episode or two...
Helena Bonham Carter's fierce fashion individuality often suggests, nay insists, that there is much more to her than just a dressed-up thespian:
Helena Bonham-Carter seems to always dress in a way that expresses exactly who she is or feels like being at any given time. She looks like she is having fun with fashion--unlike so many of her peers who look as if they are enduring wearing whatever uber-fancy outfit their stylists have chosen for them for important (read: camera-friendly) events. IMO, Bonham-Carter never looks 'thrown together,' though others have snarked about how she doesn't appear to know how to match things properly (colours, a pair of shoes, etc.).
The stark reality is that in Bonham-Carter's day job in show business she is considered 'of a certain age' and that age means far fewer film roles as each year passes. She is smart and savvy to seque into something she enjoys (dressing up) that will pay the bills (face of Marc Jacobs!)
Actress Helena Bonham Carter has joined ...Victoria Beckham, Dakota Fanning and Sofia Coppola to become the latest face of U.S label Marc Jacobs.
The choice may seem like an odd one, especially as Helena is a devoted Vivienne Westwood fan, but perhaps talks began after Jacobs dressed the actress for the SAG awards...
But her mismatched style earned her a place on the Vanity Fair Best Dressed List last year.
The Harry Potter star, 44, who counts Marie Antoinette as one of her style icons, told the New York Daily News: 'It was a triumph! ....It made me laugh because I thought it was a joke when I found out.
'But when I saw the article, I thought, "Oh, the photos they've chosen are as bad as the ones they print when I'm worst dressed."'
True Blood fan favourites Alexander Skarsgård (Eric), Kristen Bauer van Straten (Pam), and Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica) are photographed filming possibly the final episode of Season 4 of HBO's mega-hit supernatural series, True Blood in La Puente, CA on June 9th, 2011. The darkened set included bodies on the ground for the scene. True Blood season 4 debuts on HBO on June 26 on every Internet viewing device you own.*
*as long as you subscribe to HBO.
SPOILER!!!
There is no doubt, given how how far along the show is in filming season 4, that this very well could be part of the epic battle that many devoted book fans have been waiting for.
At this point, Eric has regained most if not all of his memory--defo he's remembering to use the styling gel and to forgo the unfortunate plaid shirts that he sported whilst in Sookie's care after being robbed of his memory by the witches.
**Note: In this photo set both 'Pam' and 'Jessica' are dressed similarly (combat boots, ponytails). However, their jackets are not the same--'Jess' is in leather and 'Pam' is not, for one. Can't mistake Mr. Skarsgård, tho'! :D
Jumping from 'Faeryland' into the portal, back to Sookie's world SPOILERS:
Claudine's brother Claude (at right) told Sookie than since she had NOT eaten the light fruit she could go through the portal but her granddaddycould NOT because (in so many words) he'd been eating the light fruit (for 20 human years). So, Granddaddy gave Sookie a prod, then jumped with her which means this is probably the last of Gary Cole for awhile or forever. Hope not.
There is an ominous 'crying Sookie' in some sneak peeks snaps (see previous album here) when she first returns to Bon Temps. I wondered why...now it seems 'Granddaddy' did not get through the portal. Hopefully he did not die getting Sookie through. :(
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OK. I'd lay down $ that this is faery godmother 'Claudine' in her 'real' guise. Queen Mab is not AT ALL pleased with this turn of events involving Claudine's 'charge', one 'Miss Sookie Stackhouse.'
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 new poster art, this time featuring the dragon from Gringotts that our heroes escape on.
This dragon guards the Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and when Harry Potter, Ron Weesly, and Hermione Granger go there in Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in their horcrux quest, they encounter the Gringott's dragon. As you might guess from the nifty banner, hilarity does not ensue.
I found this a very edge-of-your-seat book (title, same as film w/out 'Part 2') sequence for the young wizard trio, so I'm really looking forward to seeing it played out, outside of my imagination.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Synopsis:
The end begins when Harry goes back to Hogwarts to destroy the final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about the mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is again directed by British filmmaker David Yates, of Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince previously. The script was also written again by Steve Kloves, of Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and also Half-Blood Prince, but not Order of the Phoenix. This is based on J.K. Rowling's phenominallypopular series of books which have already concluded. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 arrives in theaters in 2 and 3D starting on July 15th 2011.
In anticipation of the June 26 HBO Season 4 debut, HBO has released 24 NEW HQ character and cast images!:
If you click through you can enlarge them fully and do with them as you wish. I spy quite a few that would make great wallpapers!
(Pictured above: Left to right - Alexander Skarsgård, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer)
Here are some really cool cast and character True Blood HQ season 4 photos:
I like that most seem not overly Photoshopped. There are imperfections here and there--stray hairs, some bloodshot eyes, a bit of lint showing up on dark fabric. Just like real people--except yes, prettier than many of us! Rutina Wesley (Tara) has such an awesome smile--lights up her whole face.
For the few bloggers that seem out of sorts about Anna, Steve and Kristen wearing their real-life wedding bands/rings, these are a mix of cast and character photos. I mean c'mon, other than the big night at the end of season 2 when Bill rented out an entire fancy restaurant in order to propose to Sookie, have you ever seen Sookie Stackhouse as fancied-up as she is in the photos here? Non.
IDK, if given a redo, if the photographer would have asked the cast to take off their personal effects as well as gotten crazy with a lint brush and eye-drops (poor Kristen Bauer van Straten appears to have injured her right eye in one shot-- it is terribly bloodshot--made me wince in sympathy).
Bottom line? I have no knowledge of the circumstances of this wonderful set of shots of our heroes (and anti-heroes) but I think like much of the barrage of True Blood-related publicity it may have been done on the fly--which is cool with me. I like the way the little imperfections make them seem (ironically, in some cases) more human.
After the jump: Official True Blood Season 4 Press Release!
True Blood Season 4 starts June 26, 9 pm on HBO--in any form you wish to view it in! :):
Fun, behind-the-scenes clip from Entertainment Tonight (Canada). Nice little interview with Anna Paquin in costume as Sookie. As usual, she is super-polite--and gives away absolutely nothing, LOL.
Sample: 'Eric is good to her (Sookie)...and it's kind of confusing...but it's nice.'
For his part ASkars ('Eric'), with that crazy-sexy-boyish-looking, styling-gel free look he'll sport until he gets his memory back, enthuses about how much fun he is having this season on True Blood. I can't imagine that this time in his career is anything but fun.
Stephen Moyer (Sookie's now ex,'Bill Compton') almost seems sad about Sookie's conflict of emotions. Is he just acting or does he miss his true-life true love Anna, since they seem to lack scenes together in season 4 (gotta watch to find out)? I'm sure Stephen can console himself each night (morning?) after shooting when he can go home and snuggle in marital bliss with Ms. Paquin Moyer.
The Digging Up Season 3 HBO special which, at the VERY end included teasers/spoilers for Season 4 of True Blood is worth a closer, second look:
True Blood: Watch FULL 20 Minute VIDEO 'Digging Up Season 3' NOW!
In the special, some of the cast members recapped what happened during the last season (Season 3) in a helpful effort to entice fans to watch season 4. Or, for those of us too cheap to buy the DVD or perhaps consider that seeing the season once was enough, yet we still don't want to forget stuff when season 4 premieres on HBO on June 26.
At the end of the Season 3 recap we were offered yet another sneak peak at Season 4 in HBO's ongoing effort to staunch #TBWithdrawalknowing that #WaitingSucks. Notably absent was commentary from TB stars Anna Paquin (SookieStackhouse), Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) and Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte).
Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby) opines that'Season 4 is about everyone’s true identities being revealed.' Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette Reynolds)'reveals' that Lafayette enters a new world that he has never seen before (and that says a lot for Lala!). Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman) says we will see a 'brand new Eric' in Season 4. (Duh,duh, dun! The Viking is still gonna have that SPOILER! amnesiac episode(!) Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam de Beaufort) tells us that there will be 'diresituations. (Kudos to Ms. Bauer van Straten for refraining from hyperbole--no small task when you are 'hyping' True Blood.)
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse) says there will be a 'lot more blood and a lot more sex this season....just like people expect of True Blood' (slight paraphrase). Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton) says we may see 'some happiness for a while,'... but that it 'won’t last...because this is True Blood.'
Ms. Wesley has said this before in re: season 4 about her character, Tara Thornton. Poor Rutina seems absolutely unenthused about True Blood season 4. Can you blame her? Can't blame Ryan Kwanten, either for summing up the show's appeal as 'sex and blood,' as his character is best known for having sex and getting his arse kicked, literally & figuratively.
No more talk of the 'greatwriting and fantastic cast', guys?
Rutina Wesley as 'Tara Thornton' and Alexander Skarsgård as 'Eric Northman' in Season 4 True Blood on HBO (June 26 premiere in U.S.):
Original airdate 'Digging Up Season 3'Season 4 True Blood Tease VIDEO: June 7, 2011. It appears that Eric attacks Tara but it smells more of a witchy trap to me.
Screencaps: True Blood 'Digging Up Season 3' Season 4 True Blood Tease VIDEO Screencaps Credit: HBO, inc./ From & thanks bunches: TheTrueBloodSource
True Blood's fourth season guest stars Courtney Ford (Dexter) as Detective Andy Bellefleur's lawyer sister Portia, Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter's Petunia Dursely) as the season's witchy fortune-teller and a member of Jesus' coven Marnie a/k/a / possessed by 'Hallow Stonebrooke', and Gary Cole as 'Grandady' Earl Stackhouse. (found at ugo.com)
This promo aired after the "Digging Up True Blood Season 3" on HBO.
The Digging Up Season 3HBO special to promote the DVD (that aired June 7th) showed some new scenes. Some were additions to previous teases.
Season 4 is about the 'characters true identities being revealed,' says Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica).
Jessica is seen feeding off an unidentified male.
Much more after the jump!
Pam vs. Lafayette in the Fangtasia dungeon, Tara' s new girlfriend? Queen Mab returns!
'Vamping':Jessica Tuck ('Nan Flanagan') Stephen Moyer ('Bill Compton'), Kristin Bauer van Straten ('Pam Swynford de Beaufort'), Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman) and Deborah Ann Woll ('Jessica Hamby')
Ausiello-one-time-only-rant ('cos who wants to be as tedious to read as he is?):
Though Ausiello may be considered to be an awesome spoiler source (I'm looking at you @HBO), Ausiello himself is not a genuine True Blood fan, as hard as he may try to convince us as such (I take that back; he doesn't really try, does he?). I say this partly because he or his minions get basic things like the name of the actress who plays Pam, Kristen Bauer van Straten, wrong all the time--which back in the day was a huge no-no and IMO, still is (esp. considering how high-profile i.e. well-paid the guy is).
He gets plenty else wrong too about True Blood, mainly when he's feigning excitement about knowing that which we don't. In fact, we actually or probably do know because we love the show, we've read the books, and we 'troll'* the Internet for True Blood tidbits (Hint: Some comment sections on the better-quality TB fan sites are excellent sources).
*as in 'fish for'
Ausiello: There was a...nice surprise in my mailbox...the first three episodes of Season 4!... I’m going to declare that the show gets off to its strongest start yet. The trouble is, there’s not much I can tell you without spoiling one of the biggest (literally and figuratively) twists in the series’ history. But give me a second, I’ll think of something… Oooh, there’s a very subtle clue in this trailer.
Also:
| An unlikely new romance takes shape.
(Fansite Sookieverse Blog seems to be leaning in the direction of this couple being Tara and her new, cage-match fighting BFF. My opinion: Making Tara a lesbian will not make her more interesting).
| * *i***** *******e* ***s.
(I hate stoopid puzzles like this.)
| Pam is at her bitchiest best.
(Ya think?! Wow. This is new for Pam! *sarcasm*.)
| Jessica makes Hoyt dinner — sounds boring but I swear it’s not.
(Will it be raw and bloody?!)
| There’s some big real estate news — sounds boring but I swear it’s not.
(Speculated at Sookieverse (see above) to be Eric buying up Sookie's home since she'll have been gone to Faeryland far longer than she expected. Theory is, Sook paid no real estate taxes in that year so it went to auction and Eric bought it. Guess then he wouldn't have to ask to go inside!)
| Sam comes dangerously close to exposing his naughty bits.
(It's HBO. I've seen more male naughty bits on Game of Thrones than I ever again wanna see on my flat screen EVAR! But Sam Trammell ('Sam Merlotte'), that would be OK--I would in no way feel in 'danger.')
Hey Nurse Jackie fans! Just a reminder, Nurse Jackie is back tonight, June 6!:
'Nurse Jackie': Eve Best as Dr. O'Hara, Peter Facinelli as 'Dr. Cooper ('Coop')
Episode 10 of Nurse Jackie (the next episode), 'F**k The Lemurs,' will air on Showtime on Monday, June 6./EDIT. Sorry, sorry, sorry. I pulled up my wall calendar, skipping June altogether and messed up the date (tho' not day). It is now correct/end EDIT
It's a bit tense waiting 2 weeks as last we saw of Jackie she was reeling from her drug supplier's sudden death (by Mack truck), forcing her to go cold turkey, only to leave us hanging as she took a evening stroll down the middle of Madison Avenue.
I thought it was one of the most powerful episodes of Nurse Jackie, ever. No matter how rough things have gotten since we've come to know Jackie Peyton, she found a reserve of 'salvation' to tide her over hidden somewhere. Before, Jackie appeared to have a rock solid foundation despite her painkiller addiction. Obviously, she had us fooled (though deep down, the audience knew better), because right now she is coming apart at the seams and it is scary to watch.
It is a testament to Edie Falco's nuanced performance that the show has brought the audience to the edge with Jackie and now we too, are looking down at the great abyss. Eve Best has turned in a performance worthy of Emmy nomination too, in her role of Jackie's best friend and as head of the ER, her boss.
Preview Nurse Jackie: Episode 10, 'Eff the Lemurs' -
Grace asks her psychologist to be put on medication; Jackie is placed on probation over the drugs she stole from Oncology; Coop reserves the chapel for a wedding.
Golden Globe HBO afterparty (2010) Credit: HBO inc.
Be Part of Something BIG - Facing the Atlantic - Face The World - Helping Disfigured Children Worldwide:
It's been said before but it bears repeating, the True Blood cast is among the most generous bunch of 'creatives' in show business. Despite their many commitments including shooting their hit HBO supernatural vampire melodrama True Blood, thespian husband Stephen Moyer ('Bill Compton') and wife, Anna Paquin ('SookieStackhouse') are working to raise funds for a cause you may be familiar with and if not, once you hear about it I'm sure you'll agree is extremely worthwhile.
Below are the formal details but suffice to say this cause can't be construed as anything but hugely important and all the folks making it possible from the adventurers to the bidders on the auctions to the following websites who reach out and do their best to serve the cause are to be commended and sincerely appreciated:
Here is what is happening and why you should care about it: On behalf of Facing The World, a humanitarian organisation, the exciting and challenging project Facing The Atlantic will participate in a non-stop-row from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
Is anyone wondering, like me if Sookie's faery godmother, Claudine changes too? I didn't see _any_ faeries that remained unchanged after Sookie zapped Queen Mab.
It's cool that Barry-the-bellboy popped up--but he had more face time in the books than he's yet had so I think they could give him something to do with the Fae storyline. He's a telepath which means he is valuable to just about everyone, it seems. And in the same amount of danger as Sookie. It would suck if they killed him off quickly.
Maggots on the lumiere fruit: (Images Credit: HBO, inc.)
There's not much time at all to savour the deliciousness that is the land of the Fae a/k/a 'Fairyland' before everything turns all maggoty in the first 6 minutes of True Blood Season 4.
The TB Season 4 premiere does not give our heroine, Sookie Stackhouse (the very awesome Anna Paquin), who has recently discovered that in addition to having a life-long, inherited, telepathic 'gift' she is also a small part 'faery' or one of the Fae, [Book SPOILER] due to a daliance Earl Stackhouse's (Gary Cole) wife (the lady that we knew for far too short a time as Sookie's 'Gran') had with Fintan, a human-Fae hybrid.
Neither Sookie nor the audience gets a heavy dose of the sugar-sweet, just-too 'happy' to-be-authentic,'Land of the Fae' before a very-weary-of-the-bullshite Sookie smells something bad. Indeed. The 'light fruit' is literally crawling with maggots. Ew.
Queen Mab has made her presence known and that she will have her WILL be done!
Alan Ball and Co. like to lead viewers down the rose petal-strewn garden path then take a sharp detour into some very dark, thorn-covered places. That's because at it's core, True Blood is savoury good fun but of the distinctly dark-humoured, horror-tinged kind:
So much for the snarky comments that Faeryland was going to stay laughably cheesy.
Season 4 looks like it gets off to a rollicking start.
Wait. What was that?
Oh, just 'Queen Mab' being sent sailing by Sookie's 'microwave fingers' across the courtyard into that knarled-up old tree. No biggie. She'd tried to have her minions (see above) force-feed sookie a light-fruit. Sookie reacted.
After trying to force-feed Sookie a light fruit Queen Mab is sent hurling into a huge old tree--which dies instantly-- seemingly along with the rest of 'faeryland'--which turns from warm & lively oranges and pink hues with pretty faeries everywhere to dead-looking shades of gray populated with distraught, dirty, troll-looking creatures.
Oh shite!
'Grandaddy, run!'
True Blood VIDEO First 6 minutes Episode 1 Season 4:
Brea Grant Photo Credit: Screened.com (Click to enlarge)
Showtime are certainly going to be cutting some paychecks this season for the upcoming season 6 of fantastic serial killer series 'Dexter'. Yet another new cast member Brea Grant, has joined the line-up which already includes Mos Def, Colin Hanks and Edward James Olmos. This time it's the turn of the cute 'Heroes' and 'Halloween II' star to join Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter and company. According to her brief statement on the subject (also below) she appears to be hinting that'll she be joining as one of the lab guys. From a recent release from the casting agency Masuka (played by C.S Lee) should be expecting a new intern to join him in the lab. Could this be Brea? She certainly seems like Masuka, the horndog's type - but then who isn't?
Brea had the following to say:
"No spoilers but I'm pretty sure you'll be seeing me in a white lab coat."
I really liked Brea Grant in Heroes. She was one of the few things I did like.
I missed a few important casting choices made by the Dexter showrunners over the Memorial Day/May 24 holidays for Season 6 so I'm posting them now. Since Dexter production is now underway there will be more casting news to come, I'm sure
Ausiello Spoiler(?) - Dexter Time Jump:
We may be looking at a time jump between Seasons 5 and 6. Examine the evidence: Producers are casting the recurring role of an elementary school teacher. When Season 5 ended, Dex and Rita’s son Harrison wasn’t even close to pre-school age. See where I’m going with this?
I think a time jump is smart, story-wise, and possibly rewarding in that they can use the same little guy to play Dex's son Harrison unlesss they jump ahead well, it sounds like about 4 years (?). Could be (maybe?) the casting call is slightly off and they were after a nursery-school teacher? Daycare for little Harrison sounds more 'natural' to me than a massive jump into kindergarten...if that is where they are going...but who knows, right? Speculate, speculate. Half the fun.
Previously:
Thank goodness Showtime (Tweet @SHO_Dexter) used the superlatives precisely as I would have in it's official press announcement that Eddie Olmos is gonna be on Dexter!:
Mary McDonnell (Pres. 'Laura Roslin' on Battlestar Galactica and Edward James Omos ('Admiral William Adama'). They had some really great scenes together on BSG.Would have loved more.
I love this pic of the pair of them. Was (am) such a BSG fangirl!
(Image Credit: TVGuide)
Edward James Olmos Joins 'Dexter' in Season 6!:
LOS ANGELES, CA – May 24, 2011 –Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award winning actor Edward James Olmos joins recently announced special guest stars, Colin Hanks and Mos (formerly Mos Def) in the cast of the Emmy-nominated SHOWTIME® drama series DEXTER™ for Season 6. Olmos will play a brilliant, charismatic professor of religious studies. Olmos joins a distinguished list of seasonal guest cast that has included Jimmy Smits, John Lithgow and Julia Stiles. Production on DEXTER (began) May 25 in Los Angeles and will premiere on SHOWTIME this fall.
Edward James Olmos is an acclaimed actor, director and activist. Among his most memorable roles are 'William Adama' in the re-imagined “Battlestar Galactica,” Lt. Martin Castillo in “Miami Vice,” teacher Jaime Escalante in “Stand and Deliver,” patriarch Abraham Quintanilla in the film “Selena,” Detective Gaff in “Blade Runner,” and narrator El Pachuco in both the stage and film versions of “Zoot Suit.” His first big break was a starring role in Luis Valdez’s play, “Zoot Suit”, in 1978. The play moved to Broadway and led to a Tony® nomination. He received a Best Actor Academy Award® nomination for his starring role in Stand and Deliver. Other credits include “American Me” (his directing debut), “The Green Hornet” and appearances on “The West Wing” and “American Family”.
(Above) Dexter Season 6 Tease Screencaps
Dexter Story Description:
One of the most acclaimed series on television, DEXTER stars Michael C. Hall (Golden Globe and SAG Award® winner) as a complicated and conflicted blood-spatter expert for the Miami police department who moonlights as a serial killer.
The show has received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for best television drama series, as well as a prestigious Peabody Award in 2008 and was twice named one of AFI’s top ten television series. The show also stars Jennifer Carpenter, Desmond Harrington, C.S. Lee, Lauren Vélez, David Zayas, and James Remar.
My goodness, there are just a TON of True Blood Season 4 spoilers here in the True Blood July Episodes Descriptions:
Bonus: Awesome, Jessica-centric sneak: 'I can eat who I want!' - True Blood teaser! [VIDEO] (scroll to bottom):
True Blood July Episode Descriptions (HBO Sundays, starting June 26)
-- Episode #38: “You Smell Like Dinner”: Sookie adjusts to Bon Temps’ new realities; Bill reveals pieces of his past; Eric crashes a witches’ meeting; Jason gets his wounds licked; Andy struggles with his addiction; Sam learns of Luna’s special talents; Jessica satisfies her blood cravings; Arlene witnesses strange behavior from her family. (Written by Brian Bucker; directed by Scott Winant.) Playdates: July 3, 5, 6, 9 and 14
-- Episode #39: “If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin’?”: Sookie makes a deal with Eric, and reconnects with Alcide; Bill punishes an errant vampire and counsels a guilt-ridden Jessica; Jason is cast as a reluctant savior; Tommy eyes a scam and alienates Sam; Marnie flexes her newfound powers; Pam delivers an ultimatum to Lafayette, Tara and Jesus; Eric spoils Sookie’s faerie reunion. (Written by Alan Ball; directed by David Petrarca.) Playdates: July 10, 12, 13, 14 and 16
-- Episode #40: “I’m Alive and on Fire”: Alcide helps Sookie hunt for Eric; Marnie searches for guidance to break a spell; Bill discovers a common bond with the Bellefleurs; Jason begs for liberation from Hotshot; Sam penetrates Luna’s inner circle; Arlene sees the writing on the wall; Tommy returns to his roots. (Written by Nancy Oliver; directed by Michael Lehmann.) Playdates: July 17, 19, 20 and 23
-- Episode #41: “Me and the Devil”: Sookie nurtures Eric; Bill gets involved personally in the necromancy crisis; Pam takes the veil; Sam becomes Tommy’s accomplice; Arlene and Terry look to religion to solve their problem; Jesus and Lafayette head to Mexico to harness a shaman’s power; Jason convalesces. (Written by Mark Hudis; directed by Daniel Minahan.) Playdates: July 24, 26, 27 and 30
-- Episode #42: “I Wish I Was the Moon”: Sookie searches for Jason under a full moon; Marnie connects with spirits of the past; Arlene and Terry cope with a suspicious inferno; Debbie urges Alcide to join a new werewolf community; Tommy trades places with Sam; Lafayette feels the spirit in Mexico; Eric surrenders to his King’s will. (Written by Raelle Tucker; directed by Jeremy Podeswa.) Playdate: July 31
I really need to come back and give these epsiode descriptions a thorough read. What do you get from them? Are you more enthusiastic about True Blood season 4, less, or IDK how this works, but 'not sure'?
Look up high, specifically on the side of the 9000 building along Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California and you will see a quartet of sexy supernaturals including vampires 'Eric' (Alexander Skarsgård) and 'Bill' (Stephen Moyer), werewolf 'Alcide' ( Joe Manganiello) and faery-telepath 'Sookie' (Anna Paquin).
It is pretty apparent that all three guys are into Ms. Stackhouse but which of the potential/former suitor(s) will she choose? You'll have to tune in to HBO's True Blood on June 26 to begin to get the answer. Until then, keep looking around!
EDIT/ If you want to gaze upon a HQ version of this image, it is a copy of (one of) the previously-released True Blood HBO Promo Poster Art I shared here.
Joe Manganiello as 'Alcide Herveaux' - Pretty much a safe bet for romance with Sookie in the next season:
Casting for season 5 has already begun though the premiere of season 4 True Blood doesn't even get underway until June 26. Most interesting in this June 1 casting call is the mention of a 13th episode in season 5 which will add a bit of breathing space for the additional season 5 characters.
The fact that a casting call is going out for Alcide's construction foreman is indicative to me that Joe Manganiello who plays Alcide, will perhaps get more screen time and a better shot at a romance with Sookie in season 5, something that seemed inevitable if he were to get any at all as thus far, the season 4 episodes don't seem to be promising much Alcide-Sookie 'togetherness.'
If you are a 'bookie' I would expect this to be a good sign that showrunner Alan Ball is weaving in more of Alcide Herveaux, has been a sympathetic book character for much of the book series, into season 5 of the TV series. Personally, I like the vibe Joe Manganiello brings to Alcide. His warm, nurturing sweetheart of a guy wrapped in a growling, 6'5" package of eye-candy is quite compelling.
Expanding (presumably) upon Terry Bellefluer's (Todd Lowe) character's screen time is a good idea IMO, because he been brought ahead in True Blood as an Iraqi war veteran which grounds this fantasy show farther into in present day (versus the nearly 60-year-old Vietnam war vet that Terry is in the books). War veterans have long been 'outsiders' to mainstream society and bringing out Terry's 'uniqueness' a bit more instead of just the odd (no pun) one-liner is a good way for Alan Ball to continue to show empathy for the misunderstood and sometimes mistreated in modern society.
Finally, I must confess a real appreciation for the talents of Todd Lowe as Merlotte's short-order cook, Terry. When first I saw Lowe out of character I did not even recognize him. He transforms himself through sheer talent into our beloved shell-shocked vet so I'm looking forward to a bit more expansion (sounds like it includes backstory) in his role.
A Taste of Terry:
Here's a casting notice for episode #412, 'And When I Die,' as well as some news about season 5. Though unofficial at this point it appears that season 5 TrueBlood will feature a 'lucky' 13 episodes instead of 12!
TRUE BLOOD, Episode 412, "And When I Die" Writer: Raelle Tucker Director: Scott Winant Start Date: Approx. 6/15/11 Location: L.A.
THIS IS THE FINAL EPISODE OF THE SEASON.
[PATRICK DEVINS] 35 to 45, tough, and ruggedly attractive, he served in the military with Terry, and they share a serious history: Terry saved Patrick's life twice. 7 out of 13 episodes next season.
[DOUG] This schlubby guy in a hard hat is Alcide's construction foreman. 2 lines, 1 scene.
Even a spoiler hound as big as me did not anticipate just how much TB writer Alexander Woo spills in this brand new interview about True Blood Season 4!:
(EW Magazine Illustration)
Want to know the answers to a number of cliffhangers from True Blood's season 3 finale? (Like for example, the definitive answer to: Did Sam shoot Tommy? (It's here.) Do Bill and Sookie really break up? (Uh, I'm not sure I wanted to know but I do now) and, does Bill go to Peru like in the books? And there's much more, depending on how intensely you have been spoiling yourself!
I'm putting all the articles into a silde show album. Click through and read them but be prepared for a few genuine eye-openers!
Credit #1: Pages 1, 2, 3: SFX Magazine and Found & scanned by and thanks to: PaquinAnna.com. Credit #2: Pages 4 and 5: EW Magazine and Thanks to TrueBlood-Online.com. Credit #3: Pages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11: Article credit: Ashley Jude Collie Scanned by and Thanks to TrueBlood-Online.com. Credit #4: Pages 12-13: Credit: A Few Little Season 4 Spoilers in TV Guide | True Blood News - Season 4 Spoilers Credit: http://www.trueblood-news.com/a-few-little-season-4-spoilers-in-tv-guide.
Below is an excerpt from the TVGuide article (credit above). If you have been keeping up with the general plotline plans for Season 4 at all, then this will be a simple retred of that. Alan Ball has never sounded less enthusiastic about his show. I'm gonna blame the interviewer.
TV Guide Magazine’s Summer Preview (6.o6 -19.11)
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble! In Season 4, “There are two factions at war: vampires and another fueled by witchcraft and power over the dead,” says creator Alan Ball. Battles go down and Sookie’s lightning-bolt-shooting EDIT 'microwave' fingers/End EDIT strike again.
“We see her use her powers,” Ball says of Anna Paquin’s steel magnolia.
“Other people see that too, and it’s going to complicate things.” She’s not the only one releasing her inner magic.
Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) get mixed up with Wiccan medium Marnie (Fiona Shaw).
And witches cast a spell on Eric (Alexander Skarsgård): “Sookie will see a different Eric,” Ball says, but she’s still feeling heat with Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Alcide (Joe Manganiello). Adds Ball, “From the Team Eric, Team Bill viewpoints, one of those teams will be happy, one won’t.”
Moyer says that Season 4 is “very different. Everybody’s taken a real shift. Some time has passed, there are a lot of hierarchical shifts, and there’s a new bad influence in town.”
