True Blood (season 1)
Encyclopedia
The first season of the American
television drama series True Blood
premiered on September 7, 2008 and concluded on November 23, 2008. It consisted of 12 episodes, each running approximately 55 minutes in length and was, for the most part, based on the novel Dead Until Dark
, the first entry in The Southern Vampire Mysteries
by Charlaine Harris
. The story takes place in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, two years after vampires have made their presence known to mankind, and follows telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse as she attempts to solve a series of murders that seem to be motivated by a hatred of vampires.
HBO broadcast the first season on Sunday nights at 9:00 pm in the United States, with a repeat showing at 11:00 pm. The complete first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray
on May 19, 2009.
plays the main character Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic abilities. Stephen Moyer
plays her love interest, vampire Bill Compton. Sookie works for Sam Merlotte, played by Sam Trammell
, owner of Merlotte's bar and a shapeshifter who has a crush on Sookie. Rutina Wesley
plays Sookie's best friend Tara Thornton, begins bartending at Merlotte's after quitting her job at the Super Save-A-Bunch. Also working at Merlotte's are Tara's cousin Lafayette Reynolds, played by Nelsan Ellis
, a short order cook and hustler, and Arlene Fowler, played by Carrie Preston
. Arlene is a thrice-divorced waitress with two children who, over the course of the season, becomes engaged to Rene Lenier, played by Michael Raymond-James
, a Cajun labourer who works on a road crew.
Ryan Kwanten
plays Jason Stackhouse, Sookie's brother, a labourer on a road crew and ladies' man. Jason's sexual conquests begin to die, one after the other, and he is suspected of being a serial killer. Jim Parrack
is Hoyt Fortenberry, Jason's co-worker who admires Jason's abilities with women. Lois Smith
plays Adele Stackhouse, Jason and Sookie's grandmother who has looked after them since the deaths of their parents. Lizzy Caplan
plays Jason's love interest Amy Burley, who begins a relationship with Jason because of a shared addiction to vampire blood, or "V". They kidnap Eddie Gauthier, played by Stephen Root
, to use his blood.
In the vampire community Alexander Skarsgård
plays Eric Northman, the Sheriff of Area 5, which includes Bon Temps, and owner of the vampire bar Fangtasia. Working for Eric, both in the bar and under him as Sheriff, are Pam, played by Kristin Bauer
, and Chow, played by Patrick Gallagher. The bartender Longshadow, played by Raoul Trujillo
, is killed by Bill to protect Sookie. As punishment for killing a fellow vampire and to replenish the vampire ranks, Bill is taken to the Magister, played by Željko Ivanek
, and forced to sire Jessica Hamby, played by Deborah Ann Woll
. Jessica is cared for by Eric but when he grows tired of her he leaves her with Bill.
In the middle of the season Tara's mother, Lettie Mae, played by Adina Porter
, undergoes an exorcism to rid herself of what she terms her "demons" - her addiction to alcohol. The exorcism is administered by "Miss Jeanette" an alias of Nancy LeGuare, played by Aisha Hinds. Following her exorcism Lettie Mae kicks Tara out. Following a crash and DUI
, Tara is taken in by Maryann Forrester (who initially presents herself to Tara as some kind of social worker), played by Michelle Forbes
. While staying with Maryann, Tara meets "Eggs" Benedict Talley, played by Mehcad Brooks
, to whom she feels a strong attraction.
The central mystery of the season begins when Maudette Pickens, played by Danielle Sapia, is killed. William Sanderson
plays Sheriff Dearborne, who places his only detective, Andy Bellefleur, played by Chris Bauer
, in charge of finding the killer. Bellefleur suspects Jason Stackhouse, and that suspicion grows after the murder of Dawn Green, played by Lynn Collins
. Andy's cousin Terry, played by Todd Lowe
, works as a cook at Merlotte's.
Other minor characters include Mack and Denise Rattray, played by James Jean Parks
and Karina Logue. Bartlett Hale played by Cheyenne Wilbur
, Sookie and Jason's pedophile great-uncle. Coronor's assistant Neil Jones played by Kevin Michael McHale, and vampires Malcolm, Liam and Diane played by Andrew Rothenberg, Graham Shiels and Aunjanue Ellis
.
The international conflict between vampires and humans is played out in the background, but two minor characters are introduced who become major characters in the second season. Michael McMillian
plays Reverend Steve Newlin and Anna Camp
plays his wife Sarah. They head the anti-vampire church the Fellowship of the Sun following the death of Steve's father, who was supposedly killed by vampires. A representative of the Fellowship of the Sun approaches Jason Stackhouse while he is in jail in the final episode of the season.
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had previously worked with premium cable channel HBO on Six Feet Under, which ran five seasons. In October 2005, after Six Feet Unders finale
, Ball signed a two-year agreement with HBO to develop and produce original programming for the network. True Blood became the first project under the deal, after Ball became acquainted with Charlaine Harris
' Southern Vampire Mystery books. One day, while early for a dentist appointment, Ball was browsing through Barnes and Noble and came across Dead Until Dark, the first installment in Harris' series. Enjoying it, he read the following entries and became interested in "bringing Harris' vision to television". However, Harris had two other adaptation options for the books when Ball approached her. He said she chose to work with him, though, because "[Ball] really ‘got’ me. That’s how he convinced me to go with him. I just felt that he understood what I was doing with the books.”
Ball wrote and directed the pilot episode, double Emmy winner Scott Winant
, Red Rock West
writer/director John Dahl
, Heathers
director Michael Lehmann
, former Deadwood
director Daniel Minahan, The Sopranos
director Nick Gomez
, Pretty Persuasion
director Marcos Siega
, The Wire
director Anthony Hemingway
and Six Feet Under co-producer Nancy Oliver directed subsequent episodes, with Ball directing the finale.
Nancy Oliver joined Ball as a producer, in the same role she had on Six Feet Under. Ball wrote the first three episodes with, Brian Buckner, Alexander Woo, Raelle Tucker and Chris Offutt
writing two episodes a piece, Nancy Oliver wrote and directed the eleventh episode, which marked her debut as a director.
Buckner, Tucker and Woo were also credited as producers, Offutt was executive story editor for this season. Christina Jokanovich was an associate producer and Carol Dunn Trussell the line producer.
which premiered at 4.56 million, and John from Cincinnati
which debuted at 3.4 million. However, by late November 2008, 6.8 million a week were watching; this figure includes repeat and on-demand viewings. The season finale's viewership was 2.4 million. True Blood has reportedly become HBO's most popular series since The Sopranos
and Sex and the City
.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television drama series True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
premiered on September 7, 2008 and concluded on November 23, 2008. It consisted of 12 episodes, each running approximately 55 minutes in length and was, for the most part, based on the novel Dead Until Dark
Dead Until Dark
Dead Until Dark is the first book in Charlaine Harris's series The Southern Vampire Mysteries novels.-Setting:Dead Until Dark, like the rest of the series to which it belongs, is narrated by Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress from the small fictional Louisiana town of Bon Temps, which is...
, the first entry in The Southern Vampire Mysteries
The Southern Vampire Mysteries
The Southern Vampire Mysteries, also known as The Sookie Stackhouse Novels, is a series of books written by bestselling author Charlaine Harris that were first published in 2001 and now serve as the source material for the HBO television series True Blood...
by Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing mysteries for over twenty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area of the United States. She now lives in southern Arkansas with her husband and three children...
. The story takes place in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, two years after vampires have made their presence known to mankind, and follows telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse as she attempts to solve a series of murders that seem to be motivated by a hatred of vampires.
HBO broadcast the first season on Sunday nights at 9:00 pm in the United States, with a repeat showing at 11:00 pm. The complete first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
on May 19, 2009.
Plot
Anna PaquinAnna Paquin
Anna Helene Paquin is a Canadian-born New Zealand actress. Paquin's first critically successful film was The Piano, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1994 at the age of 11 – the second youngest winner in history...
plays the main character Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic abilities. Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer is an English actor who has starred as vampire Bill Compton in the HBO series True Blood since 2008.-Early life and career:Moyer was born in Brentwood, Essex...
plays her love interest, vampire Bill Compton. Sookie works for Sam Merlotte, played by Sam Trammell
Sam Trammell
Sam Trammell is an American stage, film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Sam Merlotte in the HBO vampire series, True Blood, which saw him nominated for a 2009 Scream Award for "Breakout Performance - Male."...
, owner of Merlotte's bar and a shapeshifter who has a crush on Sookie. Rutina Wesley
Rutina Wesley
Rutina Wesley is an American film, stage, and television actress best known for her role as Tara Thornton on the HBO series True Blood.-Early life:...
plays Sookie's best friend Tara Thornton, begins bartending at Merlotte's after quitting her job at the Super Save-A-Bunch. Also working at Merlotte's are Tara's cousin Lafayette Reynolds, played by Nelsan Ellis
Nelsan Ellis
Nelsan Ellis is an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright. He is well known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series True Blood, which he has been playing since 2008.-Early and personal life:...
, a short order cook and hustler, and Arlene Fowler, played by Carrie Preston
Carrie Preston
Carrie Preston is an American film and television actress, producer and director. Her husband is actor Michael Emerson, and her brother is actor John G. Preston.-Early life:...
. Arlene is a thrice-divorced waitress with two children who, over the course of the season, becomes engaged to Rene Lenier, played by Michael Raymond-James
Michael Raymond-James
Michael Raymond-James , is an American actor. He is best known for playing Rene Lenier in the first season of HBO's series True Blood and Britt Pollack on FX's series Terriers....
, a Cajun labourer who works on a road crew.
Ryan Kwanten
Ryan Kwanten
Ryan Christian Kwanten is an Australian actor. He played Vinnie Patterson from 1997 to 2002 on the Australian soap-opera Home and Away...
plays Jason Stackhouse, Sookie's brother, a labourer on a road crew and ladies' man. Jason's sexual conquests begin to die, one after the other, and he is suspected of being a serial killer. Jim Parrack
Jim Parrack
Jim Parrack is an American actor. He has a starring role as Hoyt Fortenberry in HBO series True Blood, and appeared in the film Battle: Los Angeles, which was released March 2011....
is Hoyt Fortenberry, Jason's co-worker who admires Jason's abilities with women. Lois Smith
Lois Smith
Lois Smith is an American actress whose career in theater, film, and television has spanned five decades.Smith was born Lois Arlene Humbert in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Carrie Davis and William Oren Humbert, who was a telephone company employee...
plays Adele Stackhouse, Jason and Sookie's grandmother who has looked after them since the deaths of their parents. Lizzy Caplan
Lizzy Caplan
Elizabeth Anne "Lizzy" Caplan is an American actress. In film, she is best known for her roles as Janis Ian in Mean Girls, Marlena Diamond in Cloverfield, and April in Hot Tub Time Machine...
plays Jason's love interest Amy Burley, who begins a relationship with Jason because of a shared addiction to vampire blood, or "V". They kidnap Eddie Gauthier, played by Stephen Root
Stephen Root
Stephen Root is an American actor. He is best known for his comedic work on the TV sitcom NewsRadio, in the film Office Space and as the voice of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated series King of the Hill...
, to use his blood.
In the vampire community Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård is a Swedish actor. He is best known for his roles as vampire Eric Northman on the HBO series True Blood, Meekus in Zoolander and Brad Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-Early life:...
plays Eric Northman, the Sheriff of Area 5, which includes Bon Temps, and owner of the vampire bar Fangtasia. Working for Eric, both in the bar and under him as Sheriff, are Pam, played by Kristin Bauer
Kristin Bauer
Kristin Bauer van Straten is an American film and television actress, perhaps best known for her role as vampire Pam in the HBO series True Blood.-Biography:...
, and Chow, played by Patrick Gallagher. The bartender Longshadow, played by Raoul Trujillo
Raoul Trujillo
Born Jose Raoul TrujilloAlso known as Raul Trujillo and Max Cheblon|parents= Luis and Lorraine TrujilloHis official website is raoultrujilloinfo.com, created by Charmaine deValois in London....
, is killed by Bill to protect Sookie. As punishment for killing a fellow vampire and to replenish the vampire ranks, Bill is taken to the Magister, played by Željko Ivanek
Željko Ivanek
Željko Ivanek is an Emmy award-winning Slovenian American actor best known for his role as Ray Fiske on Damages. He is also known for playing Blake Sterling on short-lived NBC series The Event and Emile Danko on Heroes....
, and forced to sire Jessica Hamby, played by Deborah Ann Woll
Deborah Ann Woll
Deborah Ann Woll is an American actress best known for her role as Jessica Hamby on HBO's True Blood.- Early life :...
. Jessica is cared for by Eric but when he grows tired of her he leaves her with Bill.
In the middle of the season Tara's mother, Lettie Mae, played by Adina Porter
Adina Porter
Adina Porter is an American actress, currently seen as Lettie Mae Thornton on HBO's True Blood.She played Letecia Barris on the show Prison Break and also appeared as Ricky in the film version of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues for HBO...
, undergoes an exorcism to rid herself of what she terms her "demons" - her addiction to alcohol. The exorcism is administered by "Miss Jeanette" an alias of Nancy LeGuare, played by Aisha Hinds. Following her exorcism Lettie Mae kicks Tara out. Following a crash and DUI
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
, Tara is taken in by Maryann Forrester (who initially presents herself to Tara as some kind of social worker), played by Michelle Forbes
Michelle Forbes
Michelle Renee Forbes Guajardo , known professionally as Michelle Forbes, is an American actress who has built a career of work in television and independent film and has acted in productions in both the United States and in the United Kingdom...
. While staying with Maryann, Tara meets "Eggs" Benedict Talley, played by Mehcad Brooks
Mehcad Brooks
Mehcad Jason McKinley Brooks is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Brooks was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he attended L.C. Anderson High School...
, to whom she feels a strong attraction.
The central mystery of the season begins when Maudette Pickens, played by Danielle Sapia, is killed. William Sanderson
William Sanderson
William Sanderson is an American character actor.-Early life:Sanderson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to an elementary school teacher mother and a landscape designer father...
plays Sheriff Dearborne, who places his only detective, Andy Bellefleur, played by Chris Bauer
Chris Bauer
Mark Christopher "Chris" Bauer is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Bauer was born in Los Angeles, California and attended high school at Miramonte High School in Orinda, California. He played on Miramonte Championship football team his senior year, 1984...
, in charge of finding the killer. Bellefleur suspects Jason Stackhouse, and that suspicion grows after the murder of Dawn Green, played by Lynn Collins
Lynn Collins
Viola Lynn Collins , better known as Lynn Collins, is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Kayla Silverfox in the live-action film X-Men Origins: Wolverine.-Life and career:...
. Andy's cousin Terry, played by Todd Lowe
Todd Lowe
Todd Lowe is an American actor from Humble, Texas, about fifteen miles from Houston. He is best known for his role as Lane Kim's husband Zach Van Gerbig on Gilmore Girls...
, works as a cook at Merlotte's.
Other minor characters include Mack and Denise Rattray, played by James Jean Parks
James Jean Parks
-Biography:His roles include Texas Ranger Edgar McGraw in From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money, Kill Bill and Death Proof. Earl McGraw, the father of Edgar McGraw, is played by James' real life father, Michael Parks. He portrayed Deputy Gilber in the French horror film Rubber...
and Karina Logue. Bartlett Hale played by Cheyenne Wilbur
Cheyenne Wilbur
Cheyenne Wilbur is an American television and film actor.-Early life:Wilbur was born in New York City and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1975 with a B.A. in Communications, and got a Masters' degree in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1979...
, Sookie and Jason's pedophile great-uncle. Coronor's assistant Neil Jones played by Kevin Michael McHale, and vampires Malcolm, Liam and Diane played by Andrew Rothenberg, Graham Shiels and Aunjanue Ellis
Aunjanue Ellis
Aunjanue L. Ellis is an American actress known for her roles in Ray, in Undercover Brother, and on The Mentalist....
.
The international conflict between vampires and humans is played out in the background, but two minor characters are introduced who become major characters in the second season. Michael McMillian
Michael McMillian
Michael McMillian is an American actor and writer, known for his roles as Henry Gibson on What I Like About You and Steve Newlin on the HBO series True Blood...
plays Reverend Steve Newlin and Anna Camp
Anna Camp
Anna Ragsdale Camp is an American stage and television actress. She is known for her role as Jill Mason in the 2008 Broadway revival of Equus and for her role as Sarah Newlin in the HBO television drama series True Blood....
plays his wife Sarah. They head the anti-vampire church the Fellowship of the Sun following the death of Steve's father, who was supposedly killed by vampires. A representative of the Fellowship of the Sun approaches Jason Stackhouse while he is in jail in the final episode of the season.
Main cast
- Anna PaquinAnna PaquinAnna Helene Paquin is a Canadian-born New Zealand actress. Paquin's first critically successful film was The Piano, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1994 at the age of 11 – the second youngest winner in history...
as Sookie StackhouseSookie StackhouseSookie Stackhouse is the fictional protagonist and narrating voice of Charlaine Harris' The Southern Vampire Mysteries and the television adaptation, HBO's True Blood.-Biography:... - Stephen MoyerStephen MoyerStephen Moyer is an English actor who has starred as vampire Bill Compton in the HBO series True Blood since 2008.-Early life and career:Moyer was born in Brentwood, Essex...
as Bill Compton - Sam TrammellSam TrammellSam Trammell is an American stage, film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Sam Merlotte in the HBO vampire series, True Blood, which saw him nominated for a 2009 Scream Award for "Breakout Performance - Male."...
as Sam MerlotteSam MerlotteSam Merlotte is a fictional character from the The Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse Series by author Charlaine Harris.Sam lives in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and is the owner of a bar named Merlotte's. Sam has strawberry blond hair with blue eyes. He is both a close... - Ryan KwantenRyan KwantenRyan Christian Kwanten is an Australian actor. He played Vinnie Patterson from 1997 to 2002 on the Australian soap-opera Home and Away...
as Jason StackhouseJason StackhouseJason Stackhouse is a fictional character from The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by author Charlaine Harris. Introduced in the first novel, Dead Until Dark, Jason is Sookie Stackhouse's older brother and road crew supervisor for Bon Temps.... - Rutina WesleyRutina WesleyRutina Wesley is an American film, stage, and television actress best known for her role as Tara Thornton on the HBO series True Blood.-Early life:...
as Tara ThorntonTara ThorntonTara Mae Thornton is a fictional character in Charlaine Harris's The Southern Vampire Mysteries and their television adaptation, HBO's True Blood.-Biography:... - Chris BauerChris BauerMark Christopher "Chris" Bauer is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Bauer was born in Los Angeles, California and attended high school at Miramonte High School in Orinda, California. He played on Miramonte Championship football team his senior year, 1984...
as Detective Andy Bellefleur - Nelsan EllisNelsan EllisNelsan Ellis is an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright. He is well known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series True Blood, which he has been playing since 2008.-Early and personal life:...
as Lafayette Reynolds - Jim ParrackJim ParrackJim Parrack is an American actor. He has a starring role as Hoyt Fortenberry in HBO series True Blood, and appeared in the film Battle: Los Angeles, which was released March 2011....
as Hoyt Fortenberry - Adina PorterAdina PorterAdina Porter is an American actress, currently seen as Lettie Mae Thornton on HBO's True Blood.She played Letecia Barris on the show Prison Break and also appeared as Ricky in the film version of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues for HBO...
as Lettie Mae Thornton - Carrie PrestonCarrie PrestonCarrie Preston is an American film and television actress, producer and director. Her husband is actor Michael Emerson, and her brother is actor John G. Preston.-Early life:...
as Arlene Fowler - Michael Raymond-JamesMichael Raymond-JamesMichael Raymond-James , is an American actor. He is best known for playing Rene Lenier in the first season of HBO's series True Blood and Britt Pollack on FX's series Terriers....
as Rene Lenier - William SandersonWilliam SandersonWilliam Sanderson is an American character actor.-Early life:Sanderson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to an elementary school teacher mother and a landscape designer father...
as Sheriff Bud Dearborne - Alexander SkarsgårdAlexander SkarsgårdAlexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård is a Swedish actor. He is best known for his roles as vampire Eric Northman on the HBO series True Blood, Meekus in Zoolander and Brad Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-Early life:...
as Eric NorthmanEric NorthmanEric Northman is a fictional character in The Southern Vampire Mysteries, a series of eleven books written by New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris. He is a vampire, slightly over one thousand years old, and is first introduced in the first novel, Dead Until Dark and appears in all... - Lynn CollinsLynn CollinsViola Lynn Collins , better known as Lynn Collins, is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Kayla Silverfox in the live-action film X-Men Origins: Wolverine.-Life and career:...
as Dawn Green - Lizzy CaplanLizzy CaplanElizabeth Anne "Lizzy" Caplan is an American actress. In film, she is best known for her roles as Janis Ian in Mean Girls, Marlena Diamond in Cloverfield, and April in Hot Tub Time Machine...
as Amy Burley - Lois SmithLois SmithLois Smith is an American actress whose career in theater, film, and television has spanned five decades.Smith was born Lois Arlene Humbert in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Carrie Davis and William Oren Humbert, who was a telephone company employee...
as Adele Stackhouse - Stephen RootStephen RootStephen Root is an American actor. He is best known for his comedic work on the TV sitcom NewsRadio, in the film Office Space and as the voice of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated series King of the Hill...
as Eddie Gauthier
Guest cast
- Todd LoweTodd LoweTodd Lowe is an American actor from Humble, Texas, about fifteen miles from Houston. He is best known for his role as Lane Kim's husband Zach Van Gerbig on Gilmore Girls...
as Terry Bellefleur (8 episodes) - Kristin Bauer van StratenKristin BauerKristin Bauer van Straten is an American film and television actress, perhaps best known for her role as vampire Pam in the HBO series True Blood.-Biography:...
as Pamela Swynford De Beaufort (7 episodes) - John BillingsleyJohn BillingsleyJohn Billingsley is an American actor, known for his role as Doctor Phlox on the television series Star Trek: Enterprise.-Career:...
as Mike Spencer (4 episodes) - Alec Gray as Coby Fowler (4 episodes)
- Aisha HindsAisha HindsAisha Hinds is an American television and film actress, known for her recurring roles on the TV shows Dollhouse, HawthoRNe, Invasion, True Blood, and Detroit 1-8-7.-Films:* Assault on Precinct 13...
as Miss Jeanette (4 episodes) - Dale RaoulDale RaoulDale Raoul is a film and television actress; she is also a voice actor.-Career:Since her first screen credit in 1986, she has appeared in over fifty film and television productions, including appearing in a recurring role as Maxine Fortenberry, the mother of Hoyt Fortenberry, on the television...
as Maxine Fortenberry (4 episodes) - Graham Shiels as Liam (4 episodes)
- Raoul TrujilloRaoul TrujilloBorn Jose Raoul TrujilloAlso known as Raul Trujillo and Max Cheblon|parents= Luis and Lorraine TrujilloHis official website is raoultrujilloinfo.com, created by Charmaine deValois in London....
as Longshadow (4 episodes) - Laurel Weber as Lisa Fowler (4 episodes)
- Jeremy Denzlinger as Wayne (3 episodes)
- Aunjanue EllisAunjanue EllisAunjanue L. Ellis is an American actress known for her roles in Ray, in Undercover Brother, and on The Mentalist....
as Diane (3 episodes) - Kanin Howell as Chuck (3 episodes)
- Michelle ForbesMichelle ForbesMichelle Renee Forbes Guajardo , known professionally as Michelle Forbes, is an American actress who has built a career of work in television and independent film and has acted in productions in both the United States and in the United Kingdom...
as Maryann Forrester (3 episodes) - Danielle James as Randi Sue (3 episodes)
- Michael McMillianMichael McMillianMichael McMillian is an American actor and writer, known for his roles as Henry Gibson on What I Like About You and Steve Newlin on the HBO series True Blood...
as Reverend Steve Newlin (3 episodes) - Caleb Moody as Royce Williams (3 episodes)
- John Prosky as David Finch (3 episodes)
- John Rezig as Deputy Kevin Ellis (3 episodes)
- Stacie Rippy as Cindy Marshall (3 episodes)
- Andrew RothenbergAndrew RothenbergAndrew Rothenberg is an American stage, television and film actor. Rothenberg is known for reoccurring roles in major television series, including as Agent Phil Schlatter on Weeds and his portrayal of Malcolm on the HBO vampire series, True Blood.Most recently, Rothenberg has been cast as Jim, a...
as Malcolm (3 episodes) - Danielle Sapia as Maudette Pickens (3 episodes)
- Jessica TuckJessica TuckJessica Ines Tuck is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Megan Gordon Harrison on One Life to Live, Gillian Gray on Judging Amy, and Nan Flanagan on True Blood. She also appeared as Madeline Peterson Woods on Days of our Lives.-Personal life:Tuck was born in New York City and is a...
as Nan Flanagan (3 episodes) - Deborah Ann WollDeborah Ann WollDeborah Ann Woll is an American actress best known for her role as Jessica Hamby on HBO's True Blood.- Early life :...
as Jessica Hamby (3 episodes) - Avion Baker as Young Tara (2 episodes)
- Tara BuckTara BuckTara L. Buck is an American actress. She is best known for her recurring role as Ginger in the television series True Blood. Her other guest appearances include Bones, Cold Case, The Closer, The X-Files and Party of Five...
as Ginger (2 episodes) - Patrick GallagherPatrick Gallagher (actor)-Career:Gallagher is best known for his television roles as Det. Joe Finn in Da Vinci's Inquest, the alcohol salesman in Entourage, Leon in The Line, Farhod the Fierce in Pair of Kings, and Ken Tanaka in Glee, and his film roles as Awkward Davies in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World...
as Chow (2 episodes) - Labon K. Hester as Young Jason (2 episodes)
- Karina Logue as Denise Rattray (2 episodes)
- Melanie MacQueen as Faye Lebvre (2 episodes)
- Kevin McHale]] as Neil Jones (2 episodes)
- Tess Alexandra Parker as Rosie (2 episodes)
- James Jean ParksJames Jean Parks-Biography:His roles include Texas Ranger Edgar McGraw in From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money, Kill Bill and Death Proof. Earl McGraw, the father of Edgar McGraw, is played by James' real life father, Michael Parks. He portrayed Deputy Gilber in the French horror film Rubber...
as Mack Rattray (2 episodes) - William SchallertWilliam SchallertWilliam Joseph Schallert is an American actor who has appeared in many films and in such television series as The Smurfs, The Rat Patrol, Gunsmoke, The Patty Duke Show, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Waltons, Bonanza, Leave It to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Love, American Style, Get...
as Sterling Norris (2 episodes) - Zenali Turner as Young Sookie (2 episodes)
- Cheyenne WilburCheyenne WilburCheyenne Wilbur is an American television and film actor.-Early life:Wilbur was born in New York City and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1975 with a B.A. in Communications, and got a Masters' degree in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1979...
as Bartlett Hale (2 episodes) - Patricia Bethune as Jane Bodehouse (1 episode)
- Michael Bofshever as Orry Dawson (1 episode)
- Mehcad BrooksMehcad BrooksMehcad Jason McKinley Brooks is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Brooks was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he attended L.C. Anderson High School...
as "Eggs" Benedict Talley (1 episode) - Zeljko IvanekŽeljko IvanekŽeljko Ivanek is an Emmy award-winning Slovenian American actor best known for his role as Ray Fiske on Damages. He is also known for playing Blake Sterling on short-lived NBC series The Event and Emile Danko on Heroes....
as Magnus the Magister (1 episode) - Mariana KlavenoMariana KlavenoMariana Klaveno is an American actress best known for her role as Lorena Ball in HBO's True Blood. She became a credited regular in season 2 and 3, playing the part of the "maker" of the main character Bill Compton. She also starred in the feature film While the Children Sleep in the role of Abby...
as Lorena Krasiki (1 episode) - Adam Leadbeater as Karl (1 episode)
- Judy PrescottJudy PrescottJudy Prescott Judy Prescott is an American actress and poet. She has performed many roles on stage and screen since 1987 and is the author of the book, SEARCHING FOR CECY: REFLECTIONS ON ALZHEIMER’S .- Early Life:...
as Sue Ann Merlotte (1 episode) - Stewart Skelton as Minister (1 episode)
- Martin SpanjersMartin SpanjersMartin Ryan Spanjers is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Rory Hennessy in the short-lived ABC television sitcom 8 Simples Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.-Life and career:...
as Young Sam (1 episode) - Sharon TaySharon TaySharon Tay is an Asian American journalist and former host of two programs on the MSNBC network.-Life and career:Tay was born in Singapore and emigrated to the United States at the age of seven. Her family settled in Connecticut for several years before relocating to the Philippines...
as Sharon (1 episode) - Tanya Wright as Deputy Kenya Jones (1 episode)
}}
Episodes
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crew
Series creator Alan BallAlan Ball (screenwriter)
Alan E. Ball is an American writer, director, actor and producer for film, theatre and television.-Early life:Ball was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Frank and Mary Ball, an aircraft inspector and a homemaker...
had previously worked with premium cable channel HBO on Six Feet Under, which ran five seasons. In October 2005, after Six Feet Unders finale
Series finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
, Ball signed a two-year agreement with HBO to develop and produce original programming for the network. True Blood became the first project under the deal, after Ball became acquainted with Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing mysteries for over twenty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area of the United States. She now lives in southern Arkansas with her husband and three children...
' Southern Vampire Mystery books. One day, while early for a dentist appointment, Ball was browsing through Barnes and Noble and came across Dead Until Dark, the first installment in Harris' series. Enjoying it, he read the following entries and became interested in "bringing Harris' vision to television". However, Harris had two other adaptation options for the books when Ball approached her. He said she chose to work with him, though, because "[Ball] really ‘got’ me. That’s how he convinced me to go with him. I just felt that he understood what I was doing with the books.”
Ball wrote and directed the pilot episode, double Emmy winner Scott Winant
Scott Winant
Scott Winant is an American television director and producer of network and premium cable series. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America...
, Red Rock West
Red Rock West
Red Rock West is a neo-noir film directed by John Dahl. The film, written by Dahl and his brother Rick, was shot in Montana and Willcox, Arizona. The film was well received at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, but deemed a cable and direct-to-video product by Columbia Tri-Star, which owned...
writer/director John Dahl
John Dahl
John Dahl is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the neo-noir genre.-Life and career:John Dahl was born in Billings, Montana, the second of four children . Dahl spent his young life in and around Montana all the way up through his college years...
, Heathers
Heathers
Heathers is a 1989 black comedy film starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. The film portrays four girls in a trend-setting clique at a fictional Ohio high school...
director Michael Lehmann
Michael Lehmann
Michael Stephen Lehmann is an American film and television director.Lehmann attended Columbia University. His first job in the film industry was answering phones at Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope film company. Later he supervised cameras on films that included 1983's The Outsiders...
, former Deadwood
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
director Daniel Minahan, The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
director Nick Gomez
Nick Gomez
Nick Gomez is an American film director and actor. He has directed for a number of television and film studios. He has also acted in a few minor films...
, Pretty Persuasion
Pretty Persuasion
Pretty Persuasion is a 2005 American black comedy/satirical film about a 15-year-old schoolgirl who makes an allegation of sexual harassment against her drama teacher. The film's tagline is: "Revenge knows no mercy." It was written by Skander Halim and directed by Marcos Siega...
director Marcos Siega
Marcos Siega
Marcos Siega is a film, television, commercial, and music video director. He has also worked as a producer and a musician....
, The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
director Anthony Hemingway
Anthony Hemingway
Anthony Hemingway is an American film and television director. He has directed episodes of The Wire, CSI: NY, and Treme. Before becoming a director he worked extensively as an assistant director in television and film....
and Six Feet Under co-producer Nancy Oliver directed subsequent episodes, with Ball directing the finale.
Nancy Oliver joined Ball as a producer, in the same role she had on Six Feet Under. Ball wrote the first three episodes with, Brian Buckner, Alexander Woo, Raelle Tucker and Chris Offutt
Chris Offutt
Christopher John "Chris" Offutt is an American writer.The son of author Andrew J. Offutt, Chris Offutt grew up in a small former mining community in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky. He quit high school to join the army, but failed the physical...
writing two episodes a piece, Nancy Oliver wrote and directed the eleventh episode, which marked her debut as a director.
Buckner, Tucker and Woo were also credited as producers, Offutt was executive story editor for this season. Christina Jokanovich was an associate producer and Carol Dunn Trussell the line producer.
Reception
The first season of True Blood debuted at a very modest 1.44 million viewers compared to the network's past drama premiers such as Big LoveBig Love
Big Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy...
which premiered at 4.56 million, and John from Cincinnati
John from Cincinnati
John from Cincinnati is an American television drama, set against the surfing community of Imperial Beach, California, that aired on HBO from June 10, 2007 to August 12, 2007. It is the result of a collaborative effort between writer/producer David Milch and author Kem Nunn, whose novels have been...
which debuted at 3.4 million. However, by late November 2008, 6.8 million a week were watching; this figure includes repeat and on-demand viewings. The season finale's viewership was 2.4 million. True Blood has reportedly become HBO's most popular series since The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
and Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
.
United Kingdom
All ratings are taken from the UK Ratings website, BARBBarb
Barb may refer to:* A backward-facing point on a fish hook or similar implement, rendering extraction from the victim's flesh more difficult* Wind barbs for each station on a map of reported weather conditions...
.
| Episode number (Production number) |
Title | Original air date | Total viewers on Channel 4 |
Rank on channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1.01) | Strange Love | October 7, 2009 | 1.91 million | #13 |
| 2 (1.02) | The First Taste | October 14, 2009 | 1.84 million | #14 |
| 3 (1.03) | Mine | October 21, 2009 | 1.67 million | #27 |
| 4 (1.04) | Escape from Dragon House | November 12, 2009 | 2.34 million | #56 |
| 5 (1.05) | Sparks Fly Out | November 24, 2009 | 3.11 million | #53 |
| 6 (1.06) | Cold Ground | November 30, 2009 | 3.25 million | #52 |
| 7 (1.07) | Burning House of Love | December 7, 2009 | 4.21 million | #34 |
| 8 (1.08) | The Fourth Man in the Fire | December 14, 2009 | 5.21 million | #12 |
| 9 (1.09) | Plaisir d'Amour | December 25, 2009 | 4.21 million | #43 |
| 10 (1.10) | I Don't Wanna Know | December 30, 2009 | 4.43 million | #56 |
| 11 (1.11) | To Love is to Bury | January 10, 2010 | 2.03 million | #21 |
| 12 (1.12) | You'll Be the Death of Me | January 29, 2010 | 2.05 million | #65 |
Season 1 ending credits songs
Songs from the Season 1 ending credits in order by episode number.- Little Big TownLittle Big TownLittle Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The quartet's musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all...
– "Bones" - Vallejo – "Snake in the Grass"
- Charlie Robison – "Good Times"
- Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
– "That SmellThat Smell"That Smell" is a song by the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Written by Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins, it was released in 1977 on the album Street Survivors. At the time the song was written, the band had been drinking and doing many different drugs...
" - Nathan BarrNathan BarrNathan Barr is a film and television composer known for playing the majority of the instruments heard in his compositions.-Biography:...
– "The Cabin" - Mark Seliger’s Rusty Truck – "Cold Ground"
- Cobra VerdeCobra Verde (band)Cobra Verde is a Cleveland, Ohio-based rock band best known for:* Being Robert Pollard's backing band for Guided by Voices from 1996 to late 1997.* Appearing in The OC as a Foreigner cover band in 2006....
– "Play with Fire" - Eagles of Death MetalEagles of Death MetalEagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Despite their band name, Eagles of Death Metal are not a death metal band. Hughes stated that a friend was introducing Josh Homme to the death metal genre...
– "I Want You So Hard" - Rufus ThomasRufus ThomasRufus Thomas, Jr. was an American rhythm and blues, funk and soul singer and comedian fromMemphis, Tennessee, who recorded on Sun Records in the...
– "Walking the Dog" - Dr. JohnDr. JohnMalcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
– "I Don’t Wanna Know about Evil" - Gillian WelchGillian WelchGillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, Bluegrass, and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely...
– "Pass You By" - Crooked StillCrooked StillCrooked Still is an alternative bluegrass band consisting of vocalist Aoife O'Donovan, banjo player Dr. Gregory Liszt, bassist Corey DiMario, cellist Tristan Clarridge and fiddler Brittany Haas...
– "Ain't No Grave"