HBO Officially Announces True Blood Season 3! (UPDATED)
At the TCA presentation today, HBO officially announced that they’ve picked up True Blood for a third season, set to debut in June 2010. Not that there was any doubt, what with approximately 11 million viewers tuning in over all, but it’s still nice to hear it for certain!
Updated 09.21.09: Judging by the 400+ comments on this thread, True Blood fans aren’t thrilled about waiting until June for the new season. Yes, it does seem like a long time to wait, especially when we’re used to only having a 3-month summer break between seasons on broadcast TV. Let me explain why True Blood is different:
- The hiatus gives Alan Ball & co. time to create a quality show. Unlike broadcast television, shows on premium cable prefer to have all or most of their season “in the can” before the season premiere. Most of True Blood’s first season had been filmed before it premiered in September 2008 (they shot the season finale the week of the premiere). The premiere of season 2 was moved up to June 2009, which meant they still had 3 episodes to film in addition to all of the promotional appearances, Comic Con, etc. that accompanied season 2. The season finale was completed (post-production) just days before it aired. It must have been exhausting for everyone involved to keep up with the production schedule as well as promotional commitments. By beginning production on season 3 earlier (December 2009) and keeping the premiere date in June, that should allow time to put together the quality show we’ve come to love.
- A long hiatus is NOT a death knell for this show. HBO has proven that if a show is good, the audience will return. Case in point: the hiatus between seasons 1 and 2 was seven months, which allowed additional viewers to discover True Blood and get hooked. As a result, the second season exploded, doubling its ratings and becoming the second highest-rated show ever on HBO. It also became a pop culture phenomenon, grabbing mainstream attention from Newsweek to late night talk shows.
- Long breaks and shorter seasons are becoming more and more accepted on US television. Consider 24 on Fox – it only airs from January-May, meaning there’s a 7-8 month hiatus every year. NBC won’t air the next season of Chuck until March 2010, 10 months after its season finale at the end of April 2009. On cable, it’s normal for a show to air a 12-13 episode season during the summer (i.e. The Closer, Warehouse 13), then take a break for 9 months. This model isn’t new to our international friends who are used to seeing 6-12 episode seasons once every year or so, meaning new content is on year ’round. And on that note, True Blood is not the only original programming on HBO, therefore they must make room for other shows to air.
So, my friends, do not despair about the long wait between seasons. We will not be bombarding HBO with demands to move season 3 earlier, nor will we accept comments calling for that. We will respect the creative process, enjoy the episodes we do have, and bring you a series of recommendations for things to watch/read/listen to during the hiatus so that these months will fly by.
have read all these post’s n bottomlining the whole situation yall all know that yall all gonna b on the frontline when episode one of season 3 kicks in.
and please dont b a buzz kill n dont say thngs unless r sure of ur statement.
trueblood totally ROCKS. see u there and b square for season 3
True blood is the best !!
But its so loooong til june
Feels like forever!
But, the books are great too, so .. hopes that season 3 will come out on book before june
season 3 is based on the 3rd book in the sookie stackhouse series.
0mg i l0ve true bl0od i cann0t wait..the ending i hated because it ended s0o great but s0o mean…i cant wait to see what happens….
Godric is the best. Bring him back in a flash back stylieeeeee !.
If you read the 2nd book you would discover that Godric is def not the best. My husband felt the same way until I told him that Godric killed himself because he was a child molester.
Godric is not the best! He met the sun because he was a child molester. It tells about it in the 2nd book.
WTF! I hope they don’t ruin his character like that in the tv series. It would demolish such a poignant death scene (and a really brilliant character at that).
I definitely agree with the one point, I just discovered True Blood and powered through the first two seasons… but I have no idea how I’m going to survive until June to see the 3rd season. Long wait, but will be well worth it
I can’t wait till season three starts, love the series, but I am used to having to wait for ever to see the next season. I have watched far to much anime to have not become accustomed to it. Most of those series will air for 12-15 episodes, then wait just about a year before season two will come out. And I have to wait even longer on them cause I have to wait for it to be subbed >.<
Anyways the ones that make you wait that long are always worth the wait. That being said, True Blood season three should be awesome, and well worth it.
you people need to get with it!!!!
If your such true blood fans you would all know they have been books wayyyyy before the show ever came out!!!
There are now 9 books… go read them…. im sure you’ll still be reading them by the time june 10 comes!!!
MAD SLOW!!!!
Get with what, Cat?!?! I liked the show so much I DID read the books! ALL OF THEM!! IN 2 WEEKS TIME!! I’m sure alt least some people on here know its series on paper as well as film. Don’t be so juevenile, it isn’t very becoming ;0)
I too have read all 9 books, but Cat, I’d also like to mention that the TV show does not follow the books exactly. The supporting characters have way more of a role on True Blood then in the books. So even after reading all 9 books in less than 2 weeks, I’m looking forward to season 3 of True Blood. Betty, since you seem to be a reader like myself, and if you like Harris’s writings, she does have a couple of other series type books. I just started reading Grave Sight last night. Its not about vampires but its still really good.
OMG Cat! R U serious? I did read all of the books b4 true blood came to hbo, but not everyone was in the know. The series brought new viewers and was so good, it made people go out and buy the books. Learn a little tolerance and you actually might find out that you are not as big an idiot as you appear here.
omg! i was hooked @ the begining of season 2 i got the first season right after season 2 ep 1 showed! i love TRUE BLOOD! i so wana do bad things till them but god its a longgggggggggggggggggggggg wait! im sad its so long but the longer the better the actors & director have to make it the best sarn show on tha planet! i wana live in bon tomps soooo badly! idc if i get killed! id live to die their! WOOT. 8 months…..4 days & 33 minets & your dreams will come true!
Love the tv series. Love the books even more. I gobbled them both up as fast as I could manage. Eric rocked my world in the books. I hope they don’t change too much. I liked season two but the books were better in my opinion. I’ve been twiddling my thumbs since I finished everything mostly. The BBC tv series being human was pretty good. I liked it almost as much. I think I mostly like true blood because of the books. It creates a strong connection to Sookie and Eric.
Agree 100%. I could not wait for each episode of season 2, so I bought and read the whole series in a few weeks and the books were great. I read the short stories of the latest book, but would love another full novel!
For sure! Eric in the books is too frickin hot for words. I don’t like that his relationship with Sookie was downplayed so much in the t.v series. I also like Being Human and another series called Wolfe Creek
Gotta say I loved the books way more then the tv series but the tv series is preaty good to. I also like Being Human, great show… theres another tv show being made based on the book series Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter
Despite the explanations and comments about the books or the wait… My response is the following: I CANT’ WAIT THAT LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG…. BRING TRUE BLOOD BACK NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!
OMG I LOVESSSS TRUE BLOOD my friend introduced me to it and it only took one episode and I was hooked! I agree bring Godric back he was sexy and classy aww the body… I would turn vampire for him anytime (if it was non fictional).Oh LaFayette and Tara they sometimes still the lime light from Sookie with their infectious personalities! June is too far away, why are they doing this to us?
i f*****ing love this show, i am so glad its getting a third season for sure, although its a pretty long time to wait, but for true blood, its worth the wait.
i have just descovered true blood and watched both seasons am from the uk where is has just started airing but i have got cable just so i can watch the new season when it starts bk on satalite i can not wait its soooooo damn good and addictive cant wait …
thats a load of crap having to wait and more accseptible to who not me or any of my friends that watch the show because were going to be vary dissapointed having to wait and what if the 3rd seasion isint as good everyone just waited for nothing like think about it its just not smart
Books are great,books 4 and 9 my favorite as Sookie and Eric are together.Jessica is boring and has to go.We do not want this slutty Yvette, Eric should be obsessed only with Sookie.Anna Paquin should dump Stephen Moyer and go and get gorgeous Alex S.I agree Queen,the should be replaced.Hate Debbie Pelt, don’t you ?Anything about Eric and Sookie has been the best part of the show so far, especially her dreams
)
hey so is it true bill realy dies?And sookie is gona hook up with eric?omg its long till june…
no, so far until the 9th book, Bill is still ‘alive’.
Lol. You could get pregnant, have a baby, and name it Sookie in the time it takes between seasons.
Ha! Good one!
ha ha…LOL.
You would many Sookie’s by the time the show is pulled from air.
The show is fantastic, really good writing. I went on vacation and discovered the books. I have now read all 9, thinking it would tide me over, and still so long until it starts. There has to be a better way to provide this quality material on a more consistant basis. I wonder what, if any, of the other story lines will make it from the book to the small screen. Maybe we should tlak spin-off?
WTF why such the long wait!
I REALLY LIKE THIS SERIES.IM INTO VAMPIRES AND I TRULY LOVE BILL COMPTON.
OMG. I just started watching this show a few weeks ago, my friend jackie got me hooked. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THRILLED to hear that there is definately going to be a new season. AWESOME!!!
Hi Guys & Gals,
After watching upto episode 6 in the UK on Channel 4 i got hooked on True Blood and couldn’t wait till the following episode so i hunted the DVD series 1 and got it! i’ve watched them and yes i’m hooked and some of my friends, you cater for all tastes and i’m so grateful, i don’t usually like scary programmes or films etc but this is certainly different its because it is so varied and entertaining thats why i like it so much, yes a new convert to this kind of entertainment.
I had never seen the cast in anything before and they are great, all of them, your attention to detail on set and in characters is awsome, some of your characters add some witt and humour too.
Just would like to see a bit more romance between Bill and Sookie its addictive and maybe he could show her some of the things he has learnt over his time to charm and woo her, he and Sookie are so different and not stereotyped keep it interesting and add a bit more romance there isn’t enough for the newly converted viewers hopefully for when you do season 3.
Much appreciated
Cherie
EEEEEP! I can’t wait! Who kidnapped Bill? Whats gonna happen to sookie? I hate cliffhangers, thats what the next season is for.
You guys should put Snoop Dogg in the show… it will bring the show to another level.. he should be like a King or something.. from Africa or something… that would take it to another level !!!
all good things come to those who wait…
the longer you wait for something the more you will appreciate it when it arrives
Ok you have convinced me i have to read the books now. i thought series 2 got a little too crazy – the first series started so “magic realism”y and it’s just diverted more and more from the realism into fantasy… i also often want to smack goody two-shoes sookie. is she less annoying in the books?
Fell in love with True Blood couldnt wait to the next season so bought all 9 books and read them in a space of a week and have preordered book 10. Cant wait, i hope they dont change the story line from the books. Have to admit i fell in love with Eric after reading the books. Its awesome, soooooooo hoooked dont know how i can wait so long for either the next book or the next season??????????????
Totally didn’t know there were books! Gonna have to find them.
I just recently got hooked on True Blood and I have seen every ep. I totally can’t wait til 3rd season. In fact we ordered HBO just so I can watch it. =P I’ll be waiting for the new seasons, but til then will enjoy seasons one and two ! ! ! Kimber
Trueblood is the best series ever. im addicted!! cant wait till june!!
Waiting…Think of it this way. We wait for fall; we wait for winter; then we wait for spring; and then summer is finally here and so another season! Then we can’t wait for the finally! So no worries “We’re all just killing time.”
true blood is the best show on earth can’t wait till june! I LOVE THE WHOLE CAST
I love the show, and I absolutely adore the books. I’m addicted.
I like how they’re not following the books exactly, so even those who HAVE read the books are still kept in suspense.
Great job.
Can’t wait until the third season. Gonna have to read the books a couple more times until then. ;D
They don’t nececarily follow each season based on each book. Although it would make sense, and everyone thinks season 1 is book 1, and season 2 i book 2, and so on…..they add side stories such as Tara and Jason with the fellowship which was’nt in the books. Easch season of the show derives mainly from the storyline of the books, but some of the stories in the show bleed into some of the stories from the books and should be viewed as a whole. I don’t wanna mention details to spoil, but each season of the show encorporates their story mainly from that receptive book, but the show also jumps around and borrows scenes and stories from future books….ir…Tara wasnt even mentioned till the second book, and was at the club in the 3, but theyre she was in episode 1. But I dont care cause I love both and Alan Ball is doin an amazing job translating paper to screen….keep it up. And yes, Alex is a badass Eric, and don’t get to attached to Bill.
I haven’t managed to read the books yet, but am addicted to true blood which I only discovered a couple of weeks ago. I managed to watch 2 seasons in 4 days (I do have a ft job and a life), but I’m really disturbed by some of the comments about bill. Is it true, does he die? I love him!
NO!!! Does not die…
Have read all 9 books….cant wait 4 book 10 due to b released May 2010….LOOOOOOVVEEEE Eric…..Show is great as well….I hope they try to stick as close as possible to books…
dude i totally get why it takes that long this show is the best screw twilight im a die hard tb fan and love everything about it so instead of arguing about it lets all just bask in its glory!
ahh !
i cant wait tfor season three !
i love this show i wish they would make
it a nonend show or movie lol . When all
those other vampire shows/movies/books came
out i was like no no TRUE BLOOD IS WAY BETTER !
i’m excited and way too anxiouss !!!!
I can´t wait for season 3
Can’t wait to c wat happened 2 bill >:( and 2 c wat happened to suki after wat happened with the wedding and all so can’t wait
So mad Eric is hot but in love with BILL can’t beleive he’s gone so mad >:( ugh hope 2 c him all strong and btw like wtf how come we have 2 wait till june soo pevved ugh can’t wait 2 c wat happened
They better bring Bill Back or i WILL BE TICKED OFF.
Omg!!! I know!! Wtf!!! I am dying right now!!!!
: [
I’m surviving on Vampire Diaries, The book series and the next Twilight Movie until June….feel like I’m going through withdrawls.
It’s a long time till June 2010.
this is gunna be a long winter w/o true blood… only book is the short stories coming out in oct. and then june =[ …. i need my eric northman fix
wtf dis aint koool fk true blood =[
Eric Northman is sooo hot. Try reading the books while waiting for next season a new one is coming in October. I read the books and am on the last one. I have faces to put to the characters. I vote Eric.
REALLY? ARE THEY GOING TO SHOW A PREVIEW ON THE TRUE BLOOD WEBSITE? I HOPE SO!!! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GODRIC COME BACK IN ERIC’s FLASHBACKs PLEASE!!!
I agree!! That is why I will stay tuned. I Love the Viking Warrior.
Vampires are all sexy …
Is there a book for season 3? Ya Eric hot but I am in love with Bill!!!
Actually the 10th Sookie Stackhouse book is coming out in May 2010… cant wait!!!
errose, the next full-length Sookie novel comes out in May 2010. Hang in there!
Yes, the book season 3 is based on is called Club Dead by Charlaine Harris.
Yes, there’s a book for season 3, heck, there’s 10 books out now with another one out next may. The one season 3 will be based on is “Club Dead”, and is very fun. Oh and not to give anything away, but if you read the books (which is SOOO suggest you do since they’re awesome!) you’ll end up loving Eric WAY more than Bill…unless they change the TV series, which they have been doing a lot, especially season 2, season 1 was actually pretty spot on with the books. Either way, the show’s awesome, and you should read the third book if you want to know what happens, though i suggest you read the second book (Living Dead in Dallas) first, since they changed stuff for the show, so if you read the third book, you might not get some stuff because of the changes.
me to he’s so HOT !
I got hooked in season 2, I was late because I did not have cable. Now I have to wait, I am going to die truly. No I will go buy the books. I think that is what is up, they want to sell the books too. LOL. The series is so good I am willing to wait, but seriously why can’t they just rush a bit, is someone pregnant and they don’t want us to know LOL. cannot wait till it starts again!
Oh i know how you feel!!!
I don’t know if you are aware of it but this show is based on the sookie stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, the first one is called ‘Dead until Dark’. there are 9 of them. they are written from Sookie’s point of view so there are some parts in the show that are not in the books (if sookie is not in the scene then its not in the book) they are pretty good. the show is better which would be a first!! but they could provide a substitute for your true blood addiction until the next season airs.
Ugh, I know how you feel! I hate seasons! To long a wait!
amen to that :p
I read the books during the first season (and the 9th one when it came out) and I’m so in love with Eric. When I talk about the show with people who haven’t read the books and they are all “I love Bill” I always reply with “Bill is s douche bag”… I so hope they follow the books for seasons 3 and 4 (especially 4
)!
I compleatly agree wiyh you janet bill is a douche bag sneaky bastard I have been reading thease books for years charlaine harris is soooo good she has three other sersies that I read while I wait for the stackhouse books and their really good to by the way the next stackhouse book come out in may 2010
I know! Soooooooooo excited!