12 True Blood Season 3 Spoilers from SciFiWire

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True Blood’s Alan Ball, Raelle Tucker and Alexander Woo sat down with SciFiWire.com and revealed 12 spoilers for True Blood season 3. Some of it we already know from the writers panel and the casting call, but there are a few new tidbits. Here’s an excerpt:

• Bill won’t be back for a while. Ball confirmed that the arc of Bill’s kidnapping will last “about six episodes.” That sounds like just enough time to put Sookie (Anna Paquin) through the wringer, but not enough to try viewers’ patience. Plus, we’ll probably still get to see Bill deal with his captors in episodes 1-5.
• Meet the Merlottes. Shape-shifter Sam (Sam Trammell) will find his family this year, and Tucker gets to write their characters a lot in episode two. “I’m getting to write Sam’s family, which is a lot of fun, and, really, I feel really satisfying as a character arc,” she said. “I really am glad that he’s taking this journey and he’s learning about himself. I find that interesting. They aren’t the brightest people, maybe. At least they appear that way. They’re fairly dysfunctional, but like anybody else, they have their good things about them and not-so-good things. They’re still getting to know each other. Sam’s still getting to know them, and so are we.”
• Werewolves sink their teeth into Louisiana. Werewolves are coming to True Blood, and Ball offered a preview of what his wolf-people will look like. “They’re just wolves,” Ball said. “It’s just people who can turn into wolves, but they’re slightly bigger and much stronger. Their eyes glow orange a little bit.”

The werewolves sound spooky and awesome! (Spookily awesome? Awesomely spooky?) For the rest of the spoilers, check out SciFiWire.com.

Eyewitness Report from Paley Center

by Rueben

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Paley Center for Media’s Inside the Writers’ Room for the popular HBO series True Blood. As the title states the panel highlighted the work of the talented writers for this show, including Executive Producer and Creator, Alan Ball; co-Executive Producers Brian Buckner and Nancy Oliver; Producers Raelle Tucker and Alexander Woo; Script Coordinator Kate Barnow and Writer’s Assistant Elizabeth Finch.

The night opened with a look back at Season 2 and all the memorable moments from the season. Moderator Alynda Wheat, writer for Entertainment Weekly, then took the stage and began the introductions of the panelist. Once everyone was settled in, Ms. Wheat asked Mr. Ball a very crucial question: “Will Snopp Dogg be playing a part in the series next season?” This question, of course, garnered laughs from the audience with Mr. Ball explaining that he planned to “protect the integrity of the series” and would not be casting the well-known rapper. He further explained that he is not a fan of stunt casting; and while no big names have expressed interest in appearing in the show next season, he would not be averse to it (although it would be to their benefit to actually be able to act).

After his series Six Feet Under finished its run, Mr. Ball wanted to do something fun – and that is precisely what True Blood has afforded him. He was quoted as stating, “it’s too much fun to do this and get paid for it,” which was well received by those in the panel room. He was asked at a later point what made him develop the show for TV and he explained he read one of Charlaine Harris’ books and couldn’t put it down, read several more then took it to HBO. He did state that once the fifth episode (the flashback to Bill’s Civil War days and his turning) was completed, he felt they had finally “hit their stride”.

Ms. Wheat acknowledged that the writing team seemed to be female-heavy and wondered if Mr. Ball had gone seeking that to which he stated it wasn’t intentional, as he is “very instinctive,” going with staff based on their own original work – not spec scripts – in order to get a sense of their voices; their gender did not play into any decisions.

Mr. Buckner and Mr. Woo then answered the query about the provocative nature of the storylines, joking “there’s almost nothing we can’t do or haven’t done” – and Mr. Woo couldn’t “envision (True Blood) anywhere (else) but on cable”. There was, however, at least one storyline that was scrapped due to its controversial nature. The flashback scene of Bill and his maker in the 1920’s was written much harsher than what was seen by the viewers. Mr. Ball believed the original depiction was more of rape then murder than was needed.

It was explained that Ms. Tucker is the only staff member who has genre experience whereas most of the staff has comedy in their background. This came into play for Mr. Buckner as his first draft script was too funny and had to be changed to fit the context of the show. After all the “cast plays everything so straight, it’s funnier than comedy”. They simply let the cast go with the lines and it turns out funny (even if not always intentional).

The subject matter then veered on to fan reactions and their experiences at this July’s Comic Con. Ms. Tucker joked she “grew up with hippies” so the event wasn’t scary for her. Mr. Ball interjected that he “wasn’t afraid,” but did state you “have to be careful what you say at Comic Con.”

When asked which characters the writers like writing for Mr. Ball was diplomatic saying, “he loves all of them, but really enjoys writing for Lafayette and Jason”; Ms. Tucker stated Jessica and Hoyt; Mr. Buckner said Eric and Ms. Oliver stated Godric.

Some things to look forward to when True Blood returns next summer include:

* Eric appearing without most of his clothes in the first episode
* Learning where Bill is and what (or who) took him
* A return visit by Queen Sophie (Evan Rachel Wood)
* There will not be a wedding although one character will want a wedding
* The possibility of the Newlins making a return visit
* A “boat-load” of characters to be featured, including more on Pam and Nan
* Learning more about what Sookie really is
* No marginalizing of Bill (unlike that reflected in the books
* The possibility of flashbacks between Eric and Godric
* There will not be a return visit by Mary Ann as she is DEAD

Perhaps one of the most extraordinary discoveries about life behind the scenes is that Mr. Ball allows the writer of each script to serve as on-set producer. This means they are involved in every aspect of the episode, including the prep, the casting, the post and everything in between. Mr. Woo further explained this is very rare as most show-runners (like what Mr. Ball is for True Blood) do not afford their staff this opportunity.

True Blood will return to HBO in June of 2010.

PHOTOS: True Blood Writers at the Paley Center

Last night’s Paley Center event, Inside the Writers Room: True Blood, draw a good-sized crowd and some interesting tidbits about what’s coming for season 3. Read our live blog of the event here (warning: spoilers!) and check out more photos of the writers on the red carpet and on stage in the Gallery.

Team Eric, Team Bill & Season 3 Tidbits from the Paley Center – LIVE (SPOILERS)

The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills is hosting a True Blood writers panel this evening, featuring Alan Ball, Alexander Woo, Nancy Oliver, Brian Buckner, Kate Barnow, and Elisabeth Finch. The panel is being moderated by PopWatch’s Alynda Wheat. As usual we have operatives in place to report back to us with juicy tidbits in advance of a full report coming later. The panel begins at 7PM PT; keep refreshing for the latest and beware of spoilers!

On the Red Carpet

• Raelle Tucker’s favorite character to write for – currently – is Jessica.
• Alexander Woo says that the scenes at the Fellowship of the Sun when the vampires and humans are fighting were among his favorites to shoot.
• Alan Ball observes that all of the characters are his “babies”, but he especially likes writing for Jason. Alan also reveals that his favorite parts of season 2 include “the growing sexual attraction between Eric and Sookie, the Dionysian revelry, and Jason watching Sarah.”
• Alan confirms that Alcide will appear beginning in episode 3.03. He has not yet been cast.
• Regarding Bubba, Alan says that he loves the character in the books, but “because he’s Elvis there’s no way we can do it” on the show.

The Panel

• Alan says he’s not a fan of stunt casting. Looks like Snoop Dogg won’t be getting his wish.
• Alan thinks episode 1.05, “Sparks Fly Out”, is where True Blood hit its stride.
• Alan: “I will admit to oftentimes saying, ‘Come on, can we just get his [Ryan Kwanten's] shirt off?’”
• Nancy Oliver feels lucky to be on pay cable because pretty much anything goes. “We can do a story about priapism.”
• Our girl Raelle Tucker on Sookie: “What makes Sookie an amazing character is that she feels as though she has a disability, she feels hopelessly flawed.”
• Alexander Woo says True Blood fans are the best looking fans in the world. (Yeah we are!)  Alan appreciates the fans’ enthusiasm and Raelle thinks True Blood fans have great costumes.
• Raelle reveals a soft spot for Lafayette: “I am a dirty little slut for Lafayette, even if I’m not his type.”
• Expanding on comments made on the red carpet, Alan says he enjoys writing for Jason and Lafayette, Raelle enjoys writing for Hoyt and Jessica, and Brian likes writing for Eric.
• Alan knows what the fans want: “Alexander Skarsgard appears without most of his clothes in the very first episode of S3.”
• We find out where Bill is in episode 3.01.
• Fans in the audience are expressing their unhappiness with Evan Rachel Wood as Sophie-Anne. Alan takes it in stride.
• Nothing new coming out of the fan part of the Q&A: lots of new characters in season 3, including possibility of the Newlins; Maryann is totally dead; the theme for season 3 is “identity”; Sookie will be driven to find out more about what/who she is/
• Ah, some reassurance for Team Bill: “Bill will not be marginalized. Bill and Sookie will have troubles, but Bill and Sookie have a connection that will not die.”
• And something else for Team Eric: Alan confirms that Eric will get amnesia in season 4.
• The fans gave Alan a standing ovation for the last scene of Six Feet Under.
• Alan says we’ll see more Pam and Nan Flanagan in season 3, groans at mention of pink spandex.
• Godric’s death scene was partially live, partially green screen and they got it in only two takes!
• Alan confirms that we’ll see Godric again in flashbacks in season 3.
• Alan also confirmed that season 3 will launch in June 2010.

That’s a wrap! Our reporters on the spot are sticking around to get more photos and (hopefully) some autographs. We’ll have photos and a full report tomorrow.