HBO orders second season of 'True Blood'Series follows adventures of vampires in LouisianaSept 17, 2008, 01:37 PM ET Updated: Sept 17, 2008, 08:09 PM ET
"Blood" debuted Sept. 7 on the premium network to a modest 1.4 million viewers. But the debut has attracted a total of 4 million viewers with repeat airings. Also, HBO noted the second episode grew 24%. "We're in a business where we have to believe in the show -- and the show is fantastic," said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO's programming group and West Coast operations. "It gets better in every episode. The show deserves a second year whatever the ratings." The early pickup also sends a reassuring message to fans, Lombardo noted. "It says, 'It's OK to get hooked on the show, it's coming back.' " Fans also won't have to wait very long. Season 2 will air next summer (yet another reason for the early pickup), part of HBO's plan to return to year-round programming on Sunday nights. "Last couple years our volume of Sunday night series went down, and we're hoping to have a distinctive night of series on for 52 weeks a year next year," Lombardo said. "Our intention is not to have periods where we're not delivering originals." HBO should have no problem filling the night; it has several projects in development including the Ted Danson comedy pilot "Bored to Death," the dark comedy "Hung" and the gambling drama "Boardwalk Empire." HBO orders second season of 'True Blood'Series follows adventures of vampires in LouisianaSept 17, 2008, 01:37 PM ET Updated: Sept 17, 2008, 08:09 PM ET
HBO has renewed Alan Ball's vampire drama "True Blood" after only two episodes.
"Blood" debuted Sept. 7 on the premium network to a modest 1.4 million viewers. But the debut has attracted a total of 4 million viewers with repeat airings. Also, HBO noted the second episode grew 24%. "We're in a business where we have to believe in the show -- and the show is fantastic," said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO's programming group and West Coast operations. "It gets better in every episode. The show deserves a second year whatever the ratings." The early pickup also sends a reassuring message to fans, Lombardo noted. "It says, 'It's OK to get hooked on the show, it's coming back.' " Fans also won't have to wait very long. Season 2 will air next summer (yet another reason for the early pickup), part of HBO's plan to return to year-round programming on Sunday nights. "Last couple years our volume of Sunday night series went down, and we're hoping to have a distinctive night of series on for 52 weeks a year next year," Lombardo said. "Our intention is not to have periods where we're not delivering originals." HBO should have no problem filling the night; it has several projects in development including the Ted Danson comedy pilot "Bored to Death," the dark comedy "Hung" and the gambling drama "Boardwalk Empire."
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