Cementing a place as the week’s least shocking television development: HBO has renewed “True Blood” for a fifth season.
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Well duh.
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The 12-episode fifth season of “True Blood” will begin production in Los Angeles later this year and will premiere on HBO in the summer of 2012.
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“I am thrilled that ‘True Blood’ continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics,” states HBO Programming President Michael Lombardo. “Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV.”
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With “True Blood” retaining its position as HBO’s most popular original program, the renewal was hardly a surprise and its inevitability only increased when Alan Ball recently closed a deal to return for another season.
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“I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers,” states Ball. “I can’t imagine having more fun than this.”
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Based on the Sookie Stackhouse novel series by Charlaine Harris, “True Blood” features a vast ensemble led by Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard and more actors than could adequately be listed in this space.Â
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The series was nominated for four Emmys last month. The fourth “True Blood” Â season, which premiered in June, passed its half-way point last week and will reach its conclusion on September 11.
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