Mark your calendars my lovelies, the next True blood Weekend will be from August 6-8, 2010 in London!

(paleycenter.org)  Here’s the most up to date information for the Inside the Writers Room event.  To order tickets click the link above.  Kelly

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
7:00 pm PT
Los Angeles

 In PersonAlan Ball and the writing staff of True Blood: Raelle Tucker, Alexander Woo, Nancy Oliver, Brian Buckner, Kate Barnow, and Elisabeth Finch

 After pushing the television drama envelope with the funeral home–set Six Feet Under, Alan Ball has taken things a step further with True Blood, a visceral thrill ride exploring the fraught complexities of life among the undead. Ball and his writing team will discuss the creation of HBO’s addictive new series, the metaphorical richness of the vampire myth, and the thinking behind Bill Compton’s fetching bowl cut.

• This EventMembers: $10
  General Public: $15

This was originally posted on grafwv.com.

On the HBO original series “True Blood,” Sam Trammell plays a shape-shifter, changing from man to animal and back again.

On Oct. 30, Trammell will be transforming back into a West Virginian.

“I really am thrilled to be coming back to Charleston,” he said. “I consider Charleston home. My mom and dad still live there. I really miss it, and I’m excited to see all my friends and family. It’s great to be coming home.”

But the main focus of Trammell’s Charleston visit will be supporting the work of East End Main Street, a program of the Charleston Area Alliance dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Charleston’s oldest and most diverse neighborhood.

Trammel will be the highlight of EEMS’s inaugural HallowEast fundraiser, participating in “Inside the Main Street Studio,” a sit-down, “Inside the Actors Studio”-style interview, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Kanawha Players, 309 Beauregard St.

David Wohl, dean of arts and humanities at West Virginia State University, will be asking the questions, and a Kanawha Players performance of “Dial M for Murder” will follow Trammell’s appearance.

Trammell fits well with HallowEast, of course, because he considers Charleston his hometown. Being a star on “True Blood,” though, helps, because the show’s dark theme mixes well with a Halloween event.

“It’s a good fit for Halloween,” Trammell said. “If you’ve read the Charlaine Harris books (on which the show is based), you know she introduces a whole host of fantastical creatures. For sure, it’s a Halloween sort of show.”

And viewers in West Virginia, like fans all across the country, are engrossed in the evolving storyline, one that continually weaves Louisiana culture and vampire lore into a tale that is all at once scary, funny, captivating, provocative and smart.

“It’s always interesting to hear from people who are really into the show,” Trammell said. “It attracts a wide demographic. Sometimes, people will ask my dad what’s going to happen next on the show, and he has no idea. It amazes me people in West Virginia are actually keeping up with what I’m doing on the show. The attention is completely new to me.”

Trammell was born in Louisiana and has lived in North Dakota and Indiana. But he spent most of his early life in Charleston, going to Overbrook Elementary, John Adams Middle School and George Washington High School. After attending Brown University and the University of Paris, Trammell acted on Broadway and eventually appeared in several films – “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem” and “Autumn in New York,” among others – and guest-starred on several televisions shows – “House,” “CSI: New York” and “Dexter,” among others.

“True Blood,” though, has catapulted Trammell to celebrity status, which is evident by the growing number of talk show appearances.

“Sam is a star on the rise, so we are thrilled and honored he is taking the time to be a part of, and really the highlight of, HallowEast,” said EEMS Program Director Ric Cavender. “A lot of fans are going to be excited, too.”

Trammell said he is eager to support the efforts of EEMS, which works directly with neighborhood businesses, leading them from simple ideas to significant investments. The program is based on a national model for community revitalization that was developed to save historic commercial architecture and has since become a powerful economic development tool across the country.

“Downtown Charleston and the East End are just amazing,” Trammell said. “Today, when you look at the ballpark, the Clay Center and Capitol Street, you understand the revitalization has been great. I want to see it continue.”

EEMS volunteers are hoping HallowEast can help that work continue.

“This is HallowEast’s first year, but it’s already a giant undertaking,” Cavender said. “The money we raise with this event will go directly toward improving Charleston.”

HallowEast officially starts at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 with “Main Street Murder Mystery” at Women’s Club of Charleston, 1600 Virginia St.  Bluegrass Kitchen is presenting the event. Tickets are $35 and include hors devours and drinks.

Oct. 28 also marks the ArtMares opening at 1598 Washington St. East. The four-day exhibit features more than 30 local artists showcasing their visions of Halloween. Thirty percent of all proceeds from art sales go to East End Main Street. ArtMares runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

HallowEast continues Oct. 29 with an enhanced evening of Trick or Treat, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and includes participation from East End businesses. Also on Oct. 29, the Red Cross is partnering with EEMS for its “Blood Drive” from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Moses Automotive parking lot, 1406 Washington St. East.

HallowEast concludes with a special ArtMares artists reception and block party from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31. The $15 admission fee covers beer, wine and a $2 discount to the Empty Glass Halloween Hootenanny at 9 p.m.

Kanawha Players will present the second showing of “Dial M for Murder” at 8 p.m. Halloween night. Tickets are $12.

Ongoing events include black and orange margarita specials at Tricky Fish, lunch specials at Delish Express and art exhibits at the Book Exchange.

Tickets for the Oct. 30 Sam Trammell presentation and “Dial M of Murder” are $50. Tickets for the show and a 6 p.m. VIP reception at the Cultural Center are $100, while tickets for the premium VIP reception at 5 p.m., also at the Cultural Center, are $150. Trammell will be participating in both receptions, and those prices include admission to “Inside the Main Street Studio.”

Call (304) 340-4253 and visit www.HallowEast.com for more information. Registration for some events will be available at www.CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.

“It’s a big deal for me to come home and have this sort of attention,” Trammell said. “It’s humbling. …

“When you live in West Virginia, you take it for granted,” he added. “After you leave, you realize how unique Charleston and West Virginia are. So much of the state is untouched, green and beautiful. It’s different from anywhere else in the world. You appreciate it when you’re gone.”

 by Megan Masters-E!online

Jaimie Trueblood / HBO

We have some fangtastic news, tubers!

All right, that was a bit much, but we just can’t hide our excitement. Those nice folks at the Paley Center in Los Angeles are giving True Blood fans the chance to get up close and personal with the geniuses behind TV’s hottest vampire series.

No, real-life lovebirds Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer won’t be there, but this is your chance to hear scoop on the upcoming third season from the writers themselves, including show runner extraordinaire Alan Ball.

And for being a loyal Watch With Kristin devotee, we’re giving you the goods first. Tickets for True Blood: Inside the Writers Room will be available this Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Paley Center website.

Wouldn’t you love to toss around some of your own storyline ideas with the powers that be, or even just ask one of many burning Q’s—like why it took so long to kill off Maryann? Yeah, we thought so.

True Blood: Inside the Writers Room happens Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. See you there!

Here’s a cute interview with Stephen Moyer from E!.

(From the “Chelsea Lately” website) On Friday, September 11th at 11PM EST Sam Trammell will be on “Chelsea Lately” on E!. Other guests will include Comedian Brad Wollack, comedian Scott Henry and comedian Loni Love.

Kelly

According to the Chelsea Lately website tonight’s guest is True Blood’s Rutina Wesley.  It airs on E! at 11 PM EST. 

Kelly

Sleep all day, party all night. For some it’s a lifestyle, for others it’s a way of life. But everybody likes a great deal, and RCN’s got one you can really sink your teeth into: Signature Digital Cable and High-Speed Internet for just $49.99*/mo.

Plus, check out some events that promise to be a bloody good time!