If you are like me, than you are suffering from a serious withdrawal over the summer hiatus for The Walking Dead. You are probably biding your time with memes from Steven Yeun, pics of Norman Reedus hugging everyone in America, or trolling through Tumblr like a love sick puppy. Luckily, we got a pic of Rick Grimes treading precariously through the woods of Georgia and the following information from an interview that IGN had with creator/executive producer Robert Kirkman.

What they discussed revolved around the bad guy of the third season, the Governor:

“Yeah, [The Governor] is still very much in the mix. That’s certainly not the last that we’ll see of him.  When we see him again and where we see him again, that’s the big question,” he said.

Unlike in Season 3, Kirkman made it very clear that the Governor and Rick (Andrew Lincoln) wouldn’t be directly facing off with one another, but the former would be utilized in a different manner.

It’s not going to be like it was in Season 3; it’s not going to be Rick and the Governor on a collision course with a conflict between them. He’ll be used in very different ways next season.”

Hopefully, this will tide us over for a bit as we have to wait until Sunday, October 13 to see the beginning of the 4th season.

Now, regarding the longevity of the show, THR spoke with AMC CEO Josh Sapan and he said the following:

“We hope that zombies live forever and we’ve just begun to find out what the post-apocalyptic world is like,” said Sapan, “so that we’ll be sitting here at the Barclays conference in 2022 discussing the fact that Walking Dead is not over … at that point, I think any one of the companies will have replaced the United States government and we’ll be in a complete free enterprise world in which there are no nations.”

This is awesome news, but I do not think my nerves can handle all the stress that this show induces for thirteen weeks every year.

Network blurb: For S5: Ep. 12 – Reunion: A string of murders at a high school reunion indicates the presence of a troubled individual taking out their teenage frustrations.

For S5:Ep.13 – Thanks for the Memories: The day is here, the barn has arrived. But Haven has still some surprises left. Some things come to a head, answers are given and new questions arise. The departure isn’t going as planned and the Hunter storm shows no sign of letting up until Haven is wiped from the face of the earth.

My Recap: Because of the Newtown shooting, Haven’s last two episodes of its third season were postponed. So, fans were both happy that the show was so sensitive to the climate of what was going on, but also waiting on pins and needles to see how the storyline of the bolt gun killer would play itself out.

In the first episode of the night, Nate and Duke’s high school reunion is about to happen and as a result one of their classmates takes out hit frustrations on his high school nemeses. But as the trio try to solve the various murders, they must also contend with Audrey’s daughter-in-law who is actually to bolt gun killer. That was actually very clever. We learn that the only reason she has been killing and skinning everyone was because that is her trouble. She hit a certain age and her skin slid off and in order to function in society she had to take other individuals’ skin. All she wants is Audrey to go into the barn so her trouble can stop and so she can have her husband back and that is James, Audrey’s son.

The highlight of the episode revolved around Duke turning into a teenager. It was hilarious as an old school friend has lured him to the dance floor.

In the finale episode, everything came to ahead and I think the best scene revolved around Audrey and Nathan realizing they are the parents of James. I also loved the fact that we learn why Audrey had to go into the barn, which entailed Audrey being a battery of sorts and her time outside of the barn was spent recharging herself with love. Once she is fully recharged, she goes into the barn and then all those with troubles lose their troubles for 27 years. This gets repeated for an eternity. The big question is what is Audrey? Not an alien, not a human?

The problem now is that Audrey is love with Nathan and also loves Duke, two men who would lay down their lives for her. This trio makes a series of decisions that ultimately harm Haven and all its inhabitants and separate the trio and destroy the barn… or so we think. We’re not sure what will happen when the show comes back for its fourth season.

Which we can happily report is in the bag. Syfy president Mark Stern stated the following about the pick-up:

“We couldn’t be happier to see the story of Audrey Parker and the creepy, quirky town of Haven continues next year. Season 3 has hit a creative and critical high and we’re very excited to see where the talented production team takes our colorful cast of characters — led by the perfect trifecta of Emily Rose, Eric Balfour and Lucas Bryant — in season four.”

As I stated on the podcast, I have no idea what season 4 will have in store for us because how the season ended left so many questions about where the show will go next. But, I am glad that this little sleeper hit will be back!

To no one’s surprise, Today, AMC announced the season 4 pick-up of ‘The Walking Dead.’

What was shocking was the news joint statement from AMC and Glen Mazzara, stating that Mazzara was stepping down as show-runner for the AMC hit at the end of the current season. Both Glen Mazzara and AMC acknowledged that there is a difference of opinion about where the show should go moving forward, hence the parting of the ways.

Statement from Glen Mazzara:

My time as show-runner on ‘The Walking Dead’ has been an amazing experience, but after I finish season 3, it’s time to move on. I have told the stories I wanted to tell and connected with our fans on a level that I never imagined. It doesn’t get much better than that. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey.

Statement from Gale Anne Hurd:

“I am appreciative and grateful to Glen for his hard work on ‘The Walking Dead.’ I am supportive of AMC and Glen’s decision and know that the series is in great hands with one of the most talented and dedicated casts and crews in the business. I look forward to the show’s continued success.”

Statement from Robert Kirkman:

“I am in full support of both AMC and Glen Mazzara in the decision they have come to and believe the parties came to this decision in the best interest of the future of the show. I thank Glen for his hard work and appreciate his many contributions to ‘The Walking Dead’ and look forward to working with him as we complete post production on Season 3. I am also excited to begin work on another spectacular season of this show that I know means so much to so many people. This show has always been the result of a wide range of extremely talented men and women working tirelessly to produce their best work collectively. I believe the future is bright for ‘The Walking Dead.’ Thank you to the fans for your continued support.”

The title of the first episode of season 4 will be Growing Pains, how apropos.

PaleyFest 2011 is in full swing in Beverly Hills, California right now and the cast (Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgard, Joe Manganiello, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Deborah Ann Woll, Ryan Kwanten, Marshall Allman, Chris Bauer, Kristen Bauer Van Straten, Carrie Preston, Jim Parrack, Nelsan Ellis, Kevin Alejandro) and Alan Ball were in attendance.

Editor in Chief Debra Birnbaum moderated the panel:

Alan Ball takes the podium: “It’s really gratifying to see how many fans there are, and how passionate you are about the show.”

When tonight’s moderator asked the crowd if they were Team Bill, Eric or Alcide… Eric and Alcide won by a landslide.

A scene from Season 4 reveals that Pam, Jessica and Hoyt are going to team up against some rowdy vamp haters.

If you could work with anyone you haven’t worked with yet? “Lafayette and Jessica would have a lot to talk about.” – Deborah

Rutina: “I’d love to see some Tara and Pam action.” Alan: “You will.”

Is Alcide still hung up on Debbie? “She’s still alive and at large so you never know,” Manganiello says.

“Show of hands, who hasn’t gotten naked yet on True blood.”  Only 3.5 hands go up.

Will we ever see flashbacks of Pam and Eric? “Well, I’d love to see what Audrey Fischer would do with the clothing.” – Kristin

Can Lafayette trust Jesus? “You can never trust anyone too much…” Kevin Alejandro says.

How’s it going with Jessica & Hoyt? “The fairytale can’t go on forever, but maybe reality is better than a fairytale.” – Deborah

Hoyt’s mom remains “awful”

What’s up with the baby? “The last we left it, her baby was on board. And that problem grows, er, exponentially.”

Rene and Arlene’s baby is, in fact, “evil” but not a vampire, says Preston

Will Andy be on V? “A lot of V came into the station toward the end of last season. And you know, that’s where he works!” – Chris

What happens with Jason? “He should not be looking after an entire village of meth addicts,” says Kwanten

Any chance of Sam finding love this season? “Slim, looking at the record. But I got another shot. I’m at bat again.” – Sam. But with WHO?

Will Tara find some happiness? “Maybe.” Where does she go at the end of the season? “Away. You will find out early on.” – Rutina

Ball says: Characters can only be happy for one episode then it gets boring!

And Eric? “Things are definitely unstable for Eric. He doesn’t know who he is. Thousands of years of human resentment, gone.” – Alexander

How did Eric lose his memory? “He messed with the wrong people.” – Alex “Aliens came from space.” – Alan

Where did Tara go? Who knows? But “we’ll see a new Tara… A lot more stable… She may find some happiness” Wesley says

With vampires you can go back in time, or appear in dreams or even cloned. – Ball

Who in the cast does the best imitation of Bill saying “Sookeh?” Apparently, it’s Alan Ball.

At Paley True Blood panel Alex Skargard asks Alan Ball for some Pam/Eric flashbacks. There will be Bill/Eric flashbacks in new season.

When Eric returns, he’s a lost man. Literally. He loses his memory because “he messed with the wrong people” Alex says.

Why isn’t Sophie-Anne on the panel? What of the Bill vs. Queen battle? “It’s not just Bill involved in the fight.”

How does the bite-off between Bill and Sophie Anne end? No one’s saying. “It’s not just the two of them involved,” Alan Ball says

Look for a major struggle between Bill and Sophie-Anne this season… And someone else as well.

“Eric doesn’t know who he is anymore…The powerful character he was is just gone…” A.S. says. The change “has been a blast.”

Would Stephen Moyer ever direct an episode? “It’s something that I’m very interested in. It’s a dream of mine.”

Joe Manganiello says he would love to direct an episode one day.

Where is Sookie? “She comes back. But things are different.” – Anna

Will Sookie learn how to control her microwave fingers? “No. But she’s new at this faerie stuff.” – Anna

Will Sookie act on attraction for Alcide? “Well, he doesn’t turn into a ball of charred fire during the daytime. But he comes with baggage.”

Will Sookie act on any attraction for Eric? “You’re just going to have to watch.” – Anna “I’m drunk the whole time.” – Alan HA!

Skarsgard talks about a flashback early in the season with Moyer “Just watch it!”

So Sookie joined Claudine… Can she control her microwave fingers now? “No, but she’s new to this fairy stuff,” Paquin says

Gary Cole and Fiona Shaw will guest star this season. Shaw will play “a witch, among other things” Alan Ball says. Plus more animals in season 4.

The clincher for the night! While Paquin was being coy on whether Sookie will act on her attraction to Eric, Skarsgard mouths “it happens”… YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Theme for Season 4? Duality of existence? Man vs nature? The terrors of intimacy? But a simple theme that makes the crowd bonkers!

“Eh, it’s just True Blood. It’s for the fans. An escapist, emotional, terrifying journey is all that matters.” – Alan

And what of Russell? “There are definitely plans to bring him back. And he is gonna be PISSED.” – Alan

Regarding Sookie and bill, “It’s hard not to think of them as soul mates when they’re soul mates in real life.” -Alan

Are Bill and Sookie toast? That betrayal is so deep I don’t think there is anyway back from that,hopefully we’ll have 17 more seasons – Alan

The cast talked about the bizarre things fans have requested of them:

Alex got offered $$ to fly to Ohio and marry the woman’s daughter. ‘I did it, of course,’ he jokes.

True Blood called Vampire Porn by Marshall Allman’s grandmother! LOL!

Niall will make an appearance, but NOT this season. Ack! I really wanted to see him. I’m surprised no one asked about Quinn.

Fan questions:

“Will True Blood accurately portray Wicca?” “The way into the witchcraft story is through a circle of wiccans…”

“…but there is a more evil force. We’ve tried to preserve the traditions of Wicca as much as we can.” – Alan

Joe Manganiello thinks Alcide is like Eeyore, so Anna and Steve bought him a stuffed Eeyore “that sits on my bed.”

Will Lafayette & Eric ever get together? ‘Sookie & Bill aren’t the only soulmates…’ -Alan

Favorite Lines? “Everything Pam ever says ever.” – Anna

Favorite lines? “I can smell the sunlight on your skin.” – Nelsan

And the night is done!

I enjoyed it, did you?

~M.

P.S. Here is the second scene that aired:

Video from Dread Central

Btw, you just gotta love Hoyt!

Finally, after tonight’s panel… are you Team Eric or Team Bill?

(Pic from TVWatchTower)

Night everyone!

TVG – Alan Ball’s Emmy-nominated supernatural drama returns for a chilling fourth season that finds barmaid Sookie (Anna Paquin) reeling from revelations about her heritage and the real reason why her vampire boyfriend, Bill (Stephen Moyer), first sought a relationship with her. Now that she knows why she is a telepath, Sookie is unsure about which path to follow, while vengeful vampire Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) escalates his deadly feud with Bill.

Yes, this is not anything that we would not have figured out by ourselves after viewing the last episode of Season 3.

Still, it’s something.

Happy Wednesday!

~M.