"True Blood" Team Madness

HOLLYWOOD —"True Blood" fans and stars converged on Orlando, Fla. last weekend to meet and greet at Eyecon. Two of the most popular actors on the show are a brother/sister team in Jason and Sookie Stackhouse. Both are immature and unsophisticated residents of Bon Temps who lost their parents early in their childhood and were raised by Gran, their grandmother. She was killed in the first season, but her presence is still felt greatly by her two grandchildren who are very popular in the series.

Anna Paquin, Sookie Courtesy: HBO TV Pro

Their cousin, Hadley, was seen at the end of season two at the palace of the Queen Vampire Sophie's. Ryan Kwanten is the young hunk who plays Jason Stackhouse. The Aussie born actor has taken America by storm and his performance is one of the most underrated in the industry. Playing a country hick from the south of the U.S. may be something an American actor would easily be able to embrace, but the Aussie has made the popular role of Jason his own. Sookie is played by Oscar winning actress Anna Paquin, who has made the attractive yet naïve mind reader the most popular heroine on the small screen. Paquin seems to have an ability to connect with the viewers and Sookie is now the most beloved woman on television. Sometimes the character is so naïve yet the actress who plays her knows all the nuances which create even more mystery around the character. That proves Paquin is far more sophisticated and is also a brilliant actress. Many actors have told me over the years that it's a much tougher role to play a person who is not that smart than there is for a person to play a genius.

Ryan Kwanten, Jason Courtesy Link 81 Collection

Alan Ball has the ability to know which characters in this series need to connect with viewers and how best to accomplish that. Though the actress who portrayed Maryann, Michelle Forbes, was never intended to bond with the viewers, I suspect many who celebrated the character's demise still feel the actress did an amazing job on the series. That's how I feel about Ashley Jones, who played shape shifter Daphne. Ashley along with Nelsan Ellis, Sam Trammell, Allan Hyde and Todd Lowe spent the weekend at Eyecon meeting legions of "True Blood" addicts who simply can't get enough of the hit HBO series.

Jones's character Daphne betrayed Sam Merlotte in the second season, but now that Maryann has been killed and has paid for her deeds, fans like Bobby Head in Alabama say, "Wouldn't it be great to see Daphne back in Bon Temps? Sure Maryann killed her and ate her heart, but this is 'True Blood' we are talking about, and Alan Ball is a creative genius."

Ashley Jones, Daphne, Courtesy: Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip TV Prod.

Other fans who equally love the series include Tony in New Jersey, who sees his favorite character Bill as someone we can all look up to. "I think he embodies all of us, Tommy. He's a vampire who chose not to be an animal or a monster. He simply wants acceptance by others and wants respect. Isn't that what most of us want in life?" Tony tells Canyon News. Where Bobby Head is a big fan of my pal Ashley Jones, Tony is truly a member of team Bill and in actor Stephen Moyer's corner.

Other fans include Cheryl Kay Durst, who can always be found on the "True Blood" official Facebook page offering excitement and support for the show. While Nicky Johnson Owle continues to remind me she's solidly behind Team Eric and handsome star Alexander Skarsgard, who has been named Sweden's Sexiest Man Alive five times. Nicky says, "Tommy, Eric and Alex are like KFC, finger-licking good!" Peter and Debbie Blomert always seem to offer positive support and rhetoric for Alan Ball and are anxiously awaiting the DVD set - of season-two and who are always interested in casting news for season three. Megan Smith McDevit reminds me, "You should come on and chat more often, Tommy. But beware, it's highly addictive." Addictive it is. Not just the series but spending time with fans of the show including those who are heading to Orlando this weekend.

With everyone choosing their favorite team player, I cannot lie. I still say, I'm on Team Daphne and I do hope the shape shifter makes a resurrection next season. Fans of the beautiful actress can see her as Bridget Forrester Marone on CBS's mega daytime hit, "The Bold and the Beautiful." Jones is perhaps one of the best actors on television.  With fans from as far as Melbourne, Australia, Jeff Dean says, "I love her as Daphne. I just may have to take up watching her on 'B&B.'" Nicky Johnson Owle; however, has very little time for anyone but Eric and Skarsgard. Whether it's Sookie and Jason or Eric or Bill, "True Blood" fans can be assured of great storytelling, brilliant acting and wonderful surprises.

"True Blood" is an HBO series.

Source: Courtesy of Tommy Garrett at Canyon News

(Photo Credits: HBO, Link 81 Collection and Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip TV Prod.)

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