C2E2 2011: True Blood Panel

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MjL – TwoCents Reviewer
MjL@thetwocentscorp.com

The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo is the latest and greatest Midwest convention of its kind. Established in 2010, it brings all forms of fictional pop culture into downtown Chicago once a year to celebrate, promote and entertain the fans that love their fiction whether in book or on screen. Being a reviewer for one of the predominant websites about television, I was given exclusive press access to the event. Pretty keen, huh?

This TV panel gave us the company of three fan favorites from the cast of True Blood: Sam Trammell (shapeshifter Sam Merlotte), Kristin Bauer (vampire Pam) and Brit Morgan (were-beastie Debbie Pelt). The fans were wrapped around the convention waiting to get in, so you know a packed house was going to get the cast to spill some hints towards the new season, right?

The moderator got things started by having the cast describe how they got their roles. Trammell got his part through the regular audition process; Bauer, through a couple of dry reads; and Morgan, by pure luck she explained. I did find Morgan’s point of view interesting. She thought the crew would be looking for a big name to play the part now that the show was popular and expected not to get the role. Personally, I think the main cast being only known for TB, except for Anna Paquin, might have been overshadowed by a big name, so I believe they sought someone to join the ensemble.

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They all believed that the writers seem to have their characters all planned out for the season if not the whole series and noted the writers really focus on details like ensuring a relationship continuity in the submissive nature a vampire protégé has to their maker for all the pairings. (Did that make sense?)

I found it intriguing to hear these cast members express a camaraderie to similar productions. Bauer even made mention of enjoying a Syfy’s Being Human episode the previous night. On a side note, catch my Being Human recaps here.

The audience was given their chance to get some answers. However, as Trammell said multiple times throughout the panel, not many spoilers were going to be given, because he knew the audience didn’t really want them (did we just get glamoured out of asking for spoilers?).

Here are some things I learned about True Blood (sorry, not much spoiling here)

1. There was no filming done in Louisiana this season. Everything is in southern Cali now.
2. Morgan thinks Deborah Ann Woll is the best on the show.
3. Sam Merlotte and his shapeshifting (now with more shapes!) is going to get extra attention in season 4. He will also get a new love interest.
4. Debbie Pelt is coming back and will get “slashed” across the face in season 4.
5. Arlene and Terry Bellefleur will have some interesting scenes in season 4.
6. No guarantees, but they believe the King of Louisiana is coming back sooner or later.
7. Pam is going to still be “bitch-tastic” this upcoming season, but she is not going to be remembered by Eric.
8. They take three weeks to film an episode as opposed to the eight days other shows take.
9. The crew is looking into getting Pam a Dear Abby style advice column.
10. Fangbangers will seriously boo any mention of a certain vampire film series no matter how important of a character on True Blood you are (ahem, ixnay hetay entionmay of ilightTway, Sam).

All in all, they were friendly and as compassionate as the fans, but the tight lips on the upcoming season was disappointing. Hopefully, they’ll take the advice of the audience and try to get others to come next year.

photo: thetwocents/MjL

photo: thetwocents/MjL

photo: thetwocents/MjL