True Blood season 5

Season of television series

The fifth season of the HBO supernatural drama series True Blood premiered on June 10, 2012 and features 12 episodes, bringing the series total to 60. It picks up right after the events of season four. It is loosely based on the fifth book in The Southern Vampire Mysteries series, Dead as a Doornail, but incorporates much more of the following books than the previous seasons have.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse
• Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton
• Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte
• Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse
• Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton
• Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman
• Christopher Meloni as Roman Zimojic
• Chris Bauer as Andy Bellefleur
• Kristin Bauer van Straten as Pam Swynford De Beaufort
• Lauren Bowles as Holly Cleary
• Valentina Cervi as Salome Agrippa
• Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette Reynolds
• Scott Foley as Patrick Devins
• Janina Gavankar as Luna Garza
• Lucy Griffiths as Nora Gainesborough
• Todd Lowe as Terry Bellefleur
• Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux
• Michael McMillian as Steve Newlin
• Denis O'Hare as Russell Edgington
• Jim Parrack as Hoyt Fortenberry
• Carrie Preston as Arlene Fowler Bellefleur
• Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Hamby

Special guest cast

• Kevin Alejandro as Jesus Velasquez
• William Sanderson as Bud Dearborn
• Alfre Woodard as Ruby Jean Reynolds
• Adina Porter as Lettie Mae Daniels

Guest cast

• Carolyn Hennesy as Rosalyn Harris
• Peter Mensah as Kibwe Akinjide
• Giles Matthey as Claude Crane
• Dale Dickey as Martha Bozeman
• Louis Herthum as JD Carson
• Christopher Heyerdahl as Dieter Braun
• John Rezig as Deputy Kevin Ellis
• Jamie Gray Hyder as Danielle
• Tina Majorino as Molly
• Kelly Overton as Rikki Naylor
• Chloe Noelle as Emma Garza
• Jessica Clark as Lilith
• Camilla Luddington as Claudette Crane
• Jacob Hopkins as Alexander Drew
• Brendan McCarthy as Nate
• Tanya Wright as Deputy Kenya Jones
• John Billingsley as Mike Spencer
• Emma Greenwell as Claudia Crane
• Robert Patrick as Jackson Herveaux
• Patricia Bethune as Jane Bodehouse
• Tara Buck as Ginger
• Allan Hyde as Godric
• Dale Raoul as Maxine Fortenberry
• Aaron Christian Howles as Rocky Cleary
• Keram Malicki-Sánchez as Elijah Stormer
• Noah Matthews as Wade Cleary
• Alec Gray as Coby Fowler
• Mariana Klaveno as Lorena Krasiki
• Laurel Weber as Lisa Fowler
• Erica Gimpel as Faerie Elder

Episodes

Production

True Blood was officially renewed for a fifth season on August 11, 2011.^[13]

In February, 2012 it was announced that creator Alan Ball would be stepping down as showrunner at the end of the fifth season. Ball will continue on as executive producer in a more advisory role and leave the day-to-day production of the series to others.^[14] "Because of the fantastic cast, writers, producers and crew, with whom I have been lucky enough to work these past five years, I know I could step back and the show will continue to thrive," said Ball in a statement.^[14]

Series co-star Stephen Moyer made his directorial debut with the eighth episode of season five, titled "Somebody That I Used to Know."^[15] D.E.B.S. writer/director and former The L Word producer Angela Robinson has joined the writing staff. She wrote episodes five and eleven.^[16]

Series co-star Rutina Wesley confirmed that the character Tara would be returning.^[17]

Ratings

References

1. Bibel, Sara (June 12, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Mad Men', 'Longmire', 'The Client List', 'The Glades', 'Drop Dead Diva' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 15, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
2. Bibel, Sara (June 19, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood', 'Falling Skies', 'Real Housewives of NJ', 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' + NASCAR & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
3. Bibel, Sara (June 26, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Falling Skies', 'Real Housewives of New Jersey', 'The Newsroom', 'Army Wives' ,'The Glades' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
4. Kondolojy, Amanda (July 3, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'BET Awards' + 'True Blood', European Football, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Real Housewives of NJ' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
5. Bibel, Sara (July 10, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Falling Skies', 'Army Wives', 'The Newsroom', 'Drop Dead Diva', 'Longmire', 'Walking Dead Marathon' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
6. Kondolojy, Amanda (July 17, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Beats 'Breaking Bad' Premiere, + 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Very Funny News', 'Real Housewives of New Jersey', 'Falling Skies' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
7. Bibel, Sara (July 24, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Breaking Bad', 'Falling Skies', 'Army Wives', 'The Newsroom', 'Longmire' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
8. Bibel, Sara (July 31, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings:'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Breaking Bad', 'The Newsroom', 'Political Animals', 'Longmire' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
9. Bibel, Sara (August 5, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings:'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Falling Skies', 'Breaking Bad', 'Army Wives', 'Leverage'& More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 10, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
10. Kondolojy, Amanda (August 14, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Beats 'Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne' + 'Falling Skies', NASCAR, 'Army Wives' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
11. Bibel, Sara (August 21, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Fallling Skies', 'Breaking Bad', 'Army Wives', 'The Newsroom','Leverage' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
12. Kondolojy, Amanda (August 28, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Finale Dominates, + 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians', 'Breaking Bad', 'Real Housewives of NJ', 'Army Wives' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
13. Seidman, Robert (August 11, 2011). "'True Blood' Renewed for a Fifth Season by HBO". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
14. Gelman, Vlada (February 27, 2012). "True Blood Boss Alan Ball to Step Down as Showrunner After Season 5". TV Line. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
15. Garrett, Tommy Lightfoot (March 19, 2012). "'True Blood's' Season 5 Episode 8 Secrets Revealed, Stephen Moyer Directs, Sam Doppelganger And Highlight Hollywood Crack Casting". Highlight Hollywood. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
16. Sobol, Gianna (March 1, 2012). "Meet the New Writer". Inside True Blood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
17. Bargh, Renee (May 31, 2012). "'True Blood' Cast Spilling Secrets". TV Extra. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
18. Bibel, Sara (June 12, 2012). "Cable Top 25: NBA Playoffs Top Cable Viewership For Week Ending June 10, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 13, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
19. Kondolojy, Amanda (June 19, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'Dallas' Tops Cable Viewership For Week Ending June 17, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
20. Golum, Rick (June 27, 2012). "U.S. Cable Television Ratings For The Week Ended June 26". Bloomberg TV. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
21. Kondolojy, Amanda (July 3, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'The 2012 BET Awards' Tops Cable Viewership For Week Ending July 1, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
22. Bibel, Sara (July 10, 2012). "Cable Top 25: NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing Tops Cable Viewership For Week Ending July 8, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
23. Kondolojy, Amanda (July 17, 2012). "Cable Top 25: The Home Run Derby Tops Cable Viewership For Week Ending July 15, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
24. Bibel, Sara (July 24, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'The Closer' Tops Cable Viewership For Week Ending July 22, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
25. Bibel, Sara (July 31, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'WWE Raw' Tops Cable Viewership For Week Ending July 29, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
26. Bibel, Sara (August 7, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'The Closer' Tops Cable Viewership For Week Ending August 6, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
27. Kondolojy, Amanda (August 14, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'The Closer' Wins the Week Again, Topping 'WWE Entertainment' & 'True Blood'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 17, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
28. Bibel, Sarah (August 21, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'The Closer' Series Finale Tops Cable Viewership for the Week Ending in August 19, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
29. Kondolojy, Amanda (August 28, 2012). "Cable Top 25: 'Major Crimes' Tops Cable Viewership for the Week Ending August 26, 2012". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.