True Blood News - Season 4 news and spoilers

Todd Lowe was on hand for Kristen Bauer Van Straten’s charity event for The Amanda Foundation (rescuing dogs and cats since 1976) and tore the absolute ROOF off Molly Malone’s when he and local favorites L.A. Hootenanny rounded out the night with a foot-stomping good time that included a southern fried version of Heart of Glass and what I’m guessing was a German rendition of Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?”.

The guy is both a bonafide rockstar and a southern gent in every sense of the term. As I arrived nearly an hour early (never underestimate L.A. traffic, I always say); it was just myself, Todd and a few of the event coordinators. Todd stepped off the empty stage and made an effort to walk to the back of the room where I was setting up, extended his hand and said “Hi, I’m Todd.”; and I saw him do the same with the sound guy…which proved to me once again that there ARE still some good people in L.A.

So while I had a few moments, I asked him a couple questions!

CL – How did you get involved with tonight’s event?

TL – Kristin asked me. This is the second True Blood associated event that we’ve played; my first we played…Gary Calamar (music director, True Blood) had a show at the Echoplex called “Out For Blood” and we opened for Jace Everett and John Doe. That was with another band I play with called “Pillbilly Knights” (currently on hiatus) and we have a record out; one of our songs is getting a little bit of radio play on some of the satellite stations. Since two of the guys have had babies and the show has taken up a lot of time so the tour we had planned has gone on the backburner and we’ll get back to it. The bass player from PK is playing with us tonight.

CL – Now that your storyline with Arlene is growing, it seems like we’re seeing a lot more of Terry emotionally lately.

TL – Well, Terry has found some normalcy in his life, which is what he wants more than anything. Everything that he saw in the war; the tumultuous tempest that goes on in his head with his PTSD. Now that he has a focus on a good life with a good woman (Terry sees her NO other way) and a family that he’s moved into; this is the best blessing that could ever be for him. He lives a domestic life; he is a caretaker and a bit of a breadwinner. Now, he’s got a good job (well, a solid job) and who knows if he might not have some stuff going on on the side to make a little bit more money.

It’s been great as an actor to grow into that and see “Oh, they’re giving me a little bit more, there’s some stuff I can play other than just enigmatic and damaged; I can be supporting and loving and protective.” It’s been nice and I hope it keeps going!

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Last Thursday night at Molly Malone’s in Los Angeles, True Blood star Kristin Bauer Van Straten (a.k.a. “Pam”) hosted a charity event benefiting The Amanda Foundation (rescuing dogs and cats since 1976) and featured musical guests Abri Van Straten (husband of Kristin), Chris Pierce (fiance of Tara Buck a.k.a. “Ginger”), and L.A. Hootenanny (Todd Lowe a.k.a. “Terry” is a member).

The night went a little something like this…

Abri Van Straten took the stage first and eased me into the night of music that was to come. Gotta say, I’d not heard of him before that night and he certainly won me over; I can TOTALLY see how Kristin fell in love with this guy. He’s such an amazing singer/songwriter that when he got to a song about rainbows, the room went from rowdy to pin drop quiet …he’s THAT good.

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Photo Credit: JSquared Photography.

Kristin Bauer is glamouring us once again! The always stunning Kristin will be featured in Runway Magazine’s Summer 2011 Issue. In stores now.

Since the day we started devoting an insane amount of time to this website, one of our hopes was to nab an interview with Jessica Tuck. Her character, Nan Flanagan, had fascinated us from the very first True Blood episode, “Strange Love.” Nan was always in the peripheral, setting the tone for the state of vampire politics; but now, it has gotten to the point where she is the focal point of most of the speculation that involve our dearest vampires. What is Nan’s agenda? How high up is she with the Authority?

Last October, Jessica was upgraded to a regular on True Blood and the theories have run wild regarding her implications on the show’s storyline,  American Vampire League’s agenda and most recently, her possible relationship with Bill Compton. Finally, here it comes: enjoy our chat with Jessica, but be warned, this interview contains spoilers.

TB-N: You graduated from Yale with a psychology degree, did you ever practice psychology? What drew you to acting and what was your first role?

JT: I have never done anything “professional” with my psychology degree but I do feel that my studies have helped me as an actress. Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour and as an actor you are always exploring characters – who they are, what makes them tick, how they interact with others. This is in part what drew me to acting – the opportunity to explore the psychology of human being. I am also a restless person and acting promised constant challenge and change – it’s a very engaging profession. I started out doing a lot of NYU student films and small independent films. The first job that really paid my rent was a three year gig on the Soap Opera, One Life To Live.

TB-N: Your experience in television has been very vast, you’ve been nominated for an Emmy and you’ve been in one of my favorite (cancelled!) TV shows, 1999′s Cupid with Jeremy Piven. Are there any favorite genres that you prefer? What are you watching now?

JT: I love both comedy and drama. It’s more about the character for me – is there something to sink my teeth into? I don’t watch a lot of TV- don’t seem to have the time. OF COURSE, I watch True Blood. I was also a huge fan of Big Love before it went off the air. I like Grey’s Anatomy and I watch Project Runway and Dancing With The Stars with my 8 year old  daughter. My husband and I like Real Time with Bill Maher and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

TB-N: Did you audition for the role of Nan Flanagan or another role? Can you tell us a bit about the process you went through to become Nan?

JT: I did audition for Nan. It was a pretty straight forward process. It was one audition for Alan Ball. Originally, Nan was only going to be in a few episodes and then they just kept writing her in. I feel very fortunate that she has grown into the character she is today.

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Kristin Bauer will be attending the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo at McCormick Place this weekend. Before that, she joins Eight Forty-Eight from her home in L.A. were they chit-chat about her life on True Blood and her art. She also mentions that she’s just received script 7 and 8 of True Blood Season 4. Take a listen to the interview on WBEZ 91.5 Chicago Public Media.

Kristin Bauer Chit-Chats a bit before attending the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo.

image: gettyimages

"My eyes are up here ladies."

Joe Manganiello portrays Alcide Herveaux in True Blood, the werewolf construction worker who sometimes works for vampires. Alcide is presented as a man with working class values and a definite soft spot for one telepathic waitress – but he comes with baggage (don’t they all ladies?), specifically a V-addicted raging ex girlfriend.

We had the chance to ask Joe some questions a couple of days before his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers appeared in Super Bowl XLV. Joe shares his favorite workout music, his motto for living and what the gloomy donkey, Eeyore, from “Winnie the Pooh” has to do with True Blood.

TB-N: It’s hard to find a single article about you that does not mention your abs or physical attributes. Does it get old for you? What does Joe really see when he looks in the mirror?

JM: My idol as a young actor was Robert DeNiro who was famous for inhabiting his characters and transforming himself physically. I remember going to see “Cape Fear” in the theater and being shocked at how much he changed himself for the part. So often people get caught up in talking about the weight gain or weight loss with some of his earlier performances but the work was there and it was mesmerizing. With that said, Charlaine [Harris] gave a very detailed description of “Alcide” in the books and Alan Ball fleshed that out and added incredible depth and heart.  I then had the task of living up to it internally, vocally, and physically. When I look in the mirror? I see me as a little kid looking back but all grown up.

TB-N: Is there anything you think people have gotten wrong about you?

JM: I think it’s funny when reporters print things with quotations around it when I know they weren’t recording our conversation or when they print things like “Joe secretly wishes (blank).” If I secretly wish it… how come the super market tabloids know?

TB-N: How did your passion for the cameras begin? Did your football knee injury somehow change the direction you were heading?

JM: Not really. I knew in my soul that playing college sports wasn’t going to fulfill me. The truth is that I tore my MCL playing football and after months of rehab, returned for basketball season and my first game out I went to dunk and my legs got taken out and I landed and broke my elbow and had to sit out with that. I spent the next two years in high school dealing with injury after injury… when the universe has something to tell me… I find that it speaks very loudly. My high school had a TV studio and let us borrow camera equipment and I would write and direct movies for me and my friends to star in. It was my first love.

TB-N: After an expansive career in TV, and now that True Blood has made you quite famous, what’s next for Joe? In what direction would you like your path to take you?

JM: I’m currently figuring out what movie to act in over my next hiatus. I also have a project that I pitched to a studio and I have a music documentary that I want to shoot when I get time. The idea is to be a successful actor/producer. Read More »

James at True Blood's Crew Appreciation Party

James Frain made a big impression as Franklin Mott on True Blood this season … a big impression full of crazy, psychopathic, lovesick lunacy. He was so intense and so brilliant that he’s become a fan favorite and many mourned Franklin’s true death. We had an opportunity recently to ask Frain a few questions about his role as Tara’s unwanted suitor and about his other roles, getting to know a little better the awesome British actor behind Franklin Mott.

TB-N: You landed your first role in Shadowlands (1993) directed by Richard Attenborough, who discovered you when you were in your third year at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. What was it like to begin your career with such an important film? Did that role change your life in any way?

JF: I think I was the only guy on that set who didn’t have a knighthood. Lucky break is too small a term. Shadowlands gave me my career.

TB-N: And what a great start! In that film, you worked with Anthony Hopkins, portraying a taciturn student of the British writer C.S Lewis. You also starred with him again in the film Titus (1999). What was it like working with the talented Sir Anthony Hopkins?

JF: Hopkins is one of the greats; watching the intensity of his concentration up close was inspiring. On set he’s relaxed and fun, and he’s a brilliant mimic. He’s of the work-hard-but-don’t-take-yourself-too-seriously school, and that had a big influence on me.

James Frain in The Tudors

TB-N: You are a popular face on TV, having appeared in shows like “The Closer,” “24,” “Invasion,” “Californication” …  and especially “The Tudors.” What are your favorite TV shows? What’s the show you have enjoyed acting in the most?

JF: I enjoyed all of them in different ways, but ‘The Tudors’ stands out because it was my first experience of working on a character over several years. My all time favorite TV show? HBO’s ‘The Wire.’

TB-N: And it was in The Tudors where you portrayed for the first time a subject of a sanguinare King. You magnificently brought to life again to Sir Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII’s councilor.  Did you enjoy being under Cromwell’s skin?

JF: I imagined how Cromwell might have seen himself; as a good man doing God’s work, and I was fascinated by the contradictions in his personality. I enjoyed putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and I appreciated how generous writer Michael Hirst was with his process.
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