While True Blood owes its existence to author Charlaine Harris and her Southern Vampire Mysteries series of books, there’s no denying that it owes its popularity to creator and showrunner Alan Ball. So what happens when said creator/showrunner leaves the show?
Well, we’re about find out. After season five ends — which, for those not keeping track, is the upcoming season — Ball will be leaving True Blood in the capacity of showrunner, though he will remain as an executive producer/advisor.
Courtesy of Deadline, here’s the statement from HBO:
“When we extended our overall deal with Alan Ball in July 2011, we always intended that if we proceeded to ‘True Blood’’s sixth season that Alan would take a supervisory role on the series and not be the day-to-day showrunner. If we proceed to season six, the show will remain in the very capable hands of the talented team of writers and producers who have been with the show for a number of years. This is the best possible world for both HBO and Alan Ball. Alan will remain available as executive producer to consult and advise on ‘True Blood’ and he will be free to develop new shows for both HBO and Cinemax. ‘Banshee,’ on which Alan serves as executive producer, is the first in house series for Cinemax and is expected to begin production this spring.”
And here’s the statement from Alan Ball:
“‘True Blood’ has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life. 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 as I look forward to new and exciting ventures.”
Season four of True Blood was considered by many to be the worst of the series – directionless, ridiculous, obnoxious, and worst of all, boring. As someone who has watched the show from start to finish, I can scarcely remember what the point of season four was. Fairies! Cat people! Witches! Baby Eric! King Bill! Jason and Jessica, sitting in a tree! Hilarious ghost-action! And more, more, more. It was as though the writers of the show picked plot points at random and refused to make sense of any of them.
At this point, it’s unclear as to whether or not Alan Ball leaving the show is a good thing or a bad thing. Obviously, the first and best season wouldn’t have been the funny, fresh, and entertaining experience it was without Ball, but perhaps the guy is just sick of living in the world of True Blood and would do everyone a hearty favor by moving on to something new.
As utterly senseless as season four was, the most interesting stuff came at the very end of the very last episode (SPOILER ALERT!) – Russell Edgington was alive and on the loose, the vampire-hating Steve Newlin was back as a vampire, Bill and Eric teamed up and murdered Nan Flanagan, and Tara, the most maligned and annoying True Blood character of all time, was shot and seemed to be dying. Like I said, good things all around!
The point is, there are reasons to look forward to season five, even if season four was consistently disappointing. Are you looking forward to it, Screen Ranters?
-
Twelve episodes of True Blood return to HBO in summer 2012.
Follow me on Twitter @benandrewmoore.
Source: Deadline
First Trailer for Jon Favreau & J.J. Abrams’ Sci-Fi Show ‘Revolution’ 
Rumor Patrol: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to Play a DC Comics Superhero? 
Idris Elba Confirms His ‘Thor 2′ Return 
Robert Downey Jr. to Earn $50 Million from ‘The Avengers’ 
Loading ...
I did think season 4 was senseless. And thank you for agreeing that Tara is the most annoying character. I believe the show will still have its vision and will continue to be interesting, even without its creator.
Best tv show about vampires is still buffy. I haven’t watched forever knight so i don’t know about this one. The first season of true blood was fine but after …
No I severely disagree.I used to love Buffy when I was 13 but when I watched it back, years later, it’s horrible.The story lines are stupid and every character is whiny and they all talk like nerds.The show has not aged well and I can’t wait for new shows about vampires to come and squash that crap so people will quit bringing it up.Buffy is just Dawson’s Creek with vampires.Oh and don’t get me started on the fight scenes and the stunt double.I can’t believe for a minute that vampires are afraid of an anorexic female, a nerdy lesbian witch who can make pencils float and a guy that doesn’t stop trying to be comedic relief.
True Blood and The Vampire Diaries are suffering from the same problems IMO. After their 1st seasons they expanded the world around the central characters so much that they have both become convoluted, bloated and, confusing. When ever I try to explain what either of the shows are about I say they’re Vampire Soap Opera’s and the only difference is that TB has nudity.
Season 1 and most of season 2 of TB were great because most of the story took place in Bon Temps and with the people who lived there. Now it’s all over the place and I barely remember most of last season. I know Russell is coming back and that should be fun but I dread more faries, wolves, shifters and so on.
Sorry, gotta disagree, man. Vampire Diaries rarely dips in quality and — for the most part — just keeps getting better, season after season.
^^ Agreed! Granted sometimes the storyline is a little dull but it always ends on a high note.
sorry I meant to say that SOMETIMES the TVD storyline is kind of boring but it always gets interesting before the end of the episode! I agree with ben moore
this show is really bad. dont know what all the fuss is about
I’m glad there are other people out there who hate Tara as much as I do, she really pisses me offhand I know she can’t test well with audiences I think the only reason they keep her around is because if they killed her off it’d be viewed as a hate crime.
I also hated last season, maybe Ball’s departure is a good thing. It’s time to get some fresh blood in there literally and figuratively so the show can get back to its former glory. I can’t wait to see what Russel Edgington has up his sleeves 
As soon as Eric became a pushover, it totally lost me. Even when he got his memory back, he remained a pathetic little pansy. Which unfortunately is what happened in the books, so I hope that’s one storyline they take some liberties with. Bring back badass Eric, with his cutting one-liners and innuendo.
I couldn’t agree more. What is the fun in a bland, tamed vampire?
I disagree with season four being the worst. I think season three was the worst, so far. As for annoying characters, Russel wins that one for me, so him coming ain’t a good thing from my point of view.
I LOVED TARA.U ALL ARE BONKERS WHO PUT HER DOWN. I BELIEVE HER ROLE IN THE BEGINNG WAS QUITE INTERESTING. LATER I FELT HER ROLE WAS SWEPT INTO SOMETHING THAT WASN’T GIVEN ENOUGH THOUGHT.
Tara has never been an annoying character for me but I do understand the feeling. Maryanne the maenad from season 2 was the most irritating character I’ve ever had to sit through a season and wait for the death of. As far as this season goes, I have hope that the reaction of viewers to last season’s idiotic silliness will have had an effect on the direction they go this year. Hope hope hope. Otherwise, the only thing I’m looking forward to is seeing Russell Edgington eat people’s children.
I don’t know what you’re talking about, season 4 was the awesome. True Blood finally got back around to producing a show that reminded me of Season one. Season two was the worst of them all.