Alan Ball -TCA Panel
Yesterday, we reported about Alan Ball’s statement where he said, Season 5, “It Will Happen.” We also heard from him that he will be a part of it. However, now we are learning that there might be a twist in that story.
Alan has signed a multi-year deal with HBO, practically guaranteeing a fifth season of the vampire drama that’s sucked in big ratings for the network and become legend around proverbial watercoolers. But there’s a hitch, according to Deadline Hollywood, Ball is currently only signed on to fill the role of showrunner for one more year and might take a backseat when it continues, in order to develop new series.
True Blood without Alan Ball? Can that work? Tim Surrette at TV.com says, “Ball’s witty and kinky stamp has been part of the show since the opening scene of Season 1, and is a large part of what makes the show work.”
It is true that Alan Ball single-handedly brought HBO back from the dead with Seasons 1 and 2 of True Blood and therefore, it’s hard to tell whether True Blood will succeed or suffer without him at the helm. While he is definitely the one steering the ship, this True Blood fan knows that he is also a good teacher and mentor who has amassed a group of talented writers that know his vision and are as witty and kinky as he is so, his stepping aside might not be such a blow.
Personally I want to see True Blood run as long as it can, but even with his great writing staff, I too worry a bit that without Alan’s vision, it might suffer.
What do you think? Leave us your comments below with your thoughts.
source: deadline.com and tv.com