After a twenty-four percent viewer increase for the second episode of Alan Ball’s new series True Blood, it seems that HBO has found their new hit. According to Fangoria, the network has decided to greenlight a second season after airing only two episodes.
“I am thrilled to be able to continue to work with such a talented group of writers, cast and crew to explore the characters and world created by Charlaine Harris in her novels,” Ball said. “It really is a joy to go to work every day, and I couldn’t be happier to be back home at HBO.”
True Blood has helped fill the void left by The Wire, which concluded its fifth and final season last year. HBO has struggled to find the next hour-long to take the place of past hits like The Sopranos, Oz, Deadwood, and Ball’s Six Feet Under as recent attempts like Rome, Big Love, and John From Cincinnati didn’t manage to generate the same kind of buzz.
The second season is set to begin filming in early 2009 with the season premiere airing around September. The third episode of season one airs at 9 p.m. on Sunday night.