Another Bite: HBO Renews "True Blood" for a Second Season

In a surprise move, pay cabler HBO has ordered a second season of drama True Blood, shortly after airing the series' second episode earlier this week.

Production on Season Two of True Blood is set to kick off early next year in Los Angeles with HBO slated to air the sophomore season of the Alan Ball-created series during Summer 2009.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the critics and our viewers have embraced True Blood,” said HBO's Michael Lombardo, president of the Programming Group and West Coast Operations, in a prepared statement. “Alan Ball has done it again – made an addictive series that is unlike any other.”

“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,” said Ball. “It really is a joy to go to work every day and I couldn’t be happier to be back home at HBO.”

Stay tuned.