HBO sinks teeth into a second season of ‘True Blood’

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HBO has ordered up a second season of ‘True Blood.’

The early renewal -- after just two episodes have aired -- marks a huge vote of confidence from the network for Alan Ball’s vampire drama. The show premiered to lackluster ratings last week, but numbers shot up 24% (from 1.4 million to 1.8 million viewers) in its second week.

Also giving HBO reason to hope is the premiere episode’s cumulative viewership, which topped 4.4 million viewers over its 10 airings.

Set in the backwoods of Louisiana, ‘Blood’ follows the romance between telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and mysterious vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer).

In making the announcement, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo said that ‘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,’ Ball said. ‘I couldn’t be happier to be back at home on HBO.’

The second season will debut next summer.

-- Denise Martin