'True Blood' gives HBO its biggest audience since 'The Sopranos'

Some 3.7 million viewers tuned into the second season premiere of HBO's "True Blood" Sunday -- the network's biggest telecast rating in two years.

Another 1.4 million watched the 11 p.m. encore., and by the end of the night, 5.1 million viewers watched to see the conclusion to last season's bone-chilling cliffhanger — was that Lafayette's cold, dead corpse in the back of Andy Bellefleur's car?

That makes the episode HBO's most-watched program since the finale of "The Sopranos."

Altogether, the premiere delivered the network's single biggest audience since the mob drama's 2007 ending, which drew 11.9 million and still ranks its most-watched series.

According to the network, Sunday's 9 p.m. "True Blood" opener was up 157% from last year's series premiere. 

Over the course of its first season, the Alan Ball series, a Southern dramedy about a telepathic waitress and her undead beau, has attracted a rabid following and now ranks as one of HBO's highest profile series. 

— Denise Martin

Photo credit: HBO

Comments

[jojo]

great. ANOTHER freakin' vampire show.

Vampires are the great amerikan metaphor for the blood sucking oligarchs who rule our system and the "dog" eat dog system of the peasants below them

[Miss Mandy]

Jojo - if you ever paid attention to the series, or the books it's based upon - the big draw is not the vampire element, it's the clever way the characters are developed. Alan Ball, and author Charlaine Harris have created extraordinary characters that despite their supernatural conditions, are very relatable and endearing.

[Kayla]

I thought last night's show was a bit of a dip down after the premier. I could personally do completely without Jason. He is the least interesting character on the show. I also think they've taken all the flavor out of the Lafayette character by removing him from his element. His cocky, in-your-face, unapologetic flamboyance was his charm

And what is it with Pam being Angelina Jolie's doppleganger. They could be twins.

I hope the show doesn't lose its footing by focuing too much on this Jason story line.