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TCA Press Tour: HBO orders more ‘True Blood,’ battles new Emmy plan

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There are more and more signs that HBO is getting its programming mojo back, but that was nearly overshadowed Thursday by a spat with the TV academy, a longtime friend to the premium network’s shows.

Executives arrived at the TV press tour in Pasadena with news of pickups for three series: the vampire hit ‘True Blood’ and the Hollywood comedy ‘Entourage,’ as well as ‘Hung,’ a new comedy-drama about a male prostitute. The programs will all return next summer with new episodes.

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An HBO PR executive opened the session by saying that in the last few years, the network was feeling ‘beat-up’ but is now ‘upbeat.’ That was a reference to some harsh critical reaction and low ratings for such original series as ‘John From Cincinnati.’

But the network was miffed by a TV academy decision this week to pre-record and edit eight categories for the Emmy Award telecast this fall. The trimmed categories will most likely be in the ‘long-form’ - -that is, miniseries and made-for-TV movies -- that HBO has dominated in recent years.

‘We are disappointed,’ Michael Lombardo, president of HBO’s programming group and West Coast operations, told reporters. In a separate statement criticizing the Emmy decision, the network said officials seemed to be ‘focused on recognizing broadcast television.’

HBO’s unhappiness with the Emmys doesn’t end there. In response to a question, Lombardo said the network was also disappointed that the drama ‘Big Love’ didn’t generate more nominations.

Despite all that, Lombardo and Co-President Richard Plepler said that they had no plans to make a renewed play to nab the Emmy telecast for HBO, as happened a few years back.

‘We understand it works for them on the broadcast networks,’ Lombardo said.

-- Scott Collins

[Updated at 6:13 p.m.: In an earlier version of this post, the headline referred to HBO’s show ‘True Blood as ‘True Love.’]

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