“True Blood,” HBO vampire series from Alan Ball

Alan Ball’s True Blood, based on the”Southern Vampire” novel series by Charlaine Harris, is coming to HBO. No official air date has been announced. None of this is news to devoted followers of Ball or Harris, as it’s all over the web.

The story centers around vampires in a small town in Louisiana who have “come out of the coffin” after a synthetic blood substitute becomes legally available, sold under the name, Tru Blood.

Anna Paquin plays Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress who falls for a mysterious, handsome stranger who turns out to be… well, you’re just going to have to tune in to find out what happens.

Also, we’ve heard a rumor about Anderson Cooper appearing as himself in the pilot episode.