HIT HBO SERIES "TRUE BLOOD" KICKS OFF FIFTH SEASON JUNE 10

At the conclusion of season four of TRUE BLOOD, Sookie summoned all her resources for a climactic encounter with Marnie, and emerged triumphant. But her showdown with Debbie may have had fatal consequences for Tara. Meanwhile, the denizens of Bon Temps were approaching a new crisis with Russell Edgington, their familiar friend, while new threats from unexpected sources loomed.

The Emmy(R)-nominated TRUE BLOOD kicks off its 12-episode fifth season SUNDAY, JUNE 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by other new episodes on subsequent Sundays at the same time. Mixing romance, suspense, mystery and humor, the show takes place in a world where vampires and humans co-exist, after vampires have come out of the coffin, thanks to the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood that means they no longer need humans as a nutritional source.

The series follows waitress and part-faerie Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people's thoughts, vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and vampire Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard). Alan Ball (creator of the Emmy(R)-winning HBO series "Six Feet Under") created and executive produces the show, which is based on the bestselling Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.

Other returning cast members on TRUE BLOOD include: Ryan Kwanten as Sookie's trouble-prone brother, Jason Stackhouse; Rutina Wesley as her best friend, Tara Thornton; Sam Trammell as Sookie's shape-shifting boss, Sam Merlotte; Nelsan Ellis as Tara's clairvoyant sharp-tongued cousin, Lafayette Reynolds; Chris Bauer as sheriff Andy Bellefleur; Carrie Preston as Arlene Fowler, a Merlotte's waitress; Todd Lowe as Andy's cousin, Terry Bellefleur; Jim Parrack as Hoyt Fortenberry; Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Hamby, Bill's vampire progeny; Kristin Bauer van Straten as Pam, Eric's vampire progeny and business partner; Joe Manganiello as werewolf Alcide; Lauren Bowles as Holly, a Merlotte's waitress; Denis O'Hare as the newly resurfaced Russell Edgington, the Vampire King of Mississippi; Michael McMillian as recently turned vampire Steve Newlin; andJanina Gavankar as shape-shifter Luna.

New cast members for season five include: Scott Foley as Patrick Devins, an Iraq war veteran who comes to Bon Temps to track down Terry Bellefleur, hisformer comrade; Christopher Meloni as Roman, the Guardian of the Vampire Authority; Valentina Cervi as Salome, a Chancellor of the Vampire Authority; and Lucy Griffiths as Nora, another Chancellor of the Vampire Authority.

June's episodes:

Episode #49: "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) Other HBO playdates: June 10 (11:00 p.m.), 13 (10:00 p.m.), 14 (11:00 p.m.) and 16 (12:30 a.m.) HBO2 playdates: June 11 (9:00 p.m.), 14 (8:00 p.m.), 15 (11:00 p.m.), 17 (3:15 p.m.) and 29 (9:00 p.m.) Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) struggle with the aftermath of Tara's (Rutina Wesley) shooting, while also cleaning up after Debbie Pelt. Meanwhile, Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), cleaning up a mess of their own, are visited by the Vampire Authority, one of whom is Nora (Lucy Griffiths), a woman from Eric's past. In search of the missing Marcus, Alcide's (Joe Manganiello) werewolf pack comes after Sam (Sam Trammell). With Bill away, Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) enjoys her new freedom by partying with local college kids; Jason (Ryan Kwanten) is visited by the recently turned Rev. Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian); Terry's (Todd Lowe) PTSD is reignited by Patrick Devins (Scott Foley), an old Iraq War buddy; and Alcide turns up at Sookie's to warn her about the recently resurfaced Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare). Written by Brian Buckner; directed by Daniel Minahan.

Episode #50: "Authority Always Wins" Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 17 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: June 17 (11:05 p.m.), 20 (10:00 p.m.), 21 (11:00 p.m.) and 23 (10:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdates: June 18 (9:00 p.m.), 21 (8:00 p.m.), 22 (11:00 p.m.), 24 (4:15 p.m.) and 29 (10:00 p.m.) At the Vampire Authority headquarters in New Orleans, Bill and Eric meet Salome (Valentina Cervi) and become acquainted with the Authority's interrogation techniques. Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) recalls her human life as the madam of the Comstock Brothel in San Francisco, and her first encounter with Eric. Werewolves J.D. (Louis Herthum) and Rikki (Kelly Overton) pay tribute to Marcus, but Alciderefuses to participate or take his rightful place as the new packmaster. Martha Bozeman (Dale Dickey) shows up wanting to see her granddaughter, causing conflict for Sam and Luna (Janina Gavankar). Fearing Russell's return, Sookie procures a home-protection system; Arlene (Carrie Preston) tries to get to the bottom of Terry's erratic behavior; Steve Newlin stops by with an offer for Jessica; and Jason feels the brunt of hiswomanizing ways. Written by Mark Hudis; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Episode #51: "Whatever I Am, You Made Me" Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: June 24 (12:35 a.m.), 27 (10:00 p.m.), 28 (11:15 p.m.) and 30 (9:30 p.m.) HBO2 playdates: June 25 (9:00 p.m.), 28 (8:00 p.m.) and 29 (11:00 p.m.), and July 1 (1:30 p.m.) Bill and Eric barter for their lives with the Authority Chancellors and their leader, Roman (Christopher Meloni). Salome and Roman enlist a new ally in the face of Russell's return. Sookie goes to Fangtasia to ask for help from Pam, who is still caught up in her memories of Eric and the strange murders at the Comstock Brothel. Andy's dalliance with Holly (Lauren Bowles) comes back to bite him in the butt; later, he's visited by Gordon (Steve Rankin) and Barbara Pelt (Linda Purl), who are searching for Debbie. Jason bumps into an old high school teacher, but their reunion brings up conflicting feelings. Written byRaelle Tucker; directed by David Petrarca.

TRUE BLOOD received four Emmy(R) nominations last year, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Alfre Woodard).

"True Blood: The Complete Fourth Season" will be released on DVD and Blu-ray May 29.

For more on the series, please visit facebook.com/trueblood and twitter.com/TrueBloodHBO #trueblood

TRUE BLOOD was created by Alan Ball; based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris; executive producers, Alan Ball and Gregg Fienberg; co-executive producers, Brian Buckner, Alexander Woo, Raelle Tucker, Mark Hudis and Angela Robinson; co-producers, Christina Jokanovich, Marlis Pujol and David Auge.