by Michael Ausiello, ew.com

For a backwater burg with only a single watering hole, Bon Temps sure does have a lot of colorful characters passing in and out (well, those that end up making it out). Case in point: Check out the motley crew Alan Ball and Co. are introducing in season 3 (premiering next summer). While Ball teased some of these arrivals in my recent Q&A, there’s nothing like sinking your teeth into the actual casting notices.

* Tommy Mickens is a grungy but handsome man in his early ‘20s who just so happens to be Sam Merlotte’s long-lost younger brother. Apparently, at some point he’ll be showing his unadorned backside, which, with Sam’s similar feral tendency towards the “full moon”, proves that they really must be related after all.

*After his mysterious abduction, Bill finds himself with the latest addition to the True Blood Gallery of Impossibly Attractive Male Vampires (or the TBGIAMV). Talbot, a bitingly (har har) sarcastic vampire with a model’s looks, will appear starting in the second episode as a guide of sorts for the kidnapped vamp.

* More news on the PYT front is the appearance of Jesus Velasquez, an unordinary orderly with a heart to match his good looks.

* In a friendly bit of one-upmanship, Tara gets her very own over-protective vampire buddy. And a “sexy, sexy, sexy, sexy” one at that. That’s right, four sexys. Eat that, Sookie. The neckbiter, Franklin Mott, is also clearly in the running for TBGIAMV status.

* We’ve had vampires, shape-shifters, and demi-gods, and now the next supernatural spook to waltz through Louisiana is…rednecks?! Well, maybe they aren’t so unearthly, but they can sure pack a punch and we can expect a group of them, led by a guy named Coot (of course), to unleash their mobile home magic on some of our dear characters.

* Jason Stackhouse will find that his notoriously limitless libido has taken a hit, when two NYU girls, Jen and Missy, ménage à try to get him into the sack to little avail.

* Yvetta, Fangtasia’s new Czechoslovakian dancer, is tremendously hot and comfortable being in the buff. Oh, and she makes lots of sexy time with Eric. (Don’t shoot the messenger!)

* Tara’s ever-distraught mom turns to the church for comfort (and maybe a little more) in the form of the honorable Reverend Daniels.

Bring it on!!!

Everyone is LOVING True Blood and next season, writer-director Alan Ball is giving everyone even more juicy story lines to suck on!

The big news for season 3 is the introduction of the much awaited homo-erotic vampire king of Mississippi. Alan sat down for an interview recently and discussed how the show is going to be taking a big, gay leap in the new season:

Were the gay metaphors something you envisioned immediately as you read the books?
Alan Ball: All that is in the books. Also, there are a lot of gay characters in the books as you get further and further into them. We'll be introducing some of those gay characters this new season.

What other gay characters will be introduced in season 3?
We'll be meeting the vampire king of Mississippi and his long, long-term companion — and by long-term I mean really long-term — Talbot. I think Lafayette may meet a love interest, and certainly Pam, who works with Eric, she's certainly got a lesbian vibe — I don't know that that's all she is, but she certainly does seem to appreciate the women.

What do you think it is about the vampire genre that’s so appealing to LGBT fans?
I think it's certainly not a huge step for LGBT people to identify with any group of characters that are, as a group, outsiders, that mainstream society feels threatened by; that are fabulous and powerful and sexy and all of that stuff.

Lesbian vampire queen Sophie-Anne is romantically linked to Sookie’s cousin, Hadley. Is there a possibility that the queen will also fall for Sookie?
I think Sophie-Anne is definitely interested in Sookie; I don't believe it's for sexual or romantic reasons but she is definitely interested in Sookie and whatever it is about Sookie that is special beyond the realm of what is human, and that's something that we definitely will learn more about in the upcoming season.

Denis O’Hare has just been cast as a regular for season 3. His character Russell Edgington, the vampire king of Mississippi, is gay in the books, so is this something we can expect to see in season 3?
I think the kings and queens of the various states are aware of each other, and yes, he definitely knows who she is. Whether or not they end up in a scene together I can't really say; it depends on actors' availability and scheduling and those kinds of things. But they definitely are aware of each other.

Everything sounds good to us except for one major problem:

At what point will Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård be making sweet, sweet love to one another?

Remember, Stephen is totally up for it!

Why deny us what would clearly be the hottest couple on TV????

[TOMMY MICKENS] 18 to 25 years old, dirty but good-looking, with a scar on his face from ear to cheek, he is Sam's (Sam Trammell) long lost younger brother who works at a Tire Depot in Arkansas. Tommy's family has a bad reputation for skipping out on their rent and owing money all over town. When Sam approaches him, Tommy hides his identity and claims to be someone else. He's unaware who Sam is. BACKSIDE NUDITY...SERIES REGULAR (31)

[TALBOT] Male, 20s - 30s. This "intensely beautiful" male vampire has the buff good looks of an underwear model and an acerbic and sarcastic manner. Full of dishy sarcasm and cheerful prattle, he shows Bill around a magnificent mansion where Bill has been "invited" to stay for a spell...STRONG RECURRING (11) THIS ROLE FIRST APPEARS IN EPISODE 302

[JESUS VELASQUEZ] An attractive Latino orderly in his 20s to 30s. We come to learn he is a gay, Latino, attractive orderly! He's feeding Ruby Jean at her care facility. As good-natured as he is handsome, he takes his demented patient's racist gibes in stride.sptv050769..VERY STRONG RECURRING POSSIBLE OPTION FOR SERIES REGULAR NEXT SEASON (27) THIS ROLE FIRST APPEARS IN EPISODE 302

[FRANKLIN MOTT] Male, 25-mid 40's and sexy, sexy, sexy, sexy. This tall, dark and handsome vampire seems to have an immediate and torrid connection to Tara, whom he meets in the local bar. He later rushes to Tara's aid when she faces down a couple of racist rednecks...VERY STRONG RECURRING (49) THIS ROLE FIRST APPEARS IN EPISODE 302

[COOTER AKA "COOT"] In his 30s, menacing, the ringleaders of the F*ck You Crew, he and his biker thugs take turns stabbing Bill and feeding on him. Coot hates being told what to do...VERY STRONG RECURRING (3)

[JEN AND MISSY] These impressive young women in their early 20s, recent NYU grads who are both studying to become vets, wind up spending the night with Jason (Ryan Kwanten). Despite their attempts to get him in the mood, including making out with each other and agreeing to a threesome, they grow irritated by Jason's lack of enthusiasm, and then downright disturbed by his admission that when he looks at them, he sees bullet holes in their heads...GUEST STAR ROLES. Above the waist nudity required. (38)

[YVETTA] Female, 20's, gorgeously hot Eastern European is Eric's (Alex Skaarsgard) new dancer at Fangtasia. She speaks Czechoslovakian with subtitles and knows how to work a stripper pole. She and Eric have a sexual relationship...2 lines, 3 scenes / POSSIBLE RECUR (36) Actress must be able to dance and be comfortable with nudity.

[REVEREND DANIELS] Male, African American. The pastor at Lettie Mae's church, he tries to offer comfort to Tara, and suggests that all her hardships are part of God's plan to bring her back to her mother. He's a bit uncomfortable when Lettie Mae's hug goes on too long...GUEST STAR (32)

[OLIVIA] This elderly woman in her 80s, who moves with the aid of a walker and also uses an oxygen tank, lives in a house in the middle of nowhere. She mistakes Bill for her son...GUEST STAR (48)

[LOUIE] A biker thug with Coot's F*ck You Crew, he gets high on V blood...2 lines, 3 scenes 2 episodes. (3)

[BETTY] In her late 30s to early 40s, African American, she lives in a rundown street in Arkansas. She's amazed that Sam is able to subdue her pit bull, and she tries to help him find someone he's looking for...2 speeches & 8 lines, 1 scene (24)

[MARVIN] 40 years old, African American, he is Betty's husband who comes to the door and grumbles about the Mickens. He "tsk-tsk"s when he finds out Sam's related to them...1 speech & 3 lines, 1 scene (25)

[JIMMY] A greasy, amped up, speed demon biker thug, he enjoys stabbing Bill with a knife and feeding on V blood...1 line, 3 scenes (3)

[GUS] Another of Coot's biker thugs, he gets crazy high on V blood...2 lines, 2 scenes (3)

There will be more Kristin Bauer (Pam) and Jessica Tuck (Nan) in season 3

The gay vampire king of Mississippi has been cast with Denis O'Hare (Travis, Brothers & Sisters)

More Godric via flashbacks

werewolves will finally be introduced

several supporting characters will be sharing even more of the spotlight.

Eric has broken out and is a big important character now.

Jessica and Hoyt are still trying to deal with everything that happened to them

Arlene and Terry will have more of a presence on the show

Theme of Season 3 is being who you are, and what you are

Sookie’s background: “She is definitely part of a different race,” adds Ball. “In terms of fairies, like perky fairies with wings, like Tinkerbell, no, they’re not like that. If it is fairies, they’re fierce. They’re not pretty, soft, glamorous, gossamery things. They’re really, really, really powerful and primal creatures.”

Alexander Skarsgard appears without most of his clothes in the very first episode of S3.

"Sookie and Eric are going to come together, it’s fated. It’s not something that’s going to happen right off the bat. I don’t know if it will necessarily be in Season 3."

Bill's Kidnapping: Ball confirmed that the arc of Bill's kidnapping will last "about six episodes." That sounds like just enough time to put Sookie (Anna Paquin) through the wringer, but not enough to try viewers' patience. Plus, we'll probably still get to see Bill deal with his captors in episodes 1-5.

Meet the Merlottes: Shape-shifter Sam (Sam Trammell) will find his family this year, and Tucker gets to write their characters a lot in episode two. "I'm getting to write Sam's family, which is a lot of fun, and, really, I feel really satisfying as a character arc," she said. "I really am glad that he's taking this journey and he's learning about himself. I find that interesting. They aren't the brightest people, maybe. At least they appear that way. They're fairly dysfunctional, but like anybody else, they have their good things about them and not-so-good things. They're still getting to know each other. Sam's still getting to know them, and so are we."

Werewolves in Louisiana: Werewolves are coming to True Blood, and Ball offered a preview of what his wolf-people will look like. "They're just wolves," Ball said. "It's just people who can turn into wolves, but they're slightly bigger and much stronger. Their eyes glow orange a little bit."

Supernatural: It's not just vampires and werewolves. Woo is most excited about the expanding world of season three. "The entire world is going to get a lot bigger," Woo said. "Not only the human world, but in Sookie's eyes, she's going to see the whole supernatural world. Luckily, since this show is through Sookie's eyes, as an audience we'll get to see a much larger supernatural world."

Sookie's Powers: Sookie's powers have gone from simple telepathy to some kind of hand-glowing power. Tucker confirmed that Sookie's powers continue to expand in season three. "I think that Sookie is conscious of her abilities more this season than she's been, and she's questioning them more," Tucker said. "We're going to be exploring that more this season."

Vampire King: Ball said the Vampire King of Mississippi is coming in season three. He provides a contrast to Sophie-Anne, the Vampire Queen of Louisiana (Evan Rachel Wood). "He's older," Ball said. "He's much more mature. He's much more methodical and grounded. She's kind of crazy. To me, she's kind of like Paris Hilton/Lindsay Lohan, where she has a very short attention span and she's very, very egomaniacal and very self-obsessed and doesn't really think about her actions, whereas the Vampire King is very much an adult. He has an agenda. He has things he wants to achieve. I think he's much more formidable than she is."

Jason Stackhouse: In two seasons, Sookie's brother, Jason (Ryan Kwanten), has been accused of murder and got caught up in a cult. Season three will find him keeping a low profile. "I think Jason's path this season is actually about not getting into trouble," Tucker said. "It's about trying to stay out of trouble. I think it's going well for him."

Queen Sophie-Anne: Wood is signed to return for more episodes in season three. Since her recreational activities include orchestrating the sale of vampire blood, things could go very badly for her. "Well, Sophie Anne, when last we left her, she was sort of behind this selling of V as a recreational drug on the streets, pretty much," Ball said. "That's not something a vampire authority figure should be doing. If higher-up vampire authority figures figure that out, they're not going to be happy."

Biker Gang: Season three will introduce a biker gang called Coot's Fuck You Crew. Tucker said the new characters are still evolving and won't be what you expect. "The one thing I will say is that they are very mysterious," Tucker said. "They're a group who's been around a lot longer than you think. I don't want to say too much about them right now, because I think that we are in the early stages of figuring that out."

Tommy Mickens: Woo is writing the new character of Tommy Mickens, who will make a huge impact on our favorite characters. "Tommy Mickens is someone I don't want to reveal too much about, because I don't want to ruin the surprise," Woo said. "He's a completely new character, but he plays very prominently in the emotional life of at first one and then, later, several other of our characters. He'll be the first domino to push the rest."

Helmet Hilarity: Helmets have become a joke in the writer's room. Tucker explained how the writers became aware they were relying too much on protective headgear. "There've been several moments that we've been pitching things and thought, 'Oh, well, maybe she could be wearing a helmet, and that would protect her. Maybe he could wear a helmet in that scene.' Suddenly we realized we had a whole bunch of characters wearing helmets for no particular reason. So we thought, oh, that's the theme of the season."

Eric Northman: Fans keep demanding more screen time for Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), but the writers won't indulge them. "You know, what's funny is that he's in the first two books; he's a fairly minor character in Sookie's universe," Tucker said. "There's a lot of fan pressure that they're supposed to be this big romantic thing, which actually in Charlaine [Harris]'s books doesn't happen until much, much further down. I think if we did that, we'd probably bore them all to death. I think part of the magic of Eric is some of the mystery of Eric and the inaccessibility of Eric. I think you don't want to turn them into the nice romantic love interest who's in every scene. I think his danger is important, so not just throwing him up whenever somebody wants to see his bare chest is actually a more disciplined approach."