Rick Santorum Inspired Chris Meloni's Blood-Sucking Theocrat Vampire in 'True Blood'

True Blood creator Alan Ball discusses how Rick Santorum inspired the current season, in an interview with The Wrap.

How did you map out this season?

For me the jumping off point was watching the Republican primaries, watching Michelle Bachman, Rick Santorum, and asking what would it be like  to have a theocracy in America – which is way more terrifying than any fictional monster could ever be.

Our jumping off point was "OK, what is a vampire theocracy?" You don’t really see vampires being religious creatures. They are excluded from God. But what if there was  a vampire bible? A religion? Theocracy? How would that impact our human  characters, or vampire characters?  I haven’t really seen that before.

Why Rick Santorum?

What’s terrifying is how many people agree with him.

Chris Meloni comes in, he is the guardian of the blood. Supposedly they have a vial of blood of the first vampire – like a Catholic icon. The governing body of vampires is like the Catholic church plus the Supreme Court for vampires. But it’s a very secret organization.

True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard, Rutina Wesley, Kristin Bauer, and Alan Ball Shoot 'It Gets Better' Videos: WATCH

Three cast members of True Blood — Alexander Skarsgard, Rutina Wesley, and Kristin Bauer — and its creator Alan Ball, have released videos in support of the "It Gets Better" project.

Watch them, below.

Alexander Skarsgard: 'I Don't Want a Sock Around It' for Nude Scenes

While Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin wear a "sock" and a "patch", respectively, while filming nude scenes for True Blood, Alexander Skarsgard tells Rolling Stone that he won't wear anything:

"I don't want a sock around it, that feels ridiculous. If we’re naked in the scene, then I’m naked. I’ve always been that way."

And we'll keep seeing it according to creator Alan Ball: "To me, vampires are sex. I don't get a vampire story about abstinence. I'm 53. I don't care about high school students. I find them irritating and uninformed."

 In related news, Pretty on the Outside offers up an alternate three-way male Rolling Stone cover.

Also in related news, I doubt anyone had a sock around it in this scene from Skarsgard's Swedish film The Dog Trick, AFTER THE JUMP...

Bill and Sam to 'Forge Erotic Connection' on True Blood

The forthcoming season of True Blood gets gayer by the week.

EW's Michael Ausiello reports on a conversation he had with creator Alan Ball:

"The show’s boss ... tells me that in season 3, the hunks will forge 'not just any connection, an erotic connection.' How erotic? Ball wouldn’t say. But at least he was more forthcoming with regard to another upcoming same-sex couple-to-be: Lafayette and his new love interest Jesus (played by Southland’s Kevin Alejandro). Bon Temps’ resident V peddler 'is very guarded, and Jesus is a guy who is willing to knock down some of those guards,' he says. '[Though] it’s not an easy relationship, they have a lot in common. They’re both shamans of sorts, healers, so there’s a reason they get brought together.'"

Vampire Thirst Quenched as 'Tru Blood' Beverage Comes to Stores

Tru Blood, the preferred synthetic blood drink of integrated vampires in HBO's Alan Ball series True Blood, is coming to a store near you in September:

"The blood-orange carbonated drink has a slightly tart and lightly sweet flavor that is sure to taste better than the O negative blood consumed by the show's fictional vampires. Crafted to replicate the appearance of the synthetic blood beverage preferred by the undead in the series, the real-life drink will also be called Tru Blood."

Ball introduced the beverage at Comic-Con, the NYDN reports: "[Ball] joked that the drink was a mixture of 'wine, vodka, Vicodin, Viagra and Ecstasy' and that it was 'completely illegal.'"

Tru Blood will cost $16 for a four-pack. It can be pre-ordered here.

EW's Michael Ausiello talks to Ball at Comic-Con, AFTER THE JUMP...

Alan Ball on Ryan Kwanten: 'Won't Keep His Clothes on for Too Long'

True Blood creator Alan Ball answers a few questions (and offers a few spoilers) about the upcoming series, and meditates a bit on Ryan Kwanten's sexy character Jason Stackhouse:

"Jason is very much the hot guy in town who is a total womanizer, I think once we started to flesh him out, no pun intended, he is sexually compulsive, but he’s been a scared little boy who has been abandoned by everyone who he’s ever loved, getting him involved in an addiction story line, also having him fall in love. He mostly high out of his mind the whole time and also losing the woman he loved. In the second season I think he is very much aware of a deep hole he has in his soul, as many people do, he latches onto religion and becomes part of an organization makes him feel good, special, like he’s good at something and gifted at something and that really means a lot to him, but of course as time goes on, he realizes that the organization he’s involved with have anything to do with the fundamental message of Jesus. Lets just say Jason cant keep his clothes on for too long."

More shots here (via boy culture).