Kristen Schaal performs at Bank United Center in Miami. (photo: Chris Gordon/WireImage.com)

Super Sunday

Part of writing a hit TV show is touching people's lives, and it's no different for 'True Blood' creator Alan Ball. "When people approach me about 'Six Feet Under,' they say, 'Oh, my God, that show meant so much to me; I lost my mother last year,'" he says. With 'True Blood,' on the other hand, he's connecting with people in ways that are a bit more ... personal. "One of my assistant directors is from Texas, and during hiatus she was there with some of her girlfriends," Ball says. "One of their husbands came up and said, 'Thank you for that show, because every Sunday night we all have the best sex we've had in years.'" (photo: Todd Williamson/WireImage.com)

[Los Angeles Times via MercuryNews.com]

Ryan Kwanten, Alexander Skarsgard and Sam Trammell attend the premiere of 'True Blood' in Los Angeles. (photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com)

Revealing Nicki

For the first two seasons of 'Big Love,' Chloë Sevigny pushed the creators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer to let Nicki be warmer or nicer, but they resisted. And it paid off in Season 3. "When we came into the writers' room at the beginning of this last year," Olsen said, "it was with a very strong feeling that this character we all loved, Nicki Grant, really needed to deepen, or else she would become sort of a cliché, the Alexis Carrington of our show." Added Scheffer: "I think this year [Chloë] just somehow knew to invest in the manipulations, the insanity of that character, because we were writing her toward this kind of exposé of why she is who she is, this character that everybody loves to hate." (photo: Soul Brother/FilmMagic.com)

[LATimes.com]

Patricia Clarkson and Evan Rachel Wood arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Whatever Works.' (photo: Todd Williamson/WireImage.com)

Carrie Chameleon

You'd think being cast as your husband's mother that would send most actresses into a downward spiral, but Carrie Preston (Arlene on 'True Blood') says it was her idea. Preston, who is married to Michael Emerson (Ben on 'Lost') explains: "They wanted me to do a guest spot. I said to Michael, 'Wouldn't it make the fans go nuts if I were to play your mother.' The next thing I know I am giving birth in the jungle." The actress used to think that not being recognized was a bad sign, but she's changed her mind. ""I get to make these great transformations. Even when Michael came to the set of 'True Blood,' he couldn't stop staring at me. This red-haired, buxom woman really is the furthest away from me as possible. I think Michael has a little crush on Arlene," Preston says. (photo: Joe Kohen/Getty Images)

[projo.com]

Drew Barrymore arrives at the premiere of 'The Hurt Locker' in Hollywood. (photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com)

Last Laugh

James Gandolfini may not have taken home the Tony Award for Best Actor in a play (for 'God of Carnage') on Sunday, but he won the audience approval award. Appearing onstage with his co-star Jeff Daniels after a musical number from 'Shrek,' Gandolfini got big laughs when he noted: "For the record, Shrek and I are no relation." (photo: Bobby Bank/WireImage.com)

[NYTimes.com]

Perry Reeves arrives at House of Harlow 1960 & Clandstine Industries Switch Boutique fashion show in Hollywood. (photo: Mike Guastella/WireImage.com)

Ready for Action

Who'd have thought you'd get to kick more a** as a Southern waitress than as a mutant hero? Anna Paquin is happy with the physicality of her 'True Blood' gig. "You know, as much as I loved doing those [X-Men] films I was kind of like, 'Okay, so when do I get to beat someone up? When do I get to steal some powers?'" Paquin said. "You know Sookie gets to do more action than Rogue ever did. So I'm just putting that out there. More action please, for next time." (photo: Jordan Strauss/WireImage.com)

[MTV.com]