When I was growing up on Long Island in the late 1960’s, this was the show that everyone ran home from school to watch because it was on at 4:00 pm in the afternoon.  It almost became a cult to those of us that lived during those historic times of Martin Luther King, Woodstock, the Space Program, and the 1969 Mets.  There were “Dark Shadows” toy figures, games and Barnabas Collins Vampire Teeth.  It was an industry more so than any other soap opera in TV history.  In fact, to some extent it probably helped to create merchandising as a concept in the entertainment industry.  I confess that Davy Crocket Coonskin Hats were first, but nothing reached this level up to that point. 

The memories of those times are now being relived by the HBO drama “True Blood.”  In my opinion, “True Blood” is an updated version of “Dark Shadows” and appears to be getting more and more supernatural with each passing week, which is exactly what happened with “Dark Shadows.” 

When “Dark Shadows” began in 1966, it was your standard run of the mill network soap opera.  However, it had Gothic themes and dealt with secrets within the Collins Family.  Early on, story lines were developed that dealt with ghosts, and an eternally living “phoenix.”  Then, on November 17, 1967, the Vampire with a heart, Barnabas Collins was introduced.  

Barnabas as portrayed by Jonathon Frid became as popular as Adam West and Burt Ward were for portraying Batman and Robin.  Barnabas was a phenomenon.  Everyone wanted to be Barnabas on Halloween.  The character was simply genius.  Prior to that point, Vampires were evil.  Barnabas had pathos about him similar to Charlie Chaplin’s famous Tramp.  Everyone could relate to him.  Jonathon Frid elevated this soap character to pop superstar.  In fact, a movie is currently being developed based upon the series to be directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas.  Depp has been quoted as saying that he was obsessed with Barnabas in his youth. 

After the success of Barnabas Collins, the show went all out with the supernatural.  Eventually, it added witches (Angelique), warlocks and werewolves (Quentin Collins portrayed by the famous character actor David Selby). 

As the show progressed until its demise in 1971 because of falling ratings, it became more a show of the era in addition to its increasing reliance upon the supernatural.  The story lines involved time travel and parallel universes.  At one point, the plot lines became very confusing.  This turned out to be the beginning of the end.  However, up until the end, it was a show that paralleled the times and the cultural revolution that was the late 1960’s.  Psychedelica from that era was also addressed in some of the special effects. 

“True Blood” now in its third season on HBO, started out similarly.  It has been Gothic from the beginning and has always dealt with timely issues.  In fact, it is quite clear that the Vampires in “True Blood” are an allegory for the GLBT movement which is at the forefront of social political issues right now. 

At the beginning of the series, we are introduced to Sookie Stackhouse who is outstandingly portrayed by Anna Paquin.  She is a telepath who can hear the thoughts of everyone except vampires.   Vampires are accepted into mainstream culture because of synthetic blood that can sustain them.  Thus, there is no need to suck the blood of mortals to survive.  (Although, this happens quite often in the series, but always with a sexual tone.) 

However, since the beginning of Season Two, the series has now started to copy “Dark Shadows,” by adding different supernatural beings almost every week.  First there was the eternal maenad Maryann.  Then, we were introduced to shape shifters, werewolves and, in just the last two episodes, were-panthers and faeries. 

Also, similarly to “Dark Shadows,” “True Blood” has explored time shifting by showing flashbacks to Civil War, WWII and Ancient Nordics.  I am wondering whether it will eventually have its characters time traveling as happened many times in “Dark Shadows.”  Remember, first there were the flashbacks and then the “Dark Shadows” characters just started appearing in different time periods. 

Is this the beginning of the end of “True Blood” as the plot lines are beginning to get more complicated as happened with “Dark Shadows?”  Or, will Alan Ball be able to keep the story going and the ratings high?  In any event, watching “True Blood” brings me back to my youth and the glory of the late 1960, early 1970’s.  Maybe someone can do a series about the space program from those days and maybe get people interested in that again?  Oh, I’m sorry Tom Hanks did and it did not work!

In the best drama category, the highly-acclaimed and perennial winner “Mad Men” will be facing some mildly tough competition. It will be up against HBO’s “True Blood,” Showtime’s “Dexter,” AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” ABC’s “Lost,” and CBS’ “The Good Wife.” Even though “Lost” just aired its final season, many expect that “Mad Men” will walk away with its third consecutive best drama award. Several of last year’s nominees for this category were snubbed this year (“House,” “Big Love,” and “Damages”) along with at least one departing show that had previously won this competition (“24”).   

In the best comedy category, there is a bit more competition for the other perennial winner “30 Rock.” “30 Rock,”,like “Mad Men,” has won its category’s top award since it premiered and already has three Emmy awards for best comedy. However, this year’s competition seems more exciting with three new series receiving nominations (“Nurse Jackie,” “Glee,” and “Modern Family”) along with “The Office” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Many television critics expect either freshman comedy “Glee” or “Modern Family” will take home the big award and end “Rock’s” winning streak but “30 Rock” still has a chance for another repeat win.

In terms of the lead acting categories for dramas, two new nominees have thrown more tough competition into the mix. I’ve been outspoken about my affection for the drama “Friday Night Lights” so I was excited to see Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton receive nominations for lead actor and actress in a drama. Chandler faces off against “Mad Men’s” Jon Hamm, “House’s” Hugh Laurie, “Dexter’s” Michael C. Hall, “Breaking Bad’s” Bryan Cranston, and “Lost’s” Matthew Fox. I haven’t seen all of the performances nominated but from my knowledge of the shows themselves, Chandler’s character seems to be the most realistic and down-to-earth one in the group and it would be nice if he was celebrated for his stellar work (although I have heard great things about Cranston’s performance on “Bad”).

In the lead actress in a drama category, there seems to be even stiffer competition and several of the actresses play extremely relatable and realistic characters. Britton will be facing off against “Mad Men’s” January Jones, “The Closer’s” Kyra Sedgwick, “Law and Order: Special Victim Unit’s” Mariska Hargitay, “Damages’” Glenn Close, and “The Good Wife’s” Julianna Margulies. Close has won this award for the past two years but some critics have suggested that Margulies will likely win for her role. (I’m rooting for Britton but I would be excited over a Margulies win as well.)

The lead acting nominations in the comedy categories showcase a wide variety of performances highlighting some well-known performers and a few welcome newcomers. Alec Baldwin (who has won for his performance on “30 Rock” for the past two years) will face “Curb Your Enthusiasm’s” Larry David, “Monk’s” Tony Shalhoub, “The Office’s” Steve Carell, “Glee’s” Matthew Morrison, and “The Big Bang Theory’s” Jim Parsons. I have seen each of these actors in their respective roles and it seems like Parsons should have a strong chance in this category for his vibrant portrayal of Sheldon Cooper.

The lead actress in a comedy category features some several comedic actresses who have been recognized in the past. Toni Collette (“United States of Tara”) won in this category last year. The previous year, Tina Fey won for her role on “30 Rock.”  Additionally, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who was nominated for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” this year) previously won for her work on “Seinfeld.” The remaining nominees in this category are “Park and Recreation’s” Amy Poehler, “Nurse Jackie’s” Edie Falco and “Glee’s” Lea Michele. This category could go to Collette or Fey but I have read some positive stuff about Falco’s performance so she could also pull a win out here.

The supporting actor in a drama category has some strong competition as well. “Mad Men’s” John Slattery will be facing “Damage’s” Martin Short, “Breaking Bad’s” Aaron Paul, “Lost’s” Terry O’ Quinn, “Men of a Certain Age’s” Andre Braugher, and “Lost’s” Michael Emerson. The supporting actress nominees for a drama include “Mad Men’s” Christina Hendricks, “Damages’” Rose Byrne, “The Good Wife’s” Archie Panjabi, “Burn Notice’s” Sharon Gless, “Mad Men’s” Elisabeth Moss, and “The Good Wife’s” Christine Baranski. There are a lot of strong performances in these two categories so both will be very competitive and hard to predict.

Another category that will likely not be hard to predict is best supporting actress in a comedy. In that category, “Glee’s” Jane Lynch will be going up against five other actresses who will likely lose to the villainous cheerleading coach. However, if this category has an upset, Lynch could lose to “30 Rock’s” Jane Krakowski, “Saturday Night Live’s” Kristen Wiig, “Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family’s” Julie Bowen, or “Two and a Half Men’s” Holland Taylor. In the supporting actor in a comedy category, “Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson will face “Glee’s” Chris Colfer, “Two and a Half Men’s” Jon Cryer, “Modern Family’s” Ty Burrell, “Modern Family’s” Eric Stonestreet, and “How I Met your Mother’s” Neil Patrick Harris. Like my support for Parsons, I would be really excited if Neil Patrick Harris won for the uniquely funny character he has brought to life.

Overall, with Jimmy Fallon hosting the Emmys, it should be a fun night to celebrate television. Although some past winners will likely win major awards, there will likely be some surprises and there could be a few great acceptance speeches as well.

I can’t wait to watch.

In this NY Times article titled “Necks Overflowing With Rivers of Metaphor,” the argument is gleefully made that the vampire genre is the perfect platform to expose the idiocy of the right and our strange repulsion against poor vampires who merely want to fuck all night and sleep all day.

You want to see an accurate portrayal of the modern day leftist liberal, using the vampire genre correctly? Watch my very first short film that I wrote, produced, directed and edited back in 2005 on pocket change, in 5 days in rural New Jersey using a digital camera and all unknown actors.

It is based on a short story by Richard Matheson titled “Drink My Red Blood” and what compelled me to make it was one scene in particular where the lead character, Jules, shares his composition in school called “My Ambition.” The movie is 15 minutes long. I broke it into two parts and uploaded it to YouTube for you to watch (NSFW).

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Jules Dracula is the perfect portrait of how leftists develop into pure evil by absolutely despising all that is good and seeking revenge against those who won’t let them simply be who they really are deep down inside; godless haters of Christian values, especially personal restraint.

Those within the industry will instantly recognize the Jules Dracula’s in their lives.  And It should be noted that I attempted to make this into a TV series called THIRST and could find no takers. I guess the truth hurts too much.

Please visit the official website built to promote the movie and those involved in making it.

The actor is currently co-starring in HBO’s vampire drama “True Blood,“ set to begin its second season at 9 p.m. EST June 14. Sanderson plays Sheriff Dearborne, a character whose normalcy stands apart from the show’s menagerie of shape shifters, neck biters and mind readers. “You can hide when you have beards and mustaches. I don’t have a lot of that,” he says of the straightforward sheriff.

What he and his colleagues do have is the respect of HBO’s higher ups. HBO executives “trust the creators of their show,” he says. “They set the tone. If they’re under pressure, Lord, it’ll reach us,” he says.

The 65-year-old actor is at a loss as to why the vampire genre cannot be killed, adding even show creator Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under”) can’t break down the appeal of the undead.

Sanderson’s biggest role early in his career led to an eight-year gig – and entry into pop culture lore – with his role in “Newhart.” Does “Hi, I’m Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl,” ring a bell? “I was pretty naïve back then, not knowing that everyone has fallow periods,” he says. “I was on a high the whole time, to have a 10 to 5 job.”

He would find steady work later on via a gaggle of television dramas, from “Lost” and “Walker Texas Ranger” to “The X Files,” but also appeared regularly in films like “The Client” (1994) and “Last Man Standing” (1996). It seemed every other story being told in Hollywood had a need for the cagey character actor.

Sanderson had hoped to spend some time this year traveling overseas to meet with U.S. troops on a USO-style mission, but his schedule wouldn’t allow it. Sanderson served in the Army for two years starting at age 18, and he remembers actor Vic Morrow once visiting Fort Benning where he was stationed.

Sanderson still hopes to follow through on his plans. He has great respect for the military and feels his time in the service helped chart his professional course. “At the time I just wanted to get in and get out,” he says of his military service. “In retrospect, it’s the thing I’m proudest of.” He’s less than proud of some fellow actors who won’t go out of their way to show their appreciation for today’s soldiers.

“Left wing people are anti-war. No one likes war. But shouldn’t we support the soldiers?” asks Sanderson, who says his brother was spat upon in San Francisco when he returned from Vietnam.

Today, Sanderson splits time between a home in Hollywood and one in Harrisburg, Pa., where his wife has strong roots. “They don’t care so much about this Hollywood stuff,” he says.

Sanderson still auditions for some roles despite his distinguished body of work, and the thought of retiring from the business creeps up on him now and again. The rejection that comes along with being a working actor can wear you down, he says. Until then, he’ll keep on working, although he fears he may have missed out on the one part he’s always wanted to play.

“I’m too old to do a movie that shows the good side of the American soldier,” he says.

Christian Toto is a contributing reporter for The Washington Times, MovieMaker Magazine and boxoffice.com. He blogs about film at whatwouldtotowatch.com and at The Denver Examiner.