It looks like the MTV Video Music Awards took a little bite out of True Blood‘s ratings. Sunday’s second-season finale attracted 5.1 million viewers, down from the record 5.3 million that tuned in on August 23 but on par with the last outing on Aug. 30. Still, HBO has plenty to crow about. Blood was up more than 100 percent over its season 1 finale (2.5 million viewers). Speaking of TB‘s season-ender, make sure you read my morning-after Q&A with Alan Ball!
Sep 15
2009
12:57 PM ET
'True Blood' season finale ratings are in!
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James Hibberd
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TV Finale Highlights
Five days at a glance*
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Tuesday, May 1
- The Biggest Loser NBC, 8-9PM
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Friday, May 4
- In Plain Sight USA, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 6
- The Amazing Race CBS, 8-10PM
- GCB NBC, 10-11PM
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Monday, May 7
- Two Broke Girls CBS, 8-9PM
- Castle ABC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 8
- Last Man Standing ABC, 8-8:30PM
- The Voice NBC, 8-10PM
- New Girl FOX, 9-9:31PM
- Unforgettable CBS, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 9
- CSI CBS, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 10
- The Big Bang Theory CBS, 8-8:31PM
- The Vampire Diaries The CW, 8-9PM
- The Office NBC, 9-9:30PM
- The Secret Circle The CW, 9-10PM
- Parks and Recreation NBC, 9:30-10PM
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Friday, May 11
- The Finder FOX, 8-9PM
- Undercover Boss CBS, 8-9PM
- Fringe FOX, 9-10PM
- CSI: NY CBS, 9-10PM
- Blue Bloods CBS, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 13
- Once Upon A Time ABC, 8-9PM
- Survivor: One World CBS, 8-10PM
- Desperate Housewives ABC, 9-11PM, SERIES FINALE
- American Dad FOX, 9:30-10PM
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Monday, May 14
- Bones FOX, 8-9PM
- How I Met Your Mother CBS, 8-9PM
- Gossip Girl The CW, 8-9PM
- Two and a Half Men CBS, 9-9:30PM
- Hart of Dixie The CW, 9-10PM
- Mike & Molly CBS, 9:30-10PM
- Hawaii Five-0 CBS, 10-11PM
- Smash NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 15
- 90210 The CW, 8-9PM
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- NCIS CBS, 8-9PM
- NCIS: Los Angeles CBS, 9-11PM
- Fashion Star NBC, 10-11PM
- Private Practice ABC, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 16
- Suburgatory ABC, 8:30-9PM
- Criminal Minds CBS, 9-11PM
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Thursday, May 17
- Missing ABC, 8-9PM
- Community NBC, 8-8:30PM, 9-10PM
- 30 Rock NBC, 8:30-9PM
- Rules of Engagement CBS, 8:30-9PM
- Awake NBC, 9-11PM
- Grey's Anatomy ABC, 9-10PM
- Person of Interest CBS, 9-10PM
- The Mentalist CBS, 10-11PM
- Scandal ABC, 10-11PM
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Friday, May 18
- Nikita The CW, 8-9PM
- Shark Tank ABC, 8-9PM
- Who Do You Think You Are NBC, 8-9PM
- Grimm NBC, 9-10PM
- Supernatural The CW, 9-10PM
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Saturday, May 19
- Saturday Night Live NBC, 11:29PM-1AM
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Sunday, May 20
- America's Funniest Home Videos ABC, 7-8PM
- The Cleveland Show FOX, 7:30-8PM
- Harry's Law NBC, 8-9PM
- The Simpsons FOX, 8-8:30PM
- Bob's Burgers FOX, 8:30-9PM
- Celebrity Apprentice NBC, 9-11PM
- Family Guy FOX, 9-10PM
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Monday, May 21
- Dancing With the Stars (Performance) ABC, 8-9PM
- House FOX, 8-10PM, SERIES FINALE
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Tuesday, May 22
- American Idol (Performance) FOX, 8-9PM
- Dancing With the Stars (Results) ABC, 9-11PM
- Glee FOX, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 23
- The Middle ABC, 8-8:30PM
- American Idol (Results) FOX, 8-10:07PM
- Modern Family ABC, 9-9:30PM
- Don't Trust the B— ABC, 9:30-10PM
- Revenge ABC, 10-11PM
- Law & Order: SVU NBC, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 24
- Awake NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 29
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- The L.A. Complex The CW, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 30
- America's Next Top Model: British Invasion The CW, 9-10PM
*Times are Eastern Daylight and subject to change
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Mike -
Do you think the Labor Day week off hurt the show in terms of a loss in momentum, ratings wise?
Compared to the season 1 finale, this year’s was pretty forgettable. Glad though, that we won’t have to sit through that Maryanne storyline anymore.
God hates fangs and fangbangers!
so, maybe now that we know more people watch Burn Notice than True Blood we can give that show a little press?!
5 million viewers for HBO is more impressive than 7 million is for USA. Why? Fewer homes.
Just a thought. Don’t you think MAYBE the NFL game might have taken a few more viewers than the VMA’s? Haha.
Have to say, for as good as the entire season has been, the finale was a bit of a let down over all. Also, having to wait two weeks for the finale was not good, momentum is lost and people get side tracked and forget to tune in (of course you can catch the multiple re-runs during this week).
Too bad there really isn’t a way to account for the amount of viewers who do not have HBO and get their TB fix online. Then the ratings would really explode, I bet.
I didn’t know you could watch TB without subscribing to HBO. Where on-line can you see it? Is it on the HBO website?
Nope, not on the HBO website. But very easy to find.
Does anyone know the validity of the rumors that Alex Skarsgard is dating Evan Rachel Wood? Please say it isn’t so…
‘fraid so. It has been in quite a few of the gossip mags, she is apparently hot after our beloved Eric. Which is gross, considering she was engaged to Marilyn Manson (YUCK!!!!)
Gossip mags are also reporting he got cozy with this “Straw Dogs” co-star Kate Bosworth, so it just remains to be seen.
I am glad to hear that Alan Ball says she is not going to be a regular next season. She is my least favorite on the show, although that was not true of characters in the books.
I love the finale!!
The proposal was so unexpected!!
Bye,bye Maryanne!! Bye,Bye Eggs
Bye,Mike Spencer
The last 3 episodes were dreadful. The bump on August 23 happened because the episode before was just a perfect piece of television. Once everyone saw that dreadful episode viewership dropped a bit and the preview for the finale didn’t look all that much better and that’s why I think the ratings were flat.
The best part of the seasons finale was the fact that it was the season finale. Let’s hope that next season is better.
I am AMAZED to see so many people on here diss the second season and Maryann. I LOVED the season and especially the Maryann plot and so did everyone I talked to about it. Maryann was so outrageous and fun….if you didn’t like her, you will unlikely enjoy future seasons….it is Alan Ball afterall. He is not going to tame it down for you guys with sticks up your butts.