Image Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/PR PhotosThe upcoming third season of True Blood will feature werewolves, same-sex crushes, threesomes, and a new king. But here’s one thing you won’t find on the HBO phenom when it returns next month: Katee Sackhoff. It’s not for lack of trying on the show’s part, though. Allow me to explain…
Sackhoff, who clocked out of 24 earlier this week in dramatic fashion, was approached to play the pivotal season 3 role of Alcide’s psycho ex, Debbie Pelt. Ultimately, the Battlestar Galactica badass passed, opting instead to join Goran Visnjic and Nia Long in ABC’s cop-themed drama pilot Boston’s Finest. (The role of Debbie ended up going to ex-Middleman star Brit Morgan.) Why turn down a sure thing — not to mention one of the hottest shows on the tube — for a project that may not see a second episode?
“I am a huge fan of True Blood,” Sackhoff responds. “It’s a phenomenal show and [exec producer] Alan Ball is a f—ing genius. But I wanted more security than one season of something, so I rolled the dice with [Boston's Finest]. This entire business is about rolling the dice and hoping you made the right decision. I almost didn’t take 24 to do my own series on USA Network, and that worked out. I’m sure [Brit] is going to be fantastic [as Debbie].”
Sackhoff, who plays a female detective in the ABC procedural, will find out in two weeks if Boston is a go. How is she feeling about its chances? “I have no idea,” she admits. “The one thing I do know is that we have a phenomenal cast and a fantastic script. We have on paper everything we needed to create something fantastic.”
Thoughts? Bummed you won’t get to see Sackhoff apply her special brand of crazy to Debbie? Or do you think this was fate’s way of making sure the role landed in Morgan’s lap (and word is she’s nailing the part)? Hit the comments!
Damn. I love Katee Sackhoff, and she would have been fantastic. But I’m not judging Morgan, and I’m sure she’ll do a great job–
Good luck to Katee! Anything she touches is gold!
I know I love her too! The first thing I saw her in was 24 I wanna see her other stuff!
Then you should check out Battle Star Galactica. Seriously. Don’t let the “SciFi” label scare you. It’s a great show and Sackhoff is Fan-frickn-tastik in it.
She is phenomenal in BSG.
Dave, I do believe you mean “fan-FRAKIN’-tastic”
Oh God yes, Natalie–you need to watch BSG. It is absolutely one of the best shows I have ever, ever seen.
Fan FRAKKIN tastic indeed!
Wow, you *realllly* need to watch BSG. She’s about 10x better in it than in 24, and it’s about a 100x finer show, so you are gonna love the whole experience, going by my middle school math, about a billion times more!
Yes She was awsome on BSG
Well Katee, I hope you have more luck in the future, compared to the totally crapadelic final season of 24…
I don’t know either actress, so either one will be new to me as Debbie. *shrugs*
B, if you haven’t seen her in the poignant epic Battlestar Galactica, you are misisng something quite special. People think BSG was just a trekkie scifi show but i can tell you if had the magic, mystery, breathless enlightenment of Roots, Lost, Wings of Desire and yes, the original Star Wars — it quietly changed the art of television and touched millions of hearts and minds. So, uhm, yeah, it was good. LOL! Now, I’m homesick for it all over again!!! LOL!
Agreed. People think BSG is just another scifi series. It’s a frakking full blown drama. My favorite show right behind Lost.
As a total none sci-fi fan, I have to agree that BSG was ridiculous awesome. Anyone who enjoys quality TV should watch it. I came to love the characters so much, and I love Starbuck (and hence Katee Sackhoff, who really nailed that part). Good luck to her!
Sorry she won’t be on True Blood–which I love–which I love, but even if her pilot doesn’t see the light of day, I don’t think she has to worry. Her run on Battlestar Galactica as the unique, amazing, complicated, charismatic Starbuck made her one of the most popular and in-demand TV actresses of her generation. On a show full of kickass action heroes, she was the most awesome action hero. On a show full of psychologically convoluted figures, she was one of the most compelling. I would follow her to almost any show. I’d like to see her again in an arena that didn’t squander what she has to offer, as I think happened for much of the season on 24.
Viv, so say we all.
Wow, that was an amazing and accurate summary of the best show to ever grace TV.
*sniff* you’re bringing tears to my eyes!! I miss BSG so much, and Katee was fabulous in the role of Starbuck. I totally agree, don’t let the “sci fi” label scare you, it is more of an ensemble drama than sci fi. As for Katee, she is an amazing actress with a lot of range and I will give ANY show a chance if she is acting in it.
please don’t sully the name of BSG w/ dreck like (the last 4) Star Wars 8)
Agreed all around. BSG is genius, and if you haven’t seen it you are missing out on one of the best shows to ever grace the tv screen. I spent all last summer watching it and I was depressed for like a week cause it was over…Mainly because I would miss out on Starbuck and she was my she-ro. True Blood is perfect for Katie’s vibe, but as an actor I completely understand the need for security. Why spend a few months on a great show that is already known, when you can break out and be the one that makes the show known. Its better to be the next “to watch” thing then be apart of “last years” to watch thing. Not anything against True Blood, but if “Boston whatever” takes off she gets to be the lead on the show not a supporting arc for a few months.
She does not have the best luck with pilots and tv series lately– plus depending upon how much the books influence the writing of True Blood, Debbie is in more than one book so she could last for more than one season. And an HBO season is 12 episodes which could leave time for other projects.
As much as I love Katee (and I do mean love, I consider her one of my favorite actresses), I am glad she passed on the Debbie Pelt character. She doesn’t fit the character in my mind. (And she was right in her decision, as those who read the books know the fate of Debbie…)
I completely agree. If Debbie was going to have a full robust MaryAnn type of season, it might be worth it – but she’s better off … the Pelt character doesn’t have a lot of depth, from what I remember of the books.
Would have loved to seen her in this part. I think she made a huge mistake. The Debbie Pelt part is at least two if not three seasons depending on how Alan Ball will role with this character. Alan Ball admitted himself that he beefed up the part from Charlaine Harris’ original character. I wish Kate the best of luck with Boston’s Finest. Oh boy another cop show?
I am bummed! I hated Debbie Pelt in the books but this could have been great for Katee. She’s probably the only actress who could have made me like the character. And she could have always been back as a flash back. She could be someone else, though.
Damn! She would have been great as Debbie Pelt- I’m such a fan of Katee Sackhoff!
I don’t know anything about the actress playing the part, but I’ve loved Alan Ball’s casting decisions so far (yes, even Evan Rachel Woods), so I’m sure she’s good!
the great thing about True Blood is that they have many relatively unknown actors doing phenomenal work then become breakout stars, so i trust the casting completely.
I agree totally. I think sometimes it’s better to get unknowns. People will focus on the character more if they’re not terribly familiar with the actor.
I agree, and I think the other actress, Brit Morgan, looks like a real badass! I’m sure Alan Ball chose a great actor for that part. I trust him entirely.
Katee Sackhoff was really incredibly stupid to pass on True Blood! Well, her loss!
I think she knew that in TB she’d have to get VERY naked and she just didn’t want to go there.
Seeing as Katee’s done nude scenes before, I don’t think she’d have a problem with it. Most actors and actresses don’t.
Yes, she’s done “nude” scenes where she’s mostly shown from the back and her breasts are only partially exposed from the side. That is not the kind of nudity they do on True Blood. There’s a big difference.
She’s done Nip/Tuck Chappel. Nip/Tuck was just as raunchy as True Blood, if not a tad moreso.
As for her not being Debbie, I am glad. She may have been awesome as Starbuck but her turns on Bionic Woman, Nip/Tuck and 24 left me cold, she kind of sucked.
Sackoff would have been *superb* as Debbie Pelt (especially since Ball said that they were making it a bigger part). She was fantastic as the baddie in Bioic Woman (the only good (great) thing about that show. I honestly understand the preference for a job that could last many seasons, though.
Katee is right. No matter how well Debbie is done on TV, she’s still an inevitable villain who needs to get killed off sometime. That’s not secure for more than oh…probably a season unless you are playing Sylar. So I wish her luck on the other show.
I don’t think she would fit into True Blood’s cast.
HUGE mistake. Some things you do for a paycheck and other things you do for your career. True Blood would have been for her Career. It’s a real shame….:( I would have loved her on True Blood.
Oh get over yourself!!!!!!!!!!
No actor in their right mind would choose an untested pilot over a sure thing ‘for the paycheck’.
I’d be all over her if she DID take the True Blood role as being taken ‘for the paycheck’.
Hoping ‘Boston’s Finest’ (horrible name, awesome listed cast) works out for all of the actors involved.
well a show on a major network is better paid than cable tv (esp. supporting cast), and that’s obviously her ultimate goal. otherwise why pass on a USA pilot for 24?
You don’t even know how good Boston’s Finest is yet, for all you know it could be as good as True Blood – or better – for her career. Personally, I’m a little worried about her just playing some cop, but I also know that she’s smart enough to not take a role as just some cop. If it’s good enough for her to take it, there must be something interesting about it.
It’s just another procedural drama; what can it possibly bring that is anything different than any of the (many) others? True Blood is a phenomenon.
funny don’t care. don’t have HBO anymore, thanks to cable. to receive cable i have to rent a converter box and upgrade to digital that’s crazy.
All I care about is that Nia Long got a show! About time. She should be a huge star by now.
I agree. The only reason I watched that awful Big Shots was because of Nia Long. I love her.