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HBO's truly fun 'True Blood' soiree

The delicious vampire drama "True Blood" has given HBO new life.

Entering a second, highly-anticipated season 9 p.m. Sunday, the series is the premium network's third most watched show ever just behind "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City."

To celebrate the new season, HBO screened the first two episodes and threw one heck of a shindig in the show's honor Tuesday night at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

The entire cast showed up for the screening including stars Anna Paquin, who plays Sookie, and Stephen Moyer, who plays Bill.

Just before the screening, show creator Alan Ball thanked the stars as well as the rest of the cast and crew.

While this was very gracious of Ball ("American Beauty" and "Six Feet Under"), it would've been even nicer if he would have opted for an abbreviated list minus the pauses and applause for each name.

Seriously, his whole "thank you" shoutout speech took at least 30 minutes.

After the screening -- what a great way to open a season --everyone headed outside for a party under the stars.

VIPs had reserved tables inside a tricked-out clear circus tent replete with a white cast-iron chandelier.

Just outside the tent, people milled around and sat at various tables and a series of beautifully ornate brocade-covered chaise lounges.

Buffet tables full of food and and an open bar kept the vibe convivial.

Eats included mini shrimp Po Boys (my favorite), chicken strips and chicken skewers, tri-tip beef, mixed greens, tomato salad, warm potato salad, cornbread and biscuits.

For dessert, there were pecan tarts and lemon tarts, fudge bites, cheesecake on a stick and homemade praline ice cream.

Specialty drinks included the Vampire Kiss (made out of 100-proof Belvedere vodka, grapefruit juice, tonic and a grapefruit wedge) and the Bayou Gimlet (made out of 100-proof Belvedere vodka, lime juice, simple syrup and a lime wedge).