The Paley Center hosted a Vampire Weekend in New York City on Saturday, November 14, 2009. LISMlvr and ONLYBILL were happy to attend on behalf of The Vault and the BillsBabes. The following is the account of their visit:
It was very dark, dreary, and stormy as we boarded the train to New York City to attend the Vampire Weekend/Takedown at the Paley Center. The first room we entered was the Steven Spielberg gallery where scenes from True Blood and Twilight were displayed along with four television sets airing Ausiello’s interview with Sam, Nelsan, and Rutina. There was a 12:00 p.m. showing of interviews from Paleyfest ’09 with the writers and casts of Angel and True Blood. Since LISM and I do not watch Angel, we took our seats at the end of the Angel showing. The room was pretty crowded considering the eroding weather conditions outside. When the Angel showing ended, there was an electric charge to the room, as everyone waited while the True Blood showing started.
First off, we must state that we are BillsBabes through and through, but we have to say that Eric (Alex Skarsgård) certainly got his share of the love in the room. Although we’ve seen the video of the Paley panel session many times, it was delightful to see it on the 8X6 foot screen. It was fun to watch and we were thrilled to see our fellow BillsBabes called upon to stand up and take a bow. We clapped for our Babes loud and clear. BillsBabe Billshuman was shown asking her question and made us BillsBabes proud. Of course, there are always a few in the midst who need to shout their displeasure of Alan Ball not following the books and not giving Eric enough air time, but the rest of the crowd was very attentive and quiet.
LISMlvr and ONLYBILL at the Paley Center in New York
Afterwards, we went downstairs to the “Vampire Takedown” where a panel was assembled to argue for their favorite vampire. The auditorium was broken down into various sections: “Bon Temps,” “Forks,” “Mystic Falls,” etc. The moderator was Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly who did a good job of keeping the pace moving. As each panelist came to the stage, they gave a brief synopsis of their vampire and then a clip was shown. The audience got quite a laugh at the campy scenes from Dark Shadows, a show that we remember watching when we came home from school. Another laugh came when a clip from Salem’s Lot was aired. There was discussion as to how today’s vampires are quite good looking (no kidding) compared to the past (Jonathan Frid was 40+ years when he played Barnabas Collins) and why we are so obsessed with Vampires today.
The panel was asked several questions, the first of which having to do with why they thought the vampire phenomena is so pervasive, a question that has been repeatedly asked of the True Blood cast. Answers included the viewing public’s interest in the romantic outcast, and that we are drawn to these creatures that find humans fascinating … we like to feel special and irresistible. There was also discussion of vampires being used as metaphors for various minorities.
The moderator asked the panel what they thought of the loosening of the old hard and fast rules of vampire lore, and the deviations we now see. For the most part, panelists enjoyed the new “innovations” such as rings and consumption of animal and synthetic blood. It was agreed that vampires are no longer unattractive and this is a result of commercialization and demographics.
The subject of women’s passive roles in these types of stories was discussed and it was agreed that that female characters, the likes of Sookie Stackhouse and Buffy the Vampire Killer have moved women away from being the fainting screaming victim we were accustomed to seeing in old Dracula movies.
Afterwards there was a trivia contest. We are ashamed to say that we were knocked out in the first round. The lucky winner went home with a Sparkly Edward Doll. We had great time at the Paley Center and received a goody bag with a DVD of the first season of True Blood, a bottle of TruBlood, a Dark Shadows calendar, and fangs! Don’t ask; the fangs are mine!
© The Vault – TrueBlood-Online.com
LIS and Only, you both look great in that photo and what a wonderful account of your experience. I remember vividly sitting next to BH at last April’s PaleyFest 09 when she asked her now infamous question to Stephen Moyer and being one of the Billsbabes who stood up when they asked us to all rise. It was a wonderful night. I wish that the Paley people would release the event on DVD, I would buy it. Sounds like it was a great time and the prize of the DVD’s of S1 and the rest (including your fangs) seem to make it even more memorable.
Great account and thanks so much for sharing it with us.
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Look at those lovely ladies! Thanks so much for this recap and for representing the Babes at this event. Did either of you kiss that pic of Stephen behind you? Don’t front…I know at least one of you did! ;)
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Hey Beautiful Babes! Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the weekend! Nicely done!
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That’s a great photo. Wish I was there! Sounds like a very nice event and good time. Thanks so much for sharing this adventure!
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Hello to two gorgeous ladies. Thanks so much for representing The Vault and the Babes. Excellent report … sounds like a good time was had by all.
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LIS & Only, How great you got to experience this event together! Thanks for representing all the Billsbabes, sounds like it was a fun time despite the weather. Lovely picture of you both! :-) Enjoyed your report & hearing about Dark Shadows broughtback memories from HS!
Does anyone know if TB is going to be at the Paley Ctr in LA again this year???
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What a fun event, thanks for your excellent account. Great photos. Wish I had taken the train up for this.
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Great job girls- you look great, sounds like it was a good time, and thank you for letting us know about your adventure!!
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OK you two look great! Sounds like you had a rip roaring good time and represented the Babes well! Thanks for sharing your experience. Good to know you didn’t even get lost!
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Dorothea (LISMlvr) Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 14:35
We’re getting pretty good at it, nk. It helped that Only bought our train tickets ahead of time though.
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You ladies look hot in that photo! What a great account.
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Dorothea (LISMlvr) Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 15:01
Only…(thanks Anya) ..how funny is that? Anya, we were both sweating because we were overdressed. So yeah … we sure were hot.
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Thanks for representing us so well. You both are so lovely and it sounds like you had fun. We used to rush home from school to see Dark Shadows too. I can assure you we did not feel the same way about Barnabas Collins as I do about Bill Compton. You guys did great and who wants a Sparkly Edward Doll anyway? Now if the prize had been a henley worn by Bill, I have no doubt it would have been a fight to the death. LOL
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onlybill Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 15:22
LOL, I can picture each of us with a sleeve, tugging away!!!
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Awesome job babes!! Thanks for doing us proud! Glad you had a great time ♥
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Thanks everyone for your kind words and we were pleased as punch to represent the Vault.
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Great photo and terrific recap! I am so proud of you guys representing the Billsbabes….you make us proud!
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Great story babes!! You both looked great! What?? You did not want that sparkly doll???? I am thunderstruck!! You have an extra DVD now!! Keep it to get signatures!!
Oh and only – lovin’ the hair!!
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Thanks for all the great posts. We had fun and as LISM said were very proud to represent the BillsBabes. Truth be told, we really did want the sparkly doll!
GYM — not sure what you mean about my hair — it actually was a very bad hair day. We were walking around with hoods on!!
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SO upset that the goody bags were ONLY in NY! I went to the showings of the Angel, True Blood, and Moonlight panels in CA! REALLY wanted to get Season 1 on DVD! (Same goes for the Soda!)
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Isis Nocturne Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 18:50
Sorry… I’m hyped up on meds right now, so I forgot to thank you ladies for representing Bill’s Babes! You both look GREAT in the pic!
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Vampire Weekend was lot’s of fun!
What could have made it better was the cast of TrueBlood or Alan Ball
being part of the Vampire Takedown Panel!!!
I’m going next time!!!
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great job representing the billsbabes and thanks for sharing your experience with us!
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Lism and Only you look great! So glad you had a good time. Thanks for the report you guys did great representing the Billsbabes. Wish I was there.
Lism what are you planning on doing with those fangs?lol
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Dorothea (LISMlvr) Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 23:07
I was told to put them away.
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Corinne(lovetrueblood) Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 14:47
What a shame I know you would put them to good use if given the chance.
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Dorothea (LISMlvr) Reply:
December 6th, 2009 at 7:25
I’d have some splanin’ to do in the emergency room though.
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Thanks for the fantastic report gals. You both did a great job representing the Billsbabes!
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LISMluvr and OnlyBill……..thanks for the report! Sounds like the two of you had a lovely time and you represented us Billsbabes well!!
That’s a lovely picture of you!
I wonder if AB isn’t getting a bit tired of people yelling at him about what he should write for his show.
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Thanks for sharing your adventure with us and for your representation
of the Billsbabes and the Vault. Great report and photo! I’m sure your both upset about not winning that sparkly Edward doll! Not!
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Oh Darn! I had a ticket, but it was so nasty out, I didn’t feel like leaving my apartment. My loss. It sounds like it was fun!
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Thank you LISM and ONLY! Fantastic recap of your adventure!
Your photo is beautiful! Well Done~ BRAVA
We BillsBabes salute you!
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Wonderful photograph, you ladies look great! Thanks so much for the report.
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You guys are lucky being able to go to these events! I am glad you both had a beaut time and thanks for the recap!It is nice to see a face to a name!
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LISM and ONLY — lovely photo, super recap, thanks for going, reporting, representing! Sounds like you had a great time, great fun.
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you guys are hot and way too modest. thanks for being our reps!!!
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Lis and Only, you too look too fabulous for words! And what’s with that scarf around your neck Lis? You trying to hide something from us? Was this picture made before or after you got your Official Fangs?
Great recap of your day. Sounds like it was loads of fun and you two had a ball. I’m really glad you two got to do this so we could hear all about it. But you forgot the most important part. What did you have for lunch?
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Dorothea (LISMlvr) Reply:
November 18th, 2009 at 10:40
It was not a leisurely lunch day…we had a mission. The scarf is hiding my Maxim caliber bod. Right, Only? Lie for me…please.
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onlybill Reply:
November 18th, 2009 at 11:37
Absolutely, LISM!!
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Lis and Only, you two look too fabulous for words! And what’s with that scarf around your neck Lis? You trying to hide something from us? Was this picture made before or after you got your Official Fangs?
Great recap of your day. Sounds like it was loads of fun and you two had a ball. I’m really glad you two got to do this so we could hear all about it. But you forgot the most important part. What did you have for lunch?
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What fun this event sounded like! Thanks so much for sharing your story, LISMlvr and ONLYBILL–great picture of the 2 of you, and good job representing the “True Blood” contingent at the Vampire Weekend!
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