Fans who have been waiting for the return of HBO’s slate of summer programming will have to wait a little bit longer than expected.  As a result of the writers’ strike, the fifth season of Entourage,has been delayed until the Fall while Big Love season 3 and the return of Flight of the Conchords are off until 2009.  Also being delayed is True Blood, the highly anticipated new vampire series from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball.  Though the network won’t have much original programming to offer during the summer months, they will have the seven-hour miniseries Generation Kill, which is from the producers of The Wire.

Generation Kill, which is based on a book written by Evan Wright, chronicles the author’s experience as an embedded reporter during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.  Wright’s account of life with the Marines was originally published as a three-part series in Rolling Stone, and will now become a seven episode limited series from producers Ed Burns and David Simon.

It’ll be tough for some fans to wait for Big Love season 3, especially after the series went out on a creative high last summer.  By the time the new season premieres, it’ll have been over a year since the last original episode. As for Entourage, production on season 5 began in April, with 12 episodes currently being produced.  One of the big storylines for the new year will revolve around the return of Dom, who creator Doug Ellin hopes to redeem in the eyes of fans who disliked the character’s initial appearances.

One of the most highly anticipated shows to be affected by this delay is True Blood, the southern vampire drama from Alan Ball.  The series was first announced at the end of 2005, and three years later we’re still waiting to see the pilot episode.  The show stars Anna Paquin as a telepathic waitress named Sookie Stackhouse, who just happens to fall in love with a vampire.

Entourage season 5 will likely debut in September, though Big Love season 3, Flight of the Conchords season 2, and True Blood will air in the first quarter of 2009.

Read More About Big Love Season 3:
Big Love Season 3 Gets Premiere Date
Big Love Casting Scoop
Big Love Season 3 Spoilers

– Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of HBO)

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Staff Writer, BuddyTV