Exclusive: Why Katee Sackhoff said no to 'True Blood'

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!