Spread the word and “stuff the ballot box” for several deserving CW series to receive national recognition at the first awards show of 2010.  The deadline to vote for your favorite People’s Choice nominees is Tuesday, Dec. 8, and this competition encourages the public to cast a ballot as often as possible.  Just log on to peopleschoice.com and easily click through the categories—but note that the only way to vote for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show and Favorite Talk Show is by texting “VOTE” to 24475.  This new wrinkle is important since Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Lost and The Tyra Banks Show are among those nominated.  Here’s a rundown of the choices involving WBNX stars or shows:

 TV Drama:   Lost
TV Comedy:   The Office and Desperate Housewives
TV Actor:   Matthew Fox (Lost)
TV Actress:   Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) and Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)  
TV Comedy Actor:   Steve Carell (The Office)
TV Comedy Actress:   Eva Longoria Parker (Desperate Housewives)
TV Obsession:  Gossip Girl
TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy:  Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries and Lost
TV Talk Show:  The Tyra Banks Show
New TV Drama:   The Vampire Diaries and Melrose Place
Movie Actress:  Jennifer Aniston (Friends)
Independent Movie:  Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail
Music collaboration:  Cobra Starship & Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl)

With cameras ready to roll on most fall series, The CW infused three dramas with another dynamic character.  Drop-dead gorgeous Jana Kramer is “Alexis,” the new face of Brooke’s ‘Clothes Over Bros’ fashion line on One Tree Hill.  The model is described as an adrenaline-junkie diva who’s used to getting her way.  Fans of 90210 are familiar with Jana’s mean-girl snark as Portia, queen of Naomi’s uppity cliquesters.  Trending even further toward evil, Mark Pellegrino will play the devil himself throughout next season on Supernatural.  You may recall that Sam unknowingly released him from the pit in last month’s finale.  Mark seems to fit well into mysterious roles—he was recently introduced as the seemingly-immortal Jacob on Lost.  And finally, Trevor Donovan creates quite a stir at West Beverly High as “Teddy,” a Clooney-esque charmer with a secret past, Hollywood lineage, and mad tennis skills.  Often compared to a young Brad Pitt looks-wise, Trevor has been a much sought-after model for swimsuits and men’s briefs, in addition to his acting work on Days of Our Lives.  Excited about all the fresh CW talent?

Michael Emerson (Ben on Lost) is used to being compared with legendary bad guys, but Darth Vader?  “He’s a great force of darkness, I guess, but how much acting goes on behind a plastic head?” Michael jokes to The AV Club.  “It seems like his costume does more work for him than mine does for me.  I should get handicap points, I think.”  For four seasons, Michael’s ambiguously-gray villain “Ben Linus” has delighted fans of Lost —fans who wonder if the deposed leader of “The Others” is evil, heroic…or just a tragic pawn of greater forces on The Island.  “There is a sinister quality to him,” the actor admits, “but the verdict is still out.”  Michael has a storied history of playing creepy guys, most notably his six-episode arc as stalker “William Hinks” on The Practice, a guest role which won him an Emmy in 2001.  The 54-year-old theatre veteran was only supposed to be a guest star on Lost, as well, but his spellbinding portrayal caused the writers to quickly bring “Ben” front and center.  Most would agree, the series rose to new heights after that.  This weekend, WBNX will air the amazing two-part finale of Season 4, during which the Oceanic Six are rescued and Ben is instructed to “move the Island.”  It’s well worth another look!  And be sure to catch up with past episodes throughout the summer in anticipation of next year’s final countdown.

Ian Somerhalder is coming home to the network family that launched his TV career. In a bit of inspired casting, he’ll play one of the two blood-sucking brothers in The Vampire Diaries pilot many consider a shoo-in for pick-up. His character is a “smug vampire” who can switch “from playful to evil in a split second,” Variety teases. (How perfect would it have been for Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford to play the other fanged sibling?) A top male model since his teen years, Ian found a breakout role in The WB summer series Young Americans back in 2000, costarring with young up-and-comers Kate Bosworth and Katherine Moennig. He was part of the Fearless pilot four years later, and camped it up as “Adam Knight” in an extended Smallville arc that season. Many viewers know him as “Boone,” the first castaway to be killed off on Lost. Joining Ian in The Vampire Diaries are Ohio native Zach Roenig (Cash on Friday Night Lights) and Kayla Ewell (Amy on Entourage). Both actors have extensive resumes in daytime soap operas. Speaking of which…the 36th annual Daytime Emmy Awards telecast is moving to The CW Network, reports the LA Times, with a likely airdate of August 31. The live ceremony honors the best in daytime drama, plus talk, court and game shows. The Tyra Banks Show—which comes to The CW this fall—has won three Daytime Emmys, and it won’t be surprising if she plays a big role in this awards presentation.

The CW has lured another young actress from Degrassi: The Next Generation to headline a major new series. Last fall, Shenae Grimes left the famed Canadian prep school for Hollywood and 90210. Now, in one of the network’s most sought-after roles, Nina Dobrev will be torn between two immortal brothers—one good, one evil—in The Vampire Diaries. Born in Bulgaria, Nina has portrayed teen mother and athlete “Mia Jones” on Degrassi for nearly three years, and she bears a striking resemblance to film beauty Jordana Brewster. Elsewhere, signs point to one-time One Tree Hill psycho Matt Barr as being the father of Gossip Girl socialite Serena van der Woodsen—their characters share the same last name. Matt just inked a deal to co-star on the Lily spinoff as a rich Malibu prince, along with Cynthia Watros (Libby on Lost) as Lily’s mother and Ryan Hansen (Dick on Veronica Mars) as a Valley friend. Over in Melrose Place, the complex is quickly filling its vacancies, with drama queen Ashlee Simpson on-board and Heather Locklear in serious negotiations. The big casting announcement yet to come involves which actors will win the CW vampire roles.

© ABC Studios

Folks who remember when Saturday was television’s premier night (All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, MASH, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett) have lamented the recent lack of quality program options.  Thankfully, that’s about to change.  This fall, WBNX presents a primetime lineup that includes two of the most popular shows on TV, in addition to the first new syndicated fantasy series in years.  Six-time Emmy winner Desperate Housewives will lead off the marathon at 8pm, followed by back-to-back episodes of LOST, aired in order beginning with the explosive two-hour pilot.  I could ramble for days about the brilliance of Lost, which I consider the best series in television history—and I’ve watched an awful lot of TV.  Those who aren’t part of the island mystery’s enormous cult following can now see what the mania is all about, and current fans (armed with four years of revelations) can watch for clues they missed earlier.  After Lost, the much-anticipated Legend of the Seeker debuts with another two-hour block (click here to see the preview).  Sci-fi diehards will then wanna stay up for Stargate: Atlantis and the original Star Trek, now re-mastered.  Saturday night entertainment doesn’t get any better than this—Appointment TV has returned.