So many exemplary things have been said and written about The Vampire Diaries, which has distinguished itself as a true breakout hit in little more than half a season.  TWoP, in fact, concedes that the CW first-year drama is the true successor to acclaimed Buffy the Vampire Slayer, offering up 10 reasons why it might be the “most addictive show on TV” (paraphrased below).  Do you agree?

Damon Salvatore:   Ian Somerhalder has been a revelation, relishing his role as a complex bad boy.  His Damon is funny, charming and deliciously evil all at once, forming the glue that holds the show together.

Tremendous Pacing:   Major events occur almost every single episode.  Weaker shows drag out plot points for weeks on end, but The Vampire Diaries resolves many storylines before Act 2, then blows us away with something new!  The tomb opened…Katharine missing…Grams dying—all within minutes?!  Amazing.

More Than Just Romance:   Elena may be dating a vampire, but she’s not begging to be bitten (yet) so she can become his eternal girlfriend.  Her backbone elevates the series above the typical forbidden love story.

It’s Scary and Creepy:   A supernatural show shouldn’t be all talk—it should have terrifying moments.  Say, freaky scenes underground, in the dark woods, a basement cell…or Damon suddenly ripping out your innards.

Stefan Salvatore:   He could’ve been as wooden as Edward on Twilight or as stuck in the past as Bill on True Blood, but Paul Wesley has crafted a wonderfully conflicted character—madly in love, but also evil, overly protective, and not above stretching the truth.

Interesting Mythology:   The entire town of Mystic Falls has a weird Sunnydale vibe:  evil just flocks there.  The more we learn about the quaint haven, the more twisted it becomes.  And surely there are closets full of skeletons still waiting to be pried open.   

Likable Humans:   The series boasts plenty of ordinary humans who are anything but boring afterthoughts, from Elena’s brother Jeremy to the adorable teen Matt and sassy gal pal Caroline.  There has also been considerable character development for the supporting cast already.

Plenty of Fanged Foes:   We started with two vamps:  one good, one evil.  But as the weeks passed, we met an entire vampire community and mysterious folks who want to kill them all—from 1864 through the present day. 

Branching Out From the Books:   Some feared the pilot covered so much ground from the novels, there’d be little left to expand upon.  Wrong!  Exec producer Kevin Williamson has said the book series provides a great backdrop and guideline, but that the writers will be developing their own storylines, as well.

Nina Dobrev:   This Degrassi alum is quite capable as sullen teen Elena and really shines when playing the vicious bloodsucker Katherine.  Civil War era flashbacks with Nina in period garb, wickedly teasing the Salvatores, are brilliant. 

If you enjoy a healthy dose of shock-and-awe while watching television, you sure weren’t disappointed in the past few evenings of CW dramatics.  Let’s take a whirlwind review:  

The Vampire Diaries:   The captivating 1864 flashback episode revealed that Anna (Jeremy’s new stalker girlfriend) was a vampire child back when her mother, Pearl, and Katherine were supposedly burned in the church fire.  And Stefan was inadvertently responsible for Katherine’s capture!  But unless we’re missing something, it sure didn’t seem like Katherine was the vamp who turned the Salvatore boys, did it?  So who did?  In the present day…Bonnie and Elena are both kidnapped by the undead.  Uh-oh. 

Supernatural:   Another trip to the past, just not as far.  Landing in 1978 to save their young parents from rogue angel Anna, Sam and Dean were forced to tell their mother who they really are.  Major wow.  But just when it appeared they’d all be killed, the archangel Michael made his first appearance, using the body of John Winchester.  He easily vanquished the bad seeds before laying out Dean’s stunning destiny. 

Smallville:   The Absolute Justice event was a true TV milestone.  We knew Hawkman, Dr. Fate and Stargirl were key guest stars, but who expected to see historical newsclips of so many other Justice Society legends:  Atom, The Flash, Wildcat, Green Lantern, Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl and Ma Hunkle—along with the untimely murders of the now-aged Star-Spangled Kid and Sandman?  Did you catch the confirmation via Dr. Fate that Lex Luthor is, indeed, alive?  The more immediate threat, however, may come via Agent Amanda Waller and her Checkmate/Suicide Squad operation.  And Tess Mercer’s a secret agent?  Gal gets around. 

One Tree Hill:   When Bess Armstrong dropped in on her three girls for the first time in five seasons, you had to know something was up.  Pancreatic cancer and a short time live.  Haley and Quinn are devastated, and rebel sister Taylor is unable to face the end, quickly fleeing town without a goodbye.  Armstrong is a real heavyweight actress, and we’ll see her tackle this on-screen challenge over the next few weeks.  It was a bit surprising to learn that Haley’s father had also passed away, since it had never been mentioned on the show. 

Life Unexpected:   A week after the kookiest family dinner this side of Stars Hollow—and Lux’s shocking $3,200 rent payment for Baze—the kid reverted back to the kind of destructive decision teenagers often make.  In a fit of unbridled (and unjustified) anger, she exposed Cate and Ryan’s secret engagement to their radio audience.  And that led to the series’ most poignant lecture to date, as Cate offered up an ultimatum to a clearly-shaken Lux:  I’m doing the best I can at being a new mom, and you can take it or leave it…the choice is yours.  Powerful stuff.   

We’re only days away from the return of The Vampire Diaires, and the first ten episodes could easily define the phrase “the plot thickens.”  Regular cast members are killed off; new threads of intrigue—witches, Founders Council, raising the undead, werewolves—spring from every corner of Mystic Falls; and The CW has spared no expense in bolstering the strong cast of its award-winning hit.  With Thursday’s fresh installment, you’ll begin to see several of these guest stars (l-r) woven into the compelling mythology:

The O.C.  ice queen debuts as the boozy, absentee mother of Matt.  She’ll be around for at least three episodes (hopefully longer!), and we wonder if she’ll even notice daughter Vicki is missing.

NE Ohio’s favorite will play Ben, a jock-turned-bartender…and you just know he and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) are gonna clash.  An actor of his stature isn’t brought aboard for background scenery.

Meet Isobel, the supposedly-dead wife of vampire slayer Alaric Saltzman.  Question is, why do we suspect Izzie isn’t quite so dead?  Cable viewers know Mia from The L Word; and in an odd coincidence, she and Paul Wesley (Stefan) were werewolf siblings in the short-lived Wolf Lake.

Yes, Dexter’s daddy is also the proud papa of two vampires.  Guiseppe Salvatore is one of the town’s founding fathers…and wait’ll you see what he knows about Katherine! 

More 1864 backstory is coming soon, and that’s where apothecary “Pearl” has a testy vervain showdown with a familiar vampire couple.  Would you be surprised to learn her descendants are still snooping around Mystic Falls?  Fun fact:  Kelly was cast in The WB’s 2004 pilot remake of Dark Shadows.

Okay, this dude’s got a chip on his shoulder.  Seems he was Lexi’s boyfriend and isn’t too thrilled that Damon dusted his 350-year-old hottie.  (Did you know Brandon played a werewolf for three seasons of Big Wolf on Campus?) 

We know that newcomer “Noah” is obsessed with Elena, which perturbs Stefan, of course.  But our ‘Spidey senses’ are tingling—there’s another agenda at work here…and it’s gonna be good.

She plays the Big Bad so well, but Damon believes his decades-old fling can whip up a spell to free those vampires entombed beneath the ruins of Fell’s Church.  Look for her and Brandon Thursday night.

Speaking of those vamps trapped with Katherine, this guy’s one of ‘em.  And the fact that he’s slated for at least four episodes seemingly bodes well for a little homecoming.  Cryptastic, eh?  Back in the Civil War, “Harper” was a Union soldier.  Damon…Confederate.

Jeremy’s on the rebound, and this Disney favorite has the look he wants…as well as some startling theories about the supernatural antics in Mystic Falls.  Think she’s got ties to Pearl?

Welcome home, Mr. Forbes.  Caroline has taken verbal swipes at her wayward father, and we certainly hope his arrival doesn’t spell danger for the none-too-sharp sheriff. 

Katharine’s handmaiden, Emily, will be back!  Earlier this season, Damon watched in horror as Emily inhabited the body of her great, great, great, great-granddaughter, Bonnie, destroying his plan to unseal the tomb.  Fanboys recall Bianca’s short stint as “Kendra,” the vampire slayer called into duty when Buffy briefly died in Season 1.

The CW scored two major victories in the first awards ceremony of 2010.  The Vampire Diaries was named Favorite New TV Drama at the 36^th annual People’s Choice Awards this week, defeating Flash Forward, NCIS: Los Angeles, V, and The Good Wife.  Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder’s smoldering Salvatore brothers led the vampire series to overnight breakout status, earning media praise as one of the year’s top ten programs.  The New York Post went to so far as to detail “Five Reasons Why Vampire Diaries is Better Than Twilight,” the film saga that’s grossed over $1-billion worldwide.  Not to be outdone, Thursday companion drama Supernatural captured honors as Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show, upsetting stiff competitors Lost, Heroes, True Blood and The Vampire Diaries.  Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have built one of the industry’s most loyal and protective fanbases, enabling the fifth-year thriller to harvest plenty of votes from the public.  Viewers aren’t alone in their praise for Supernatural, however, as the NY Times includes it as one of the past year’s 10 Memorable Shows, saying it’s “currently among the wildest and most entertaining series in prime time.”  To cap off the People’s Choice plaudits, Steve Carell (Michael on The Office) was also named Favorite TV Comedy Actor.  A great night for WBNX talent in Hollywood!     

As the New Year and new episodes quickly approach, let’s take a quick glance at each CW series and choose the storylines which promise to keep us on the edge of our futons: 

One Tree Hill:   This is a tough one, since many conflicts wrapped up nicely two weeks ago.  It’ll be interesting to see how the Brooke-Julian-Alex love triangle develops, but the show really needs Dan Scott to revive his villainous ways—or a new troublemaker to ride into town pronto.   Returns Mon., Jan. 18 

Life Unexpected:   Critics call this heartwarming gem The CW’s “next big thing.”  Who are we to argue?  You’ll be hooked from the first ten minutes.  Premieres Mon., Jan. 18 at 9pm 

Gossip Girl:   There’s juicy drama dripping from every corner here; however, so many lives will be turned upside down by the imminent appearance of Serena’s long-lost father…and Chuck’s long-dead mother.  Returns Mon., Mar. 8 

90210:   Now that Annie and Jasper have flung their criminal cards on the table, will they walk away hiding each other’s secret?  And what drives one of our West Beverly friends to attempt suicide?  Returns Tue., Mar. 9    

Melrose Place:    Well, we know the producers want a more “fun” show, and hopefully that means a lot more Heather Locklear.  Wonder if she’ll rip that complex apart looking for her $19-million painting?  And is it coincidence that David shares her larcenous hobby?  Speaking of David…is he the father of his half-brother?  Returns Tue., Mar. 9   

America’s Next Top Model:   The panel of judges for Cycle 14 will have an outrageous flair, with the addition of sassy Andre Leon Talley and Kimora Lee Simmons.  Let’s hope for some fierce, opinionated controversy.  Returns Wednesdays in Mar.  

The Vampire Diaries:   Yeah, just try to narrow this one down!  More vamps and witches are coming, along with a werewolf and a crypt full of new faces.  But the real mystery involves raising Katherine and those other 26 vampires from their ‘prison’ beneath the 1864 church remains.  Is it humanly possible for the series to get any better?  Returns Thu., Jan. 21 

Supernatural:   What’s more suspenseful than the outcome of the Apocalypse?  As Lucifer said to his expected vessel Sam, “I’ll see you in Detroit in six months.”  Along the journey, the Winchesters make another trip into their parents’ past and also encounter Bobby’s dead wife.  Returns Thu., Jan. 21

Smallville:   ‘Epic’ may not begin to describe the two-hour movie event, Absolute Justice, premiering on Feb. 5.  What began as an ambitious reunion of several Justice Society veterans has evolved into a full-scale landmark phenomenon that’ll have comic book geeks abuzz for years.  Details are being kept under close wraps—but suffice to say, don’t make other plans.  Returns Fri., Jan. 22

Almost seven years before Paul Wesley found his niche as brooding Stefan on The Vampire Diaries, the actor yanked some chains as sociopathic Lucas Luthor on one episode of Smallville.  To recap, billionaire Lionel had an affair with his sickly wife’s nurse, Rachel Dunleavy (played by Blair Brown), who gave birth to Lucas.  Since Rachel was unstable herself, Lionel had her institutionalized and placed the child in foster care.  Eighteen years later, Lex rescued his newfound half-brother in Edge City, intending to use Lucas in a covert takeover of LuthorCorp.  From there, the double-crosses came fast and furious, ending with a not-really-blind Lionel forced to shoot Lex or be killed himself.  Clark’s heat-vision saved the day, and Lex was restored to his place in the company…safely hiding Lucas away under his protection.  It seems odd that the (supposedly) sole surviving heir to a $42-billion fortune would remain overlooked much longer.  Lex, of course, shoved his father out the window to his death two seasons ago, and Oliver allegedly destroyed Lex with one of his own bombs last year.  All of which leaves the door perfectly ajar for a surprise visit by Lucas.  And why stop there?  His mother, Rachel, is still roaming the infamous Belle Reve psycho ward—so there’s a wealth of Luthor backstory material to explore while we await Michael Rosenbaum’s eventual expected return.  Think of the great cross-promotional opportunities, as well, with The Vampire Diaries fans following their favorite Salvatore for a stint in Metropolis.  It’s time to make this story happen.  

Growing up with Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, and later Angel and Spike on Buffy, we knew these undead dudes had otherworldly abilities, but nothing like their kindred on The Vampire Diaries.  There are actually some eerie similarities between the Salvatore brothers—especially Damon (Ian Somerhalder)—and the young Man of Steel, Clark Kent (Tom Welling) on Smallville.  

To begin with, they’re immortal, possess super strength, lightning-quick speed, and instant healing.  Going a few steps further:

Affected by the sun:   Clark draws his strength from it; while vampires normally flame out.

The eyes have it:   Clark shoots fire and has x-ray vision; Damon’s “glamour” stare can control thoughts

Wear my ring:   Clark can time-travel with his Legion of Superheroes ring; Damon and Stefan can be exposed to daylight with their unique signets

One weakness:   Clark…and kryptonite.  The vamps…and vervain. 

Gothic threads:   Both Clark and the vampires prefer to dress in black.

Mortal romance:   Clark fixated on Lana, then Lois.  The Salvatores are hooked on Katharine doppelganger Elena.

It’s a secret:   Heard the one about hiding their true identities from the world? 

Tragic history:   Clark’s planet was destroyed; while Damon and Stefan were changed into ageless monsters.

A few more odd coincidences?  When Somerhalder guest starred as “Adam Knight” for seven episodes of Smallville, his character was brought back to life…using Clark Kent’s blood!  On The Vampire Diaires, Damon’s arrival is often accompanied by a crow or fog.  Smallville High’s mascot—a crow.  And Tom Welling’s first film role lead?  You guessed it…The Fog. 
 

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)

Here’s an awesome casting update that hits close to home…as in Cleveland.  Parma Padua grad Sean Faris is in Atlanta today to begin filming (at least) a multiple-episode arc on The Vampire Diaries.  He’ll play a former high school football buddy of Matt (Zack Roerig), with both guys employed at the Mystic Grill hangout.  And, of course, we fully expect Sean’s entanglement with the freaky town’s supernatural entities and eligible bachelorettes.  Often compared looks-wise to Tom Cruise and Travis Van Winkle (Jamie on 90210), Sean’s kept busy in film work since the conclusion of his two TV series, Life As We Know It and Reunion.  The Bruins’ four-sport HS star (soccer, basketball, baseball, diving) put his natural athleticism to work in Forever Strong—where he played rugby opposite Penn Badgley (Dan on Gossip Girl)—and in Never Back Down, a mixed martial arts fight club drama.  Smallville fans might also remember Sean’s appearance as one of LuthorCorp’s “experiments gone wrong” in season two.  With two vampires and a rising death toll in Mystic Falls, nobody’s neck is safe for very long.  But we can’t wait to see how our charismatic hometown star shakes up the dynamics on The CW’s biggest hit series ever.

Television’s biggest fall sweeps month is always a bonanza for viewers, as stars and stunts punctuate many storylines.  There are some special treats coming up on CW dramas, such as popstar Lady Gaga performing her new single “Bad Romance” on the Nov. 16 episode of Gossip Girl, hints People; and an Upper East Side cameo by Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (Posh).  Also, who do you expect to see first—Serena’s elusive father…or the allegedly-dead Bart Bass?  Hmm.  Moving to Tuesdays, conniving film villain Kelly Lynch settles in on 90210 as Ivy’s (Gillian Zinser) hot mama.  Wonder how dating her daughter’s English teacher will play in the West Bev lounge?  Over on Melrose Place, Nick Zano (pictured) has officially joined the cast; and no, we haven’t seen the last of Sydney (Laura Leighton).  Turns out, Amanda had some unfinished business with the red-haired temptress, and that’ll unfold when Heather Locklear debuts Nov. 17.  Fans of The Vampire Diaries can begin debating which of the new characters is secretly a vampire slayer!  And don’t forget Legend of the Seeker, which premieres this weekend with two new recurring characters to cause havoc for Richard and Kahlan.  Jolene Blaylock, best known as the Vulcan T’Pol on Enterprise, portrays a mysterious Sister of the Dark, whose powerful magic could destroy the Confessor.  And Michael Whalley, 26, brings a bit of levity to his thorny role as Flynn.  The actors have completed filming nearly half of Season 2 in New Zealand, and took some time for an interview with WBNX earlier today.  We’ll post some of their comments here soon.