Debuting tonight, Sept. 10th, 2009, on the CW is the television adaptation of the popular young-adult vampire love story, The Vampire Diaries. Now, I made a rookie boo-boo in referring it earlier as a Twilight-ish tv show. I have seen the promos periodically, since I watch reruns of Two and a Half Men every day, where a human girl and a male vampire ramble in their minds about their attraction to each other. I "assumed" (tsk-tsk, Michael) that this was the CW's mad grab to take advantage of the HUGE success with the Twilight novels and films. Until I began researching the new series (a thousand apologies Ljane) ...

Before the teen Twilight rage, there actually was (is) another series of novels written for young adults called, The Vampire Diaries by author L.J. Smith. Ljane (help spread the word, Lisa Jane wants to be called, Ljane!) is a New york Times Bestselling Author for her Night World series of novels (not be confused with the novel I actually own, Nightworld by F. Paul Wilson). The Vampire Diaries began way back in 1991 as a trilogy, then Ljane was pressured by fans to write a fourth, and now she is in the middle of a sequel trilogy (awesome for fans, and old dudes like me who don't want to see another genre TV series cancelled anytime soon).

For more info about this ORIGINAL author and her books, please visit her very cool blog:

http://www.ljanesmith.net

It's a new school year at Mystic Falls High, and siblings Elena and Jeremy are still trying to cope with the recent loss of their parents, who died in a car accident just 4 months ago. Aunt Jenna has kindly taken them in, and the pair have friends who try to be supportive. But, the strain has affected some relationships: Elena has broken up with her boyfriend, Matt, while her best friend, Caroline, has now become her rival. And  the girl Jeremy likes, Vicki, is now rejecting him in favor of his nemesis, Tyler. Between the death of his parents, and this rejection, Jeremy starts down the inevitable path of drugs and generally hangin' out with a bad crowd. Ahhh ... teen angst hasn't changed a bit, since I was in high school 30 years ago.

Enter the new kid in town, the dark, yet oh so dreamy, Stefan. Stefan is a vampire, but has rejected his brethren, and just wants to find a normal, peaceful life among his former diet of human blood-bags. Elena is mysteriously drawn to the new student, as is Stefan to her. But, there is a dark underlining reason for the pair's attraction, Elena is the spittin' image of Stefan's former lost lover. And if all this wasn't enough melodrama, in comes Stefan's brother, Damon, who isn't so kind and sweet, and also has eyes for Elena. And, there is a reason for that, as well, but if I go on with this synopsis you might as well skip the first couple of episodes of this new series.

• Elena Gilbert, Human - Nina Dubrev (US version of Eleventh Hour, Never Cry Werewolf, best known as Mia Jones of Degrassi: The Next Generation ... geez, I used to watch the old generation version)
• Stefan Salvatore, Vampire - Paul Wesley (Elsewhere, Killer Movie, Fallen mini-series, Smallville, Minority Report, one of my favorite short-lived series - Wolf Lake, and Young Arthur)
• Damon Salvatore, Stefan's Vampire brother - Ian Somerhalder (Fireball, Lost City Raiders, The Lost Samaritan, LOST, Marco Polo, Pulse, Smallville)
• Bonnie Bennentt, Elena's Human gal-pal - Katarina Graham (17 Again, Joan of Arcadia, 1998 version of The Parent Trap, and look for her in the upcoming The Roommate)
• Caroline Forbes, Elena's Human rival and former best friend - newcomer, Candice Accola
• Jeremy Gilbert, Elena's Human younger brother - Steven R McQueen (Yeppers, he's the grandson of the late, great Steve McQueen, Minutemen, Threshold tv series, and the upcoming remake Piranha 3-D)
• Matt Donovan, Elena's Human Ex-Boytoy - Zack Roerig (Cash from Friday Night Lights tv series)
• Vicki Donovan, Matt's Human sister - Kayla Ewell (Veronica Mars)
• Jenna Somers, Elena's Human aunt - Sara Canning (Kyle XY, Black Rain, Smallville)
• Tyler Lockwood, descendant of the founders of Mystic Falls - Michael Trevino ( Charmed, and the upcoming horror flick The Factory)
• Mr. Tanner, High School Teacher - (Impact mini-series, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Smallville, Termination Point, Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, Da Vinci's inquest, The Collector tv series, Stargate SG-1, Jeremiah)
• Zack, Stefan's Uncle/Nephew - Chris William Martin (Dollhouse, The Unquiet, Aliens vs Preditor: Requiem, Tru Calling, Nature Unleashed: Volcano, The New Outer Limits, Earth: Final Conflict, Peter Benchley's Amazon tv series, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Highlander: The Series)

Yes, there are some changes in this series from the novels, aren't there always? I won't even bother visiting a fansite for the books, as it irks me to no end to read novel purists slamming a new series adaptation. Instead, I am thinking about starting a new group for the series at one of my pal's website, Fantasy FanSpace. They have one for Twilight (which I also haven't read, nor seen the film, yet), and figure The Vampire Diaries deserves a spot there.

In describing the new series, the CW refers to Caroline as Elena's frenemy. I guess this new generation has found some interesting slang. So to help the older folk - such as myself - adjust to any possible new terms this and future teen programs decide to throw out there ... frenemy = former friend turned enemy

I thought this was so funny, I decided to invent a couple myself that should be included:

brenemy = brother turned enemy
boyfrenemy = former boyfriend turned enemy

The Vampire Diaries takes over the Former Smallville Thursday slot, next to a new season of Supernatural, also starting tonight (what a double treat!). For more info about the new tv series, check out the CW website:

http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries