[Photos] Behind the scene make up

[Video] Ian on Jimmy Fallon

Vampire Diaries Sneak Peek!

Will the November 19 Vampire Diaries cliffhanger “keep fans a little bit crazy in the head during” the show’s winter break? That’s what coexecutive producer Julie Plec tells TV Guide Magazine she hopes for the shocking ep that featured Elena (Nina Dobrev) finding Katherine’s photo after spending the night with Stefan (Paul Wesley). She takes off, crashes her car and is trapped as a shadowy figures approaches. Will she survive? Plec also gives us a peek of what to expect when the show returns in January. SPOILER ALERT!

What’s happening when Diaries opens its pages again in January?
Our first episode back is a very Damon and Elena-centric story. The two of them go off on a little adventure and bond in a way she didn’t think they were capable of. Having left her necklace behind with the vervaine, the question is: is Damon taking Elena along of her own free will or is he controlling her to enjoy the experience. Also, Gina Torres (Firefly, 24) guest stars as a witch that Damon goes to visit.

Sounds like you’re building toward a romantic triangle?
Yes. The interesting thing about the Damon/Stefan/Elena triangle is that Damon’s heart belongs to Katherine forever and always. But as we go through the rest of the season, he’s going to get to know Elena better and better. And can Elena and Stefan’s relationship survive her learning the truth about Katherine? Damon never lied to her and didn’t’ have sex with her. At least not yet.

How about the mystery vampire?
Who he is and what he wants is our next big step. We’ll also learn whether the tomb can be happened and what would happen if he does.

What’s going to happen with newbie witch Bonnie?(Katerina Graham)
Just as she’s having the very human experience of coming of age, she has to deal with the fact that she is a witch. She tries to run away from it at first, but she’s going to embrace it and let it control her so she can learn how to control it. She’s going to be very powerful.

Since, as you all say, Vicki is really really dead, will there be any more major demises?
Kevin Williamson likes to say that nobody’s safe. If we couldn’t kill people, we wouldn’t be a vampire show.

Will there be any girls who get turned and have time to savor their vampire-ness longer than poor Vicki?
Anyone who’s read the books knows the answer to that question.

So Elena will become a vampire?
Yes, but that’s certainly not in the cards [for the show] any time soon. As the series gets older and deeper, there is room for a female vampire who’s turned, who doesn’t necessarily have to be a psychotic crazy person.

What’s next for the two characters most affected by Vicki’s death, Matt (Zach Roerig) and Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen)?
So far they’re led to believe that she’s just gone and screwed up. Eventually the truth about what really happened to her will come out and rock everybody’s world. It’s going to change a lot of relationships. In the meantime, we’ll be digging into where do Matt and Caroline (Candice Accola), these two unlikely partners, go in their relationship. Jeremy has a new friend/father figure in the form of the new history teacher Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis). We’re not really sure what he’s doing in Mystic Falls and what his game is. He’s got a surprising backstory. And finally, we still have to discover who turned Logan Fell (Chris J. Johnson) into a vampire.

Dexter's Dad Does Diaries

Stefan and Damon are about to get a father on The CW's The Vampire Diaries... and he looks an awful lot like Dexter's Harry Morgan. Actor James Remar, 55, who first stared playing Dexter's dad in 2006, will be flying to Atlanta on Dec. 2 to begin his role as Giuseppe Salvatore, papa to bloodsucking sons Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder). The busy actor also plays a big role in Dexter's bloody Dec. 13 season finale, and that same night, plays a father mourning a child in Lifetime's original holiday tearjerker, The Christmas Hope.

Keck: You seem like a great choice to play Papa Salvatore. How did you get the role?
Remar: I was brought in by Marcos Siega, who has directed several episodes of Dexter and Vampire Diaries. He's now the show runner on Vampire Diaries and thought I'd be right for this role.

Keck: What have they told you about this guy, Giuseppe?
Remar: He's an aristocrat in the 1860's of Italian decent. It's the Civil War Era and it's about how he relates to his boys.

Keck: Is he a vampire himself?
Remar: Not at the outset, no. But one of his boys has been bitten by the girl he loves.

Keck: Is it just the one episode?
Remar: I think it's going to be more than one.

Keck: Are you a vampire fan yourself?
Remar: Sure. I really think Gary Oldman knocked it out of the park as Count Dracula (in 1992's Dracula).

Keck: Switching gears, describe your role in Lifetime's The Christmas Hope.
Remar: It was an opportunity to work again with Madeleine Stowe, who I did a (1994) movie with called Blink. I admire her. And this was the kind of part I haven't played before. He's an airline pilot who's flown all his life and he and his wife lose their only child. It's a demonstration of how deep grief can effect a relationship. They're in a tough position and have shut down, but then a little girl who has lost her mom comes to stay with us for Christmas. That sparks our parental instincts and draws us back together.

Keck: Where did you shoot it?
Remar: In Winnipeg in the dead of winter, so it looked very Christmas-y. But even though it looks like Christmas, no one in this family is particularly feeling like celebrating.

Keck:Any other TV projects coming up?
Remar: I'm filming an episode of Numbers now as a billionaire arms dealer who doesn't seem to care much about the weapons he sells.

Keck: And then of course there's your role on Dexter, which has even more blood than Vampire Diaries. What's coming up?
Remar: I have a big scene in the last episode of the season.

Keck: Which I hear is a very, very bloody one.
Remar: I can't say anything out of respect to the audience. But watch!

[Video] Marathon Dec.

The Vampire Diaries to Return in January 2010 Read more: The Vampire Diaries to Return in January 2010

After episode 1.10 aired last night my cousin called me to gush about Stefan's abs (ok, that was actually me), speculate on who Elena hit with the car (she's convinced it's Damon, but I think it's someone else) and inform me that the show wouldn't be returning until next year. "The hell you say, Diana!" I shouted back at her, until I realized that she was right.

The Vampire Diaries (one of my favorite new shows this year) has ended 2009 with a bang and will be on hiatus until January 14, 2010. BOO! BOO-URNS!

So you will have to wait to see episode 11 until January (Merry Fricken Christmas, CW!), but you can catch an all-week Vampire Diaries marathon beginning on December 14 (click here for more details).

Until that time, let's speculate on who the car crash victim is. Diana suggests that Elena hit Damon and that now he might kidnap her or they'll go on a road trip somewhere because she's very angry with Stefan and might turn to Damon. I don't believe it was Damon, but I could be wrong. It's obviously someone supernatural, so what about Alaric? We don't know what he is yet. We don't know if he's really a vampire or a slayer (as some have speculated). What if it's Tyler? I think he's a werewolf, but I'm not sure how their mythology will work on this show and whether they can be killed with a car crash or just put their bones back together. Or could it be someone new? It's all very mysterious and we won't find out until January. Share your thoughts below.

S01Ep10

After reading a journal kept by a Gilbert ancestor, Jeremy begins to sketch again -- a hobby he quit when his parents died. Sheriff Forbes notifies Damon of another attack and Damon offers to try to track down the killer. Alaric helps Jeremy, Tyler and Mayor Lockwood, while Elena makes a shocking discovery.

[Video] Sara Canning Interview

[Video] Ian Somerhalder bares Damon's motives KTLA

The Vampire Diaries' Jasmine Guy and Katerina Graham Discuss Spoilers, Dance and Prince Proteges

Vampires may hog the zeitgeist at the moment thanks to the fanaticism for Twilight and True Blood, but two cast members of the immensely popular CW hit drama The Vampire DiariesA Different World and two seasons on Showtime’s underrated Dead Like Me, and newcomer Katerina Graham play a grandmother and granddaughter connected by their eerie abilities. Movieline caught up with the duo to discuss Vampire Diaries’s Atlanta HQ, how viewers can survive during the show’s hiatus, and the parts in the upcoming Soul Train movie that they’re willing to take.

bring allure to the age-old TV favorite of witchcraft. Jasmine Guy, who thrilled us for six seasons as fussy southerner Whitley Gilbert-Wayne on

The fans for this show are zealous! How does relating to the fans this time feel different than on your previous work? Let’s begin with Jasmine.
JG : I would think Vampire Diaries had a slightly younger demographic than the last thing I did, which was Dead Like Me, and that was more a sci-fi audience of mixed ages. And this is a little bit more an age of romance, the early 20s — when you still believe in [lowers voice] love and blood.

KG: The demographic is different than Dead Like Me, but I think it translates to an older audience as well. I’ve gotten fan letters from 50-year-old women with 9-year-old girls, to older women and older men.

JG: That’s ‘cuz y’all are so hot.

KG: [Laughs.]

"If anything, this is the most beautiful cast I’ve ever worked with."

JG: If anything, this is the most beautiful cast I’ve ever worked with.

KG: Aww!

JG: I saw y’all had a picture in the office. I said, “What’s that for? A photo shoot?” And they said, “No, that’s the cast.”

KG: [Laughs] That is funny.

"I know Harry Potter had a backlash from certain groups for glorifying the witch story line, but I haven’t had any at all."

Is there a different viewer response to the witches than the vampires? Is there pro-vampire, anti-witch backlash?
KG : I haven’t had any backlash, and I think that’s because the character didn’t come off as a witch right away, we got to know and love Bonnie Bennett for who she was. And we’re with her when she discovers her abilities. I know Harry Potter had a backlash from certain groups for glorifying the witch story line, but I haven’t had any at all.

JG: To me, people are just curious as to how the witches interact with the vampires. I know some of the folklore, but not a lot of it. It’s interesting to watch the world we’re living in being created. It’s kind of like logging the forest as we step into it, and that’s kind of cool that I don’t what’s going to happen, and neither does my character. So there’s a suspense. I don’t have to think I know what’s going on.

Jasmine, I listened to a radio interview where you were begging for your character to get a name. I think you cried, “Someone name me.”
JG : They didn’t name me until the last episode that I did — so I do have the name now. And it wasn’t the name the audience was picking. But it’s a cool name, I like the name. I’m not going to give it away. It’s one of those names that go to women on the cool side, wouldn’t you say?

KG: I think it’s a great name.

Is it Southern?
JG : Not particularly, no.

Have you guys gone out together in Atlanta?
JG : We work on opposite schedules, and she works a lot more, so I haven’t hung with her yet.

KG We’ll have to go to dinner or something! I’m here this weekend.

JG Oh, OK. Like you’re setting yourself up on a date.

KG: [Laughs]. I’m always talking about you, Jasmine. I’m always talking about how amazing it is to work with you, that I’m working with Miss Jasmine Guy. It’s a big deal for a lot of people when they meet you!

JG: Thank you! Thank you for talking me up, sweetheart.

KG: I’ve been loving the weather in Atlanta recently, and I’m just here with my cast, which is a family anyway. It’s great to have friends out here and to be working with your friends. And also I love the restaurants here, it may be my favorite part of Atlanta. And the greenery. Most of the time I spent in Hollywood was a hustle, trying to get auditions or a job. I never thought it would happen in Georgia for me. But it’s very different. L.A. is just a different place and we’re in the south. It’s a different mentality.

You play grandmother and granddaughter, and your actual ages (47 and 20) make that idea seem ludicrous. Is there anything grandmotherly about you, Jasmine? Did you tap into that?
JG: Oh, not really. I did tap into my maternal instinct, and that goes for mothers, grandmothers, great-grams. I find this character maternal, but odd. In my mind, whoever is in between me and Bonnie is, you know — my progeny is estranged in some way because of my practices. That’s what I say. Who knows? That’s just an actor giving you their own back-story, and it means absolutely nothing.

Do you often assign back story to your characters?
JG : Yeah. Always. I’m always thinking about their life and where they lived and how they grew up, and how — yeah. Even if they only have four lines! [Laughs] It’s a lot of work for four lines, but it’s worth it. And it’s for more interesting to me to get lost in a character that has all of that going for them. I try to fill in as many blanks on the inner character as I can.

"That is just my normal self. I’m not playing spooky so much as I’m trying to educate my granddaughter without scaring the mess out of her."

Grandmother Bennett is kind of spooky. How do you do it?
JG : Oh, I’m not doing anything. That is just my normal self. I’m not playing spooky so much as I’m trying to educate my granddaughter without scaring the mess out of her. And trying to make it like it’s just a natural thing when she’s really freaking out about what’s happening to her. And so I guess there is some kind of elusiveness that goes with it. So I’m glad that’s spooky.

Does the same go for you, Katerina? Your character’s history goes back more than a hundred years. Do you consider all that stuff when playing the part?
KG : Similar to what Jasmine said, I do a lot of back-story. I think about my continuity, like where I walked and which way I turned. And I think about the back-story of Emily Bennett, the great-great-great grandmother that possessed me. I would watch Bianca [Lawson], the actress who plays her, when I wasn’t in a scene. I would come to set and kind of study how she moves, and her voice, and her pattern of speech. And it really helped. It helped get into the character and get the vibe of her.

You mentioned Dead Like Me earlier with ease. Are you pretty familiar with Jasmine’s old gigs?
KG : You’re putting me on blast! But I. Love. Jasmine. Guy. OK, like… I have the music videos. Honestly, there haven’t been that many — well, maybe there are — but in the position I’ve been in, there haven’t been many actresses/artists that I really look up to, that are biracial and come from similar backgrounds to me. That comes from this dancing world. There’s Janet, Jasmine Guy, and Paula Abdul, and that’s it! And Jasmine’s the only one with a similar background to me, a big inspiration, like… I’m trying to keep my cool during this interview. I’m a huge, huge Jasmine Guy fan. I’m honored to learn from her, and you know, Jasmine, I watch you when you’re working and when you talk, I take everything to tell me in. It’s a big part of my growth at where I’m at right now.

JG: Oh, wow. Thank you!

KG: There, I got it out. [Laughs.]

JG: I’m glad to hear all that, so I could finally… rise to this occasion. I should stop messin’ around so much. Like, pay attention, girl, she’s watching you.

Do you guys give each other advice?
JG : Well, you know, in between takes, we talk, we have a lot to talk about. We have a lot of intersecting experiences, and we’ve met a lot of the same obstacles. I also think that the ability to dance and act is an interesting combination. There are a few, like Shirley MacLaine and Debbie Allen that mix the two. That’s a unique situation that puts us in a sub-category.

Though you disappear into your dramatic roles as well, Whitley Gilbert was such an awesome character. Do you miss comedy?
JG : Sometimes I do. Because after a certain amount of hours, I need to hear a joke. I’ll be on set, like, “We’re still doing this? Eight hours later? Ain’t nobody got nothing funny to say?” I’ve got her to help me with that.

KG: Yes. We’re very alike in that way. I’m always giggling or laughing, and I’ll catch Jasmine busting into a dance move.

JG: We need each other to stay alive. And awake and alert.

Katerina, as you noted, you both are dancers. Have you guys practiced similar styles of dance?
KG : Yeah, I think. Jazz, yeah? Modern.

JG: She’s been classically trained and has performed as a dancer, and knows the rigor and the beatdown that goes with being a dancer. I think it makes for tougher cookies.

KG: Ohh. I miss the cattle calls!

JG: It’s very difficult, a hard life.

KG: A very hard life. It’s a long, long hustle, a long road. And not sometimes a clean one.

"Yeah! I’d love to play Vanity. Shoot, I remember them and Apollonia."

Onto my personal agenda, and Katerina, you could jump in on this: We tried casting the upcoming Soul Train movie a couple months ago, and Jasmine, I’d like to know if you’re willing to play Vanity, the Prince protege.
JG : Yeah! I’d love to play Vanity. Shoot, I remember them and Apollonia.

KG: Oh yeah. I love them! Can I come along?

JG: They should all play themselves, though, right?

No, I think I like Jasmine Guy as Vanity more than Vanity as Vanity.
JG : [Laughs] I have great memories. I just thought of The Last Dragon with Taimak.

KG: I remember that movie!

JG: You must’ve been in the second grade.

KG: I saw it recently. I saw it last year, I think.

JG: Oh, OK. I was like, you weren’t here when that came out!

Katerina, the show is about to go on a hiatus until mid-January. Can you string viewers along with some titillating hints about where the show’s going?
KG : Anything you can possibly think of? It’s happening. All of the storylines that the fans are questioning about is looking like it might happen. Just have to watch and see. It gets better every single week, there’s another cliffhanger, and another. There might be another person being cast that really helps evolve the whole witch story. I will say that.

JG: Mmm. Aha!

KG: I said there might be!

[Video] PIX11 interview Zach Roerig

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[Video] TVD Webclip - The Turning Point

On Hiatus, 'Vampire Diaries' Prepares a Marathon

Taking a two-month hiatus, "The Vampire Diaries" will keep its fans entertained with a week-long marathon. This week's episode will be the last airing this year before it returns in January 2010. In anticipation of that, The CW will run all the 10 episodes in season 1 to celebrate the holiday season.

The marathon will begin Monday, December 14 and end Friday, December 18. The 10 episodes, which have managed to deliver the show a status of being The CW's most-watched series among adults 18-34 this season, will be cramped within the week by airing two episodes each night starting at 8/7c. The show is slated to come back with originals on January 14.

This week's episode is titled "The Turning Point". After reading the journal left by one of the Gilbert ancestors, Jeremy is inspired to return to his hobby of sketching fantasy creatures, a talent he had abandoned when his parents died. Much to the surprise of their friends, Matt and Caroline continue to hang out together.

When Sheriff Forbes tells Damon there has been another attack, he offers to track down the killer and learns a startling piece of information about the town's founding families. Alaric steps in to help during an awkward scene with Jeremy, Tyler and Mayor Lockwood. Stefan and Elena come to a new understanding, but everything changes when Elena accidentally makes a devastating discovery.

Gina Torres Biting Into 'Vampire Diaries'

The blood suckers on 'The Vampire Diaries' are about to get an infusion -- of cool.

According to Comcast, geek queen Gina Torres will be guest starring in an upcoming episode of The CW's freshman vampire drama as a witch named Bree who has a bit of a history with Ian Somerhalder's devilish vampire Damon.

Bree will become involved again in Damon's life when it comes to light that she "possibly holds the key to the more sinister Salvatore brother acquiring something he desperately wants – access to a tomb."

Torres, of course, is no stranger to the undead, having previously played erstwhile savior Jasmine on Joss Whedon's hit vampire series 'Angel'; she followed up that role with a turn in Whedon's cult sci-fi classic 'Firefly', where she played second-in-command Zoe Washburn.

More recently, Torres has been broadening her geek credentials even further by playing Felicia Wedeck on the critically acclaimed mind-bender 'FlashForward', meaning that Torres could face the unusual dilemma of facing off against herself, as 'Vampire Diaries' and 'FlashForward' air in the same time slot at 8 p.m. on Thursday night.

Being in two places at the same time -- now that's a power even a vampire would envy.

[Songs] S01Ep07

1. The Dodos "Fables"
2. Final Flash "Fading Light"
3. The Sounds "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake"
4. Gary Go "Open Arms"
5. The Longcut "Open Hearts"
6. Bat For Lashes "Sleep Alone"
7. Sanders Bohlke "The Weight of Us"
8. White Lies "To Lose My Life"

[Songs] S01Ep09

1. Barcelona "Come Back When You Can"
2. Great Northern "Houses"
3. Pablo Sebastian "Lies"
4. Idlewild "Post Electric"
5. The Bravery "The Spectator"
6. Echo & The Bunnymen "Think I Need It Too"

S01Ep09

A mysterious new history teacher, Alaric Saltzman arrives at the high school. When Elena, Bonnie and Caroline hold a séance, the results are stranger than any of them expected. Damonfinally reveals to Stefan the stunning reason he has returned to Mystic Falls.

Interview of Kevin Williamson

While there may be some that think the vampire genre is already oversaturated with HBO’s True Blood on television and the new Twilight saga hitting the screens this month, the CW premiered The Vampire Diaries in September and quickly proved that audience’s thirst for sexy bloodsuckers has not been quenched. To find out more about what sets this latest entry aside, how much violence and sex is okay for the CW network and the amazing abs on some of the male vamps, I rang up show creator Kevin Williamson to get the scoop.

Jim Halterman: Why did you go with the vampire genre when there’s definitely not a shortage of those types of projects out there right now?

Kevin Williamson: It wasn’t like I was dying to come in and do the third Vampire project or whatever. It was a matter of wanting to do something with Julie Plec. We’ve worked together off and on over the last several hundred years. The timing was right.

JH:: What was it about the books that attracted you to it?

KW: I’m a sucker for epic love stories and it has sort of that epic love. Also, when I was reading the book once you get past the Twilight setup it really is its own monster, it’s own story and it takes a different path from the Twilight story and True Blood story. I thought it was a sexy Dark Shadows. I loved Dark Shadows as a kid and I’ve always wanted to do a show like that. I remember talking to the WB about Dark Shadows years ago and I thought it would be kind of fun.

JH:: How closely do you follow the Vampire Diaries books by L.J. Smith?

KW: We’re using them as a template but I feel like we keep expanding on everything L.J. created and we keep what she has but we have 22 episodes so we try to hit the tent poles of the book.

JH:: It’s tough not to notice that you have some really unattractive people on the show…

KW: I know! They’re so ugly!

JH:: How difficult was it to find good-looking CW-type actors who could actually act?

KW: Well, you know, it takes a village and it took me and Julie and a wonderful casting director. You know what, [Warner Brothers Television President] Peter Roth hired us and we looked at every single actor in the universe and then we cast Nina [Dobrev, who plays Elena], who came into our lives through a video audition. She got the part through a videotape. Ian [Somerhalder, who plays evil Damon] worked hard for the role and he earned it. Paul Wesley [who plays good Stefan] came in the very, very beginning and we thought he was a great actor but we didn’t have our Elena yet so we couldn’t make a decision. So we brought him in 12 times and finally when we had Nina we brought him in to read with her and that was it.

JH:: I haven’t seen an Equinox or a Crunch anywhere in Mystic Falls but it’s difficult to not notice that everyone is in amazing shape.

KW: I know! They’re really fat and ugly! Paul just went crazy with the abs. Between the pilot and the second episode he got that 24-pack.

JH:: I don’t remember Ian being that ripped when he played Boone on Lost either.

KW: He is very ripped. Very solid. Pure muscle and he’s really good looking. And Nina has quite a nice little dancer’s body on her, too. All of them!

JH:: Are we going to see some guy-on-guy sucking, so to speak? The vampire world is always rife with homoeroticism.

KW: Well, I don’t foresee it in the near future. In the books, there were no…we do have a storyline coming up but Caroline’s Dad, who is gay. We’ve already established that and he’s going to show up with a boyfriend sooner or later.

JH:: Knowing your past work, is it safe to assume more gay characters will be popping up on the show?

KW: Eventually there always will be. At the moment, we’re just trying to tell the stories at hand with the characters we’ve established. There is something very sexy about vampires that I think appeals to men and women so I think there’s a fair balance that way.

JH:: You recently said at a Dawson’s Creek reunion event that you couldn’t get away with saying ‘man-meat’ now like you did in the Dawson’s pilot but Vampire Diaries has a lot of sex, drugs and alcohol. Have things changed?

KW: I think we’re a little stricter now and I think I have to be honest about that. You know, that Janet Jackson incident started a lot. All the conservatives really used that to make a power play so that hurt us a little bit. Everyone is a little fearful of getting fined.

JH:: In shows like True Blood and horror films, the blood and gore is a very substantial part of those projects but Vampire Diaries doesn’t show a lot of that. Is that a parameter set by the network?

KW: Interestingly enough, I have never really done a blood and guts show on TV before so this is a learning curve for me but I have to be honest, the CW has been very good about that. They want it scary so they’re being very wonderful in allowing us to go as far as we can within their comfort zone. They’re working with us and being very respectful. I mean it is vampire violence so it’s not real violence and I think that helps.

JH:: The back-story element with Damon, Stefan and Katherine is so rich. Is that something we’re going to see more of this season?

KW: I think we’ll see more of that periodically. We’re doing another flashback episode right now – episode 12 – and we’re actually going to go back in and show a little bit more and open it up a little bit. I think it’s important to do it if it’s going to propel our story forward.

JH:: The show is obviously not afraid of killing off people but what do you do when audiences connect with a character but then get mad when that character is killed? I personally was a big fan of Vicki (played by Kayla Ewell) so was sad to see her die.

KW: Yes, of course I’m respectful of that. The thing about Vicki is I thought if I did my job people would like her. It was really hard and I made sure you cared about her through Jeremy. By killing her, I thought it set a precedent that we will go there and it was so early in the show that I felt we could get away with it. I don’t want to turn off the audience by killing off a popular character but you have to do it. It’s a vampire show.

[Video] 1x10-"The Turning Point" Promo

Kevin Williamson: I want to make Taylor Swift a vampire!

From the first instant his words came flying off the screen in "Scream," I have been a Kevin Williamson devotee. From "Dawson's Creek" to "The Faculty," I've paid for all his movies, Tivo'd all his shows and placed him alongside an illustrious group of writer/creators in my heart [J.J. Abrams, Joss Whedon, Rob Thomas, Aaron Sorkin to name a few].

With "Vampire Diaries" Kevin has taken one standout element from each of these previous projects and mashed them together to form a singular series that is smart, scary, creepy, nerve-wracking and funny all at the same time. With a landmark episode unspooling tonight, I caught up with Kevin to find out if Mystic Falls' death toll will continue to increase, who is his favorite character to write for and if any familiar faces from his past (Katie! Neve! The Beek!) will be sprouting fangs!

PopWrap: "Vampire Diaries" seems like the perfect melding of everything you learned on "Dawson's Creek" and "Scream." Is it?
Kevin Williamson: It's definitely two of my wheelhouses put together. We have a lot of the heart that "Dawson's" had, but we're steering clear of the psycho babble. We're just trying to write fun characters and stay true to the book. But it is sort of everything I loved about writing my teen drama and my horror movies -- we're just trying to do as much as we can on a network show without the R rating.

PW: Although you're trying to stay true to the books, did you go in any directions even you didn't expect so far this season?
Kevin: We borrowed a few tentpole moments from the book whereas we expanded upon the mythology in others. But we know where season one ends, I know the last sequence, I know the big moments of season two and the general arc, but we haven't broken down the 22 episodes yet. What you ultimately plan on doing changes. If you read the books you know that we killed Coach Tanner in episode three when it happened at the Halloween haunt in the book because that's where we killed Vicki, who did not die in the book.

PW: Kayla Ewell has said that Vicki might be back. Is that true?
Kevin: No. As of right now she's completely gone, we have no plans to bring her back.

PW: Can fans take a moment to breathe, or should we be worried that someone else is dying soon?
Kevin: No one is ever safe on our show and we do have plans as the season unfolds to kill other characters -- but that's the unpredictable nature of the show. I just hope that when we do kill another person, it's in an acceptable and satisfying way where the audience doesn't say, "We hate you now." We don't want to be hated, we just want to keep surprising you.

PW: When Damon staked Lexi last week he said it was part of his grand plan -- when will that plan reveal itself?
Kevin: Tonight! He actually says point blank what he's doing in Mystic Falls.

PW: And should we take him at his word?
Kevin: Well, it quickly becomes very clear. You'll get it because he quickly sets out to carry out that plan -- you'll see why he came home.

PW: Is Damon your favorite character to write for?
Kevin: Clearly I enjoy writing him, but more than that I love putting the brothers together because they're so different and opposing. The more you put Stefan with Damon, the more Stefan comes to life in these future episodes. I'm having fun opening him up because that's the ultimate arc. Stefan's going against the grain by denying his nature and everything he knows. He's got the true inner struggle, which is what takes us over the long haul, whereas Damon will always be Damon.

PW: If Stefan is the protagonist, I wonder if you could envision a "Vampire Diaries" without Damon?
Kevin: Oh god, I don't even want to contemplate that at the moment. Please tell me you're talking season four. I mean, there can always be changes, I'm sure there's a third Salvatore brother out there, but let's not bring him in just yet.

PW: What about bringing in former colleagues -- like any of the "Creek" kids?
Kevin: Maybe. Just not at the moment. But I did ask Neve [Campbell] to come play a vampire. She's too busy filming a movie right now, but maybe down the road.

PW: What about Katie Holmes. People would flip if you got her to play a vampire!
Kevin: I think she's got bigger fish to fry at the moment -- my new obsession is getting Taylor Swift!

PW: Oh, that would be amazing!
Kevin: I think she's gotten too big for "Vampire Diaries" now -- I tried to get her on the show once, but she was touring. But I'm desperate to have her come play a vampire. Wouldn't she make an amazing Kirsten Dunst circa "Interview with the Vampire" type? Oh my god, I can not tell you how hard I'm trying to get her -- I would kill to have her on the show!

PW: But I hear you are bringing in a vampire hunter?
Kevin: Well, that's what we call him because in the books he's like the Van Helsing character, even though he's not like that at all. He's just this guy who is in search of something but uncovers something else. Matt Davis plays him starting this week and he's so good. He's the new history teacher.

PW: God Kevin, could you make this cast any uglier? I mean, come on.
Kevin: I know, right? Ugliest cast on television. All of them, even Matt -- he's just so gross to look at [laughs].

PW: OK, so I have two pressing questions; first, why did you choose not to have the vampires turn to dust after being staked?
Kevin: We're going with old legends there -- the reason wood is toxic to a vampire is because it's a dead element. So the idea is when a vampire gets staked in the heart, the toxic wood spreads like a poison through their body. That's why the effect is designed that way. And the idea behind the eye vamping is that when they get excited, the blood rushes to their eyes -- that's why you see the veins pop out and fill with blood.

PW: Makes sense. Second, I am dubious that Elena's parents are actually dead. Are they?
Kevin: Oh, well ... quite possibly. Clearly with the Gilberts there's a lot of secrets to uncover. I like the parable of the bad parents/good kids. I also love that we have this town and the mythology of the founding families: the Gilberts and the Lockwoods and the Forbes and the Salvatores.

PW: Last week Lexi freaked when she met Elena and realized she was the spitting image of Katherine -- will Elena ever learn of their resemblance?
Kevin: [laughs] Quite possibly. I don't want to give away all the surprises, but all signs point to mayhem. It's Mystic Falls, eventually all the storylines intersect and explode in an emotional way when secrets are revealed!

Ian Somerhalder Is So Cute to Kiss, Says Candice Accola

Playing opposite Ian Somerhalder in The CW's "The Vampire Diaries", Candice Accola has no hesitation to sing him praise, telling Star Magazine in an interview she thinks the actor is "so cute to kiss". She goes on adding, "those days are fun on set. Ian is wonderful at his job."

When asked about Caroline Forbes, the character she portrays in the drama-horror-fantasy TV series, Candice says, "We're both boy crazy, and we're both girly girls!" She then describes, "She's a real go-getter, a young woman who knows what she wants and doesn't apologize for it. She's really sassy too - and very naughty, which is what I love about playing her."

As to why vampire becomes very popular these days, Candice shares her opinion to Star Magazine, explaining "Vampires are alluring and sexy and eternally young - it's all so extreme, fun and exciting. Especially now, with the economy in the dumps, it's refreshing not to focus on realistic things and lose yourself in mystical characters."

Is Taylor Swift Headed to Vampire Diaries?

Paging Taylor Swift: Mystic Falls is calling you!

Or more precisely, Kevin Williamson. The man behind the CW's addictive new series Vampire Diaries reveals that he has approached Taylor to guest star on the series as a...wait for it...vampire. What would her vampalicious secret boyfriend say?

Though no deal has been struck, and Kevin fears she's "too big for Vampire Diaries now," the writer-producer is still hoping something will work out.

"I'm desperate to have [Swift] come play a vampire," Williamson says. "Wouldn't she make an amazing Kirsten Dunst circa Interview With the Vampire type? Oh my god, I cannot tell you how hard I'm trying to get her—I would kill to have her on the show!"

Turns out it would take a lot less than murder to get another certain pretty face who's surprisingly still tied to the show...

Kayla Ewell, aka the recently staked Vicki, hints to us that she could be back on Vampire Diaries.

"I'm still under contract," she told E! Online's Party Girl Cristina Gibson. So does that mean Vicki could be back? "There has been talk of a lot of stuff," Kayla hinted. "But that's all I can say. So yes and no. We'll see what happens."

Interestingly enough, when asked if Kayla might return, Williamson told PopWrap: "No. As of right now she's completely gone. We have no plans to bring her back." So either he's really not planning anything or would like it to remain a surprise if and when she does return.

The good news is that unlike other pretty, young CW actresses, Kayla knew all along that her character wasn't long for this world. "If you read the books, Vicki is the first one to die," Kayla said. "So I signed on knowing what was happening."

And as a lovely parting gift, she'll always have those memories of frolicking around in her underwear with Ian Somerhalder.

"I was such a huge Lost fan to begin with that when I found out that Ian was going to be on the show, I was dancing around," Kayla said. "So that episode was fun. He's so open and loving and is literally the most wonderful man. He makes every woman feel like a million bucks. Though I was a little nervous the morning [of that scene]. I was in my trailer going, 'Oh, I should do some sit-ups and push-ups right now!' "

Do you think Taylor would be a good addition to Vampire Diaries? Should she bring that other Taylor with her? And will you miss Kayla?

[Video] Ian Somerhalder at Late Night Jimmy Fallo

'Vampire Diaries': Sean Faris to sling drinks in Mystic Falls

Hey "The Vampire Diaries" fans, if you love the pretty, you'll be happy with some new blood coming to Mystic Falls.

Sean Faris, who starred in the big screen's "Never Back Down," will visit "Vampire Diaries" for a multiple-episode run, a rep confirms.

Apparently, Faris, 27, is heading to Atlanta Wednesday to begin shooting his "Vampire Diaries" role as "a sexy bartender named Ben," publicist Craig Schneider tells Zap2it.

Naturally, this sexy Ben will somehow get mixed up with vampire business and one of the lovely ladies. Otherwise, what's the point of importing another pretty face? We're actually happy that he'll be playing a regular, blood-pumping human as far as we know. Leave the brooding vampire stuff to Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder.

Faris had previously starred on "Reunion" and "life as we know it," neither of which lasted one complete season. Twice bitten, the actor had vowed to Zap2it's Korbi Ghosh that he'd never to do TV again, but could he really pass up The CW's fangtastic hit and a chance to jump on the vampire bandwagon? Not bloody likely. Fang fans, rejoice!

[Photos] The Fury & Dark Reunion covers 2010

Sean Faris new member on TVD

In a series filled with ravenous vampires and fledgling witches, the cast list may sometimes resemble a revolving door. Last week's guest star Arielle Kebbel, who did an amazing job as Lexi, didn't survive an entire episode.

The plan is different for new cast member Sean Faris. According to EW's Michael Ausiello, Farris has signed on for a multi-episode arc. He'll play Ben, a former football player turned bartender at the Mystic Grill. He'll befriend Matt and the group when Matt takes a job there as well.

The source also says there may be a romance brewing between Ben and one of the residents of Mystic Falls, but no word yet on who that might be.

Faris was born in Houston, Texas in 1982. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio with his mother when he was twelve. He decided that he wanted to be an actor at the age of seventeen. He was active in high school sports including soccer, basketball, baseball and diving. He may be best known for the role of Craig Brewster in Reunion.

[Photos] Verizon Wireless Launches the DROID