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'''''The Vampire Diaries''''' is an American [[horror fiction|supernatural–fantasy horror]] television series developed by [[Kevin Williamson (screenwriter)|Kevin Williamson]], based on the [[The Vampire Diaries (novel series)|book series of the same name]] by [[L. J. Smith (author)|L. J. Smith]]. The series follows the life of Elena Gilbert ([[Nina Dobrev]]), who falls in love with vampire Stefan Salvatore ([[Paul Wesley]]) and quite possibly may develop feelings for his brother Damon Salvatore ([[Ian Somerhalder]]), also a vampire. The series also focuses on the lives of Elena's friends and other inhabitants of the fictional town of Mystic Falls, [[Virginia]]. The series is a mix of teen drama and the supernatural. |
'''''The Vampire Diaries''''' is an American [[horror fiction|supernatural–fantasy horror]] television series developed by [[Kevin Williamson (screenwriter)|Kevin Williamson]], based on the [[The Vampire Diaries (novel series)|book series of the same name]] by [[L. J. Smith (author)|L. J. Smith]]. The series follows the life of Elena Gilbert ([[Nina Dobrev]]), who falls in love with vampire Stefan Salvatore ([[Paul Wesley]]) and quite possibly may develop feelings for his brother Damon Salvatore ([[Ian Somerhalder]]), also a vampire. The series also focuses on the lives of Elena's friends and other inhabitants of the fictional town of Mystic Falls, [[Virginia]]. The series is a mix of teen drama and the supernatural. |
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When ''The Vampire Diaries'' premiered on [[The CW Television Network]] on September 10, 2009, it attracted the largest audience of any series since the network began in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | date= January 21, 2010 | url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/01/vampire-diaries-star-nina-dobrev.html | title= 'Vampire Diaries' star Nina Dobrev on Elena's look-alike dilemma and more |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] | accessdate=2010-02-08}}</ref> Due to strong ratings, the series was given a full, 22-episode first season on October 21, 2009.<ref name="fullseason">{{cite news| first=Michael| last=Schneider |date= October 21, 2009 |title=CW orders more 'Vampire Diaries'|publisher=''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''|accessdate=2009-10-20|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010217.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv}}</ref> The show's first season finale |
When ''The Vampire Diaries'' premiered on [[The CW Television Network]] on September 10, 2009, it attracted the largest audience of any series since the network began in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | date= January 21, 2010 | url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/01/vampire-diaries-star-nina-dobrev.html | title= 'Vampire Diaries' star Nina Dobrev on Elena's look-alike dilemma and more |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] | accessdate=2010-02-08}}</ref> Due to strong ratings, the series was given a full, 22-episode first season on October 21, 2009.<ref name="fullseason">{{cite news| first=Michael| last=Schneider |date= October 21, 2009 |title=CW orders more 'Vampire Diaries'|publisher=''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''|accessdate=2009-10-20|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010217.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv}}</ref> The show's first season finale aired on May 13, 2010.<ref>http://www.fanpop.com/external/10279812</ref> |
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On February 16, 2010, The CW announced that it was going to renew the show for a second season.<ref>[http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/02/the-cw-renews-top-model-vampire-diaries-supernatural-gossip-girl-90210.html The CW Renews "Top Model", "Vampire Diaries", "Supernatural", "Gossip Girl", "90210"], ''Zap2It.com'', February 16, 2010</ref> |
On February 16, 2010, The CW announced that it was going to renew the show for a second season.<ref>[http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/02/the-cw-renews-top-model-vampire-diaries-supernatural-gossip-girl-90210.html The CW Renews "Top Model", "Vampire Diaries", "Supernatural", "Gossip Girl", "90210"], ''Zap2It.com'', February 16, 2010</ref> |
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Revision as of 13:35, 15 May 2010
| The Vampire Diaries | |
|---|---|
| File:Vampire Diaries Logo.jpg | |
| Genre | Teen drama Supernatural Horror |
| Developed by | Series: Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec Novels: L.J. Smith |
| Starring | Nina Dobrev Paul Wesley Ian Somerhalder Steven R. McQueen Sara Canning Katerina Graham Candice Accola Zach Roerig Kayla Ewell Michael Trevino Matt Davis |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 22 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Leslie Morgenstein Bob Levy Kevin Williamson Julie Plec |
| Production locations | Atlanta, Georgia Covington, Georgia Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production companies | Outerbanks Entertainment Alloy Entertainment CBS Television Studios Warner Bros. Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | The CW |
| Release | September 10, 2009 – present |
The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural–fantasy horror television series developed by Kevin Williamson, based on the book series of the same name by L. J. Smith. The series follows the life of Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), who falls in love with vampire Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and quite possibly may develop feelings for his brother Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), also a vampire. The series also focuses on the lives of Elena's friends and other inhabitants of the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. The series is a mix of teen drama and the supernatural.
When The Vampire Diaries premiered on The CW Television Network on September 10, 2009, it attracted the largest audience of any series since the network began in 2006.[1] Due to strong ratings, the series was given a full, 22-episode first season on October 21, 2009.[2] The show's first season finale aired on May 13, 2010.[3]
On February 16, 2010, The CW announced that it was going to renew the show for a second season.[4]
Production
Initially Kevin Williamson had little interest in developing the series, finding the premise too similar to other vampire tales. However, at Julie Plec's urging, he began to read the novels and started to become intrigued by the story: "I began to realize that it was a story about a small town, about that town's underbelly and about what lurks under the surface."[5] Williamson has stated the town's story will be the main focus of the series, rather than high school.[6]
On February 6, 2009, Variety announced that The CW had greenlit the pilot for The Vampire Diaries with Williamson and Julie Plec set as the head writers and executive producers.[7] On May 19, 2009, the series was officially ordered for the 2009–2010 season.[8]
The pilot episode was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, but the rest of the episodes have been filmed in Covington, Georgia (which doubles as the fictional small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia) and various other communities around Greater Atlanta,[9] to take advantage of local tax incentives.
Cast and characters
- Main Characters
| Actor/Actress | Character | Character Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nina Dobrev | Elena Gilbert | A strong-willed and empathetic young woman. |
| Katherine Pierce | A vampire who had romantic relationships with both Stefan and Damon in 1864. | |
| Paul Wesley | Stefan Salvatore | A vampire who is involved in a romantic relationship with Elena. |
| Ian Somerhalder | Damon Salvatore | Stefan's malevolent vampire brother who is intent on finding Katherine. |
| Steven R. McQueen | Jeremy Gilbert | Elena's adoptive younger brother. Later revealed to be her cousin. |
| Sara Canning | Jenna Sommers | Jeremy and Elena's aunt and legal guardian. |
| Katerina Graham | Bonnie Bennett | Elena's best friend and a witch. |
| Candice Accola | Caroline Forbes | Elena's shallow friend; daughter of the town's sheriff, Elizabeth Forbes. |
| Zach Roerig | Matt Donovan | Elena's childhood friend and ex-boyfriend. He later dates Caroline. |
| Kayla Ewell | Vicki Donovan | Matt's troubled older sister and girlfriend of Tyler and then Jeremy; turned into a vampire by Damon and staked by Stefan to protect Elena. |
| Michael Trevino | Tyler Lockwood | Vicki's ex-boyfriend and Jeremy's rival; son of the mayor of Mystic Falls. It is suggested that he, along with his father, is a supernatural being. |
| Matt Davis | Alaric Saltzman | Hired by Mystic Falls High School as a history teacher after Mr. Tanner's death; his wife Isobel was turned into a vampire by Damon. |
- Other notable characters
| Actor/Actress | Character | Character Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mia Kirshner | Isobel Flemming-Saltzman | Alaric's wife and Elena's birth mother; turned into a vampire by Damon at her own request. |
| Jasmine Guy | Sheila "Grams" Bennett | Bonnie's grandmother and witch mentor. A strong guide in Bonnie's life. Died after performing a complex spell which opened the tomb. |
| Marguerite MacIntyre | Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes | Caroline's mother, sheriff of Mystic Falls, and a member of the Founder's Council. |
| Rob Pralgo | Mayor Richard Lockwood | Tyler's father, mayor of Mystic Falls as well as its wealthiest citizen; member of the Founder's Council. Mistaken for a vampire, he is trapped in a burning building and a vampire fatally breaks his neck. It is suggested that he, along with his son, was a supernatural being. |
| Susan Walters | Carol Lockwood | Tyler's mother and a member of the Founder's Council. |
| Chris Johnson | Logan Fell | A local TV reporter and a member of the Founder's Council; killed by Damon to protect Stefan and unintentionally turned into a vampire by Anna; after killing rampage and nearly killing Jenna and Caroline, he was staked by Alaric. |
| Chris William Martin | Zach Salvatore | A human Salvatore-family descendant and a member of the Founder's Council; killed by Damon. |
| Benjamin Ayres | William Tanner | Mystic Falls High School's history teacher and football coach; killed by Damon. |
| Bianca Lawson | Emily Bennett | Bonnie's 4th-great grandmother from the 1860's; a powerful witch and Katherine's handmaiden. |
| Kelly Hu | Pearl | An apothecary and Anna's mother. A powerful vampire, she is 400 years older than the Salvatore brothers. Staked by John Gilbert. |
| Malese Jow | Anna | Pearl's teenage vampire daughter and a contemporary of both Katherine and the Salvatore brothers. She began a romantic relationship with Jeremy. Staked by John Gilbert. |
| Sean Faris | Ben McKittrick | A former high school jock and local bartender, turned into a vampire by Anna. Burned to death by Stefan. |
| Melinda Clarke | Kelly Donovan | Matt and Vicki's wayward mother. |
| Sterling Sulieman | Harper | A vampire buried under the old church ruins, accidentally freed by Damon, Bonnie and Grams. Staked by John Gilbert. |
| Stephen Martines | Frederick | Another vampire buried under the old church and accidentally freed. Attempted revenge on the Salvatore brothers. Staked by Stefan. |
| David Anders | Johnathan "John" Gilbert | Jeremy's uncle, Elena's biological father, and member of the Founder's Council; claims extensive knowledge of the town, vampires and all parties connected. Stabbed by Katherine. |
Plot
Reception
Critical reception
The Vampire Diaries initially received mixed reviews. Entertainment Weekly gave the pilot a B+, stating that the show "signals a welcome return to form for writer-producer Kevin Williamson". They end by saying that "Diaries promises us a season of sharp-tongued amusement."[10] Metacritic gave the show a score of 50/100 based on 22 critical reviews, indicating mixed to average response.[11] Its premiere on September 10, 2009 gave The CW its biggest series premiere scoring 4.9 million viewers.[12] Adding in DVR numbers, the ratings for the premiere swelled to an official 5.7 million viewers.[13]
Many TV critics felt the series improved with each episode. Sarah Hughes of The Independent says The Vampire Diaries turns into "a well-crafted, interestingly developed series" despite a poor opening episode.[5] The New York Post also praised the portrayal of Elena, finding the character to be a strong-minded woman who doesn't allow her feelings for her boyfriend to control her.[14] The San Diego Union-Tribune said: "The supernatural drama is a first-class production, featuring an insanely gorgeous cast, sharp scripts and a brooding vibe that is hard for even the most levelheaded adult to resist."[15] Mike Hale of The New York Times gave the series an honorable mention on his list of the top TV shows of 2009.[16]
Awards
- 2010 – People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama
U.S. televison ratings
| Seasons | # Episodes | Timeslot | Season Premiere - Viewers | Season Finale - Viewers | Average Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 3.65 |
International distribution
References
- ^ "'Vampire Diaries' star Nina Dobrev on Elena's look-alike dilemma and more". Los Angeles Times. January 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (October 21, 2009). "CW orders more 'Vampire Diaries'". Variety. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://www.fanpop.com/external/10279812
- ^ The CW Renews "Top Model", "Vampire Diaries", "Supernatural", "Gossip Girl", "90210", Zap2It.com, February 16, 2010
- ^ a b Hughes, Sarah (February 5, 2010). "The Vampire Diaries - Fresh blood for teenage vampire lovers". The Independent. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ Topel, Fred (August 4, 2009). "Why Vampire Diaries isn't just the usual fang-bang". Sci-Fi Wire. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ^ Michael Schneider. "CW picks up 'Vampire Diaries' pilot". Variety. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ^ Nellie Andreeva. "CW picks up 'Melrose Place,' 'Vampire Diaries'". Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Khouli, Gabriel (July 21, 2009). "'Vampire Diaries' crew to film on square Thursday, Friday". The Covington News. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ Tucker, Ken. "TV Review: The Vampire Diaries (2009)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
- ^ "'The Vampire Diaries". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (September 11, 2009). "'Vampire Diaries' Ratings: They Don't Suck!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
- ^ http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/01/dvr-spells-omg-ratings-for-cw/29183
- ^ Karpel, Ari (December 18, 2009). "5 reasons 'Vampire Diaries' is better than 'Twilight'". New York Post. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ Peterson, Karla (October 23, 2009). "It's crazy happy season on fall TV". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ Hale, Mike (December 18, 2009). "A Top 10 List That Needs an Addendum". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ a b Lyons, Margaret (September 11, 2009). "Thursday's ratings: NFL scores for NBC". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-10-30. Cite error: The named reference "Ratings 09/10/09" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ http://www.spoilertv.com/2010/03/cw-finale-dates-announced.html
External links
- The Vampire Diaries
- 2000s American television series
- CW network shows
- 2009 American television series debuts
- Vampires in film and television
- Teen dramas
- Television programs based on novels
- Television shows set in Virginia
- Serial drama television series
- Television series by Alloy Entertainment
- Television series by Warner Bros. Television
- Television series by CBS Paramount Television