via kat graham youtube acct

“The Nine Lives of Chloe King’s” Chris Grismer is joining the CW vampire drama as a producer-director.

Pretty Little Liars and The Nine Lives of Chloe King’s Chris Grismer has joined the creative team behind the CW vampire drama as a producer and director, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The gig reteams Grismer with Vampire Diaries showrunners Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, for whom he’s directed episodes of The Secret Circle and Kyle XY, respectively.

Grismer, whose credits also include helming Being Erica and Make It Or Break It, has also directed music videos for artists including Arcade Fire, Metric, Stars and Broken Social Scene. He is repped by Paradigm.

via hollywood reporter

It seems that the media still don’t get what the buzz about the Vampire Diaries is all about. One reporter from Covington News, a local newspaper, made their way down to Covington on a cold night to see what the fuss was all about.

Judging by her cynical report and sarcasm through most of the article, she thinks we fans are silly and insane for wanting to stand out in the cold (PS: You don’t know COLD until you live in Canada. Trust me!) to possibly see one star.

If anything, the reporter should have left her cynicism at home and embraced what she was about to witness. She should have spent more time talking with the fans and asking them what the fandom was all about. Why “The Vampire Diaries”? Why stand outside for hours on end with the remote hope of seeing one actor? What is so special about “The Vampire Diaries” fandom?

Had I been there, I would have been able to tell her this much; It’s not just about the show or the actors or SmolderHolder (aka Ian Somerhalder). It’s the fans. It’s the sense of family and community. It’s making new friendships that will last a lifetime and beyond. It’s the distinct thrill we get when we do get to meet a cast member. I live all the way up in Canada and do you think I ever thought I would have met the cast? Hell no! I didn’t think it would’ve ever happened. Not in a bagillion years! But it did! I met 8 cast members last year when I travelled to Atlanta for a fan convention. Part of the memories I have are from spending hours on set hoping to catch a glimpse of my favourite show being filmed and also get to meet cast members that I didn’t get to meet at the convention.

So to all those cynical and sarcastic reporters out there who think we are silly fangirls. Look around Twitter when the show is about to air on Thursday nights. Look around at some of the fansites (We take this fansite business seriously. Trust me!). Check out the awards the show has won (Nina Dobrev winning Choice Drama Actress after being the first ever write-in on the People’s Choice Awards ballot)! Hang out at a fan convention and witness the amazing energy of the fans. Hang out again on set and spend more time talking to the fans to understand better what it really is all about.

To view the article in which I am referring to, please visit Covington News here.

To read up about my experience on meeting Ian Somerhalder, please read here.

Ology.comBest TV Shows Ever 2011

02. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (The CW)

If you’re still one of those too-good-for-The-CW television consumers, you’re losing ground fast: not only is The Vampire Diaries the fifth-place-network’s runaway hit, but it’s the fastest moving show on television, a breakneck saga in a town dominated by a dangerously coquettish collection of vampires, werewolves, witches, and villains all at each other’s throats for the life of the precious doppelganger Elena (Nina Dobrev). As she’s suddenly split from the now-evil Stefan (Paul Wesley, and that takes more explaining than you know), the other Salvatore Damon (Ian Somerhalder) goes from bad boy to hero while Klaus (Joseph Morgan) is determined to rule the world with his wolf-vamp hybrids. The witchcraft is complicated enough, but it’s all amplified by these tangled relations, and the ties that bind are just another brilliant layer to this intricately-woven saga of love, loss, and family. Dobrev, Wesley, Morgan and Smolderhalder lead a talented pack of actors with looks to die for.

avclub: Best TV of 2011
22. The Vampire Diaries (The CW) (51 points, 6 votes)

Many shows use accelerated pacing and dramatic plot twists to maintain interest, but constant cliffhangers and mythology expansion tend to drive most such shows off the rails. That The Vampire Diaries has avoided the pitfalls of such qualities (so far, at least) is its greatest achievement. How has it done it? It grounds its twists in understandable character motivations. As soon as a storyline starts to grow stale, the show mixes things up: Kill a character here, introduce a character there, and watch what happens as loyalties shift. Even better, as the story has grown denser, the show’s themes have become more intelligent. Plus, it has sexy people and the highest volume of “OH MY GOD, SURPRISE STABBINGS” on the air. Embrace the crazy—it’s done properly on The Vampire Diaries.
Best episodes: “The Dinner Party,” “The Sun Also Rises,” “The Birthday”

tvguideThe Best TV Shows of 2011
14. The Vampire Diaries

Three seasons in, this CW hit has us as bloodthirsty as ever. The introduction of the villainous Klaus (Joseph Morgan) at the end of Season 2 opened so many new doors, providing both a worthy foil for Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and an excuse to bring out Stefan’s own dark side. Paul Wesley has come alive while tapping into his character’s “ripper” nature, and the exploration of the Originals has added a sense of weight and anticipation to the story. Oh, and those Damon and Elena (Nina Dobrev) scenes? Swoon!

digitalspyTop 25 Shows of 2011

10. The Vampire Diaries

It’s surprisingly hard to convince anyone who hasn’t seen The Vampire Diaries that it’s worth watching. They wail about it being a teen drama, or about how they’re fed up of shows about vampires, or how it’s probably just Twilight-lite. And that’s a real shame, because The Vampire Diaries is consistently one of the most enjoyable television shows on the box.

Of course you could see it as a bunch of pretty young people agonising over romances. But it’s so much more than that. The Vampire Diaries is a lesson in storytelling – it’s a fast, intense, tightly plotted show which knows how to use flashbacks and often features two genuinely surprising twists per episode. Season two finished with both a jaw-dropping cliffhanger – Vicki and Anna are back as ghosts! – and also one which promised real character development, as Stefan embraced his dark side to save his brother.

The show constantly overshoots its potential, providing genuine entertainment each week, with surprisingly touching moments, no fear of violence or death, and unbelievably sexy, chemistry-filled moments. If you’re not watching, you really are missing out. [CW]
(clip from “The Reckoning” at the source)

Canyon-NewsTop Movies & Television Shows of 2011

5. The Vampire Diaries. Spectacular is just one of the many adjectives that can be used to describe this sensational thriller that continues to appeal to adults and teens. Not only did Stefan cross over to the dark side, but Klaus continues to dispatch the citizens of Mystic Falls where the residents are completely unaware of the vampires, werewolves and witches running lose. Each season tends to promise audiences with a shocking death, so I expect nothing less from Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec in the second half of the season.

tv.comEditors’ Picks Top 5 Shows of 2011

1. The Vampire Diaries

Spotlight: The Vampire Diaries
Since its inception, The Vampire Diaries has been perhaps the most misunderstood show on television. Initially written off as a poor man’s Twilight (and let’s be honest, Twilight is affordable to even the most destitute of men), non-viewers probably aren’t aware of just how high quality it is. With its whirlwind plotting, breakneck pace, constant cliffhangers, and anyone-can-die high stakes, the series owes more to the old-fashioned swashbuckling serials that inspired Star Wars or Indiana Jones than anything else. As for romance, a so-far incredible Season 3 has essentially uprooted and disassembled all of the show’s central relationships in ways that actually enhance the characters rather than frustrate them, and for every two minutes spent discussing the human heart, the body count increases by about four. Admittedly, TVD’s labyrinthine backstory requires a road map to follow, but anyone looking to get into TV’s most addictive horror adventure would do well to jump in from the beginning, because it’s a trip well worth taking.

the insider11 Best Shows of 2011

#4: ‘Vampire Diaries’

Don’t let the blood-sucking title or network throw you off – while The Vampire Diaries may contain all the good-looking characters and lascivious plots you’ve come to expect from The CW, it also boasts Emmy-worthy performances and a speedy storytelling pace that manages to leave you both breathless and up-to-date.

You’ll come for the exclamation points (sex! scares! Somerhalder!), but end up staying because of the deep emotional connections these characters share with one another, and by extension, the audience. Relationships that account for the show’s addictive quality.

Any fan will testify that the swell of emotions which bubbled up inside of them watching Caroline fall into the arms of her best friends after a truly terrifying torture scene in February’s Daddy Issues is the reason they keep returning to Mystic Falls.
Best Episode: The Sun Also Rises

buddytvThe 11 Best Returning TV Shows of 2011

#7 The Vampire Diaries

No show keeps fans more on their toes than this one, and 2011 had a lot of new and exciting twists as Original Vampire Klaus entered the picture, Aunt Jenna died, Stefan turned evil, Elena and Damon grew closer, the ghosts of Jeremy’s dead ex-girlfriends returned and there were more deaths than ever.

eonlineTop 10 TV Dramas of 2011

3. The Vampire Diaries (CW)

The addition of the Originals and the fact that executive producers Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec are not afraid to kill off main characters make for a deliciously twisty show each and every week. Plus, their cast is just so damn good-looking!

thetvchickBest Television of 2011

BEST TWISTY DRAMA:

The Vampire Diaries: This CW stronghold had a stellar end to season two and an even more juicy start to season three. We saw the evil side of Stefan (the Ripper), a more vulnerable side to Klaus (if there is one) and the history of the originals. We also were introduced to Mikael (Klaus’ dad) and Rebekka (Klaus’ sister). Rebekka ranks up there with Caroline in the level of vampire-love I have for these kick-ass ladies and I can’t wait for more twisty, mythological Mystic Falls goodness come 2012!

televisionwithoutpityBest of TV 2011 – Where to Eat, Shop, and Kill

Best Place to Murder Teenagers and Get Away with It
Mystic Falls, Virginia, The Vampire Diaries
Head over to Mystic Falls High School for the easiest kills (especially if your preferred victims are prank-happy high school students), since they don’t give a lick about security over there. Just one thing: We can’t guarantee your victims will stay dead.

tv.comTop 10 Televised Happenings

9. The Vampire Diaries’ teen drama transcendence

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when The Vampire Diaries transformed itself from a trendy vampire romance cash-in to the riveting, clever, massively entertaining adventure saga it is today. Was it the release and subsequent mass murder of an entire tomb full of Civil War-era vampires? Was it the surprise reappearance of the protagonist’s evil doppelganger? Or was it the arrival of a 1,000 year-old vampire and his killing of three (!) characters? Again, hard to say. All we know is The Vampire Diaries is no longer a stereotypical CW teen drama, it’s something much weirder, more complicated, and far grander than anyone had any right to expect. And with the first half of Season 3 all aces so far (including its systematic dismantling of all the core romances), 2011 has definitely been a good year for handsome monsters in fitted tees and their surprisingly grown-up tales.

hitfixTV Top 10 of 2011

The Vampire Diaries named ‘TV’s *best* show about vampires and werewolves [Suck it, "True Blood"].’ Watch the video at the source.

buddytvThe 50 Best TV Episodes of 2011

#41 “Homecoming,” The Vampire Diaries

This show knows how to do twists, and when the plot to kill Klaus was implemented, all hell broke loose as Damon and Elena grew closer, Klaus killed his father and Stefan turned on Klaus.

tvguide2011′s Best Episodes

8. “The Sun Also Rises,” The Vampire Diaries
The second season’s penultimate episode was filled with tears, culminating in Klaus turning Aunt Jenna into a vampire before ultimately killing her. Worse, watching Elena lose her only semblance of a parent and knowing she was responsible for the death was wrenching. We’ve felt terror, hysteria, and laughed pretty darn hard while watching this show; this was the first time we sobbed.

zap2itFavorite Dramatic Episodes of 2011

Jean Bentley

“The Vampire Diaries” – “Klaus”: It took the better part of Season 2 to meet the ultimate bad guy threatening our favorite Mystic Falls residents, but it was so worth the wait. In “Klaus,” we finally met the evil half-vampire, half-werewolf hybrid played by sexy Brit Joseph Morgan. And since the introduction happened via flashback, there was plenty of long, luxurious medieval hair to go around. Plus: Clueless Aunt Jenna finally (FINALLY) found out about the vampires in her midst. Although it wasn’t as sensational as some of the series’ other episodes, “Klaus” was supremely satisfying and set plenty of wheels in motion for future shenanigans.

Carina Adly MacKenzie

“The Vampire Diaries” – “The Reckoning”: If I was trying to convince a friend to give “The Vampire Diaries” a chance, I’d make him watch “The Reckoning.” Written by the consistently phenomenal Michael Narducci, the episode exemplified “TVD’s” unparalleled ability to walk the line where surface suspense meets emotional consequence — all without forgetting that the characters in peril are teenagers. It was a major turning point for Stefan (Paul Wesley), who displayed that the powers of his humanity are just as strong, if not stronger, than the powers he has as a vampire … just before Klaus (Joseph Morgan) snapped and locked that humanity down. Wesley’s powerful performance created the foundation for Stefan’s story this season. Meanwhile, we found Matt (Zach Roerig) in a moment where his vulnerability, loneliness, and desperation collided in a fit of reckless bravery as he, for all intents and purposes, committed suicide to save the very friends who made him feel isolated in the first place. Of course, this was also the episode where Tyler (Michael Trevino) was turned into Klaus’ first hybrid, which will have dire consequences as the season progresses.

televisionwithoutpityYear in Review 2011 – Most Memorable TV Moments

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan the Ripper
This show could fill a whole list with memorable moments, since at least once an episode something insane happens. But watching Stefan drink package after package of human blood in order to appease Klaus and save his brother was magically delicious. Seeing him go on a murderous rampage afterwards was even better. We love him so much better when he’s bad.

examinerBest TV Moments of 2011

Tyler transforms on The Vampire Diaries. True, this first happened at the tale end of last year, but the biggest moments happened as he got more and more comfortable with his true self. In fact, we would argue that the biggest moment of that show was when he showed his mother (Susan Walters) what he really was in “The Hybrid.” His motives were pure– not to upset her or exert his own power over her, but because he wanted her to stop looking at and treating Caroline (Candice Accola) like she was a monster when he was the same. Or perhaps worse. It was a dark and beautiful moment made even more special by the turn he took when Klaus (Joseph Morgan) got ahold of him.

(there are a ton more posted over at Livejournal’s ONTD)