The Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev celebrated her 21st birthday over the weekend with a few of her fellow castmates and CW compatriots. After Nina and the gang did their duty at the TCAs on Saturday night, they made their way to dinner in order to get their party on:

Yes, folks, this photo features Miss Dobrev drinking her first legal glass of champagne, a time-honored 21-year old birthday celebration. After the jump, check out a few more photos from Nina‘s birthday party and find out which co-stars came out to party with her last weekend …

Ian Somerhalder, former Lost hottie and current The Vampire Diaries hottie, paid a visit to a local NYC TV station this morning to promote Diaries which premieres on The CW tonight and to donate some of his precious blood at a blood drive organized in conjunction with his promo duties … behold:

On The Vampire Diaries, Ian‘s character Damon is a bad boy vamp who relishes in making blood withdrawals from his victims but in real life, it’s clear that he understands the importance of being a blood donor. So … lemme get this straight … he’s a hottie with a heart of gold … does it get any better?

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

Last week we got to check out a few pretty sweet promo pics from the new CW series The Vampire Diaries, which debuts this Fall, from a photosession titled Love Sucks. Today we get to check out a few more promo pics from the show — unthemed as far as I know but just as sexy:

Okay, so I really loved the photos we got to see last weekend but these new photos are nice as well. I especially like the one we see here. Elena‘s hair is all flowy and she is flanked by vamp bros Stefan and Damon … it’s gonna be fun watching these vamps fight over her affections. True Blood it ain’t but I’m hopin’ The Vampire Diaries will bring the drama nonetheless. After the jump, check out a few more promo pics from this new set of photos …

Here is our first look at a new set of promo pics released by The CW to promote their new series The Vampire Diaries based on the book series of the same name. Often referred to as Twilight for TV (even tho the books, written by L.J. Smith, were published many years before the first Twilight book hit store shelves), The Vampire Diaries tell the tale of Elena Gilbert who is torn between the love of two vampire brothers — the good one Stefan (played by Paul Wesley) and the bad one Damon (played by Ian Somerhalder):

Oooh steamy. This ad campaign has been titled Love Sucks and is all kinds of sexy. I quite like the top photo, it’s sexy and not too cheesy. It remains to be seen if this vampire TV series aimed at tweens (as opposed to HBO‘s True Blood which is aimed at adults) will be as successful as The Twilight Saga movie franchise but I’m sure The CW is gonna give it all they’ve got. After the jump, check out a few more promo pics of each of the three main characters — Elena, Stefan and Damon …

New and old actors from new and old CW TV shows made their way to the Gramercy Park Hotel here in NYC last night for The CW Upfronts afterparty … which was basically a chance for them to mix and mingle with one another in celebration of the upcoming season of their various TV shows. Here are a few pics of some of the folks who came out for the soiree last night:

Original Melrose Place alums Laura Leighton and Thomas Calabro were on hand to rep their “new” show, the much talked-about new version of Melrose Place (Ashlee Simpson was on hand to rep the show, too, but she didn’t look nearly as fab as Laura did). Some of the Gossip Girls kids were there as well (both Ed Westwick and girlfriend/co-star Jessica Szohr looked extra crispy). The stars of The Vampire Diaries were in the hiz as well … Ian Somerhalder was lookin’ especially cheeky in his dressed down attire. The CW has got some good-sounding programs coming our way this Fall — we’ll just have to see if they deliver. With the line-up they’ve got planned for this coming season, could Fall 2009 be The CW‘s best ever?

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

Earlier today we got our first look at the new version of Melrose Place which will air this coming Fall on The CW and now we get our first look at another CW series scheduled to debut as well. The Vampire Diaries is the TV adaptation of the L.J. Smith book series of the same name. Here are a few promo pics from the new series which features two vampire brothers (one good, one bad) who are each vying for the affections of a human girl caught in between:

“Vampire Diaries” is an adaptation of L.J. Smith’s novel series which tells about two vampire brothers, one good and one evil, fighting the passion for the same girl, Elena. Nina Dobrev will play Elena while the good brother, Stefan, will be played by Paul Wesley. The evil brother, Damon is played by Ian Somerhalder. It airs Thursdays at 8 P.M. before “Supernatural”.

I have not personally read these books but I’ve heard from many people that the series is very good and the TV adaptation is just as good. Vampires are really hot right now … it doesn’t surprise me that The CW would want to jump on the bandwagon and bring another vampire tale to the masses. The fact that Ian Somerhalder is cast as the bad vamp brother intrigues me to no end. I never really pictured him as a bad guy … in Buffy terms, I guess he would be the Spike to Paul Wesley‘s Angel (while Spike and Angel are not brothers, they are vampire family and did vie for Buffy‘s affections). This is deffo one of the new series I am looking forward to seeing come Fall. Ian Somerhalder on my TV screen? Yes, please. And you thought vampires couldn’t get any hotter.

[Source]

Former Lost hottie Ian Somerhalder has been out of the limelight for the past year or so but has just this week surfaced in Vancouver, Canada to press the flesh and sign a few autographs for fans. Last month we learned that Somerhalder has signed on to appear in the upcoming new series Vampire Diaries which is set to debut on The CW this Fall. Methinks that this surfacing is just the first in a slew of new sightings leading up to the debut of this new CW series:

Ian Somerhalder, who played Boone on ABC’s hit “Lost,” has joined the cast of the CW’s drama pilot “Vampire Diaries.” Variety says that Somerhalder is set to play Damon, a smug vampire who can go from playful to evil in a split second. Also joining the cast are Zach Roerig (“Friday Night Lights”), who will play the jock Matt, and Kayla Ewell (“Entourage”), who will play Matt’s sister. Previously announced cast includes Nina Dobrev and Steven R. McQueen. “Vampire Diaries,” based on a series of books from Alloy Entertainment, centers on a woman who falls for two vampire brothers – one good and one evil.

Thank Jebus, this man deffo needs to be back on the TV airwaves. I’m thinking that The CW is hoping that Vampire Diaries will be the Twilight of TV. They’ve scored a real boon (pardon the pun) by getting Somerhalder on board. I’m sure his return to television will be heralded by all the fangirls/boys out there how have been missing his rosy-cheeked countenance on the small screen. I am very much looking forward to more Ian Somerhalder in the weeks and months to come.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]