Posted by Red | June 23, 2009, 13:16 (EST) | 45 Comments
Category: TV Series
Well, this may well cause a few heads to explode in the fandom! Courtesy of The Televixen we have what may well be legitimate banner adverts for the Vampire Diaries TV series from the CW:
Kevin Williamson has told us via twitter that he thinks they might well be real, though this is the first he’s seen of them. If these are legit, it certainly looks like the CW are planning on playing up the sexy angle of the series, and going more True Blood than Twilight in tone. That’s no bad thing, as these banners express nearly twenty years worth of pent-up squee over that particular threesome for many fans. ;)
UPDATE: Because we’re seeing lots of varying reactions to these banner ads, we thought we’d set a couple of polls going to see what you guys think of them.
Loading ... Loading ...
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
1:41 pm on June 23rd, 2009
*dies* Ana(Quote)
1:45 pm on June 23rd, 2009
i like it by how come every promo image for this show only has those three on it? i mean is the show only gonna focus on them and the vamp romance cuz if it will then i wont watch it. its kinda unfair to all the other main characters. Katie(Quote)
1:48 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I’m pretty sure the other characters will get a look in – Jeremy certainly has his own storyline going on, and Bonnie’s psychic abilities will certainly make her role big. I think they’re just concentrating on the main trio for the ad campaigns, much like the blurbs on the back of the books concentrate on the love triangle aspect and don’t even mention the other characters. Hell, Dark Reunion is told mostly from Bonnie’s point of view, and she’s not even mentioned on the back of that book! So yeah, I think this is just making use of the main trio for the ad campaign. Red(Quote)
2:03 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Wow..what a way to promote. Set the ads like a porno advertisment :p Jezebel(Quote)
2:04 pm on June 23rd, 2009
They’re certainly eye-catching. :D Red(Quote)
2:05 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Yes, but was your head exploding the cause of death? ;) Red(Quote)
2:25 pm on June 23rd, 2009
:-0! Well Elena certainly isn’t acting all nicey-nice girl next door here! Glitterati(Quote)
3:09 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I think it’s brilliant. It has to be legit at lest the photoshoot because that’s definitely the three of them – nina, paul, and ian.
The third one is the hottest one, imo. I can’t believe I thought I might actually blush because I wasn’t expecting it! Scarlett(Quote)
3:11 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I’m just impressed that the lighting is consistent on the boys in the third one. That alone speaks volumes for the authenticity. It’s either real, or a damned fine photoshop. Red(Quote)
3:33 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I liked them, but I’m not so sure about them, I mean the artwork is good and the pictures are hot, that’s for sure, but imo it doesn’t feel like TVD, at least not the books, but after all The CW is well known for using racy ads to increase the raitings, I just wish that the series remain close to the books, but I’ll be watching for sure ;) Enyel(Quote)
4:05 pm on June 23rd, 2009
TVD goes poly? Sarah(Quote)
4:07 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Heh, it would have done if Katherine had had her way. ;) Red(Quote)
4:55 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I LIKE them, I’m just not sure I like them for TVD. It definitely seems like the producers are taking Twilight and True Blood and trying to make something from that. Adia(Quote)
4:57 pm on June 23rd, 2009
If they’re legit, the producers have nothing to do with them – KW said that they don’t see this stuff. This is all down to CW marketing. Red(Quote)
5:08 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I agree. They are definately hot, but they aren’t exactly TVDish.
But…they are hot. Especially that last one. Tara(Quote)
5:18 pm on June 23rd, 2009
…huh. Kinda odd, I’d have thought. But I guess it is a bit like the sometimes horribly random covers we get for books. Adia(Quote)
5:46 pm on June 23rd, 2009
of course^^ Ana(Quote)
6:21 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I like them! The third one is definitely hot, but the angling of her head is bothersome. It looks too stretched out or something. Still hot though! I like the second one too :) Amanda(Quote)
6:47 pm on June 23rd, 2009
They look like Trueblood banners. At least Twilight went with the feel of the books !
These are ok ! Sia(Quote)
7:54 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Understandably, there will be those debbie downers, but you gotta look at it from people who HAVEN’T read the books! It’s definitely exciting and not a a betrayal to enjoy this kind of hype if you like the books.
Overall, it’s the idea of the thing, and the fact they’re having fun with the idea of these two brothers fighting literally tooth and nail for this woman.
It’s sexy, plays to the fantasy that undoubtedly some people have had in mind. So, roll with it, you know?
But honestly, if people are a bit disgruntle, that’s okay.
Surely, there are other fans as captivated and excited that TVD is getting at least a proper marketing launch.
For me, this is 10x better than the basic promo they have up right now. Scarlett(Quote)
8:16 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Nina Dobrev is one lucky girl :D
They are HAWT and I love them (not so much the middle one cause the awful skin coloring reminds me of what they did to the pictures/photoshoot of the Twilight film :/ But people are right when they sat that it’s not TVD-ish. Hot nonetheless lol. killerchopsticks(Quote)
8:48 pm on June 23rd, 2009
8:53 pm on June 23rd, 2009
they are HOT! But I can´t relate to the books! The books are all very pure. She doesn´t even really describes a kiss!
But I don´t mind this change. Would everyone just notice Paul´s muscles?! Please?! OMVG!!! Sucker for Vampires(Quote)
10:16 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I’m always surprised when someone says the books are “pure” (or “vanilla”) – I re-read the first four recently and think I actually picked up on a lot more of the subtext than I had on (numerous) previous reads. I think the series is *incredibly* erotic, particularly between Elena and Stefan – it’s just *subtle*.
Do I think the ads are hot? I think the Red Light Vampire Special one at the top is especially effective in the way it’s framed and everyone’s a bit disembodied. The other two are a bit too ‘shopped for me, and the last one in particular takes things to a level that I’m left going, “Yes, well, what’s to look forward to now?”
I don’t mind having a run of sexy ads. (Honestly, fandom has made the above look vanilla by comparison throughout the years.) But I do find it interesting that these are the polar opposite in tone from the almost wholesome, romantic clips running on the CW. Makes me think that perhaps the network is acknowledging that this show’s fanbase might be more diverse in age and taste than originally assumed.
But sexy doesn’t always have to be so literal either. Give me a dramatic poster of Stefan and Damon looking like a couple of badasses and then we can talk. ;) Vee(Quote)
10:31 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I agree, sexy can be and should be subtle, but I just don´t see the books as erotic. Maybe I should read them again. But I don´t know…I like when it´s more in your face too. But I get it, not all books can be almost porn… Sucker for Vampires(Quote)
10:41 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Don’t LOVE them, but don’t hate them either. Doesn’t have the feel of TVD at all though, which irritates me.
I liked the middle one the best. Maybe because of the skyline. Nilly(Quote)
10:50 pm on June 23rd, 2009
“For me, this is 10x better than the basic promo they have up right now.”
You have no idea how many times we’ve heard that today – and it’s so true, print ad-wise. Vee(Quote)
11:20 pm on June 23rd, 2009
My thoughts exactly. Lily(Quote)
11:36 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Agreed. And from CW Upfront:
Ostroff promised, “Although a lot of what [TVD preview video] you saw today was set in the high school, [the story] really affects the whole town because the town was a town where vampires originally came and started, so much of the vampires start to come back.” Lily(Quote)
11:43 pm on June 23rd, 2009
I see where you’re coming from in your views, and I don’t disagree whatsoever, lol.
But for me, as someone who wants to see this show endure, we kind of have to make this kind of waves to lure people to watch the series.
Again, it’s marketing, and sure does it compromise some of the romantic feel of the books? Sure. Is it a little too graphics, yes.
But does every single one of them at first glance make you think Oh.Wow.?
For me it did for sure! It’s about first impressions, but yes it’s not really what the books are about all vamp!sex but it’s a harsh battle out there to remain somewhat on top of the game.
So for me, my excitement comes from the fact I’ve buried any ideas or attachments for looking at a mirror image of the books.
It’s like, listen folks, haven’t we gone over how much the series will not hold entirely true to the books? Are we not all interested and excited at the prospect of seeing the characters we love at least find its way on the screen in one form or another? I sure am.
I feel like the genre for vamps is saturated but doesn’t always have the common elements that add to its allure. True Blood clearly is heavy with the sexuality aspect of it. And Vampire Diaries looks like it will provide us with a heroine that will…*insert spoiler here* half way through the series which isn’t something that we’ve seen on television for a while.
I’m all set up for the fun of it :) Scarlett(Quote)
11:46 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Okay, this is me showing my dorkdom, but in the second banner, did ANYONE notice the TREE in the background? It reminds me of Katherine’s “tree” in the books! I wonder if it was done on purpose, it doesn’t look much like an accident at all. Scarlett(Quote)
11:56 pm on June 23rd, 2009
My thoughts really have nothing to do with how it ties to the books, truthfully – just personal taste. I work in marketing, so I’m more than aware what they’re aiming for here, and I know this is FAR from all of the angles we’re going to see pushed. Me? What I find sexy is two badass vampire brothers with a long, stormy history – now that we have the sex, I want the BLOOD. That’s what’s going to push MY buttons and I don’t think I’m alone in that.
So what I was trying to say is that the above totally has its place and will undoubtedly turn heads – but I’m looking for something a little different. ;) Vee(Quote)
12:03 am on June 24th, 2009
Hadn’t seen this particular quote – do you have a link? Vee(Quote)
12:16 am on June 24th, 2009
http://tv.ign.com/articles/985/985388p1.html Lily(Quote)
12:20 am on June 24th, 2009
Verrrry interesting. Thanks! Vee(Quote)
12:30 am on June 24th, 2009
Oh okay, I see ;) Well, I’m just about as impatient to see how everything turns out on the night it airs its pilot.
Everything is just a tease for now, lol. Scarlett(Quote)
2:04 am on June 24th, 2009
So ambitious, that Katherine!
I will hand over the money in my pocket to anyone who converts that third one into an animated banner of Damon’s arm coming up and shoving Stefan’s face out of frame. I will LOL for days. “Oh, yes, much more TVD!” Vee(Quote)
9:17 am on June 24th, 2009
Are these a bold answer to the readers’ wild expectations? Or just a misinterpretation? Do Vampire Diaries fans seek innocent love or just have a fetish with innocence? Either way, they ruin it :)
I think they are actually very funny(Love sucks?? :) before being unconvincingly hot (by the way, our new portuguese “Struggle” cover is, how shall I put it… innocently hot :) fada do absinto(Quote)
2:33 pm on June 24th, 2009
That? Would be awesome. :D
As an aside, how much money do you have in your pocket right now? ;) Red(Quote)
8:16 pm on June 24th, 2009
Right at this moment? A dime. BIG MONEY! Vee(Quote)
8:40 pm on June 24th, 2009
OMG, will you marry me?!
Can you tell I only want you for your money? ;) Red(Quote)
9:39 pm on June 24th, 2009
Well, the last book, Nightfall, is a little more “in your face” :)
I like things subtle too but, to be honest, I’m a little tired of the Mormon-Stephanie-Meyer-Vamps… Let’s bring the sexy vamps back… Come on, shirtless Ian Somerhalder is never enough for me… lol
BTW, I’m from Brasil too… And I always check your site “Sucker for Vampires” :P Tita Mirra(Quote)
10:35 pm on June 24th, 2009
Thanks! :D
I agree! bring the sexy vamps back!!! Sucker for Vampires(Quote)
9:21 am on June 25th, 2009
I concur. That would be amazing! Sarah(Quote)
6:15 pm on August 12th, 2009
Maybe I’m just pervy but… aren’t they all, er, topless in that blue one?
Although it bodes well for the possibility of seeing Damon with his shirt off at regular intervals. Charlotte(Quote)