This just in: The CW puts the first [of many] nails into THE VAMPIRE DIARIES’ coffin.
Or at least that was our initial reaction to yesterday’s news that has the perennial fifth place network in preliminary talks with Kevin Williamson to develop a companion series to THE VAMPIRE DIARIES revolving around a group of [really good looking] researchers who investigate paranormal happenings. What’s more, it may in fact be the worst idea that the network has had since they gave the go ahead to that reality show about a farmer wanting a wife (Admit it, you thought we were going to say since cancelling EVERWOOD/ VERONICA MARS/ JACK & BOBBY didn’t you?)
Suffice to say, the art of running a show, or showrunning as it’s affectionally referred to in the “biz” is not just a full time job (See: The Showrunners). It’s a hair-losing, stress-inducing, social-life-killing, 22-hour-per day one that demands — with apologies in advance for our uninspired sports analogy — the showrunner in question to leave it all on the field.
Just ask Shonda Rhimes (GREY’S ANATOMY, PRIVATE PRACTICE, OFF THE MAP), David E. Kelly (ALLY McBEAL, BOSTON PUBLIC, THE PRACTICE) and/or Greg Berlanti, three incredibly prolific showrunners that would be the first to admit that juggling multiple shows isn’t easy. Said Berlanti to Variety on the 2008-2009 season that saw him overseeing DIRTY SEXY MONEY, ELI STONE and BROTHERS AND SISTERS ,”There were times I wanted to shoot myself in the head.”
Which is where our primary concern for THE VAMPIRE DIARIES lies. Unfortunately, Williamson has a very scary track-record when it comes to multitasking. From his reported inability to finish the Scream trilogy as a result of Teaching Mrs. Tingle to more recently dropping out of Scream 4 due to his commitment to THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, there is only so much one man can do. Even if the genius that is co-executive producer Julie Plec is planted firmly at his side. And we for one would hate to see the series that defied the sophomore slump by delivering a remarkably exciting and incredibly well written string of episodes make up for it with a lacklustre third season. 
