Fanggirls Bite on Vampire Diaries

Twilight aura shines on CW, which scores estimated 4.8 million viewers for series premiere

Twilight and True Blood have company. The CW just may have a lifeline.

How big was The Vampire Diaries' debut? And did the magic rub off on Supernatural's fifth-season opener?

Let's sink our teeth into last night's key TV ratings:

• The Vampire Diaries, 4.8 million viewers: Fanggirls deliver again. The series premiere doubled the combined audience of 90210 and Melrose Place. It lured more young women than America's Next Top Model. It pumped at least a pint of blood into the CW, which proclaimed it its most-watched launch.

• Supernatural, 3.4 million viewers: Maybe demons and vampires don't get along? Airing right after Vampire Diaries, the veteran series blew quite a bit of its lead-in, and lost about 600,000 of its own fans from last season's opener.

• NFL Opening Kickoff, 17.8 million viewers (from 8-11 p.m. ET): With all due respect to fangirls, pro football is the premiere prime-time power. It can even make NBC look huge.

• Big Brother, 7.6 million viewers: Up about 1 million voyeurs from last week. Yup, the finale is a-nearing.

Poll

Monster Mashup

Is Vampire Diaries a good match for Supernatural?

Yes. <I>Supernatural</I> will pick up more chicks this way.

Yes. Supernatural will pick up more chicks this way.

50%

No! Pair it up with <I>Smallville</I> again, please!

No! Pair it up with Smallville again, please!

27.9%

Don't care. I'm waiting for <I>Bones</I> and <I>Fringe</I> to return.

Don't care. I'm waiting for Bones and Fringe to return.

22.1%

Vote Now