MTV just posted a short video and an article where Vampire Diaries’ Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore) gives credit to the Twilight phenomenon for making it possible for shows like the Vampire Diaries to make it to the small screen.

With the “Twilight” phenomenon remaining undead for quite a while longer and with “True Blood” taking over HBO again this summer, it was only a matter of time before the CW decided to adapt the cult-classic books “The Vampire Diaries” into a TV show. And, when the show does make its debut this fall, Twilighters everywhere will have another way to get their hot vampire guy fix.

“['Twilight'] is a huge phenomenon,” “Lost” alumnus Ian Somerhalder, who plays a vampire in the new show, admitted to MTV News. “Quite possibly and inarguably, yes [we have a show because of it], so I’m not going to complain. I haven’t seen ['Twilight'] yet, so I don’t know how it compares, but yeah, it’s good that they’re around.”

“Vampire Diaries,” based on the early-’90s young-adult novels by L.J. Smith, is the story of Elena (Nina Dobrev) who is torn between a pair of vampire brothers, the tortured and well-meaning Stefan (Paul Wesley) and the devilish Damon (Somerhalder).

“Vampires are very hot. It’s fun playing a vampire,” Somerhalder said. “You’re 200 years old. You can fly around. You can eat beautiful girls — well, you can suck on their neck. I don’t physically cut them up and eat them. That would be a little sick.”

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