A new vampire in town. A likely werewolf revealed. And red hot sex between two main characters.

No wonder this episode was titled "The Turning Point," as The CW drama gave viewers plenty to think about until its return on January 14.

As you mourn the loss of entertaining Thursday nights over the next two months, let's go over the reasons why this was yet another outstanding installment of the best new show on television...

Brothers, united! When the show kicked off, there seemed to be nowhere to go with the Damon/Stefan relationship. The former sucked (literally!), while the latter wanted nothing to do with his brother. But we've seen a (somewhat) softer side to Damon over the last couple weeks; and tonight we got to see the Salvatores team up and battle a common enemy.

They may never truly be on the same side, but a good show finds interesting ways to develop characters and keep their interactions fresh. The Vampire Diaries is a good show.

Damon, thwarted again! Any Lost fan will find it ironic that Ian Somerhalder's character is once again obsessed with a mysterious apparatus in the ground. On Lost, season one ended with the opening of a hatch. On this series, Katherine's tomb has provided Damon with a purpose, one that might not be at the forefront of every episode, but the more he's denied entrance to it, the more the suspense builds and the more exciting it becomes when that tomb is unearthed.

Stefan's abs: Holy six pack! Stefan doesn't even need fangs. He carries lethal weapons around on his stomach everyday. How did Elena wait this long to jump his (ancient) bones?!?

Full moon, Tyler rising: Looks like we know the answer to a question we asked earlier this month. Does Tyler really not know what he is? Does his father have an idea, and is that the reason he urged Tyler to fight Jeremy, to bring out the creature that lurks inside his offspring for some reason?

We haven't even touched on Alaric as a vampire slayer (cool character, but can Matt Davis pull of the necessary intensity during certain scenes?); Or, of course, who/what the heck Elena ran into on the road. Any theories on this individual?

For now, we'll leave you with a few of our favorite quotes from The Vampire Diaries cast this week...

Elena: If you walk away, it's for you. Because I know what I want. Stefan, I love you. | permalink

Mayor Stratton: Do I look like a student?
Alaric: You look like a full-grown, alpha male douchebag. | permalink

Logan: I was one of you.
Sheriff Forbes: Now you're one of them. | permalink

Logan: I'm inflicted.
Damon: Welcome to the club. | permalink

First, Lost. Now, Chuck.

Within hours of ABC revealing that its mysterious drama will premiere its final season on February 2, NBC has made headlines of its own:

Chuck returns to the air on Sunday, January 10. In a two-day, 24-like opening, it will then move into its regular Monday night time slot - with a new episode - the very next day at 8 p.m.

Call your friends! (But, first, set your DVR accordingly.)

Coinciding with this move, Heroes will go back to 9 p.m. on January 11. First, though, a two-hour episode of that drama will air on January 4.

Ready to get both excited and depressed, Lost fans?

The countdown to the show's final season is on: ABC has announced that Lost will premiere on Tuesday, February 2.

The all-night event will kick off with a 60-minute recap at 8 p.m. This will be followed by the two-hour season six premiere; after that, Lost settles into its (new!) regular time slot: Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

Producers haven't revealed much, but visit our Lost spoilers section for some idea of what might go down in early 2010. We can't wait.

This could actually be good news for Ugly Betty fans, as the show has struggled on Friday nights and may now be the leading candidate to take over Eastwick's abandoned 10 p.m. slot on Wednesdays once that show goes off the air.

This is als a very good sign for V. ABC is yet to announce whether or not that show will return in 2010, following its initial four-episode run that wraps up next week. But it's very safe to assume that it will remain at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays; it's a perfect, Elizabeth Mitchell-led lead-in to Lost.

Forget Hanukah, Christmas or New Year's Eve.

The most exciting event in Decemer takes place on the first of the month. That's when Scrubs returns for its ninth season. Watch a clip from the premiere NOW.

When the new season kicks off, many changes will be afoot: J.D. only appears in six episodes; and Cox and Turk are in charge of a set of medical school students.

There's also another surprise for viewers, one they'll catch as soon as Elliot appears on screen. Wait until December 1 to be shocked, or click on the season premiere photos of J.D. and Elliot below for a sneak peek.

Patrick Dempsey might have a great head of hair, but Joel McHale has a message his fellow TV star:

You don't have Lauren Stamille!

Stamille played Derek's love interest on Grey's Anatomy for a few episodes. But the (Mc)dreamy one eventually chose Meredith over her character, leaving the beautiful actress free to get with McHale's Jeff on Community.

"So eat that, Patrick Dempsey!" McHale said.

In January, Stamille will reprise her role as Michelle, a teacher at Greendale. Turns out, she and Jeff have been secretly sleeping together for awhile.

"There's a strict policy about students dating teachers for legal reasons, as the dean describes it," McHale told E!, adding that Jeff and Michelle will have to report their dalliances after Pierce Tweets about their relationship.

Does this mean Britta is no longer a potential mate? Said McHale:

"Britta is obviously not wanting any part of me, so I have moved on - and I have found a woman who is a lot taller than her. In your face, Britta!"

CBS came out on top of last night's ratings game. Here's a rundown of shows and their numbers...

8 p.m.
Mercy: 7.8 million
The New Adventures of Old Christine: 7.5 million/Gary Unmarried: 7.2 million
Modern Family rerun: 6.2 million/The Middle: 7.1 million
So You Think You Can Dance results show: 5.7 million viewers
America's Next Top Model: 3.6 million

9 p.m.
Criminal Minds: 13.5 million
Modern Family (pictured): 9.2 million/Cougar Town: 7.9 million
Law & Order: SVU: 8.4 million
Glee: 7.3 million

10 p.m.
CSI: NY: 13.7 million
The Jay Leno Show: 4.8 million

As Glee sings and jokes its way to its first season halfway point, viewers are in for a lot more than heartfelt ballads and catchy group music.

On the December 9 mid-season finale, look for the show's baby drama to finally be resolved: Will will discover Terri's fake pregnancy, while Puck will be exposed as the father of Quinn's unborn child.

What will this mean for various relationships? We can't say. That's why it's called a cliff-hanger, people.

But Lea Michele can say a lot about what's to come for her character.

She told Entertainment Weekly that tension will soon arise between Rachel and Mercedes.

“They have been setting up a competitive thing between those two, and we deal with it. Rachel can’t always get the best part.”

Nor can she get Puck. Michele said there's no future plans for Rachel and the show's Jewish crooner to hook up again, much to her chagrin.

"I pushed and fought for a Puck-Rachel storyline because I love Mark so much and I wanted to work with him more. I thought Rachel should get some action. She has needs. She can’t be waiting all season for Finn. I thought it could be really different and not a pairing that people would expect... I don’t know of it coming up in the near future, but fingers crossed.”

We'll give Rachel some action! Oops. Did we just write that out loud?

Is the end near for Ugly Betty?

The show's ratings have been plummeting throughout season four, as its move to Friday nights may drive a nail into the comedy's coffin.

ABC is unlikely to yank the series of its schedule, but it's also unlikely to renew it for a fifth season. How is creator Silvio Horta preparing for such an uncertain future?

“Obviously, we all want the show to continue, but I don’t want to get caught off guard and have them tell me it’s the last season and have to wrap everything up in one episode,” he told Michael Ausiello. “So I have two season-ending arcs planned — one where it’s the last season and one where we continue for another one.”

If this is Ugly Betty's final season, how would you want the series to conclude?

We know on Monday's episode, "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap," two things are for sure:

1. Chris Elliot will be guest starring as Lily's estranged father, Mickey.
2. There will be at least one slap of Marshall's remaining slaps against Barney.

However, executive producer Carter Bays is still keeping his mouth mum about the exact details of the slap.  He says, "There’s a little bit of a twist on the slap this year.  The Slap Bet commissioner makes an interesting ruling that I can’t reveal."

We will give you a hint.  Marshall gives away his slap and it will be used by one of the other How I Met Your Mother cast members... or Lily's father.  Watch their potential slaps in action:

The next new episode of V is titled "It's Only the Beginning."

We just hope that title rings true. The ABC drama is one of the most exciting shows on television, yet it's fate is undecided.

Following Tuesday's installment, V goes on hiatus until March. That is, assuming the network picks up the show's remaining first season episodes.

Therefore, we urge readers to give this series a chance next week. Read our review of last week's episode to see why love it so much and check out the promo below for "It's Only the Beginning."

Click on the pics below for a closer look at scenes from the show's fourth - and hopefully not final! - episode...