Long known for its soapy teen fare, The CW is taking risks with the three new dramas it's premiering in the fall. Only one of them is set in high school, and another was created with a completely different network in mind.

AOL TV was excited to learn more about 'Ringer,' 'Hart of Dixie' and 'The Secret Circle' from the stars themselves as they walked the red carpet at The CW's upfront presentation this morning.

'Ringer,' the new CW-by-way-of-CBS mystery series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar in a dual role, is much more serious and suspenseful than any show the network's aired in the past. Just don't expect any 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'-style ass-kicking. "Let me tell you something -- I'm not 18 anymore," joked Gellar.

Former 'The O.C.' star Rachel Bilson is also making her triumphant TV return in 'Hart of Dixie' as a big city doctor who inherits a small-town medical practice in the South. "There's a lot of twists in it, and there's humor ... and there's Scott Porter, which doesn't hurt."



The other new drama is 'The Secret Circle,' based on a book by 'The Vampire Diaries' author L.J. Smith and brought to TV by 'The Vampire Diaries' executive producer Kevin Williamson. Britt Robertson stars as Cassie Blake, a teen who moves back to her mother's hometown and discovers she has supernatural powers.

Jessica Parker Kennedy, who plays one Cassie's new friends -- also a witch -- explained, "The fact that some of us are good people and some of us are evil makes it interesting because we're forced to be friends even thought we don't want to be."

"It's definitely a sister show of 'Vampire Diaries,'" co-star Natasha Henstridge added.

Of course, The CW's returning stars are excited about the fall too. Paul Wesley said he's excited to play evil next season, but didn't agree with Ian Somerhalder's opinion that Stefan messed up by gorging himself on human blood in the finale. "I didn't mess up, I saved your life, man!"

As one of the only bubble shows that made it another year, the stars of 'Nikita' were grateful to have such a dedicated fan base clamoring to bring them back. "It's just cool to create something and have people connect with it," Maggie Q enthused.

Read more about The CW's fall schedule here, and watch preview clips from each of the new shows here.

Tell us: Which new show are you most excited for?

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