Erin Silver, the character that Jessica Stroup plays on 90210 (Tuesdays at 8 pm/ET, the CW), is perhaps the best evidence that the guys from Freaks and Geeks are running the show now. She’s sarcastic, creative and fiercely independent, a Gen-Y teen who takes her grievances to the Web, and they usually involve more than the typical boyfriend and fashion angst. Silver is also a link between the old and new series, as she’s the offspring of Kelly’s mom and David’s dad. Tuesday’s episode will explore one source of Silver’s anger: Her mom (Ann Gillespie) is off the wagon again! Stroup tells us about keeping her 90210 identity secret, what Jennie Garth told her about fame, and why she loves vampires. — Mickey O’Connor

TVGuide.com: First question everyone had: How is this a spin-off? Little did we know, you were the link all along!
Jessica Stroup: Yup. My character was originally named Daphne Silver, and everyone was asking, is she Erin? So I would just be coy about it, hint at it. Early on, we were shooting a scene where Jennie [Garth] comes over and takes a french fry from me. In one take, the director wanted me to call her “sis,” and Jennie was like, “Why would she call me that?” She didn’t even know I was playing her sister.

TVGuide.com: Also, in an early script, Silver was kind of risqué, she was compared to Tila Tequila. Now she’s kind of an online mean girl. Tell me about her blog.
Stroup: It’s called The Vicious Circle. [The producers] basically gave me free reign. They gave me a microphone, a camera and a blue-screen. I put on wild fake eyelashes and streaks on my face. It is very lightly scripted, with some degree of improv. It uses animation and puppets — it’s so fun!

TVGuide.com: When Silver’s mom falls off the wagon, she moves in with her sister Kelly. But where’s Mel [her dad]? Where’s big brother David? Any chance they’ll come visit Silver?
Stroup: There’s a mention of Mel in one of the scripts. I met Brian Austin Green for the first time in a Coffee Bean. I saw him, and I thought, I have to talk to him. He thought I was a fan. Of course, I did gush a little bit. I’d love to work with him.

TVGuide.com: Have Jennie and Shannen given you any advice?
Stroup: Both have been incredible to me — and to the rest of the cast. Coming from where I’m from, I love my privacy and security and my friends, but being in the entertainment industry, I have to understand that I’ve never hit a mark where the press wants to know who I am. I welcome it, and I’m excited about it, and hopefully it means that I’m doing good work. I talked to Jennie about it. On one of our longest days, I was kind of in a daze in the makeup and hair trailer and she came over and said “You know, kid, you’re doing great and I’m proud of you, and I’m excited to work on the show with you.” So she’s kind of like a big sister to in me in real life. Shannen is hilarious. At our launch party, she came in, and people were wondering, “Where’s the drama?” There is no drama; they’re over it. I love hanging out with Shannen; she just cracks me up.

TVGuide.com: So is Silver the student with whom Ryan Eggold’s character, Mr. Matthews, is rumored to be having an affair?
Stroup: I haven’t heard that rumor. Silver is probably the one character who wouldn’t be flirting with him. But he’s a real interesting character, and has some cool storylines coming up.

TVGuide.com: We hear a lot about the love triangle among Annie, Naomi, and Ethan. Will Silver find love?
Stroup: Well, Silver’s not asexual; she’s interested in boys, and she has a crush at some point. Let me say that I have shot a few scenes with boys. [Author's note: New rumor! We hear Silver will be pursuing Dixon in the coming weeks.]

TVGuide.com: I just watched True Blood. You have a nice little opening scene there in the premiere. Have you seen it?
Stroup: I saw it on YouTube. [Laughs] I loved it, and I love vampires, and people ask if I’m going to come back. All I will say is: Alan Ball, I think you’re a genius. I would die to become a vampire. If you want to have me come back on, I would always be so grateful. I’m so excited for that show. It was one of the moments where, even though it was a small scene, I jumped at the opportunity.

TVGuide.com: Are you going to be doing any more episodes of Reaper? And, um, can you tell us now if your character was supposed to be the spawn of Satan?
Stroup: I owe those guys so much, because it, along with my work on Grey’s Anatomy, opened my eyes to TV. I don’t think I will be going back, but I desperately wanted her to be The Devil’s daughter. There was never a confirmation or denial, but I wanted her to seem gradually crazier and crazier and a little evil. In my mind, I’m saying yes.