With its “Casting Clack” post, CliqueClack brings you a summary of the TV casting news released throughout the week, be it the addition of a series regular, a new recurring cast member, a guest star, or even someone making a cameo.
Be warned, the casting news after the jump may contain slight spoilers about the roles the actors will play.
This week, we have casting news for: 30 Rock, Brothers & Sisters, Doctor Who, ER, Ghost Whisperer, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, Samantha Who?, Smallville and The Big Bang Theory.
Tony Award winner Patti Lupone will guest star as Frank’s mother on 30 Rock. [Source: The Ausiello Files]
Trouble is coming to Brothers & Sisters in the form of Eli Stone‘s Matt Letscher. His character, a recent widower, will befriend Kitty at a time where she questions her marriage to Robert and her future. [Source: The Ausiello Files]
Bionic Woman‘s Michelle Ryan will guest star on a Doctor Who special set to air this spring on BBC One. In the special, titled “Planet of the Dead,” the actress will play a mysterious woman named Lady Christina de Souza who joins the Doctor. [Source: TV Guide Online]
Our dreams have come true! After months of saying he would not return to the TV series that made him popular, George Clooney changed his mind and agreed to appear in an upcoming episode of ER. What could be better than Clooney back as Doug Ross? Having Julianna Marguiles appear in Clooney’s scene as Carol Hathaway! This is great news for all Ross+Carol shippers out there! [Sources: Watch with Kristin, The Ausiello Files and Korbi TV]
Melinda Gordon, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, better watch her back because Hilary Duff will play a “beautiful woman of mystery” on an upcoming episode of Ghost Whisperer. Not much is known about Duff’s character but you can bet that she’ll be somewhat involved in the case-of-the-week plot either as the ghost, the murderer or one of the ghost’s family members. [Source: The Ausiello Files]
Every time a casting announcement is published about someone being cast as a love interest for Ted, people wonder if the person will turn out to be the mother. Add the following announcement to the lot: That ’70s Show Laura Prepon is set to play a love interest for Ted in at least two episodes (Ausiello says it’s five episodes while TV Guide claims it’s two). Prepon’s character is said to be “notorious for cheating on her lovers to avoid having to explain why she’s dumping them” and is actually someone Ted dated while in college. [Source: The Ausiello Files and TV Guide Online]
Lance Henriksen has been tapped to play Sheriff Clay Boyd, an intense sheriff who’ll help Gibbs and his team work a case, in a NCIS episode set to air in February. In the episode, the team goes to the Arizona desert when an NCIS agent turns up dead. [Source: TV Guide Online]
A few weeks ago, we told you that Billy Zane would take over the role of Funk on Samantha Who?. Now that Sam and Funk will be officially dating, in comes Funk’s ex-wife Gigi. The latter will be portrayed by Women’s Murder Club Angie Harmon. Supposedly Gigi plays a critical role in the show’s mythology. Could it be that Gigi was involved in the accident that lead to Sam’s amnesia? Maybe she is even the one who caused the accident? [Source: The Ausiello Files]
Chloe and Clark will each have a wish granted when magician Zatanna, to be played by Serinda Swan, appears in episode 17 of Smallville. Chloe wishes to get control over Lois and ends up being in Lois’ body for most of the episode. It’s unknown what Clark’s wish is. [Source: TV Guide Online]
Not too long ago, it was announced that Sara Gilbert was upped to series regular on The Big Bang Theory. Yet, she is practically nowhere to be found on the show. Turn outs that Gilbert is no longer a regular but a recurring as writers were not able to give her character enough story to have her appear in more episodes. [Source: The Ausiello Files]
If you want to learn more about the actors and their roles, click on the source links at the end of each entry.
Clacked by Isabelle Carreau 
on Jan 25, 2009 @ 18:00 EST5EDT
