In recent years, Merrin Dungey's TV credits have included Hollywood Heights, a multi-episode arc on ABC's Revenge and Better Off Ted. But many of us will likely always know her for her role as Francie Calfo in Alias. The character loved to cook and was often a sympathetic ear for Jennifer Garner's Sydney Bristow - at least, before (spoiler alert!) Francie got herself body-snatched. Dungey's next TV gig puts her in a well known zip-code. The actor has reportedly signed on to guest star in an upcoming episode of 90210, playing a therapist to one lead character who finds themselves in a bit of legal trouble.
TVLine reports that Dungey will appear in a February episode of the CW drama series, playing "a sympathetic therapist assigned to counsel Liam, who’ll be held at a courthouse after suffering some legal woes." Legal woes don't sound good, but on the bright side, he's getting some counseling.
I'm already picturing the creased brow and expression of concern and sympathy. As mentioned, when Dungey played Francie on Alias, sitting and listening to Sydney lament over her relationship issues - or whatever else was going on in her life - over some ice cream (anything but strawberry. Francie hates strawberry!) is a familiar mental picture to Alias fans. So, a therapist role seems particularly fitting for the actor.
The CW is getting most of their shows back with new episodes later this month. 90210 is set to return with the remainder of Season 5 on Monday, January 21 at 9:00 p.m., following the premiere of Sex and the City prequel series The Carrie Diaries.
