Alyssa Milano: it’s one of those names that has stuck around since the ‘90s for no apparent reason. Was she on 90210? Nope, Melrose Place. Step by Step? No, Who’s the Boss!
Regardless of Milano’s past fame, we’ll be seeing a lot of starting soon, since TV Guide’s Ausiello reports that she’s signed on for a guest apperance on My Name is Earl. Ausiello’s source says she’ll be there for an 8-episode arc, though a show insider says it’ll only be three. Either way, anyone who hasn’t gotten over the cancellation of Charmed can finally get their Milano fix.
Milano’s not the only news in casting, either. Ausiello also reports that Jessalyn Gilsig, most recently on Nip/Tuck, will join the cast as Tami’s (Connie Britton) hip, single sister on Friday Night Lights; it will be a recurring role, and bound to put some more pressure on Tami, given that she’ll already be dealing with a long-distance relationship with her husband. You may also remember Gilsig from a three-episode stint she did on Heroes, as Meredith Gordon, or from a few episodes from the very beginning of Prison Break, where she played Lisa Rix. Basically, this woman is all over your television, and not going away anytime soon.
And finally (Ausiello had a big scoop day!), Henry Thomas-- best known as “Elliott” if you croak it in an E.T. voice-- will join the cast of Without a Trace, as Jack Malone’s (Anthony La Paglia) nemesis. Surprising to anyone who’s not a diehard Thomas fan, he’s actually been acting consistently since E.T. made him an icon, but in movies that no one has ever heard of (The Hard Easy? The Last Sin Eater?) His stint on Without a Trace will be his first major TV series appearance, though, and who knows? Maybe E.T.’s best friend will find his calling and become the new Neil Patrick Harris of the airwaves.
