Fresh Faces for Fall

With the bulk of the fall shows on the major networks ready to either debut or make their season premieres this week, we here at NiceGirls thought it would be a good idea to focus on some of the fresh new faces that will be gracing our TV screens. Some of these newcomers have been ‘around for awhile’ (but still are only somewhat recognized by audiences) while some are getting their first big break with new or returning series.

Rueben’s Fresh Faces for Fall

Archie Panjabi

Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) – This new series will debut on CBS on Tuesday, September 22 at 10 PM. Archie Panjabi, best known for her role as Pinky in the big screen movie Bend It Like Beckham, plays Kalinda, the in-house investigator for the law firm featured prominently in the series. (CBS)

Zachary Knighton

Zachary Knighton (FlashForward) – Making its series premiere on ABC on Thursday, September 24 at 8 PM, this much-anticipated series chronicles the events that take place after every person on the planet blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, seeing glimpses of their lives 6 months in the future. Zachary will play Dr. Bryce Varley.  He was last seen in the horror movie The Hitcher with Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill). (ABC)

Christine Woods

Christine Woods (FlashForward) – Newcomer Christine Woods will also star in FlashForward when it debuts on ABC on September 24 at 8 PM, playing FBI agent Janis Hawk. She had a recurring role in the short-lived series Welcome to the Captain. (ABC)

Tabrett Bethell

Tabrett Bethell (Legend of the Seeker) – Tabrett will be joining the syndicated series Legend of the Seeker when it returns for its second season on November 7 (check your local listings for time and channel), portraying the Mord Sith, Cara, who will be a new traveling companion to Richard, Kahlan and Zed. Tabrett has two Australian films and theatre work under her belt; but this is her first big TV role. (Syndicated)

Agam Darshi

Agam Darshi (Sanctuary) – Agam will portray Kate Freelander, a swindler, con artist and theif who finds an unlikely alliance with Dr. Magnus (Amanda Tapping) on Sanctuary, which returns for its second season on Syfy on October 9 at 10 PM.  She has previously been see in the box office movie Snakes on a Plane. (SyFy)

Christopher J. Hanke

Christopher J. Hanke (Three Rivers) – As an accomplished theater actor, Christopher has performed on Broadway in numerous plays, including Rent and Cry Baby.  But , this is his first foray into television.  He will play Ryan Abbot, an inexperienced new transplant coordinator for the preeminent transplant hospital in the country, located in Pittsburgh for which provides the show its name.  Three Rivers will have its series premiere on October 4 at 9 PM. (CBS)

David Blue

David Blue (Stargate Universe) – Being best known for his recurring roles on Ugly Betty and Moonlight, David will be seen in the much-hyped Syfy series Stargate Universe, starring as Eli Wallace a technology wunderkid brought into the Stargate world to held solve a power dilemma within the Chevrons; the codes which allow the Stargates to operate.  Stargate Universe will debut on October 2 at 9 PM. (SyFy)

Katie Cassidy

Katie Cassidy (Melrose Place) – Being an actor is part of Katie’s heritage, being the daughter of 70’s hunk David Cassidy, niece to Shaun and Patrick Cassidy and granddaughter of legendary screen actress Shirley Jones. Most recently seen in the short-lived CBS series Harper’s Island, Katie can now be seen as Ella Simms, a publicist who wants to the reach the top at any cost.  Melrose Place can currently be seen on the CW on Tuesday nights at 9 PM. (the CW)

Travis Van Winkle

Travis Van Winkle (90210) – Travis will portray Jamie, a football player and frat boy who crosses paths with Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord) on 90210, which airs on Tuesday nights on the CW at 8 PM.  Travis was previously seen in the spoof movie Meet the Spartans. (the CW)

Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale (Glee) – Playing Artie Abrams, the bespecled, guiltar-wielding, wheelchair bound glee club member, Kevin McHale has the unenviable task of playing against type (so to speak); but he does it will aplomb and, well, glee.  Check out this new series on Wednesday nights on FOX at 9 PM. (FOX)

Smith Cho

Smith Cho (Ugly Betty) – Korean actress Smith Cho is expected to portray Betty’s new officemate when Ugly Betty returns to ABC on October 9 at 8 PM.  She will also be seen in the mid-season comedy 100 Questions.  Her previous work was on the short-lived NBC series Knight Rider. (ABC)

Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer (Glee) – This fresh faced 19-year-old from Fresno has been thrust into the limelight by his portrayal of loveable, talented effeminate Kurt Hummel on the ridiculously silly and addictive FOX series Glee, which airs on Wednesday nights at 9 PM.  This is Chris’ first big break into the business. (FOX)

Daniela Ruah

Daniela Ruah (NCIS: Los Angeles) – A well-known actress in Portugal, Daniela stars as Special Agent Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, which debuts on Tuesday, September 22 at 9 PM on CBS.  The series delves into the world of undercover surveillance through a division of NCIS known as the Office of Special Projects.  This is Daniela’s first big American role. (CBS)

Maiara Walsh

Maiara Walsh (Desperate Housewives) – Playing Ana Solis, the sexy, conniving niece of Carlos Solis (Ricardo Chavira) on Desperate Housewives, Maiara has been made a series regular this season (after appearing in 3 episodes last season).  The series will return for its 6th season on Sunday, September 27 at 9 PM.  Her previous work was on the Disney Channel‘s series Cory in the House. (ABC)

Dawn Olivieri

Dawn Olivieri (Heroes) – Dawn will portray carnival worker Lydia, who is an empath with mysterious body tattoos that move and change, on Heroes when it returns to NBC on Monday, September 21 at 8 PM. S he made guest appearances on shows like Stargate Atlantis, Knight Rider and My Boys, but this is her first major TV role. (NBC)

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett (Friday Night Lights) – When the critically-acclaimed series Friday Night Lights returns to DirecTV for its fourth season on Wednesday, October 28, Jurnee Smollet will join as a recurring cast member, playing Jess, the daughter of a onetime NFL hopeful who knows the game and helps raise her siblings with the help of her father.  She was last seen as Samantha in the box office movie The Great Debaters. (DirecTV/NBC)

Aimee Garcia

Aimee Garcia (Trauma) – Aimee will star as helicopter pilot and former Iraqi vet Marisa Benez in Trauma, which debuts on NBC on Monday, September 28 at 9 PM.  The series focuses on medical first responders in San Francisco who reach emergency victims by land, sea and air.  Aimee is probably best known for her role of Veronica in The George Lopez Show. (NBC)

Logan Huffman

Logan Huffman (V) – Starring in the remake of the 80’s classic series V about out-of-this-world visitors whose ships descend on major cities around the globe, declaring they come in peace – which will debut on ABC on Tuesday, November 3 at 8 PM -newcomer Logan Huffman will portray Tyler Evans, son of Elizabeth Mitchell‘s (Lost) character, FBI agent Erica Evans.  Logan was last seen in the independent movie Lymelife. (ABC)

Bethanne’s Fresh Fall Faces

Mark Pellegrino

Mark Pelligrino (Supernatural) – Mark is on board for Supernatural’s fifth season playing Lucifer. Mark appeared in the show’s season premiere on Sept. 10th on the CW. We do not yet know if this will be Supernatural’s final season, but we do know that this season is the most highly anticipated of all for the show. Lucifer is loose in the world and it will be up to the boys to gather the forces together that will defeat him.

Willie Garson

Willie Garson (White Collar) – Although he’s recognizable as one of Carrie’s BFF’s on Sex and the City, White Collar marks Willie Garson’s first regular role on a series. Willie plays Mozzie, Neal Caffrey’s best friend on the show. He has deep connections in the criminal underworld and can get just about anything for Neal, from classified secrets to cutting edge technology. (USA)

Steven R. McQueen

Steven R. McQueen (The Vampire Diaries) – Steven plays Jeremy Gilbert, Elena’s brother on the show. Jeremy is a troubled teen on a dangerous and self-destructive path since the death of his parents. (CW)

Nina Dobrev

Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries) – Nina is Elena Gilbert on the CW’s new hit series. Still reeling from a tragic incident, Elena heads into the new school year hoping to just look normal, even if she doesn’t feel normal. Instead, she becomes the focus of the two vampire brothers, Damon (Paul Wesley) and Stefan (Iam Somerhalder). (CW)

Jamie Ray Newman

Jamie Ray Newman (Eastwick) – Jamie will play Kat Gardener on the ABC series Eastwick, premiering Sept. 23rd. Kat wants a change in her life. A nurse, she possesses natural healing abilities and has an uncanny green thumb. But her powers can be destructive too, as she discovers when Raymond, her unemployed husband who spends his days observing life from a hammock with a can of beer, becomes their unintentional target. (ABC)