The NiceGirlsTV CASTING COUCH

This week the casting couch focuses on the men and women who have recently been cast in some of our favorite shows:

Film Actor Paul Giamatti (Rock of Ages and Sideways) will appear in the fourth season of Downton Abbey as Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) maverick and “playboy” brother Harold. Downton Abbey returns to PBS on January 5, 2014.

Actor James McCaffrey (Rescue Me) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Suits, playing Harvey’s (series lead Gabriel Macht) dad Gordon Specter. He will appear in flashbacks since fans of the show know Harvey’s father is deceased. Suits is back for its new season on the USA Network starting on July 16.

Actress Annie Potts (Designing Women) and actor Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) will pay a visit to the new ABC Family drama The Fosters. Potts will appear as Sharon, Stef’s (series lead Teri Polo) colorful and talkative mother who comes into town for a visit with the family while Collins comes to town as Stewart, Lena’s (series lead Sherri Saum) her old-school father who has a unique knack for diplomatically dealing with their big brood. The next new episode of The Fosters will air on ABC Family on July 1 at 9 PM.

Actor Andrew McCarthy (Pretty in Pink) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Unforgettable, playing Ari Sonnenland, a wealthy real estate developer whose 11-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. The wealthy businessman has the money to pay the ransom but is reluctant to accept help from the NPPD, turning to Carrie (series lead Poppy Montgomery) and Al (series lead Dylan Walsh) to help solve the case. Unforgettable returns to CBS on July 28.

Actor Eric Winter (The Mentalist and Moonlight) has joined the cast of the upcoming Lifetime drama Witches of East End, playing Dash, the JFK Jr.-esque fiancé of Freya Beauchamp (Jenna Dewan-Tatum’s reluctant witch. Winter is taking over the role from actor Patrick Heusinger (Royal Pains). The series will center on Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond) and her two adult daughters Freya (Dewan-Tatum) and Ingrid (Rachel Boston), both of whom unknowingly are their family’s next generation of witches. An official airdate for this new Lifetime drama has yet to be scheduled.

Actor Sendhil Ramamurthy (Covert Affairs and Beauty And the Beast) will also guest on an upcoming episode of Unforgettable, playing Philip, a hardened career criminal who serves as the leader of an elite team of thieves assembled by a mysterious player named “Kilborn.” Unforgettable returns to CBS on July 28.

Actress Rebecca Mader (Lost) will appear in Warehouse 13 for its fifth and final season, but details on what character she will play are being kept under wraps. The penultimate episode of the current season of Warehouse 13 will air on Syfy on July 1.

Please come back next week for more casting announcements!

Photo Credits: Paul Giamatti via IGN; Stephen Collins via Celebgreat and Rebecca Mader via Zimbio.