Comings and Goings

Consider it the fall face-lift as veteran series add everything from new cast members and new names to new plot points. Here’s a look at some of prime time’s nips and tucks.

ABC

“Norm”: Artie Lange joins as Norm’s screwy half-brother. Nikki Cox, late of “Unhappily Ever After,” plays a former prostitute and Faith Ford is set for multiple episodes as a probation officer and Norm’s love interest. Sept. 22.

“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”: China Shavers joins the cast as a precocious witch. The teenage witch also finds romantic possibilities with a law student (David Lascher). Salem the cat even gets a new feline love interest, an arrogant witch-turned-Persian cat named Juliet. Sept. 24.

“Spin City”: Heather Locklear moves from “Melrose Place” to New York City to play Randall Winston’s new campaign manager. Sept. 21.

“Whose Line Is It, Anyway?”: Guitarist Linda Taylor will join the improv comedy series. Sept. 16.

CBS

“Chicago Hope”: The medical drama undergoes major surgery in its sixth season. Mandy Patinkin is back as heart surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Geiger; also joining the surgical team: Lauren Holly, Barbara Hershey and Carla Gugino. Sept. 23.

“Cosby”: Darien Still-Evans will be seen in the recurring role as Erica’s new husband. Sept. 29.

“Diagnosis Murder”: Joanna Cassidy joins the long-running series in the recurring role of the medical school’s administrator. Sept. 23.

“Early Edition”: Luis Antonio Ramos joins in a recurring role. Sept. 25.

“Martial Law”: The action-drama loses Louis Mandylor and Tom Wright. Gretchen Egolf joins as the new head of the anti-terrorist crime unit. Sept. 25.

“Walker, Texas Ranger”: Nia Peeples and Judson Mills join the cast, while Jimmy Wicek and Marco Sanchez depart. Sept. 25.

Fox

“Party of Five”: The ensemble drama loses Jennifer Love Hewitt to her own series. Wilson Cruz comes on board as baby Diana’s nanny. Kyle Secor of “Homicide: Life on the Street” will be recurring as Julia’s book editor. Oct. 5.

NBC

“ER”: The No. 1-rated series adds Michael Michele (“Homicide, Life on the Street”) as a resident. Maura Tierney of “NewsRadio” will play an ER charge nurse, while Ming-Na reprises her role as medical student Deb Chen. Paul McCrane’s Dr. Romano becomes a regular. Goran Visnjic will play a doctor who is a Croatian survivor of the Bosnian War. Sept. 30.

“Jesse”: The Christina Applegate comedy has undergone major changes. Gone are her father, brothers and friends. Now she’s attending nursing school. Darryl Theirse will play her supervisor and Kevin Rahm, a quirky doctor. Sept. 23.

“Suddenly Susan”: Judd Nelson is gone, and “Monty Python” Eric Idle is Susan’s new boss. New cast members also include: Sherri Shepherd as his assistant; Currie Graham as a star sports writer; and Rob Estes, as a celebrity photographer. Sept. 20.

“Veronica’s Closet”: Ron Silver departs as Veronica’s boss. Lorri Bagley joins as a young cocktail waitress who takes control of the lingerie company. Sept. 20.

“Law & Order”: Jesse L. Martin, who played Ally’s most serious love interest on “Ally McBeal” last season, joins the series as Det. Briscoe’s new partner. Benjamin Bratt has left. Sept. 22.

UPN

“Moesha”: Brandy’s real-life brother Ray J joins the cast of the sitcom as her cousin who comes to live with the family. Countless Vaughn, who played Moesha’s friend Kim Parker, has left for her own spinoff series, “The Parkers.” Already premiered.

WB

“Seventh Heaven”: Chaz Lamar Shepherd joins the family drama in the recurring role of the son of an African American reverend. Maureen Flanighan also appears occasionally as Matt’s girlfriend. Sept. 20.

“Dawson’s Creek”: Obba Babatunde will be Capeside High’s new principal. Nicklaus Lange will be recurring as a young man who works with Joey. Britany Daniel will join as an alluring new senior. Sept. 28.