Welcome aboard

With heated competition from new fall series, several veteran shows have bid adieu to cast members and added new regulars to the mix. Here’s a look at some of the new faces.

“ER”: Former “Twin Peaks” star Madchen Amick will play a social worker who falls for the unlucky-in-love Dr. Carter. Also joining the medical drama is heartthrob Shane West (“A Walk to Remember”). Departing is Alex Kingston, who played Dr. Elizabeth Corday.

“Crossing Jordan”: Eugene Byrd of “8 Mile” and the current “Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid” is joining the Jill Hennessy series as a self-confident young medical examiner.

“Everwood”: Scott Wolf, who came to fame in the 1990s on Fox’s award-winning drama “Party of Five,” will be playing a doctor. Anne Heche is signed to play the town’s patron saint.

“Charmed”: Though his sitcom pilot for ABC wasn’t picked up, Nick Lachey, hubby of Jessica Simpson, is appearing in six episodes of the WB series as a journalist who writes Phoebe’s (Alyssa Milano) column while she is on leave.

“American Dreams”: NBC’s nostalgic series welcomes Ben Taylor, the singer-songwriter son of Carly Simon and James Taylor, as a love interest for Beth; Michael Rodgers will recur as the associate producer of “American Bandstand.”

“North Shore”: Shannen Doherty, formerly of “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Charmed,” joins the cast of Fox’s glitzy soap opera set in Hawaii.

“Scrubs”: Heather Graham plays a new psychiatrist at Sacred Heart Hospital in the irreverent NBC comedy series.

“The West Wing”: Jimmy Smits will play an ambitious Democratic congressman from Texas; Alan Alda will guest for 10 episodes as a Republican senator with presidential aspirations.