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.