Angel

Adrian Pasdar has joined the cast of "Judging Amy" and Sarah Thompson has come on board "Angel" as both veteran skeins prepare for the start of their fifth seasons.

Pasdar ("Profit") will appear in at least 10 episodes of "Amy," playing an assistant D.A. and potential love interest for Judge Amy Gray (Amy Brenneman). He’ll first show up in the CBS skein’s Sept. 23 season premiere.

Thesp’s other credits include "Touched by an Angel" and "Top Gun."

Over at "Angel," Thompson ("Boston Public") is set to appear in at least six episodes of the WB drama playing Eve, the new assistant to Angel (David Boreanaz) at Wolfram & Hart.

Casting comes in the wake of the departures of Charisma Carpenter and Vincent Kartheiser as series regulars. James Marsters, who played Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," had already been set to join "Angel."

Exec producer Jeffrey Bell said Thompson’s character "will be an anomaly at Wolfram & Hart in that she seems like a normal and well-adjusted young lady."

"She seems sort of too normal," Bell said, adding Thompson’s character "may or may not be a love interest for Angel."

"The goal is to have her be a consistent force in our characters’ lives," he said.

Entire dynamic of "Angel" will shift this season as the skein moves away from its creepy hotel setting and into a more workplace-focused atmosphere at the evil law firm of Wolfram & Hart.

"Visually the show’s going to look very different than it has before," Bell said. "And we’re trying to tell stories that are much more stand-alone and yet still resonate in the same way (with loyal fans)."

In addition to Marsters and Thompson, Bell said Mercedes McNab, who has made guest appearances on both "Buffy" and "Angel," will also be a recurring player this season.

"She has a history with Spike, and she brings a great sense of humor to the show," he said.

Bell is also hoping to attract several "Buffy" alums to make appearances this season, assuming the proper plotlines can be constructed.

Other credits for Thompson include "Malibu’s Most Wanted" and "Cruel Intentions 2." (As reported by VARIETY)