James Marsters

Brainiac is coming back, and he’s looking to enlist an unwitting Lex Luthor in making the world kneel before Zod.

James Marsters is set to reprise his role as Dr. Milton Fine, the alter ego of supervillain Brainiac, on "Smallville" later this season. He heads a lineup of guest stars on The WB that also includes "Desperate Housewives" star James Denton, Nick Lachey and Kelly Carlson of "Nip/Tuck."

Marsters will make his return to "Smallville" in an episode called "Hypnotic," scheduled to air in the spring. In it, he’ll try to use Lex’s (Michael Rosenbaum) fixation on the spaceship as a way to free General Zod from the Forbidden Zone (the general’s two cohorts made an appearance in this season’s premiere). Click Here for More! Denton will make a return appearance on "Reba," playing the marriage counselor who stoked Reba’s (Reba McEntire) last season. The soon-to-be Miss America host will try to follow up on that mutual attraction when he shows up unexpectedly at Reba’s door.

Lachey, who had a recurring part on "Charmed" last season and is at work on a pilot for the network, will pop up on freshman sitcom "Twins" Friday, Feb. 24. He’ll play the new marketing director at the lingerie company, hired by Farrah (Molly Stanton). The episode is called "Himbo," so we’re guessing maybe his hiring was based on something other than his understanding of how to raise brand awareness in consumers.

Finally, Carlson will appear on "Everwood" as Ada, last seen on that show selling a fake ID to Ephram in a February 2004 episode. This time around, her character, Ada, will test Bright’s (Chris Pratt) ability to be faithful to girlfriend Hannah (Sarah Drew).