When your show is in need of a ratings boost, the rule is to coax a known star to make an appearance. Faced with a meager audience averaging only around 4 million viewers per episode, is the casting of lead character Tru Davies’ father of the utmost importance for the struggling series?

In the currently untitled thirteenth episode of Fox’s ’Tru Calling,’ Tru (played by Eliza Dushku) will be reunited with both her father and her stepmother, FilmJerk.com has learned. And, in addition, the man who pulled the trigger and killed Tru’s mother 10 years ago resurfaces. According to our sources, the episode will film between January 6 and 15.

According to casting notes obtained by FilmJerk.com, producers are looking for an actor to portray Richard Davies, the estranged father of Tru and her two siblings. Listed as between the ages of 45 and 55 years old, Richard is a respected businessman who’s not a man to show his weak side. Described as both ’classy and menacing in his own way,’ Richard abandoned his kids after his wife (and Tru’s mother) was murdered, remarrying and starting another family.

In the soon-to-be-filmed episode, it’s his birthday and his current wife, Jordan, is throwing a little get-together; she thinks it will be the perfect opportunity to have his children in one room so they can reconnect. Although Tru’s older sister Meredith is still Daddy’s little girl, her brother Harrison will never meet his father’s expectations and Tru has never forgiven him for this. The part is billed as a ’large guest star’ role and producers’ intent is to sign a known actor to appear both here and in one additional episode. (As an aside, wouldn’t it be great casting to get Anthony Stewart Head, Giles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," for this role, to bring over more viewers from Dushku’s former series?)

Jordan Davies, Richard’s wife, is described as being in her late 30’s and both attractive and sweet. Tru believes that Jordan single-handedly destroyed her parent’s relationship, as he and Jordan were having an affair during his first marriage. But forced to spend time with Jordan at the party, Tru soon comes to realize that Jordan genuinely cares for her father. For her own part, Jordan is determined to help mend the broken bridge between Richard Davies and his kids.

In addition, and somewhat indicative of the show’s faltering writing, producers are casting a gunman in his late 30’s, who is an intense career criminal and is the one who murdered Tru’s mother. There are indications from our sources that this is the episode where Tru also finds out a secret about her mother that will help to clarify why she has been given these powers to go back in time to save others.

Through the first five episodes of the series, the series has come in fourth in its extremely difficult 8 p.m. Thursday timeslot for the network.

The Scorecard Executive Producers: Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse, Neal Moritz, R.W. Goodwin and Jon Harmon Feldman Writers: Not announced Director: Not announced Casting Directors: Barbara Stordahl and Angela Terry Start Date: January 6, 2004 Location: Vancouver Production Company: Millennium Productions/ 20th Century Fox Television Network: Fox