'Heroes,' 'Trauma' stars meet 'The Mentalist,' Jamie Foxx back on FOX

Lots of casting news in this afternoon's TV snacks. Enjoy!

Former "Heroes" star Jack Coleman will match wits with "The Mentalist" this fall. Coleman will play a wealthy murder suspect who catches Jane's (Simon Baker) attention because of his eerily calm demeanor. [TV Guide]

Speaking of "The Mentalist," "Trauma" and "Friday Night Lights" veteran Kevin Rankin is also guesting this season as Jane's no-account brother-in-law. He's also booked a guest role on HBO's "Big Love" as the son of polygamists. [EW/Hollywood Reporter]

One-time "In Living Color" star Jamie Foxx is involved in a new sketch-comedy show at FOX. He's executive producing a sketch show (working title: "The Jamie Foxx Project") that will star comedian Affion Crockett and debut sometime in the 2010-11 season. [FOX]

Frances Conroy will guest-star on Season 3 "United States of Tara." The three-time Emmy nominee is playing Max's (John Corbett) mother, a shut-in who has a "hoarding problem." [Showtime]

In development news, "Lost" writer-producer Elizabeth Sarnoff and J.J. Abrams are shopping a script called "Alcatraz" to networks, and NBC has bought a pitch from "Battlestar Galactica's" Ron Moore that's described as "an adult Harry Potter." [Deadline]

Dennis Miller will star in his first HBO special since 2006 this fall. "Dennis Miller: The Big Speech" is scheduled to air Nov. 19. [HBO]

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