It Was So Good To See You: Guide to Guest Stars (Week of February 5) 

We are definitely in the middle of February sweeps when you look at how many great guest stars have been featured on many of this past week’s new episodes on the cable and major network dramas. This week’s article will be long because there were just so many great faces to focus on.

Let’s get started with Monday night’s dramas, starting with The Lying Game that featured actor Gil Birmingham as Ethan’s estranged dad who allowed Ethan and Sutton to hide out at his home on the Indian reservation. Gil is probably best known to movie goers as the dad of Jacob Black in the Twilight saga films, but Gil has a long and varied resume of TV and movie roles. He got his start in small roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and starred in the mini-series Into the West and the made-for-TV movies Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain and Love’s Long Journey. He also appeared in episodes of Charmed, Veronica Mars, Nip/Tuck, and Castle.

That same night over on Alcatraz, actor Jim Parrack showed up as the first prison guard from 1963 who miraculously returns to present day, looking to hunt down Rebecca’s grandfather. Jim, of course, is best known for his role on the vampire series True Blood, but prior to that he appeared in episodes of Supernatural, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Close to Home, and Grey’s Anatomy.

Tuesday night’s guest stars were plentiful, starting with Debra Monk and Tom Skerritt appearing as Elizabeth’s parents on White Collar. Tom, of course, is best known to TV viewers for his role on the critically-acclaimed series Picket Fences.  More recently, he has appeared on Brothers & Sisters and Leverage. Debra, on the other hand, is probably best known for recurring role of George’s mom on Grey’s Anatomy. She has also appeared in Damages, NYPD Blue, Glee, and The Closer.

In that same White Collar episode, actor Bailey Chase appeared as Sarah’s boss and the culprit behind the theft of a Stradivarius. Bailey was a regular on Saving Grace, but he has also appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ugly Betty, Las Vegas, and As the World Turns.

That same night, actress Meredith Baxter appeared on the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth as the mother of Kathryn Kennish. Meredith, of course, is best known as the mom of Alex P. Keaton on the long-running comedy Family Ties, as well as the drama Family and more recently a recurring role on Cold Case. She has appeared in countless made-for-TV movies such as A Christmas Visitor, The Betty Broderick films, and The Long Journey Home.

Sticking with Tuesday night a little longer – actress Clare Carey and actor Mackenzie Astin appeared in the 200^th episode of NCIS. Clare appeared in the black and white “It’s Your Life Dream” of Gibbs as his deceased mother while Mackenzie was the man for whom Gibbs and the team were hunting down for selling secrets to the Chinese and killing two of his partners in the process. Clare has appeared in TV shows like Chuck, Jericho, Coach, the short-lived series Point Pleasant, and Crash. She has also had guest roles in The Pretender, Charmed, Ally McBeal, Judging Amy, ER, Cold Case, Grey’s Anatomy, Army Wives, House, and Castle. Meanwhile, Mackenzie has been acting since he was a child – and is the younger brother of Sean Astin of Lord of the Rings fame.  Mackenzie has appeared in Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, Psych, House, Without a Trace, and got his big break on the latter years of Facts of Life. He also appeared in the made-for-TV movie Love’s Enduring Promise.

We’re not quite done with Tuesday night just yet as actor Currie Graham and actress Alana de la Garza appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles as diplomatic couriers who were hijacked. Currie has a long list of TV appearances including Raising the Bar, Boston Legal, Men in Trees, Desperate Housewives, NYPD Blue, and Suddenly Susan. Meanwhile, Alana got her first break on TV in the short-lived series The Mountain and followed that up with guest roles in Smallville, Charmed and then she eventually landed on Law & Order and CSI: Miami.

As we move over to Wednesday night, actor Jake Weber and Sutton Foster appeared on Royal Pains in an outdoor production of a Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Jake, of course, is best known for his role in the CBS drama Medium.  He also appeared in the short-lived TV shows American Gothic and The Mind of the Married Man. Sutton Foster is best known on Broadway, but has also appeared in Law & Order SVU and The Flight of the Concords.

Later that night, legendary actor William Devane appeared on Revenge as Conrad’s father. William also has a long resume of TV roles in 24, What About Brian, Phenom, and, of course, Knot’s Landing. He has also appeared in the Jesse Stone franchise made-for-TV movies.

Thursday night brought a new episode of the new CBS drama Person of Interest that featured actor Malik Yoba as a comic book store owner who turned out to be a dangerous numbers runner whose team of thugs killed a local guy. Malik is one of the regulars on the Syfy series Alphas, but has also appeared in the short-lived series Defying Gravity as well as New York Undercover.

Lastly, over on Friday night’s episode of Grimm, actress Amy Acker and actor Nicholas Gonzalez appeared. Amy appeared as a black widow spider-soccer mom who, in order to stay young and beautiful, had to feed on young men every 5 years while Nicholas was her first victim in the ritual. Amy, of course, is best known for her role on the cult-favorite Angel, but she has also appeared in No Ordinary Family, Dollhouse, Alias, and the short-lived Happy Town. She has also made guest appearances on Supernatural, How I Met Your Mother, October Road, The Good Wife, and Human Target. She was also seen in last year’s Dear Santa made-for-TV movie.  Whereas, Nicholas got his first big break on Resurrection Blvd. and followed that up with a role on American Family and The O.C. Since then he has appeared in Ghost Whisperer, Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, True Blood, CSI: Miami and the short-lived shows Mental, Off the Map, and the Melrose Place remake.

Needless to say, it was a busy week for guest stars and I can only imagine who will show up on my favorite shows this week.  What familiar faces did you see on your favorite shows?  Please share.