Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Parenthood: What was once linked to both Maura Tierney and Helen Hunt, now belongs to Lauren Graham. The Gilmore Girls actress has officially been cast as Sarah Braverman in NBC’s Parenthood. Tierney was originally supposed to play the single mother of two teenagers before she was sidelined with breast cancer. A failed deal then kept Hunt from taking over the part.

Cougar Town: We’ll soon have a few guests traveling through Cougar Town. Rachel Harris, formerly on ABC’s In the Motherhood, will make an appearance as a Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox) nemesis. Meanwhile, Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) will star as a Harris’ husband.

Criminal Minds: The bloodsucker obsession has now reached the CBS drama. Next month, singer Gavin Rossdale (a.k.a. Gwen Stefani’s husband) will play a goth rocker version of himself. Oh - and he’ll also have a connection to vampirism. The musician will hit the stage on November 11.

How I Met Your Mother: Although she’s already had a wedding, we’ll finally see Lily’s father for the first time this fall. Comedian Chris Elliott will be featured in a Thanksgiving-themed episode of the show as the estranged parent. The SNL alum will bring awkwardness to the family holiday on November 23. Meanwhile, The O.C.‘s Rachel Bilson will be making a possible pivotal visit in the series’ 100th episode—an episode that will get Ted “as close to meeting the mom as he’s ever before.” Hmm…

30 Rock: Now that she’s dumped Jon Hamm, it’s time for Liz Lemon to meet other neighbors in her building. Who’s been living above her? The Daily Show‘s Nate Corddry—the man she wants to see move out. (She’s hoping to convert her apartment into a duplex, natch.) Corddry will show up on Week 6.

Grey’s Anatomy: Owen and Cristina may have been going to therapy, but

someone could ruin their progress. Lipstick Jungle‘s Kim Raver has been given a recurring role as a surgeon—and a possible woman from the hunky doctor’s past. She’ll begin stirring up trouble at Seattle Grace on November 12.

24: Stephen Root will go from being strapped to a lawn chair in True Blood to cuffing the bad guys on FOX. The actor will join the show’s cameo-filled eighth season as Ben Prady, a Department of Corrections officer working on a missing parolee case. The show will return on January 17.

(To get a look at TV Envy’s 2009 Fall Programming Schedule, click here.)