Hey, have you seen any promos for Mercy on NBC lately? It's like they forgot the show was premiering in just a couple weeks. Usually the marketing machine is running into overdrive right about now.

For those who may be planning a volley of comments about how stupid I am, please note that the preceding paragraph is dripping with sarcasm. If you can't see it, perhaps you don't have the right fonts loaded. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. If you have seen the promos, I'll bet you haven't seen Captain Janeway prowling around the hospital halls, have you?

That's because Kate Mulgrew just joined the cast of Mercy. She'll be playing the mother of main character Veronica, played by Taylor Schilling. Mercy's already been getting some good buzz, and you just know NBC is looking for their next ER. Could Mercy be it? Or better yet, their Grey's Anatomy? It already appears to have a more personal slant, if Mulgrew's addition means anything.

Since Star Trek: Voyager wrapped, Mulgrew hasn't had a regular series role other than the short-lived The Black Donnellys. She's far too talented an actress to just leave in the actors' unemployment line in Hollywood. From the previews I've seen, Veronica is an intense and tortured personality. If Mulgrew just played the character the way she did Kathryn Janeway, it'd provide a perfect maternal foil.

I was fully prepared to dismiss Mercy as yet another hospital drama; meaning I've seen it all before. I still may. But I keep reading great things about the strength of the pilot, and now they snag a great actress to add a family element to the show. If it's a regular role, then I might be more interested. The only thing that can get my attention on a show like this is rich characterization.