James Van Der Beek will guest star on an upcoming episode of 'Law & Order: CI.'

According to TVLine, the 'Dawson's Creek' veteran will play Rex Tamlyn, described as an "overconfident, hard-partying playboy." The character is a partner in a Facebook-esque website that's devoted to hooking people up for fleeting romantic trysts.

Like 'The Social Network,' there's a lawsuit around the idea of the site, but with this case there are a few murders mixed in. It's 'Criminal Intent,' what do you expect? Thad and Trent Luckinbill also guest star.

Van Der Beek will appear in the ABC midseason comedy 'Apartment 23' as a fictionalized version of himself.

In other casting news ...

• Martin Short and Aidan Quinn will guest star on Showtime's 'Weeds.' Short will play an attorney and Quinn has been tapped to play the CEO of an investment firm. Other guest stars include Jennifer Jason Leigh, Lindsay Sloane, Pablo Schreiber, David Clennon and Gary Anthony Williams. [Showtime]

Charlie Sheen apparently isn't done making headlines today.

According to TMZ, 'Two and a Half Men' has just chopped four episodes from its production schedule. Following Sheen's Feb. 28 return, the show was scheduled to film eight more episodes to complete its eighth season.

Crew members are outraged, TMZ reports, with one worker telling the site, "We've been left in the dark and now we have no pay for four episodes and all we hear is that Chuck is saying, 'They're not my problem.'"

To his credit, sources told TMZ that Sheen said he would work beyond the scheduled wrap date, plus weekends, to make sure all eight episodes are filmed.

In other TV news ...

• The Grammys telecast scored its highest ratings in 10 years. More than 26.7 million viewers tuned in to the 53rd annual ceremony for a 10.0 rating in the 18–49 demographic. [EW]

• 'Law & Order' alum Jesse L. Martin will star in 'Hallelujah.' The Marc Cherry drama pilot, which "features musical elements," takes place in a rural town being torn apart by good and evil. "Fortunes change when a stranger comes to town, bringing justice, peace and possibly restoring faith." Martin will play "a mysterious, charming drifter" who crosses paths with said stranger. [Deadline]

• James Tupper is checking in to Seattle Grace one more time. The former 'Mercy' star will reprise his role as psychologist Andrew Perkins on 'Grey's Anatomy' for a multi-episode arc. [EW]

How did USA become basic cable's most popular channel? They found a formula that works, and they stuck with it.

This week sees the season premieres of USA's 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' (Tuesday's debut, introducing a new detective played by Saffron Burrows, marks the beginning of season 9) and 'In Plain Sight' (starting its third season on Wednesday). Both series feature USA doing what it does best: offering quirky crimefighters who nail bad guys even as their own lives are falling apart.

It seems like we have new casting news and/or rumors about Law and Order: Criminal Intent every week or so. Here's the latest.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio has been cast as the new captain on the show. She replaces Eric Bogosian who has left after a few seasons on the USA Network show. She'll join another new cast member, Saffron Burrows, who replaces Julianne Nicholson, who decided not to come back to the show after having a baby.

Fans of the Law and Order shows (all of them) are used to big cast changes and turnovers. When you have shows that last so long, you're bound to see characters leave and new ones pop up. Now it looks like we're about to have a new cast member on Law and Order: CI and an old one that won't be coming back.

Julianne Nicholson has decided not to come back to the show after leaving for a while to have a baby.

(S04E17) I don't want to seem like I'm not happy for Jerry but did we really need to know so much about him losing his virginity and by "so much" I mean anything at all? More importantly, I have to call BS on Jerry's glowing review of his opening night performance. In my many years of "intimacy," some experiences have certainly been better than others but none of them have ever made me nostalgic for my first time. Not that I don't remember it fondly, it's just not something I would brag about and I really doubt that anyone involved would describe me as caring, respectful or wonderful.

I must admit, Mr. Kelley had me at "THE United States Supreme Court." This was a real test for Alan. On one hand, how does he justify defending a man convicted of raping a child? On the other hand, how will his huge ego be able to pass up the opportunity to argue in front of the highest court in the country?

(S04E07) "The helmet threw me." - Carl Sack

I am starting to feel that my statements regarding the extreme disinterest I feel for Saffron Burrows and her character on Boston Legal are becoming repetitive. Therefore I am going to comment one last time on how extremely unsexy the kiss was between her and Alan. All I could think was how much hotter it would be if she were Rhona Mitra. From now on, whenever I feel a longing for Ms. Mitra while watching BL, instead of commenting on it, I will go and rent The Hollow Man instead.

James Spader has to be to television what Christopher Walken is to movies. How he can go from a defenseless, lovesick puppy to a slimy, lecherous shyster in the blink of an eye is an acting skill I would kill to have. Pamela Adlon is certainly sexy in her own way but as an actor, I would have a hard time putting the moves on Bobby Hill.

(S04E03) "The heart can be a bitch." - Alan Shore

I cannot begin this review without addressing how shocked I was with the opening scene. The very idea of a fifteen year old girl who contracts HIV made my jaw drop. I was shocked that a school would teach children that abstinence is the only effective way to avoid unwanted pregnancy and STD's. When I was in school (many years ago) we were taught that while abstinence is the best way to avoid the pitfalls of teen sex, condoms are a close second, especially when it comes to avoiding disease. As a parent, it concerns me that my daughter's school might actually teach this sort of thing. Thankfully, Alan pointed out where the blame actually lies...in the lap of the U.S. government. In an effort to please the conservatives who elected them, the Republicans refuse to give schools an option that would teach teens a realistic way to have sex responsibly. I know it's only a TV show but only a fool would think this kind of thing isn't happening in some parts of the country.

Everyone have their Boston Legal scorecards out? Good, because there are a few more changes to the fourth season line-up in addition to those already mentioned a few weeks ago. So, get those pencils ready.

If you recall from a few weeks ago cast members Constance Zimmer, Julie Bowen, Mark Valley and Rene Auberjonois were let go from the legal comedy-drama while John Larroquette was added to the cast. Now it turns out that Valley and Auberjonois will be returning for multiple episodes next season. Apparently Auberjonois' character, Paul Lewiston, will still be a senior partner at Crane, Poole and Schmidt; however, Valley's character, the very uninteresting Brad Chase (end editorial here), will go up against one of his former CS&P colleagues in court.