Television fans, look out: Oscar-winning actors are taking over! And not just for a special cameo or a three-episode guest star stint, either. Movie stars are coming to TV in a big way ... as series regulars.

Why? Well, for a few reasons. Portraying a character on a weekly basis can present a new challenge to these veteran silver screen stars, but let's not forget that young Hollywood actors in tween-targeted films are dominating the box office. These Oscar-winning actors aren't giving up films, but their star power and names alone are big enough to attract an audience to a TV show.

Many Oscar-winners and nominees have left their mark on both screens -- just look at Sally Field. She's won an Oscar for 'Norma Rae' and Emmys for 'Sybil,' 'ER' and 'Brothers & Sisters.'

Maybe the Oscars of these latest stars got lonely on the mantle and the next logical thought would be: Why not add an Emmy sister?

Check out the list of actors who are coming to TV -- including Sissy Spacek and Dustin Hoffman -- after the jump.

Sissy Spacek is moving from sabotaging polygamists to saving the world.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-winning actress will follow up her role as the duplicitous lobbyist Marilyn Densham on HBO's 'Big Love' by playing the lead in a medical drama pilot for CBS, produced by John Wells ('ER'; 'Southland').

The pilot centers around a crew of mobile medical professionals who travel the globe in search of those in need of treatment. Spacek will play the group leader -- a role originally written for a male lead -- who has a tireless, demanding work ethic despite undergoing cancer treatments.

Has 'Big Love' jumped the shark?

'Big Love' has been so over the top this season, with so many plot twists and shocking revelations crammed in, that it's seemed to take a perverse pleasure in its own excess. Some fans (like Time critic Richard Corliss) relish the Emmy-nominated show's game of "can we top this?", while others balk at the show's more head-scratching developments. What may be most frustrating about the current season is that it provokes both responses, awe and irritation, at the same time.

With the season coming to an abrupt end this Sunday, March 7 (after just nine episodes), it's worth looking back at the new problems with 'Big Love' that emerged this season -- and how the show can solve them in season 5.

(S04E08) "There is nothing about us that's the same and you know nothing about me." - Barb Henrickson

"Oh I know some...and I'm just getting started." - Marilyn Densham

The season is winding down and usually the plot endings that come to a predictable end do so just before the big shockers do. And that's what happened this week.

However, the surprise, one of many to come I'm sure, wasn't within the plot or the behavior of the characters or even the duality between good and evil of some of the supporting players in our little bigamy tragedy. It's the emotional reaction to the characters' connections and their endurance to endure that sneaks up on you and knocks your block off as you stand there all smug and self-aware that you were able to predict the ending. And it should. A show like this about much more than its plotlines and story shockers.

(S04E03) "Dear Heavenly Father, I tested your calling and now you're testing me, but if this is what your plan is for me, you've got to help me out." - Bill

Last week, The Onion's AV Club did a supportive review of the episode but a scathing review of the characters. In fact, the reviewer flat out called Bill Henrickson "dumb."

It sounds like a gross simplification of a very complex man. After all, here's a guy who is not only guided by his faith and the directions that it points him in, but also in his undying devotion to his family, the influences of his business and even his politics.

But to be honest, dumb isn't far off. In fact, it doesn't go far enough. The whole Henrickson clan is dumber than a pile of unpolished doorknobs in a sack marked "hammers."

Season four of 'Big Love,' HBO's juicy drama about volatile life in a Mormon community, premieres Sunday, Jan. 10 at 9 PM. The tagline for the new season is "Hold on Tight," and we can't wait to do just that.

If you prefer not to know a single thing about the new season, do not read any further! Spoilers ahead ...

You know how excited I am about the new season of Big Love? I'm calling DirecTV to restart my HBO subscription. I'd taken a little break from the pay service when I was pinching pennies this fall. But now that Big Love is returning ... well, pennies be damned!

In anticipation of Big Love's return, I found this recent interview with co-creator Will Scheffer in which he revealed some info -- not really spoilers, but if you're at all squeamish about knowing what's going to happen in even the broadest terms, don't jump to the next page. However, if you want a little preview -- including a really good trailer that's been airing on HBO -- follow me.

It feels like forever since Bill Hendrickson announced that he and his family would form their own religion and live apart from Juniper Creek and LDS and the rest of the state of Utah. And we also know that Roman Grant is dead, and unless Big Love is going in the direction of resurrecting the prophet like he's the real deal, that means Alby will be taking over for his father. Then there's all the business with the casinos, Nicki's teenaged daughter and her weird former husband, not to mention Margene's new business, Sarah getting married to Scott...

Sissy Spacek joins 'Big Love,' 'The Beautiful Life: TBL' premieres to ugly ratings, Penn and Teller to star in a new ABC comedy pilot and more of today's top TV headlines.