In the criminal justice system, sexually-based vampire attacks are considered especially heinous. (DOINK DOINK)

Yes, that means Christopher Meloni has officially joined HBO's 'True Blood' as a series regular. TVLine reports Meloni will play a very powerful vampire. This vampire just so happens to hold the fate of Bill and Eric in his very undead hands.

News of Meloni's involvement in 'True Blood' first broke in November.

After spending 12 years as Detective Stabler on 'Law & Order: SVU,' Meloni abruptly quit the show prior to Season 13. Danny Pino and Kelli Giddish were brought on as new 'SVU' detectives.

Jennifer Beals is heading to 'Castle.'

Beals, who viewers last saw in 'The Chicago Code,' will appear in two episodes of the ABC drama as Sophia Conrad, "a smart, commanding and sexy CIA operative," TV Guide reports.

Beals' character has a past with Richard Castle and joins him and Beckett to search for a CIA agent who has gone rogue. The rogue agent is a key suspect in a murder case Beckett and Castle are trying to solve.

Beals' episodes will air as a two-parter in February.

In other casting news ...

Alanis Morissette is staying 'Up All Night.'

According to TVLine, Morissette will play a former member of Ava's (Maya Rudolph) music group, Sound LLC. Talk show host Ava's musical past was previously touched upon when Lonely Island's Jorma Taccone guest starred as her ex-boyfriend.

Morissette has previously done guest spots on 'Sex and the City,' 'Weeds,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'American Dreams.' Her episode is set to air in early 2012.

In other casting news ...

'Smash' has booked film star Uma Thurman for a multi-episode guest arc.

The midseason drama -- about the creation of a Broadway musical based on Marilyn Monroe's life -- has cast Thurman as a "famous and somewhat difficult movie star" who flirts with the idea of starring in the theater production. EW reports Thurman will appear in five episodes of the much-anticipated NBC series.

Thurman is best known for starring in Quentin Tarantino's big screen projects like the 'Kill Bill' franchise and 'Pulp Fiction,' which scored her an Oscar nomination, but she's not altogether new to TV. Her last small-screen cameo was in the 2008 TV movie 'A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa' and, before that, she won a Golden Globe for her work in 2002's 'Hysterical Blindness.'

Ed Asner will reprise the 'Hawaii Five-0' role he first played more than 30 years ago.

According to CBS, the 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' veteran will once again play August March in an early 2012 episode. Asner first played the role in the 1975 episode of the original 'Hawaii Five-0' titled 'Wooden Model of a Rat.'

"It is thrilling to, for the first time, merge the original 'Hawaii Five-0' and our new show by having the classic, versatile and award-winning actor Ed Asner reprise his role of August March, a character Mr. Asner first played 36 years ago. There is no better way to form a bridge between our reboot and the original series," Peter Lenkov, 'Hawaii Five-0' executive producer, said in a statement.

For the first time, footage from the original series featuring Asner will be used. The archive footage will show his character in his smuggler days. When Asner's character appears in the new series, he'll be a reformed man after serving 30 years in prison for murder. The Five-0 team approach him for help on a smuggling case.

In other casting news ...

Mindy Kaling, one of the only reasons to watch 'The Office' this season, is at work on a new animated series with 'The Office' and 'King of the Hill' executive producer Greg Daniels.

According to Deadline, she'll write, executive produce and voice a character on the series about a girls high school volleyball team.

'Parks and Recreation' producer Alan Yang is also working on a new animated project with Daniels. Yang's series is about a group of Los Angeles twentysomething guys who share a house in Hancock Park.

In other casting news ...

Everybody wants a piece of J.J. Abrams. The in-demand producer is teaming up with 'One Tree Hill' creator Mark Schwahn for a new drama project based around a hotel.

According to Deadline, the project is one of the highest-profile projects at the network. Schwahn will pen 'Maine' (tentatively title) with both men executive producing the project. 'Maine,' described as a character-based drama, will follow the staff of a hotel and its guests.

This is a homecoming of sorts for Abrams. He started his TV career on The WB with 'Felicity.'

In other TV news ...

Carrie Fisher, Carson Kressley and Emmanuelle Vaugier will star in Hallmark Channel's 'Caroling,' a new take on the Charles Dickens classic, 'A Christmas Carol.'

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the movie will air during the holiday season of 2012. The movie follows Vaugier's character, Carol Huffman, a successful Chicago book publisher.

In the flick, the ruthless businesswoman's colleague, played by Kressley, organizes a secret revolt against her. Fisher will play the deceased founder of the publishing house who takes Carol on a journey through the past, present and future.

Olivia Cheng and Tygh Runyan also star.

In other casting news ...

'True Blood' star Ryan Kwanten is sinking his teeth into a romantic role on Fox's hit comedy 'New Girl.'

According to E! Online, Kwanten will appear in the Valentine's Day episode. Warning, spoilers ahead.

It's the first Valentine's Day for newly single Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and she drags Schmidt (Max Greenfield) out to a bar to be her wingman. That's where Kwanten's character, Oliver, enters the picture.

The 'True Blood' star is just one of many familiar faces making a stop on one of this year's best new comedies.

Raquel Welch and Bo Derek will heat up 'CSI: Miami' this season.

According to TVLine, Welch will play mama to villain Diego Navarro. Look for Welch's episode to air in early 2012. This is Welch's first TV gig since 2008's 'Welcome to the Captain.'

Meanwhile, EW reports Derek will play the owner of a horse stable where a murder takes place. This is Derek's first series TV gig since 'Fashion House' in 2006.

In other casting news ...

ABC's new one-hour comedy, 'GCB' -- starring Kristin Chenoweth and Annie Potts -- has lined up two superstar guest appearances that will surely get people talking.

Singer-song writer Sheryl Crow will guest star as herself in the series' fifth episode, reports TV Guide. "Sheryl is great," 'GCB' creator, Robert Harling, told TV Guide. "She is the guest star at the church fundraiser. It was fantastic working with her. She's a great actress."

Funny lady Sandra Bernhard will also make a guest appearance in the show, but for now, the details are top secret. "It's a big surprise," Harling reveals.

In other TV news ...

Gloria Estefan is in talks to play Santana's mom on 'Glee.' How perfect a piece of casting would that be?! According to 'Entertainment Weekly,' Estefan will appear in the same January episode as Ricky Martin, who's reportedly playing McKinley High's Spanish teacher.

Martin is slated to headline two musical numbers in the episode, which will also feature Estefan's music and some other bilingual tunes. A source told 'EW' that the entire cast is "really really big fans of hers and we love her music and her husband's music."

This week on 'Glee' Santana came out of the closet only for her grandmother to disown her. However, Santana told her classmates that her (as yet unseen) parents were supportive of her coming out. So now the question is, if Glora Estefan is Santana's mom, then who's her dad?

If you've been wanting to see more of Christopher Meloni on your television screens, congratulations: You could soon be seeing a lot more of him. According to TVLine, Meloni's eyeing a major role in the upcoming fifth season of HBO's 'True Blood.' How great is that?!

If Meloni does join 'True Blood' it would the first foray into television work for the 'Oz' veteran since he abruptly quit 'Law & Order: SVU' earlier this year. He's reportedly currently filming his role as Colonel Hardy in the Zack Snyder/Christopher Nolan 'Superman' movie reboot, 'Man of Steel.'

It's thought that Meloni is pondering a role as an "incredibly powerful vampire." But who? The 'True Blood' fan sites and Twitter have exploded with speculation, so check out some theories after the jump. But be warned, there may be SPOILERS ahead ...

Ricky Martin is in talks to return to TV with a guest role on 'Glee.'

According to TVLine, Martin will play a Spanish teacher. Naturally, Martin will headline two musical numbers on the hit Fox series.

It seems as if 'Glee' is lifting its "no guest star" ban for Martin. In June, series co-creator Ryan Murphy said the show was going back to basics.

Liev Schreiber dipping his toes in series TV. The 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' actor will star in Showtime's 'Ray Donovan' pilot, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Schreiber will play the title character, a "fixer" for the Los Angeles rich and famous. He's the man they call when a problem needs to go away. However, with all the drama of his clients he has his own troubled family to deal with.