A face to watch

Christian Slater on 'My Own Worst Enemy' The new character(s): Mild-mannered suburbanite Henry Spivey and trained assassin Edward Albright, who happen to share the same body (premiering 9 p.m. Oct. 13 on KARE, Ch. 11).

Why you know him: Pulled off a dead-on impression of Jack Nicholson in the "Heathers."

Why we love him: Not positive we do yet. "Enemy," like many new offerings, was unavailable for review -- although Slater got more exposure during the Olympics than the whole U.S. table-tennis team.

On why he's right for this role: "I don't think of myself as having a split personality. I'm able to separate between acting and reality, but I've put my feet into many different shoes, and on this show I get to try on two different pairs."

Little-known fact: He claimed that "Boston Legal," his drama's most daunting competition, is one of his favorite shows.

Simon Baker on 'The Mentalist' The new character: Patrick Jane, an investigator who pretends to be a psychic, but really just has superhuman powers of observation and uncommonly sexy hair (8 p.m. Sept. 23, WCCO, Ch. 4).

Why you know him: CBS made him a leading man in "Smith" and "The Guardian."

How he wound up in "The Devil Wears Prada": "I'm uncannily bad at choosing films, generally. I'm going to give my daughter credit for that one. She was 11 at the time. She said 'do it' because she was sick of going to see me in movies where I die or have sex with someone."

Little-known fact: As a teen, he excelled at surfing and water polo.

Lucy Liu on 'Dirty Sexy Money' The new character: Nola Lyons, a super-smart go-getter who wants the super-rich Darling family to show her the money (9 p.m. Oct. 1, KSTP, Ch. 5).

Why you know her: She got shout-outs from Destiny's Child for kicking tail in "Charlie's Angels" and from OutKast for shaking tail like a Polaroid picture.

Why we love her: When it comes to backbiting and manipulation, she's J.R. Ewing in high heels.

Little-known fact: She can play the accordion.

Angela Bassett on 'ER' The new character: Catherine Banfield, new chief of staff on the final season of "ER"

(9 p.m. Sept. 25, KARE, Ch. 11).

Why you know her: Flexed her biceps -- and acting prowess -- in "What's Love Got to Do With It."

Why we love her: If anybody can get this aging show's groove back, it's this tough-as-nails powerhouse performer.

Little-known fact: She turned down the lead role in "Monster's Ball," a movie that earned Halle Berry an Oscar.

Elizabeth Reaser on 'The Ex List' The new character: Bella Bloom, a florist trying to figure out which former boyfriends love her, and which love her not (8 p.m. Oct. 3, WCCO, Ch. 4).

Why you know her: Starred in the Minnesota-made film "Sweet Land" and stood out last season on "Grey's Anatomy" as a patient with severe cases of amnesia and lovesickness for Dr. Alex.

Why we love her: Anyone home alone on date night will find her better company than the other options: "Supernanny" or a gallon of ice cream.

On her breakout role: "It was exciting, but interesting. Nobody knows you as an actress and then you finally get to be on 'Grey's Anatomy' and you're disfigured."

"Twilight."

Dan Patrick on 'Football Night in America' The new character: Dan Patrick, a sports-aleck commentator working with the equally caustic and clever Keith Olbermann (6 p.m., KARE, Ch. 11)

Why you know him: He was a sports-aleck commentator with Olbermann on ESPN's "SportsCenter."

Why we love him: By the end of a full day of games, we crave someone who doesn't take the game -- or his partner -- too seriously.

On being part of an all-star team: "It's sort of like joining the 'Oceans 11' crew. This is the 'Bob Costas 11' and I'm Elliott Gould or Carl Reiner."