TV season brings change

Most of prime-time's veteran series return to the air this week and next. Among the big changes: new cast members on "Chicago Hope" and "ER"; Heather Locklear joins "Spin City" and Jesse L. Martin joins "Law & Order" Here's a look at what's new on several series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer": Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) off to college, while Angel (David Boreanaz) and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) are off to the spinoff, "Angel."

"Chicago Hope": Creator David E. Kelley takes a more active role in shaping his 6-year-old series. Gone are Peter Berg, Jayne Brook, Stacy Edwards, Christine Lahti, Eric Stoltz and Vondie Curtis-Hall. Mandy Patinkin (Dr. Jeffrey Geiger) will return

Courtesy of The WB Felicity questions a lot this season.

for about half the episodes, while Carla Gugino, Lauren Holly and Barbara Hershey join as surgeons.

"Dawson's Creek": Creator Kevin Williamson has left to launch ABC's "Wasteland." Look for new characters: Brittany Daniel as the resident wild girl and Michael Pitt as a shy freshman football player.

"Dharma & Greg": Attorney Greg (Thomas Gibson) becomes more like Dharma when he quits his job to seek inner truth.

"The Drew Carey Show": Mimi (Kathy Kinney) marries Drew's brother Steve (new cast member John Carroll Lynch).

"ER": With George Clooney gone, and Julianna Margulies and Gloria Reuben on the way out, look for new faces at County General, including Michael Michele ("Homicide") as a new resident, Maura Tierney ("NewsRadio") as a nurse, and Goran Visnjic as a Croatian doctor. Alan Alda (as an attending physician) and Rebecca DeMornay (as Dr. Carter's patient) will also make frequent guest appearances.

"Felicity": We'll learn whether Felicity chose Ben or Noel.

"Friends": Following their season-ending drunken Vegas wedding, Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) must figure out what to do.

"Jesse": Jesse (Christina Applegate) quits the bar and heads for nursing school. Gone: Her dad (George Dzundza) and brothers (John Lehr, David DeLuise).

"Law & Order": With Benjamin Bratt gone, Jesse L. Martin ("Ally McBeal") joins the cast as Detective Ed Green.

"NYPD Blue": Look for possible romances for both widower Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and his partner Sorenson (Rick Schroder). Martinez (Nick Turturro) leaves after six episodes.

"Party of Five": Sarah (Jennifer Love Hewitt) moves into her own spinoff, "Time of Your Life," and Charlie (Matthew Fox) and Kirsten (Paula Devicq) get married. Kyle Secor ("Homicide'') plays a book editor with eyes for Julia (Neve Campbell).

"Profiler": Ally Walker leaves after the season's second episode, replaced by Jamie Luner ("Melrose Place").

"Spin City": Heather Locklear ("Melrose Place'') plays the mayor's (Barry Bostwick) senatorial campain manager - and Mike's (Michael J. Fox) new rival.

"Suddenly Susan": Judd Nelson is gone as The Gate's publisher, replaced by "Monty Python's" Eric Idle, who turns the magazine into a racy men's publication. He also brings along a new assistant (Sheri Shepherd), photographer (Rob Estes of "Melrose Place") and sportswriter (Currie Graham).

09-21-99