CBS' freshman drama "Joan of Arcadia," in which a teenager regularly talks to God, has landed a guest star that will embody the idea of "God the Father" in more ways than one.

Russ Tamblyn, the father of series star Amber Tamblyn, will play the Almighty in an episode set for February sweeps, a CBS source tells Zap2it.com. The episode, titled "Night Without Stars," is filming this week.

The story has God telling Joan she should work with kids, so she signs up for a program that babysits children of abuse victims. However, her friend Adam (Christopher Marquette), who has harbored a crush on Joan, ends up smitten with another volunteer and asks her to a White Stripes concert on a night when Joan is set to babysit.

A peeved Joan then encounters God in the guise of an aging hippie dog walker (Russ Tamblyn). When she complains about Adam's date, He reminds her that there might be more important things she should focus on.

He also informs Joan that Jack and Meg White of the White Stripes aren't really brother and sister.

Russ Tamblyn, who earned an Oscar nomination for 1957's "Petyon Place," is perhaps best known for musicals such as "West Side Story," "tom thumb" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," roles in which he showcased his considerable skill as a dancer. More recently, he played Dr. Lawrence Jacoby on "Twin Peaks" and did a stint on "Days of Our Lives."