Faithful fans of FOX's "The O.C." know how much trouble Alan Dale's Caleb Nichol caused last season as a recurring character. Think of all the back-stabbing he'll be able to do next season as a cast regular. Dale's title change leads a slew of minor casting announcements.

When viewers last saw Caleb Nichol in the "O.C." season finale, he had just married Julie Cooper (Melinda Clarke), but he was on the verge of losing his fortune. Dale, who also had recurring roles on FOX's "24" and CBS' "Navy NCIS," will get to further chart that story arc next season.

Also on FOX, Jay Kenneth Johnson ("Days of Our Lives") has been added to the cast of the summer soap "North Shore," playing an extreme sports star relocating to Hawaii from Chicago.

Over on Showtime, Kimberly A. Brooks will become a regular on the dramedy "Huff," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Brooks ("The Hughleys") will play an office manager who sticks by psychiatrist Craig Huffstodt (Hank Azaria) as he goes through a midlife crisis. Nichole Robinson ("Love Don't Cost a Thing") has also taking a recurring role on "Huff."

Staying on the premium cable side of things, Sean Bridges has been upped to a regular for the second season of HBO's "Deadwood." Bridges spent the western's first season in the recurring role of Johnny Burns. Also, the HBO pilot "Big Love" has added Jolean Wejbe as the nine-year-old daughter of the show's central polygamist (Bill Paxton).

In other casting news, Ayda Field will appear in The WB comedy "Blue Collar TV."