TV two-timers: Actors in 2 shows at once

TNT/ABC

Jessy Schram plays four characters on three different shows. (Well, she kind of plays 5 characters.) In ABC's "Once Upon a Time," she's Cinderella (center) in the fairy tale world and Ashley Boyd in Storybrooke. In TNT's "Falling Skies," she stars as Karen Nadler (left), the former girlfriend of Hal Mason (Drew Roy) who was captured by the aliens and is now Harnessed Karen, whom the aliens use to communicate--and screw with--the humans. She's currently in Hawaii filming ABC's fall drama "Last Resort," in which she plays Christine Kendall (right), the wife of a Navy officer who is accused of treason. Girl keeps busy. Schram was born in Skokie and grew up in Buffalo Grove, making her part of Chicago's TV connection.

Comedy Central/NBC

Landing the lead role of Jeff Winger in NBC's hilarious sitcom "Community" didn't mean Joel McHale had to quit his other gig hosting E! network's snarkfest "The Soup," which he writes for and produces. Curt Wagner, RedEye's Show Patrol

Syfy/NBC

Comedian Tracy Morgan won't be back as comic Tracy Jordan until "30 Rock" returns in January as part of NBC's midseason schedule, but you can catch him as producer and host of Syfy's "Scare Tactics" beginning at 8 p.m. Oct. 10.

HBO/CBS

Ted Danson joined "CSI" this season as new boss D.B. Russell (right) and has reinvigorated the CBS drama. On Oct. 10, he'll be back as magazine editor and part-time sleuth George Christopher in HBO's "Bored to Death."

NBC/Showtime

With his recurring character Jean-Ralphio Saperstein becoming a fan favorite on NBC's "Parks and Recreation," Ben Schwartz is going for a two-fer with another ensemble coming this spring. In Showtime's "House of Lies" he stars with Josh Lawson (from left), Kristen Bell, Don Cheadle and Dawn Olivieri.

ABC/NBC

The Chicago native has recurring roles on NBC's "30 Rock," where she plays Tracy Jordan's wife, Angie, and on TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" as Judge Lesser. She plays herself in her day job as co-host of ABC's "The View." READ Chicago actors on TV

ABC/AMC

Former Evanston resident Mark Moses divides his time between playing baddie Paul Young on ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and alcoholic ad man Herman "Duck" Phillips in AMC's "Mad Men." READ Chicago actors on TV

Comedy Central/NBC

"The Daily Show" correspondent John Oliver plays the recurring role of Professor Ian Duncan on NBC's "Community." He also hosts the Comedy Central stand-up showcase "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show."

NBC

Since the beginning of NBC's "30 Rock," Maulik Pancholy has appeared on and off as Jonathan, the assistant who would do anything for his boss, Jack. Now he has a regular gig on the new NBC series "Whitney," playing Neal, the husband of Whitney's friend, Lily (Zoe Lister-Jones). Pancholy also appeared in the latest season of "Web Therapy" and as the voices of Baljeet and the Nerd Cow in "Phineas and Ferb."

FX/NBC

Talk about different looks. Kenny Johnson is tatted up and wearing leathers as bike club member Kozik in FX's "Sons of Anarchy." He's cleaner cut in NBC's "Prime Suspect," where he plays Matt Webb, boyfriend of Det. Jane Timoney (Maria Bello). Johnson also appeared in this summer's "The Protector" on Lifetime.

HBO/NBC

"The Wire" veteran Michael Kenneth Williams has starred for two seasons as bootlegger Chalky White in the HBO drama "Boardwalk Empire." He tried his hand at comedy this season in NBC's "Community," recurring as Professor Marshall Kane in three episodes. He told me that he might return later in the season. Michael K. Williams interview Michael K. Williams on ¿Community¿ Michael K. Williams photos

NBC/IFC

In NBC's new sitcom "Up All Night," Will Arnett plays Chris Brinkley, a stay-at-home dad married to Christina Applegate in the series about a couple adapting to being parents after years of married-without-children fun. Arnett also appears in IFC's "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret." We'll likely see him back on "30 Rock" in the mid-season, reprising his recurring role as Devon Banks and, if rumors are true, sometime in the future as Gob Bluth in the "Arrested Development" miniseries/movie.

NBC/AMC

We'd probably be seeing double of Alison Brie right now had AMC's "Mad Men" not been delayed until next spring. Brie currently can be seen at 7 p.m. Thursdays as Annie Edison in NBC's "Community." But ad man Pete Campbell's wife, Trudy, will likely be back when "Mad Men" returns.

NBC/PBS

Beginning Oct. 16, Jason Isaacs appears in "Case Histories" as ex-cop Jackson Brodie (right), who investigates cases in three new "Masterpiece Mystery" specials on WTTW. He plays another detective, Michael Britten, in NBC's midseason drama "Awake" (left).

Starz/NBC

John Bianchi, we hardly knew ya. Troy Garity played the mobster in NBC's just canceled "The Playboy Club" (bottom), but the actor was in Chicago to film another series before "Playboy" came to town. Beginning Oct. 21, you can catch him as Chicago reporter Sam Miller in the Starz drama "Boss."

IFC/NBC

Fred Armisen makes good use of his summer hiatus from NBC's "Saturday Night Live." He writes, produces and stars in "Portlandia," the IFC comedy he and Carrie Brownstein created that will being its second season Jan. 9.

BBC America/ABC

As 20-something Ashley in BBC America's "Bedlam," British actress Ashley Madekwe lives in a haunted condo building. She deals with bigger frights in ABC's delicious soap "Revenge," where her party planner character, Molly, is besties with vengeful manipulator Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) and works for bitchy socialite Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe). "Revenge" airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays. New episodes of "Bedlam" debut at 8 p.m. Saturdays. READ my "Bedlam" review. READ my "Revenge" review.

AMC/CBS

Pruitt Taylor Vince joins the cast of "The Walking Dead" in Season 2 as farmhand Otis, who does something viewers are really going to hate. The actor could be back on CBS' "The Mentalist," where he has recurred as CBI Internal Affairs chief J.J. LaRoche. "The Walking Dead" returns at 9 p.m. Oct. 16 on AMC.