Joan Cusak will guest star on a fall episode of "Law & Order SVU," which, as Kathy Griffin noted, gives an actor a great chance at a guest actor Emmy.

Cusak will play the mother of a girl who went missing years ago, and in the story, her other daughter goes missing, making Cusak's character the focus of the investigation.

Cusak's appearance coincides with the first episode of a stint by "Lost" actor Henry Ian Cusik, who will appear as a romantic interest for Det. Olivia Benson.

In other Law & Order notes, the first cast member for "Law & Order LA" has been announced. Skeet Ulrich, late of "Jericho," will play one of the detectives in the new show. See Ausiello Files

Linus Roache, who was in "Law & Order" Mothership, has been cast in a pilot for HBO directed by Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow and co-starring Lee Pace of "Pushing Daisies."

See Ausiello Files

That piece of casting news makes all the more interesting news that Law & Order itself could be resurrected by cable network AMC.

Speculation is that AMC wants a built in audience show to drive more traffic to its critical favorites Breaking Bad and Mad Men. See New York Magazine Vulture Blog