The NBC series premieres with a two-hour event, titled "Called Home/Darkness," starting at 9 PM ET. The show will continue on Wednesday nights at 10 PM. (Check local listings.)

Teaming with Martin (Rent) will be new co-star Sisto (Festen, "Six Feet Under") when the show resumes. Waterston (Abe Lincoln in Illinois) also returns — replacing Fred Thompson — with series regular Merkerson (the upcoming Come Back, Little Sheba). Roache (Richard II - London) fills in the Chief Assistant District Attorney role left vacant by Waterston, partnering with Alana De La Garza.

Guest stars will include such stage actors as Susan Blackwell ([title of show], Speech & Debate), Elizabeth Marvel (Hedda Gabler, upcoming Top Girls), Marin Ireland (The Ruby Sunrise, Manuscript) and Michael McKean (The Pajama Game, The Homecoming).

Martin is known to theatre audiences for originating the role of Tom Collins in Rent — a part he reprised for the Christopher Columbus film version of the musical. He has also appeared on television in "Ally McBeal" and as the Ghost of Christmas Present in NBC's TV musical version of "A Christmas Carol." The actor can also be heard on the Sh-K-Boom Records release of Paul Scott Goodman's rock opera Bright Lights, Big City. Martin is also slated to play Marvin Gaye in the feature film biopic "Sexual Healing."

Merkerson begins her turn in the Broadway revival of William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba Jan. 3 at the Biltmore Theatre. She has been seen on stage in Birdie Blue, I'm Not Stupid, The Old Settler, Fucking A and her Tony Award- nominated turn in The Piano Lesson. Other credits include the HBO Films adaptation of Lackawanna Blues. For more information and a sneak peek at the premiere episode, visit nbc.com.