Veteran actress Debra Monk, who suffered through Andy Sipowicz's drinking on NYPD Blue  as his put upon wife and mothered George O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy, has signed on to Brothers & Sisters as a rival for Sally Field.

Debra will debut in episode five of the new season as Alexandra Kirby. When Nora is offered a job as the host of an Ask Mom radio program, she'll face some stiff competition from the more experienced and flashy Alexandra. Who'll get the gig? Aw, I bet you can guess.