CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Matthew Perry ("Friends") will try his hand at drama as the actor has signed on to appear in two upcoming episodes of "The West wing."

Perry will appear in the April 23 and April 30 episodes of the White House drama as Joe Quincy, an attorney who interviews for the job in President Bartlet�s Democratic administration previously held by Ainsley Hayes (Emily Procter) - a fellow Republican.

"We are thrilled that Matthew will bring his tremendous skills to yet another stage on the Warner Bros. lot," said Jeff Zucker, President, NBC Entertainment in the company's press release. "Matthew has seen every episode of �The West Wing,� and he will now bring that great knowledge to a great storyline in the spring."

Meanwhile, Oscar nominee Tom Berenger ("Platoon") is set for a four-episode arc on the network's Monday drama "Third Watch." Berenger will play a famous and hard-living author/journalist who becomes romantically involved with paramedic Kim (Kim Raver) -- and works as a confidential police informant. He replaces Tom Selleck, who had to bow out of the role.

Berenger�s episodes will be broadcast later in the spring.