Kate Flannery -- unlike her alcoholic, accident-prone character Meredith Palmer on "The Office" -- is happy, healthy and has something to look forward to in the next few weeks.

The actress-comedian will celebrate the fourth season finale of "The Office" on Thursday, and next week, she'll appear as a talent scout on the premiere of the latest season of the reality competition show "Last Comic Standing" (9:30 p.m. May 22).

The finale of her hit NBC sitcom is an event made all the sweeter, since the season's fate was uncertain due to the writers' strike that lasted three months.

"I think everybody was super grateful [to return to the set]. I think we all missed each other," said Flannery, who was wearing a cheerful black polka-dot dress at the NBC press day last Friday in Pasadena. "We all realized that this is probably going to be the greatest experience that any of us have ever had ever. Even Steve Carell has said that. It's just such a special show. We all won the lottery.

"I really hope there's not another strike. And of course, if the actors go out, I want to stand up for our rights, but at the same time, I don't want to miss any work because I love the show so much."

But first, "The Office's" finale is around the corner, and although Flannery is thrilled with the upcoming episode, she's good at keeping secrets.

"All I can say is it's going to be a monster," says the redhead. "So many unexpected things happen in the finale, it's so good. I think we're more excited than the fans. I really do. I did have some really fun scenes with Rainn [Wilson] so it was really, really fun. No bats or anything in my hair, but yeah, some really great stuff. I think you're going to be excited."

Meredith hasn't had the best luck this season, beginning with getting hit by boss Michael Scott's (Carell) car, gaining her a pelvis cast. Most recently, the Dunder Mifflin Supplier Relations rep received a badly thrown football in the face, thanks to her co-worker Pam (Jenna Fischer).

"What's left after being hit by a car and face-hit by a football?" muses Flannery. "I just hope she lives through all these accidents. I think it's kind of fun. I'm having a good time. I've been doing my own stunts. My poor stunt double has just been sitting on the side."

In the future, though, the actress would like to see her character get a share of the inter-office love.

"You know, there's been a little sexual tension between Meredith and Creed, but I don't want to say anything," she suggests with a laugh. "He's still calling her Mary Beth, but that's OK."

Flannery hasn't heard any details about the proposed "Office" spinoff, but she doesn't think Meredith will be going anywhere.

"I don't think the world is ready for a Meredith spinoff just yet," she says. "I don't know if anyone is actually moving from 'The Office,' but we'll see. I don't know if they actually made up their minds about it. So it's still cooking, as they say." (Hanh Nguyen, Zap2it.com)

Esai Morales has a rival in "Caprica."

Eric Stoltz and Alessandra Toressani have joined the two-hour pilot for the "Battlestar Galactica" prequel "Caprica" on the Sci Fi Channel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Set 50 years before "BSG," "Caprica" follows two rival families -- the Graystones and the Adamas -- as they grow, compete, and thrive in the vibrant world of the 12 Colonies.

Stoltz will play wealthy computer engineer Daniel Graystone, who, after a family tragedy, creates something technologically amazing that will change the future of Caprica. Could it be a Cylon? Toressani will portray his daughter Zoe.

Morales was previously cast as the ruthless Joseph Adama, the father of William Adama, the future admiral of Battlestar Galactica. Paula Malcomson was also announced to play a surgeon who works as a double agent.

In other Sci Fi casting news, Frances Fisher will appear in an eight-episode guest arc for "Eureka," playing Samantha Thorne, aka "the Fixer," a corporate titan who is brought in to clean up Global Dynamics. The show returns to the network for its third season on July 29. (Zap2it.com)