Kate Mulgrew is stepping into the cast ranks of "Warehouse 13" and Adult Swim's outrageous "NTSF:SD:SUV::" and finding the experience to be an energizing break from her more serious roles of the past.

Widely known for playing Capt. Kathryn Janeway on "Star Trek: Voyager," Mulgrew enjoys a busy career that spans film, television and the stage, including parts on "Mrs. Columbo," "Murder, She Wrote," "Murphy Brown" and "A Stranger is Watching."

Mulgrew makes her "Warehouse 13" debut Aug. 29 on Syfy in the episode "The 40th Floor," where she portrays Jane, an influential Regent whose relationship to the warehouse and its staff -- especially Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) -- becomes a key story point in the show's third season. The part continues with the Sept. 12 episode "Shadows," the Sept. 26 episode "Emily Lake" and the season finale "Stand," which airs Oct. 3.

As the story arc develops, more is revealed about how Regents are chosen and how they influence warehouse operations.

The show and the role of Jane provided an irresistible hook for Mulgrew.

"I really enjoyed that experience," Mulgrew told Airlock Alpha in a recent interview. "I love the concept of it -- it's tongue-in-cheek, but it's very, very smart.

"I love the part I play. She comes in sort of a mysterious way and leaves in a very unexpected and triumphant way. … I face off with the villain and a lot of truly fascinating things happen. I was delighted to do it."

Although Mulgrew is only set for a four-episode arc, could we see more of her in Season 4?

"I think so, yeah," she teased.

Meanwhile, on "NTSF:SD:SUV::," Mulgrew is embracing the show's zany spin on an elite team's struggles to counter terrorist threats.

Created by Paul Scheer, "NTSF:SD:SUV::" -- also known as the National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle:: -- takes a playful jab with its title at the acronym-loving police procedurals on television today. The series was shot in five weeks, and each episode is 15 minutes long.

"Paul Scheer is a very smart, very funny, very successful comedian," she said. "And he has surrounded himself with a pretty strong crew. They have some of the best comedians working in stand-up today.

"And you take this ride, which is a wild one. … I think it's a brilliant concept. Fifteen minutes -- you can't get lost in it, and you can't get bored."

Mulgrew plays Kove, the eyepatch-wearing commander of a clandestine team of government agents -- utilizing a fleet of gas-guzzling SUVs -- who work together to protect San Diego from numerous terrorist threats, which flood in daily from such "evil" countries as Canada and Guam.

"I am totally in the mood for this at this point in my life," she explained. "I don't think I've ever had so much fun in my life on a shoot.

"I've played so much serious stuff. … I think at some point you just kind of relax in your life. And you stop pushing. And you stop putting all your eggs in one basket. … And I just thought, 'Hell, I'll give it a shot and see what happens.'

"I think it really worked, because she is such an outrageous character. … All I care about is keeping San Diego a second-rate city and trying to have sex. This is her entire objective. And I just laughed for five weeks!"

"NTSF:SD:SUV::" also stars Scheer, Rebecca Romijn, Rob Riggle, Brandon Johnson, June Diane Raphael, Martin Starr. The show is produced by Abominable Pictures, Inc., with Scheer and Jonathan Stern serving as executive producers, and Curtis Gwinn as a co-executive producer. It airs Fridays at 12:15 a.m. ET.

"Warehouse 13" also stars Saul Rubinek and Allison Scagliotti. It airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.

In addition, Mulgrew is appearing in William Shatner's "The Captains," a Star Trek documentary, which hits stores on DVD Oct. 4.