John Goodman to Join Damages

After drawing Emmy buzz for his role on HBO's Treme, veteran actor John Goodman has signed on to play the next adversary of Patty Hewes in season four of Damages. According to USA Today, Goodman will play a "shadowy CEO of a military contractor who becomes a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit", joining Ted Danson, Lily Tomlin, and Martin Short as people who have stepped into the lion's den with one of the most intimidating characters on television.

I adore this news and I think it sets up the fourth season of the former FX (now Direct TV) drama to be as immaculately acted as the three seasons that came before it. Goodman never ceases to impress me with his range and how powerful his acting can be (he's more than just Dan Conner and this is coming from someone who considers Roseanne as one of my favorite shows), so I think Patty and Ellen have found someone who can go toe to toe with them without blinking an eye. It's been a long road for Damages, as it was resurrected by Direct TV last July after having been canceled by FX following anemic third season ratings. Season four should premiere in July of this year, so there's only about six months left before TV gets just a little bit more mysterious.

What do you think about this casting? Do you think Goodman will be able to top the past defendants that Hewes & Associates have taken on?