Any fan of 'Damages' knows the show is propelled to riveting dramatic heights thanks to the relationship between Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) and Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), but behind every great woman, there's a few good men. 'Damages' Season 4 is no exception.

John Goodman, Chris Messina and Dylan Baker join Close and Byrne for a new kind of case -- this season (premieres Wed., July 13 at 10PM on DirecTV's Audience Network), the ladies are exploring the military and private defense sector.

Goodman plays Howard Erickson, the CEO of a private military defense company, the target of Ellen and Patty's case. Messina plays a decorated solider and contractor under Erickson and Baker plays Jerry Boorman, an associate of Erickson's who is described by DirecTV as a "shadowy opportunist."

A.J. Cook is heading back to 'Criminal Minds.'

After being let go from the series, Cook will return to the CBS drama for one episode this spring.

According to TVLine, Cook will return to set this week.

Fans mounted online campaigns in support of Cook and her character, J.J., but the only result was a two-episode swan song earlier this season.

UPDATE: Cook took to Twitter to confirm the news. She's returning for Paget Brewster's final episode of the CBS series.

In other casting news ...

• 'Little Fockers' star Teri Polo has landed a TV role in ABC's 'Man Up!', a comedy about what it's like to live as a modern man. She'll play a "super-mom who is addicted to Facebook." She also scored the lead in the Hallmark movie 'A Taste of Romance.' [Deadline Hollywood]

• Chris Messina has joined the cast of DirecTV's 'Damages.' The 'Julie & Julia' actor will play a former soldier friend of Ellen Parsons who is recruited to work for a shadowy private security firm in Afghanistan. [Entertainment Weekly]

• Jane Lynch and Kiefer Sutherland will lend their voices to episodes in season 23 of 'The Simpsons.' Lynch will play Homer's new assistant -- who then takes his job. Sutherland will play a very Jack Bauer–esque character who heads to Springfield to escape his enemies. [TV Guide]