'Damages' adds Campbell Scott, Lily Tomlin ... and Martin Short?

"Damages" is about to begin production on its third season, and it will do so with four new additions to the cast -- including one that comes seemingly from way out in left field.

Comedian Martin Short will be a regular on FX's legal drama, as will veteran actor Campbell Scott ("Royal Pains," "Roger Dodger"). They'll be joined by Keith Carradine, who's coming off of "Dexter," and multiple Emmy winner Lily Tomlin, who are both billed as special guest stars.

Just what they'll all be doing is under wraps at the moment. FX and the show's producers are keeping quiet about any and all details of the new season, which is scheduled to begin filming Wednesday (Sept. 23) in New York.

Short, whose recent credits include "The Santa Clause 3" and "Jiminy Glick in Lalawood," seems like an odd choice for a tense legal thriller like "Damages" (and is probably who FX president John Landgraf was referring to at last month's TV critics press tour when he said, "I don't think anybody in this room would guess who [the show is] thinking of or going to"). Then again, "Damages" also used another actor known mostly for comedy, Ted Danson, to embody one of the best TV villains of recent years.

Series stars Glenn Close, Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan will also be back for season three. Other additions to the cast include Michael Gaston ("Fringe"), who guested last season; Darren Goldstein, who appeared in a couple of season one episodes as a character named Chris Sharp; and Ebon Moss-Bachrach ("John Adams").

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