David Hyde Pierce joins The Good Wife

US actor David Hyde Pierce is headed back to television after a decade without a recurring role.

Hyde Pierce, who plated Niles Crane on b from 1993 – 2004, is joining The Good Wife‘s sixth season in a major recurring role.

The Hollywood Reporter notes he will play a highly respected cable news legal commentator who is so disgusted by the corruption and murder rate in Chicago that he decides to run for office.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled and flattered that David’s making The Good Wife his first TV role since Frasier,” said showrunners/executive producers Robert and Michelle King. “We’re tremendous fans of his dramatic skills as well as his comedy.”

Also appearing in season six, are Taye Diggs, Steven Pasquale and Connie Nielsen.

Star Julianna Margulies won Emmy‘s Drama Series Actress award earlier this week.

“We’ve shot four episodes of season six, and so far, I’m letting go of the nerves,” Margulies said backstage at the Emmys of the pressures of living up to the fifth season, considered one of the show’s strongest. “[The writers are] showing up and they’re doing a great job.”