Suleka Mathew (Hawthorne) and Jaime Ray Newman have been added to the cast of ABC’s drama pilot Penoza, written and executive produced by Twilight scribe Melissa Rosenberg. Based on a Dutch format, it centers on Martha (Radha Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is forced to adopt her husband’s role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family. Mathew, repped by SDB Partners and John Crosby Management, will play Marta’s best friend Dina. Newman will play Marta’s younger sister Kat. Also cast in the pilot are Sterling Beaumon and Jacob Salvati as Marta’s sons.

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Mac will soon receive another blast from the past when Jaime Ray Newman returns to CSI: NYas the detective’s late wife, Claire.

TVLine has learned exclusively that the Eastwick alumna will reprise her emotionally-heightened role in the CBS cop drama’s eighth season finale, which is slated to air in May.

Newman’s tragically doomed Claire last appeared in the Season 8 premiere, which flashed back to her death in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

CSI: NY, which last night aired its winter finale (to a slight rise in ratings!), will return with a new batch of episodes in March.

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It would seem actress Jamie Ray Newman is in high demand. Not only did she just complete a short-run on CSI:NY as the doomed wife of Det. Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise), but she will be appearing in two November sweeps episodes of the number one drama on TV: NCIS. In addition she will appear in an upcoming episode of Grimm.

According to TV Line, her role on NCIS will be that of Melanie Burke, a Navy Lieutenant Commander who is a chaplain at the Navy Yard. Her first appearance on the drama will be on November 8 when her character “meets the NCIS team and starts to work closely with them on the investigation a military plane crash”.

Then, she will appear as Angelina, one of the “Three Bad Wolves” in a November episode of Grimm, the new fairytale-based drama on NBC that will debut on Friday, October 28 at 9/8c.

TV viewers will recognize Newman from her roles on the short-lived series Eastwick as well as recurring roles on Eureka and Drop Dead Diva.

The next new episode of NCIS, now in its 9th season, will air tonight (October 18) at 8/7c.

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After seven seasons of CSI: NY, viewers will finally meet Mrs. Mac Taylor.

Former General Hospital  and Eastwick star Jaime Ray Newman has been tapped to play Claire Taylor, the wife Mac (Gary Sinise) lost during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively. As we previously reported, Claire will appear in flashbacks during the show’s Season 8 premiere, which honors the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

“We’re taking all of our characters back to that day,” executive producer Pam Veasey tells us. “You get to see them together. You see why Claire loved Mac, and why Mac loved her.”

Veasey also hinted that Mac’s moments of reflection may offer him some inspiration to look for love again. “We’ve had a few women in the past pursue Mac,” she says. “We like the idea of maybe seeing Mac being the pursuer.”

Newman is best known for her work as Kristina Cassadine on General Hospital and the bewitching Kat Gardener on ABC’s short-lived Eastwick. She has also had recurring roles on such shows as Veronica Mars, Stargate Atlantis, Eureka, and, most recently, Drop Dead Diva.

CSI: NY returns Friday, Sept. 23 at 9/8c on CBS.

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