When viewers tune in to CBS's "NYC 22" this Sunday (4/15), they'll be able to tell right away that they really are seeing NYC, the real Harlem, in fact, and not some tax break locale masquerading as the Big Apple. The setting adds texture on camera — and tension off-camera.

"Harlem becomes a character in the show," says LeeLee Sobieski, who stars along with Adam Goldberg and Terry Kinney in the ensemble cop drama from producers Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal. "You really feel it, and especially as the show evolves as well. You feel the personality."

She admits, "Sometimes it's hard, because some people don't like cops there...There were one or two days when one of my production drivers gave me a little warning: 'Be careful here today. Don't wander off the set and don't forget to cover your clothes or people will think you're a real cop.'" However, she adds, "I felt safe. We're always with a large crew."

The actress has made a habit of chatting with real-life cops, male and female, around the shooting locales, absorbing details that add to the verisimilitude. Only once did she find "one that was a little rude when I said, 'By the way, I'm going to be playing a cop.' Then I felt kind of weird." She adds, "I think cops really like cop shows — then they can comment on how accurate things are."

Are things accurate on "NYC 22"? "We'll see what they say," she answers. "It's still a TV show, but I think things are pretty realistic compared to other shows."

BOXING DAY: Despite the fact that Martin Scorsese told GQ the other day that he doesn't really understand what a "Raging Bull II" would be, director Martin Guigui continues prepping the William Forsythe starrer that's being billed as a prequel/sequel to the iconic Robert De Niro film. Still to be cast are young Jake; Jake's father, Giuseppe; his childhood friend, Ricky; Sally, his girlfriend and later wife; plus showgirls and other bit players. Reports of a big screen adaptation of the book "Raging Bull II," by Chris Anderson, Sharon McGehee and Jake LaMotta have swirled for years. Now a production start is planned for July in Los Angeles.

THE BIG SCREEN SCENE: Brandon Routh's "Crooked Arrows" begins its roll-out release May 18 — with a lot of people pulling for the indie feature that actress Crystal Allen calls "a very spiritual project." A tale about a team of Native American lacrosse players who challenge wealthy prep school teams, "it's one of those underdog sports movies, a beautiful little story — and it's more than that. It's different from any movie I've done, because of the Native American aspect of it. They're not recognized for lacrosse. They started the sport." Notes Allen, "The people making this film have been working on it for 10 years. They had it at the studios, and were told, 'We'll do it if you change the sport to baseball or football.'" She learned to play lacrosse for the movie, and found "it's a tough — tough — sport."

According to Allen, the five-week production in Boston included "hundreds of people — lacrosse players, coaches, people in stands. It has a lot of heart in it. Hopefully, people will catch on."

There is, of course, the attraction of Routh. "He's so great, such a cutie, so tall — he's Superman!'" declares Allen, who points out that "Twilight's" Gil Birmingham is in the cast, too. Familiar from the last two "Anaconda" features as well as TV movies and guestings on shows like "NCIS" and "Body of Proof," Allen plays a teacher — and had to learn some native American dialect for her role. "I stood there teaching them about their culture," she says with a laugh. "It was quite challenging to make it authentic."

MEANWHILE: Allen also has the Syfy movie "Ghost Storm" on the way this summer, starring alongside "24's" Carlos Bernard. "It's fun to be in action movies; you're always on the go and it's super high-energy," says the pretty blond American-Canadian, who has a background in dance and kickboxing. "You're kicking, you're shooting, you're running." What are they running from? She replies, "It's a storm that is haunted." Hence the title! "It glows through the ground and is full of evil souls," she adds. "I just saw some of it last week and the CGI is really good."

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.