DEAR STACY: Is the actress who plays Kandi on "Two and a Half Men" the same actress who played Stefania on "Everybody Loves Raymond"? — Joyce W., Cleveland, Ohio

DEAR JOYCE: No. Kandi, ditzy girlfriend of Alan (Jon Cryer) was played by April Bowlby, seen most recently on two episodes of "How I Met Your Mother." Alex Meneses portrayed Stefania on the Ray Romano sitcom. Her latest credits include Frank Aragon's December release action-drama "Boyle Heights" and a recent episode of "Psych."

DEAR STACY: What is Christina Ricci doing now? And is she still single? — Sasha, Queens, N.Y.

DEAR SASHA: Reportedly living with Australian actor Kick Gurry, who plays Sparky in the disappointing "Speed Racer" feature in which she also stars with Emile Hirsch, Ricci is part of the large cast of "New York, I Love You." The omnibus film follows the same format as last year's surprise specialty hit "Paris, je t'aime." Its directors include Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman in their directorial debuts, and its actors include Shia LaBeouf, Blake Lively, Kevin Bacon, James Caan, Ethan Hawke, Hayden Christensen, Drea de Matteo and former Ricci beau Orlando Bloom. Ricci is also among the voice cast of the animated "Alpha and Omega," a tale involving kidnapped wolves trying to get back to their pack.

DEAR STACY: Could you tell me the words to the "CSI: NY" theme song? I love the music, but I can't understand all the words. — Ginger W., Mount Gilead, Ohio

DEAR GINGER: Like the other "CSI" shows, the New York version features a song by classic rock giants The Who. In this case, it's "Baba O'Riley," aka "Teenage Wasteland" from their 1971 "Who's Next" album The first part goes like this: "Out here in the fields/I fight for my meals/I get my back into my living/I don't need to fight/To prove I'm right/I don't need to be forgiven/Don't cry/Don't raise your eye/It's only teenage wasteland."

DEAR STACY: Whatever happened to the plans for a feature film of the "A-Team"? — Blake H., Newark, N.J.

DEAR BLAKE: It's a go project at 20th Century Fox with John Singleton directing, and a June 12, 2009 release date is already targeted. It appears Bruce Willis, Tyrese Gibson and Woody Harrelson will star as Iraq War special forces vets accused of a crime they didn't commit. As Production Weekly puts it, "Their adventures combine helping the innocent while running from the law."

DEAR STACY: I enjoyed David James Elliott in "Jag." What is he up to lately? — Terry B., Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR TERRY: Elliott has the comedy "The Rainbow Tribe," set at a kids' sleep-away camp, in the can. He co-starred in last month's Lifetime movie "Love Sick: Secrets of a Sex Addict" with Sally Pressman. The actor, a naturalized U.S. citizen who hails from Milton, Ontario, also has finished the Canadian independent family film "Gooby" and appeared in several installments of the Canadian television series "The Guard," about Canada's coast guard, which recently completed airing of its first season. The father of a 5-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter with wife Nanci Chambers, 6'4" Elliott is also a triathlete.

DEAR STACY: Is there another actor sibling in the family with Spencer and Abigail Breslin? — Tina G., Austin, Texas

DEAR TINA: Yes, eldest sibling Ryan, born in 1985, who is not an actor.

DEAR STACY: Any chance of "Cane" returning? Classy show. — C.A., Bronx, N.Y.

DEAR C.A.: After weeks of conjecture as to the Hollywood writers' strike hastening the demise of the struggling Jimmy Smits starrer, it was officially canceled by CBS in May.

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.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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