CBS HAS A THING FOR NEW YORK.

If you want to meet future generations of CBS stars, start hanging out in the schoolyards of Queens, N.Y.

Ray Romano, star of ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' went to Hillcrest High School with Fran Drescher, star of ``The Nanny,'' and didn't even know it. He also attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs with ``Michael Hayes'' star David Caruso, who used to get his hair done by Drescher back in those days.

Although Drescher would rather Romano lie and say that they graduated in 1980, the two finished up at Hillcrest in 1975.

``Ray, play along,'' she said. ``You're going to be on the air a couple of years, God willing.''

As a matter of fact, Drescher thought Romano's whole story was a lie. Romano said he had the same conversation with Drescher a year ago, but apparently she was oblivious.

``I still can't believe it,'' she said.

If that was the case, wouldn't you think he'd say he went to high school with Jerry Seinfeld, who coincidentally is a Queens College alumnus like Drescher?

Nonetheless, Romano and Drescher had a makeshift high school reunion at a CBS reception last week.

Drescher was in the school's drama program, while Romano was in the hope-I-get-a-diploma program. He only went to Hillcrest for his senior year, after flunking out of two other schools. Why was he forced to leave his second school? ``You're going to think I'm an idiot,'' said Romano, who confessed that he failed shop.

Romano and Drescher played a quick and uninspired game of ``who-do-you-know?'' It was a draw. Neither knew anyone the other did.

Caruso, who left ``NYPD Blue'' for a film career, is returning to series television this fall with the CBS drama ``Michael Hayes.''

``He was a year ahead of me,'' said Romano, who is selling his house in New York and moving his family (pregnant wife, daughter, twin sons) to a house they will lease in Tarzana.

Drescher remembered taking the train into Manhattan with Caruso for auditions when they were both breaking into the scene and she was making her living as a hairdresser.

``We're gonna have to reminisce again,'' Drescher said.

Next time, Romano had better bring the yearbook.