\ --IVF:e FSAW:r WHEN PICASSO CREATED SOMETHING NEW L HE INVITED on-again, off-again relationship with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) helps keep the show perking like one of those bottomless drinks at the sexy septu- plet's favorite coffee shop. "He's a nice, kind guy, a nice Jew- ish guy — like me," says Schwimmer of Ross the rejected, whose TV mar- riage ended when wife Carol (Jane Sibbett) proved to be the (really) gay divorcee. Although his most recent feature film The Pallbearer died a quick death at the box office, Schwimmer fared much better in Breast Men, an HBO movie about the implant revo- lution'that led to revolting medical complications for some patients. As an avaricious, money-grubbing doc- tor, Schwimmer played his role with greedy gusto. Now, about that relationship with Rachel. "I think there was a lot of comedy in that relationship and probably will be to come," says the actor. Now that they're on the outs, there's an outside world to explore. "There's probably more opportunity now for situation comedy, more tak- ing each of the characters and putting them with other characters in other situations. "But I thought the situations that Rachel and Ross were in were just as funny, if not funnier." Funny thing about "Friends," it seems to have gotten funnier in its fourth season. In fact, one of the stellar series in the network's Thursday night "must- see" pantheon is in a holding pattern, waiting to see whether it will land the "Seinfeld" spot opening next season when Jerry and his jokers lock up their Manhattan apartments and punchlines for good. There's still excitement to be had this season as the "Friends" go off to London, with one of the group reportedly set to get married. Is Ross the one? No one's talking. Not about that anyway. But the actor, who made his TV series debut as a regular on Henry Winkler's ill- fated sitcom "Monty," bares his feel- ings about Ross's roots. "I wish they would play that up more," says Schwimmer of Ross' Jew- ishness. "It's important to make peo- ple aware of what it means to be Jew- ish." What it means to Schwimmer is quite a bit — as it does to the show's executive producers, Kevin S. Bright, David Crane and Marta Kauffman. , If Schwimmer and company get along, it's no accident: "I had never felt so much a part of the process before, because Marta, David and Kevin, from the start, really involved us, really empowered all of us to find our own characters, really figure out these relationships. And because of that, I think we all really feel like it's a family." With two more movies on his upcoming agenda — 6 Days, 7 Nights and Apt Pupil — Schwimmer would seem able to relax a bit as Ross. But it's that high-wire act that the character pursues that helps NBC net such a large audience. It's also the lit- tle things that crack up even the actors who play the lines. "I got a kick out of the episode — the New York blackout episode — in which Joey {Matt LeBlanc) carried Ross' lit menorah to create light." Another example of shedding light on the meaning of what it is to be Jewish? "Anything that helps," smiles Schwimmer. "Anything that helps." 0 AFTERGLOW Alan Rudolph is a stylist in the movie jazz tradition — his work relies on smoke vapors of insinuation, riffs of mood, themes that sing through tonal shifts of texture. You don't need to deeply know Rudolph's story to guess that he is a confidante and virtual disciple of Robert Altman, the supreme jazz- hearted dreamer of American film. Filmed in Montreal, Afterglow makes heavy use of the famous, cube- boxed Habitat development designed by Moshe Safdie for a world's fair. So did Altman in his Quintet, a frigid disaster in 1979. Afterglow is far from disastrous. It's consistently adult and entertaining, and maybe Rudolph's most connec- tive film with a fairly large audience ("art" large) since 1984's Choose Me. But his achievement wobbles. About a middle-aged couple and a younger one tangled in sexual overlap, the film flows out of balance — the older couple dominates by depth of living, and by the practiced depth of Nick Nolte and Julie Christie, who is nom- inated for an Academy Award as Best Actress for her role. My, have they not gone slack. Nolte has the most fun (as usual), playing Lucky Mann, a "contractor/entrepre- neur" whose gift for rehab work extends to sexual service of women clients. With his leonine sweep-backs 04 . FK1ENDS. W of RedFire Grill arc new to Walled Lake but not new to creating recipes we love to serve. Our chef have created an artful palette starting with "Baked French Brie wrapped in Fillo," mixing "Linguine with Sauteed Chicken Breast"with tomatoes, basil and garlic, adding flare to "Char-grilled New York Strip Steak" on a bed of caramelized onions, roasted peppers and a dash of color you mighf not expect. "Grilled Fresh Salmon" with corn salsa, all without the gallery prices. Stop by and bring a friend, you'll be pleased. RECIFIRE Hours: Mon-Thurs 1 1 :30am - 9:00pin Fri 1 1 :30arn - 1 0:00pin Sat 4:00pm - 1 0:00pm Sun 1 :00pin - 8:00pin Now Open for Lunch WHERE GOOD FKIENDS GET SEKVED GOOD FOOD. 1050 Benstein Road, Walled Lake, MI 248-669-2122 of Auburn Hills & Detroit FINE DINING RESTAURANTS Catering Services Provided For Your Special.Occasion Or Company Celebration. Our Location Or Yours. Becky Lelli's of Auburn Hills • 248-373-4440 Andre Lelli's of Detroit • 313-871-1590 For Reservations Now HAVE YOU HAD OUR GREAT ITALIAN SPECIALTIES? SEE OUR NEW MENU SELECTIONS MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 95 95 95 25 7.95 CHOPPED SIRLOIN WHITE FISH SICILIAN CHICKEN PARMESAN OR SHORT RIBS STUFFED CABBAGE WHITE FISH (Broiled or Duratee) 7 7 7 7 I INCLUDES YOUR CHOICE OF 2...SOUP, SALAD, DESSERT I SHIVA DINNERS and BEAUTIFUL PARTY TRAYS Regular Hours Mon.-Sat. 7 am.-8 pm Free Delivery CLOSED SUNDAYS DELI AND GOURMET RESTAURANT 21754 W_ 11 MILE RD_ • HARVARD ROW - 352-4940 FAX: 352-9393 PRIVATE BANQUET FACILITIES FOR ALL OCCASIONS r S2 OFF FOR OFF SPECIALLY-TRIMMED RIBS BBQ CHICKEN FOR 2 11, WITH OR WITHOUT SKIN ALL DINNERS INCLUDE: SALAD OR COLE SLAW, POTATOES AND GARLIC BREAD I 1 GOOD 7 DAYS! ■ Exp. 3 - 12 - 98 JN -1 ALL DINNERS INCLUDE: SALAD OR COLE SLAW, POTATOES AND GARLK BREAD I GOOD 7 DAYS! ■ Exp. 3-12-98 JN Brass Pointe P coidscP99 - 24234 Orchard Lake Rd., N.E. corner of 10 Mile • 476-1377 — 2/27 1998 121