Nicike's

Restaurant and Lounge

Open Monday thru Saturday, 11 a.m. til 2 a.m.

GOOD FOOD
GOOD DRINKS • GOOD TIMES

Appearing Saturday, October 28 • Starting at 8 p.m.

TIM HAZEL

SUNDAYS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES
CALL MICHAEL OR RICHELLE

23380 TELEGRAPH, BETWEEN 9 AND 10 MILE
(248) 352-8243

Southfield

Sseckviem,
vit4a.re P Ylortk.

AUTHENTIC SZECHUAN COOKING

visit Israel on an Anti-
Jason Alexander:
Jewish. Sure, there was the
Defamation League trip in
show in which a mean
Of the fictional Lenny
1991.
chef is dubbed a "Soup
in "Just Looking," he
The actor went reluc-
says, "I didn't quite have Nazi."
tantly. "My impression of
"But we made fun of
his period of innocence."
Israel was that the whole
everyone," insists
country was going to be
Alexander, who landed th e
carrying Torahs, swinging Veyot], and
Seinfeld role by doing a Woody Allen
that I was going to feel incredibly isolat-
impression on his audition tape. "We
ed," he says. "I thought everyone would
were equal-opportunity insulters."
look on me as worse than a Nazi, as if I
The actor, for his part, is all but
were single-handedly destroying the reli-
insulted when a reporter suggests that
gion."
George is meiskeit, or ugly. "George is
Instead, Alexander had one of the
dear," he corrects. "I have trouble under
most amazing spiritual experiences of his
standing how he could ever be seen as
life: "Suddenly, every previously mean-
unlikable.
ingless thing they'd been yakking about
"Of course I'm aware that Seinfeld is
in Hebrew school was right in front of
based on the relationships of four of the
me," he says. "I was standing on the
most selfish people who reveled in each
place where the Temple was. I was swim-
others' misery. But to me, it was always
ming in the lake in Tiberias. I was stand-
so clear that George was just a victim of
ing on top of Masada and looking down
his own insecurity
at the remnants of the Roman camps."
"He's the guy who always turns
The 10-day trip, he says, prompted
around and goes, 'Am I an idiot?' He's
his Jewish reawakening; while he and
constantly trying to overcompensate
Daena remain mostly nonobservant,
because he knows he's not enough for
they have vowed to join a synagogue so
anyone, including himself"
they can educate and celebrate the b'nai
One criticism of Seinfeld is that the
mitzvah of their two sons.
seemingly Jewish characters were never
Alexander, for his part, routinely
declared Jewish. So, was George or was-
appears at ADL and other Jewish func-
n't he?
tions and donated $11,800 from a
Alexander pauses before replying. "He
Jeopardy! charity appearance to ADL.
wasn't in my own mind until they cast
He even convinced Seinfeld co-creator
his parents 3 1/2 seasons in," he reveals.
Larry David to tone down an episode
"Estelle Harris played George's mother,
that featured a bumbling mohel "The
and she can't be anything but Jewish. So
fact that the mohel was nervous was
I thought his folks must have had a
funny," he explains. "The fact that he
mixed marriage, and you can make up
hated children was not."
your own mind as to how they raised
But don't tell Alexander that Seinfeld is
George." [1]
"self-hatingly Jewish," in the words of
L.A. TV critic Tom Shales.
Just Looking, rated R, opens
Sure, there was the episode called
today at the Maple Art Theatre.
"Shiksappeal," in which Elaine discovers
Jewish men like her because she's not
ww wwa v..1.%% 1/4.11

• fresh Seafood • Cocktails
• )—lome of General Tso's Chicken
• 'Y‘o MSG in any dishes • 'Vegetarian Dishes
• 1Z'aily Specials

39450 14 Mile Rd.

(corner of Haggerty in the Newberry Square Plaza)

(248) 960-7666

Original location: 29215 5 Mile Rd. at Middlebelt-Livonia

ot good with any other offer
coupon per table • with coupon
Expires 11/30/00

It AK AT A
111: OP

OPEN 7 DAYS • LUNCH & DINNER

featuring

AUTHENTIC JAPANESE CUISINE

AS YOU LIKE IT!

• Elegant Atmosphere • Gracious Warmth • Reasonable Prices
• Sushi Bar • Private Japanese Rooms
• Cocktails including 30 Different Kinds of Sake

Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11:30 - 2 p.m. • Dinner: Mon.iSat. 5:30-10:30 p.m.
Sunday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

32443 NORTHWESTERN HWY.

(Between Middlebelt & 14 Mile)

(248) 737-7220
Fax (248) 737-7223

Visit us on the web www.hakatasushi.com

10/27
2000

103