directing her concert for HBO," he says.
Just prior to leaving for the tour, he
wed actress Christine Lahti, a
Birmingham, Mich., native and U-M
graduate. Married for 18 years, the cou-
ple have three children: 13-year-old
Wilson and twins Joseph and Emma, 8.
Schlamme and his wife moved to
Los Angeles, where he made a name
for himself producing and directing
Tracey Ullman's series Tracey Takes On,
and directing the groundbreaking
comedy The .Larry Sanders Show, wi th
Gary Shandling. "HBO found me
work constantly," says Schlamme.
The in-demand director has worked
on a host of other TV shows, includ-
ing ER, Ally McBeal and Chicago Hope.
I got into this business to tell sto-
ries and communicate," he has said of
his preference for the small screen. "I
have to be honest and say, 'Where is
the material that offers me the most
opportunity CO do that?'"
Most recently, he executive pro-
duced the acclaimed ABC sitcom
Sports Night, in creative partnership
with Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter
with whom he also brought The West
Wing to life.
Schlamme recently talked with the
Jewish News about his family, Jewish
roots and The West Wing.

JN: How did The West Wing evolve?
TS: Aaron [Sorkin] had written this
pilot script based on the film The
American President, which he also
wrote. While Aaron and I we were

working together on Sports Night, I
read the pilot and really liked it. It was
the height of the Monica Lewinsky
scandal, and at first, NBC was drag-
ging its feet about putting on a politi-
cal show. But the network finally said,
"yes," and Aaron and I decided to
become partners.

JN: Were you involved in the casting?
TS: Very much. Martin Sheen was
somebody we wanted [For the presi-
dent], but we shelved the idea for a
while because he had been in The
American President, playing a different
character. We had talked about James
Earl Jones and Sidney Poitier as presi-
dent, and another actor, whom we
were close to casting. The night
before, I couldn't sleep, thinking he
wasn't right. I called Aaron the next
morning and said, "Can we revisit
Martin again?" He signed on to do
about four or five episodes
because
the series concept focuses on the men
and women who work for the presi-
dent. But he enjoyed it so much we
made him permanent.

WING

Mancha, The Out-of Towners, The
Man in the Glass Booth, Plaza Suite).

Cross-Cultural Production in
Film or Television:

Following is a list of this year's
honorees in additional categories:
Network Television Film:
ANNE FRANK; ABC
Cable Television Film:
VARIAN'S WAR; Showtime
Documentary Film:

BACKSTORY GENTLEMAN'S
AGREEMENT HBO

RACHEL WEISZ — Enemy at the Gates

Male Character -- TV:

RICHARD SCHIFF — The West
Wing; NBC

Restaurant and Lounge

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

GOOD FOOD • GOOD DRINKS • GOOD TIMES

Appearing Sat., Sept. 15

Wyze Gyze

23380 TELEGRAPH, BETWEEN 9 AND 1 0 MILE • Smithfield
(248) 352-8243

.

GEORGE LUCAJ

AND HIS EMPLOYEES

wish their
Customers and Friends

A Healthy and Happy
New Year
4VC1Efi we
e,

on page R52

Male Character --- Film:

Television Series or Episode:
THE WEST WING — Series; NBC
Female Character — TV:
HANNAH TAYLOR GORDON, as
Anne Frank; ABC
Female Character — Film:

McVee's

JN: Have you heard from Presidents
Clinton or George W. Bush about the
show?
TS: Clinton was very aware and sup-
portive of the show, and we ended up
having a wonderful relationship with
his administration. By the end of the
first season, we were invited to the

Television was presented to director
Arthur Hiller (Love Story, Man of La

INTO THE ARMS OF
STRANGERS: STORIES OF THE
KINDERTRANSPORT

Ray and ShirleyAbrams and
Michael andJulie Abrams,
Management, Kitchen, Servers
& All Employees Wish Their
Friends, Customers and Families
The Very Best For A Healthy,
Peaceful and Joyous
New Year

STEVEN WEBBER -- Club Land

31005 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD, Farmington Hills • (248) 855-4866

Marty and Karen Wilk

The Jewish Image Awards pres-
entation was written by six-time
Emmy Award-winner Bruce
Vilanch, whose TV credits include
the Academy Awards, Emmy
Awards, Grammy Awards and Tony

Management and Employees

,
1

10

Awards.

Underwriters for the event includ-
ed Jamie and Steve Tisch and
Jonathan Tisch. Other endowments
include gifts from Barbra Streisand,
David Geffen, CBS Entertainment,
Showtime Networks and Sydney
Pollack, among others. The selection
committee was chaired by Joan
Hyler and Linda Shayne.

,-:

0

I
L W ' 0

-

excaligur

Offer Best Wishes
For a Year of Peace,
Good Health, Happiness
and The Joy of
Lasting Friendships
To Our Customers
and Friends

Now Appearing:

BILLY ROSE QUARTET

Tuesday Thru Thursday Evenings

28875

Franklin Rd. at Northwestern & 12 Mile Southfield. MI • (248) 358-3355

9/14
2001

R511