
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 2, 1994                   TAG: 9404020180
SECTION: SPECTATOR                    PAGE: S-16   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By TOM JICHA FORT LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`PICKET FENCES' CAST MEMBER OPPOSED EPISODE THAT SHOWCASED HIM

It's unusual for a supporting actor to argue against a story line that brings his character front and center for practically an entire episode. Then again, Fyvush Finkel of "Picket Fences," who did just that, is an unusual performer.

Finkel plays bombastic, flamboyant attorney Douglas Wambaugh on the Emmy-winning drama (Friday nights at 10 on WDBJ-Channel 7). In the last episode of "Picket Fences" to air - basketball has pre-empted it the past two Fridays - Wambaugh was at the center of a storm. The rabbi at his temple moved to cancel Wambaugh's membership because he said the attorney personified the worst stereotypes of Jews and thus was an embarrassment to the temple.

Wambaugh, a profoundly religious man, was crushed and fought the banishment. It was a marvelous showcase for Finkel, an obvious selection when he considers which examples of his work to enter in the Emmy judging.

Yet, because of the impetus for the episode, Finkel would rather the show's writers had done something else.

"Picket Fences" had received some letters - not any significant number, Finkel said - expressing the anti-Wambaugh feelings presented in the show by the rabbi. One of Wambaugh's detractors also wrote to the Los Angeles Times and had her opinions published.

"She said Wambaugh is an ambulance chaser," Finkel said, before picking apart the argument the way Wambaugh might approach a hostile witness. "What does that have to do with being Jewish? As if there are no Gentile ambulance chasers. That this woman singled out Jews as ambulance chasers indicates a problem on her part. Wambaugh is a good Jew. He's always in synagogue and he's very charitable."

The producers decided that the best way to respond to Wambaugh's detractors was with a show that allowed Wambaugh to argue the points made by Finkel. It aired on March 11. After Wambaugh had his say, and other "Picket Fences" characters spoke eloquently on his behalf, he was restored to his temple.

"That was an expensive way of answering a letter," Finkel said with a laugh. It also was one he strongly opposed.

With his voice rising to the booming level Wambaugh uses when he wants to intimidate an adversary in court, Finkel said, "I said to them, `Never! Don't do it. Ignore it. It's only a small minority. By dealing with it, you give them the attention they are looking for.' "

Now that it's done, Finkel feels better about the situation. "I think (executive producer) David Kelley answered Wambaugh's critics in such a way that this will never be brought up again."

Finkel said he received some quick reviews that really bolstered his spirits. The week after the episode aired, he made an appearance at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. "I was supposed to do three shows. They all sold out so fast, they added a fourth show. After each one, the people were coming up to me and telling me how much they had enjoyed that episode and how they like the character of Douglas Wambaugh."

It's rare enough for an actor to achieve his big breakthrough at age 70, as Finkel did. "This show is the miracle of my life," he said.

It's even more unusual to find a performer who will admit that he was disappointed not to win an Emmy for which he was nominated, as Finkel was for "Picket Fences" first season.

"Of course, I was disappointed," Finkel said. "I wouldn't believe an actor who told you that it didn't matter, that it was an honor just to be nominated. It is an honor, but you want to win. Besides, all you (TV critics) wrote that I was a cinch."

So, sue us. Better yet, sue the Television Academy. Douglas Wambaugh would. They're the ones who screwed up.

by CNB