THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS.... TWXN #26 09/ Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR): http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html XMR is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationally syndicated television show XENA: Warrior Princess (1995 - ) and the castmembers, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. For a free e-mail subscription send "subscribe XMR" to ktaborn@lightspeed.net. Excerpts from the following cites will appear in future issues of XMR. [ c] 09-02-96 THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Monday. Page 2. 667 words. "Snippets" COMMENTARY: This article took parts of "Five Questions with Lucy Lawless: Xena Warrior And Empowerer" By Eileen Glanton. Added new part of "New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless relishes her role in Xena: Warrior Princess, but she's slightly bemused by the cult following she's attracted. Preteen girls seek her advice; Internet junkies dissect the show's plot lines." It's such a bizarre mix of Ms. Glanton's work with short interjections added, that it is reproduced in full in XMR. [ ] 09-01-96 CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Sunday. Page 3. 1284 words. "Mighty popular; Family background gave Lucy Lawless strength she needed for 'Xena'" COMMENTARY: A low key interview where Lucy Lawless reminisced about her past and future. She also discussed how "Chariots of War" was her worst experience in making the show. [ ] 09-01-96 THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Sunday. Page F26. 695 words. "Critical Choices; So much TV, so little time. Here's how TV critic Kinney Littlefield will tackle the tube as the fall season rolls out, now through October." By Kinney Littlefield COMMENTARY: Mr. Littlefield's must Saturday night TV included XWP. He also called Xena a "shero". [ ] 09-02-96 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 4. 414 words. "Tribune's Aliens Will Feature a Familiar Gene" By Greg Spring COMMENTARY: In an article about the recently unearthed Battleground Earth script by Gene Roddenberry and how Tribune Entertainment would priduce it, the President of Tribune Entertainment mentioned how Tribune stations have shown, by way of XWP and HTLJ, how their stations are "the best launching pad for action-adventure hours." [ ] 09-05-96 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Thursday. Page 55. 445 words. "for the Love of Lucy" By Chris Dickinson COMMENTARY: In stating "I love Lucy", author Chris Dickinson admitted that it was Lucy Lawless not Lucille Ball that he was talking about. Also confessing an understanding of why lesbians would be attracted to XWP, Mr. Dickinson (I am assuming Dickinson is a man) apparently wrote this after watching "Death Mask" the previous week. Most of his references in the article are from that episode. However, Mr. Dickinson was not aware that XWP was shot in New Zealand. He made references to the exterior shots looking like they were shot in Northern California. This article is an example of a new type of XWP review that is now appearing in the mass media. First, it is not based upon a press release with the writer relying upon the p.r. copy for their story. Second, local reporters are beginning to originate the story on their own from their own viewing habits. The reporters are reporting on XWP from their personal experience. Either they love it, they hate it, or they don't quite understand what's going on. The important difference is that it is being generated not from above or externally. It is directly from their own observations. Third, because of this grassroots approach, many of the writers cannot afford or arrange because of lack of clout or creativity actual interviews with the producers, writers, or actors of the show. Nonetheless, these stories are popping up here and there. For example, the author of this story did not know the show was filmed in New Zealand. Obviously their information was not gleaned from interviews or press releases. It came from the heart. The Xenaddicted are starting to emerge from everywhere, even the media! [ ] 09-05-96 AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Page E1. 992 words. "Xena's sidekick/Houstonian Renee O'Connor makes a splash with New Zealand's warrior princess" By Diane Holloway COMMENTARY: A rare interview with Rene O'Connor. This was the most extensive interview with Renee O'Connor to date. Ms. O'Connor, who is the step-daughter of the owner of Threadgill's, visited Austin, TX. Ms. O'Connor mentioned she was on her way to Africa with her mother for her break 10 week break from XWP. In her contribution to the development of the Gabrielle character, Ms. O'Connor said, "Gabrielle started off spunky, spirited, wanting to be like Xena...I just made her more of a storyteller, the opposite of Xena. She's more sentimental and poetic now. That's the direction I took her. Occasionally there's some soul-searching, but mostly it's action and fun." In regard to the type of audience XWP has attracted, Ms. O'Connor stated, "Our audience is such a bizarre mix...Lucy and I have talked about it. I find it inspiring that the audience is women. I'd rather have women watching than men drooling." Ms. O'Connor also mentioned that she has a 7 year contract for XWP and plans to eventually direct. [ ] 09-05-96 AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Page 28. 561 words. "Bang! You're fried; In laser tag, everyone's got a blaster and a license to kill" By Deborah J. Wolfinsohn COMMENTARY: In an article about laser tag, the writer slyly referred to XWP by stating that, "After choosing your own code name (like Xena, or Stretch, or perhaps Bronx Thug) you proceed to the 'airlock' where, flashing vests strapped on, guns in hand, you recite the rules, such as 'I will not run or cover my target,' and 'I will play fair.'" [ ] 09-06-96 THE TORONTO SUN. Friday. Page 77. 574 words. "Adventures for this Season; Roadcrew, the New Superman Help Kick-off the Fall Lineup Action" By Claire Bickley COMMENTARY: After a review of the new Superman cartoon, a brief mention was made of XWP in context to The Adventures of Sinbad. Sinbad will play in Toronto the same night as XWP and THTLJ.