THIS WEEK IN XENA NEWS.... TWXN 40 10/31/96 Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR): http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS/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. EDITOR'S NOTE: Okay, okay. I am behind. But what else is new? I threw in a reprint which peripherally refers to LL's injury...it's ABOUT US, so I didn't annotate. I also broke my rule again with an excerpt of the Letters to the Editor section from the San Diego Union-Tribune commenting upon the 10-15-96 article the paper ran called, "Xena Allure Makes Her Legend in His Own Mind" by Welton Jones. [ ] 10-24-96 THE BUFFALO NEWS. Thursday. Page 5C. 1093 words. "Channel 49 Is Playing Catch-up on WB Network's New Fall Season" By Alan Pergament COMMENTARY: Local Buffalo, NY station Channel 49 joined the WB Network. Mr. Pergament observed that "WB only programs seven hours, leaving plenty of room to experiment this week. There also is considerable prime time room for first-run syndicated programs like 'Baywatch,' 'Hercules' and 'Xena' to fill Channel 49's schedule". [ ] 10-25-96 LOS ANGELES TIMES. Friday. Page F1. 566 words. "ABC Invests $15 Million in 'Timecop'" By Brian Lowry. COMMENTARY: ABC TV has ordered 13 episodes of a television action hour based on the movie TIME COP based on the premise alone (no actors or scripts are yet attached). The series will be produced by Universal Television. Mr. Lowry wrote, "Universal has made a strategy of producing such expensive action-adventure fare. The studio distributes two of the top-rated shows in syndication (programs sold directly to local stations, as opposed to networks) in "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess." Their popularity has spawned numerous imitators, including series based on Tarzan and Sinbad." The article did not mention that Renaissance Pictures was a producer of the original film. [ bl] 10-25-96 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Page 14. 309 words. "Jim Mullen's Hot Sheet. What the Country Is Talking about this Week..." By Jim Mullen COMMENTARY: In a humorous list of trendy items happening in the entertainment biz, XWP was mentioned in regard to Ms. Lawless' injury. While in questionable taste, the mention did attest to XWP's rising popularity: "10 XENA The Warrior Princess hurt herself falling off a horse in L.A. Fortunately, Dr. Quinn belongs to her HMO." [ ] NOTE: REMEMBER NOTHING (#26), 1st release, 10/07/96. Ranked as the 3rd action hour with a 5.3 rating. The standings for action-hours were as follows: 1. HTLJ 5.8 2. ST:DS9 5.6 3. XWP 5.3 4. Baywatch 4.2 5. Sinbad 3.4 6. FX 3.2 7. Viper 2.5 8. Two 2.4 8. The Cape 2.4 9. Poltergeist 2.1 10. Tarzan 1.9 [ bm] 10-27-96 THE SUNDAY STAR-TIMES (Auckland). Page 3. 261 words. "Get well messages swamp Warrior Princess: By Helen Bain COMMENTARY: REPRINT: XENA Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless has been swamped by thousands of Internet messages wishing a her a speedy recovery after breaking her pelvis. The New Zealand television star fell from a horse two weeks ago after filming a stunt for the the NBC network's Tonight Show but is recovering well and has been discharged from a Los Angeles hospital. An MCA TV series spokesman said her spirits had been boosted by thousands of fans from around the world who sent e-mail messages, including the star of the Hercules TV series, Kevin Sorbo. Xena Warrior Princess is a spin-off from the Hercules series in which Lawless also appeared with Sorbo. "Lucy, what can I say? You're the greatest. Get well soon," Sorbo's message says. "Get well soon! Hope the insurance companies don't make you wear a seatbelt from now on," another wellwisher's message says. "Best wishes for a speedy recovery, remember you're supposed to kick their butts, not the other way round," says another. One wellwisher says she adopted a feral kitten and named it Xena "in your honour because she's a feisty good-looking girl". The MCA spokesman said Lawless was now able to walk again but it is slow and painful. "We are anticipating her recovery will be quick." He said Lawless hoped to be back at work filming Xena Warrior Princess in four weeks, including performing fairly rigorous stunts. The spokesman said Lawless was coping extremely well emotionally following the accident. [ ] 10-27-96 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Sunday. Pg. E-2. 1006 words. "Xena'-philes like Keeping up with Jones Second Noah' Synopsis Surely Missed the Boat Critic's Kiss'-off Was Way off the Mark Reader Stages Her Own Review of Welk's Mame' Theater Column Proved to Be Real Page-turner" Letters to the Editor. COMMENTARY: EXCERPT: Xena'-philes like keeping up with Jones I adored (critic-at-large) Welton Jones' article about TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess" ("Xena allure makes her legend in his own mind," Oct. 15). I'm a 49-year-old SWF (who mostly watches PBS and "Star Trek") and I fell in love with this show from the first episode I saw. It's nice to read my feelings about it so intelligently expressed. I had half-suspected my love for it was more on the comic-book level, so I was glad for Jones' astute perceptions as to why, for what it is, we can call it an excellent show. He downplayed one thing, though -- perhaps out of PC-ness or genuine feminist sensibility? Men must feel as strongly as we women do, even though in a different way: While it's just ho-hum common to see guys kick butt without apology, it's a thrill to see a woman do so. And a major babe, indeed. I love hunks, too, but Hercules, the character or the show ("Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"), never captured me the way Xena did. I also love the bonding between Xena and Gabrielle, and am glad the writers-producers don't seem afraid to let them be close; too many people stay away from the "buddy" thing out of fear of being construed as more. KATHY STANIS San Diego Never been such a fan of a TV show before. I'm not sure whether I'm more pleased that Jones' opinion validates my own or that someone who is a wee bit closer to my age (no offense) is also enamored with the show. My friends, none of whom watch the series, think I'm a bit off my rocker -- so I don't mention it around them anymore. Maybe I should look for new friends. So much for being a supposedly mature, professional woman! Anyway, it's refreshing to have an article written about Xena, actress Lucy Lawless and the series by someone who has actually watched it -- and who obviously has excellent taste. D.J. RYAN San Diego On "Xena: Warrior Princess." His comparison of Xena to Mr. Spock (of "Star Trek") is an especially apt one in that "X:WP" appears to be developing along the same lines of the first "Star Trek" series. The campy fantasy-mythology setting is a colorful backdrop for wrestling with issues of heroism and morality. And for those who would just as soon ignore the message, there are all those spectacular fight scenes and zingy one-liners. It's a hard formula to beat. Overall, I'm impressed with the production values, the writing and directing. Critics who've used the word "cheesy" in connection with "X:WP" aren't paying attention. Despite the occasional weak guest actors, I'm impressed with the performances of both Lucy Lawless (as Xena) and Renee O'Connor (as Gabrielle). The latter, especially, is rarely given sufficient credit for her talent, somewhat overshadowed by the larger-than-life warrior princess. Lawless and O'Connor have delightful screen chemistry. CARMEN CARTER Front Royal, VA Would we watch her if she didn't wear those leather bustiers so well? DAVID KAHN San Diego... ...GRAPHIC:...They love Lucy: Lucy Lawless plays the title role in TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess," a show popular with letter writers.