THIS WEEK IN XENA NEWS.... TWXN 43 11/04/96 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. From the editor: Don't hold your breath waiting for XMR #19. I am about ten pages into it, though. Be patient! Some ancient ones: [050.6] 10-01-95 DAYTIME EDITION. Date unknown. Interview television show. COMMENTARY: Date unknown. Interview television show. This televised interview was made probably in October 1995 (Ms. Lawless referred to an November episode as coming up, so the interview was definitely before 11/95). It was an early interview and therefore was very formal. Ms. Lawless wore conservative clothing (something she stated later that she rarely did) and she didn't make any overt jokes with the interviewer, as she did with later interviews. In the interview Ms. Lawless related her first HTLJ experience (HERCULES AND THE AMAZON WOMEN) and told the famous story of how she got the Xena part due to the illness of an American actress (still as yet unnamed in print or in fandom). The interview continued with Ms. Lawless' take on the Xena character: (1) "Oh, she was thoroughly wicked. Thoroughly ruthless. But you know, when I look back on them, when the crew and I sat down and watched some of the old tapes, we were just aghast. She was absolutely irredeemable. Who would have thought?" (2) "She [Xena] just realizes there's just something more to life and perhaps she ought to join the social order a little bit and stop maiming people for no apparent reason." When asked what it was like playing a part like Xena, Ms. Lawless stated, "I can't imagine a better role. I can't think of a better role for a woman. Certainly not in episodic television, ever." When asked about Xena's relationship with Hercules, Ms. Lawless stated, "he comes and goes....He does come through in sweeps month. This month in November you can look forward to a crossover episode, and yes, it's very, very exciting." [She was referring to the episode PROMETHEUS]. Quirky moments: When Ms. Lawless was apparently told to sit up straight by someone off camera and off sound what consequently appeared on camera was Ms. Lawless saying completely out of context, "Sit up straight? Sorry." Best line: REPORTER: Sorry. I'm having a hard time hearing you because you're in New Zealand. The interview was plagued by a bad satellite feed (creating such moments as: REPORTER: How does that happen? LUCY: Pardon me? *And* REPORTER: What's it like to play somebody like that? LUCY: Because -- pardon me? [068.5] 10-28-95 WGN. Televised interview. COMMENTARY: In another satellite feed interview (REPORTER: Is it Saturday morning where you are? LUCY: Good morning. Pardon me?), Ms. Lawless promoted the HTLJ double feature of THE GAUNTLET and UNCHAINED HEART which aired on WGN 10/29/95. When asked about the character Xena, Ms. Lawless stated, "I think Xena's just battling her own animal instincts the whole time, you know, she left an ordered society when she was fairly young, still a child, and went severely off the rails and is now just sort of fighting to get back on them. And she doesn't want to be a hero; she doesn't want anybody revering her as a role model or the like, but she just gets caught up in other people's sticky situations and knows that the only thing to do is the right thing and help out." Also discussed was Ms. Lawless' impression on working with Kevin Sorbo and the demands of her role. When asked what was the fun in doing the character, Ms. Lawless stated, "It is unfettered. And I like the way that it is all sort of very straightfaced and makes it even campier, you know, because if you don't play it straightfaced, the audience can't go on the journey, can't be engaged in the fantasy, and that's what we all want, you know, just to drop out for an hour." Some up to date ones: [ ] 11-01-96 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT (Norfolk, VA). Friday. SPORTS. Page C6. 629 words. "Bulls Fans in Hampton Roads Will See less of the Team on TV Thanks to Court; Ruling" By Larry Bonko COMMENTARY: I love it when XWP is mentioned in Sports Sections! In an article about how because of a recent court ruling, WGN will show an extra two hours of HTLJ and XWP to cable subscribers of WGN instead of the Chicago Bulls game on Saturday 11/02/96. Of all the shows they could re-broadcast, they picked XWP! [ ] 11-01-96 TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (Worcester, Ma.) Friday. Page C1. 772 words. "TV's Tarzan: A classic, romantic do-gooder; Leominster author gets to core of action hero's world" By George Snell COMMENTARY: In a review of R. A. Salvatore's "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures" which is a novelization based upon the syndicated television show "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures,", the reviewer reminded the reader that "The series is the latest trend in syndicated action adventure shows, which include Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." [ b] 11-01-96 CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Friday. SPORTS. Page 1. 346 Words. "Good Morning; Chicago Bulls" By Joe Knowles COMMENTARY: In an whimsical article, the writer stated, "As we anxiously await the opener, here's a basketful of banter and best wishes for the Bulls, served alphabet soup-style, from Z to A:...X is for "Xena, Warrior Princess." Read the next item, and you'll understand. W is for WGN, which will be showing "Xena" and its ilk to viewers in the boonies this year, thanks to the NBA blackout rule that prohibits the superstation from airing Bulls games outside the Chicago area." [ ] 11-02-96 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Saturday. Page 49. 241 words. "Q&A. Hanks Will Be Back on TV next Spring" By Norma Cavazos. The Dallas Morning News COMMENTARY: EXCERPT: ...Q. I've heard reports of Lucy Lawless being injured in some kind of accident. What's the story? A. The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" (syndicated) was thrown from a horse last month while waiting to enter "The Tonight Show" sound stage for a comedy stunt. She is working with a physical therapist and her trainer so that she can return to work on her action series.... [ ] 11-03-96 REUTERS WORLD SERVICE. Sunday. 699 words. "Spielberg joins influx of filmmakers to NZ" By Victoria Batchelor. Wellington, NZ. COMMENTARY: In an article regarding the filming of Jurassic Park 2 in New Zealand, the Film New Zealand executive director Di Oliver (who handles filming in NZ), stated, "There are some productions, such as 'Hercules' and 'Xena: Princess Warrior', that have been here for over two years. They are now using more of our key creatives, because they've gotten to know our capabilities. They are even using some of our directors. Xena and Hercules have done wonders in training New Zealand film crews." [ ] 11-03-96 THE NEW YORK TIMES. Sunday. Page 4:6. 828 words. "Ideas & Trends; Pow! Thwack! Bam! No Dubbing Needed." By Bill Carter COMMENTARY: In an article about how action outsells sex in the overseas television market, Mr. Carter stated, "If you turn on a television set in France, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Israel or a number of other countries, the odds are excellent that you will run into an episode of 'Highlander,' 'Hercules,' 'Xena,' 'Kung Fu' or any one of more than a dozen other hour-long action shows. They are aired on American television too, but abroad the shows that bash are a smash." After mentioned Highlander, Mr. Carter stated, "'Hercules' and 'Xena,' which chronicle the adventures of two mythic pre-Hellenic superheroes in high-camp style, accompanied by plenty of flying bodies, are newer, but they have grown into international hits, sold in 20 and 15 countries, respectively." The article also explained how international TV deals were made using Highlander as an example. In conclusion, Mr. Carter wrote, "Action shows turn up mainly on independent television stations which have hours to fill, usually on weekend nights. "Xena" and "Hercules" are simply rushing into the international void left when broadcast networks, worried about the Federal mandate that limits the amount of violence they show, stopped making heavy action series." [ ] 11-04-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 598 words. "Bugliosi makes case for 'People's Court' redux" COMMENTARY: An action hour based upon the comic book character Barbarella is in development and the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER wrote, "Xena better look out...[i]f it comes out as a weekly adventure, it would join a host of actioners set to enter the syndication fray next season. All will be doing battle with hits such as Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys from MCA."