_____ ______ ._ `\`/>`\ /`/` /`__________,.'>___ _____ )~\ /<`\ `\ /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\ |\./| / | \ /< `\`\ `\ /`/` /` | | |----\ / | |\ \ | | |././^\ \ |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----. [\\\\\\\{*}==`> <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==--> |/~~{o}/-- /`/ /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--' \< /`/` /` `\`\ `\ | | |_____,.'>| | | `\`\| | /' \ \ \ \< /` /` `\`\ `\ ,/ /^\------> / |/^\| \ | |/ \/^\\. /`/\>/` `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~ )^\,\, '~~~~~ `~~~~~` '~~~~~` ` ~~~~~~ ========================== XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #10 ========================== http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html c/o RIF BBS, P.O. Box 81181, Bakersfield, CA 93308 RIF BBS (805) 588-9349 [24hrs, 14.4bps, free] 192 subscribers and growing! This document has 1040 lines. XENA Media Review (XMR) is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the international 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. Copyright, legal, and editorial notices are found at the end of this newsletter. Issue No. 10 Release date: June 7, 1996 2nd edition: 07/10/96 Covering 11/23/95 - 12/13/95 Annotations 084 - 099 [007c] 04-22-95. DES MOINES REGISTER. Mention of RO ***[084a] 11-23-95. DAILY NEWS. 2nd maj int of LL [084b] 12-02-95. SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER. Same as XMR084a [084c] 01-02-96. ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Version of XMR084a. ***[085] 11-24-95. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Major article ***[086] 11-24-95. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. 3rd maj int of LL * [087a] 11-27-95. VARIETY. Prometheus ratings [087b] 11-27-95. DAILY VARIETY. Same content as XMR087a. * [087c] 11-27-95. VARIETY. Nielsen Syndication Ratings [087d] 12-05-95. DAILY VARIETY. interim November sweeps [088] 11-27-95. ELECTRONIC MEDIA. MIP in November 1995. ** [089] 11-29-95. THE GUARDIAN. XWP's 1st Brit Press mention [090] 11-30-95. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Intl market * [091a] 12-03-95. SEATTLE TIMES. "Captain Zoom in Outer Space" [091b] 12-07-95. TAMPA TRIBUNE. Passing mention [092] 12-03-95. AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Sorbo int [093] REMOVED to XMR087d. ** [094] 12-08-95. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Licensing/merchandising * [095] 12-08-95. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Producers' Logos. * [096] 12/08/95. DAILY VARIETY. November Sweeps results. [097] 12-09-95. WASHINGTON TIMES. Minor mention * [098] 12-11-95. VARIETY. Ratings for Hooves & Harlots * [099] 12/13/95. CNN. TV Show: Showbiz Today. Mention ------------- Introduction: ------------- First, I must apologize that I did not have time to write any synopses for XWP. This issue should have covered "The Titans", "Prometheus", "Death in Chains" and "Hooves and Harlots". I will try to get to them next week. My time has been used up mostly by (eek) my day job. What scraps I had left, after fulfilling familial and spousal, were used in getting RIF #58 (Resistance is Futile, my OTHER fanzine) out AND setting up and coordinating IAXS (International Association of Xena Studies). Oh, and did I mention my nervous breakdown? (Er, just kidding.) Back to IAXS! It is going well. So far we have about 23 research projects registered and about 10 others vacillating (it's okay, procrastination is a time honor academic pursuit). THE BIG NEWS, of course, is we have a web page: http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html. This page was donated and designed by Tricia Murphy (gater@teleport.com). On this page we hope to keep everyone informed about IAXS and XMR and whatever else we fancy. In an earlier XMR I announced two special issues of XMR. One, the "Let's Analyze the Heck Out of Xena" one has evolved into Whoosh!, the Journal of the International Association of Xena Studies. It will be published 6 times a year and highlight five episodes of XWP per issue. The first issue will highlight the HTLJ Xena trilogy (Warrior Princess, Gauntlet, Unchained Heart) and the episodes "Sins of the Past" and "Chariots of War". It is scheduled to appear sometime next month. Stay tuned for more information! And now for something completely different... I recently had the pleasure of viewing two of the original five Hercules: The Legendary Journeys movies and I have discovered that I like the movies better than the weekly Hercules show. In the movies, or at least the two I saw, Hercules is testy and rude in. He's got a huge chip on his shoulder and he doesn't mind showing it. Furthermore, Hercules seems to be dedicated to tearing down the god-system and making people no longer worship the gods. He reluctantly helps people and the episodes are not "whooshy" or too campy. They are rather serious dramas (well, as serious as Raimi/Tappert could be). I like that. They are much more akin to the mood in Xena: Warrior Princess. I must conclude that's why I prefer them over the series. However, I have only seen two ("Hercules and the Amazon Women" and "Hercules and the Lost Kingdom"; the Lost Kingdom being better than Amazon, in my opinion). I have three more to go. I'll have to wait and see what what I think after seeing all of them. I am going to post this query on the mailing lists and see if anyone else has any thoughts on these movies. The movies, by the way, are not as rushed as the series and they are beautifully photographed and scored. It's been a pleasure to watch them and I was surprised that I enjoyed them as much as I did. --Kym ---------- TIMELINE ---------- Tabled until next issue! ------------------- AMENDED ANNOTATIONS ------------------- [007c] 04-22-95 THE DES MOINES REGISTER. Today Pg.4. 414 words. "A sociological look at the James boys" COMMENTARY: Another nominal mention of Ms. O'Connor regarding "Follow the River", an ABC TV movie of the week. EXCERPT: ..."Follow the River" (ABC at 8 p.m.) Adapted from James Alexander Thom's novel, this new drama casts Sheryl Lee ("Twin Peaks") as an 18th-century woman captured by Shawnee raiders. Wanting to protect her young son (Tyler Noyes) and keep herself from being enslaved or slain, she agrees to keep company with their leader (Eric Schweig), though she eventually escapes and struggles to return home. Several months' pregnant, she's joined in her grueling quest by a fellow captive (Ellen Burstyn). Filmed on location in North Carolina, the tale also features Renee O'Connor and Andrew Stahl as other prisoners who have to rely on Lee's courage to ensure their survival. ----------- ANNOTATIONS ----------- [084] 11-23-95 through 01-02-96 Christy Slewinski's phone interview and resulting article represented Lucy Lawless' 2nd major media interview. The first was in October 1995, reprinted in XMR051a. Ms. Slewinski's article appeared first in the 11-23-95 New York Daily News, and then 12-02-95 in the San Francisco Examiner, then 01-02-96 in the Arizona Republic. Essentially a short interview, the content covers a variety of topics: how quickly Ms. Lawless went from a three episode deal in Hercules to her own series; the joys of having an action figure loosely based upon her body; her loss of personal time because of her growing celebrity; and her true feelings about Xena's costume. This article added to the growing legend behind Ms. Lawless' circuitous route to becoming Xena. When asked by Producer Rob Tappert, Ms. Lawless was quoted as saying, "'I said, "Pardon?"' and he repeated it. And I then said: 'Ah, Mr. Tappert, that sounds very nice. Why don't you get back to me at a later date when it's a bit more concrete?"'" While discussing the Xena action figure, Ms. Lawless was quoted as saying, "It's a very odd facsimile...and the body's like He-man's body in a skirt...But that's the fun of it." Ms. Lawless also discussed her loss of private time with her family now that she was becoming more successful. "I was sitting in the looping studio late one night and I had this epiphany that they weren't paying me for my acting, for god's sake, but to own me. And from then on, it became clear and an awful lot easier to deal with...that that's what my contract was all about..." The article further mentioned that her daughter Daisy lives with her father on the weekdays and Lucy only gets to see her on the weekends. Speaking of her costume, Ms. Lawless remarked, "Those corsets are for the birds, man..." [084a] 11-23-95 DAILY NEWS (New York). Page 109. 452 words. "Lawless' Success All Greek to Her" by Christy Slewinski. COMMENTARY: A short, but seminal, interview of Lucy Lawless. REPRINT: MANY actors believe you'd have to be blessed by the gods to go from a guest appearance on a hit series to the star of your own spinoff. In Lucy Lawless' case, it was a demi-god who made it all happen. The New Zealand native signed on to do a three-episode arc on the popular syndicated series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" during its first season. Before her stint was over, Lawless was headlining her own actioner, "Xena: Warrior Princess," which airs Saturdays nights at 9 on WPIX/Ch. 11. (And repeats Sunday afternoons at 1:30.) Lawless first appeared on "Hercules" which stars Kevin Sorbo as the mythological half-god, half-man good guy as a feared, evil marauder who flattened everything in her path. Problem was, audiences loved her. So Xena did a quick 180, and now battles evil with the best of the boys. It all came about, says Lawless by phone from New Zealand, with an incredible call from "Hercules'" co-executive producer, Rob Tapert "just a voice from America" who asked her if she'd like to have a show of her own. "I said, 'Pardon?' " and he repeated it. And I then said: 'Ah, Mr. Tapert, that sounds very nice. Why don't you get back to me at a later date when it's a bit more concrete?' " Obviously, he did. Currently, "Xena" is the fifth-highest-rated syndicated one-hour drama, no doubt buoyed by the phenomenal success of "Hercules," which often takes top Nielsen honors. Lawless who hasn't been to America since the show launched is still a bit shell-shocked over the sudden success of "Xena," which doesn't yet air in New Zealand, where the show is taped. "If this is a big deal at all, nobody down here knows it," she says. And she laughs at the idea that, before long, little fans will be acting out their own shows with "Hercules" and "Xena" action figures, which will be available in stores soon. "It's a very odd facsimile," she says of the doll, "and the body's like He-man's body in a skirt. . . . But that's the fun of it." There are, she admits, clouds hidden inside the bright silver lining. First of all, there's the loss of personal time. "I was sitting in the looping studio late one night and I had this epiphany that they weren't paying me for my acting, for god's sake, but to own me. And from then on, it became clear and an awful lot easier to deal with . . . that that's what my contract was all about," says Lawless, a single mother who sees her 7-year-old daughter, Daisy, on weekends. The rest of the week, Daisy lives with her father. Then, of course, there's Xena's rigid, restrictive leather and metal costume, which Lawless wiggles in and out of. "Those corsets are for the birds, man," she says. GRAPHIC: 'XENA' STEALER: Lucy Lawless' show is riding high. [084b] 12-02-95 THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER. Page C1. 560 words. "Don't cross Xena" by Christy Slewinski. COMMENTARY: Same as XMR084a, but with different graphic caption. EXCERPT: ...GRAPHIC: Lucy Lawless plays justice -fighter "Xena: Warrior Princess," a spinoff of the syndicated "Hercules' show, where she began as a feared, evil marauder. [084c] 01-02-96 THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Page C6. 338 words. "Lucy Lawless on Straight and Narrow with Hit Series 'Xena'" By Christy Slewinski. COMMENTARY: Edited down version of XMR084a. No graphic. [085] 11-24-95 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Page 85. 643 Words. "Gimme Some Skin; Drawing Strength from 'Hercules,' 'Xena' Proves a Scintillating Spin-off--but Without That Bevy of Bods, David Hasselhoff's 'Baywatch' Detective Faces Dismal 'Nights.'" by Ken Tucker. COMMENTARY: Five months after mentioning XWP briefly in context with HTLJ (XMR020), ET finally gave Xena some column space. Mr. Ken Tucker of EW asked the eternal question, "Why is Xena popular and Baywatch Nights so abysmal?" Describing HTLJ as "one of the most self-aware of junk television shows", EW also described Xena as "Wonder Woman on steroids". A paragraph was reserved for a description of the "mini- martial-arts movies" produced for the fight scenes, which excelled in "flying fists and vicious leg kicks, sped-up editing and absurdly exaggerated leaps and flips". Mr. Tucker described Xena's chakram as a "stainless-steel-bladed Frisbee". Mr. Tucker concluded the analysis of the fight scenes with the realization that "if I were a 10-year-old, I'd bite anyone who tried to keep me away from an episode of Xena." Mr. Tucker then offered the adult readers a sampling of dialogue which he referred to as "a stitch". It was between Xena and a blind cyclops from "Sins of the Past". Mr. Tucker than segued into the Baywatch Nights woes with the observation that "they could use a blind Cyclops or two on Baywatch Nights..." Mr. Tucker concluded the entire article with the thought, "Xena has done a few crossover episodes with Hercules. Maybe she should pay a visit to Baywatch Nights, scream a few Yi-yi-yi-yi-yis, and shake Hasselhoff out of his ego stupor." Ms. Lawless gets a graphic. REPRINT: IT'S NOT UNUSUAL for a successful TV show to try to cash in by producing another, similar series, but it is surprising that the spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (syndicated, check local listings), is so shrewdly done, while David Hasselhoff's Baywatch successor, BAYWATCH NIGHTS (syndicated, check local listings), is so clueless. Followers of the popular syndicated hour Hercules know that the warrior princess Xena, played by the delightfully monikered Lucy Lawless, used to be one of the fiercest foes of Kevin Sorbo's mythical hero. Regular viewers also know that Hercules has turned out to be one of the most self-aware of junk television shows; overseen by executive producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert (Darkman, American Gothic), Hercules has attracted a large following of kids, who like the comic-book-style action scenes, as well as adults, who appreciate the joke of using modern slang in an ancient-times context. Lawless' Xena--"a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle," as Xena's opening credits have it--became a fan favorite breakout character on Hercules. But how to turn her into enough of a sympathetic protagonist to justify her own show? Easy: She expressed a twinge of remorse about the havoc she had wreaked plundering villages and coldcocking peasants, and so she forswore her ruthless ways and started helping people rather than exploiting them. Xena is Wonder Woman on steroids, and Lawless--with her dark bangs, moon face, light blue eyes, and small, grim smiles--plays the warrior princess with barely concealed delight. The fight scenes are shot like mini-martial-arts movies, with flying fists and vicious leg kicks, sped-up editing and absurdly exaggerated leaps and flips. Xena even gives out with a high-pitched yip ("Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi!") when she moves in for the kill. As if all this weren't enough, Xena has a special weapon--a sort of stainless-steel-bladed Frisbee that she tosses to slice up a foe, and that comes back to her like a boomerang. I truly believe that if I were a 10-year-old, I'd bite anyone who tried to keep me away from an episode of Xena. For non-10-year-olds, though, the dialogue in Xena is a stitch. Confronted by a blind, one-eyed giant who's armed with a sledgehammer, Xena sends him tumbling. "You ought to go into a new line of work," she says saucily. "Like what?" grumbles the flattened enemy. "I'm a blind Cyclops, for heaven's sake!" They could use a blind Cyclops or two on Baywatch Nights--anything to make this predictable show more interesting. The premise is that David Hasselhoff's lifeguard Mitch Buchannon has gone into business with Baywatch pal Garner Ellerbee (GregAlan Williams) in a detective agency; their third partner is Ryan McBride (played by Angie Harmon). I guess the phenomenal success of Baywatch has deluded Hasselhoff into thinking that he--rather than that show's undulating profusion of crimson bathing suits--is what makes the series so popular. As a result, Nights is wall-to-wall Mitch Buchannon; Garner and Ryan barely even register as supporting characters. Hasselhoff also provides a lot of hard-boiled-cliche voice-over narration ("[She] had something to do with fate--as in fatal..."). There are lots of car chases and shoot-outs adorning plots that seem lifted from old scripts for Mannix. His faith in old-fashioned television formulas is touching, if utterly unfounded. Hasselhoff has said that if Nights is a hit, he'll fade into the background of Baywatch (no more sand jogging for this middle-aged multimillionaire) and concentrate on his fledgling detective role. Xena has done a few crossover episodes with Hercules. Maybe she should pay a visit to Baywatch Nights, scream a few Yi-yi-yi-yi-yis, and shake Hasselhoff out of his ego stupor. Xena: Warrior Princess: B+ Baywatch Nights: D GRAPHIC: LETHAL WEAPONS: Xena's Lawless (top left) reigns; Hasselhoff and Harmon shoot blanks [Lucy Lawless and others on TV show Xena; David Hasselhoff and Angie Harmon on TV show Baywatch Nights] [086] 11-24-95 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Page 86. 327 Words. "Toys in Babeland; Lucy Lawless of 'Xena'" by A.J. Jacobs. COMMENTARY: A companion piece to the more lengthy XMR085. This marked the third major media interview with Ms. Lawless (first was XMR051a on 10/01/95; the second XMR084a on 11/23/95). Even smaller than XMR084, the article at least offered some direct quotations. Included graphic of Ms. Lawless. Starting with Ms. Lawless' horror at her action figure, A.J. Jacobs then continued the phone interview with topics ranging from Xena being a role-model ("I don't want any of this role-model nonsense"), having her hair dyed ("I love being a brunet"), and the athletic requirements of the show (""I've hit plenty of people on the set"). The article then settled into a quick biography, her marital status, the problems with making Xena into a heroine, her need for a personal trainer, and Xena's costume ("It makes you crotchety to be trussed up like a chicken...I think that's why Xena's such a grump."). Presented in People Magazine style but with an EW edge ("Lawless' Warrior Princess could kick Barbie's Butt"), the article adds to the growing mythos about Lucy Lawless and Xena. REPRINT: WANT TO MAKE LUCY LAWLESS mad as Hades? Just ask the star of Xena: Warrior Princess about her soon-to-be-released action figure. "It looks like they put my head on a He-Man's body!" she huffs. "It's got these enormously muscular arms. They could shave a few bloody cubic inches off that dolly!" Still, the leather-clad Xena is no Barbie--and neither is Lawless (yes, that is her real name). On the phone from her native New Zealand, where Xena is filmed, the six-foot actress sounds like a female Charles Barkley. "I don't want any of this role-model nonsense," declares Lawless, 27, whose show is the highest-rated new syndicated series. "I don't want anyone copying me...don't waste your time." She waxes tough on subjects ranging from her hair dye ("I love being a brunet. People are kind of intimidated") to the show's kung fu-style fight scenes ("I've hit plenty of people on the set, and it's great because stuntmen don't cry"). How'd the blue-eyed Kiwi get such brass? Her far-from- Hollywood upbringing probably has something to do with it. Lawless--who recently separated from her husband and lives in Auckland with her 7-year-old daughter, Daisy--took off at 18 to go "grape picking on the Rhine," then headed for Australia to work in a gold mine. She eventually turned to acting, snagging spots on commercials down under before her breakthrough last year as the arch-villainess on Hercules. Next came the Herculean task of turning the butchering Xena into a spin-off-worthy heroine. "We're trying a 12-step program," says executive producer Rob Tapert. The actress, meanwhile, started a physical regimen. Once nicknamed Unco (for uncoordinated), Lawless hired a personal trainer last summer and did a stint in L.A. with a martial-arts master. But perhaps her biggest challenge has been squeezing into her costume: "It makes you crotchety to be trussed up like a chicken," she says. "I think that's why Xena's such a grump." GRAPHIC: LIVING DOLL? Lawless' Warrior Princess could kick Barbie's Butt [Lucy Lawless] [087] 11-27-95 NOTE: Here are the numbers for "Prometheus", episode number 8. Rated 17th, it tied for third in the action hours. [087a] 11-27-95 VARIETY. Page 32. 729 Words. "Sitcoms Surge in Syndication Sweeps" by Jim Benson COMMENTARY: "Prometheus" EXCERPT: ...sweeps week ended Nov. 12... ...Most off-net sitcoms enjoyed higher rankings, thanks to sweeps promotion and the end of daylight-saving time.... ...Looking at the new weeklies, Par's top-rated "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (7.0) fell 13% from last year. It was followed by MCA TV's "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," which tied its high of 6.4 set the week ended March 5. MCA's "Xena: Warrior Princess" and All American's "Baywatch" each wound up with a 5.4, with "Xena" up 4% and "Baywatch" down 22% from a year ago... [087b] 11-27-95 DAILY VARIETY. Page 6. 724 words. "Off-net sitcoms strong" By JIM BENSON COMMENTARY: Same content as XMR087a. [087c] 11-27-95 VARIETY. Page 32. 184 Words. "Nielsen Syndication Ratings" COMMENTARY: Prometheus. EXCERPT: For week ended Nov. 12, 1995 Stations/ Rank Program % coverage AA% GAA % 1 Wheel of Fortune 228/99 13.1 -- 2 Jeopardy! 221/99 11.1 -- 3 Home Improvement 218/97 10.1 11.0 4 Oprah Winfrey Show 237/99 9.4 9.4 5 Seinfeld 218/97 7.6 -- 6 Wheel of Fortune Wknd. 179/77 7.3 -- 7 Entertainment Tonight 170/94 7.2 7.3 8 Simpsons 187/96 7.0 7.0 8 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 232/98 7.0 7.5 10 Home Improvement Wknd. 214/95 6.8 -- 11 Journeys of Hercules 227/98 6.4 7.0 12 Inside Edition 168/92 6.2 6.3 13 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 158/87 5.7 6.2 13 Roseanne 174/93 5.7 5.8 15 WCW Wrestling 174/93 5.6 8.8 16 Baywatch 221/97 5.4 5.5 16 Xena 202/96 5.4 5.9 18 Hard Copy 174/91 5.3 5.3 18 Warner Bros. Volume 30 150/87 5.3 5.5 20 Jenny Jones 209/96 4.8 5.0 AA average refers to nonduplicated viewing for multiple airings of the same show. GAA average encompasses duplicated viewing. GAA average does not apply when there is only one run of a show. [087d] 12-05-95 DAILY VARIETY. Page 10W. 325 words. "Syndie Strips Slide; Weeklies bright as 'Deep,' 'Limits' climb" By Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: XWP hit its highest market share to date. The episode? "Prometheus" supposedly. This does not jive with the other reports, however it may be an interim November sweeps report. EXCERPT: Unseasonably mild weather in many parts of the country left most syndicated strips with modest losses during the week ended Nov. 13, a period overlapping the third week of local market sweeps... ...MCA TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess" also showed some muscle, slashing its way into third. It climbed 4% to a record 5.6 mark... ...Paramount's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (7.7) continued to lead the weekly bracket, transporting itself ahead 10% for the week. Compared to a year ago, it was down 5%. MCA's "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" slipped 5%, to 6.1, while All American's "Baywatch" held at a season high of 5.4 for its second week. Still, the series was off 19% from last year and its companion, "Baywatch Nights," fell 10%, to 3.6. "Land's End" lost 2%, to 4.6.... [088] 11-27-95 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page M6. 5454 words. "NIP Asia Product Listings". COMMENTARY: This is the listing of shows MCA TV was trying to peddle at the MIP in November 1995. EXCERPT: The following is a list of the key programming available from 48 companies representing six countries at MIP Asia this year... ...MCA TV International Universal City, Calif. ''American Gothic,'' 13 hours of a suspense thriller; ''Earthworm Jim,'' 13 animated half-hours; ''Partners,'' 13 half-hours of a comedy; ''Savage Dragon,'' 13 animated half-hours; ''Xena: Warrior Princess,'' 22 hours of an action-adventure series; and made-for-TV movies ''The Android Affair,'' ''Birds II-Land's End,'' ''Caught in the Act,'' ''The Colony,'' ''Dangerous Heart,'' ''Deadman's Revenge,'' ''Deconstructuring Sarah,'' ''Deep Red,'' ''Disappearance of Christina,'' ''It Came From Outer Space III,'' ''Knight Rider 2010,'' ''Letter to My Killer,'' ''A Mother's Prayer,'' ''The Munsters,'' ''New Eden,'' ''Out of Annie's Past,'' ''Problem Child III,'' ''Simon & Simon'' and ''Trouble Shooters: Trapped Beneath the Earth.''... [089] 11-29-95 THE GUARDIAN. Page T5. 640 words. "Couples Air Miles Apart". By Ian Katz COMMENTARY: XWP's first mention in mainstream British press! The British press found it amusing that some markets scheduled XWP against Princess' Di's interview with Barbara Walters. EXCERPT: ...THANKSGIVING is usually about turkey, tension and American football. This year it was turkey, tension and Diana. Around 36 million Americans tuned into the Panorama interview when it was shown on Friday evening, sprinkled with soft-focus inanities from Barbara Walters that made Di's most cringeworthy remarks sound positively tasteful. The programme trounced competition from the X-Files, Free Willy and - a piece of witty scheduling, surely - Xena: Warrior Princess. The Princess, the real one, that is, may be disappointed to discover that her audience was barely half as big as the one attracted by Michael Jackson in his June interview with Diane Sawyer. The only thing richer than the pumpkin pie was that every American I encountered over Thanksgiving giggled over how "very English" the whole business was. In truth, Di's performance came straight from the world of daytime American TV. If it had been scheduled between Oprah and Ricki, it might have gone unnoticed... [090] 11-30-95 and 12-01-95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 654 words. "Intl market is taking action U.S. distribs are relying on foreign sales to launch dramas" By Steve Brennan COMMENTARY: More information on the overseas distribution rat race. Makes a passing reference to XWP in context to the Tribune stations carrying HTLJ and XWP. It also discussed the alleged inherent difference between the domestic and the foreign syndication markets. EXCERPT: With an explosion of new one-hour first-run dramas on the market for next season, distributors are more dependent now than ever before on international sales and overseas production partnerships to get the new programs launched, observers noted this week as sales pitches moved into high gear. Competition for domestic time periods is so fierce for the drama offerings that some industry experts doubt if there will be room for them all even with foreign sales locked in. With foreign sales, some companies will be able to break even by putting together a hodge-podge lineup and might even make some money... ...So Fox is pretty much done (for hour dramas) while the top Tribune stations (now WB Network affiliates) have Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the MCA TV product (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess) while the Chris Craft stations, now UPN affiliates, are being very selective... ...There's no question that its a tough marketplace for one-hour programs, but its not impenetrable, said Cynthia Lieberman, vp TV marketing at Samuel Goldwyn Television, which has sold Flipper into 40 overseas markets and on 140 stations domestically. Its not enough for a show to be unique its becoming more important than ever to have international clearances, she added. Among the hours selling for 1996 are Paramount's Viper, New World/Genesis Entertainments Two, MTMs The Cape, MGMs Poltergeist, Goldwyns Flipper, Turners Lazarus Man, D.L. Taffners The Wanderer, Warner Bros. Mad Max and All Americans Sinbad. Tarzan: The Fantastic Adventures is being produced with Malaysias STI Entertainment Group and shot under a production arrangement with Disney-MGM Studios near Orlando, Fla. At least 50% of the dollars have to come out of the international market... ...Its clearly not viable to talk about doing this domestically, said Sharon Hall, vp syndication at MTM, about its Cape series about NASAs astronauts. But we believe this is a show that will have great international legs. The overseas buyers want to see character-driven action now, not just bimbos and froth... [091] 12-03-95 through 12-07-95 NOTE: What follows in the XMR091 series are the reviews of "Captain Zoom in Outer Space" which did not concern XWP or Renaissance Pictures. It was a pilot/TV Movie for a series which was clearly influenced by Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. Consequently, many reviews of the pilot/tv movie referred to XWP. [091a] 12-03-95 THE SEATTLE TIMES. Page 2. 1685 words. "ABC's 'Bye Bye Birdie' Is Just Right for Holidays" by John Voorhees. COMMENTARY: Compares aspects of XWP to "Captain Zoom in Outer Space" TV movie/pilot. Called "Zoom" "in the same vein" as XWP; cited the same use of contemporary slang; and the heroine's similarity to Xena. EXCERPT: ..."Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space," 1 p.m. Sunday, KIRO-TV. This wonderfully silly but entertaining movie, pilot for a syndicated series, is in the same vein as "Hercules" and "Xena: The Warrior Princess" in that it takes a familiar genre and has fun with it... ...The writing throughout, as it does with "Hercules" and "Xena," mixes contemporary slang with ancient situations - "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Syndication."... ...The unluckiest role is that of the heroine, Tyra, who is the Xena of this series - and the straight (wo)man for everyone else. Liz Vassey plays her well enough, but it's a thankless task and not much fun when everyone else has such wonderfully hokey, jokey lines... [091b] 12-07-95 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Baylife. Page 4. 383 words. ""Zoom' could be Vassey's launching pad" By Walt Belcher. COMMENTARY: Passing mention regarding that "Zoom" was from MCA. EXCERPT: ...It's an entertaining movie from the same folks who gave us "Hercules" and "Xena: Warrior Princess."... [092] 12-03-95 AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Show World. Page 6. 1148 words. "'Hercules' star Sorbo plays it cool" By Kinney Littlefield COMMENTARY: Article about HTLJ and interview with Kevin Sorbo. XWP was mentioned when article discussed Hercules lack of a change of clothes. In referring to who is stronger, Xena or Herc, Sorbo stated "Oh, Hercules is definitely stronger. He is half-god, after all. Xena's a very tough female, a female Bruce Lee. They gave her gymnastic speed, but she is still a mortal woman." REPRINT: Darn it, Kevin. We're going to ruin you. Call it interviewer's remorse. Kevin Sorbo, star of the smash syndicated series ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' is so willing, so agreeable that you feel gobs of guilt about lionizing him for an hour by phone, chatting away about sore feet and stunts gone wrong and creme brulee. You worry that too much media fawning might turn this gentle giant from Mound, Minn., into a big-time celebrity creep. But, nah. Major heartthrobdom seems inevitable for Sorbo, given the rise of ''Hercules'' to the top of the syndicated ratings charts in its second season this fall, given all the critical praise for the show's cult campiness, given Sorbo's looks. But Kevin just seems too sweet, too self-effacing to ever go Hollywood-sour. You can tell that from the moment ''Hel-lo, you got Kevin here'' rings good-naturedly across the line from Auckland, New Zealand, where ''Hercules'' is filmed 10 months a year. Sorbo has a date with a real-estate agent as soon as our conversation is over -- ''Herc'' is so successful that he's anxious to buy permanent Auckland digs -- yet he's too Midwestern neighborly not to settle in for a real good trans-Pacific chat, thank you ma'am. ''I want three bedrooms, not huge,'' he says. ''I need a porch, a veranda, so I can sit and wave to the neighbors and strum my guitar. I mean, I grew up in a small town, and it's just a Norman Rockwell, Saturday Evening Post kind of thing.'' Yep, Sorbo is a real down-home kinda star who does things the old-fashioned way -- for himself. No celebrity retinue down there in Kiwiland, no personal publicist, no groupies -- actually ''Hercules'' doesn't even air down there yet. And Sorbo is single. He does the ''Hercules'' thing by day, all day, then works out, runs and sits solo by night, guitar-strumming easy tunes a la hero James Taylor, watching Leno or Letterman on tape. ''Actually I just said 'no' to being on 'The Tonight Show' ... and, oh, my gosh, 'The Tonight Show' was always a real fantasy for me,'' Sorbo, 37, says, almost bashful. In fact, Sorbo was on ''The Tonight Show'' briefly earlier this fall, but got quickly bumped into a back seat for ''Brothers McMullen'' filmmaker Ed Burns. ''I mean Jay Leno, he just seems like the nicest guy, but I just really want to take some vacation with my high school buddies,'' Sorbo says. ''Hey, they're my three closest friends. I've known them for 30 years.'' That's Sorbo -- tenaciously loyal, just like mythological hunk Hercules. Just like the superhumanly strong half-man, half-god who rescues whole villages from barbarian hordes one day, does yardwork uncomplainingly for his doting mother the next on the tongue-in-cheek action show that mixes ancient Greek-style kung fu with bizarro monsters, tie-dyed togas and sly '90s mentions of bingo, self-actualization and ''you are what you eat.'' ''When the first movie came out, critics weren't exactly getting what we were trying to do,'' Sorbo says of ''Herc's'' great Greek goof, spawned by the twisted minds of producers Sam Raimi (cult flicks ''The Evil Dead,'' ''Darkman'' and ''The Quick and the Dead'') and Rob Tapert (new paranormal-spiked CBS series ''American Gothic''). ''Herc,'' the series, evolved from five syndicated ''Action Pack'' tele-films starring Sorbo, airing in 1994. ''Now I guess I'm Hercules for an entire generation of people under 20 who were never exposed to him before,'' Sorbo says. ''If you compare this Hercules to the old Hercules films (among them 1959 and 1960 Steve Reeves flexflicks 'Hercules' and 'Hercules Unchained') this one's more affable, more intelligent. He laughs, he stumbles. And he isn't afraid to make fun of himself.'' Not that Sorbo sees himself as Forever Hercules. ''It's a great launching pad for my career, but I do want to grow beyond this,'' says the guy who broke into the TV biz doing Budweiser, Jim Beam and BMW commercials and a couple of failed series pilots. ''Eventually, I'd really like to do romantic comedy, 'You look just like Jesus. You're Jesus, you're Jesus.''' Long-locked Sorbo, of Norwegian lineage and Viking heritage, does look pretty Biblical. And although it's hard to imagine his big frame -- 6-foot-3, 215 pounds -- stepping lightly through comedic patter, he did just that in a guest stint on the hit CBS sitcom ''Cybill'' last spring. But stunts are Sorbo's biggest rush. They happen often, because someone's always chasing Herc. Sorbo does most of his own fight scenes, although ''falling down five flights of stairs I leave to the stunt guys.'' Before ''Herc's'' first season, he studied martial arts with master Douglas Wong (''Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story''), who took him through an accelerated course of his white lotus system, a kind of sword and staff-embellished advanced kung fu. ''Of course, in a real kung fu or karate contest, I'd get my butt kicked,'' Sorbo says. ''But we do connect here when we throw punches -- and you feel it. I have learned to pull punches and miss by 6 inches, but I was just really into this one stunt recently, and I threw an elbow out and hit a guy on the nose, and he went down. And Michael (New Zealander Michael Hurst, an accomplished Shakespearean actor who plays Herc's wisecracking sidekick Iolaus) broke an arm in a stunt about five to six weeks ago.'' You wouldn't think it to watch ''Hercules''' pumped-up action, but Sorbo's concern is making sure the show's writers don't turn Herc into a wimp. ''They'll have me fighting just one guy one week, after I moved a 100-ton boulder or mowed down 40 to 50 guys the week before,'' he says. ''I tell the writers that doesn't make any sense. I mean there's got to be an element of danger.'' OK, what about the sore feet? Well, the mighty Hercules was developing lower back problems, from crunching so many bad guys while wearing boots sans arch support. Then they built him special boots with athletic shoes inside. And how 'bout that chest-baring chamois rag that serves as Hercules' shirt --on every single episode? After all, former lover/former enemy Xena (Lucy Lawless), who now has her own spin-off series ''Xena: Warrior Princess,'' gets a wardrobe brimming with assorted bits of leather, metal and silk. ''I'd love to have some other kind of outfit, but that's my Superman cape,'' Kevin says a bit regretfully. ''I've got about 20 shirts, all the same, and six pair of woven leather pants.'' Wow. Woven leather trou. And that deep, sleek, glowing Hercules tan? ''They paint us,'' he says. ''Actually, I used to be that tan.'' Speaking of former paramour Xena, who's the strongest one of all? Here some macho slips by. ''Oh, Hercules is definitely stronger. He is half-god, after all,'' Sorbo says. ''Xena's a very tough female, a female Bruce Lee. They gave her gymnastic speed, but she is still a mortal woman.'' GRAPHIC: The new superhunk Kevin Sorbo bears the adoration of fans of the syndicated series, 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.' [093] REMOVED to XMR087d. [094] 12-08-95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 393 words. "Heroic merchandising campaign for Hercules Effort expected to be MCAs strongest" By Steve Brennan COMMENTARY: A discussion of the "massive licensing and merchandising campaign" for HTLJ. It's expected to be the "biggest and most lucrative" for MCA. Article mentioned that a Xena campaign is being planned for the next year. REPRINT: A massive licensing and merchandising campaign for the MCA TV syndication action hit Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is likely to prove the biggest and most lucrative of its kind for the studio, MCA/Universal Merchandising Inc. executives predicted Thursday. Income from the merchandising of major entertainment properties with goods ranging from toys to clothes and accessories is mushrooming. It is understood that the merchandising earnings from Universals Jurassic Park feature hit topped $1 billion. MCA/Universal Merchandising executives were reluctant to predict such stellar income for Hercules, though revenue in that ballpark is not ruled out. But I just would not want to make that kind of prediction this early, said John Dumbacher, vp licensing and retail for MCA/Universal. He stressed, however, With the shows No. 1 action hour status and innovative product by key players like Toy Biz and Impact, retail support for the line has been overwhelming. The division detailed plans for the merchandising program Thursday and announced its lineup of licensees. As well as Toy Biz and Impact, such companies as Acclaim, Cardinal Industries, Fruit of the Loom, Scholastic, Thermos, Topps and Western Graphics are included in the roster of licensees. This has the potential to be the biggest TV (merchandising) program ever done (by MCA/ Universal), predicted Dumbacher. Hercules posted a 6.6 rating in the latest syndication rankings, landing in the No. 9 slot for the week ended Nov. 26. It is cleared in 99% of the country. Its spinoff action hour, Xena: Warrior Princess (5.1), was in the No. 19 slot. MCA/Universal Merchandising is planning a separate campaign for Xena next year but for this season they will have to settle for the Xena character being included as part of the Hercules campaign. Toys in the Hercules line will range from action figures to play-safe bows and arrows, board games, electronic games, Halloween costumes, bicycles, skates and even polyurethane pools. The merchandising program will also include calendars, balloons, novels, stickers and tattoos from vending machines, clothing including underwear for boys and girls from Fruit of the Loom, lunch kits, school supplies, posters, trading cards and magazines. [095] 12-08-95 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Page 22. 806 words. "Ending it All; the Secret Stories Behind Television Producers' Logos." by Kristen Baldwin COMMENTARY: An article about what those call-off production company logo-trailers mean. Included is Renaissance Pictures, producers of HTLJ and XWP. EXCERPT: THEY'RE PART OF our collective TV unconscious: the mewling kitty after the Mary Tyler Moore Show (MTM Enterprises' spoof of the MGM lion), the "Sit, Ubu, sit. Good dog" at the end of Family Ties (in honor of producer Gary David Goldberg's dog), and the "...and dance by the light of the moon" ditty that closed every episode of thirtysomething (the producers' tribute to It's a Wonderful Life). While they last only a few seconds, these production-company logos are occasionally more noteworthy than the programs. Here are some current examples probably jockeying for space in the recesses of your brain:... ...HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS and XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, Renaissance Pictures. Action: A painting rips to the sound of chanting monks. What It Means: Exec producer Rob Tapert says, "My partner, Sam Raimi, and I are from Detroit, which once upon a time named itself the Renaissance City. We wanted something that looked kind of classy in a Renaissance painting fashion, and then we wanted to rip it apart. That's the kind of guys we are." Rejected Ideas: "We thought about volcanoes and other powerful images, but we decided to go with something that maintained a semblance of classiness."... [096] 12/08/95 DAILY VARIETY. Page 7w. 852 words. "Sluggish sweeps for tabmags" By JIM BENSON. COMMENTARY: November Sweeps results. EXCERPT: Syndicated magazines looked somewhat sluggish, top off-net sitcoms soared and talkshows turned in a mixed perf during the four-week period overlapping the local market November sweeps... ...the week ended Nov. 26... ...Of the returning weeklies, Par's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (7.3) dropped 10%; All American's "Baywatch" saw 24% of its ratings wash away to 5.3; New World/Genesis' "Renegade" crashed 19% to 3.8; and Rysher's "Highlander" sagged 21% to 3.1. Turning to the weekly freshman class, MCA TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess" had the gods smiling with its 5.4 average over four weeks. BVTV's "Land's End" captured a 4.5, edging past MGM's "Outer Limits" at 4.4... [097] 12-09-95 THE WASHINGTON TIMES. Page B4. 833 words. "Echoes of Shakespeare, Tolstoy" By Joseph Szadkowski COMMENTARY: In a review of comic book titles to watch out for in the coming months, the author threw in these two sentences in the middle of a paragraph. A complete tangent. EXCERPT: ...The personal endorsement: I love the TV show "Xena: Warrior Princess." No point - just thought I'd plug a great TV show... [098] 12-11-95 VARIETY. Page 46. 187 Words. "Nielsen Syndication Ratings" COMMENTARY: Hooves & Harlots EXCERPT: For week ended Nov. 26, 1995 Stations/ Rank Program % coverage AA% GAA% 1 Wheel of Fortune 225/97 11.9 -- 2 Jeopardy 211/96 9.1 -- 3 Home Improvement 214/96 8.7 9.3 4 Oprah Winfrey Show 231/98 7.2 7.2 5 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 235/98 7.1 7.6 6 Entertainment Tonight 172/95 6.9 7.0 7 Seinfeld 216/97 6.8 -- 8 Home Improvement -- Wknd. 210/94 6.6 -- 9 Journeys of Hercules 223/98 6.4 7.0 10 Wheel of Fortune -- Wknd. 170/75 6.2 -- 11 Inside Edition 165/91 6.1 6.1 12 Simpsons 177/94 5.8 5.8 13 World Wrestling Fed. Pr. 158/90 5.6 7.4 14 Baywatch 220/96 5.5 5.7 15 Entertainment Tonight 166/93 5.3 5.4 15 WCW Wrestling 180/94 5.3 7.9 17 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 155/89 5.1 5.4 17 XENA 200/96 5.1 5.5 19 Hard Copy 174/91 5.0 5.1 19 Roseanne 167/90 5.0 5.0 AA average refers to nonduplicated viewing for multiple airings of the same show. GAA average encompasses duplicated viewing. GAA average does not apply when there is only one run of a show. [099] 12/13/95 CNN. TV Show: Showbiz Today 5:41 pm ET. 519 words. "Syndicated Shows Catch on Worldwide" Guests: Bernard Weinraub, "N.Y. Times", Entertainment Correspondent; Dick Wolf, Television Producer; Jim Parriott, Executive Producer, "Forever Knight" By Paul Vercammen COMMENTARY: An interesting discussion about the growth in the international market for US Domestic syndicated drama hours. XWP is referred to as "the increasingly popular Xena" in context to international demand. Also contained a discussion about how syndicated dramas face fewer restrictions and consequently can take more creative risks. EXCERPT: ...Syndicated television has produced the world's most popular show, "Baywatch". Now other shows, such as "Hercules" and "Xena", have prompted network TV producers to heighten a rivalry... LAURIN SYDNEY, Anchor: Something dramatic is happening in the world of television, and the networks have nothing to do with it. Syndicated dramas like Hercules and Bay Watch are finding a niche on stations around the country and around the world. Paul Vercammen reports, some of them have become popular enough to spawn their own spin-offs. PAUL VERCAMMEN, Correspondent: The fists now fly in Bay Watch Nights, the stepchild of the most popular syndicated television show in the world, Bay Watch. The beauty and the beach phenomenon shows that syndicated first-run dramas, the shows that aren't network, aren't reruns, and are most often found on independent stations, are no joke in the TV business. Bay Watch boasts an estimated 1 billion viewers in 142 countries... ...PAUL VERCAMMEN: Bay Watch's David Hasselhoff and Pamela Lee are international stars. In the United States, the show runs on 220 stations. Star Trek Deep Space 9, a consistent winner among syndicated dramas, runs on 235 stations in the United States. The Journeys of Hercules are also seen on more than 200 stations, as is its spin-off, . Dick Wolf, producer of network shows Law and Order and New York Undercover, believes the networks are succeeding with reality in dramas, while syndicated shows are cashing in on fantasy. DICK WOLF, Television Producer: The ones that are doing well in first-run syndication are not really reality based, and that may be the defining characteristic between the two. They're not separate mediums, but it almost seems like they are... PAUL VERCAMMEN: Syndicated dramas, such as the vampire saga Forever Knight face fewer restrictions than if they appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC, or Fox. JIM PARRIOTT, Executive Producer, 'Forever Knight': We don't have broadcast standards breathing down our neck if we say a bad word or if we show a little flesh or if we're a little bit- maybe a little bit more violent, not that we try to do those things... PAUL VERCAMMEN: Forever Knight, like Bay Watch, started on network, got tossed into syndication, and survived. There's not as much pressure to rack up huge ratings on a non-network show. JIM PARRIOTT: Your budgets are smaller, but your longevity is greatly increased because you don't have to pull as large an audience. PAUL VERCAMMEN: The battle for on-air supremacy will intensify next month when station managers head to an annual TV convention in Los Vegas, searching for the next Bay Watch or Xena. Paul Vercammen, CNN Entertainment News, Hollywood. ------------- THE BACK PAGE ------------- Issue #11 will contain annotations #100 through #112, dated from 12/14/96 to 12/24/96. It is scheduled to be released June 14, 1996. PREFERRED CITATION: When citing an annotated review, use the format: XMR:007. This example means Xena Media Review [issue #01], annotation #007. DISCLAIMER: XMR (Xena Media Review) is a free non-profit informational release. XMR in no way intends to challenge, disregard or profit from any of the original copyright holders of the material excerpted, reprinted, or referred to (including but not limited to MCA, Universal, Renaissance Pictures, Arizona Republic, Austin American-statesman, CNN, Daily News, Daily Variety, Des Moines Register, Electronic Media, Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, Hollywood Reporter, San Francisco Examiner Seattle Times, Tampa Tribune, Variety, and Washington Times). This newsletter is an academic and educational pursuit to archive, annotate, and study the media response to Xena: Warrior Princess (a television production from MCA/Universal/Renaissance) and the actresses Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, especially in the light of popular culture and the influence of mass media. XMR exercises its right to quote, excerpt or reprint as allowed under the law in order to review and discuss the media reports cited and annotated herein. XMR is distributed free of charge. Only national/international major media released in electronic form are considered for inclusion. Banner graphic by Colleen Stephan. Copyright 1996 by Kym Masera Taborn. REPRINT POLICY: Permission to use, copy and distribute Xena Media Review (XMR), or parts thereof, by electronic means for any non-profit purpose is hereby granted, provided that both the above copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies of the newsletter itself, and that proper credit is given for any excerpts. Any other format or purpose for distribution requires permission of the author. Reproducing XMR or parts thereof by any means implies full agreement to the above non-profit-use clause. SOLICITATIONS FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS Send cites, references, articles, annotations, and/or submissions to ktaborn@lightspeed.net. XMR is a non-profit fan publication. The editors retain editorial control and reprint privileges over the submitted materials and reserve the right to use the material in whatever way they deem appropriate. Submitted materials will not be returned to the sender. 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