_____ ______ ._ `\`/>`\ /`/` /`__________,.'>___ _____ )~\ /<`\ `\ /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\ |\./| / | \ /< `\`\ `\ /`/` /` | | |----\ / | |\ \ | | |././^\ \ |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----. [\\\\\\\{*}==`> <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==--> |/~~{o}/-- /`/ /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--' \< /`/` /` `\`\ `\ | | |_____,.'>| | | `\`\| | /' \ \ \ \< /` /` `\`\ `\ ,/ /^\------> / |/^\| \ | |/ \/^\\. /`/\>/` `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~ )^\,\, '~~~~~ `~~~~~` '~~~~~` ` ~~~~~~ ========================== XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #13 ========================== 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] 202 subscribers and growing! This document has 1567 lines. Xena Media Review (XMR) is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationall 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. 13 Release date: June 28, 1996 2nd edition: 07/10/96 Covering 01/18/96 to 02/08/96 Annotations XMR #140 to #159 ------------ INTRODUCTION ------------ What Is Going On? ----------------- On my 532nd viewing of "Warrior Princess" (HTLJ, not the '...' one of XWP), I noticed something I had never noticed before. On the 533rd and 534th viewing, what I had merely just noticed in passing previously, abruptly became a major plot point of the show. By the time I had reached my 537th viewing, I had calmed down, and was able to put the observation into proper perspective. However, it got me to thinking (uh-ho). I asked myself, what is going on? Before jumping into an analysis, I admit that there are at least three things wrong with my paragraph above. The first is what am I doing watching a show 538 times (well, dubbing it for everyone and their brother might have something to do with it...but let's put that aside right now. It's not like I am being forced against my will to make the dubs). The second is how can I be finding new things in it after admittedly EXCESSIVE repeated viewings (other than my mind numbing over, shouldn't I have a clue about what is happening on the screen after, say, four or five viewings? Also, is anyone impressed that I am now a self- avowed excessive Xena viewer? Is that even a joke outside of San Francisco?)? The third, and final (sigh), is why am I telling you about it? Fortunate for us all, these three quandaries answer my question of what is going on. How? Please bear with me. The ability to consistently watch a show over and over again is not just a sign of mental instability. It also is evidence that there might just be something in there to watch. I will rudely gloss over the points that escapism, stress, neurosis, compulsive disorders, and other such icky things may enter into the picture. I want to concentrate on quality here. During lookover #532, I noticed the balance between the characters Theodorus and Estrogon. I had always felt their symmetry, but let's face it, there was enough happening in that episode to dwell upon other than those two "losers". I didn't have the inkling to pursue it...until that 532nd time. Theodorus and Estrogon were Xena's last two warrior boy toys before her conversion. Xena set up Theodorus' death in order to get Hercules on her trail. Xena killed Estrogon when he begged Hercules for mercy after losing to Herc in a fight. They were her two henchmen. Or so I thought. Each time I watched the show after that, the relationship between the two men grew and grew, until about the 535th viewing, their relationship was deafening. If someone had asked me what "Warrior Princess" was about, I would have said, "It's about Theo and Estrogon." Fortunately, that obsession waned and I was able to see the show as it really was, "Xena takes over," or more precisely, "Xena takes (fill in blank)." Theodorus really liked Xena. I mean REALLY. He even got into a little spat with her right before she lamed her horse. He was willing to be skewered by an ambitious woman (who thought nothing of laming her horse) just to make sure she was safe. If only we all could have warrior boy toys like that! Xena depended upon Theo's loyalty and purposely cultivated it. Petrakus, whose son had also fallen by the warrior princess' whims, complained to Hercules that this was one of Xena's major traits: to attract a man and then manipulate him to do her dirty deeds. Some would just think of it as wise delegation; and Xena knew how to delegate. Taking advantage of Theodorus' jealousy (by intimating to him that he could keep Xena from sleeping with Iolaus if Theo would bump off Hercules...as if!), Xena blessed Theodorus and scooted him off to certain death. When Theodorus caused his own death (falling on a pitch fork while fighting the Big Guy...oops!), Hercules asked him why he did it. Theo, of course, the young romantic he was, said, "For love." He then had a spasm, said, "Xena, I have failed you," and then died. Other than giving you insight into why a warrior princess would want to have warrior boy toys, Theodorus represented the ideal warrior of Xena. When Theo was in the barn stalking Hercules, Hercules noticed his presence and they traded comments on what an honorable fight was. Theo stated that his leader said that you take whatever advantage you can. Hercules then commented that Theo's leader was not honorable. Ooooo, foreshadowing. Estrogon, on the otherhand, although bigger and more physically imposing than Theodorus was a wimp. The first clue of this was that in Xena's introductory scene where she whupped the pants off of her army, Estrogon got it when she fling the well balance around. When Xena whupped Theodorus, she achieved physical contact and downed him with a right hook. Also, I got the impression Estrogon was dumb. He made the noise that Hercules heard when he and Xena were supposedly secretly viewing Hercules. He wasn't the least bit nervous when Theo suddenly disappeared and he was suddenly the stud of the camp and inherited Iolaus angst. Estrogon's true colors were shown when he refused to give his life, unlike dear Theo, for Xena. This peeved the warrior princess so much, that she simply chakramized Estrogon's throat. Hercules, was of course, appalled. So was Xena, but obviously for different reasons. Just so the audience "got it"...even if it was for me on the 532nd viewing, Xena told Herc why she killed Estrogon: he didn't live by Xena's code. Xena's code. That was the key. It was the whole purpose of Theo and Estrogon (the guy who was named after a veiled reference to a substance that makes sex hormones). It was why THEY had to die. Well, let me tell you, making that connection was like receiving a sign from heaven. In essence, though, it was merely a detail. A teeny weeny detail. In fact, the entire show is almost wall-to-wall details. Some are humorous, some are satirical, some are dramatic, some are like little mandelbrot designs. And all of these details are put in there...on purpose. Is that what compels me to XWP over and over again until my eyes glaze over and my brain cells scream "No more?" Why do people climb Mt. Everest? Because it's there? Why do I watch Xena? Not only because it's there, but because there are all sorts of details and inner workings that are very difficult to appreciate until the viewer has merged their consciousness with the show. As to my original questions: 1. What am I doing watching a show 538 times? Easy. Not only it is chockful of innuendo, double entendres, in-jokes, out-jokes, social commentary, satire, parody, drama, melodrama, dumb jokes, and literate jokes; but it's extremely well constructed and is very, very easy to look at. The lush New Zealand scenery and the creative camera techniques alone invite at least the first 20 viewings. 2. How can I be finding new things in it after admittedly EXCESSIVE repeated viewings? Easy. It is show which is playfully constructed. It is presented to the viewer on many levels: Is it BabeWatch B.C? Is it parody? Is it satire? Is it just making a buck? Is it social commentary? Is it a pastiche? Is it a saga? Is it filled with hidden and deep meanings? Is it shallow and pointless? Or is it just a cigar? 3. Why am I telling you about it? Easy. It's my party and I'll cry if I want. And before I leave...CONGRATULATIONS to Lois Price (LoisP@gnn.com): our 200th subscriber!!!!!! Aiy-aiy-aiy-aiy-aiy! ---Kym, working on her repertoire of shaggy dog stories. ----------- ANNOTATIONS ----------- [140] NOTE: Here be the NATPE reports. NATPE stands for National Association of Television Programming Executives. The organization's annual convention is where television shows are bought and sold. What follows are a collection of articles which will give you a feel for what it is like to go to NATPE and how far it effects what you and I see on the tube. [140a] 01-18-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 903 words. "Hour Town Buyers will see a lot of action on the confab floor, where even more players are jostling into the crowded genre." By Steve Brennan COMMENTARY: An interesting review of the syndication market and the other action hours competing with XWP. XWP was used as a metaphor of the competition in this article and was discussed in market terms by the producers. EXCERPT: Its Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles and the college game on TV moves slower than Napoleons retreat from Moscow. So you flick the dial, finding an infomercial on Channel 2 or reruns of Happy Days on Channel 11. You flick again and a bronzed lady in a leather mini-skirt is battling a six-headed giant snake. Hello? You pause. That's the point, you pause, says Ned Nalle, head of production at MCA TV and a key person in the MCA TV team that brought this show, the one-hour action drama Xena: Warrior Princess, to the screen. A spinoff from the action hour Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena became the most successful new action hour to jostle its way into a crowded and highly competitive syndication programming landscape last season. Like Hercules, its recipe calls for a mix of special effects, mythology, lush landscapes, bizarre creatures, very bad guys and, of course, good-looking heroes and heroines. And as buyers and sellers head to NATPE, the success of MCAs mythological duo looks to be spawning a new programming push in the genre.... ...With so much competition, distributors agree that the syndication market for action hours is tougher than ever. So what spurs companies to take a gamble on adventure, spending $1 million-plus per episode and millions in promotion? Its the dream of the golden fleece, the cash-cow machines like Star Trek and Baywatch and the emerging Hercules and Xena franchises. Anytime you have a successful show in a genre, it will open up more people to the possibility of doing programming in the same direction... ...The Star Trek franchise has been unique for us, says Joel Berman, president of domestic distribution at Paramount Television. I think there really are different motivating factors for what we are seeing this year, adds Ira Bernstein, executive vp at Rysher Entertainment. I guess everybody is really looking to begin with the right combination of domestic and international appeal. As the Hercules and Xena hits proved last season, this years crop of contenders must develop a unique look that makes disenfranchised viewers pause long enough to get interested. MCA TV president Shelley Schwab offers, When we first investigated this landscape, we found that there was a niche that was not being addressed (by the networks) and that was action not violence action. That was back in 1994 when MCA TV spent $100 million in producing and launching its Action Pack of recurring syndicated telefilms, with major feature film production and directorial talent at the helm. Buoyant ratings for the five Hercules telefilms eventually led to MCA TV committing to a weekly syndicated hour that quickly rose to the top of the ratings ladder. Hercules and Xena are shot in New Zealand. Tapert says the crisp, lush look of the landscape helps the two series jump out from the screen, making the channel flicker pause for that crucial moment. But the special effects remain the hallmark of so many syndication action hours. With constantly improving technology, effects for the small screen are becoming more complex. They are also being done for much less money and time, meaning producers can get more bang onto the screen. We can do almost anything we want, Tapert says. These days most of the special effects can be done at home on home computers.... [140b] 01-18-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 984 words. "Movies of the Weak? With available timeslots dwindling, telefilms are low on the priority list for most station managers." By Rick Du Brow COMMENTARY: XWP was mentioned in passing in an article about the apparent closing market for first run TV movies. EXCERPT: As program buyers and sellers gather at NATPE, the word from station reps and groups is that telefilms are in for some tough times. With a vastly changed TV landscape, telefilm producers are finding that the domestic playing field continues to shrink in key areas. Fox Broadcasting, now with a seven-night schedule, has taken over a lot of once-available station space, and the expanding UPN and WB networks are grabbing more. Cable outlets like Lifetime, USA, TNT, HBO and Showtime, as well as the growing international market, are providing what few rays of hope remain. The future doesn't look very bright for telefilms... ...Weekly hours are replacing movie packages, says Greg Kelly, general manager of Kelly Broadcastings KCRA in Sacramento. Stations, he notes, are bundling up some of these dramas into two-hour presentations, drawing on such shows as Star Trek, Hercules, The Cape, fx, Viper, Xena, The Outer Limits, Baywatch and Baywatch Nights. Movies are a very tough business to be in right now, says Kelly.... [140c] 01-29-96 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 4. 1160 words. "Reporter's Notebook; Convention News, Tidbits, Dog Tales" COMMENTARY: A record of various goings on at NATPE. EXCERPT: LAS VEGAS-The NATPE convention offers news and schmooze on a grand scale. Here's a look at what was happening on the floor, at the panels and behind the scenes. Edgar Bronfman Jr. said his MCA Television Group must improve its programming output and its relationship with client distributors and stations to regain its prominence. ''Right now, one of the highest priorities for the MCA Television Group is to get closer to our U.S. broadcasting customers, both networks and individual stations, cable networks, as well as other emerging channels of distribution,'' he said during the NATPE keynote address last Wednesday. The Seagram Co. chief would not commit to whether or not MCA would follow such competitors as The Walt Disney Co., Viacom, Westinghouse and Warner Bros. in taking a greater ownership stake in distribution outlets. But he did note that, in entertainment as well as in the beverage industry, control over product distribution plays a vital role. Tribune Broadcasting has picked up MCA TV's powerful action duo ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' and ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' for two more years. The news comes as Universal Television resigned the show's executive producers, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, to a longterm drama development deal. ''Hercules'' and ''Xena'' were the highest-rated new first-run syndicated series for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, respectively. Larry Irving, head of the NTIA, said at a NATPE session that ''there is no way'' Congress is going to allow broadcasters to keep both their analog and digital spectrum for a 15-year transition period. He added that the fight against children's TV quotas does not help their case for receiving the digital spectrum for free... [140d] 01-29-96 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 10. 494 words. "The Year of the Firm Maybe" COMMENTARY. An editorial regarding 1996's NATPE convention. REPRINT: When program syndicators, producers and television station executives got ready to come to the National Association of Television Program Executives convention in Las Vegas last week, they probably anticipated that the venerable and successful market would be a different event. And they seemed to be right. A year full of programming alliances (and the significant end of the prime-time access rule) gave NATPE '96 an uncertain playing field, especially for stations that didn't have such strategies. Usually, before NATPE even begins there are a few new entries glowing from early approved buys by station groups across the country. There were fewer of those, it seemed, at NATPE '96. And by the end of a typical NATPE, usually a healthy handful of syndicators can boast new programs that sold to 70 percent or more of the country, assuring the kind of mass acceptance syndicators want. That didn't happen quite as easily at NATPE '96, either. To twist a familiar phrase, this was the Year of the Firm Maybe. Compared, let's say, to the mood of the nation around election time, NATPE was significant for signaling that both the program suppliers and buyers were a confused and cautious electorate. There were no programming mandates. Nor, with the possible exception of King World's ''Off the Hook,'' were there many programs that disturbed the status quo. Indeed, game shows made something of a comeback, but even there, the action involved remakes of titles such as ''The Dating Game'' and ''What's My Line?'' that had been invented years before. To some extent, the television industry is waiting for a whole shelf of shoes to fall. How big will the Telecommunications Act or the Federal Communications Commission allow station groups to get? Will there be a little v-chip that could inhibit the proper number of millions from watching ''Hercules'' or ''Xena?'' Who's paying the tab for that digital transition? And what will the nation's best, brightest and richest broadcasters do with that new advanced television playground? At this point in 1996, the answers aren't at all clear to the people who have to shell out millions of dollars to buy, produce and schedule programs. Rather than see that situation bleakly however, it's much easier to assess it positively. Television, as it's been played, is changed forever. NATPE '96 was a clear sign of a transition to the future. The only thing left to do is figure out what that future is. [140e] 01-29-96 STAR TRIBUNE. Page 2E. 594 words. "TV-show producers hawk their wares at programmers' annual convention" by Phil Rosenthal. COMMENTARY: This article had only a passing mention of XWP, but it gave a wonderful description of what NATPE was like and what it was about. REPRINT: Jerry Springer belts out a cruel version of "Me and Bobbie McGee" at a party. A guy walks around the convention floor with a boa constrictor around his neck. Grown men and women pose for pictures with a guy dressed as a giant pillow. One company has set up a full-size working carousel to draw a crowd. Pro wrestlers are everywhere. This is how much of what you will see on TV next fall will be bought and sold. If only the shows themselves were as interesting. It is the annual National Association of Television Programming Executives convention, which goes by the acronym NATPE. This is pronounced "gnat-pea" and is considered a very good name by the same people who keep giving new series to Robert Urich. It is where the TV stations go to buy their non-network programs. NATPE is a series of parties, meetings and other business carried out in a circus atmosphere worthy of an auto show, a Fellini film or "American Gladiators" - take your pick. Everyone else here does. Groups such as K.C. & the Sunshine Band, the Village People and Kool & the Gang are hired by syndicators to perform for station reps at nighttime parties. During the day, the companies woo interest on the crowded convention floor with the promise of celebrities, more food, drinks, trinkets and comfy chairs to get the reps off their tired feet. To sell stations reruns of "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," MTM served root-beer floats out of an Old West saloon setup. For "Scoop With Sam and Dorothy," featuring Los Angeles TV reporters Sam Rubin and Dorothy Lucey, ACI popped for scoops of Haagen-Dazs. The Warner Bros. booth, where they were pitching reruns of "Friends," had a version of the Central Perk coffeehouse. Carsey-Werner had a replica of the Lunch Box diner from "Roseanne" and served loose-meat sandwiches. Columbia brought in Wolfgang Puck to cater. Not everything is on such a grand scale. Some exhibitors offer only pretzels or hard candy. Casts from the network shows whose reruns soon will be available to local stations are always popular. Station managers and others gladly stand in line to meet Brett Butler of "Grace Under Fire," Paul Reiser of "Mad About You" or Eddie the dog from "Frasier." In the space of an hour, you might see Regis Philbin, Kathie Lee Gifford, Richard Bey, David Hasselhoff, Mariette Hartley, Ruta Lee and the Landers sisters, Judy and Audrey. Former "Hollywood Squares" host Peter Marshall greeted folks in one booth while a tape of his proposed show played on a monitor in a corner, showing him chatting with Marty Allen. You just never know what will sell. Many of the shows being pitched here won't. MCA had two years of planning invested in bringing "He Says, She Says" to NATPE for a fall launch this year. The show, featuring Mark Thompson and Wendy Walsh, was declared dead Monday even before many NATPE attendees had arrived. Saban, the company that gave the world "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," is pushing "Samurai Pizza Cats" for kids. That might sound stupid, but so did the kiddie show "Bananas in Pajamas" a year ago. Action dramas "Tarzan" and "Sinbad" look to ape the success of "Hercules" and "Xena." "Beach Patrol" appears modeled after "Baywatch." If it works once, someone always will try it again. Just as Jerry Springer sang at the Multimedia party Tuesday night, most syndicators and stations at NATPE would trade all their tomorrows for one single yesterday - if yesterday went well, and today's food and drink are good enough. [140f] 01-30-96 NEWSDAY. Nassau and Suffolk Edition. Page B48. 1030 words. "Glued to the Tube / Viva Las Vegas? TV Biz Puts on a Freak Show" By Diane Werts COMMENTARY: Passing mention of Lawless at the MCA booth at NATPE. Included because it documented the reporter's first visit to the convention. It allowed the reader to experience it vicariously. Quote consisted of "Show biz trade papers, available free each day, list stars on parade: Kevin ("Hercules") Sorbo and Lucy ("Xena") Lawless at MCA booth from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..." REPRINT: IT ISN'T LIKE I wasn't warned. "Syndication is the barbaric side of the business," said a veteran TV publicist after I'd told her I was heading last week to my first NATPE conference - the annual get-together and market of the National Association of Television Program Executives. It's where local station officials, program suppliers and other industry players from around the world come together for four days to buy, sell and hype TV shows, or simply schmooze. "It's a Roman orgy," she had gushed, outlining the world I was about to enter: Eighteen thousand TV types crawling the floor of Vegas' cavernous 400,000-square-foot Sands Expo Center, crammed with more than 600 booths designed to pitch everything from "Friends" reruns to Accu-Weather forecast services. Free food at dozens of booths. Free booze. Cool showbiz surroundings. Chotchkes galore. Celebrity photo ops. As if Las Vegas weren't sensory overload enough, NATPE is a tube-world Coney Island, overflowing with sideshows vying for your eyes - and, if you're a station exec, your pocketbook. You've got your big names (Jane Seymour, Brett Butler, Robert Urich, Chuck Norris). You've got your games (pinball at the "Rescue 911" booth). You've got your animals (sitcom dogs Eddie from "Frasier" and Murray from "Mad About You"). You've even got your freaks (ex-evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, promoting her new talk show). It's loud, flashy, tacky and surreal - a nonstop party designed to encourage wild abandon. But since you and I run no risk of dropping millions on "Carnie" (ouch!), we can roam the floor just for fun, compiling our own NATPE diary. Expo Center awesome even from outside, ringed with huge hot-air balloons painted with show names. Convention floor door surrounded by 40-foot-high billboard faces of Ricki Lake, "Seinfeld" cast, others. Scary. First sight inside: Regis and Kathie Lee sitting for Polaroid photos with all comers at one end of the Buena Vista "booth," actually more the size of a Disney Store. Big crush down the aisle at entrance to 20th Century-Fox booth, another house-sized construction. Attraction: David Duchovny, pumping repeats of "X-Files." Nearby Warner Bros. booth dominated by replica of coffee bar from "Friends." But booth not friendly. Being monitored by nasties who let no one in without appointment. Wanna see Rosie O'Donnell, here selling her summer-debut daytime talk show. Monitors say she's too busy for press. Better I should be a TV station manager with checkbook in hand. The studios go all out for NATPE. The Paramount booth, largest on the floor, covers 14,500 square feet (100 by 145 feet) and costs a reported $1 million to $2 million to mount. Behind the wide curtained entryway (65 TV screens above your head running Paramount series) lies an enormous schmooze-arena filled with bars, buffet lines, popcorn machines and TV stars. Beyond this huge room is the real deal: 28 private offices where Paramount sales reps can collar their quarry, crunch the numbers on computers and nail down the deal for daily "Frasier" reruns in Ashtabula, et al. (Big markets like New York get personal visits before NATPE, so studios can announce here which big stations bought what, encouraging a bandwagon effect among the 200 other U.S. markets and dozens of international outlets.) But you gotta get those local guys' attention first. Show biz trade papers, available free each day, list stars on parade: Kevin ("Hercules") Sorbo and Lucy ("Xena") Lawless at MCA booth from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., talker Richard Bey at All-American TV from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebs are available to chat and have their pictures taken with NATPE members. Martha Stewart, Bob Vila, John Bradshaw and producer-novelist Stephen Cannell signing free books. Buzz Aldrin chatting up new astronaut hour "The Cape." CNN newsman Wolf Blitzer at Turner booth. Queued up at the Paramount bar: Kelsey Grammer. How does he stand it, smiling for hours with glad-handing strangers? "You just have to keep your mind on that money, at the end of the rainbow," he says. "You have to be gracious, or it can come back to haunt you - in your pocketbook." Sure, everybody wants to see Grammer or the "Friends" folks. What about the little producers? They gotta try harder. Troma, trash-flick makers of such fare as "Blondes Have More Guns," features in its booth - what else? - busty blondes pitching the "Tromaville Cafe" movie series. A "Butt Sketch" artist busily draws attendee backsides as a BET booth lure: Just 2 1/2 minutes, and former Roosevelt resident (and Newsday carrier) Krandel Lee Newton will flatter your sitting matter. Blue-haired punks in leather pose atop a Pontiac Fiero equipped with satellite tracking systems and other gizmos for the "Otaku Patrol Group" adventure show. Turns out they're the real-life inspiration for this drama from Lindenhurst native Ron Martinez, about a group of San Francisco techheads who "dig technology and built a whole lifestyle around it" - a lifestyle that includes solving crimes. Perky young Tamara Awhee isn't standing still to hawk her startup show "Saltwater Adventures," about kids having sea fun in Florida. "Here's my booth," she burbles - "a silly cart that squeaks. I figured I'd come down here and knock on every door and shake everybody's hand" in an attempt to get this low-budget teen show off the ground. But can she? Probably not, says William Morris Agency senior vice president Mark Allen Itkin, who's here for the ninth year, helping stroke his clients. "NATPE is like the frosting on the cake. Hopefully, your show is 70 percent cleared by the time you get here," says Itkin. "It's usually just the smaller markets [you're selling to] here." Nevertheless, anybody who's anybody comes to NATPE now. The big networks have their own booths, and execs like CBS programmer Les Moonves hang out to see their friends and what's happening. "It's like at the car show if Chevy and Ford don't exhibit, even though everybody knows their cars already," says Itkin. "You gotta be there." Or be square, at least in the TV biz. And we haven't even gotten to the infomercial section yet! [140g] 02-01-96 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Page D07. 704 words. "Talk silenced to increase action, games" COMMENTARY: A local spin on NATPE. EXCERPT: More game and action shows, fewer talkers. That's the word from Indianapolis TV programmers who attended the National Association of Television Programming Executives (NATPE) convention in Las Vegas last week. More than 17,500 people pitched, sold and bought shows at NATPE, traditionally an elaborate carnival of TV hucksterism... ...Local participants describe the mood at this year's NATPE as subdued, but see trends popping up soon on our TV sets... ...Biff! Bam! Pow! Action shows remain strong, King notes. WNDY picked up The New Adventures of Sinbad and a new Tarzan series to run with Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules in an action block from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays... [140h] 02-14-96 THE PATRIOT LEDGER. Page 24. 461 words. "TV news & views; New talk, tabloids, games coming in fall" By Daniel M. Kimmel COMMENTARY: Another local spin on NATPE. EXCERPT: 'What did you bring us?" is the call of many children when a parent returns from a business trip. It was also the question I put to the various commercial stations in the wake of last month's NATPE convention. NATPE -- the National Association of Television Programming Executives -- has an annual mid-winter blowout where TV stations and program syndicators wheel and deal. So, what did the local TV honchos bring us for next fall?... ...The unexpected success of mythic adventure shows such as "Hercules" and "Xena" has led to "Sinbad," which will be run on Channel 56 along with "Baywatch" and "Baywatch Nights." Channel 25 is heading into the supernatural with "Poltergeist," "The Psi Factor" hosted by Dan Aykroyd, and -- coming in the fall of 1997 -- reruns of the "The X Files."... [141] 01-19-06 PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Page F6. 444 words. "TV Tonight" By Christopher Cornell COMMENTARY: Describing XWP as of minor cult status, this was a local promo for the episode "Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts." EXCERPT: ...XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (9-10 p.m., Ch. 57) - There's no question this is one of the silliest programs on TV, but it has begun to attract something of a minor cult following, most of whom tune in each week to see just how outlandish it can get. Tonight's installment appears to settle the question of just what time period the series is set in, as Xena heads off to defend the city of Troy in its long war against the Greeks. UPN.... [142] 01-22-96 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 30. 2000 words. "Twelve to Watch in 1996; MCA TV's R. Gregory Meidel" by Greg Spring. COMMENTARY: Interview with the chairman of MCA Television, Gregory Meidel. EXCERPT: LOS ANGELES-R. Gregory Meidel, chairman of the MCA Television Group, was one of the final additions to the new MCA management team put in place following Seagram Co.'s majority purchase of the company from Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. last year. At MCA, Mr. Meidel will oversee all aspects of the company's television businesses. His charge is nothing less than reviving what, by any measure, has been a lackluster television department. For the current season, MCA has two network sitcoms on the air, ''Coach'' and ''Partners.'' It's first-run syndicated fare includes the successful action-hour duo of ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,'' and ''Xena: Warrior Princess.'' At the National Association of Television Program Executives convention this week, MCA plans to launch the hour strip ''He Says, She Says'' and the reality half-hour strip ''Justice.'' On his second day at MCA, Mr. Meidel met with ELECTRONIC MEDIA to discuss his mission... ...EM: What is your top priority? Mr. Meidel: Job No. 1 is network development. We are going into the heat of battle in pilot season, and that will be the top priority for me between now and next September as we try to extend our role as a prime-time supplier through all of the networks. We want to create assets, and we want to create software. We are aggressively expanding our comedy business and expanding our action hour and drama roster. Our goal is to get more programs to network that we feel have more back-end value. I will be focusing on trying to position us to be more commercial than we have been in the past. The studio has been the top supplier of network programming for probably two-thirds of the past 20 years. Now, as the business has changed, we need to adjust to those changing cycles. First, expand our comedy production. Next, make sure that the hours we are producing are viable and have value worldwide.... ...EM: How many pilots do you hope to have for the upcoming season? Mr. Meidel: I'm going to be optimistic and guesstimate that we'll have somewhere between six and nine pilots. Of those, hopefully, on the low side two will go to series, and on the high side four will go to series. That starts building very valuable product and building asset value for worldwide distribution. Two or three years down the line we can start marketing that product domestically. And immediately, come next season, we can start marketing that product internationally... EM: How important has that international marketplace become? Mr. Meidel: It is exploding. Everything that has occurred in the United States over the past 20 years is now occurring around the rest of the world in the course of five years. They are going to be more advanced than we are in many ways. EM: Do you see a point where revenues from overseas sales are greater than domestic revenues? Mr. Meidel: In many ways, we in television are in parallel with what has happened in the motion picture business. Years ago we looked at the motion picture business as the U.S. and Canada, and the rest of the world was kind of looked upon as found money. Now the motion picture business may have a loss at the U.S. box office, but the rest of the world is what puts you in profit. That and home video. There are a lot of similarities there with television. A good example is the action hour or the hour drama, which have become far more valuable over-seas than they are in the States in their first run and second run. We now look at the inter-national marketplace as an absolute necessity and an integral part of our revenue model when we develop shows, primarily hours, for here in the States. (To develop those hour-long shows) just based upon what we generate here in the states with our network license fees and our syndicated license fees is not a good business. But put that revenue in combination with what we have seen overseas in partnership or in straight licensing agreements, and there is a huge upside... EM: How does cable TV fit into your overall plan? Mr. Meidel: Cable TV has really come a long way at a rapid pace. One of the reasons is that the premiere basic cable networks are reaching 70 percent penetration, so what used to be considered the threshold for selling national time on syndicated shows is now happening to basic cable. We are a 50 percent owner in the USA Network along with Paramount, and it has seen explosive growth. USA is a major profit center for both of our companies... ...EM: As a program distributor, does MCA need to own a network to be competitive? Mr. Meidel: There definitely are advantages to owning a network and owning stations. Owning a network provides you with shelf space for new network series, and owning stations allows you to launch new first-run series at the flip of the switch. It is definitely a luxury that I wish we had. But we are exploring all forms of distribution outlet deals, ones that involve partnerships. There are all kinds of opportunities that we are examining. This is my second day on the job, and that is as high a priority for me as what is occurring on the network side. But there is also no substitute for a hit. I worked at Paramount 13 years, and we revolutionized the first-run business with such shows as ''Entertainment Tonight'' and ''Arsenio'' and ''Star Trek: The Next Generation.'' Fox, on the other hand, was all driven by distribution, and it makes business a little easier in the '90s to control worldwide distribution both with a network, owned-and-operated stations and worldwide satellite distribution. But even a company with all those outlets is still a company that depends upon hits. Big hits drive the network. Big hits make a lot of money for the stations. Big hits get subscribers around the world for your satellite distribution system. As long as we can become a major producer of hits, we will still have access to shelf space and the airwaves, but we have to be in the hit business.... [143] 01-22-96 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 126. No. 4. Page 50. 1781 words. "Hours promise more than action; improved story lines, special effects added to beat back competition. Action TV shows" By Steve Coe. COMMENTARY: XWP was used as a goal to aspire to. This article discussed how XWP and HTLJ were now to be imitated because of their success. EXCERPT: Improved story lines, special effects added to beat back competition In television, success breeds imitation. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the action-hour genre. With the recent strong performance of MCA TV's Hercules and Xena, as well as the continued success of Paramount's Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a host of new competitors in the action genre is preparing to do battle this fall.... ...Pushing Poltergeist to the Limits In much the same way that MCA successfully launched a companion show to Hercules with Xena, MGM hopes to find success with Poltergeist: The Legacy as a companion to The Outer Limits, the company's first-year success. Poltergeist is cleared in 56% of the country, including 18 of the top 20 markets, according to Sid Cohen, president, domestic television distribution, MGM. Many of the stations that carry The Outer Limits also are buying Poltergeist, Cohen says. "We think maybe as many as 70% of our clearances will be by stations that will carry both shows. Some of the current action hours are performing well in households or in the demographics. Hercules and Xena are performing well in both. After Xena, I think you have to look at The Outer Limits. I think we'll see the same kind of performance from Poltergeist, and that's why we're getting a lot of block clearances for both shows."... [144] 01-22-96 MEDIAWEEK. Vol. 6. No. 4. Page 20. 1489 words. "Universal's new soldier; MCA Television Group chairman Greg Meidel" By T.L. Stanley. COMMENTARY: An update on how Greg Meidel was doing in his new job as chairman of MCA Television. XWP was cited with HTLJ as "campy action adventures from cult favorite director-producer Sam Raimi". EXCERPT: ...In syndication, MCA has two unexpected successes in the year-old Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off, Xena: Warrior Princess. Both series are campy action-adventures from cult favorite director-producer Sam Raimi. While continuing to bask in the glory of those weekly shows, MCA Television also intends to become more aggressive in the lucrative strip business, starting with two entries that will be offered at the NATPE convention in Las Vegas this week: a point/counterpoint talk show called He Says, She Says and a court-reality series called Justice from the producer of Unsolved Mysteries and LAPD. Both new shows are for fall '96.... [145] NOTE: The repeat of "The Reckoning" received a 5.3 rating. An identical rating as to the previous week where it placed 1st; XWP now was tied for 2nd. [145a] 01-22-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 6. 520 words. "Snow heats up syndies" By Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: The Reckoning, 2nd release. EXCERPT: With schools closed because of blizzard conditions in much of the country, some syndicated shows with large kid and teen components started the year off right... According to the Nielsen national barter rankings for the shortened holiday week ended Jan. 7... In weekly action, MCA TV's "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" regained the lead after getting its brains beat out last week by companion "Xena: Warrior Princess." The mythical muscle man soared 14% from its season low to 5.8. All American's "Baywatch" bounced up 20% to 5.3, tying MCA's "Xena" for second place. Compared to last year, however, "Baywatch" was still off 22%. Par's usual front-runner "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" sunk to fourth place with a 4.8, up 7% from the previous week's season-low mark. It fell 26% out of its year-ago ratings orbit. [145b] 01-22-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 31. "For week ended Jan. 7, 1996" COMMENTARY: Repeat of The Reckoning (2nd release). REPRINT: Rank Program (Stations/% coverage) AA% GAA% 1 Wheel of Fortune (223/98) 14.3 -- 2 Jeopardy! (218/99) 11.6 -- 3 Home Improvement (208/95) 10.1 10.7 4 Seinfeld (213/97) 8.1 -- 5 Entertainment Tonight (170/93) 7.6 7.6 6 Oprah Winfrey Show (235/99) 7.5 7.6 7 Wheel of Fortune--Wknd. (177/80) 7.3 -- 8 Inside Edition (167/92) 6.9 7.0 9 Simpsons (178/95) 6.4 6.4 10 Home Improvement--Wknd. (183/84) 6.3 -- 11 WCW Wrestling (177/93) 6.0 9.9 12 Journeys of Hercules (219/97) 5.8 6.0 13 Roseanne (163/90) 5.7 5.8 14 Hard Copy (171/90) 5.5 5.5 14 Ricki Lake (218/98) 5.5 5.7 16 Baywatch (217/95) 5.3 5.4 16 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (156/88) 5.3 5.6 16 Xena (196/96) 5.3 5.4 19 Live With Regis & Kathie Lee (234/99) 5.1 -- 20 World Wrestling Fed. Pr. (162/90) 4.9 5.8 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. [146] 01-24-96 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 50. 2307 words. "Celebrities; The Stars of NATPE '96: Where to Find Them" COMMENTARY: Directions where you could find Kevin Sorbo and Lucy Lawless at NATPE. A trivia test answer if there ever was one! EXCERPT: ...MCA TV Booth 8900 Kevin Sorbo, ''Hercules,'' Wednesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Lucy Lawless, ''Xena,'' Wednesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m... [147] 01-24-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 1. 232 words. "Raimi, Tapert reup at U TV" By Brian Lowry COMMENTARY: On the first page, no less, was news of Raimi/Tapert's continued association with Universal, for at least three more years. REPRINT: Producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert have inked a new three-year deal at Universal TV, the parties confirmed, after flirting with leaving the studio. Raimi and Tapert, through their Renaissance Pictures, currently produce three one-hour series in association with the studio, including the firstrun hits "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and spinoff "Xena: Warrior Princess." They also produce the CBS drama "American Gothic." In addition, the company is developing an action-adventure series at ABC, tentatively titled "Lorne and Max," for next fall. Tapert characterized the show as a sort of "modern-day version of 'The Avengers.' " The company is also looking to develop a series for Bruce Campbell, who starred in the Raimi-directed "Evil Dead" movies before landing the lead in "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.," which aired for one season on Fox Broadcasting Co. Tapert acknowledged that the pair were "pulling up stakes and getting ready to go" before new management at MCA was put in place and made clear that they were "talent-friendly" and wanted the partners to stay. The studio is in the process of re-signing a number of producers on the lot. In addition to "The Evil Dead" trilogy, Raimi has directed "Darkman" and "The Quick and the Dead." Tapert has been a producer on all of those projects. Renaissance is represented by attorney Craig Jacobson. [148] 01-25-96 CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Page 4. 197 words. "Chief Intends to Be Creative to Revive MCA" COMMENTARY: XWP mentioned in passing in an article about MCA and Seagram's Edgar Bronfman, Jr. REPRINT: Edgar Bronfman Jr., chief executive of newly acquired MCA Inc., pledged to combine creativity with brand identification to revitalize the entertainment segment of the international conglomerate. Last summer, Seagram Co., which is controlled by the Bronfman clan, acquired 80 percent of MCA/Universal from Japan's Matsushita Corp. for nearly $6 billion. The company has been a leading producer and syndicator of television shows, but lately has been in a slump in introducing new programming. At the National Association of Television Program Executives, the company is selling original shows based on two superheroes-- Hercules and Xena--and a courtroom series "Justice," in addition to several off-network rerun packages. Bronfman acknowledged that under previous management, MCA wasn't maximizing the value of its brand.... Citing the power and reach of the entertainment industry, he argued that it took decades to establish the brand identification for Seagram's Crown Royal whiskey, but only a weekend for viewers to identify with "Jurassic Park," whose spinoffs soon will include a sequel, two major theme park attractions, video games, music and toys. [149] 01-26-96 CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Page 57. 225 words. "'Power Rangers' Gets Martial Arts Society OK" By Mary Stevens. COMMENTARY: Power Ranger video okayed by Martial Arts Society. Passing reference to XWP. EXCERPT: Butt-kicking action stars from Lorenzo Lamas ("Renegade") to Lucy Lawless ("Xena: Warrior Princess") rarely pause to warn viewers, "Don't try this at home!" Kids who are drawn to the martial arts should know that mastery requires not just strength, but wisdom and discipline. "The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club: The White Ranger Kata" (debuting Tuesday on Saban Home Entertainment, $12.95) is approved by the United Martial Arts Society and won the Film Advisory Board's "Award of Excellence."... [150] NOTE: First run episode "The Black Wolf" received a 4.8 share, coming in 3rd in the action hours. [150a] 01-29-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 262 words. "Copy' moves up on 'Inside'" By Jonathan Davies COMMENTARY: The Black Wolf, first run. EXCERPT: ...In sharp contrast, Paramount's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" moved at warp speed to the top of the action hour stack after a three-week absence. The show rocketed 42% from a 4.8 to a 6.8, surpassing both of MCA's hours, "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (5.9) and "Xena: Warrior Princess" (4.8)... [150b] 01-29-96 VARIETY. Page 33. 191 words. "Nielsen Syndication Ratings" COMMENTARY: The Black Wolf, first release. REPRINT: For week ended Jan. 14, 1996 Stations/ Rank Program % coverage AA% GAA 1 Wheel of Fortune 227/99 14.8 -- 2 Jeopardy! 216/98 12.0 -- 3 Home Improvement 219/97 10.9 11.6 4 Oprah Winfrey Show 229/97 8.4 8.5 5 Seinfeld 215/98 8.3 -- 6 Wheel of Fortune-Wknd. 185/83 8.0 -- 7 Entertainment Tonight 173/95 7.8 7.9 8 Simpsons 183/95 6.8 6.8 8 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 234/98 6.8 7.2 10 Home Improvement-Wknd. 211/94 6.6 -- 11 Inside Edition 161/89 6.4 6.6 12 Hard Copy 176/91 6.2 6.3 13 WCW Wrestling 172/93 6.1 9.5 14 Journeys of Hercules 223/98 5.9 6.3 14 Roseanne 174/92 5.9 6.0 16 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 162/89 5.8 6.1 17 Live With Regis & Kathie Lee 233/97 5.1 -- 18 Ricki Lake 215/97 5.0 5.3 19 Jenny Jones 209/96 4.9 5.2 20 Married . . . With Children 177/91 4.8 5.0 20 Xena 196/96 4.8 5.2 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. [151] 01-29-96 CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Page 1. 1554 words. "Broadcasters Scramble in the Wake of the 'Trash Talk' Backlash" By Gary Dretzka COMMENTARY: A bitter critic unloaded his frustration. XWP mentioned once again in passing. EXCERPT: Entertainment industry executives are notorious for their short attention spans. The shorter the pitch, the quicker a producer can get down to the serious business of ordering lunch. At last week's National Association of Television Program Executives convention--where much of next fall's syndicated programming was put up for sale--almost all of the shows could be summed up in a clever phrase. It was a quipster's paradise.... ...Among the hourlong action series are the usual array of cop shows, most of which feature fashion-model types solving crimes in discos and on beaches. Next fall, several more will resort to parapsychology to help them solve crimes, thanks to the success of "The X-Files," and Hercules and Xena will be joined by new incarnations of Tarzan--this time a Fabio-wannabe--and Sinbad.... [152] 01-30-96 through 02-26-96 NOTE: [152a] 01-30-96 PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Page F01. 1339 words. "She's a Kick in More Ways than One. Xena, Warrior Princess, Is TV's Toughest Sister. Foes - and Fans - Know She Can't Be Beat." By Jennifer Weiner COMMENTARY: Lucy Lawless' 7th major interview (5th non-fan magazine interview). Ironically, the actual interview with Ms. Lawless did not uncover anything new. What was new, however, was that the reporter used the on-line fan movement for much of her source material. A truly seminal article, this article encouraged many debates and heated conversations on the internet and other electronic chat areas once it was published. The first spark of controversy was Robert Tapert's leak about the now greatly anticipated Xena-Gabrielle mouth-to-mouth resuscitation scene. Apparently this scene is still intact and will appear in episode number 24, "Is There A Doctor In The House", scheduled to be released the week of July 29, 1996. The next sparks were Ms. Lawless' infamous quote "I will neither confirm or deny" about Xena and Gabrielle's relationship and Robert Tapert's equally infamous quote, "All I can say about that is that Gabrielle satisfies her every whim." Mr. Tapert's quote was most likely a reference to a scene in "Warrior...Princess" where Gabrielle asked Xena whether she'd miss having her every whim attended to after mascarading as Princess Diana. Xena told Gabrielle, "That's what you are for." However, both quotes inspired and still inspire much comment on the internet newsgroups, irc chats, and other areas of Xenaology. Furthermore the article discussed Xena's extraordinary appeal to women and based itself in part on interviews or references to various XWP fans on AoL/irc/internet (Lord Nelson, Artemis, Malinda, to name a few). This article was deeply entrenched in the on-line Xena fan movement and was the first major media use of the resource. As Xena Media review is a part of this culture, we say "Way to go on-line Xena fandom!" REPRINT: You do not want to mess with Xena, Warrior Princess. She would clean your clock. She'd bash you with her sword, leap into the air to deliver a few swift kicks to your head, do a standing somersault onto a 10-foot-high scaffold, slam you with a cudgel, vault down again, blow flaming liquor into your face, whack you with her flying metal Frisbee, then tie you up, slap you down, deliver a few choice words in her trademark tight-lipped sneer, and ride off into the sunset. And that's if she was having a good day. Xena, Warrior Princess, of the syndicated TV show that bears her name, is six feet of Amazonian bad attitude, black hair and brass breastplate, portrayed by New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless. A "mighty princess forged in the heat of battle," Xena sprang fully formed from the heads of filmmakers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi (Darkman, American Gothic). She began life last year in a trio of episodes on the highly acclaimed, ultraviolent and ultra-campy Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Back then, Xena was a villain. But oh, was she popular. And Universal Studios had been asking for a companion piece to Herc. "So we said, `What about a woman warrior?'" Tapert says. The studio took some convincing. The last woman warrior to ride the small screen had carried a magic lasso and sported bulletproof wristbands. Tapert and company promised them something different from Wonder Woman - smarter, edgier, hipper. Go for it, the studio said. And so, before you could say, "Holy Zeus," Xena had a change of heart, renounced her wicked ways, vowed to do only good, etc., etc., and landed a series all her own. Now Xena roams the countryside in what the show's PR machine identifies as "the golden age of myth." (In Philadelphia, that's 9 p.m. Fridays on Channel 57.) With her faithful sidekick Gabrielle in tow, Xena conquers men, women, villages and the occasional entire army wherever she sees wrong being done. Women love her. In a world where TV superheroes abound but females mostly play the girlfriend, the mother or the wife, they say that Xena and Gabrielle are welcome anomalies. "She's strong," said Karen Wood, who works at Harvard University. "She's not a wasp-waisted beauty, like on Baywatch. She's intelligent - not just an accomplice to a man. And she's got a female accomplice." Angela Ludbrook, a 21-year-old college student in Toronto, loved Xena from the first time she saw her, on Hercules. "She's one of the first strong females I can remember....She's strong, and charismatic, and she has sex appeal....If women do exude that kind of sex appeal, they're usually the bad girls." Xena also has her male devotees, such as Clayton J. Powers, a military historian from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., who thinks Xena has it all over Hercules. "He's half-god, and you know he's going to make it up to Mount Olympus, no matter what. Xena's a human with a dark side - she's much more interesting." Plus, said Powers, "how many TV shows are there where a woman is the lead character, there isn't male sidekick to bail her out, and she's feared and held in awe by everyone she meets?" If you've watched any Hercules episodes, you'll feel right at home in Xena's world. Lots of violence, but very little blood. A healthy amount of double-entendre and well-toned warrior flesh, but very little lovemaking. A little dose of morality at the end of each episode, but no deep-thoughts philosophizing. There's the snappy dialogue, delivered in modern American idiom. Xena to vanquished Cyclops: "You should get a new line of work." Cyclops to Xena: "Like what? I'm a blind Cyclops, for heaven's sake!" Since its September premier, the show has every indication of being a Hercules-size hit. Xena appears in 196 markets nationwide. She's been featured in the Village Voice and Entertainment Weekly. A fan club and a Xena action figure are in the works, an official Web page is up and running, and there's a lively Xena chat room where fans with handles such as Artemis and Malinda compare favorite episodes, favorite fights, and favorite parts of Xena's anatomy. Lawless (yes, that's her real name) is trying to catch her breath. Xena isn't available in her homeland, so no one there knows what a star Lawless has become. So she labors for 13-hour days, plus workouts, five or even six days a week, wearing mercilessly tight corsets and breastplates and itsy-bitsy fringed leather skirts, on a show that no one she knows has seen. Still, she sounds happy, even by phone at 7:45 a.m., as she tells, for the umpteenth time, the story of how a former klutz blossomed into a warrior princess. Lawless grew up in New Zealand, the fifth of seven children. She performed in plays and musicals through high school. She graduated, did a brief hitch at Auckland University, then headed to Europe, then to Australia where she worked at - no kidding - a gold mine. She was married in Australia, moved back to New Zealand, found work in TV commercials, then with a comedy troupe. She studied drama in Vancouver, British Columbia, moved back to New Zealand, did guest shots on TV, was briefly a cohost for a New Zealand travel show, then landed her first guest shot on Hercules, which, as luck would have it, was looking around for a star for the trio of Xena episodes. "When another actress fell through - someone who'd been training for a month - the producers said, `Why don't we just cast Lucy? She's handy.'" Forget it, said the studio. We just used her. (Lawless had played a centaur's bride on an earlier Hercules episode - and at nearly six feet, with striking blue eyes and cheekbones to die for, she's not someone you'd forget.) So the producers asked five other actresses. All five declined. "I don't blame them," Lawless said, "Who'd want to give up a part to come down to New Zealand to do that, just for three episodes?" Meanwhile Lawless, who's now divorced, was off on a camping trip with her 7-year-old daughter, Daisy - "absolutely incommunicado...blissfully unaware." Producers finally tracked her down and gave her the good news. "I went to a bus that morning and just burst into tears," Lawless recalled. "I thought, `I'm not ready for this!'" She dyed her hair black and got ready fast. Two days later, filming started. The episodes were a success - and Xena became a series. Lawless says that she loves the character she plays, although Xena strikes most viewers as something of a grump. "I think she's a loner," the actress said thoughtfully. "And I think she's really funny. They say she has no sense of humor...but I think we'll get to see more of that side of her in coming episodes." And, um, what exactly is up with Xena and Gabrielle? The relationship between big, strong, silent Xena and small, bubbly blond Gabrielle (played by Renee O'Connor) have made the show a favorite with gays and lesbians with a taste for camp - that, plus the fact that every time Gabrielle lands a boyfriend, he dies. When Lawless answers, you can almost see her smile across the oceans. "Hmm," she says, "perhaps I should just adopt the American euphemism, `I will neither confirm or deny.'" "All I can say about that," says Tapert, "is that Gabrielle satisfies her every whim." And this bombshell is sure to have Xena-philes glued to their sets: In a coming episode, Xena gives Gabrielle mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. "We haven't even told the studio yet," he said. And what will the future hold? Tapert promises only that Xena will not be transformed into a perky, happy heroine. "Xena will remain dysfunctional. That, I can say for sure." GRAPHIC: Lucy Lawless as Xena. [152b] 01-30-96 through 02-18-96 INFORMATION BANK ABSTRACTS: PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Section F; Page 1, Column 3. 45 words. "SHE'S A KICK" By Jennifer Weiner COMMENTARY: Reported by Information Bank Abstracts. Text reprinted in XMR152a. ABSTRACT: Profile of New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless. Describes her lead role in syndicated television show Xena, Warrior Princess; points her depiction of strong female super-heroine especially appeals to female audiences worldwide; photos (L) GRAPHIC: Photograph of Lawless. [152c] 02-18-96 TULSA WORLD. Page 5. 726 words. "One Tough Sister; Syndicated TV's 'Xena, Warrior Princess' Is A Kick" By Jennifer Weiner. COMMENTARY: Edited down (mostly censored) version of XMR152a. [152d] 02-26-96. THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Page F04. 1129 words. "Xena: 6 feet of Amazonian bad attitude; Phenomenon: She's just the neighborhood warrior princess who slays foes and wins ratings. So why is she in such a bad mood all the time?" By Jennifer Weiner COMMENTARY: Slightly pared down version of XMR152a. Less censored than XMR152b. Added two pictures. EXCERPT: GRAPHIC: (3 photos, 2 color, 1 b/w): WARRIOR PRINCESS; Lucy Lawless stars as Xena, who conquers people, villages and an occasional army. [153] 01-31-96 THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Page 6. 629 words. "Popular sitcoms find syndication homes" By Mike McDaniel. COMMENTARY: XWP renewed for two more years on Channel 39. Reporter bemoaned lackluster NATPE convention. EXCERPT: ...Participants at last week's meeting of the National Association of Television Program Executives in Las Vegas described the convention as lackluster, with few new programs to cheer about. Purchases so far have been soft, not only because of the programs on the market but mostly because there are fewer time slots available. Shows from networks, even the fledgling WB and UPN networks, are taking up more and more of the schedules of what were once independent stations.... ...WB affiliate Channel 39 has added Sinbad (as in the sailor, not the comic) to its fall schedule. Tom Leach, interim general manager for KHTV, feels the show, starring newcomer Zen Gesner, ""should be a nice fit with Hercules and Xena. '' Those two strong shows have been given two-year renewals.... [154] 02-01-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 425 words. COMMENTARY: XWP renewed for two seasons by the Tribune stations in Boston, Philly, and D.C. EXCERPT: ...Tribune Broadcasting has renewed MCAs hit action duo Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess for a further two seasons. The two shows, which have been at or near the top of the syndication ratings this season, will begin airing on additional Tribune stations WLVI-TV in Boston, WPHL-TV in Philadelphia and WBOC-TV in Washington, D.C. in the fall. Our goal from day one has been nothing short of being the top supplier of first-run action-hour hits, said Jim Kraus, executive vp of sales and marketing for MCA. Tribune has played a tremendous role in making these shows huge successes... [155] 02-01-96 SCI-FI UNIVERSE. Vol 2. No. 13. Page 82. "1995: The Year In Review" COMMENTARY: In a two page year in review summary of ratings given by the magazine to various science fiction movies and television show, XWP was given a B by Mark Altman, and a B- by Dan Vebber. [156] 02-02-96 THE ETHNIC NEWSWATCH. Vol. 99. No. 3106. Page 8. 827 words. "Masha Leon" COMMENTARY: An opera performer was described as having a "Xena, Warrior Princess physique". EXCERPT: ...Looks like the $450,000 budget (the largest ever for an off-Broadway non-profit production) was spent on the costumes in the Jewish Repertory Theatre's music catastrophe "Sheba." The lavish, eclectic costuming included a barely dressed (breast tassels included) ensemble of sexy females, with one firm-tushed eye-popper whose Xena, Warrior Princess physique kept one riveted regardless of the action on-stage. Of King Solomon's 700 wives (and 300 concubines), we got a lone, farbisene, (embittered) regally garbed plotting Egyptian wife, Maat (Joan Collins, where are you where we need you?)... [157] 02-02-96 PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Page 44. 344 words. "This Trial Is an Error" By Gary Thompson. COMMENTARY: A comment made in a review about the Demi Moore movie "The Juror", whose character was accused of by the reviewer as having a "'Xena, Warrior Princess' vibe that [would] make the other jurors bend to her will." EXCERPT: ``The Juror'' shows us that 12 Angry Men are not nearly so formidable as One Angry Chick... Demi Moore stars as a juror chosen to weigh the fate of a crime boss on trial for murder. The people's case is pretty compelling, so a mob hit man known as The Teacher (Alec Baldwin) engages in a bit of jury-tampering - he picks on Moore's character, threatening to kill her son unless she votes to acquit. Not only that, she must convince all the other jurors to acquit as well, even though nearly all of them believe the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A tough job, but she is no ordinary woman. She's . . . a sculptor. Which is why The Teacher chooses her. He looks into her artistic eyes and decides, we're to believe, that she's got some ``Xena, Warrior Princess'' vibe that will make the other jurors bend to her will. Pretty stupid so far, but ``The Juror'' is just warming up. It continues long, long after the preposterous trial is over.... [158] NOTE: First run of "Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts". Daily Variety reported incorrectly that 5.8 was an all time XWP high. The all-time high thus far was the repeat of "Sins of the Past" with a 5.9 rating. [158a] 02-01-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 8W. 563 words. "Syndies take a tumble as deep freeze warms" By Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: Beware of Greeks, first release. The Daily Variety was wrong about XWP hitting an all time high. XWP's all time high to this date was the 2nd release of "Sins of the Past" with a 5.9 share. EXCERPT: Ratings for syndicated shows chilled a bit following the blizzard of '96. The cold wave passing was bad news for some troubled freshman and returning talkshows, whose fates ultimately will be determined during the current sweeps period... ...Nielsen national barter rankings for the week ended Jan. 21... ...Of weeklies, Par's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" stayed in its first-place orbit with a flat 6.8, off 15% from last year's stardate. MCA TV's second-ranked "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" inched up 2%, to 6.0, while "Xena: Warrior Princess" jumped 20% to an all-time high of 5.8... [158b] 02-05-96 VARIETY. Page 34. 187 words. "Nielsen Syndication Ratings". COMMENTARY: Beware of Greeks, 1st release. REPRINT: For week ended Jan. 21, 1996 Stations/ Rank Program %coverage AA% GAA% 1 Wheel of Fortune 227/99 14.6 -- 2 Jeopardy! 220/99 11.7 -- 3 Home Improvement 219/97 10.4 11.1 4 Wheel of Fortune-Wknd. 178/81 8.0 -- 5 Oprah Winfrey Show 235/99 7.8 7.8 5 Seinfeld 216/98 7.8 -- 7 Entertainment Tonight 174/95 7.6 7.7 8 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 235/99 6.8 7.3 9 Inside Edition 166/93 6.5 6.5 10 Simpsons 184/94 6.3 6.3 11 Journeys of Hercules 227/98 6.0 6.4 11 Home Improvement - Wkind. 200/88 6.0 -- 13 Roseanne 175/92 5.9 6.1 13 WCW Wrestling 176/92 5.9 9.2 15 Xena 196/95 5.8 6.3 16 Hard Copy 175/92 5.7 5.7 17 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 164/89 5.6 6.0 18 Baywatch 223/97 5.5 5.6 19 Regis & Kathie Lee 234/99 4.9 -- 19 Ricki Lake 219/98 4.9 5.1 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. [158c] 02-05-96 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 126. No. 6. Page 34. 1284 words. "Stations will play games in daytime; game shows and reality will be counterprograming ammunition for some broadcasters this fall." By Cynthia Littleton COMMENTARY: Beware of Greeks, 1st release. EXCERPT: ...Dynamic duo Universal Television has signed a long-term development deal with producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, creators of MCA Television's first-run hits Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. The duo's Renaissance Pictures, which also produces MCA's American Gothic for CBS, is working on the pilot of a drama, Lorne & Max, for ABC... ...NSS POCKETPIECE (Nielsen's top ranked syndicated shows for the week ending Jan. 21. Numbers represent average audience/stations/% coverage.) 1. Wheel of Fortune 14.6/227/99 2. Jeopardy! 11.7/220/99 3. Home Improvement 10.4/219/97 4. Wheel of Fortune-wknd 8.0/178/81 5. Oprah Winfrey Show 7.8/235/99 5. Seinfeld 7.8/216/98 7. Entertainment Tonight 7.6/174/95 8. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 6.8/235/99 9. Inside Edition 6.5/166/93 10. Simpsons 6.3/184/96 11. Hercules, Journeys of 6.0/227/98 12. Home Improvement-wknd 6.0/200/88 13. Roseanne 5.9/175/92 14. Xena: Warrior Princess 5.8/196/95 15. Hard Copy 5.7/175/92... [159] 02-08-96 through 02-12-96 NOTE: The first showing of "Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards", took second place and shot the roof off with an all-time high of 6.1. [159a] 02-08-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 211 words. "Companion action strips pump up ratings" By Steve Brennan COMMENTARY: Athens City Academy, 1st release EXCERPT: MCA TVs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess flexed major muscle in the weekly A.C. Nielsen syndication rankings with the companion action weeklies notching up their respective all-time ratings peaks. Hercules posted a 7.5 rating for Jan. 22-28, up 25% from the previous week and up 34% from its comparative performance last year. It was also the highest-rated action hour of the week. Xena, the second-highest hour, posted a 6.1 rating, up from 5.8. Third among action hours was Paramounts Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (5.2), down from the previous weeks 6.8. All Americans Baywatch (4.8) was down from a 5.5. MGM TVs The Outer Limits was up from 4.3 to 4.5... [159b] 02-08-96. DAILY VARIETY. Page 2. 558 Words. "'Hercules' Bounds up Syndie Ladder" by Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: Athens City Academy, 1st release EXCERPT: In an otherwise bleak week for syndicated series, MCA TV's "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" soared to a record high and tied King World's "Oprah Winfrey" for the first time. "Hercules" leaped 25% to finish atop the weekly action hour pack with a 7.5 (and an 8.1 for viewers who watched the same portions of the original and rerun episode) during the week ended Jan. 28, according to the Nielsen national barter rankings. The show was 34% above its year-ago household mark, while finishing second behind demo champ "Home Improvement" in men 18-49 and 25-54. It grabbed third place in men 18-34. The heroic dude's leather-clad sweetheart, MCA's "Xena: Warrior Princess," moved up a notch into the No. 2 weekly spot with a 5% gain to a record 6.1 rating. Both series already have been renewed in more than 80% of the U.S. with two-year deals. MCA expects to easily equal their current 99% coverage levels. Other weeklies didn't fare so well in the week prior to the start of the February sweeps. Male-oriented weekly shows with Sunday clearances were sacked for big losses by the Super Bowl. Paramount's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," the usual front-runner, saw its Nielsen tricoder reading plunge 24% to 5.2. It also fell 27% from a year ago. All American's "Baywatch" trailed in fourth place with a 4.8, down 13% for the week and a hefty 38% from last year. MGM's recently renewed"Outer Limits" rose 5% to 4.5, marking the fourth consecutive week that it has improved.... [159c] 02-12-96 VARIETY. Page 29. 332 words. "'Hercules,''Xena' bound up shaky Syndie Ladder" by Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: Edited down version of XMR159b. [159d] 02-12-96 VARIETY. Page 29. 188 Words. "Nielsen Syndication Ratings" COMMENTARY: Athens City Academy, 1st release. REPRINT: For Week ended Jan. 28, 1996 Stations/ Rank Program % coverage AA% GAA % 1 Wheel of Fortune 225/97 13.8 - 2 Jeopardy! 215/96 11.0 - 3 Home Improvement 218/96 9.9 10.5 4 Seinfeld 216/96 7.7 - 5 Journeys of Hercules 226/98 7.5 8.1 5 Oprah Winfrey Show 230/99 7.5 7.6 7 Entertainment Tonight 174/95 7.4 7.5 8 WCW Wrestling 177/92 7.1 11.7 9 Wheel of Fortune-Wknd 165/77 6.4 - 10 Simpsons 183/94 6.3 6.3 11 Inside Edition 160/91 6.2 6.2 12 Xena 201/96 6.1 6.6 13 Home Improvement-Wknd. 206/93 5.7 - 14 Roseanne 175/93 5.6 5.7 15 Hard Copy 170/90 5.5 5.5 16 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 161/86 5.2 5.6 16 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 233/98 5.2 5.5 18 World Wrestling Fed. 161/90 5.0 6.0 19 Baywatch 220/96 4.8 4.9 19 Montel Williams Show 159/91 4.8 4.8 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. ------------- THE BACK PAGE ------------- Issue #14 will begin with annotation #160, dated 02/10/96. It is scheduled to be released July 5, 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, --). 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. 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