XENA MEDIA REVIEW #27 (09/23/97) Borg 1 of 3 =========================== CUT HERE ======== _____ ______ ._ `\`/>`\ /`/` /`__________,.'>___ _____ )~\ /<`\ `\ /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\ |\./| / | \ /< `\`\ `\ /`/` /` | | |----\ / | |\ \ | | |././^\ \ |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----. [\\\\\\\{*}==`> <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==--> |/~~{o}/-- /`/ /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--' \< /`/` /` `\`\ `\ | | |_____,.'>| | | `\`\| | /' \ \ \ \< /` /` `\`\ `\ ,/ /^\------> / |/^\| \ | |/ \/^\\. /`/\>/` `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~ )^\,\, '~~~~~ `~~~~~` '~~~~~` ` ~~~~~~ ========================== XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #27 ========================== A Labor of Love Publication http://xenafan.com/xmr P.O. Box 81181, Bakersfield, CA 93308 Xena Media Review (XMR) is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationally syndicated television show XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (1995-2000) and the castmembers, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. For a free e-mail subscription send "subscribe XMR" to ktaborn@lightspeed.net either in the subject or body of the e-mail. Copyright, legal, and editorial notices are found at the end of this newsletter. Issue No. 27 Release date: September 23, 1997 1253 subscribers Covering 08/16/96 - 08/31/96 Annotations 437 to 460 FROM THE EDITOR: What Did We Do Before XWP? FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Some Quick Notices "Is Renee O CONNOR in the Catbird's Seat?" "What's up with XWP in the Netherlands?" ANNOTATIONS [437] 08-16-96. ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW. [438] 08-18-96. SUNDAY MAIL. Major article [439] 08-18-96. DALLAS MORNING NEWS. [440] 08-19-96. FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. [441] 08-19-96 to 09-17-96. Major article: Slewinski [442] 08-19-96. ALTARED STATES. Ep. #19. 1st rel. [443] 08-20-96. THE ADVOCATE. Major article [444] 08-22-96. DAILY VARIETY. Rat'g DOCTOR 1st rel [445] 08-23-96. ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE. [446] 08-23-96. WWW.TVGUIDE.COM. [447] 08-25-96. HOUSTON CHRONICLE. [448] 08-26-96. THE DAILY NEWS (Taranaki). [449] 08-26-96 to 09-14-96. THE CAPE [450] 08-26-96. ROAR [451] 08-26-96. CAVE OF ECHOES. HTLJ ep #37 2nd rel [452] 08-26-96. DEATH MASK. Ep #23. 2nd release. [453] 08-27-96. EVENING POST (Wellington). [454] 08-27-96. ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. [455] 08-28-96 to 09-02-96. Major article [456] 08-28-96. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. [457] 08-28-96 to 09-02-96. Rat's HOOVES #10 3rd [458] 08-30-96. AMERICAN JOURNAL. [459] 08-30-96 to 09-01-96. [460] 08-31-96. COMIC SHOP NEWS. HTLJ comic book THE BACK PAGE Coming Attractions Xena Media Review Staff Back Issues This Week in Xena News Reprint Policy Solicitations for Future Newsletters Disclaimer =============== FROM THE EDITOR =============== What Did We Do Before XWP? -------------------------- Sometimes I wonder how any woman managed to survive girlhood without XENA! Just thinking about the puffball femmes that were passed off as superheroes before XWP makes me wonder why there isn't a wasteland of vacant, jello women out there (though it does explain the incredible popularity of the Warrior Princess). Revisit with me, if you can take it, what TV life was like before XENA hit the scene. THE BIONIC WOMAN As a rabid fan of Steve Austin, the Bionic Man, I don't really remember being too excited about the prospect of Lindsay Wagner's Woman of Steel Parts. But when Jamie Sommers finally hit the screen, major disappointment was the only response. Here was yet another woman trying to be like a man and falling so D*MN short that the embarrassment carried well into my teen years. Jamie was just like Girl Scouts, softball, Playgirl magazine, and everything else that passed itself off as on par with guy stuff, but was really a cheap inferior copy that any 10-year-old female could spot. Steve Austin could run really fast and practically see through walls like Superman, not to mention arm wrestle anyone under the table. But Jamie, well, that bionic ear of hers was mighty useful catching all the gossip from faraway tables at any restaurant she might find herself escorted to. THE MESSAGE FROM THE SHOW Girls are still physically inferior to boys, but at least they're not totally pathetic wimps. WONDER WOMAN - Oh my, yet another embarrassing attempt to convince young girls that they can battle the forces of evil in life without breaking a nail or messing up their hair!!! How comforting! While I have thankfully repressed most of my memories from this show, Linda Carter's star-spangled costume (which looks way too much like that thing Lucy Lawless popped out of at the Detroit Redwing's game last spring) and her insistence on running (and bouncing) towards something in every scene will probably haunt me forever. THE MESSAGE FROM THE SHOW Nice girls don't need a utility belt like Batman's. ISIS She had long, dark hair, didn't she? And she chanted "Isis, mighty Isis" or something, right? Wasn't she sort of a cross between Pocahontas and Jane Jetson? THE MESSAGE FROM THE SHOW Without a flashy costume or a snazzy theme song, no one will remember anything about your show. THAT BLONDE CHICK In THE FANTASTIC FOUR The Thing was the coolest member of this futuristic flying combo. Didn't that blonde girl have an invisible shield or something? Could she do anything else? THE MESSAGE FROM THE SHOW If you don't have super speed, or super strength or can't turn yourself into a pile of rocks and then reassemble yourself, you MIGHT AS WELL HAVE AN INVISIBLE SHIELD! XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS FINALLY, a show that doesn't give females the lesser bill of goods! Xena is not only as strong as a man, she's as strong as TEN men, and she wins EVERY time. Sure, she's sexy and that leather outfit doesn't hurt the show's ratings, but at least we don't have to watch Xena try to keep all the sequins on her costume intact or primp her hair back into place after decking a bunch of thugs. It's hard to believe someone didn't figure out a lot sooner that all women really wanted to see was a grrl who could hold her own. In the same vein as Ripley in "Alien", Sarah Connor in "The Terminator" and other chicks who aren't afraid to drag through the mud and grime and gore to fight for what they believe in, XENA is that weekly DIY peptalk we've all been waiting for. Maria B. Erb Somewhere in New Hampshire August 23, 1997 http://www.mv.com/ipusers/erb/xena/ ======================== FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ======================== Just a few quick notices and to prove that I am still alive! Happy Birthday to the well-beloved and infamous XWP fan fiction writer Bat Morda (batmorda@aol.com). Today is the very day of her birthday (September 23rd for you counting impaired). Tell her happy birthday and that XMR sent you! This phenomena of XWP fan fiction is creating a fanbase just as "hardcore nutball" as the actual show. As one of the more intriguing aspects of XENA fandom, Bat Morda represents an interesting new wave of media fandom fan fiction authors. Am I going to say more or let you figure out what that new wave is? Hey, I'll just let you suffer. On Sunday, September 21, Tom Simpson (thomas@xenafan.com) and Betsy Book (bsquared@interport.net) became officially engaged when Ms. Book received a mug with a ring in it. One suspects one had to have been there. Send them a cyber greeting and tell them that XMR sent you! Tom is -- OF COURSE -- the webmaster of the most popular non-commercial fan ran XENA site on this planet (http://xenafan.com). If you don't know Tom, then tell the convent to get on the internet, PRONTO! Betsy is the webmaster of the WHOOSH site (http://www.thirdstory.com/whoosh), which I will not bore you by explaining what that is. What happens when two Xena mega-websites merge in real life? Stay tuned to find out, but in REAL LIFE this time. And another Happy Birthday? To Mary Draganis? She lives in Austraila (a BIG jump to New Xenaland) and it is probably already the 24th there now, so what the hey -- happy birthday Mary (kira@zip.com.au)! Send her a greeting and tell her that XMR did NOT send you (variety IS the spice of life). Mary is also intimately connected with the fan fiction world. She dabbles in it herself but has made some fame for herself as the newly re-tired editor for the fan fiction area on Tom's Xena Page. She almost singlehandedly built up the site to become one of the most significant fan fiction sites in the known universe. Kym Masera Taborn Bakersfield, CA September 23, 1997 ======================================== IS RENEE O'CONNOR IN THE CATBIRD'S SEAT? ======================================== By Beth Gaynor, who will be within the front rows at Valley Forge to cheer on ROC's first convention appearance http://arcane.eng.ohio-state.edu/bgaynor/xenarate.htm Editor's Note: This written by my e-chum Beth Gaynor. Beth just landed a role in a Columbus, OH community theater production of Blithe Spirit where she'll be piping out a song and dance number with a Cockney accent! Beth is a hardcore computer wonk who designs, run, and stars in computer games. She's also a major Gab Fan (and I suspect there's more than a little resemblance between Beth and Renee....hmmmmmmm, will have to let you readers know after I meet Ms. Gaynor face to face at the Valley Forge con in October.) "I wanna be Xena!" "No, *I* wanna be Xena!" "You were Xena last time." "OK, I'll be the blonde." This was a conversation my friend's two young daughters had in the midst of a play session. To a dyed-in-the-wool GabFan like me, things like this make me want to jump up and yell "GABRIELLE! Her name is GABRIELLE! Like cookie dough and chocolate chips, it's Xena and GABRIELLE." These days, it seems that nine out of ten folks on the street recognize Xena on sight. Most of them would probably even be able to give you her "Warrior Princess" title. Over half might be able to connect Lucy Lawless' name to the project. But ask about any co-stars on the show, and maybe a couple would know "Yeah, she hangs out with a short blonde chick, doesn't she?" It gets me peeved, sometimes. I never get tired of seeing Lucy Lawless on a talk show or a magazine interview, but why must it be so rare for Renee O CONNOR to be seen in print or, heaven forbid, the TV screen? Ms. Connor can claim a fair share of credit for the show's success; it would be nice to see her in the limelight a little more often. But lately, I've been thinking that over a bit, and I'm starting to wonder if I might not be wishing for the wrong thing. I've watched the latest round of interviews and stories on Lucy Lawless with growing sympathy; the poor woman's had her childhood bedroom put on national television. She can't look at her car in the parking lot at work without pictures being snapped. She gets mobbed almost everywhere she goes, sometimes by some scary folks. In her own words, the days of being able to run undisturbed to the store for a loaf of bread are "all over now, baby blue." They're even chatting up her elementary school teachers. And God forbid she lose her shirt at a public event; it's been, what, over two months now, and folks still won't let her forget it? On the other hand, we have Renee O CONNOR. She has an active fan club, lots of rabid Gabrielle fans, and folks who will turn out in droves for those all-too-rare public appearances. Demand for Gabrielle has been high enough to merit her own American Library Association READ poster (coming soon!), crank up T-shirt sales, and keep hopes for a Gabrielle action figure alive and well. But I'll bet she can, more often than not, get through an airport unmolested. She wades through tons of fan mail, but can actually disappear from the public eye for a few weeks at a time and enjoy something resembling a normal life occasionally. So who really has the better deal, here? Both Lucy Lawless and Renee O CONNOR deserve every moment of accolades, attention, and appreciation for all their hard work that they can get. If you ask most of us mad Gabrielle followers, just as Xena has become a synonym for power and strength, so Gabrielle should be a household equivalent for idealism, perceptiveness, and a d*mn good storyteller. We'd like to see Renee get every minute of fame possible. But right now, Renee can make a public appearance and have a throng of happy fans show up. She gets wild gifts like having a star named after her. (Not a Hollywood star, but, you know, a heavenly body. Not HER heavenly body, but an... oh, you get the idea.) She has the Clan MacGabbers snowing under unsuspecting companies with letter-writing campaigns for the glorification of the Gabster. But she can also probably put on a baseball cap and manage to go to the movies in relative peace. Sometimes it's good to be the sidekick. Nice work if you can get it. Maybe Renee O CONNOR is sitting on the best of both worlds right now. I guess it's OK if my friend's girls just remember her as "the blonde." "The blonde" might very well like that just fine. ====================================== WHAT'S UP WITH XWP IN THE NETHERLANDS? ====================================== by Claudia Mulder Vice-president DAHX (Dutch Association of Herculeans and Xenites) claudia.mulder@tip.nl http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/2167/ Editor's Note: Ya gotta feel for those European XWP fans. They always seem to be fighting to keep the show on the air. Fortunately, there are some very dedicated hardcore fans out there who are organizing and mobilizing the troops and the Danish contingency has scored a major victory recently by securing XWP for another season. And remember, they're an entire season behind us over there, so they haven't seen DAY IN THE LIFE yet! The euro grrls also rely heavily on our Web sites for news and info and plain old support, so keep those pages up to date, ok? Xena in Europe The first time I saw XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS on TV, I thought, what kind of nonsense is this?! I watched the show for about 5 minutes, and then I turned it off. This was in December 1996 and I didn't see the show again until March 1997. Maybe it was because I had seen five minutes of THE TITANS, or maybe I was meant to watch the show much later. I really do not know but after I had seen the show again in March, I was totally hooked. I wanted to know more about that incredibly beautiful and strong woman and her sidekick, so I began my research. Because I have never heard anybody talking nor read about the show in my direct surroundings, the only place where I was sure to find the information I was looking for was the Internet. So my journey began... I was amazed by the number of websites I found! I lost myself in the story behind XWP - I didn't see the first ten episodes of the first season - and also the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle came to my attention. I was really taken by the show and within a few weeks I realized I was a 'nutball' Xenite. I noticed that almost all of the XENA and HERCULES websites were American, Australian or Canadian. I wondered whether I was the only Dutch fan out there, because it really seemed so! By that time, I wanted to communicate with other Dutch fans and finally I 'bumped into' a German fan (Hi Ronny!), who was kind enough to lead me to the president of the Dutch Fanclub. I was happy that there was one and I finally managed to find it! A group of enthusiastic XENA and HERCULES fans joined forces and started up the Dutch fanclub "DAHX" (Dutch Association of Herculeans and Xenites). From there on the development of my XENA activities took on a snowball effect: now I have my own Xena site on the web and I am the vice-president of DAHX. Still, when I look at Europe, there are not many signs of Xenatism yet. It is known that there are now Spanish, German and Dutch websites, but I haven't located a British website yet. There should be one, because we've 'tracked down' a few British fans out there! DAHX is now developing ideas to organize a European XenaFest, in collaboration with the German fanclub. Being the European branch of the worldwide XENA fandom, we really want to get in touch with more European fans or fanclubs, so in future we can organize events together. Having read about the effect the show has had on women in the United States, I looked at Europe and found that the impact wasn't that shocking. The fact that Xena is portrayed as a physically and mentally strong woman, who happens to have brains as well, is not regarded as offending in any way. The fact that the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle has a lot of subtext in it, is not regarded as offending in any way. I have been thinking about this and I cannot give a direct answer to the question why. Maybe it's because Europe has had her share of strong, intelligent women in the past (Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, Alette Jacobs, Madame de Pompadour) and has a different view on homosexuality, that it is not shocked by television series like XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS. The appeal of the show is also the mythical and exciting location of 'a time long ago'. From an European point of view, Ancient Greece isn't that long ago and is at times vivid; it forms part of our history and that makes it kind of 'close to home'. I don't think Xena is a 'woman thing' either; I know a lot of male viewers and they like the show as much as the female viewers do. It is also striking that people from so many different age groups watch the show. I wouldn't know where to place the show when it comes to target groups. That is one of things I like so much about it! XWP is a show for everyone. In fact you can see what you want to see in it and make it a little bit 'your' show. I have made XWP 'my' show too and I love to debate it with my fellow Xenites all over the world. I hope we can get the European XenaFest off the ground and that Europe can worthily represent her XenaFandom in the future. ----------- ANNOTATIONS ----------- [437] 08-16-96 ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW. Syndicated TV talk show. 1281 words. Guests: Tipper Gore, Lucy Lawless, and Marietta Harley. COMMENTARY: This is the amazingly prophetic interview where Lucy Lawless casually asks Rosie O'Donnell what part she played in Grease. Now, one year later, Lucy is playing that very same part herself on Broadway just 'cause somebody connected with the stage production was able to put two and two together! Can't wait to see Lucy play the sentimental best friend in "Insomnulent in New Zealand" whenever that comes out. And can Ms. Lawless' own morning talk show be far behind? We think not! [MBE] Transcription by Tom Simpson (thomas@utah-inter.net) TRANSCRIPTION: Rosie: Our next guest is the baddest gal on TV. Take a look at her in action... roll it! Please welcome Lucy Lawless! [applause] Hi Lucy, how are you? Lucy: I'm fabulous. Rosie: Can I tell you something, that we have gotten the most requests to have you on the show. Lucy: Really? Rosie: THE most. People have been faxing, they've been calling they say, "We want Xena". Here you are. Lucy: It's amazing. When you're the object of that kind of attention it's hard to believe and not some abstract... Rosie: Yeah it is sort of a weird... You're from New Zealand I hear. Lucy: Yes I am. Rosie: See that, I'm smart. But on your show you have an American accent, do you not? Lucy: I do. I do, and it's quite tricky for New Zealanders to pick up a standard American accent. It's much easier to pick up a Southern or New York... Rosie: Yeah, can you do, can you give me a little New York accent? Lucy (In a New York accent): A little New York? You know where I got this from, is from... [laughs] Listen to me I can tell I'm really excited. A little quaver in my voice. Rosie: I don't think New Yorkers have accents, personally. [audience laughs] Lucy: I can't believe you people really talk like that. Rosie: Really? Lucy: No I come here and, oh my God, it's unbelievable! Rosie: When you walk down the streets of New York City, people scream "Hey, it's Xena! Awright!" That's just my family... Lucy: Yeah- Rosie: There's so many Xena little trinkets out, the doll... [holding the 10" Xena dollie] Have you seen this little doll? Lucy: I have never seen this one. [she takes it] Got this sexy kind of dominatrix thing going. Rosie: Kind of does. In fact a lot of people asked if you would show up wearing the costume. I said "I'm not going to ask the guest to show up wearing the costume." Lucy: That's very kind of you. Rosie: But we thought about it. [audience laughs] But we didn't. Lucy: [sliding her hand down her shirt] You know it's on under this... Rosie: Is it? The whole... really? Well maybe later, you never know. Keep the people and viewers staying for the rest of the hour. Do you enjoy doing the show? Lucy: I love it, I love it. It takes a lot out of me, but... Rosie: It's seems very taxing, a lot of physical stuff going on there. Lucy: Yeah. I was an actress first and foremost. It was a big shock to me to be cast in an action role. So they sent me off to classes... I grew up in a pretty rowdy kind of house. I've got 5 brothers and one sister and um, there's a lot of scrapping and... Rosie: So you learned from the best right there. Lucy: Oh yeah. But, uh, they sent me off to kung-fu training... [Lucy spies the Xenite membership certificate on Rosie's desk and picks it up]. What? Where did you get this from? Rosie: Well, just so you know I am a certified member of the Xenite Club [she holds the certificate up to the camera] and I have the Xenite Newsletter [holds it up] and somebody sent me in all the Xena trading cards [holds them up]. Lucy: That's amazing. Was it Jetthead? Rosie: Yes Lucy: [waves to camera] Hi Brenda! Rosie: So you're finally, finally on in New Zealand? You weren't on there until recently? Lucy: That's right. I enjoyed complete anonymity and it's all over now, Baby Blue. Rosie: Yeah, is it a big hit over there like it is over here? Lucy: Yes it is. But I find a real advantage to playing an intimidating character is that people just leave you alone. Rosie: Yeah, yeah you see.. Lucy: People are so indiscreet. I go into a restaurant and they all turn around-- [she wipes her arm across her nose] they all look. They think you can't see them... Rosie: The funniest thing to me is when people go "Hey, that's Rosie O'Donnell right there, right in front of us that's Rosie O'Donnell!" Like I don't hear them. Lucy: They're very subtle in New York. Rosie: Yeah you know, and you're right there... I hear you wanted to be an opera singer, you used to sing when you were little? Lucy: Uh, when I was a teenager I studied opera for about four years and one day I woke up and went, "I don't really go for this crap". That the life of an opera singer is so dull, you can't go out late at night, you can't laugh your head off, you can't eat certain things... Rosie: No, that's why I gave it up, too. Lucy: No, forget it. No fun. Rosie: Can you sing a little for us? Cause you know how I love people... Lucy: Oh I would love to! Rosie: Would you? Go ahead. Lucy: Do you mind if I don't do that? Rosie: I don't mind, you do what you want, you're Xena, Warrior Princess... Lucy: A girl with the name of Lucy Lawless should sing a cowboy song. Rosie: Alrighty you go ahead and do it. Lucy: [sings - the song is available at http://www.xenafan.com/rosie/lucysong.wav] Rosie: Wow that's nice! Lucy: [keeps singing very very well] Yippie ai o kai ay! Rosie: Wow, Lucy Lawless! [applause] That's unbelievable! Lucy: You sing, you sing great I heard you! Rosie: I don't really sing well, but I like to sing. It was a big hit here in the 70's it said "Don't matter if you're not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song." And that's what I think is my motto, Lucy. Lucy: Do you not do cabaret? Rosie: I did a Broadway show. Lucy: What did you do? Rosie: I did Grease, remember with Olivia Newton John? Lucy: Did you really? Who did you play? Rosie: I played Sandy [laughter]. Rizzo, I played Rizzo. Lucy: That's a great part. Rosie: I always cracked up when people said "who do you play?" Like I'm going to be the blonde bombshell! I mean I either had to play Rizzo or Zuko, either one. Lucy: Because Rizzo is the coolest part in the whole thing. Rosie: It is, it's the best part. You could do Broadway, you've got a beautiful voice. You do. [applause]. You know, one of our staff members, Lisa, she works in research. You are the goddess to her. Can she come out and meet you? Cause she'll be really mad at me if, and she works late hours... Lucy: Of course [smiles] Rosie: Lisa! Lisa! Lucy! Lucy: [stands up, shakes Lisa's hand and pecks her on the cheek] Thanks for researching... Rosie: Here I have a little thing, sit down Lisa, a have a little picture for you to sign this for her [hands Lucy an 8x10 photo]. And we're going to go to break here and I'm going to show everyone my little Hercules toy that I got here [walks out with her Hercules Action Sword and starts chopping in front of Lucy]. Watch I can... see that I can totally get her.. Lucy: Come on the show, come on the show. Rosie: [thinking about the sword] You have one? Cause we could get in a fight? Lucy: A show? Well [laughs]... Rosie: No, a little sword fight, we could, just sign that for Lisa, is that exciting for you, is it thrilling? Lisa: I'm very excited. Rosie: No vacation for you. Coming up next George Jones. Lucy Lawless!! =========================== CUT HERE ======== XENA MEDIA REVIEW #27 (09/23/97) Borg 1 of 3