XENA MEDIA REVIEW #30 (04-15-97) Borg 07 of 11 ================= CUT HERE =================== [564b] 10-10-96 THE BOSTON HERALD. Thursday. Page 057. 369 words. "Around the Dial" COMMENTARY: This story was probably not based on Stephanie Reader's report because it appeared the same day as her story did. [DS] EXCERPT: ...XENA ZAPPED: Lucy Lawless apparently isn't as invincible as the character she plays on TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess." Lawless was to appear on NBC's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Tuesday but ended up in the hospital instead. As Leno explained during Tuesday's show, Lawless fell off of a horse while taping a comedy sketch for the "Tonight Show." Her publicist said that Lawless was hospitalized with pelvic fractures... [564c] 10-11-96 USA TODAY. Friday. Page 2D. 131 words. "Xena's injury no pratfall" By Ann Oldenburg COMMENTARY: This is the first of the many mainstream news stories that reported the accident. All provide the basic facts and little else. This report also shows a continuing theme in the media coverage, the idea that the accident proves that "Xena is not invincible after all." At times, these accounts seemed to take delight in having evidence that the actress behind the character was not all powerful. Frankly, I think this is a bit weird as if the writers were confusing the real human being (Lawless) with the character (Xena). This could also be a sign that some folks are still uncomfortable with the idea of a strong woman. However, it's just as likely that these comments are yet another example of the dreadful Let's-Be-Cute Journalism where wit is considered to be more important than fact. [DS] REPRINT: Xena is not invincible after all. Lucy Lawless, who plays the popular warrior princess on the syndicated cult TV show, was taping a comedy segment for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in Los Angeles on Tuesday when the horse she was on lost its footing. Lawless fell on the parking lot where the bit was being rehearsed and paramedics were called. She was then taken to a local hospital and treated for pelvic fractures. On Thursday, she was in stable condition. A spokesman says that she will be laid up for four to six weeks but that the injury will have minimal impact on the show. Lawless had completed 10 episodes,=7F which will take the show to the end of the year. Says Leno, "I thank her for being a good sport and I'm sorry that happened." [564d] 10-11-96 THE TORONTO SUN. Friday. Page 63. 146 words. "Warrior Princess Felled. Horse Throws Xena Star Lucy Lawless" By Claire Bickley COMMENTARY: Another example of confusion between actress and character. The report adds nothing new, except to give some inaccurate information about the episodes that would be used to cover for Lawless' accident. This story notes that Xena will go "missing." Her body disappeared for a bit, but she didn't, a situation that can only occur in the alternative world known as the XenaVerse. [DS] REPRINT: A spooked horse has done what vengeful warlords and meddlesome Gods failed to do - toppled TV action-adventure heroine Xena: Warrior Princess. Actress Lucy Lawless is recuperating after fracturing her pelvis in Los Angeles Tuesday while preparing a stunt for a The Tonight Show appearance. A spokesperson for MCA Television, producers of the popular syndicated fantasy series, said Lawless was in the parking lot of NBC's Burbank studios when her horse fell. It will be about eight weeks before she can return to work on the show's New Zealand set. Enough episodes are completed to run until early December when the show was scheduled to go into reruns. A story line about Xena going missing has been quickly written to cover Lawless' absence from the first three January episodes. Xena, which airs locally on Global and CKVR, began its second season last week. [564e] 10-11-96 REUTERS NORTH AMERICAN WIRE. Friday. 986 words. "Reuters/Variety Entertainment Summary" COMMENTARY: Basic information on the accident. [DS] EXCERPT: ...'Xena' Star Injured In Accident The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" is in stable condition after a fall this week. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis after falling from a horse while practicing a skit for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." A spokesman for the syndicated show says production will be only minimally affected. The series is on hiatus with 10 episodes in the can that will last beyond the November sweeps period. "She's going to be fine," the spokesman said. "It may just take a couple of shows for her to get back into it."... [564f] 10-11-96 REUTERS NORTH AMERICAN WIRE. Friday. 898 words. "Reuters/Variety Entertainment Summary" COMMENTARY: Basic information on the accident again, but this article provides an opportunity to look at the confusion about whether Lawless' pelvis was broken or fractured. Stephanie Reader also reported that her pelvis was broken. As far as I can tell, in a technical sense it may have been, but not in the sense that most folks visualize when they think "broken." According to the medical people who were online and lectured us about the subject, every kind of break is a technically considered to be a fracture from the smallest to the largest. Lawless suffered what Mellette described online as "cracks". The bone did not break apart and did not separate. What this meant was that instead of being out of work for many, many months, Lawless was able to return to filming in about seven weeks. [DS] EXCERPT: ..."Warrior Princess" Takes a Fall Lucy Lawless, the sword-swinging star of the TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess," is in stable condition after falling from a horse. She broke her pelvis while practicing a skit for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." A spokesman for the syndicated series says Lawless is going to be fine and production of the show won't be affected much. "Xena" is on hiatus with 10 episodes in the can- enough to last beyond the November ratings period. [564g] 10-11-96 THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION. Friday. Page 05F. 726 words. "Rodman fits right in on RuPaul talk show" By Bob Longino COMMENTARY: Basic information on the accident. [DS] EXCERPT: ...SEEN AND HEARD 'Xena' star hurt Syndicated's "Xena: Warrior Princess" is down, but not out. Lucy Lawless, who stars as the ancient fighting female, is in stable condition in a Los Angeles hospital after falling off a horse earlier this week while taping a comedy sketch for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Lawless suffered a fractured pelvis, according to MCA/TV publicist Jim Benson. "What she needs is bed rest and recuperation," Benson says. The accident's effect on the production of "Xena" is expected to be minimal. "Xena," which films in New Zealand, already has 10 new episodes in the can. A joint statement from NBC and MCA/TV said Lawless fell after the horse lost its footing. [564h] 10-12-96 THE WASHINGTON POST. Saturday. Page C03. 508 words. "Names & Faces" COMMENTARY: Some old stuff on the accident. EXCERPT: ...'Xena': A Fallen Star "Xena: Warrior Princess" will have to sit out a few adventures while star Lucy Lawless recovers from a fractured pelvis. Lawless injured herself this week after falling off a horse while rehearsing a skit for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." According to a spokesman, the actress is in stable condition and production of her syndicated hit show will be only minimally affected.... [564i] 10-12-96 REUTERS NORTH AMERICAN WIRE. Saturday. 982 words. "Reuters/Variety Entertainment Summary" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564e. [564j] 10-12-96 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Saturday. Domestic news. 626 words. "Names in the News" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564k. EXCERPT: ...Xena the Warrior Princess isn't invincible after all. Lucy Lawless, the star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was in stable condition Friday night after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The 28-year-old New Zealander was injured when a horse she was sitting on in the NBC studio parking lot lost its footing and fell, said Jim Benson, spokesman for the show's distributor, MCA Inc. "She fell to the side," Benson said. "She's recovering well. She's hoping to go home any day." The injury was expected to have little impact on the show's production, Benson said. Lawless stormed into the world of syndicated action-adventure television in March 1995 as a guest character on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." In fall 1995, Xena had earned her own series, and this season it has been among the top 10 shows. [564k] 10-12-96 AP WORLDSTREAM. Saturday. 20:01 Eastern Time. International news. 1280 words. "Xena the Warrior Princess isn't invincible after all." COMMENTARY: This appears to be the first AP report on the accident. As you can tell by reading it and the many other reports, writers tend to borrow heavily from each other. [DS] REPRINT: Lucy Lawless, the star of television's ''Xena: Warrior Princess,'' was in stable condition Friday night after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.'' The 28-year-old New Zealander was injured when a horse she was sitting on in the NBC studio parking lot lost its footing and fell, said Jim Benson, spokesman for the show's distributor, MCA Inc. ''She fell to the side,'' Benson said. ''She's recovering well. She's hoping to go home any day.'' The injury was expected to have little impact on the show's production, Benson said. Lawless stormed into the world of syndicated action-adventure television in March 1995 as a guest character on ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.'' In fall 1995, Xena had earned her own series, and this season it has been among the top 10 shows. [564l] 10-12-96 AP ONLINE. Saturday. 02:38 Eastern Time. 227 words. "Lawless Injured In Horse Fall" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564k. [564m] 10-13-96 THE WASHINGTON TIMES. Sunday. Page A2. 149 words. "Woe of the warrior" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564k. [564n] 10-13-96 THE TIMES-PICAYUNE. Sunday. Page A43. 1043 words. "Xena Falls Short of TV Image; Actress Fractures Pelvis on Shoot" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564k. [564o] 10-13-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Sunday. Page 3. 212 words. "Lawless injured in fall" COMMENTARY: Basic accident information. EXCERPT: Lucy Lawless, star of TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess," is in stable condition at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering pelvic fractures last week while taping a segment for Jay Leno's "Tonight" show. Lawless was on a horse in a parking lot when it lost its footing and fell. She'll be out of action for about six weeks, but it shouldn't hurt the show, which already has 10 episodes in the can.... [564p] 10-11-96 THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 1. 236 words. "Kiwi pluck will save Xena" COMMENTARY: XWP's first major press mention in a New Zealand paper! On page one, no less! Sadly, though, it is news of Ms. Lawless' injury. [KT] The story also provides a couple of interesting insights. First, the story gives us a look at Frank Ryan, Lawless' father. To date, it is the only print interview available to Xenites with him. Second, it's treatment on the Internet once again proves how quickly this new means of communication zaps information around the world. The morning this story appeared in New Zealand, an online Xenite, Gary Thomas, scanned it into his computer and sent it to the XenaVerse mailing list. That meant that I could sit in my house in Kansas, USA, and read an article only minutes after it appeared on Thomas' doorstep on the other side of the Earth. OK, so maybe Internet oldsters didn't find this mind boggling, but this newbie was blown away by that fact. The article also includes an interesting error. The last paragraph reports yet again that the horse fell on Lawless. There is an implication that Ryan told this to the reporter. However, Lawless later said on a TV talk show that the horse did not land on her. Did the reporter get this inaccurate information from a source other than Ryan? If Ryan told this to the reporter was he confused or was Lawless confused about that fact at the time and did she give her father inaccurate information? My bet is that the reporter added this fact on his own. Perhaps he felt that he was safe in reporting this because it had already been reported by AP. [DS] REPRINT: OLD-FASHIONED Kiwi pluck, not ancient superwoman powers, would put television's Warrior Princess Lucy "Xena" Lawless back on her feet after breaking her pelvis yesterday, her father said last night. Lawless was recovering St Joseph's Medical Centre in Los Angeles last night after falling from a horse while filming a stunt for the NBC network's Tonight Show hosted by Jay Leno. According to her father, Frank Ryan, who spoke to her from Auckland yesterday, doctors thought she could be in hospital for three weeks but were waiting for specialists' reports before giving a more definite prognosis. "Lucy is robust, fit and keen and has a fix the damn thing and get on with it' attitude," he said. "That's a real Kiwi attitude and it's going to get her a long way. She's a very bright, strong girl." Mr Ryan said his daughter told him she was in pain. "She's very big in America and I'm sure they're going to do absolutely everything to make sure she's all right." She stopped in Los Angeles to be on the Tonight Show on her way back from Europe. She was to start filming a new series of Warrior Princess in Auckland in three weeks. Pacific Renaissance, the show's makers, could not be contacted last night. Mr Ryan said his daughter was on a horse rehearsing a stunt when the horse lost its footing. She fell and the horse landed on her. [564q] 10-12-96 THE FRESNO BEE. Page A2. 782 words. "That Kennedy curse" COMMENTARY: Basic accident information. EXCERPT: ...Xena takes a tumble Lucy Lawless, the actress who plays "Xena: Woman Warrior" in the TV series spawned from "Hercules," was injured while taping a comedy bit for Jay Leno's "Tonight Show " in Los Angeles. She fell from a horse that had lost its footing, USA Today reports. The 6-foot New Zealander suffered pelvic fractures and will be out of commission for four to six weeks. Her show won't suffer, though. There are enough episodes in the can to take it to the end of the year. Said Leno: "I thank her for being a good sport and I'm sorry it happened." What would Xena do?... [564r] 10-13-96 CHATTANOOGA FREE PRESS. Sunday. Page A2. 790 words. "NEWSMAKERS" By Dee Decker COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564k. [564s] 10-14-96 STAR TRIBUNE. Page 5B. 893 words. "People" By Tonia E. Moore COMMENTARY: Six days after the accident occurred, newspapers are still reporting the basic information about it. Kind of makes you wonder how "new" news is, doesn't it? [DS] EXCERPT: ...'Xena' star injured Lucy Lawless, the star of the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess," was in stable condition after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" last week. Lawless was injured when a horse she was sitting on in the NBC parking lot in Burbank, Calif., lost its footing and fell; she fell to the side. Jim Benson, spokesman for "Xena" distributor MCA Inc., said she's recovering well. and hoping to go home soon. He added that Lawless' injury was expected to have little impact on the show's production. [564t] 10-13-96 THE SUNDAY STAR-TIMES. Page 13. 524 words. "Seven Days" COMMENTARY: Basic accident information with a twist, this story claims that Lawless was "crushed" by the horse. If that had happened, Lawless would probably not have filmed any of the second season. I suppose we can file this report under "Media Sensationalism." [DS] EXCERPT: ...INJURED: New Zealander Lucy Lawless, star of TV pulp Xena: Warrior Princess, with a cracked pelvis after being crushed by a horse during a guest appearance on Jay Leno's talkshow... [564u] 10-13-96 THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION. Page 02C. 338 words. "Eastwood gets off to an 'OK' start" COMMENTARY: Basic accident information. EXCERPT: ...WARRIORS GET HURT TOO: Life got a little too rough and tumble last week for "Xena, Warrior Princess" star Lucy Lawless, 28, who fractured her pelvis while taping a comedy skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show." Her horse lost its footing, sending Lawless tumbling to the ground of the NBC studio parking lot in Burbank, Calif. The injury isn't expected to affect "Xena's" production... [564v] 10-13-96 THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (RALEIGH, NC). NEWS. Page A2. 618 words. "Short Stuff". COMMENTARY: same as XMR564o. [564w] 10-13-96 THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. NEWS. Page 6. 762 words. 'People Watch". COMMENTARY: same as XMR564o. [564x] 10-14-96 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Monday. Page 2A. 514 words. "PEOPLE" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564k [564y] 10-14-96 THE DES MOINES REGISTER. Monday. Page 2. 254 words. "Short takes" COMMENTARY: Basic accident information. EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, who plays the lead role in TV's Xena, was injured while taping a comedy bit for Jay Leno's Tonight Show in L.A. She fell from a horse that had lost its footing. The 6-foot New Zealander suffered pelvic fractures and will be out of commission for four to six weeks. Her show won't suffer, though - there are enough episodes in the can to take it to the end of the year... [564z] 10-14-96 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Monday. AM cycle. Domestic News. 637 words. "People in the News" COMMENTARY: An updated version of XMR564k, also issued by the AP. Added the news of Ms. Lawless' anticipated release from the hospital on Tuesday, October 15, 1996. She was actually released on Wednesday, October 16. [KT] EXCERPT: ...The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave the hospital on Tuesday. "She's doing great, she's just going to need rest and recuperation time," said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc. Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine, but not Lawless. Lawless stormed into the world of syndicated action-adventure television in March 1995 as a guest character on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." Her own show, which began a year ago, has been has been among the top 10 this season.... [564aa] 10-14-96 AP WORLDSTREAM. Monday. International news. 1307 words. COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564w. [564ab] 10-15-96 TELEGRAPH HERALD (DUBUQUE, IA). Features. Page b5. 284 words. "PEOPLE". AP. COMMENTARY: The "Xena-Isn't-Invincible" approach once again appears.[DS] EXCERPT: Warrior Princess injured Xena the Warrior Princess isn't invincible after all. Lucy Lawless, the star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was in stable condition Friday night after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The 28-year-old New Zealander was injured when a horse she was sitting on in the NBC studio parking lot lost its footing and fell, said Jim Benson, spokesman for the show's distributor, MCA Inc. The injury was expected to have little impact on the show's production, Benson said. Lawless stormed into the world of syndicated action-adventure television in March 1995 as a guest character on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." GRAPHIC: David Lee Roth (left) reunites with former bandmates Michael Anthony (center) and Eddie Van Halen at the MTV Video Music Awards. (AP photo) [564ac] 10-15-96 USA TODAY. Tuesday. Page 1D. 558 words. "Tight box-office race" By Arlene Vigoda COMMENTARY: This brief notice reports that Lawless was expected to get out of the hospital soon. EXCERPT: ...FIXING XENA: Lucy Lawless, star of Xena: Warrior Princess, is expected to leave an L.A. hospital today She fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.... [564ad] 10-15-96 THE TORONTO STAR. Tuesday. Page E5. 588 words. 'Movies' Dirk Bogarde recovering from stroke" COMMENTARY: Extremely pared down version of XMR---x. EXCERPT: ...XENA TO LEAVE HOSPITAL: The star of Xena: Warrior Princess is getting out of a Los Angeles hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. [564ae] 10-15-96 THE TENNESSEAN. Tuesday. Page 3A. 938 words. "Lorrie, Jon to Be by Each Other's Sides" By Brad Schmitt COMMENTARY: Same old information. EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, star of TV's Xena: Warrior Princess, is in the hospital, recovering from a fractured pelvis suffered during a horseback riding accident. She was taping a skit for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno when the horse lost its footing and fell on Lawless. She is expected to be released from the hospital today.... [564af] 10-15-96 STAR TRIBUNE. Page 4B. 822 words. "People" COMMENTARY: Using similar turns of phrases as XMR564z and XMR564aa, this notice may also have been mildly influenced by XMR564x. EXCERPT: ...Hoping to be gone Lucy Lawless, star of the syndicated action series "Xena: Warrior Princess," is expected to leave the hospital today, but won't be back in the saddle soon. She fractured her pelvis last week when she fell from a horse while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" outside NBC's Burbank, Calif., studios.=7F "She's doing great; she's just going to need rest and recuperation time," said a spokesman for her show. [564ag] 10-15-96 THE SEATTLE TIMES. Tuesday. Page F7. 417 words. "Seen, Heard, Said" By Janine Dallas Steffan COMMENTARY: Same old, same old. EXCERPT: The medical report...Lucy Lawless of "Xena: Woman Warrior" should be getting out of the hospital today where she was treated for those pelvic fractures she got last week when her horse slipped while she was filming a skit for the "Tonight Show." Though she'll be recuperating for up to six weeks, her show won't be affected since they've got 10 episodes in the can... [564ah] 10-15-96 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Tuesday. Page E-2. 741 words. "Public Eye" By Jeanne Beach Eigner COMMENTARY: One of the more sarcastic reports on Lawless' injuries. This also falls under the category of extremely old news, appearing a week after the accident and a day before Lawless left the hospital.[DS] EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless regularly throws her shapely, 6-foot self into the role of "Xena: Warrior Princess" for the gratification of millions of adoring fans, but she was injured while taping a comedy bit for Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" in L.A. She was on a horse that fell when it lost its footing, and she (Lucy, not the horse) fractured her pelvis. Though she'll be out of commission for four to six weeks, there are enough episodes of her show in the can to take it to the end of the year. Said Leno: "I thank her for being a good sport and I'm sorry it happened." Niki Taylor was doing the model thing at the Paris shows last week when she fell off a catwalk. Blame it on "narrow shoes that didn't fit." "...She basically did a header," said her spokesman, a man with a true gift for language. He hurried to reassure her public, "She hurt her leg, bruised some tissue, but she'll be back." ================= CUT HERE =================== XENA MEDIA REVIEW #30 (04-15-97) Borg 07 of 11