THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS....


TWXN #03


05/28/96








Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR)





XMR is a periodic annotated review of mainstream media reports


found in electronic form regarding the 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@bak2.lightspeed.net. Excerpts from the


following cites will appear in future issues of XMR.








THE ORLANDO SENTINEL. 05-24-96. Pg. 1. "1 Dog A-Leaping"


Tentative [x041]


   COMMENTARY: Picture of a 15 month old Doberman pinscher named


"Xena".








THE NASHVILLE BANNER. 05-24-96. Lifestyles. Pg. C1. 720 words.


"Beastmaster finds critters tough tackle" By Jim Molpus.


Tentative [270c] 


   COMMENTARY: More Beastmaster promos. Explains that hopes are


high because the "sword genre" of XWP & HTLJ are so successful. 








THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. 05-25-96. Baylife,  Pg. 1. 962 words.


"Mythical TV Heroes; They're tan, they're taut, they're TV


titans. Hercules, Xena and now Beastmaster rule the late-night


netherworld of "action fantasy."" By Walt Belcher. Tentative


[275] 


   COMMENTARY: Mostly about Hercules, but article attempts to


explain the rise in popularity in "action fantasy". XWP mentioned


three times in tandem with HTLJ.








THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. 05-25-96. Baylife. Pg. 1. 666 words. "Reformed


villain' cuts men to size" By Walt Belcher. Tentative [276]    


COMMENTARY: Other than having 666 words, this article is not to


be feared.  A companion piece to tentative XMR275, this article


covers XWP in detail.


   The article reports that "The producers say feminists and


chauvinists both like her - but probably for different reasons. 


Guys are attracted to the form-fitting leather outfits and


cleavage while women respect her strength and courage, Raimi


says. She also has attracted a gay and lesbian following because


of her strength, the campy dialogue and her relationship with her


little buddy, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), Raimi says."


   The article also stated, "Gabrielle, smaller and blond, is


Xena's adoring sidekick. Lawless jokes that she 'will neither


confirm or deny' Xena's sexual preference. But the series has


shown former male lovers, including a romantic encounter with


Hercules. "


   Finally, Ms. Lawless is directly quoted as saying, "Also,


[Xena]'s too serious, I think. I wish they would make her a bit


more funny. I have a sense of humor myself. I was raised on Monty


Python and I can play a big goof, but Xena has to stand around


and look grumpy while everyone else is having fun."








   THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL (Memphis). 05-25-96. Appeal. Pg. 3C. 485


words. "'Nick News' teaches body acceptance" By Joanne Weintraub.


Tentative [277] 


   COMMENTARY: Passing mention of Xena in context to how it


contributes to the message that the only good people are sleek,


well-toned, hard-bodied people.








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