THIS WEEK IN XENA NEWS.... TWXN 54 12/23/96 Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR): http://xenafan.com/xmr XMR is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationally 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. Excerpts from the following cites will appear in future issues of XMR. [ n] 12-10-96 THE TORONTO SUN. Tuesday. Page 12. 484 words. "Kid Stuff" By Raynier Maharaj COMMENTARY: Strangely enough the major media seems to be releasing Rev. Rose's annual toy list as either an objective news item with no partisan commentary or as the fodder for a pro-list editorial. Raynier Maharaj began his article with his long- winded credentials for being a parental figure and then stated, "Now I'm not a prude. Gross toys do have certain appeal, which is why items like fake spiders and snakes are timeless. But there is a line between gross fun and just being gross. For example, there's one doll for little girls, which is being heavily advertised on television, which appears to vomit. I'm told that figurines of the action hero Xena are creating quite a storm in some quarters because children can strip her voluptuous body bare. And this is supposed to be fun? What kind of minds create stuff like this for little kids?" The preface of "I'm told that" is an admission of hearsay. The writer condemned a toy without (1) seeing for himself how voluptuous it was; and, also obviously, (2) jumped on the 'j'accuse' bandwagon without knowing a whit about the current toy situation. I am really surprised that no one yet has made the brilliant realization that when you strip the Xena figure, you get painted on underwear! When you strip the great American heroine, Barbie, you get a nude chick with cleavage....which is the most prurient? YOU DECIDE!!! Obviously Mr. Rose, Mr. Kornheiser, and Mr. Maharaj has. My take on this is that we are witnessing a bit of societal backlash and some double standards. What does Xena have over Barbie? Well, Xena's an independent gal who had no Ken; travels around with her female pal (who when SHE encounters her Kens, they usually are left in the dust while the gals have further adventures or the Kens die sudden and violent deaths); has very little fashion statements to make (Xena only has one ensemble and when she needs other clothes she either 'borrows' the dress, 'borrows' the body wearing the other clothes, or wears the new clothes in her 'dreams'); and beats up men without trying. Xena is a threat to the free world as we know it: a woman doing it for herself successfully, and when she does need companionship, she chooses another woman. Expect more irrational attacks on the show and its merchandise. [ ] 12-10-96 THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 7. 236 words. "A monstrous holiday treat" COMMENTARY: The Film Centre in Wellington, New Zealand will be featuring a documentary on special effects in XWP & HTLJ in its summer film series "Movie Monsters". [ o] 12-11-96 THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Wednesday. Page 37. 1184 words. "Viewpoints" COMMENTARY: A letter to the editor commends Rev. Rose's list and relates the "repulsive toy" Xena II's "enticing bosom" to why "molestation and assault are on the rise". It is probably too late now (maybe not), but perhaps we as fans should counter these unfair practices by writing, ourselves, to these papers' editors and explaining how the toy is being unfairly attacked while the toy's only apparent crime is representing a strong woman (come on, there are a lot more female action figures out there that would make Xena blush! Also, the criticism being waged against the Xena action figure could be just as easily and more appropriately waged against THE American icon, Barbie. Do you see anyone doing that? I rest my case). [ b] 12-11-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 339 words. "Universal at wheel of new TV 'Knight'" By Steve Brennan COMMENTARY: Passing mention of XWP in a blurb about Universal/MCA's reincarnation of KNIGHT RIDER, to be called TEAM KNIGHT RIDER. Don't forget, Hudson Leick was in the Action Pack TV movie KNIGHT RIDER 2010. The show will be developed in part by Ned Nalle, the executive vp of Universal Television Enterprises Prods, who said "This will not be your father's 'Knight Rider.' It will be smarter, hipper, with more complex story lines and more characters." Nalle "was also instrumental in the development of the company's hit hours 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' and 'Xena: Princess Warrior.'" [ ] 12-12-96 DAILY VARIETY. Thursday. Page 54. 367 words. "TNT May Close Book on Bible Pix" By John Dempsey COMMENTARY: In an article about how TNT is souring on making Biblical epics, it was announced that TNT would be releasing its first exclusive original weekly series on January 13, 1997. The show, "The New Adventures of Robin Hood," will be "filmed in the style of the MCA TV syndicated hits 'Hercules' and 'Xena,'..." Can you say "Sinbad" or how about..."Tarzan"? [ ] 12-13-96 THE DENVER POST. Friday. Page B07. 691 words. "Defeminize the military" By Mike Rosen COMMENTARY: In an article against having women in the military, XWP was mentioned as follows: "To be sure, individual superwomen may be as physically capable of anything a man is. Lizzie Borden may have wielded a mean ax on her parents, and Xena makes one hell of a warrior princess but, by and large, women are better suited to nurturing than they are to killing."