THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS....
TWXN #01
05-21-96


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@lightspeed.net. 


CHICAGO TRIBUNE: May 21, 1996. Tuesday. Tempo. Pg. 3. "Hair-
raising Tales; for Marc Singer, Dealing with Costars on
'Beastmaster' Is an Adventure All its Own" By Allan Johnson   
COMMENTARY: This article promoting Beastmaster includes a nominal
mention (once) of Xena: Warrior Princess in context to the other
shows produced under the "Action Pack" umbrella. 


THE NEW YORK TIMES: May 19, 1996. Sunday. Page 12-4; Television.
"[COVER STORY] A Woman Wielding Many Weapons, Among Them a Sneer
and a Stare" By William Grimes.
   COMMENTARY: 1039 words as a cover story in the New York Times,
albeit Section 12, is nothing to snuff at! 
   It's a very pleasant article. Ms. Lawless is quoted as saying
that she suspects the some of her internet web site visitors are
"55-year-old lawyers who want to be spanked". Ms. Lawless is
further quoted when referring to her previous Hercules roles with
"I was sort of a Bolshie lieutenant to the Amazons...I brutalized
Hercules a bit and then we raped and pillaged a village down the
road."  She also described her appearance as Lyla as "a centaur's
moll."
   It's an article you would expect from the Times: very
thoughtful and it attempts to rationalize and understand why
Xena: Warrior Princess is so popular. It doesn't read like Star
Log, but it doesn't call it "stupid history" either. It strikes a
happy medium without talking down or up to it's readers. It has
more depth than most, but it ain't The Village Voice.
   Ms. Lawless gets a graphic on the cover! There is also a photo
of Ms. Lawless and Ms. O'Connor in the text part.


ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE. May 18, 1996. Saturday. "The Daily
Record".
   COMMENTARY: Not about our Xena, but news that a Xena was
granted a divorce in Arkansas. Just thought I'd throw it in. No
Xena is safe from the watchful eyes of the Xena Media Review! 


THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT (Norfolk). May 18, 1996. Sunday. Pg. 1.
"'Norma Jean and Marilyn' Come Face to Face in HBO Film" By Larry
Bonko.
   COMMENTARY: Nominal mention (once). States that Beastmaster is
"in the spirit" of XWP and H:THJ.


ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. May 17, 1996. News & Notes/Trends. Pg. 12.
"Hollywood Classics" By Kristen Baldwin.
   COMMENTARY: Nominal mention of XWP in discussion of TV and
movie productions centering around ancient Greece and mythology.
Mentions XWP (once) and H:TLJ as examples of ancient Greece
productions on TV.


AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. May 16, 1996. Pg. 25. "A World of
Class; Xena Features Diverse, Quality Menu, Sophisticated Dining
Experience" By Dale Rice 
   COMMENTARY: Not about OUR Xena, but a three and half star
restaurant in Austin, Texas. Not Greek, though. 


DAILY VARIETY. May 16, 1996.  Thursday . "TV and Cable Production
Chart"
   COMMENTARY: The chart lists only programs that are currently
in production which cast actors in the L.A. area.  Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess are listed under
MCA's aegis.  MCA's number for those who care: (818) 777-1242.  


THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. May 16, 1996. "Talkers shine in May
sweeps ratings climb" By Stephen Battaglio.
   COMMENTARY: It's the numbers! The ratings for the week ending
May 5th ("Ties That Bind"): 5.0 rating (22% better than the week
before). Hercules had a 4.9. Deep Space Nine was a 6.5. Thus,
Xena ranked #2 for the first run action hours. Today...HERC!
Tomorrow... the STAR TREK!!!!


Pr0521
