THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS....
TWXN #26
09/

Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR):
http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html

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.


[   c] 09-02-96
   THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Monday. Page 2. 667 words. "Snippets"
   COMMENTARY: This article took parts of "Five Questions with
Lucy Lawless: Xena Warrior And Empowerer" By Eileen Glanton.
   Added new part of "New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless relishes
her role in Xena: Warrior Princess, but she's slightly bemused
by the cult following she's attracted.  Preteen girls seek her
advice; Internet junkies dissect the show's plot lines."
   It's such a bizarre mix of Ms. Glanton's work with short
interjections added, that it is reproduced in full in XMR.


[   ] 09-01-96
   CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Sunday. Page 3. 1284 words. "Mighty
popular; Family background gave Lucy Lawless strength she needed
for 'Xena'"
   COMMENTARY: A low key interview where Lucy Lawless reminisced
about her past and future. She also discussed how "Chariots of
War" was her worst experience in making the show.


[   ] 09-01-96
   THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Sunday. Page F26. 695 words.
"Critical Choices; So much TV, so little time. Here's how TV
critic Kinney Littlefield will tackle the tube as the fall season
rolls out, now through October." By Kinney Littlefield
   COMMENTARY: Mr. Littlefield's must Saturday night TV included
XWP. He also called Xena a "shero".



[   ] 09-02-96
   ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 4. 414 words. "Tribune's Aliens Will
Feature a Familiar Gene" By Greg Spring
   COMMENTARY: In an article about the recently unearthed
Battleground Earth script by Gene Roddenberry and how Tribune
Entertainment would priduce it, the President of Tribune
Entertainment mentioned how Tribune stations have shown, by way
of XWP and HTLJ, how their stations are "the best launching pad
for action-adventure hours."


[   ] 09-05-96
   ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Thursday. Page 55. 445 words. "for
the Love of Lucy" By Chris Dickinson 
   COMMENTARY: In stating "I love Lucy", author Chris Dickinson
admitted that it was Lucy Lawless not Lucille Ball that he was
talking about.  Also confessing an understanding of why lesbians
would be attracted to XWP, Mr. Dickinson (I am assuming Dickinson
is a man) apparently wrote this after watching "Death Mask" the
previous week. Most of his references in the article are from
that episode. However, Mr. Dickinson was not aware that XWP was
shot in New Zealand. He made references to the exterior shots
looking like they were shot in Northern California.
   This article is an example of a new type of XWP review that is
now appearing in the mass media. First, it is not based upon a
press release with the writer relying upon the p.r. copy for
their story. Second, local reporters are beginning to originate
the story on their own from their own viewing habits. The
reporters are reporting on XWP from their personal experience.
Either they love it, they hate it, or they don't quite understand
what's going on. The important difference is that it is being
generated not from above or externally. It is directly from their
own observations. Third, because of this grassroots approach,
many of the writers cannot afford or arrange because of lack of
clout or creativity actual interviews with the producers,
writers, or actors of the show. Nonetheless, these stories are
popping up here and there. For example, the author of this story
did not know the show was filmed in New Zealand. Obviously their
information was not gleaned from interviews or press releases. It
came from the heart. The Xenaddicted are starting to emerge from
everywhere, even the media!


[   ] 09-05-96
   AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Page E1. 992 words. "Xena's
sidekick/Houstonian Renee O'Connor makes a splash with New
Zealand's warrior princess" By Diane Holloway
   COMMENTARY: A rare interview with Rene O'Connor. This was the
most extensive interview with Renee O'Connor to date.
   Ms. O'Connor, who is the step-daughter of the owner of
Threadgill's, visited Austin, TX. Ms. O'Connor mentioned she was
on her way to Africa with her mother for her break 10 week break
from XWP.
   In her contribution to the development of the Gabrielle
character, Ms. O'Connor said, "Gabrielle started off spunky,
spirited, wanting to be like Xena...I just made her more of a
storyteller, the opposite of Xena. She's more sentimental and
poetic now. That's the direction I took her. Occasionally there's
some soul-searching, but mostly it's action and fun."
   In regard to the type of audience XWP has attracted, Ms.
O'Connor stated, "Our audience is such a bizarre mix...Lucy and I
have talked about it. I find it inspiring that the audience is
women. I'd rather have women watching than men drooling." 
   Ms. O'Connor also mentioned that she has a 7 year contract for
XWP and plans to eventually direct.


[   ] 09-05-96
   AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Page 28. 561 words. "Bang! You're
fried; In laser tag, everyone's got a blaster and a license to
kill" By Deborah J. Wolfinsohn
   COMMENTARY: In an article about laser tag, the writer slyly
referred to XWP by stating that, "After choosing your own code
name (like Xena, or Stretch, or perhaps Bronx Thug) you proceed
to the 'airlock' where, flashing vests strapped on, guns in hand,
you recite the rules, such as 'I will not run or cover my
target,' and 'I will play fair.'"


[   ] 09-06-96
   THE TORONTO SUN. Friday. Page 77. 574 words. "Adventures for
this Season; Roadcrew, the New Superman Help Kick-off the Fall
Lineup Action" By Claire Bickley
   COMMENTARY: After a review of the new Superman cartoon, a
brief mention was made of XWP in context to The Adventures of
Sinbad. Sinbad will play in Toronto the same night as XWP and
THTLJ.


