THIS WEEK IN XENA NEWS....
TWXN 31
10/03/96

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


Randomly generated thoughts:
   I threw in the 20/20 comments because it will be
appearing in XMR #18 (yes! I know 11/06/95 is not THIS
WEEK). The rest is kinda sorta recent (yes! I know
09/06/96 isn't, but give me a break -- 10/01 and 10/02
is recent).
   Also, we have a new home for TWXN. Tom's Xena Page
has adopted them. Whenever I get time to code them,
then the site will open. Thanks to all others who
offered space. It is appreciated, but Tom got his offer
in first!


Now the annotations:


[073.5]  11-06-95
   20/20. New Zealand TV show. 
   COMMENTARY: This extended interview/documentary on
the production of HTLJ and XWP was produced as
promotion of the release of the Hercules 1994 Action
Pack movies on video in New Zealand. The emphasis was
on Kiwi matters and interviews were primarily with
production crew members. 
   In the portion about XWP, Xena was described as "one
h*** of a scary woman." The interviewer also mentioned
that Ms. Lawless had the "biggest break a New Zealand
actor has ever had into American TV."  
   Ms. Lawless quotes were: 
   "I don't think that there has been a better role for
a woman in decades in a series -- in a syndicated
series -- certainly in America.  She's got the devil on
her shoulder.  That's why you watch her because you
don't know which way she'll jump, necessarily."
   "Success is just the reward of keeping up your own
identity and trying to be consistent."
   "I will go wherever the work is.  You want to work
on the best projects with the best possible people."
   The other people interviewed were:
   Eric Grundemann, HTLJ producer, discussed the
several reasons why New Zealand was chosen as the
shooting locale; how shooting in New Zealand had
affected the show; and his personal pride in showing
that an American show produced in New Zealand could be
a critical and financial success.
   Michael Hurst, HTLJ "Iolaus", discussed his
willingness to do stuntwork and his action figure.
   Kevin Sorbo, HTLJ "Hercules", discussed his new
found fame; his action figure; and his respect and
admiration for the crew.
   Johnny Duncan, XWP director of photography,
discussed how he filmed Lucy Lawless and centaurs; how
the shows would be different if they had been filmed in
America instead of New Zealand; and his appreciation of
the New Zealander crews.
   Diane Rowan, HTLJ & XWP casting director, discussed
how the shows had stimulated the employment of actors
in New Zealand; how both shows recycled actors; and how
she used her casting couch to the advantage of the
shows.
   Rob Gillies, HTLJ & XWP Set Designer, discussed the
challenge of making the sets and props for the
episodes; and where he derived his inspiration.
   Nila Dickson, HTLJ & XWP costume designer, discussed
her creative work with Rob Gillies; and how she
designed bras.
   David Bell, HTLJ & XWP Stunt Coordinator, discussed
the types of stunts used; how costumes were designed
with stuntwork in mind; and what a successful stunt
looked like.
   Charlie Haskal, an HTLJ director, discussed the
differences between regular New Zealand dramas and
HTLJ.


[   ] 09-06-96
   THE PALM BEACH POST. Friday. Page 1F. 765 words. By
Paul Lomartire
   COMMENTARY: Article about the stress involved when
local tv stations add, subtract and confuse viewers
with scheduling changes. The article mentioned XWP's
switch from local station WFLX-29 (Fox) to WTVX-34
(UPN).


[   ] 10-01-96
   THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Tuesday. Page E-1. 1124
words. "the Current Cosby Creation Leaves Him Cold" By
Welton Jones, welton.jones@uniontrib.com.
   COMMENTARY: In a review of Bill Cosby's new
television show (which doesn't anywhere mention the
name of the show), the reviewer criticized the
three-camera, flat-lighting, all interior, broad comedy
texture of modern situation comedies. While expressing
his dismay over the technique he wrote, "I don't seem
to be thus troubled by quality television shows like
"NYPD Blue" or "Xena: Warrior Princess," for example,
where there seems to be a budget for outdoor shooting."
   XWP was referred to as a "quality television show"/


[   ] 10-02-96
   LOS ANGELES TIMES. Page F2. 864 words. "Arts and
Entertainment Reports from the Times, National and
International News Services and the Nation's Press" By
Shauna Snow 
   COMMENTARY: Because of previous deals between Sam
Raimi (producer, XWP) and John McNamara (producer,
Profit), have arranged a production project between
Warner Brothers Studios and Universal which will create
an ABC action series called "Cloak and Dagger". "Cloak
and Dagger" was described as a "high-tech action show
reminiscent of the old spy series 'The Avengers'".
   XWP was mentioned in passing as a project of Sam
Raimi's.


[   ] 10-02-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Wednesday. Page 1. 551 words. "WB,
Universal Team for ABC Drama Series WB, Universal Share
'Cloak'" By Joe Flint.
   COMMENTARY: More details on the "Cloak and Dagger"
production partnership. Again, XWP was mentioned in
passing in reference to Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert.


