THIS WEEK IN XENA NEWS....
TWXN 39
10/27/96

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.


EDITOR'S NOTE:
   I am going to stop covering the Lucy Lawless injury
stories in TWXN. There are too many. Anyways, everyone
should know by now she was released 10/16/96 from St.
John's Hospital and that she is now recovering at some
undisclosed area, most likely in Southern California.
I am planning, though, to devote an entire issue of XMR 
to the injury and the subsequent media coverage of it. 
Something to look forward too in the new century!
   There may be some exceptions to this rule since
some mentionings of the injury are especially pertinent 
to the history of XWP's media coverage (other than 
passing on information about Ms. Lawless' injuries 
subsequent hospitalization).
   I have started work on XMR #19, but don't hold your 
breath. XMR #19 will cover the first of the SPECTRUM 
articles, and they require significant more commentary 
than usual. Expect it in a month or so; or sooner if I
find some time.
--Kym

[   c] 10-14-96
   ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 37. 760 words. "Mipcom Notes"
By Greg Spring
   COMMENTARY: More dirt on MIPCOM at Cannes.  The big
news was MTM's showing of it's new action hour
"Eighteen Wheels of Justice", which follows the
exploits of a long-haul trucker pursuing justice on the
roads along the United States/Mexico border. Just when
you thought everything was going to be mythological and
fantasy driven next season! 
   Other news was that MGM has developed an action hour
based upon the movie "Stargate". It will first air on
Showtime and then be released to syndication (same as
their strategy for "Outer Limits" and "Poltergeist").
   Warner Brothers/Universal Television hawked the
international distribution rights to their action hour
"Cloak and Dagger". "Cloak and Dagger" also picked up a
13 episode order from ABC. This show was executively
produced by Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert, those same
wild and crazy executive producers of XWP. MCA, of
course, retained all domestic distribution rights to
the show.   
   Nickelodeon announced a 90-minute live-action
adventure movie to be shot in Australia called "Doom
Runners" which will be shown on Showtime.
   MCA's "Burning Zone" and "EZ Streets" was sold to
more than 22 countries and 17 countries, respectively.
   It looks like the powers that be might be steering
away from fantasy action hours and looking more into
science fiction and reality based hours for the 1997-98
season. 


[   ] 10-15-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 354 words. "Atlantis battles
for 'Earth'" By Eric Hansen 
   COMMENTARY: Article on the Atlantic Communications
and Tribune Entertainment partnership for Gene
Roddenberry's "Battleground Earth". XWP was mentioned
as an action hour that was successful for Tribune
Entertainment Co.


[   ] 10-15-96
   THE DENVER POST. Tuesday. Page E1. 563 words. "When
TV and computers merge, forget about sleep" By Joanne
Ostrow
   COMMENTARY: In a review of the computer game Myst,
the reviewer began with "I've escaped into 'the
surrealistic adventure that will become your world.'
And I don't mean 'Dark Skies,' 'The Pretender' or
'Xena: Warrior Princess." 


[   ]  10-18-96 to 
   NOTE: ORPHAN OF WAR (#25), 1st release, 09/30/96.
Ranked as the 3rd action hour with a 4.3 rating. The
standings for action-hours were as follows:
   1. ST:DS9 5.3
   2. HTLJ 4.8
   3. XWP 4.3
   4. Baywatch 3.8
   5. Outer Limits 4.6
   6. Viper 3.4
   7. Highlander 3.1
   8. Babylon 5 3.0
   9. Sinbad  2.6
   9. Poltergeist 2.6
   9. Psi Factor 2.6
   9. F/X  2.6
  10. Two  2.5
  11. The Cape 2.4
  12. Tarzan 1.5
  13. Bounty Hunters 0.8
  14. beach Patrol  0.8


[   a] 10-18-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 382 words. "Viper' uncoils
at No. 5 for syndie hour weeklies" By Steve Brennan 
   COMMENTARY: Orphan of War, 1st release.
   Hollywood reporter misreported Viper as no, 5, when
it was actually no. 6 in the action/hour category.

[   b] 10-18-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Friday. Page 3. 819 words. "Debuts
Balled-up Sports Devour Most New Syndie Hours" By Jenny
Hontz
   COMMENTARY: Orphan of War, 1st release.
   Hontz observed, "A syndicator of one top weekly said
that to break even, pricey action hours generally must
rate at least a 4."
   Regarding the heavy action hour competition this
season, Hontz predicted, "Expect the environment to
shift next season, when off-net dramas such as
Twentieth TV's "X-Files" and "NYPD Blue" debut in
weekend syndie, presumably giving the first-run
weeklies a scare and crowding some out of their
timeslots."


[   ] 10-20-96
   THE BOSTON GLOBE. Sunday. Page 8. 1742 words. "for
Women Strong Is Beautiful" By B.J. Roche. 
   COMMENTARY: In an article about how women are
starting to use athletic women as role models, B.J.
Roche wrote, "Xena, the Warrior Princess (a woman not
to be messed with), attracted such a following on the
syndicated television show "Hercules," that she now has
a show of her own."


[   ] 10-21-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Monday. Page 1. 714 words. "Viacom,
MCA near accord in cable nets dispute. Peace over TV
Land MCA, Viacom Ready to Settle" By Anita M. Busch and
Joe Flint
   COMMENTARY: Mention of USA channel's purchase of the
re-run rights to XWP in an article about Viacom and
MCA's proposed settlement over MCA's lawsuit against 
Viacom's start-up of the TV Land channel.



