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     `\`/>`\            /`/` /`__________,.'>___      _____   )~\
       /<`\ `\        /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\     |\./|  / | \
      /< `\`\ `\    /`/` /`   | | |----\ /  | |\ \    | | |././^\ \
 |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----.
[\\\\\\\{*}==`>      <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==-->
 |/~~{o}/-- /`/  /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--'
      \<  /`/` /`  `\`\ `\    | | |_____,.'>| | |   `\`\| | /'    \ \ \
       \< /` /`      `\`\ `\  ,/ /^\------> / |/^\|   \ | |/       \/^\\.
      /`/\>/`           `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~   )^\,\,      '~~~~~
     `~~~~~`             '~~~~~`            `          ~~~~~~
==========================
XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #06
==========================
http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html
c/o RIF BBS, P.O. Box 81181, Bakersfield, CA 93308
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99 subscribers and growing!
This document has 642 lines.

Xena Media Review (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.
Copyright, legal, and editorial notices are found at the end of 
this newsletter.

Issue No. 06
Release date: May 10, 1996
2nd edition: 07/10/96
Covering 09-03-95 to 09-08-95

Annotations #034 through #040.
   [034a] 09-03-95 THE WASHINGTON POST. Nominal 
   [034b] 09-03-95 NEWS TRIBUNE. Nominal
   [034c] 09-03-95 THE HARTFORD COURANT. Minor
   [034d] 09-04-95 NEWSDAY. Nominal
   [034e] 09-04-95 ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONST. Nominal.
   [034f] 09-06-95 HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Nominal.
   [034g] 09-06-95 CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Nominal.
   [034h] 09-07-95 HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Nominal
   [034i] 09-09-95 BALTIMORE SUN. Minor.
   [034j] 09-09-95 TENNESSEAN. Nominal.
   [034k] 09-10-95 HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Minor.
   [034l] 09-10-95 SACRAMENTO BEE. Minor.
   [034m] 09-10-95 PLAIN DEALER. Nominal.
   [034n] 09-10-95 DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Nominal.
   [034o] 09-10-96 LOS ANGELES TIMES. Minor
   [034p] 09-10-95 DAYTON DAILY NEWS. Nominal.
   [034q] 09-08-95 PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Nominal.
   [034r] 09-08-95 PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Nominal.
   [034s] 09-04-95 TAMPA TRIBUNE. Nominal.
   [035] 09-04-95 VARIETY. Action competition in Fall '95
*  [036] 09-05-95 TORONTO STAR. Xena as "plucky"
*  [037] 09-07-95 SEATTLE TIMES. "campy"
***[038] 09-08-95 DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Renee O'Connor
***[039] 09-08-95 HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Detailed review
***[040] 09-08-95 DAILY VARIETY. First major review.

-------------
Introduction:
-------------
   This issue includes the last batch of media coverage before
the release of the first episode of XWP and the initial reactions
to "Sins of the Past", the first run XWP episode.  To keep
straight the dates and episodes, I have included a section called
Timeline which will help jog everyone's memories.
   Well, I have 99 subscribers. Who will be the 100th? I know we
are all on the edge of our seats. 
   I wanted to write a meaningful introduction but a spider bit
me in the foot and I have been, let's say, rather testy.  This
testiness contributed to the lateness of this issue.  I got to
see "Ties That Bind" before sending this out. Sometimes Xena:
Warrior Princess seems more interesting than it really is. 
Perhaps I will explore that theme later.  For now, I must take
more anti-histamine and watch a tape of "Sins of the Past".  PS I
was terribly disappointed when the centaur husband of Lyla said
that he had left the wife and kid at home for Hercules' mother's
wedding. Oh well. Perhaps I do need to get a life.

--------
TIMELINE
--------
   09/04/95.  Episode #1. SINS OF THE PAST. 
   SYNOPSIS: Xena, disgusted with her life after her close
encounter with Hercules, buried her clothes and weapons in a
forest. Fortunately she chose the forest where Gabrielle's
village was being systemically pillaged at that very moment.
   Xena saved the village (natch); decided that she liked her
leather outfit and weapons; and left. Gabrielle, knowing a good
story when she saw one, followed Xena, who had decided to seek
amends from her mother.  Both separately encountered a blind
cyclops on the way to Xena's village.
   Xena found her mother really angry at Xena for Xena's warrior
princess hi-jinks. Xena also discovered the village soon-to-be in
conflict with a visiting horde of evil warriors. The villagers
didn't take a shine to Xena either, thinking that the visiting
horde was her army (done purposely by Dracus, who told Xena
plainly that "You can never home"). Xena was about to be beaten
to a pulp (or was it pelted by tomatoes) when Gabrielle talked
both of their ways out of the village. 
   Xena made up with her mother and village when she saved them
by challenging Dracus (who wanted either to have Xena as a mate
or fight her to the death -- guess which one Xena chose) to a
fascinating battle on scaffolding and people's heads (first to
touch the ground was to be dead meat). 
   Dracus fell. Xena allowed him his pathetic life. He repaid his
debt by killing one of his men who tried to backstab Xena. Later,
when Xena went to the grave of her brother, Gabrielle informed
Xena that she was not alone (whether Xena liked it or not...they
implied that Xena liked it). Thus the great adventures began!


-----------
ANNOTATIONS
-----------
[034] 09-03-95 through 09-10-95
   NOTE: The first episode of XMR was released 09/04/96.  This
event was heralded by a plethora of standard local blurbs.  Most
were terse, some were cute, and others basically reflected the
idiosyncracies of the region.  They were all short and in
themselves nominal, but as a group they illustrated how the first
viewers of XMR were prepared for the series.

[034a] 09-03-95
   THE WASHINGTON POST. TV Week; Pg. Y03; 614 Words. "UPN and Fox
Series Sightings". 
   COMMENTARY: A nominal mention prefaced by the caveat "may
appeal to younger veiwers."
   EXCERPT:
   ...SERIES PREMIERES
   The following new series may appeal to younger viewers. 
   FRIDAY:
   Xena: Warrior Princess 9 p.m. on 20...

[034b] 09-03-95
   NEWS TRIBUNE. Soundlife; Pg. Sl6. 731 Words. "Local TV
Stations Add, Swap and Drop Shows for Fall" by Stephanie Reader
   COMMENTARY: A bare mention with station identification.
   EXCERPT:
   ..."Xena: Warrior Princess," a companion piece to "Hercules,"
will air at 8 p.m. Fridays and midnight Sundays starting Friday.
[KING, channel 5]...

[034c] 09-03-95
   THE HARTFORD COURANT. Arts; Pg. G6. 773 Words. "New Talk Shows
to Duke it out in the Syndicated Marketplace" by James Endrst
   COMMENTARY: A wordy, yet nominal mention.  Compared to the
others, however, it's as if it wanted to be more, but wasn't.
Regional difference? You decide.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Elsewhere on the bod patrol . . .
   With the success of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" too
good to pass up, the same syndicators have now spun off "Xena:
Warrior Princess," starring Lucy Lawless.  Filmed in New Zealand,
"Xena" is set in the mythological past and offers big action, big
yuks and big-screen special effects. But you'll have to stay up
late to catch it.  "Xena" bows Saturday at 1 a.m. on WTIC...

[034d] 09-04-95
   NEWSDAY. Nassau and Suffolk Edition. Part II; Pg. B33. 474
Words. "Tv Spots" by Diane Werts.
   COMMENTARY: Standard local blurb.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Herc gets a heroine: "Xena: Warrior Princess" debuts
Saturday at 9 on WPIX/11, after Kevin Sorbo's series starts its
second season at 8...

[034e] 09-04-95
   THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION. Features, Pg. 10b. 606
Words. "Review: The Morehouse Men";9 Tonight WGTV/Channel 8
(89742) and 9 P.m. Wednesday on WPBA/; Channel 30 (81506).
Ratings range from one to four stars.; The Verdict" by Drew
Jubera
   COMMENTARY: Strictly nominal announcement.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Attention, all fans of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"
and "Baywatch": Both popular syndicated series are moving to
WVEU/Channel 69. 
   "Hercules," with Kevin Sorbo, will air at 8 p.m. Thursdays
beginning this week. It will be followed at 9 p.m. by the new
spinoff series "Xena: Warrior Princess," starring Lucy Lawless...

[034f] 09-06-95
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 319 words. "Journalist Jim Lehrer on
"Equal Time," CNBC."
   COMMENTARY: Another nominal announcement.
   EXCERPT: 
   Selected TV viewing of interest to the film, TV and music
industries. Programming schedules are subject to change (all
times PDT)...
   ...THURSDAY...
   ...9 p.m. Debut of MCA's action series "Xena: Warrior
Princess," KTLA (multiple airings)...

[034g] 09-06-95
   THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Tempo, Pg. B08. 374 Words. By John
Kiesewetter.
   COMMENTARY:  Yes, they had some tough choices to make that
night in Cincinnati.
   EXCERPT:
   ...TV TONIGHT: Biography profiles Liberace (8 p.m., A&E). . .
. HBO dramatizes the life of French composer Georges Bizet in
HBO's Composers' Specials (7 p.m. ). . . . Xena: Warrior
Princess, a Hercules spinoff, premieres today (8 p.m., Channel
64)...

[034h] 09-07-95
   THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Houston; Today on TV; Pg. 6
   COMMENTARY: Ms. Lawless receives a mention, but not native
daughter Ms. O'Connor.
   EXCERPT:
   ...8 p.m., Channel 11. Xena. 
   Lucy Lawless stars in Xena: Warrior Princess, the new action
series paired with Hercules...

[034i] 09-09-95
   THE BALTIMORE SUN. Features, Pg. 8d. 419 Words. "Fox Trots out
New Episodes for Fall" by Steve Mckerrow.
   COMMENTARY:  This was a substantive introductions.  It
mentioned both Ms. Lawless and Ms. O'Connor, not to mention
Xena's relationship to Hercules AND a bit of the premiere's plot. 
Conclusion: they are civilized in Baltimore.
   EXCERPT:
   ...* "Xena: Warrior Princess" (4 p.m.-5 p.m., WBFF, Channel
45) -- A syndicated spinoff from "Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys," this series stars Lucy Lawless as the warrior first
seen as a deadly adversary of Hercules. In the first episode she
gains a sidekick, Gabrielle (Rene O'Connor), as she journeys to
her homeland...

[034j] 09-09-95
   THE TENNESSEAN. Living, Pg. 3d. 1065 Words. "Want More Talk?
Got It; Want More 'Baywatch'? Sorry, You Got That, Too" by Sandy
Smith.
   COMMENTARY:  Par for course one-liner promo.
   EXCERPT:
   ...WXMT-Channel 30...
   ...Xena: Warrior Princess at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays. The
latter is a spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Lucy
Lawless stars as Xena.

[034k] 09-10-95
   THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Zest; Pg. 9. 638 Words. "in
Syndication, the Talk Is 'Seinfeld,' 'Baywatch Nights'" by Mike
Mcdaniel.
   COMMENTARY: A little more information, but barely. The
emphasis is on the martial-arts and Hercules.
   EXCERPT:
   ...''Xena'' - Lucy Lawless plays a princess with martial-arts
talent in this spinoff of the successful Hercules series. 8 p.m.
Thursdays, Channel 39.

[034l] 09-10-95
   SACRAMENTO BEE. Encore; Pg. En14. 1947 Words. "Rerun
Improvement" by Dan Vierria.
   COMMENTARY: A nice flowing promo which connects Xena with
Hercules and complimented the show.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Xena: Warrior Princess: Anyone who watched her defy
Hercules last season ("Journeys of Hercules") had to figure she
was destined for her own show. (midnight Saturday with reruns
Sundays at 11 p.m., Channel 31, already on the air.)...

[034m] 09-10-95
   THE PLAIN DEALER. Arts & Living; Pg. 11j. 686 Words.
"Syndicated Shows this Year Are Heavy on Talk, Comedy" by Tom
Feran.
   COMMENTARY: Nominal mention.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Syndicated reruns of "Home Improvement" and "Seinfeld" are
the big additions at WUAB Channel 43, which is now affiliated
with both the UPN and WB networks...
   ..."Xena: Warrior Princess," an action spinoff of "Hercules"
at 5 p.m. Saturdays...

[034n] 09-10-95
   THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Pg. 2Q. 699 words. "Nine new talk
shows will debut in syndication" By Manuel Mendoza.
   COMMENTARY: Nominal mention.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Xena: Warrior Princess is a Hercules spinoff (11:30 p.m.
Sundays, starting tonight, Channel 4)...

[034o] 09-10-96
   LOS ANGELES TIMES. TV Times; Page 14; 1044 Words. "Preview
'95;syndication Will Get You Everywhere" by Ted Johnson.
   COMMENTARY:
   EXCERPT: More substantive, but still leaves you aching for
more.
   ...KTLA
   "Xena: Warrior Princess": Call this a female companion to last
year's syndication success story, "Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys," with Lucy Lawless as the warrior who uses martial arts
and acrobatics. Fridays at 9 p.m. Already premiered...

[034p] 09-10-95
   THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS. Entertainment, Pg. 4c. 589 Words.
"Syndicated Shows Abound this Fall" by Tom Hopkins.
   COMMENTARY:
   EXCERPT: Nominal mention.
   ...Channel 22...
   ...* Xena: Warrior Princess, a spinoff of Hercules, to follow
that show at 11 a.m. Sundays beginning Sept. 17 in a two-hour
block replacing the 10 a.m.-noon Perry Mason movies...

[034q] 09-08-95
   PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Features Magazine. 373 words. Pg. F14.
"TV Tonight" by Lee Winfrey
   COMMENTARY: Nominal mention.
   EXCERPT:
   ...XENA:  WARRIOR PRINCESS. (9-10 p.m., Ch. 57) - This is the
premiere of a new adventure series spun off from Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys. Lucy Lawless plays the title role.
Syndicated....

[034r] 09-08-95
   PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Features. Pg.61. 329 Words. "Weekend
Watch It" by Mark De La Vina.
   COMMENTARY: The main attention was given to Hercules. Xena was
mentioned almost as an after thought.
   EXCERPT:
   ...HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS CHANNEL 57, 8 P.M. FRIDAY
What started as a cult hit has vaulted over every syndicated
drama short of ''Baywatch." Even "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"
fell behind this action/ fantasy series, starring Kevin Sorbo as
the mythical do-gooder. Bruce Campbell, star of "The Adventures
of Brisco County Jr.," plays a trouble- making thief who commits
a crime attributed to Iolaus (Michael Hurst). At 9 p.m., look for
its broadswords-and-bustlines spinoff, "Xena: Warrior
Princess."...

[034s] 09-04-95
   THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Baylife,  Pg. 1. 1377 words. "Oprah's move
highlights major changes in daytime Television" by Walt Belcher
   COMMENTARY: Description of XWP as an "action fantasy".
   EXCERPT:
   ...Other new entries are on their way to the "off-network"
world of syndicated programming, such as the action fantasy
"Xena" (a spinoff of "Hercules" debuting Thursday at 11 p.m. on
Channel 13)...


[035] 09-04-95
   VARIETY. Special Report: Focus: Fall Preview; Pg. 38. 1061
Words. "Talk Is Cheap, but Lucrative." by Joe Flint.
   COMMENTARY: A nice review of what other action shows Xena was
competing with in it's first season.  In this article the two
standouts of the upcoming crop were Baywatch Nights (which
fizzled rather quickly) and our very own Xena: Warrior Princess.
   EXCERPT:
   ...On the action front, the theme this year seems to be
spinoff. Two of the more anticipated shows are based on current
hits. All American is rolling out "Baywatch Nights" and MCA has
"Xena: The Warrior Princess," which is a follow-up to the
surprise hit, "Journeys of Hercules."
   "Spinoffs are what they are," says Fentress. "Few work as well
as the original."
   "It is impossible to know what will work. Nobody knew that
"Hercules" would be such a big hit," Carroll adds.
   Other action hours and half-hours for the fall include Buena
Vista TV's "Land's End," starring Fred Dryer; MGM's "Outer
Limits"; Samuel Goldwyn's "Flipper"; New Line's "Nancy Drew" and
"Hardy Boys"; and in January, Turner Program Service's "Lazarus
Man," starring Robert Urich...


[036] 09-05-95
   THE TORONTO STAR. Entertainment; Pg. D4. 813 Words. "TV's
Deadly Games Is for Video Buffs New Series Makes Debut on New
Web." by Jim Bawden.
   COMMENTARY:  It has a loooooong introduction and the reviewer
really did review every single new episode of the new season
(yawn), but he ended the seige with two paragraphs on XWP.  
   Mr. Bawden called Ms. Lawless "the pluckiest heroine since
Charlie's Angels went off the air."  He declared that the series
had "absolutely no redeeming qualities" and described Xena, our
heroine, as "a scantily clad heroine who fights back. Sort of a
liberated lady of the ancient world."  Did he hit the nail on the
head, or what?
   EXCERPT:
   This is the time of year I get ever so slightly down. No, not
really depressed. Just a mite discouraged.
   And there's nothing I can do about it. I'm suffering from a
non-terminal case of "TV critic's blues."
   Every year at this time, the fall season premieres. I get to
watch each and every one of the new shows before you do. The
preview tapes come rolling in and I sit at home every night
munching my diet popcorn and watching my TV the way it should be
watched - sans commercials.  
   At the end of this gruelling schedule, I sit down at my
computer and tell you what's good and bad in the year ahead.
   I know you're reading from the feedback I get. But do you
really believe me? I'd like to know, because I suspect TV critics
are toothless. We couldn't save My So-Called Life last season.
And all our verbal jousts against Melrose Place have only served
to make the series even more popular.
   Let's face it, every viewer thinks he or she is a TV critic.
When you go to the movies you have to plunk down $ 8 or more per
ticket. Then there are the beverages, the candy, the babysitter,
the parking. No wonder you read movie reviews so thoroughly
first.
   It's the same, or even more so, if you go to the theatre, a
rock event or a classical music concert.
   But TV? As a critic I get no respect, I tell you. Oh, people
are cagey and always making believe they watched PBS the night
before. But I know from the volume of mail to Starweek's TV
Talkback column that they're really watching Friends and Murder,
She Wrote.
   But why should it be any different? All you need to be a TV
critic is a clicker. You turn the set on and make your own
judgments. You don't watch what's good for you, but what's
entertaining.
   But I'll persevere...
   ...And here's my secret confession. I even liked the pilot for
the Hercules spin off called Xena: The Warrior Princess. Gee, can
that warrioress toss a spear! 
   The debut is Friday at 9 on CKVR's Channel 3.
   I liked Lucy Lawless in the lead. She's the pluckiest heroine
since Charlie's Angels went off the air. Here's a series with
absolutely no redeeming qualities. It features a scantily clad
heroine who fights back. Sort of a liberated lady of the ancient
world. And I know a lot of people who secretly tell me they watch
Hercules.
   But not TV critics. We're far too busy watching our PBS tapes. 


[037] 09-07-95
   THE SEATTLE TIMES. TV; Pg. D6. By John Voorhees.
   COMMENTARY:  Short but memorable mention.  XMR is cited for
its "campy moments", "far too much violence", and that it did not
exhibit "even the foggiest sense of history."  Looks like this
reviewer missed the joke or worked for NPR.
   EXCERPT:
   ...What can one say of "Hercules," which begins its second
season at 9 p.m. tomorrow, joined this season by a spinoff,
"Xena: Warrior Princess," debuting at 9 tonight, both on on
KIRO-TV. Both have their campy moments (and far too much
violence) and neither exhibits even the foggiest sense of
history...


[038] 09-08-95
   THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Today. Pg. 5c. 804 Words
"Screenwriter got more than good advice at Austin festival" By
Jane Sumner
   COMMENTARY:  Texas loved Gabrielle enough to give her a
graphic!  
   EXCERPT:
   ...Sidekick
   When the new syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess kicks
off Sunday at 11:30 p.m. on Channel 4, one of the stars of the
Hercules spin-off will be Katy, Texas, native Renee O'Connor. 
She'll be seen as Xena's comical, high-spirited sidekick
Gabrielle.
   The daughter of Eddie and Sandra Wilson, owners of
Threadgill's restaurant in Austin, began studying acting at age
12 at Houston's Alley Theatre.  She worked at Astroworld through
high school and, upon graduation in 1989, made her professional
acting debut in the Teen Angel series on the Disney Channel's
Mickey Mouse Club.  The same year, she moved to Los Angeles and
landed a featured role in an episode of Tales From the Crypt
directed by Arnold Schwarznegger.
   She first caught the eye of Xena executive producers Rob
Tapert and Sam Raimi at an audition for their adventure Hercules
and the Lost Kingdom.  They were so impressed they put her in
Darkman II:
   The Return of Durant (released on video in July) and signed
her for their new action series shot in Auckland, New Zealand...
   ...GRAPHIC: PHOTO(S):...3. Texas native Renee O'Connor has a
role in the new syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess. 


[039] 09-08-95
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 1193 words. 
   COMMENTARY: This reviewer got it!  The anonymous reviewer even
called Renaissance Pictures "zany".  What a word. What a review.
   EXCERPT:
   ...XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
   (KTLA) 9 tonight
   It may not be possible within human endurance to view all the
new teleproductions, but you may not be able to find a slyly
funnier series than "Xena: Warrior Princess" or a more memorable
woman than its beauteous star, Lucy Lawless. She leaps, hurtles
and spins through the air, jousting and stabbing, clobbering and
kicking impossible war hordes. It's silly enough to achieve cult
status.
   Xena is spinning off the MCA TV syndicated adventures of
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" from the zany Renaissance
Pictures team of Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert ("The Evil Dead,"
"Darkman").
   We're set in mythical times, so the historical rules of logic
don't apply. What makes it delightful and goofy is that it's all
straight-faced, even the most raucous situations.  The deeply
blue-eyed Lawless (from New Zealand; this is shot there) is
assigned to do the most outrageous shtick -- but she maintains
the straightest face. She's good...


[040] 09-08-95
   DAILY VARIETY. Review. 337 Words. " Xena: Warrior Princess
(Fri. (8), 9-10 p.m., KTLA)"  By Brian Lowry
   COMMENTARY: The first official review of Xena: Warrior
Princess was favorable.  The episode was "The Sins of the Past",
the premiere XWP episode broadcast in the United States of
America. 
   Although XWP did not "measure up quantitatively" to Hercules'
"sort of mythological Baywatch," Mr. Lowry was of the opinion
that XWP was in and of itself not bad.  Xena was described as "in
the spirit of Red Sonja" and "easy on the eyes." 
   Mr. Lowry further stated "Lawless is convincing in the title
role, and the action sequences are cleverly staged..." He also
stated that Gabrielle, in the function as the comic relief foil,
did not generate humor as well as that found in Hercules.  The
reviewer described Gabrielle as "a contemporary-minded young
woman (Renee O'Connor) determined to become Xena's protege and
traveling companion."
   Mr. Lowry feared that XWP would not appeal to young males as
much as Hercules did; but concluded that if XWP made it over that
hump, then it would no doubt be successful.
   REPRINT:
   TX:Filmed in New Zealand by Renaissance Pictures and
distributed by MCA TV. Exec producers, Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert;
co-exec producer, R.J. Stewart; supervising producers, Babs
Grehosky, Steven L. Sears; producer, Eric Gruendemann;
co-producer, Liz Friedman; coordinating producer, Bernadette
Joyce; line producer, Chloe Smith; director, Doug Lefler; writer,
Stewart; camera, Donald Duncan; editor, Jim Prior; music, Joseph
Lo Duca; production design, Robert Gillies; visual effects
supervisor, Kevin O'Neill; sound, Digital Sound & Picture. Cast:
Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Jay Laga'aia, Darien Takle, Stephen
Hall, Linda Jones, Willa O'Neill, Geoff Snell, Anton Bentley,
David Perrett, Patrick Wilson. MCA unleashed an unlikely firstrun
hit in "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and now provides the
big lug a compatible companion in this spinoff series making its
debut in syndication. Featuring the same mix of action, goofy
dialogue and nifty special effects, the shows promise to pack a
solid one-two punch. 
BODY:
   "Hercules" stumbled into a formula that incorporates plenty of
action, reasonably good effects on an obvious budget, a
self-effacing sense of humor, California surfer dialogue that for
some reason doesn't seem out of place and enough scantily clad
flesh to qualify as a sort of mythological "Baywatch." 
   "Xena" doesn't measure up quantitatively in that last regard
but compensates with its lead, Lucy Lawless, who -- in the spirit
of Red Sonja and other sword-wielding females -- wears
uncomfortable looking metal breastplates and proves undeniably
easy on the eyes.
   Little girls, in fact, will finally have their own hero amply
capable of kicking butt, which violence watchdogs may consider a
dubious distinction. Still, the action and tone is on such a
cartoonish level no one should take offense.  
   For those poor souls who haven't been following "Hercules,"
Xena originated in that show as a bad gal who eventually turned
good, briefly teaming up with Hercules. Now mimicking his
penchant for traveling around righting wrongs, she initially
saves a village from siege by a warlord (well played by Jay
Laga'aia) from her own past, then finds herself defending her
home village -- which hasn't forgiven Xena for her more nefarious
days -- from the same band of marauders. 
   Lawless is convincing in the title role, and the action
sequences are cleverly staged, making the budgetary limitations
involving a giant cyclops, for example, almost an asset.
   As with "Hercules," the hour fares less well in its attempts
at comic relief, here embodied by a contemporary-minded young
woman (Renee O'Connor) determined to become Xena's protege and
traveling companion.
   The only real question commercially is whether the young men
who account for most of "Hercules' " audience will hang around to
watch a woman do the same, though Lawless and the wholesale
action should be a solid attraction. As a result, this warrior
princess should reign long enough to give even macho males a
chance to get over their "Xena"-phobia.


-------------
THE BACK PAGE
-------------
Issue #07 will contain annotations #041 through #055, dated from
09/05/95 to 10/02/95.  It is scheduled to be released 05/17/96.

PREFERRED CITATION:  When citing an annotated review, use the
format: XMR:007.  This example means Xena Media Review [issue
#01], annotation #007.

DISCLAIMER: XMR (Xena Media Review) is a free non-profit
informational release.  XMR in no way intends to challenge,
disregard or profit from any of the original copyright holders of
the material excerpted, reprinted, or referred to (including but
not limited to MCA, Universal, Renaissance Pictures, WASHINGTON
POST, NEWS TRIBUNE, HARTFORD COURANT, NEWSDAY, ATLANTA JOURNAL &
CONSTITUTION, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, HOUSTON
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NEWS, TAMPA TRIBUNE, VARIETY, TORONTO STAR, SEATTLE TIMES, DAILY
VARIETY).  This newsletter is an academic and educational pursuit
to archive, annotate, and study the media response to Xena:
Warrior Princess (a television production from MCA/Universal/
Renaissance) and the actresses Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor,
especially in the light of popular culture and the influence of
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as allowed under the law in order to review and discuss the media
reports cited and annotated herein. XMR is distributed free of
charge. Only national/international major media released in
electronic form are considered for inclusion. Banner graphic by
Colleen Stephan. Copyright 1996 by Kym Masera Taborn.

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