XMR #20 Part 2 of 4

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AMENDED ANNOTATIONS
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[090.5] 11-30-96
   THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Page 16. 362 words.
"Hercules set to muscle in" By Phil Wakefield
   COMMENTARY: TV3 finally purchased the right to air
HTLJ! Article referred to XWP as a "sister sandals-and-
swords romp" and noted that 23 episodes were scheduled. 
   XWP had originally been ordered with 22 episodes. By
April 1996, MCA began to hawk XWP at MIP-TV Con as a 24
episode package (XMR219.8). Somewhere between May 1995
(the first official notice of XWP being in production,
XMR011) and April 1996 a decision was made to extend
the season by two episodes. I have a theory that the
decision may have been made around January 1996 and
that the EVENING POST's sources jumped the gun and got
it off by an episode. Even this is conjecture since I
am basing it on the fact that VARIETY in January 1996
(XMR134) reported that at NAPTE, MCA was hawking 26
episodes of XWP! My explanation for this is that
VARIETY discovered that there were 2 more shows being
added to the season than originally planned and that
the season was at 24 already. They then did the logical
thing and added 2 to 24 to get 26. They should have
added the 2 to 22. It could happen to anyone!
   Last time I was able to talk to a member of the
XenaStaff, I of course asked them the question of
whether the producers were planning to expand the
episode order to 26, just in case the VARIETY report
was about the next season (XMR does not shy away from
asking the tough questions!). I was told that the they
are planning to produce 24 episodes again for the
second season. 
   EXCERPT:
   TV3 HAS added more strength to its 1996 line-up by
buying Hercules. The US syndicated TV hit has been
shooting in Auckland since 1993, and this year spawned
a sister sandals-and-swords romp called Xena: Warrior
Princess. 
   Both shows are widely watched in the US, where
Hercules has been out-rating Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
and Baywatch.
   By the time shooting wraps in March, Pacific
Renaissance Pictures will have shot five feature-length
and 37 one-hour episodes of Hercules, and 23 Xena
hours; both giant-killers should be rubber-stamped for
renewal. 
   The shows have been a boon to the local film and TV
industry, employing dozens of actors, 300 permanent
crew and up to 100 casuals. By March they will have
pumped $ 74 million into the economy.
   Among the faces viewers will recognize are Herculean
star Kevin Sorbo, who was in the "this ain't Jim Beam"
ads, and local leads Michael Hurst and Lucy Lawless
(Xena).
   If you want a sneak preview of the series, one of
the
movie-length Hercules adventures can be rented on
video....


[090.6] 12-02-95
   THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 23. 116 words.
"Hercules Series to Run next Year"
   COMMENTARY: A notice about TV3 plans to air HTLJ in
1996. Lucy Lawless is mentioned in passing but not
Xena.
   REPRINT:
   A TOP-RATING American television show that has been
filmed in New Zealand will screen on TV3 next year.
   Kevin Sorbo, better known as the man in the "this
ain't Jim Beam" commercial, plays the title role in the
adventure-fantasy series Hercules. 
   The show consistently rated in the top five
syndicated shows in the United States, ahead of Star
Trek Deep Space Nine and Baywatch.
   The show was filmed around Auckland and most of the
cast and crew were from New Zealand. Michael Hurst and
Lucy Lawless featured in starring roles. 
   Shooting began in November 1993 and by the time
series two is completed in March 1996, the producers
will have spent more than NZ$ 50 million in New
Zealand.


[099.5a] 12-13-95
   THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Page 7. 1120 words.
"NZ - the last Arcadia" By Paul Johnson
   COMMENTARY: In an intensely jingoistic and overly
polemic essay (aka racist drivel) on why New Zealand is
clearly the best place on earth, HTLJ and XWP was
sarcastically cited because they used New Zealand for
ancient Greece and required native actors to speak in
an American accent. The essayist stated that two of the
island's main problems were that its edenhood attracted
foreign film-makers (HTLJ and XWP, 'natch) and it
originally attracted Maoris. Not a pretty essay. 
   EXCERPT:
   On the other hand, natural conditions are so good
that
film-makers flock there for location sequences. The
variety of scenery is such that it can be made to look
like anything: the Congo, Sherwood Forest, the Jurassic
era or Mansfield Park. Local crews are cheap and nice
to work with. One Hollywood director, who makes
60-minute television yarns called Hercules and Xena,
told me there was no difficulty in getting the South
Island to look like Greece 2000 BC: the problem was to
get New Zealand actors to speak the American English
which, Hollywood decrees, was the demotic of the Golden
Age: "They keep calling him
'Ercules"....


[099.5b] 12-15-95
   THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 10. 1099 words. "NZ
great except for Maori claims" By Paul Johnson
   COMMENTARY: Reprint of XMR099.5a


[100.5] 12-14-95
   THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 10. 377 words.
"Cultural Differences No Barrier" By Anna Kominik
   COMMENTARY: Brief mention of Cameron Rhodes, who
played Deiphobos in BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS
(#12).
   EXCERPT:
   ...On the subject of American imports, Wellington
actor Cameron Rhodes, who plays the lead of Cyrano in
the Theatre at Large production of Cyrano de Bergerac,
is at present in Auckland practising his fighting
skills. 
   He has nosed his way into the cast of the American
cable television extravaganza Xena: Warrior Princess,
starring Lucy Lawless -- better recognised as Stanley's
mum (from the ASB ads)...


[122.5] 12-31-95
   THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland). Page 27. 192 words.
"Kiwi Lucy nudges Pamela"
   COMMENTARY: In celebrating XWP's first taking of the
top action hour honors (thus beating HTLJ; the show:
2nd release of CRADLE OF HOPE, #04), THE SUNDAY NEWS
observed that the producers of BAYWATCH were so nervous
that they developed SINBAD to specifically compete with
XWP and HTLJ. Also announced was Kevin Sorbo's casting
as the star of the motion picture "Kull". The writer
mused that Lucy Lawless was on her way to becoming the
next Pamela Anderson.
   EXCERPT:
   THE producers of Baywatch are mounting a fresh
assault on Hercules. 
   The mega-hit fantasy-adventure series that's shot
around Auckland has been outrating Baywatch for months
on syndicated TV in the United States. 
   Now All American TV, which produces Baywatch, is
hitting back with a Hercules contemporary -- Sinbad.
   The weekly action hour is set to sail into primetime
in 1996, and is the creation of Ed Naha, who dreamed up
the Walt Disney blockbuster, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.
His latest creation will rely just as much on special
effects for its storytelling. 
   In the meantime, Hercules' Kevin Sorbo soon will
make his big-screen bow in a Conan The Barbarian-style
movie while Kiwi Lucy Lawless, who stars in the
Hercules spin-off, Xena: Warrior Princess, could be
well on her way towards becoming the next Pamela Sue
Anderson.
   For the first time, Xena has overtaken Hercules in
popularity, proving right the reviewer who quipped:
   "This warrior princess should reign long enough to
give even macho males a chance to get over their
Xena'-phobia."
   Expect Xena to screen here if Hercules is the
ratings colossus on TV3 it is in the US.


[144.5] 01-27-96
   THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 23. 406 words.
"Pilot to kick off Hercules' NZ run"
   COMMENTARY: The premiere of HTLJ in New Zealand.
Momentous occasion! 
   Producer Grundemann was reported as saying that he
was inspired to film the series in New Zealand because
of a "Good Morning America" special on Australia and
New Zealand.
   Lucy Lawless and XWP was mentioned in passing as the
spawn of HTLJ.
   EXCERPT: 
   THE blockbuster action series that has topped
America's syndicated television ratings, Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys (TV3, 8.30pm, Monday), kicks off
with a special pilot, before moving to a regular
Friday-night spot. 
   Kevin Sorbo plays Hercules, the son of Zeus, who
with faithful sidekick Iolaus (Kiwi actor Michael
Hurst) travels a mythical world fighting evil gods,
slaying dragons and righting wrongs. 
   Hercules' myth-land of snow-capped mountains and
beautiful beaches will be familiar to viewers -- the
series was shot in New Zealand, with a mainly Kiwi cast
and crew. Filming began three years ago with the making
of four Hercules movies, which spawned the series.
   Executive producer Eric Gruendemann says a Good
Morning America special on Australia and New Zealand
prompted his
interest in filming the series in New Zealand. He saw
the special just before he was assigned to find a
location and was impressed by New Zealand's beauty.
   "We were looking for a primordial-looking, beautiful
land with lush ferns and waterfalls."
   The healthy exchange rate also helped, as did the
technical expertise of New Zealand's film industry.
Gruendemann was also impressed by the abundance of
acting talent, as well as "good old Kiwi ingenuity".
   "Sometimes we want to do the impossible and the crew
always come up with a way to do it -- it must be due to
that magical No 8 wire I keep hearing so much about."
   The series has a distinctly New Zealand flavour with
Kiwi slang creeping in to the dialogue.
   The pilot episode features Shortland Street's
Elizabeth Hawthorne as Hercules' mother, and Cover
Story's Mick Rose as Lycus, a farmer trying to prevent
the men in his village from being turned to stone by a
she-demon. 
   Hercules' world is shattered when the evil Hera, his
scheming stepmother, wipes out his wife and children in
a huge ball of fire. Enraged, he sets off on a path of
destruction, but along the way saves the life of a
young woman who persuades him to put aside his plans
for revenge and help Lycus. 
   The series has made Sorbo -- best known in New
Zealand for his "this ain't Jim Beam" television
commercial -- and Hurst
household names in America, with a line of action dolls
on the shelves there, and set for release in New
Zealand this year. It has also spawned a hit spin-off
series, Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Auckland
actress Lucy Lawless.


[149.5] 01-28-96
   THE SUNDAY NEWS. Page 31. 370 words. "Legendary
stuff"
   COMMENTARY: In a review of HTLJ, where it is called
the Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid of ancient Greece, a
brief mention was made to XWP as a spin-off of HTLJ.
   REPRINT:
   Hercules is really Butch gone Greek
   Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ride again, but
this time their frontier is ancient Greece, they have
swords instead of six-guns, and two-headed monsters --
not town marshals -- are the enemy.
   Strange but true. The premise of TV3's filmed-in-New
Zealand series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, which
premieres
tomorrow night, owes as much to Butch and the Kid as it
does Greek mythology.
   Says co-executive producer Robert Tapert: "We wanted
to do a Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid version of
Hercules with monsters, special effects and
contemporary dialogue.
   "There are no gods in robes and no guys in togas. We
brought humour and a Butch and Sundance mentality to
the project to make it accessible and relevant -- and
it worked."
   The series bowed this time last year in the United
States and quickly pushed aside Baywatch to become the
second highest-rating drama on syndicated TV. 
   Already it's spawned a sequel, Xena: Warrior
Princess, and has prompted the producers of Baywatch to
create their own fantasy-action hour based on Arabian
Nights sailor, Sinbad.     Crucial to success has been
star Kevin Sorbo, a hunk-for-hire whom Newsweek
described as "buff without being steroidal" and whose
azure eyes "(hint) at a brain and a sly sense of
humour".    But it's not just a one-man show.
Chop-socky action, scantily-clad damsels, corny humour,
goofy dudespeak and spiffing special effects also have
helped to make Hercules "absurdly popular and supremely
silly".
   Contributing to its appeal here will be the local
locations and actors. Shooting in Auckland not only
kept the budget low but provided the heroics with an
exotic backdrop that hasn't been seen on US television. 
   Also distinguishing the show is some colloquial
colour.     Says co-executive producer Eric
Gruendemann: "Certain features of Kiwi slang have crept
into the dialogue and we've had some Polynesian-based
looks for several episodes.
   "We like to pollinate the show with some Kiwiana."
   What next -- G'dday Zeus?


[149.6] 01-28-96
   THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland). Page 29. 542 words.
"He's an Herculean Joker" By Louisa Cleave
   COMMENTARY: In an article about the manufacturer of
the foam plastic (Mackay) used by HTLJ, the graphic is
of Lucy Lawless as Xena with the caption: "BODICE
RIPPER: Lucy Lawless as Xena in Hercules."
   REPRINT:
   The top rating US show is made here and stars Jim
Beam ad man Kevin Sorbo from America as Hercules and
Kiwi actor Michael Hurst as Hercules' faithful
side-kick Iolaus.
   Hurst also starred in New Zealand feature film
Desperate Remedies, another production Mackay worked
on.
   Tomorrow's pilot of Hercules starts with the
legendary strong man setting out to avenge the murders
of his wife and children.    The heroes will be
fighting the good fight using gear Mackay (28) helped
make using industrial foam plastic, a fertile
imagination and plenty of ingenuity. 
   The foam, used for Amazon masks and suits of armour,
replaces the heavier fibreglass and papier-mache used
in other productions.
   "It's a bit of a secret my friend Matt (Bylett) and
another designer came up with," Mackay said.
   "Usually fibreglass or papier-mache would be used,
but that is time-consuming and heavy for the actors.
   "The foam enabled us to make 30 or 40 Amazon woman
masks in one morning and the actors thought they were
great to wear."     Mackay again used his favourite
foam plastic for Sky City
casino's chip, dice and joker outfits.
   The bright and unorthodox get-ups feature large cod
pieces which are becoming a Mackay trade-mark. They
also featured in his 1994 Wearable Art Award entries. 
   "I find they get a giggle out of people who find
them a bit naughty," Mackay told Sunday News.
   His entry in the contest was called "Spike" and
featured a cod piece with handle bars and wing mirrors.
He's won twice at the Nelson awards, with a solo entry
in 1993 and with Bylett last year.
   Mackay can sometimes be found rummaging through
Auckland factory yards for materials to create his
outrageous outfits. 
   "I like to make things that are humorous. I always
like to push things to get a reaction."
   His 1993 Wearable Arts winner "Sunyama" -- an orange
creation of number eight wire, plumbing insulation and
the industrial foam plastic -- was completed in a week.
   It's a long way from the 10m crocodile he made to
lay across the stage for a capping show at the Dunedin
School of Fine Arts in 1989.
   After completing a diploma in Fine Arts and a brief
stint in theatrical lighting in Wellington, Mackay went
on to a design career in television -- advertisements
at first -- short films, music videos then feature
films. 
   As well as Desperate Remedies, he worked on Once
Were Warriors and the yet-to-be released Broken
English. Next week he starts work as art director on a
feature film called The Ugly.
   Mackay started working with leather costumes during
filming of Once Were Warriors -- he worked on the Toa
gang costumes.
   The experience helped with Hercules.
   "We made lovely costumes with russet leather. It is
moulded wet then turns very hard when it's dry."
   Mackay also ran the Hercules prop room for a year,
providing carts, wagons, spears and boomerangs to the
cast.
   "The amazing thing about Hercules is they had a big
resource of people. There was an air of creating
something that hadn't been done in New Zealand before." 
    After tomorrow's two-hour premiere, Hercules will
screen on Fridays at 8.30pm. The Auckland casino opens
to the public on Friday. 
    GRAPHIC: "BODICE RIPPER: Lucy Lawless as Xena in
Hercules."


[149.7] 01-28-96
   THE SUNDAY STAR-TIMES (Auckland). Page 13. 823
words. "Dame Malvina: A star rises again" By Mark
Henderson
   COMMENTARY: Performance notice about Grant Bridger,
who played Sinteres in THE ROYAL COUPLE OF THIEVES
(#17)
   EXCERPT:
   ...Other concert highlights include performances by
multi-talented Grant Bridger, pianist Henry Wong Doe,
and cellist David Garner. 
   Bridger is familiar to New Zealand audiences through
his many appearances in theatre, film and television,
as well as his frequent concert work. 
   He has recently completed a gruelling 15-month stint
in Jesus Christ Superstar, performing eight shows a
week in New Zealand and Australia. 
   Bridger could also become a known face in America
after his role in a new episode of Xena -- Warrior
Princess which is rating high in the US....


[219.8] 04-01-96
   TELEVISION BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL. April 1996. Page
114. 1667 words. "Children's Programming at MIPTV"
   COMMENTARY: XWP hawked as children's programming.
The correct number of episodes for the first season
were reported.
   EXCERPT:
   ...MCA TV International has 24 one-hour episodes of
the live-action children's series Xena: Warrior
Princess...




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ANNOTATIONS
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[266] 05-02-96
   THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Baylife. Page 1. 1277 words.
"Couch spud unplugged; The Tribune's TV critic takes
National TV-Turnoff Week to heart. The good news is
he's recovering nicely, thank You." By Walt Belcher
   COMMENTARY: XWP was mentioned on a list of shows the
writer would have enjoyed watching, but missed while
participating in National TV-Turnoff Week. 
   EXCERPT:
   Giving up TV for a week should be a snap.
   If you've watched as much television as I have, it
would seem like a vacation.
   Even though I usually scoff at stunts such as
National TV-Turnoff Week, I thought I'd try it because
I hadn't gone a week without TV since I went off to
summer camp in 1958.
   The week, which began April 24 and ended Tuesday,
coincided with the first week of the May sweeps - a
real test of courage organized by a group called
TV-Free America....
   ...Day 5: lists. Enough, already!
   I've started a list of the things I would have
enjoyed watching:...
   ...- "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," which
manages to mix cleavage, biceps and action with
tongue-in-cheek humor. 
   - "Xena: Princess Warrior" (see above)...


[267] 05-02-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 408 words. "MCA's dynamic
duo goes int'l 'Hercules' and 'Xena' wrap up virtually
every major market" By Steve Brennan
   COMMENTARY: Citing the "runaway domestic success" of
XWP, the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reported that MCA had sold
the series to "virtually every major international
market." Apparently, this was "something of a surprise
for the company" since XWP and HTLJ was "developed
almost exclusively with the domestic market in mind".
The shows have "turned out to be the best overseas
sellers for MCA TV since MIAMI VICE." The only major
market not shorn up was the Japanese.
   REPRINT:
   Capitalizing on the runaway domestic success of its
two action hours "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and
"Xena: Warrior Princess," MCA TV has locked down sales
in virtually every major international market for the
duo, according to Jim McNamara, president of worldwide
television distribution.  Announcing a slew of
clearances in Europe, Asia and South America for the
stablemate actioners, McNamara said the sales have come
as something of a surprise for the company.  "They were
developed almost exclusively with the domestic market
in mind," McNamara said. "But they turned out to be the
best overseas sellers for MCA TV since 'Miami Vice."'
Most international broadcasters have bought both shows.
Among the big European buyers are Germany's RTL and
France's TF1. RTL is airing "Hercules" in a very
desirable early evening slot and "the numbers are going
through the roof," McNamara said. TF1 plans to air
"Hercules" in a Sunday afternoon slot in a bid to
attract large numbers of viewers in the 12-34
demographic.  Sky Television in the United Kingdom has
also bought the weekly action shows as has Berlusconi
in Italy and Holland's RTL 4. In the South American
market, Chile's C7 and Telemundo in Puerto Rico have
also acquired the hours.   Among the buyers in the
Asian territory are ATV in the Philippines and TV3 in
New Zealand.  The tough Japanese market has still not
been closed, but McNamara said he anticipated closing
"a major deal" there within weeks.  "We have sold in
basically every major market," McNamara said. "The
international acceptance for 'Hercules' and 'Xena' is
far greater out of the box than it was for 'Star Trek.'
We have created a contemporary show in attitude and
with a twinkle-in-the-eye approach to the subject
matter and dressed it up in mythological costumes and
setting and story lines, all of which has a very broad
appeal internationally." McNamara added, "If you look
at the success around the world of U.S. shows you'll
find that generally speaking they are programs that
bucked the trend and this is what these shows have
done."


[268]
   NOTE: Production charts for 05/96.


[268a] 05-02-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Page 10. 5866 words. "Production
Chart Key"
   COMMENTARY: Production chart for 05/02/96
   EXCERPT:
   ...Chart includes only programs that cast actors in
the L.A. area...
   ...MCA TELEVISION
   (818) 777-1242
   HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS (synd) (in assn
w/Renaissance Pictures) EXP, Robert Tapert, Sam Raimi;
COEXP, John Schulian; SUPR PROD, Robert Bielak; PROD,
Eric Gruendemann; COPROD, David Eick; CASTING, Beth
Hymson-Ayer. 
   XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (synd) (in assn w/Renassiance
Pictures) EXP, Robert Tapert, Sam Raimi; COEXP, R.J.
Stewart; SUPR PROD, Steven Sears; PROD, Eric
Gruendemann; COPROD, Liz Friedman; CASTING, Beth
Hymson-Ayer...


[268b] 05-09-96
   DAILY VARIETY. 5879 words. "TV and Cable Production
Chart"
   COMMENTARY: Same information as XMR268a.


[268c] 05-16-96
   DAILY VARIETY. 6036 words. "TV and Cable Production
Chart"
   COMMENTARY: Same information as XMR268a.


[268d] 05-23-96
   DAILY VARIETY. 6036 words. "TV and Cable Production
Chart"
   COMMENTARY: Same information as XMR268a.


[269] 05-03-96
   THE COURIER-JOURNAL. Page 01C. 1014 words. "Mythical
beasts and god-like heroes attract a following" By
Kevin Baker.
   COMMENTARY: Describing Xena as having "the strength
of 10 men, the body of an Amazon and the wardrobe of
Madonna," the author continued with a reference to the
episode ALTARED STATES, in this local promo for XWP and
HLJ. The reviewer also noted that "The tongue-in-cheek
humor keeps the shows comfortably between corny and
clever. And the imaginative stories are solid"
immediately after comparing it to ULTRAMAN. He
concluded that XWP and HTLJ were "no-brainers".
   What makes this otherwise non-outstanding promo so
unusual is that it apparently was written for no direct
purpose other than the author rambling on. Customarily
this only happens when the author is a hardcore nutball
themselves. Mr. Baker has obviously watched the show,
but he still is too irreverent to be numbered among the
ranks of reviewers "in the know". He represents the
breed which are obviously attracted to the show, but
they have not made the leap of consciousness where they
realize there is more to this show that the silly humor
and bizarre approach to chronology. 
   This article also has the notoriety of having the
most misspellings of an article thus encountered:
Alemene, Iolas, and Zena being my personal favorites.
   REPRINT:
   The TV gods must be smiling. Weekend viewing takes
on mythic proportion with two syndicated giants, "Xena:
Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys."
   The two series follow the adventures of their
scantily clad, sinewy heroes in a land of magical
beasts, ignorant mortals and fickle gods. 
   "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" is on at 8 p.m.
tomorrow and "Xena: Warrior Princess" follows at 9 on
WAN. Watch different episodes on WFTE-58, with "Xena"
at 5 p.m. Sunday and "Hercules" at 6.  
   In the first, Kevin Sorbo plays Hercules, the son of
Zeus, king of the gods, and the mortal beauty Alemene.
He's equal parts muscle and marshmallow - a sensitive
strongman. He battles brutes, gods and monsters to
protect the weak and the virtuous. His enemies include
centaurs, cyclops, giants and his beastly stepmother,
Hera, queen of the gods, who sees Hercules as a
constant reminder of Zeus' infidelity.
   He once saved his sidekick, Iolas (Michael Hurst),
from execution. He rescued the daughter of the goddess
Demeter from the Underworld. He braved a lynch mob bent
on destroying Deric the Centaur.
   Hercules tries to settle his scores peaceably but
his unruly nemeses unfailingly incite him. He's just
defending himself with those powerful blows, kicks and
slams. It's Bruce Lee meets Batman in these campy fight
scenes from Hades.
   In the second series, Xena (Lucy Lawless) has
mastered a similar repertoire of Power Rangers
maneuvers. She can cartwheel her way through a mob of
savages. She has the strength of 10 men, the body of an
Amazon and the wardrobe of Madonna.
   Xena was introduced in "Hercules" as a warrior bent
on destroying the he-man. But when her own army
betrayed and defeated her because she saved a baby's
life, she underwent a conversion. Now, determined to
make amends for her past sins, Xena protects victims
from tyranny and injustice.
   It's best not to cross Xena's path. Last week she
clobbered a band of rogues with a whirling line of
fish. Normally she breaks out two monstrous swords and
kicks barbaric butt. If that doesn't work, she has a
Spock-like pinch rendered to pressure points on the
neck that she uses to extract information from her
unwilling sources.
   Her sidekick, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), trails
Xena to gather exciting material. She's a storyteller
and whenever she relates a tale, the details are so
vivid, the story comes to life.
   Computer graphics-imaging techniques, including 3-D
animation and digital compositing, as well as
prosthetics and makeup, make for enjoyable enemies in
both series. The tongue-in-cheek humor keeps the shows
comfortably between corny and clever. And the
imaginative stories are solid.
   Youngsters won't mind the amateur acting and filming
(remember "Ultraman"?). And these sorts of flaws only
add to the series' cult appeal among adults. They're
no-brainers.
   Online hero worshipers can visit "Hercules" and
"Zena" on Sony's World Wide Web at
http://www.mca.com/tv/hercules and
http://www.mca.com/tv/xena....
   ...GRAPHIC: Lucy Lawless has the title role in
"Xena: Warrior Princess," and Kevin Sorbo stars in
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys."



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Continued in part 3
