     _____               ______                               ._
     `\`/>`\            /`/` /`__________,.'>___      _____   )~\
       /<`\ `\        /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\     |\./|  / | \
      /< `\`\ `\    /`/` /`   | | |----\ /  | |\ \    | | |././^\ \
 |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----.
[\\\\\\\{*}==`>      <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==-->
 |/~~{o}/-- /`/  /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--'
      \<  /`/` /`  `\`\ `\    | | |_____,.'>| | |   `\`\| | /'    \ \ \
       \< /` /`      `\`\ `\  ,/ /^\------> / |/^\|   \ | |/       \/^\\.
      /`/\>/`           `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~   )^\,\,      '~~~~~
     `~~~~~`             '~~~~~`            `          ~~~~~~

==========================
XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #21
==========================
An All Talk No Action Publication
http://xenafan.com/xmr
c/o RIF BBS, P.O. Box 81181, Bakersfield, CA 93308
RIF BBS (805) 588-9349  [24hrs, 14.4bps, free]

584 subscribers and growing!
This document has 2491 lines.

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


Issue No. 21
Release date: January 23, 1997
Covering May 15, 1996 - May 31, 1996
Annotations 288 - 310


INTRODUCTION: Why I Watch XWP & The Convention
DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT: The Philippines
CONVENTION REPORT: Dallas Stellar Con 12/27-29/96
TIMELINE
AMENDED ANNOTATIONS
   [123.5] 01-01-96. US Magazine. 63rd on story list
   [144.5b] 01-29-96 THE EVENING POST. HTLJ NZ prem
   [184] 03-01-96 THE EVENING POST. HTLJ:TWP (#09) prem
   [186.5] 03-04-96 THE EVENING POST. TWP (#09) prem 
   [219a] 04-02-96. THE GLOBE. Date discovered!
   [219b] 04-05-96. TRUTH (Auckland) Tabloid trash!!!
   [234.5] 04-14-96. THE SUNDAY NEWS. Tabloid trash!
   [276c] 05-20-96. CHATTANOOGA TIMES. Pathfndr contest
   [276d] 05-20-96. ARIZONA REPUBLIC/PHOENIX GAZETTE
ANNOTATIONS
   [288] 05-16-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Ratings #19
   [289] 05-17-96 XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 7. 
   [290] 05-17-96 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Nominal mention
   [291] 05-18-96 through 05-25-96. BEASTMASTER 
   [291a] 05-18-96 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT (Norfolk)
   [291b] 05-21-96 CHICAGO TRIBUNE. 
   [291c] 05-24-96 THE NASHVILLE BANNER. 
   [291d] 05-25-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. 
   [292]  05-19-96 through 08-11-96. New York Times.
   [292a] 05-19-96 NEW YORK TIMES. LL/RT int & story
   [292b] 08-11-96 CALGARY HERALD. 
   [293] 05-19-96 THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland) HTLJ
   [294] 05-20-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. ST vs. XWP
   [295] 05-20-96 A FISTFUL OF DINARS (#14) 2nd release
   [296] 05-23-96 through 06-05-96. Heather Matarazzo.
   [296a] 05-23-96 NEWSDAY. 
   [296b] 05-26-96 THE NEW YORK TIMES. 
   [296c] 06-05-96 THE TORONTO SUN. 
   [297] 05-23-96 through 06-07-96. Ratings for #20
   [297a] 05-23-96 DAILY VARIETY. 
   [297b] 06-07-96 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
   [297c] 05-27-96 VARIETY. 
   [298] 05-24-96 XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 8. 
   [299] 05-24-96 MORNING STAR. Passing mention
   [300] 05-24-96 THE ORLANDO SENTINEL. Dog name
   [301] 05-25-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE.  HTLJ
   [302] 05-25-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. LL int & story
   [303] 05-25-96 through 05-28-96. Passing mention
   [303a] 05-25-96 THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL (Memphis)
   [303b] 05-28-96 ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION
   [304] 05-27-96 through 06-03-96. L.A. Screenings.
   [304a] 05-27-96 VARIETY. mention
   [304b] 06-03-96 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. mention
   [305] 05-27-96 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. Wonder Woman!
   [306] 05-27-96 WARRIOR...PRINCESS (#15), 2nd release
   [307] 05-28-96 CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Rare RO int!!!!
   [308] 05-31-96 XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 9. 
   [309] 05-31-96 LA WEEKLY. Negative review
   [310]  05-31-96 through 06-03-96. Ratings for #21
   [310a] 05-31-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 
   [310b] 05-31-96 DAILY VARIETY. 
   [310c] 06-03-96 VARIETY. 
   [310d] 06-03-96 VARIETY. 
THE BACK PAGE

                         ------------
                         INTRODUCTION
                         ------------

                         WHY I WATCH XWP

What initially attracted me to XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
was that it was about a woman fantasy figure who was
not waiting around to be rescued or accompanied by a
man, but was 'doing it for herself'.

What kept me watching was the growing friendship
between the characters, Xena and Gabrielle.

When I first saw XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, I thought,
'This is really silly. No woman could do that!' I then
stepped back and realized that in the male versions, no
males could really do what they were doing on screen
either. It was the hero archetype. It was supposed to
be larger than life. Then I understood what was going
on. I had been socialized against questioning the right
of men to participate in fantasy, and yet, I questioned
the same right for women. Somehow society had embedded
in me this concept that men had the power to transcend
reality whereas women did not. The greatest power a
human being has is their power to transcend reality.
With the advent of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, our society
now has an alternative to the whimpering damsel in
distress who seems to be a cultural darling. Whether by
design or luck, the creators of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
have unleased a new model of what a woman can be.

There are very few characterizations of adult women
pursuing a mature friendship on television. One of the
more attractive aspects of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS is
the depiction of how a close friendship grows through
time. This theme is rarely shown or even attempted on a
weekly series, let alone in an action one.

The strength, appeal, and the rapidly growing viewer
dedication of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, in my opinion,
results from the intricate interweaving of nine
different aspects which are cultivated and nurtured by
the creators and producers of the show. This opinion is
based entirely upon my own subjective experiences with
the show, discussions with some production staff, and
my flirt with fandom (resume time: I edit three XENA:
WARRIOR PRINCESS on-line publications, run an
international fan organization, and have been active in
Xena on-line fandom for longer than I care to admit!).
To come clean, I have also, quite shamelessly, ripped
off a great amount of material from Diane Silver and
Welton Jones, who are two very fine professional news
reporters; the former from Lawrence, Kansas, and the
latter from San Diego, California).

What inspires people to drop everything on a moments
notice to fly cross-country on the chance sighting a
cast-member of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS? The Burbank Xena
convention was sold out several days prior and even
though the records say 1,710 people were there...trust
me, there were more! People came from all over the
United States to attend that historic convention. What
is the attraction?

(1) ACTION. 

This is the most obvious pull. From the cartoonish
marital arts to fighting mythic critters, XENA: WARRIOR
PRINCESS is first and foremost an action-adventure
series which is based in fantasy. It has never
attempted to be historically correct, or even
politically correct in some instances. Sam Raimi, one
of the executive producers even referred to it as
"knuckle-headed" referring to Three Stooges slang. 

(2) HUMOR. 

The humor is campy, self-referential, mired in the
popular culture of our times, and respectful of the
show's characters and situations. A critical subset of
the humor is the basic attitude exhibited in the
production. The show is totally anachronistic and
abounds in self-created inconsistencies. There is a
shared conspiracy, as Welton Jones observed in his
"Xena Allure Makes Her Legend in His Own Mind" article
in the 10/15/96 SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, which has been
created between the show and the viewers regarding
these inconsistencies. The show draws in the viewer as
a fellow conspirator. The creators of the show
communicates to the audience with the tongue-in-cheek
and campy humor which abounds in each episode. I know I
watch the show and marvel over some of the wittiest
self-referential dialogue I have ever seen on TV.

(3) REDEMPTION. 

Xena's search for redemption is the foundation of the
show and of the character, Xena. What we are seeing in
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS is a direct exploration of the
psychological impact of violence and victimization and
a search for a way out of the cycle of revenge. (This
very topic was wonderfully deconstructed by Diane
Silver in a variety of posts to the various XWP mailing
lists in December 1996).

To my knowledge there is nothing else on TV that is
facing this issue so directly, especially in a fantasy
show. From this comes Xena's heroism which is forged
from the battle between Xena's quest for morality and
redemption and the curse and pull of her past. Xena's
past is a very compelling storyline. The viewers
are always wondering about Xena's dark side. 

This accounts easily for the very grateful and gushing
fan anticipation reaction to the upcoming episode
DESTINY which is currently being played out in the
mailing lists and forums. DESTINY is selling itself as
a key redemption episode. The fan reception is intense.

(4) XENA AND GABRIELLE.

Despite the fact that there has been much debate about
the nature of Xena and Gabrielle's relationship, the
entire gamut from platonic friends to secret lovers,
the remarkable thing is how all agree that the
relationship is central to the show. Why? Although
steeped in fantasy, the show tweaks a deep wish of many
people who are too busy or too confined or otherwise
unable to seek out a soulmate or close friend whom they
could share their lives, their hopes, and their fears
with. Xena and Gabrielle are not only set in mythic
times, but they exhibit a seemingly mythical
relationship which many people find irresistably
attractive. 

(5) THE DEPICTION OF FREE WOMEN.

This aspect is at the core of the show, and is the
topic of another wonderful decontruction by Diane
Silver. This depiction may be the most compelling
reason why many adult women are attracted to the show
and may mark the central reason why XENA: WARRIOR
PRINCESS is not just a show, but very likely the
beginning of a new popular legend (as Welton Jones
pondered in his 10/15/96 article). 

What is meant by free? I cede to Diane Silver's
explanation. To understand, look at the ties that bind
women. Traditionally, women have been blocked by the
belief that they are not strong enough or smart enough
to be independent (i.e., free). They have been
obstructed by the belief that their needs and interests
must always come second and that it is their job to put
men first in their lives -- no matter what it costs
them in the destruction of their own personalities.
They have been blocked by the belief that their
relationships with other woman -- no matter how deep
and important -- must always come second to their
relationships with men even if the relationship with a
man may be shallow and unfulfilling. XENA: WARRIOR
PRINCESS uses both humor and drama to shatt these
traditional constrictions. 

(6) FANDOM. 

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS is still somewhat a cult hit,
only reaching 6 million homes per episode on a good
week. However, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS is beginning to
catch interest all over. Once can hear it referred to
on any number of network TV shows and one can read
references to it as an aside in countless mainstream
newspaper articles. XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS is clearly
in its ascendancy. 

The internet has found thousands of fans for the show.
There are three primary mailing lists and many minor
ones which easily have a combined readership in the
thousands; there is the NetForum which MCA sponsors;
there are alternative NetForums, sponsored by both
corporations and fans; there are over a hundred web
pages, some with hits up into the tens of thousands;
and there are newsletters with combined subscriber
lists of over a thousand. The internet is adding a new
aspect to fandom for these popular culture events.
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS is riding a wave and is quite
the darling of many internet accessible fans.  

(7) ATMOSPHERE

Not to be confused with attitude! This show is filmed
in New Zealand. It uses large, vivid, and gorgeous
landscapes with wonderfully eclectic set design; they
use a huge multi-ethnic cast who utilize a variety of
acting styles. There is simply nothing else on
television which matches the visual appeal of this
show.

(8) CASTING. 

Lucy Lawless was to U.S. audiemces an unknown, but one
that could carry the show. She was not afraid to push
herself and the results are captivating. Whether it is
because she is from New Zealand, or it is just her,
Lucy Lawless brings freshness to the show. There is
also a chemistry between Lucy Lawless and Renee
O'Connor who plays Gabrielle. The multi-ethnic cast is
presented so naturally that it raises subtle questions
about the artificiality of tokenization elsewhere. 

(9)  STORIES. 

The writers are very creative and have crafted
well-written scripts that live up the superior
production standards. The writers use the background of
Greek mythology as a jumping off point for stories
which are ripe for re-telling. They use the fantasy
elements in order to hide moralistic tales which have
relevance today.

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS is a bare-bones morality play,
very similar to STAR TREK in the 1960's. Both shows
were and are able to artfully discuss current events in
ways that are not as threatening otherwise. XENA:
WARRIOR PRINCESS uses the mythological backgrounds to
shed a new light on age old debates. For instance,
BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS (#12), finally asked
what Helen thought of all the Trojan war nonsense and
offered a Helen who had interests separate from either
warring side; ALTARED STATES (#19) successfully
demonstrated the various views regarding religious
tolerance and intolerance by a re-telling of Abraham's
sacrifice of Isaac/Ishmael; IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE
HOUSE (#24) bravely took on the idea of cartoon
violence and showed rather grimly and explicitly what
really happens when you get skewered by a sword or two;
and THE PATH NOT TAKEN (#05) and MORTAL BELOVED (#16)
presented an interracial relationship without making it
a plot point of the show. 

That is why I watch XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS.


                         THE CONVENTION
            Burbank Creation Con January 12-13, 1997

Okay. I went. It was...wow. More than wow. I am not
usually one to gush about conventions, but I have
absolutely no problems gushing about this one. Anyways,
what were the two most important bits of info I
received there? (Other than, of course, meeting so many
wonderful people and having a major bonding with my two
roomies, Diane Silver and Betsy Book, to whom I have
pledged my undying love and loyalty forever -- hey, it
was part of the magic of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS!)
EASY!!! First, the actress who was originally cast as
Xena was Vanessa Angel who is currently working on
WEIRD SCIENCE, and second, Lucy Lawless stated herself
she was not originally a blonde. I feel, VINDICATED. My
crack investigative reporting came to that conclusion
six month's ago. I can die a happy woman.

I cannot thank Sharon of CREATION CON enough for being
so wonderful and allowing IAXS and WHOOSH to have such
a prominent presence at the convention. They treated us
like we were REAL PEOPLE. 

WHOOSH #5, to be released on or about February 1, 1997,
will be an ALL-CONVENTION SOUVENIR ISSUE. I will obsess
more about the convention there. The on-line address
for WHOOSH is http:www.thirdstory.com/whoosh. Be there
or be square!

---Kym



                  --------------------------
                   DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT
                  --------------------------
          Report on XWP Activities in the Philippines
                  by correspondent: Lucy Tan
                   (lucytan@i-manila.com.ph)

                In a time of modern technology,
                  ...networks, 
                  ...and sponsors,
                  ...a land in frustration
                     cried out for a show...
  
                IT...was XENA (:WARRIOR PRINCESS),
                  ...a mighty TV-series,
                  ...forged in the heat of discussion.

                ...the characters,
                ...the storylines,
                ...the effects,
                ...its brilliance will change the
                   world.

When I first saw the promotions of XENA: WARRIOR
PRINCESS in the newspapers, I thought it was another
one of those ridiculous TV series with bad storylines
and even worse performances by amateur actors/
actresses. But in the folly of premature judgment, I
told myself, "If I am going to hate this show, I might
as well have a good reason."  Then I watched an episode
of XENA : WARRIOR PRINCESS... and I CONTINUED to watch,
even when the station was airing an episode for the
third time... until, it was cancelled.

I do not know the reasons for its cancellation.  I only
know it saddened me and that I had to do something
about it. I am planning to write a letter to the
station, even get signatures if I can, to ask them to
put XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS back on the air. Some
friends have asked if I am not taking this "crusade" a
bit too seriously. They ask me, "How come?". My answer
is, how can I not? For a show that has taught me so
much about love and friendship, about turning your life
around, about the generosity of the soul, and most of
all, about femininity and strength, I think taking my
"crusade a bit too seriously" is the least I can do.



       -------------------------------------------------
       CONVENTION REPORT: DALLAS STELLAR CON 12/27-29/96
       -------------------------------------------------

         "Would You Buy a Used Sword From This Man???"
         ---------------------------------------------
                     By Cynthia Ward Cooper 
                        (cyn@netcom.com)

Although the BIG Con was held in Burbank on January 12
- 13, 1997, the Dallas StellarCon (December 27 - 29,
1996) can claim the distinction of being the first to
host a XENA/HERCULES cast member.  This particular
convention has traditionally focused on sci-fi programs
such as STAR TREK and BABYLON 5. Something was in the
air this time, though. Walking through the dealers'
room, I spotted Xena, Xena t-shirts, and Ru Emerson's
Xena books for sale at various booths. And, thanks to
the efforts of a small group of fans, Robert Trebor
(Salmoneus) was about to make an appearance at the
event!

I got a brief glimpse of THE MAN as he was heading to
his first Q&A session. He looked just as I'd expected
-- a regular guy, slightly apprehensive at the prospect
of being quizzed by people who'd never seen the shows,
but determined to enjoy it. The room wasn't full; I
suspect many people weren't sure who he was. Bob
patiently answered questions of the most rudimentary
nature ("Who is it that you play?"), then retired to
the hall to sign autographs with B5's Ed Wassell
(Morden) and Walter Koenig (Bester). He was unfailingly
cheerful; I presented him with a full-face glossy of
him in Salmoneus mode, and he signed it across the
forehead.  I loved it!

The following day, he appeared in a joint Q&A session
with Walter and Ed. They all had a great rapport, and
the audience responded accordingly. Outside, the Con
staff had taken an especially animated picture of Bob
as Salmoneus and captioned it, "Would You Buy a Used
Sword From This Man?"   

The Trebor table was doing brisk business, selling
autographable photos, raffle tickets, and tickets to
the private reception that was to be held for him later
that day. I bought one of the latter ($20, but worth
it!), and gradually made my way to the appointed
location.

Over fifty people attended, and none came away
disappointed. In Bob's honor, the hilarious "Best of
Salmoneus" was screened, followed by a deluxe tape of
bloopers (many of which were NOT shown in Burbank) from
both XENA and HERCULES.  Bob and his wife, Deirdre,
charmed everyone. They went from table to table,
chatting with guests and answering questions. I asked
him how he'd taken Salmoneus from an annoying pest --
he pretended to take umbrage at this -- to a character
who was often integral to the plot, mentioning Xena's
"death" scene in THE GREATER GOOD (#21) as an example. 
(The producers saw what he could do, and used it. The
"Proud warrioress" line was his idea, as it was the
first thing Salmoneus had ever said to Xena, in THE
GAUNTLET (HTLJ #12).) Someone asked him which set he
liked more. (They're both great, but the HERCULES set
has better food.)  

Another person wanted to know what his relationships
with Kevin and Lucy were like. (Kevin, though younger,
was like a big brother to him, while he and Lucy had a
"fun, flirtatious" friendship.) He told us about how
he'd improvised the Xena song in THE GAUNTLET (you
remember, "Xeeeeeena, coming to your town!  Xeeeeeeena,
don't you hang around," accompanied by walnut shells),
and about his least favorite scene (hanging upside-down
from a tree in UNCHAINED HEART (HTLJ #13); due to
frequent showers, he was left there for over two
hours). By the time the reception was over, we all felt
like old friends.

His last Q&A session, held the next morning, focused on
his non-Salmoneus roles. Another video spotlighting
these parts was shown -- I'd forgotten how chilling
he'd been as David Berkowitz, and how abrasive in the
movie, TALK RADIO.  The room -- full this time -- asked
more perceptive questions: Why wasn't he in more X/H
episodes? (It was too expensive to fly him down more
than once or twice a season.) What was the hardest
thing about filming in New Zealand? (Dealing with the
jet lag.) Did he have a fan club? (Not yet, but stay
tuned...)

Then it was over. I came away from the Convention with
a lot of respect for Bob. He makes playing Salmoneous
look effortless, a fact which I could appreciate only
after learning how difficult it truly was. The
Xenaverse is a better place for having him.



                          ----------
                           TIMELINE
                          ----------

 5/20/96  14R  A Fistful of Dinars
 5/27/96  15R  Warrior...Princess



                      -------------------
                      AMENDED ANNOTATIONS
                      -------------------

[123.5] 01-01-96
  US Magazine. January 1996. No, 215. Page 44. "95
Biggest Stories of 95"
   COMMENTARY: Not very complimentary, but it made the
list at number 63.
   Contributed by JodiMnstr@aol.com
   EXCERPT:
   ...63. 'HERCULES' AND 'XENA'  The popularity of
these cheesy syndicated shows proves only one thing: 
The gods must be crazy...


[144.5b] 01-29-96
   THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Monday. Page 3. 510
words. "New Age Hercules still flexes his rippling
pecs"
   COMMENTARY: Extended promo for the NZ premiere of
HTLJ. The Producer Eric Gruendemann interview was the
same used in THE DOMINION, also located in Wellington,
but was released the previous day. THE EVENING POST ran
this story the day of the actual premiere.
   REPRINT:
   IN SHORT
   --------------------
   What: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
   Where: TV3.
   When: 8.30pm, Monday.
   --------------------
   LEGENDARY strongman Hercules has come of age. While
the beefcake hero still packs a mean punch, he's
developed a touch of 90s empathy - possibly the result
of the series being filmed on our fair shores.
   Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, premiering tonight
at 8.30 on TV3 before filling its regular 8.30pm
Fridays slot, was shot entirely on location in New
Zealand.
   As well as the familiar snow-capped mountains and
beautiful beaches, there's plenty of familiar faces in
the cast tonight, including Hercules' trusty side-kick
Iolaus (Michael Hurst), his mother (Shortland Street's
Elizabeth Hawthorne) and farmer Lycus (Mick Rose of
Cover Story fame). 
   Filming began in New Zealand three years ago with
the making of four Hercules movies, which spawned the
TV series.
   According to executive producer Eric Gruendemann, a
Good Morning America special featuring Australia and
New Zealand prompted his interest in filming Hercules:
The Legendary Journeys in New Zealand.
   "Just four weeks before I had the assignment to find
a location for the Hercules movies, I watched the Good
Morning America special and was impressed by the beauty
of New Zealand," he says.
   "We wanted a location that would set the show apart
from the 1950s, 60s and 70s versions which were usually
filmed in the sword and sandal' manner with very arid
backdrops. We were looking for a primordial-looking
beautiful land with lush ferns and waterfalls."
   At the time, Gruendemann says, the healthy exchange
rate proved attractive, as did the state of the New
Zealand film industry.
   "We were looking for a place that would provide us
with technically proficient crew and wonderful
artisans. I see New Zealand as an industry very much in
the expansion stage - exciting things are happening
here." 
   The series takes viewers on a magical journey as
Hercules, the son of Zeus, travels a mythical ancient
world, fighting evil Gods, slaying dragons and fighting
injustice.
   Hercules, played by "this ain't Jim Beam" man Kevin
Sorbo, is devoted to defeating his scheming and wicked
stepmother Hera, queen of the Gods. 
   Hera sees Hercules as a constant reminder of Zeus'
infidelity and torments her stepson at every
opportunity.
   Hercules' world is shattered when the evil Hera
wipes out his wife and children in an enormous ball of
fire. Blinded by rage, he sets out on a path of
destruction, obsessed with avenging their murders.
Along the way, he saves the life of a young woman who
persuades him to put aside his vengeance and help
Lycus. 
   With the TV series a major hit in the United States,
Sorbo and Hurst have become household names.
   The series has spawned a major merchandising line of
action dolls (set for release here later in the year)
and another spin-off series Xena: Warrior Princess,
starring Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless.
   GRAPHIC: Caption: MUSCLE MEN - Hercules (Kevin
Sorbo, left) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst). 


[184] 03-01-96
   THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Page 10. 417 words.
"Capital himbos get a shot at big break on Hercules" By
Phil Wakefield 
   COMMENTARY: News of a casting call in NZ for HTLJ.
It was mentioned in the article that although XWP had
already had a casting call locally in Wellington, most
of the actors cast were from the Auckland area. The
article included a short interview with Di Rowan, HTLJ
casting director. The key skills she looked for were
"talent and American accents".  The article concluded
with a short promo for HTLJ's NZ release of THE WARRIOR
PRINCESS (HTLJ #09) and a quote from ENTERTAINMENT
WEEKLY referring to pre-adolescent boys.
   EXCERPT:
   ... EXPECT TO see more Wellington actors on
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. This month the show's
casting director, Di Rowan, will be in the Capital to
audition clients of talent agencies such as Real Kiwis.
   Rowan, who cast Lower Hutt schoolgirl Anna Paquin in
The Piano, says she has auditioned Wellington actors
previously for the hit fantasy series and its spin-off,
Xena: Warrior Princess.   But most of the actors who
have appeared on either show to date have been
Auckland-sourced.
   However, given the limited pool of actors in this
country it's inevitable Rowan will have to start moving
further south to avoid the same actors playing too many
different roles.
   "But we are environmentally-friendly," Rowan jokes.
"We are happy to recycle actors."
   She and her team spend five days a week auditioning
actors for Hercules and Xena. Hercules has been in
production for
two-and-a-half years and given its popularity in the
US, seems likely to continue for at least that long. 
   The key qualities Rowan looks for when auditioning
are talent and American accents. Obviously in a show
like Hercules, physique helps as well. 
   As Entertainment Weekly said of Lucy Lawless, who
graduated from a guest stint in tonight's episode to
playing Xena: "The fierce, wild-haired Xena has been
popping out of her breast plates all year...An awful
lot of pre-adolescent boys are going to get hooked on
Greek mythology."...


[186.5] 03-04-96
   THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Page 3. 398 words.
"Lawless days for ancient warriors" 
   COMMENTARY: Detailed NZ promo for HTLJ's THE WARRIOR
PRINCESS (HTLJ #09). Included extensive resume for Ms.
Lawless.
   REPRINT:
   IN SHORT
   --------------------
   What: Hercules.
   Where: TV3.
   When: 8.30pm, Friday.
   --------------------
   ANCIENT warrior Hercules meets his match this week
when he comes face to face with Xena, The Warrior
Princess, played by Auckland actress Lucy Lawless. 
   Lawless makes her debut as Hercules's deadly
opponent in a performance that so impressed the show's
American producers they created an entirely new series
for her. The spin-off is now almost as popular in the
United States as the original
Hercules.
   Sharp-eyed Hercules fans may have already spotted
Lawless as Lyla, the courageous bride of Deric the
Centaur, in an earlier episode. But it is her work as
Xena which catapulted the actress to stardom in the
United States. 
   Almost 1.8 metres tall, with dark hair and intense
blue eyes, Lawless is the fifth of seven children and
the oldest girl in her family. 
   A self-confessed tomboy as a child, she appears
every bit as independent as her strong-willed
character.
   After finishing high school, where she appeared in
many musicals and plays, she attended Auckland
University before leaving for Europe "to go
grape-picking on the Rhine".
   When she ran out of money, she went to Australia and
worked for a gold-mining company in the small outback
town of Kalgoolie. One of a few female miners, Lawless
did the same work as the men, digging, mapping the
ground, driving trucks and pushing huge core samples of
earth through a diamond saw. 
   She married in Australia and returned to Auckland
where her daughter Daisy, now seven years old, was
born.
   At the age of 20 Lawless landed her first real
acting job alongside Comedy Central's Willy de Wit, in
the comedy series Funny Business. She then moved to
Vancouver, Canada for eight months to study drama at
the William Davis Centre for Actors' Study.
   When she returned to New Zealand in early 1992 she
accepted a job as co-host for travel show Air New
Zealand Holiday, which she continued for two seasons. 
   Lawless sees the role of Xena as her first major
breakthrough as an actress. She describes the character
as "a woman as strong as any man or woman has ever
been, who lives by her wits, but is also a fighter.
She's a very human hero, who knows all about the darker
side of human nature since she must battle it within
herself every day."
   GRAPHIC: Princess Xena (Lucy Lawless).


[219a] 04-02-96 
   GLOBE. Page ?. 427 words. "Princess Xena Dumped
Hubby For Show Exec - Pals Reveal"
   COMMENTARY: The date was originally stated as
unknown and assigned April 1, 1996. The date of the
periodical was April 2, 1996. Please correct
accordingly.


[219b] 04-05-96
   TRUTH (Auckland). Page 5. 468 words. "HERCULES Star
Lucy Runs off with Boss. Warrior Xena Goes Weak at the
Knees..."
   COMMENTARY: You know you are dealing with a quality
publication when they refuse to acknowledge who wrote
the article! This article was a complete rip-off of the
April 2, 1996 THE GLOBE article titled "Princess Xena
Dumped Hubby For Show Exec - Pals Reveal". Strangely
enough the article cited THE GLOBE as THE NATIONAL
ENQUIRER and repeated the information that Ms. Lawless
was a "former Mrs New Zealand pageant winner". Again, I
have only seen this information listed in two other
sources: THE GLOBE and THE SUNDAY MAIL from the UK. I
suspect the SUNDAY MAIL got its info from THE GLOBE. 
   REPRINT:
   NZ ACTRESS Lucy Lawless has set Hollywood tongues
wagging--by dumping her husband.
   Lucy, who plays brawny beauty Xena the Warrior
Princess in the TV3 action series Hercules, has run off
with the show's producer, according to American tabloid
the National Enquirer.
   The gossip magazine says Lucy, the sword-wielding
siren built like a Greek temple, has left Garth, her
husband of eight years, for Hercules producer Robert
Tapert, the man who made her an international star.
   Just two years ago, when Lucy was hosting TV One
Saturday night show Holiday, she said "If my acting
career stopped tomorrow, I'd be all right because I
have Garth, my daughter Daisy and a wonderful family."
   The National Enquirer says the 30-something Hercules
producer hand-picked the just under six foot tall Lucy
to star as the mythic warrior Xena--Hercules' sexy
archenemy-turned-girlfriend-- who was then spun off
into her own hit show. 
   Soon after, Tapert broke free of his bonds to common
law wife Jane Goe, a screenwriter, to be with the
27-year-old muscle-bound mum-of-one, say sources. 
   "It was very rough on Garth," reveals a close
friend.
   "He stuck with Lucy through the lean years when she
was studying as an opera singer and actress.
   "They met as teenagers in Auckland and got married
in the Australian outback when Lucy was 20. She had her
daughter Daisy nine months later." 
   But all that changed faster than one of Zeus'
lightning bolts when Tapert tapped the former Mrs New
Zealand pageant winner over five other athletic
actresses to don Xena's lusty leather bodice and start
bashing bad guys--for $ US25,000 a week.
   Tapert recently spent three weeks on location in
Auckland finalising details for the new season of
Hercules' and Xena's shows, which begin filming in New
Zealand later this year.  Insiders say he spent the
whole trip at Lucy's cozy Auckland home. 
   "I guess Garth just isn't part of the world she
moves in anymore, but Rob definitely is," the friend
told the National Enquirer.
   The cooing couple may feel like they're on top of Mt
Olympus now, but neither will feel immortal if they run
into the scorned common law wife Tapert left behind.
   "Robert and I were very happy till Lucy Lawless
disrupted our life together," Jane says.
   "He was the most loving, caring man, the only man in
my life and the best man in the world.
   "I can hardly stand thinking about what's happened.
It hurts too much for me to bear."
   A source close to the show confirms that "Lucy and
Rob Tapert are seeing each other and are very happy.
   "Rob recently ended a 12-year relationship with a
longtime companion, but that was before he started
seeing Lucy...who is amicably separated from her
husband."
   GRAPHIC: BIG HIT: Lucy Lawless stars as Xena in TV
show Hercules. 


[234.5] 04-14-96
   THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland). Page 27. 369 words.
"Goodbye, fame - hello, journalism" By Paulette Crowley 
   COMMENTARY: Ms. Lawless was mentioned in a gossip
column. No doubt following in the footsteps of THE
TRUTH article (XMR219b) which was a rif-off of THE
GLOBE article (XMR219a), which sensationalized Ms.
Lawless' divorce.
   EXCERPT:
   ...LURING Lucy Lawless, the goddess-like Xena in
Hercules who used to be Stanley's mum in a bank ad, was
a mission for producer Robert Tapert, who is to have
reported to have finally succeeded. Apparently he
chased after her for years before he caught her.
"Every time they were looking for someone to cast, he
would say: "Let's get Lucy Lawless" - even if the part
did not fit her. He never stopped talking about her,"
said the source. Meanwhile, on the Hercules set, Kevin
Sorbo's fling with the wardrobe mistress is said to be
all over. Apparently she has dumped the hunk in favour
of her former lover. It seems even demi-gods don't win
all the time...


[276c] 05-20-96
   THE CHATTANOOGA TIMES. Monday. Page A8. 485 words.
"In business"
   COMMENTARY: Lucy Lawless made #8 on the top ten
who's beautiful list on Pathfinder. Reprint of XMR276a
   EXCERPT:
   ...Cyber beauty contest
   Users of different on-line services have very
different ideas of who's beautiful, according to People
magazine.
   People polled users of its on-line sites on
CompuServe and Pathfinder, and asked them whom they
would put on the magazine's list of the most beautiful
people.
   On CompuServe, the top 10 were, in order: Brad Pitt,
Sandra Bullock, Mel Gibson, Jennifer Aniston, Cindy
Crawford, Sharon Stone, David Duchovny, Antonio
Banderas, Mariah Carey and Pamela Anderson.
   On Pathfinder, the top 10 were: Gillian Anderson,
Teri Hatcher, Mitch Pileggi, Kevin Sorbo, Duchovny,
Claire Danes, Geraint Wyn Davies, Lucy Lawless, Alicia
Silverstone and Gary Cole....


[276d] 05-20-96
   THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC/THE PHOENIX GAZETTE. Monday.
Page E1. 163 words. "Beauty Tough to Agree on" By David
Hoye
   COMMENTARY: Clueless in cyberspace, a reporter
stated his surprise that two different web sites could
achieve different results in an on-line beauty contest.
He must have thought the determination of beauty was
more of a science than in the eye of the beholder.
   REPRINT:
   Mark this down under the category "go figure."
   People magazine recently asked online users to
nominate the 50 Most Beautiful People for 1996.  
   Two lists were created, one from visitors to the
People area on CompuServe, the other from visitors to
the People site on the World Wide Web. 
   The lists couldn't be more different.
   CompuServe users said Brad Pitt was the most
beautiful person, followed by Sandra Bullock, Mel
Gibson, Jennifer Aniston, Cindy Crawford, Sharon Stone,
David Duchovny, Antonio Banderas, Mariah Carey and
Pamela Anderson Lee. 
   Web users nominated Gillian Anderson as most
beautiful, followed by Teri Hatcher, Mitch Pileggi,
Kevin Sorbo, Duchovny, Claire Danes, Geraint Wyn
Davies, Lucy Lawless, Alicia Silverstone and Gary Cole.
   The People people don't know why the lists are so
different. 
   To check the entire lists on CompuServe, use the Go
function and the keyword "people." The Internet list is
at http://pathfinder.com/people on the Web. 


                          -----------
                          ANNOTATIONS
                          -----------

[288] 05-16-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 256 words. "Talkers Shine in
May Sweeps Ratings Climb" By Stephen Battaglio
   COMMENTARY: ALTARED STATES (#19), 1st release,
04/22/96. Ranked 2nd action hour with 5.0 rating.
Comparison with other action hours: (1) ST: DEEP SPACE
9 with 6.5; (2) XWP with 5.0; (3) HTLJ with 4.9.
   EXCERPT:
   ...for the week ended May 5....
   ...Among the action-adventure hours, Paramount's
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" posted a 14% increase over
the previous week with a 6.5, the highest ranking show
of the week in that genre. MCA-TV's "Xena" jumped 22%
over its previous week's outing with
a 5.0 rating, good enough to pull ahead of the studio's
"Journeys of Hercules," which scored a 4.9....


[289] 05-17-96
   XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 7. 16 pages. 6318 words.
Annotations XMR041-054. Edited by and annotations by
Kym Masera Taborn.
   COMMENTARY: A world press review of coverage on XWP,
Renee O'Connor, or Lucy Lawless. Covered 09/03/95 to
10/02/95. Reviews and coverage of the first three XWP
episodes aired and the first major press interview with
Lucy Lawless. Editorial discussed critics reaction to
XWP; Lucy Lawless' appearances on HTLJ; news of special
issues in summer. 


[290] 05-17-96
   ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Page 12. 435 words. "Hollywood
Classics" By Kristen Baldwin
   COMMENTARY: Nominal mention of XWP in discussion of
TV and movie productions centering around ancient
Greece and mythology. Mentioned XWP (once) and H:TLJ as
examples of ancient Greek productions on TV.
   EXCERPT:
   Attention all residents of Mount Olympus: Beware of
Hollywood agents bearing three-picture deals.
Screenwriters are excavating the treasure trove of
ancient lore to bring Greek-themed stories to the
screen.
   Hellenic heroes are already thriving on television
in the form of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its
spin-off, Xena: Warrior Princess, both of which are top
20 syndicated shows. So maybe it was just a matter of
time before others picked up the scent....
   ...So why is Hollywood, the town known for creating
myths, now importing them? "Greek themes and mythology
are mysterious, sensual, and exotic, which makes for
great adventure," says Kevin Sorbo, TV's Hercules
(watch for his new action figures, due out July 15).
Others offer less generous answers. "Grotesque lack of
scripts," says Peter Pappas, director of the Foundation
for Hellenic Culture, an international organization
that promotes Greek art and literature. "Hollywood is
always looking for stories, and [myths] have got a
pretty good shelf life." Or maybe it just comes down to
the bottom line. As Halmi points out, mythology "is
public domain. You don't have to pay a dime for it."


[291]  05-18-96 through 05-25-96
   NOTE: BEASTMASTER reared it's head once again. The
references to XWP and HTLJ were passing mentions in an
attempt to share some of their veneer with BEASTMASTER.
To its credit, the TAMPA TRIBUNE was not fooled! 


[291a] 05-18-96
   THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT (Norfolk). Television Week. Page
1. 809 words. ""Norma Jean and Marilyn" Come Face to
Face in HBO Film" By Larry Bonko, 
   COMMENTARY: Nominal mention (once). Stated that
BEASTMASTER was "in the spirit" of XWP and HTLJ.
   EXCERPT:
   ...In the spirit of the Hercules and Xena series
about adventures in a faraway, long-ago land of
thieves, evil sorcerers, the MCA Action Pack network
brings on "Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus" on WGNT
Saturday night at 8. Marc Singer returns as Dar the
Beastmaster....


[291b] 05-21-96
   CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Tempo. Page 3. 715 words.
'Hair-raising Tales; for Marc Singer, Dealing with
Costars on 'Beastmaster' Is an Adventure All its Own"
By Allan Johnson
   COMMENTARY: This article promoting BEASTMASTER
included a nominal mention (once) of XENA: WARRIOR
PRINCESS in context to the other shows produced under
the "Action Pack" umbrella.
   EXCERPT:
   ..."Beastmaster III," produced under the "Action
Pack" umbrella of TV movies and series that brought the
world "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena:
Warrior Princess," airs at 10:30 p.m. Saturday on
WGN-Ch. 9....


[291c] 05-24-96
   THE NASHVILLE BANNER. Page C1. 720 words.
"Beastmaster Finds Critters Tough Tackle" By Jim Molpus
   COMMENTARY: More BEASTMASTER promos. Explained that
hopes were high because the "sword genre" of XWP & HTLJ
was so successful.
   EXCERPT:
   ..."The first Beastmaster we did was one of the top
five most-requested videos in the entire Turner library
for years and years. The standard joke in the early
days of cable was that HBO stood for 'Hey,
Beastmaster's On,' because it played all the time.
   "I think the reason it came back around is because
it has so much popularity and one generation of
Beastmaster fans has turned another generation onto
it." 
   The timing is right, since the sword genre has been
revitalized by the success of syndicated series like
Hercules and its spinoff, Xena: Warrior Princess....


[291d] 05-25-96
   THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Page 1. 475 words. "Show Brings
out the Beast in Actor" By Walt Belcher
   COMMENTARY: Yet another nominal mention, but wisely
brought up the fact that BEASTMASTER "unfortunately"
had different producers than XWP and HTLJ. 
   EXCERPT:
   ...It's from MCA/Universal, the same folks who
distribute "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and
"Xena: Warrior Princess."
   Unfortunately, it has different producers, and poor
Singer is surrounded by inferior supporting actors, a
dumb plot and cheesy special effects. The monster,
Braxus, who shows up in the finale scenes, is a guy in
a laughable foam rubber suit...


[292]  05-19-96 through 08-11-96
   NOTE: One thousand thirty-nine words as a cover
story in the New York Times, albeit Section 12, is
nothing to snuff at! 
   It was a very pleasant article. Ms. Lawless was
quoted as saying that she suspected that some of her
internet web site visitors were "55-year-old lawyers
who want[ed] to be spanked". Ms. Lawless was further
quoted referring to her previous Hercules roles with "I
was sort of a Bolshie lieutenant to the Amazons...I
brutalized Hercules a bit and then we raped and
pillaged a village down the road," (she was referring
to her role in HERCULES AND THE AMAZON WOMEN as Lysia,
the Amazon who got to bed Zeus) and she also described
her appearance as "a centaur's moll" (she was referring
to her role as Lyla in HTLJ's #06 AS DARKNESS FALLS and
reprised in HTLJ's #18 THE OUTCAST).
   It was an article you would expect from THE TIMES:
very thoughtful and it attempted to rationalize and
understand why XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS was so popular.
It did not read like STAR LOG, but it did not call the
show "stupid history" either. It struck a happy medium
without either talking down or up to its readers. It
had more depth than most, but it was not THE VILLAGE
VOICE.
   Ms. Lawless got the graphic on the cover! There was
also a photo of Ms. Lawless and Ms. O'Connor in the
text part.


[292a] 05-19-96
   THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 12-4. 1039 words. "A Woman
Wielding Many Weapons, Among Them a Sneer and a Stare"
By William Grimes
   REPRINT:
   Try to imagine a time before history began, in a
faraway land shrouded in mist and cloaked in green,
where gods and mythic heroes walk the earth and mingle
with mortal men. Try a little harder, and picture those
mighty figures wearing the leftover costumes from a
Hollywood B epic, and speaking dialogue that begins in
classical Greece and winds up in the San Fernando
Valley. Try extra hard, and summon up the vision of a
statuesque, leather-clad brunette with major-league
cleavage and a lethal steel frisbee who roams the
countryside righting wrongs.
   This recipe for superior cheese is the formula
behind "Xena: Warrior Princess," the most successful
new syndicated series now on the air. Spun off from the
even more successful and equally improbable, "Hercules:
The Legendary Journeys," "Xena, " which made its debut
in Sept. 1995, is carried by 205 stations, reaching 97
percent of the viewing audience. In 24 of its first 25
of 29 weeks, it actually vanquished the awesome
"Baywatch," making it number three among the so called
action-hour series (as opposed to game shows and talk
shows), behind "Hercules" and "Star Trek: Deep Space
9."
   Like "Hercules," "Xena" delivers a campy blend of
adventure, martial arts, and loony dialogue, along with
a wholesome, New Age message that promotes peace,
cooperation and understanding among all peoples, be
they centaurs, Amazons or classical heros. The air of
unreality is helped along by the lush, rugged, very
moist setting of New Zealand, where both series are
filmed, and where indigenous actors deliver their lines
in an American accent.
   Virtually anything goes. It's okay that Xena, played
by Lucy Lawless, wields a chakram, a razor-sharp disc
that dates to 16th-century Persia, liberates
downtrodden peasants who seem to exist in the middle
ages, and encounters Amazons, centaurs and Greek gods.
It's okay for her chatty blonde sidekick Gabrielle
(Renee O'Connor) to tell Xena, hanging by her chained
wrists from a dungeon, "I can understand why you might
be feeling a little negative right now."
   It's also okay for Xena, in a Trojan War episode, to
tell a bad guy, "What I can't figure out is why a
scum-sucking opportunist like you would want Helen back
with Menelaus."
   Lines like that, delivered with a sneer and a flash
of her piercing blue eyes, have made Ms. Lawless, 28, a
cult figure. Her web site on the internet attracts
heavy traffic, some of it, she suspects, from
"55-year-old lawyers who want to be spanked," and most
definitely from loyal lesbian fans who just know that
Xena and Gabrielle have a special relationship.
   Some fans have followed her since her first
appearance as the ruthless head of a girl gang in one
of the television "Hercules" movies that preceded the
series.
   "I was sort of a Bolshie lieutenant to the Amazons,"
said Ms. Lawless, who dyed her blonde hair black for
the role and waved goodbye to her job as the host of a
travel show. "I brutalized Hercules a bit and then we
raped and pillaged a village down the road." In her
next appearance, she was, as she describes it, "a
centaur's moll."
   When "Hercules" was developed into a series, Ms.
Lawless popped up in three episodes as Xena, who
initially conceived as a villainess, left a wide swath
of destruction in her path.
   The intent was to kill her off. But when stations
began asking for a companion series to "Hercules," her
life was spared. Xena underwent a conversion and
renounced her evil ways, although not her fighting
skills. 
   Both programs were created by the director Sam Raimi
and the producer Robert Tapert, who have served up
nouvelle drive-in fare like "Darkman" and "Army of
Darkness" for audiences in search of cheap thrills.
When approached by MCA-Universal to make three two-hour
Hercules films, they decided on an updated,
viewer-friendly approach to the world of myth and
adventure. 
   Rule one: no togas. Downplaying the idea of Hercules
as the strongest man in the world, they cast the buff
but friendly Kevin Sorbo as a doer of good deeds who
triumphs without ever killing anyone. "We kind of
modeled him on a quarterback," said Mr. Tapert.
   Similarly, the approach to language was updated. "We
always used, as a basis for the dialogue, 'Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' " said Mr. Tapert. "It's
contemporary but not hip. We tried to give it a
timeless quality." 
   Although both men initially tried to keep the number
of Greek gods down to a minimum, they have relented a
bit. The old gods do have charisma. Again, they were
given a contemporary face lift. "We made Hades into
sort of a rebel without a cause," said Mr. Tapert. 'He
doesn't like it that he's stuck as god of the
underworld."
   The later time slot for "Xena" opened up darker,
sexier possibilities. The producers also endowed their
heroine with more streamlined fighting potential. Xena
can send her chakram spinning with stunning accuracy,
sometimes executing a three-carom shot. Her swordplay
knows no peer among mortals, although she was once
fought to a standstill by Aries, the god of war, who
lusts after her. 
   In hand-to-hand combat she is the equal of a dozen
men, and she can, with a twisting motion of her thumb
and index finger, block the flow of blood through the
carotid artery, giving her victim 60 seconds to
cooperate or die. "She uses anything that comes to
hand," said Ms. Lawless. "In one episode she snaps a
towel." In real life, Ms. Lawless says, she is no
kung-fu master: "On the set, when I throw that chakram,
everybody runs for cover."
   Xena needs many weapons but few words and only two
basic expressions: a contemptuous sneer for the men
foolish enough to challenge her, and a hard, resolute
stare.
   Although American audiences may see traces of
"Wonder Woman" and "The Bionic Woman" in Xena, Mr.
Tapert says that he looked to the female action stars
of Hong Kong cinema, especially Brigitte Lin. Ms.
Lawless likes to think of herself as following the lead
of Emma Peel in "The Avengers," a role that combined
tongue-in-cheek humor with a killer black-leather look.
   "All this martial arts and free-for-all action is
really sort of misleading," said Ms. Lawless. "I'm more
the 'Sense and Sensibility' type.' "  
   On the cover: Lucy Lawless stars as Xena.
   GRAPHIC: Photos: Lucy Lawless, above left, as Xena,
and Renee O'Connor as Gabriella. (pg. 4) Michael Hurst,
near right, as Iolaus, and Keven Sorbo, far right, as
Hercules. (pg. 5); Kevin Sorbo as Hercules with Teresa
Hill, Nemesis, a goddess. (MCA TV) (pg. 22)


[292b] 08-11-96
   CALGARY HERALD. Sunday. Page B11. 799 words.
"Preview with Her Lethal Frisbee Shes Invincible Xena"
By William Grimes
   COMMENTARY: Edited down version of XMR292a.


[293] 05-19-96
   THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland). Page 30. 374 words.
"Your Chance to Push Hercules' Button" By David Fisher
   COMMENTARY: The Xena action figure was mentioned in
passing in an article about the HTLJ's action figures
and a contest ran by TV3 and the SUNDAY NEWS.
   EXCERPT:
   NOW we know the secret behind Hercules star Kevin
Sorbo's smooth warrior moves.
   In a special Sunday News play test of the latest
Hercules accessory - movable part action dolls - we
discovered a small button between his shoulder blades. 
   It seems Kiwi co-star Michael Hurst, playing Iolaus,
is not hiding behind our hero quivering in fear.
   In fact, he's frantically pushing the button needed
to drive Hercules' Iron Spiked Spinning Mace' (TM) or
the Herculean Assault Blades' (TM too). 
   (Warning: These action figures pose a choking hazard
and should not be consumed by children under three).
   At $ 14 each, these 13cm figures, lovingly based on
the muscled television stars frolicking around West
Auckland beaches, are now in toy shops. 
   You'll find them on the shelves next to similarly
muscled, but differently packaged, Masters Of The
Universe dolls . . . er, action figures. 
   Each figure's been modelled after its star. Sorbo,
for example, did a year of rigorous weight training,
horseback riding instruction and martial arts. 
   Your action figure, if following the same tough
regime, should be able to emulate these feats.
   Our own Lucy Lawless also figures here - note the
smooth transition the wonder bra makes from real life
to plastic figurine for Xena. 
   And watch for Iolaus, Minotaur and Ares.
   The bad guys feature too and, at 15cm, are bigger
and nastier than the goodies - the arch enemies include
Hydra, Echidna (sounds like something from Taco Bell)
and Cerberus.
   TV3 programmer Bettina Hollings told Sunday News:
"Hercules is one of our highest ratings series. It's a
good show for Friday nights - good escapist viewing
with an element of comedy.
   "Obviously it's got a male skew. The genre of
action-fantasy has taken off in the USA and there have
been some clones popping up. We're lucky we got
Hercules and Xena when we did. Xena is coming soon."
    Sunday News and TV3 have five Hercules dolls for
you to win. Just tell us the name of the actor who
plays Hercules. Send your answer, name and address to
reach us by Thursday to: Hercules, Sunday News, PO Box
1074, Auckland. 
   The first five entries drawn will win.
   GRAPHIC: HI DOLL: Hercules (left) and Iolaus action
figures.


[294] 05-20-96
   THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Page 6. 437 words. "Finale Word:
"Seinfeld' Sad, "X-files' Stale" By Walt Belcher
   COMMENTARY: The reporter called the battle between
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE and STAR TREK: VOYAGER
versus HTLJ and XWP as "Star Wars". The reporter
further noted that STAR TREK shows were being
overshadowed by HTLJ and XWP.
   People love to see a winner fail. The STAR TREK
phenomenon is respected world-wide and is considered by
many a THE barometer of fan interest. I personally find
that XWP has already influenced ST in making its
original strong females stronger. ST has always had a
problem with female roles. They tried very hard with
Kira, Dax and Janeway, but they lost it after several
seasons. Sadly, Janeway was never quite focused, even
to begin with. However, mark my words. Do not be
surprised if Kira, Dax, and (oh, I hope) Janeway,
suddenly take on some Warrior Princess characteristics.
I have already seen evidence of it. After Xena, it is
very difficult to make a strong action female character
like they used to.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Star wars 
   "Star Trek: Voyager" ends its season at 8 tonight on
UPN with a cliffhanger. The crew is marooned on a
nasty, volcano-ridden planet after being hijacked by
the Kazon. Will they survive? Producer Paramount is
worried because ratings for "Deep Space" and "Voyager"
have been slipping all season. They're being
overshadowed by muscle man "Hercules" and his female
counterpart "Xena."...


[295] 05-20-96
   A FISTFUL OF DINARS. Episode no. 14. Second release.
Guest stars: Jeremy Roberts and Peter Daube. Written by
Steven L. Sears and R.J. Stewart. Directed by Josh
Becker.
   COMMENTARY: See XMR152.5 for synopsis and
commentary.


[296] 05-23-96 through 06-05-96
   NOTE: Actress Heather Matarazzo's obsession: XWP!
   

[296a] 05-23-96
   NEWSDAY. Page B03. 1111 words. "She's a Winner as a
Loser / Heather Matarazzo: an Upbeat Li Teen Fills a
Role as a Downbeat Nerd" By John Anderson.
   COMMENTARY: In a piece about the up and coming 13
year-old actress, Heather Matarazzo, who appeared in
the movie "WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE", Ms. Matarazzo was
reported to have said that she "wants to work with
Sharon Stone or Lucy Lawless."  She was further quoted
asking the reporter, "Have you ever seen Xena: Warrior
Princess?".
   EXCERPT:
   SHE WANTS TO GO to Yale to study film. Or to NYU and
live in the East Village with a golden retriever. Or
UCLA. Maybe USC. She loves acting ("This is my life")
and "those brothers" (Coen). She loves Glenn Close in
"Dangerous Liaisons" and wants to work with Sharon
Stone. Or Lucy Lawless. 
   Huh?
   "Have you ever seen Xena: Warrior Princess'?" 
   At 13, Heather Matarazzo - star of the alternately
hilarious and deeply disturbing "Welcome to the
Dollhouse" (which opens tomorrow in Manhattan and has a
three-week run starting June 14 at the Cinema Arts
Centre in Huntington) - has plans. And a pretty good
sense of herself....


[296b] 05-26-96
   THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 6-18. 750 words. "The Ugly
Girl" By Laura Jamison
   COMMENTARY: She plans to go to New Zealand to check
out XWP.
   EXCERPT:   
   ...At a diner in Oyster Bay, L.I., Matarazzo
recently sat picking at Belgian waffles and chatting
about her brief career, occasionally digressing to
comment on the virtues of her favorite bands -- Hole,
Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins -- as well as the
adventure-fantasy TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess"
and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." "Me and my
friend Erin are going to New Zealand -- that's where
they're filmed -- when we're seniors on spring break,
and if we like it, we'll move there for a few years."
(Matarazzo also plans to live in Manhattan's East
Village, California and Paris, as well as to attend
Yale.)...


[296c] 06-05-96
   THE TORONTO SUN. Wednesday. Page 53. 554 words.
"Buzz; What's Going on in Showbiz" By Bob Thompson
   COMMENTARY: She wants to be on XWP!
   EXCERPT:
   ...Heather Matarazzo understands that. Matarazzo
plays Dawn Wiener (aka Wienerdog). "I'll get picked on
for playing this role," says the 13-year-old Grade 8
student from Long Island. "But I don't care - I love
acting." 
   Not to mention Sharon Stone - "she's such a cool
actress." And the syndicated New Zealand TV series,
Xena: Warrior Princess. "I want to go to New Zealand to
be on the show."...


[297] 05-23-96 through 06-07-96
   NOTE: Ratings for TIES THAT BIND (#20), 1st release,
04/29/96. Ranked 3rd action hour with 4.7 rating.
Comparison with other action hours: (1) ST: DEEP SPACE
9 at 8th with 5.3; (2) HTLJ AT 13th with 5.0; (3) XWP
at 16th with 4.7.


[297a] 05-23-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Page 5. 443 words. "KW'S 'Oprah'
Outtalks Yakkers"
   COMMENTARY: TIES THAT BIND where Gabrielle gets to
finally whack some sense into Xena earned a 4.7 rating, 
placing 3rd in the action-hour competition.
   EXCERPT:
   The May sweeps picture started to come into focus in
the Nielsen national barter rankings during the week
ended May 12, which overlapped the third week of the
book...
   ...On the weekly action-hour front, Par's "Star
Trek: Deep Space Nine" (5.3) led the pack, but saw its
anti-matter ratings supplies drop 24% from last year. 
   MCA TV's "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (5.0)
eased 2% year-to-year, while companion "Xena: Warrior
Princess" wound up at a third-place 4.7 in her first
May campaign...


[297b] 06-07-96
   ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Television. "The Ratings"
   COMMENTARY: TIES THAT BIND, 1st release. Rated 14th
with 4.7 (one rating point equals 959,000 TV
households). 
   This was the first time Entertainment Weekly did an
article about the syndication ratings and mentioned
XWP. The overall ranking numbers were off from the ones
assigned by VARIETY.
   EXCERPT:
   ...In the drama arena, a weakened Deep Space Nine
still draws enough Trekkies to power it past the
one-two punch of Hercules and Xena. As for Baywatch?
Well, it may finally be time for David Hasselhoff to
hang up his trunks.
   TOP 25 SYNDICATED SHOWS
   RATING
1  11.3   WHEEL OF FORTUNE
2   9.6   JEOPARDY! 
3   8.1   THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW
4   7.8   HOME IMPROVEMENT
5   7.1   SEINFELD
6   5.8   ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT
7   5.4   THE SIMPSONS
8   5.3   INSIDE EDITION
    5.3   STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
10  5.2   WHEEL OF FORTUNE--WEEKEND
11  5.0   THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR
    5.0   HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
13  4.9   HOME IMPROVEMENT--WEEKEND
14  4.7   XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
15  4.5   JENNY JONES
16  4.4   HARD COPY
    4.4   ROSEANNE 
18  4.3   LIVE WITH REGIS & KATHIE LEE
19  4.0   THE MONTEL WILLIAMS SHOW
    4.0   RICKI LAKE
21  3.9   BAYWATCH
22  3.8   SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL
23  3.7   COPS
    3.7   ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT--WEEKEND
    3.7   MARRIED...WITH CHILDREN
    3.7   THE MAURY POVICH SHOW
   WEEK OF MAY 6-12, 1996. SOURCE: NIELSEN MEDIA
RESEARCH. ONE RATINGS POINT EQUALS 959,000 TV
HOUSEHOLDS.


[297c] 05-27-96
   VARIETY. Page 31. 192 words. "Nielsen Syndication
Ratings" 
   COMMENTARY: TIES THAT BIND. Ranking disagreed with
those assigned by ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY.
   REPRINT:
   For week ended May 12, 1996  
                                     Stations/
Rank             Program            % coverage   AA%  
GAA%
 1    Wheel of Fortune             227/99     11.3   --
 2    Jeopardy!                    222/99      9.6   --
 3    Oprah Winfrey Show           235/99      8.1  8.2
 4    Home Improvement             225/98      7.8  8.4
 5    Seinfeld                     223/98      7.1   --
 6    Entertainment Tonight        178/95      5.8  5.9
 7    Simpsons                     193/97      5.4  5.5
 8    Inside Edition               167/94      5.3  5.4
 8    Star Trek: Deep Space Nine   236/99      5.3  5.6
 10   Wheel of Fortune - Weekend   173/76      5.2   --
 11   WCW Wrestling                182/93      5.1  7.0
 11   World Wrestling Fed. PR      161/90      5.1  6.4
 13   Fresh Prince of Bel-Air      171/94      5.0  5.5
 13   Journeys of Hercules         234/98      5.0  5.3
 15   Home Improvement - Weekend   212/95      4.9   --
 16   Xena                         210/97      4.7  4.9
 17   Jenny Jones Show             214/97      4.5  4.6
 18   Hard Copy                    182/93      4.4  4.5
 18   Roseanne                     174/92      4.4  4.7
 20   Live w/Regis & Kathie Lee    234/99      4.3   --
   AA average refers to nonduplicated viewing for
multiple airings of the same show. GAA average
encompasses duplicated viewing. GAA average does not
apply when there is only one run of a show.


[298] 05-24-96
   XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 8. 18 pages. 6819 words.
Annotations XMR055a-068f. Edited by and annotations by
Kym Masera Taborn.
   COMMENTARY: A world press review of coverage on XWP,
Renee O'Connor, or Lucy Lawless. Covered 10/06/95 to
10/27/95. Meidel taking over at MCA; other Raimi/
Renaissance Pictures productions; and the press release
for "Prometheus". Editorial covered the announcement of
WHOOSH!
 

[299] 05-24-96
   MORNING STAR (Wilmington, NC). Friday. Page 1D. 797
words. "Getting out (and Coming Back) Alive; It's Ok to
Take Spontaneous Beach Trips - as Long as You Plan the
Spontaneity" By Clifton Daniel.
   COMMENTARY: In an article about how to get the most
out a trip to the beach, XWP was mentioned as the
alternative to going to the beach.
   EXCERPT:
   It's Memorial Day weekend, the sun's out and, for
some reason, there's a bracing hint of salt spray in
the air. So what should we do? Hmmm. Stay inside and
read a book? Watch Saturday morning cartoons, followed
by Xena, Warrior Princess?
   No, that's not it.
   Hey! Isn't there, like, a beach near here? 
   Yes, yes, yes!
   Let's go to the beach!
   But wait. What do we take?
   How can we make this a positive experience, whether
we're young, single and good-looking or good-looking,
but old, married and toting an armload of screaming
kids?
   Well, it would be different for everybody, wouldn't
it?...


[300] 05-24-96
   THE ORLANDO SENTINEL. Friday. Page 1. "1 Dog
A-leaping" By Joann Vitelli.
   COMMENTARY: Not a direct XWP reference, but perhaps
a dog named after...Xena?
   REPRINT:
   GRAPHIC: Bounding after bubbles has become a
favorite pastime for Xena, a 15-month-old Doberman
pinscher. Deb Delk blows a bountiful batch on Thursday
in Mount Dora. She says the dog loves snapping up the
soapy orbs that provide the pup with great exercise. 
 

[301] 05-25-96
   THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Page 1. 962 words. "Mythical TV
Heroes; They're Tan, They're Taut, They're TV Titans.
Hercules, Xena and Now Beastmaster Rule the Late-night
Netherworld of "Action Fantasy."" By Walt Belcher
   COMMENTARY: Mostly about Hercules, the article
attempted to explain the rise in popularity of "action
fantasy". XWP was mentioned three times in tandem with
HTLJ.
   EXCERPT:
   Buckle your swashes - we're in for a wild ride.
Sword-swinging musclemen and head-bashing women are
taking over TV.
   Forget space operas such as "Deep Space Nine" and
the bikini-laden "Baywatch."
   The hottest thing in syndicated television is called
"action fantasy." It features stories that take viewers
into a mysterious past where wizards and mythological
beasts roam ancient Greece.  
   Using exotic locales, computer-generated special
effects and dialogue laced with humor, two new series
have emerged as kick-butt kings of syndication:
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and its spinoff,
"Xena: Princess Warrior." 
   Their popularity has inspired others to explore the
netherworld. "Beastmaster III," starring Marc Singer,
debuts as a TV movie at 1 p.m. today on WTVT, Channel
13, and 11:30 tonight on WGN....
   ...Syndicated programs inhabit the fringes of prime
time. They are not supplied by networks. They are sold
independently to TV stations usually for late-night or
weekend filler.
   And in this realm, "Hercules," starring Kevin Sorbo
as the mythical hero, is in its second season. "Xena,"
starring Lucy Lawless as an equally powerful hero,
started in September. Both air on WTVT and WGN. These
companion series, both filmed in New Zealand, manage to
mix just the right amounts of action, cleavage and
biceps to have large cult followings.
   Tongue-in-cheek humor comes in heavy doses.
   "We don't take ourselves too seriously," says Sorbo,
who plays Herc as an articulate, good-natured hero.
   "I wouldn't have taken this role if all I had to do
was flex muscles, because I'm not Mr. Universe," he
says in a telephone interview from New Zealand. 
   Sorbo, a 37-year-old, blue-eyed, longhaired hunk
from Mound, Mont., is 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and in very
good shape.
   "But I'm no Steve Reeves," he says, referring to a
bodybuilder who played Hercules in low-budget films of
the 1960s. "And I don't take off my shirt that much."
   However, he does do most of his own stunts, having
studied martial arts. 
   "I do most of the fight scenes but when it comes to
falling off cliffs, I leave that to the stuntmen," he
says.
   Previous film versions have portrayed Hercules as
all muscle and no brain. 
   This one is different. Hercules is a caring,
kindhearted-but-tough do-gooder who battles giants and
dragons. He rescues damsels in distress but resists
attempts at seduction because he's pure of heart.
   "And he's intelligent. He laughs, he makes mistakes.
And he isn't afraid to make fun of himself," Sorbo
says.
   At times, it's almost a buddy comedy, he says, with
Hercules saving his wisecracking sidekick, Iolaus (New
Zealander Michael Hurst, an accomplished Shakespearean
actor).
   Fame has slipped up on this son of a nurse and
junior high school teacher. 
   "We really didn't know how popular the show had
become around the world because we were toiling away
here in New Zealand," Sorbo says. Based in Auckland,
"Hercules" and "Xena" weren't big deals there until
recently, because New Zealand television started airing
the series only three months ago. 
   Sorbo, however, is known in New Zealand, Australia,
Japan, Russia and most of Europe for a TV commercial in
which he plays a rugged cowboy in a saloon who orders
Jim Beam whiskey. That one has never aired in America
because broadcasters here don't run liquor commercials.
   Sorbo says he was surprised when he took his first
break last summer from "Hercules" and was nearly mobbed
at a Los Angeles airport by fans shouting, "There's
Hercules!"
   He shies away from personal questions about who he
is dating. He's single and has apartments in Los
Angeles and New Zealand. After working 14-hour days on
the series, he relaxes by strumming his guitar. He's a
James Taylor fan. 
   He grew up one of five children in a strict Lutheran
home. He went to the University of Minnesota as a
marketing and advertising major but dropped out to
pursue an acting career. He says he didn't get out of
his hometown until he was 28.
   "I had a slow start. I liked the theater but I
didn't have money for acting lessons," he says. "I
worked as a bartender and bouncer but I hated working
in smoky nightclubs."
   His rugged good looks led to modeling jobs, then TV
commercials and finally to "Hercules."
   Taking the role was a risk, he says, because if it
flopped, he'd be labeled as a loser. But if it
succeeded, he might be labeled as Hercules forever. 
   "I want to work in feature films. I'd like to do
romantic comedy but I'll probably have to do action
adventure now," he says. "But I enjoy this role. The
action is balanced by the clever dialogue." 
(CHART) TV PREVIEW 
HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, XENA: PRINCESS
WARRIOR and BEASTMASTER III: EYE OF BRAXUS 
- WHAT: "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," starring
Kevin Sorbo as the mythical hero, airs at 11:30 p.m.
Thursdays on WTVT, Channel 13. It also airs at 8 p.m.
Thursdays, 5 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Saturdays on WGN
(cable). But WGN often moves it around to fit in
coverage of Chicago Cubs baseball.  In the fall, it
will move to midnight Saturdays on WTSP, Channel 10.  -
WHAT: "Xena: Princess Warrior," starring Lucy Lawless
as the mighty Xena, airs at 11:30 p.m. Wednesdays on
WTVT, Channel 13. It also airs at 9 p.m. Thursdays, 5
a.m. Saturdays and sometimes on Saturday afternoons on
WGN (depends on baseball coverage). 
In the fall, it will move to WTSP, where it is
tentatively scheduled for midnight Sundays. 
- WHAT: "Beastmaster III: Eye of Braxus" debuts at 1
p.m. today on WTVT, Channel 13, and 11:30 tonight on
WGN...


[302] 05-25-96
   THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Page 1. 666 words. "Reformed
Villain' Cuts Men to Size" By Walt Belcher.
   COMMENTARY: Other than having 666 words, this
article was not to be feared.  A companion piece to
XMR275, this article covered XWP in some limited
detail.
   The article reported that "The producers say
feminists and chauvinists both like her - but probably
for different reasons.  Guys are attracted to the
form-fitting leather outfits and cleavage while women
respect her strength and courage, Raimi says. She also
has attracted a gay and lesbian following because of
her strength, the campy dialogue and her relationship
with her little buddy, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor),
Raimi says."
   The article also stated, "Gabrielle, smaller and
blond, is Xena's adoring sidekick. Lawless jokes that
she 'will neither confirm or deny' Xena's sexual
preference. But the series has shown former male
lovers, including a romantic encounter with Hercules."
   Finally, Ms. Lawless was directly quoted as saying,
"Also, [Xena]'s too serious, I think. I wish they would
make her a bit more funny. I have a sense of humor
myself. I was raised on Monty Python and I can play a
big goof, but Xena has to stand around and look grumpy
while everyone else is having fun."
   REPRINT:
   Xena, Princess Warrior, is not to be trifled with.
   She can wipe out an entire army.
   In a recent episode of the series that bears her
name, she turned a horde of macho military men into
cowering dogs.
   She whacked them with her sword. She knocked weapons
out of their hands with a flying metal thing that she
throws like a Frisbee.  
   She somersaulted over their horses and spun up into
the air to deliver humbling head kicks.
   This "mighty princess forged in the heat of battle"
is cleaning up a mythical Greek world threatened by
tyrants, assassins, giants and wizards. 
   She's also cleaning up in the ratings along with
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys."
   Played by New Zealand actor Lucy Lawless, Xena is
the toughest woman on television and has a brass
breastplate to prove it.
   The 31-year-old, 6-foot-tall beauty with icy blue
eyes says playing Xena is a snap, especially for a
woman who has hiked through Europe and worked in a gold
mine.
   "You do a lot of crazy things when you're young,"
says Lawless in a telephone interview from New Zealand
- as if playing someone tougher than Wonder Woman is a
walk through the park.
   "I've always wanted to be an actress but it took me
a while to get there," she says in her New Zealand
"kiwi" accent.
   When she plays Xena, she drops the accent for a
"more American sound." She also dyed her red hair black
for the role.
   The character debuted as a villain in a trio of
episodes during the first season of "Hercules." When
Universal Studios asked for a spinoff, producers Rob
Tapert and Sam Raimi ("Darkman," "American Gothic")
decided to experiment. 
   "There never has been a female hero like Xena," says
Raimi. "We've made no effort to soften her. She's a
reformed villain, an outcast who travels the same land
as Hercules. She's not afraid to take on anyone or
anything." 
   The producers say feminists and chauvinists both
like her - but probably for different reasons.
   Guys are attracted to the form-fitting leather
outfits and cleavage while women respect her strength
and courage, Raimi says.
   She also has attracted a gay and lesbian following
because of her strength, the campy dialogue and her
relationship with her little buddy, Gabrielle (Renee
O'Connor), Raimi says.
   Gabrielle, smaller and blond, is Xena's adoring
sidekick. Lawless jokes that she "will neither confirm
or deny" Xena's sexual preference. But the series has
shown former male lovers, including a romantic
encounter with Hercules. 
   Off-camera, Lawless is the divorced mother of a
7-year-old daughter, Daisy. The fifth of seven
children, she performed in plays and musicals through
high school in Auckland. She attended Auckland
University, dropped out, and headed to Europe and then
Australia, where she got married.
   Out of money, she and her husband worked briefly in
an Australian gold mine. 
   "It wasn't that bad and the money was great," she
says. "There was some digging and lifting and it was
either freezing cold or frighteningly hot. But I've
always been a healthy, outdoor kind of person. We
worked long enough to get enough cash to get us to
Europe."
   After tramping around Europe awhile, she moved back
to New Zealand and started working in TV commercials,
then with a comedy troupe. She was working as the host
of a TV travel show when she got the guest role on
"Hercules." 
   "New Zealand is very small, and just about every
actor in the country has worked on "Hercules.' "
   Lawless says she enjoys the role even though the
stunts are tiring and difficult.
   "Also, she's too serious, I think," she says. "I
wish they would make her a bit more funny. I have a
sense of humor myself. I was raised on Monty Python and
I can play a big goof, but Xena has to stand around and
look grumpy while everyone else is having fun.
   "I never thought I'd be an action star, but now
they're going to make little Xena action figures for
kids. I still want to be a fine actress one day; it's
just a matter of putting in the time and passion."
   GRAPHIC: As "Xena: Princess Warrior," New Zealand
actor Lucy Lawless is the toughest woman on television.
The show's producers say feminists and chauvinists both
like Xena - but for different reasons. Photos from MCA
TV.


[303] 05-25-96 through 05-28-96
   NOTE: Passing mention of Xena in context to how the
show contributed to the message that the only good
people are sleek, well-toned, hard-bodied people.


[303a] 05-25-96
   THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL (Memphis). Appeal. Pg. 3C. 485
words. "'Nick News' teaches body acceptance" By Joanne
Weintraub
   EXCERPT:
   Hour after hour, week after week, TV imparts to kids
the clear message  that good people come in one sleek
shape, from the well-toned cuties of  Friends and
Melrose Place to the hard-bodied heroes of Xena and
Hercules.  
   Maybe it's a drop in the bucket, but for half an
hour, The Body Trap  (Wednesday night on Nickelodeon)
will tell young viewers something  different: that the
shortest boy in the class and the girl who weighs 20 
pounds more than her friends can be talented, lovable,
active and attractive....


[303b] 05-28-96
   ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION. Features. 748
words. "Channel Surfer; AMC Offers Peculiar Perspective
on Brando" By Bob Longino
   COMMENTARY: Reprint of XMR303a.


[304] 05-27-96 through 06-03-96
   NOTE: Two media reports on the L.A. Screenings where
James McNamara, MCA's president of worldwide
distribution, was quoted.


[304a] 05-27-96
   VARIETY. Page 43. 1090 words. "Wanted: Quirky,
Witty, Quixotic; Foreign Buyers Sneak a Peek at Fall
Offerings" By Elizabeth Guider
   COMMENTARY: In an article about the "L.A.
Screening", where foreign TV buyers got their first
chance to see what the US was peddling that year, MCA's
president of worldwide distribution, James McNamara
stated that he anticipated HERCULES and XENA to be big
sale items.
   EXCERPT:
   Can they unearth the next "E.R.,""X-Files" or
"Murder One"-- and can they manage not to pay through
the teeth for it? That's the trick foreign TV buyers
will try to perform when they pour into L.A. over
Memorial Day weekend for the most low-key but crucial
trade show on the calendar for the U.S. TV distribution
biz. 
   The so-called L.A. Screenings, which run through
June 7, is the first chance foreign buyers have to sift
through the new shows ordered by the U.S. networks for
the fall season. Some 800 to 900 execs from Europe,
Asia and Latin America will be scouring for whatever is
quirky, campy, quick-witted or quixotic enough to
entice audiences back home.
   U.S. hourlong dramas are once again being sought
after for primetime by most foreign buyers after a
decade of disdain. Sitcoms and reality shows rarely if
ever nowadays make it into primetime skeds abroad....
   ...James McNamara, who was appointed president of
worldwide distribution for MCA TV in April, points to
several of his company's shows he expects to be
hot-ticket items -- not only "Burning Zone" and the
police series "EZ Street," but also the syndicated duo,
"Hercules" and "Xena," which are finding enthusiasts
abroad....


[304b] 06-03-96
   ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Pg. 37. 667 words. "At L.A.
Screenings, Hustle and Bustle, but Few Deals So Far" By
Wayne Walley and Greg Spring
   COMMENTARY: Passing mention in regard to how XWP was
even more popular to international distributors because
of the v-chip, etc. controversies in the US. It was
interesting that the interviewee only mentioned XWP and
not HTLJ. The shows are usually found in the same
breath together in these types of passing references. A
sign of the future?
   EXCERPT:
   International program buyers flocked to the  L.A.
Screenings last week but did more tire-kicking than
purchasing.
   While distributors reported a smattering of deals,
most didn't expect the real business to begin until
this week when program buyers have had a chance to see
everything and make decisions.
   "If you see something like 'X-Files' a couple of
years ago or a 'NYPD Blue,' you try to make an
agreement on the spot. But these days that is the
exception, not the rule," said John McCready, vice
president of programming for the SBS Group, a
U.S.-backed owner of TV and radio stations in
Scandinavia and the Benelux countries.  
   "There was hard bidding last year, but people are a
bit more cautious this year and are making more careful
choices."
   Mr. McCready said the quality of the shows he
screened last week was very good, but he said he feels
the anti-violence movement had had an impact on the
shows picked up by the U.S. broadcast networks for
fall.
   "The dramas are soft. They are quite intelligent and
well-scripted, but it depends which country you buy
for. Australia and New Zealand can handle it.  But if
you're buying for Belgium or Holland, more direct
action is better.  That's why some syndicated programs
like 'Xena' or 'Viper' might be of more interest."...


[305] 05-27-96
   THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT (Norfolk, VA). Page E1. 1540
words. "TV'S Tops and Flops from a Towering Adaption of
"GULLIVER'S TRAVELS" to FOX'S; Abrupt "PROFIT" Loss,
Here's Television Critic Larry Bonko's Look at the
Best; and Worst of the 1995-96 Prime-time Season." By
Larry Bonko.
   COMMENTARY: In his summation of the best and worst
of the season, Larry Bonko cited Xena as "Worst
impression of Wonder Woman".
   EXCERPT:
   ...Summing up, here are 50 examples of the best,
worst, least and most of the past season....
   ...28. Worst impression of Wonder Woman: Xena, the
Warrior Princess....


[306] 05-27-96
   WARRIOR...PRINCESS. Episode no. 15. Second release.
Guest stars: Iain Rea, Norman Forsey, and Latham
Gaines. Written by Brenda Lilly. Directed by Michael
Levine.
   COMMENTARY: See XMR158.3 for synopsis and
commentary.


[307] 05-28-96
   CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Tuesday. Kidnews. Page 7. "What a
(Side) Kick! For Xena's Warrior Pal, Staying out of
Trouble Is Half the Battle"  
   COMMENTARY: In an article geared towards children,
the author characterized the relationship between Xena
and Gabrielle as that of a big and little sibling. 
Renee O'Connor was interviewed regarding her
perspective on Gabrielle in this context.
   First, Ms. O'Connor discussed her relationship with
her older brother Chris: "We were always playing and I
was trying to get involved in everything (he and his
friends)  were ever doing...We would even have mock
play fights with Indians and the whole bit, all  the
action sequences. So it's kind of funny, because
sometimes when I'm  playing this (show) with Lucy, it
reminds me of when my brother and I were  playing our
simulated battles."
   Second, Ms. O'Connor discussed how Gabrielle started
out constantly being rescued and helped out of jams by
Xena, but has slowly worked through the season becomnig
more of an equal partner with Xena. Ms. O'Connor is
quoted at saying "We wanted to show that she could be
stronger, a little spunkier."
   Finally, Ms. O'Connor discussed her relationship
with Kevin Sorbo: "He's like a big brother to me...I
can call him any time and just touch base with him and
see how he's doing." She mentioned they share a bond
because neither of them are from New Zealand, where
their shows are filmed.
   The article also announced a new Xena schedule for
WGN now that the baseball season had started. 
   Graphics included one of Ms. Lawless and Ms.
O'Connor, and another of just Ms. O'Connor.
   REPRINT:
   There was once this touching scene during an episode
of the TV action series "Xena: Warrior Princess."
   Xena, a one-woman fighting machine in the ancient
days of Greek mythology, told her traveling companion
Gabrielle she felt they were like sisters.   
   Oh, that Gabrielle is like a sibling, all right: the
younger one who's always getting in your way.
   Sometimes when Xena gets into a fight, she has to
make sure Gabrielle  doesn't get hurt. When Xena goes
off on one of her adventures, she may tell  Gabrielle
to stay out of harm's way. Does Gabby listen? Nooooo!
There are even times when Xena has to walk alongside
her horse, because  Gabrielle has a thing against
riding. That's just like a kid sibling, always  making
things tough for you!
   "Especially at the beginning of the series,
Gabrielle wanted to be like  Xena," says Renee
O'Connor, who plays Gabby (Lucy Lawless plays Xena).
"She  was always trying to imitate her, journey with
her on the different stories,  write about it and tell
about it,"
   The Houston native has some experience at being the
kid sister. She admits  that "most likely" she bugged
older brother Chris more than once when they  were
kids.
   "Probably more than I would like to say," laughs
Renee, 25. "We were always playing and I was trying to
get involved in everything (he and his friends)  were
ever doing...
   "We would even have mock play fights with Indians
and the whole bit, all  the action sequences. So it's
kind of funny, because sometimes when I'm  playing this
(show) with Lucy, it reminds me of when my brother and
I were  playing our simulated battles."
   If you saw earlier episodes of "Xena," you noticed
Gabrielle always got in  some type of jam, and it was
up to the Warrior Princess to get her out. But  now
Gabrielle is taking care of herself more. She's even
blasting baddies away with a fighting staff of her own.
   "She started to be around Xena a bit more and learn
and become more  independent," Renee explains. "We
wanted to show that she could be stronger, a little
spunkier."
   By having Gabrielle stand on her own feet more,
Renee and the producers of  "Xena" also want to show a
side of females that usually isn'ts."  
   STRONG FRIENDSHIP
   Renee is something of a kid sister to another hero:
Hercules.   "He's like a big brother to me," she says
about Kevin Sorbo, who stars in  "Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys." His show is filmed in New Zealand,
just like "Xena."
   "I can call him any time and just touch base with
him and see how he's doing."
   Even though both have become good friends with the
people who work on their shows, Kev and Renee, who is
from Houston, are still far from home. Renee  says:
"It's  nice to have someone that's (also) away from
their friends and  family, that you can call and talk
to."
   "Xena: Warrior Princess" used to air Fridays at 8
p.m. Central Time on WGN, but it's bouncing around
because of  the station's baseball coverage; check 
local listings for times and days. "Xena" does repeat
episodes at 11:30 p.m.  on Sundays.
   GRAPHIC: (3) Renee O'Connor (right) with Lucy
Lawless; Kevin Sorbo.; Renee O'Connor


[308] 05-31-96
   XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 9. 20 pages. 8556 words.
Annotations XMR069a-083c. Edited by and annotations by
Kym Masera Taborn.
   COMMENTARY: A world press review of coverage on XWP,
Renee O'Connor, or Lucy Lawless. Covered 10/29/95
through 11/24/95. Renee O'Connor interview, Nick
Kokotakis, Ted Raimi, mythology, The Reckoning, The
Gauntlet, Unchained Heart, Sinbad, Beastmaster, and
more. Editorial covered the announcement of IAXS: The
International Association of Xena Studies.


[309] 05-31-96
   LA WEEKLY. Vol.18 No.27. Pg. 41. "Atlas, Shrugged;
Xena, Hercules, Barbie and Ken" By Arion Berger.
   COMMENTARY:  A negative review of XWP presented as a
commentary on our disintegrating popular culture.  The
reviewer offered HTLJ (though with an apology), asking
us to forgive its "faults".  The reviewer also made
enough many factual errors that a knowledgeable reader
would be inclined to think that the reviewer only saw a
single show, if not merely portions.
   Up to this time, the published criticism of XWP
tended to be of three camps: (1) that it was
excessively violent; (2) that it was based upon "stupid
history"; or (3) that it was a form of Baywatch, i.e, a
sexually exploitative show.
   The violence spin was heard primarily in connection
with the introduction of the V-Chip and the voluntary
ratings that television producers were expected to
offer in their near future. XWP was the posterchild of
many articles which asked, 'Would it block out Xena?'
'How would a show like Xena be rated?'. Thus far this
school of thought has not discussed the Hong Kong/Kung
Fu film antecedents of XWP and HTLJ (actually moreso
with XWP than HTLJ), nor have they adequately discussed
the relative lack of graphic violence in the shows in
regard to their violence arguments.
   The stupid history camp bemoaned that XWP and HTLJ
were not chronologically or traditionally correct. This
position was eloquently expressed in the notorious NPR
"ALL THINGS CONSIDERED" discussion on 04/23/96
(XMR254).  Their arguments included concern that
younger children would not get the show and expressed
alarm that they did not see on the screen what they
read in their dog-eared copies of Edith Hamilton or
Robert Graves mythology books.
   The Baywatch crowd deemed both shows degrading to
humankind and beneath the dignity of any good
upstanding citizen. Basically all they saw was a woman
barely in leather riding around beating up men.  That
she only traveled with a young woman was merely stoking
the flames of the fire.
   Arion Berger has achieved what was no doubt
inevitable.  He has fused all the camps into a new
hybrid which chaarcterizes XWP and HTLJ as ugly but
completely understandable results of this culture.
Because these shows jumped out of our society's head,
they cannot be expected but to use stupid history, be
violent, and to be a Baywatch clone.  Berger takes the
previous negative criticisms and creates almost a
Unified Field Theory of why XWP is not nutritious to
the soul.  His arguments, though, would have been
better served had he actually paid attention to the
show and had discussed the preceding artistic
traditions of which XWP and HTLJ sprang.
   REPRINT:
   In the world of period entertainment, there's
ignorant anachronism, ironic anachronism and a third
category - the heedless, utterly unconcerned
oh-that's-an-anachronism? of Xena: Warrior Princess and
her lesser fledgling-net sibling, Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys. "The guy was trying ta kill me,"
explains an ancillary character found in possession of
a bloody sword. Xena nods understandingly. The
universal language of excuses works it's magic again.
   Xena (Lucy Lawless) doesn't need an interpreter
across the chasm of time because she is all-wise and a
beloved heroine of many lands and peoples, and also
because such niceties are beyond the scope of this
show's interest. Xena is dungeons-and-dragons T&A for
the kiddie set, invested as much in it's blatant moral
lessons and Catskillian laugh lines as in it's
lingering shots of strong, tanned thighs and pointy
metal breastplates. Like Wonder Woman, Xena is of
hybrid mythical origin - - mythical to American
culture, but tied in with the old Greek belief system
by way of benevolent protection and heroic gifts
bestowed. But no "forsooths" or even W.W.'s "By Zeus"es
for our Xena: she's a goddess straight outta the mall
by way of North Beach Leather and tae kwon do class.
And if a character occasionally looks at his watch -
okay, that hasn't happened - it's only to speed the
story along to it's next action sequence/laugh
line/moral lesson.
   Also like Wonder Woman, Xena enjoys something of a
cult success thanks to he familywide appeal. Aided by
'70's culture, the deathless Wonder Woman theme song
positioned Lynda Carter's curvaceous superheroine with
a pinpoint brevity James Merrill would not have been
ashamed of:  "In your satin tights/ fighting for your
rights/ change your mind/ and change the world."  The
modern bare-legged variant, Xena, is a powerful
feminist heroine tricked out like a go-go dancer on the
Beastmaster set who indulges in plenty of teeth
gritting, "hi-ya!" - punctuated, wee-whacker karate and
the kind of sword fights that involve manipulating the
thing like a champion baton twirler before actually
menacing an opponent with it.  ("Billy! Suzy! Get your
mom! XENA'S starting!! On second thought, don't get
your mom!")  And hipsters are watching because it may
be camp - it IS camp, but it's also sort of good - -
and we're suspicious that they're putting one over on
us, so we want to keep an eye on it. Sam Raimi is an
executive producer, but what does that MEAN?
   The premise, if you must, goes something like this:
Xena is a warrior princess who has been called to do
battle against the forces of yuck and unfairness in an
evil-ravaged time and place that is vaguely
pre-Christian and vaguely European. She has a sidekick,
a spunky but slightly doughy blonde named Gabrielle,
and an errant father who's shown up only once and
doesn't appear to be much of a kind for a guy who's
daughter is a princess. Anyway, Xena is looked after by
a hand-fluttering worry wart in flowing robes with the
general demeanor of the Druid equivalent of an opera
queen. It's best not to ask too many questions.
   Every week Xena rides forth to battle against . . .
stuff, it all begins to melt together. Thighs flash,
swords gleam and wisecracks on the level of a very
cheap cop show fly - "If you want something done right,
you gotta buy the right people" sort of thing.  Lovely
Lucy Lawless, deep of tan and white of teeth, with
bright blue eyes and serious black hair, looks every
inch the warrior princess, whatever that is, and
leather fringe, of course, gives any headstrong girl
that "Don't mess with me, imagine how high I can kick
in this thing" look that's so valuable in heading off
those messy fights. Lawless' only drawback is absolute
humorlessness, so profound it's like an absence as
entity - a humor black hole, if you will, that sucks up
and vaporizes any potential for unwitting camp,  or
indeed a stance of any kind. Lawless is without stance.
She is Xena, warrior princess, and if her reaction to
the hearty eye-twinkling repartee of her underlings
seems a tad automated, well, this is a woman with
bigger things on her mind.
   One of those things is not sex, but it appears to be
first on the list for everyone else. Perfectly aware
that there's a beautiful young woman riding around the
country with only a redhead and a Maria Callas fan for
protection, the mustache twirlers of the ancient world
regularly get hot under their leather collars. Of
course, Xena's physical strength and sassy lone-wolf
status only add to her seductive powers, but where the
series veers away from the classic romance-novel plot
is that Xena never does get bagged by that one big
brute of a man willing to tame the wild, hair tossing
filly.
   In Xena's dangerous world, sex really does equal
death, and the baddies use ambiguous language to
describe their dealings with her. In an episode in
which she lies at the brink of death, the villain
introduces himself thusly: "I'm the man who killed
Xena." Later, someone asks him incredulously, "Did you
get her?" And when she wakes from her coma, he pounds
his fist in frustration, barking, "I HAD her! I HAD
her!"  Correction pal.
   Hercules, on the other hand, is a sort of Captain
Kirk of the ancient world. Played with game effort by
Kevin Sorbo, who is probably not as dumb as he looks,
Hercules falls like a sack of gravel for various
haughty princesses, spitfire rebel chicks and other
visitors to the toga party that is his weekly series.
He can afford to fall in and out of love so easily
since it appears that the golden rules of olden tymmes
aren't so different from our own: Herc will never be
tied down by one of these frequent trivial liaisons,
that lonesome highway's always calling, but a warrior
princess with such a short memory and susceptible heart
. . . what's the Greek word for "tramp" ?
   Hercules has other problems, though, and their
doozies. First, his look is not so Herculean. It isn't
Sorbo's fault, but a sinewy BLOND Hercules with a
surfer's tan? This Herc is a boy, so far from the
manly, lion-pelt-brandishing demi-god on display at the
Getty museum - now THAT'S Hercules - you wonder if the
creators were deliberately going for a non-Classic
Greek look on top of clearly trying to appeal to kids
with a hero closer in age to it's target audience.
   Second, the whole premise carries the faint whiff of
the dubious; not only does the legend of Hercules offer
12 thrilling tasks, but his life was nonstop action
adventure all the way up to the suicide by
fire/ascension to Olympus that freed him from the agony
of the hydra-poisoned centaur blood. He even had cool
stuff to do on Mount Olympus - he's a strongman with a
full dance card. But while the rather unimaginative
series speckles it's landscape with gods and goddesses,
it doesn't bring to life truly Herculean adventures
like the time he brought faithful Alcestis back from
the realm of the underworld to live with the selfish
kind Admetus, or when he rescued Deianira from the
centaur Nessus.
   Instead, he's given Xena-like field work to do under
the amorphous guise of more tasks: "Wrestle Antaeus,
and while you're at it, Herc, can you stop by the
forest and rid it of kleptomaniac satyrs? I'll owe you
one."  The stories aren't bad, just more generic than
they need to be, since history has provided a rich
trove of Hercules tales that  1) don't need to be made
up and 2) could pass for sneakily educational. Even so,
kids watching may need to be told who Aphrodite is, and
that small amount of education has it's uses. If you
squint, Xena and Hercules are like history in a thick
coat of bronzer.


[310]  05-31-96 through 06-03-96
     NOTE: Ratings for THE GREATER GOOD (#21), 1st
release, 05/06/96. Ranked 2nd action hour with 5.1
rating. Comparison with other action hours: (1) ST:
DEEP SPACE 9 at 7th with 5.6; (2) XWP at 13th with 5.1;
(3) HTLJ at 14th with 4.7.


[310a] 05-31-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 293 words. "Trek' at Warp
Speed; 'Xena' Pins 'Hercules'" By Jonathan Davies
   COMMENTARY:  Ratings for THE GREATER GOOD, where
Gabrielle walks a few miles in Xena's moccasins and
other attire. XWP earned a 5.1 and was rated 2nd action
hour.  HTLJ was 3rd, and ST:DS9 was 1st.
   EXCERPT:
   A handful of active action hours livened up an
otherwise lackluster week in the ratings for May 13-19,
a period that overlaps the fourth week of the May
sweeps.  In a week when the benefit of larger audiences
because of the end of the college year was largely
canceled out by programming interruptions due to Bob
Dole's exit from the Senate, Paramount's "Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine" was among the few upwardly mobile
action hours.  The sci-fi series rose from a 5.3 rating
to a 5.6 for the week, according to Nielsen Media
Research data.  The gain widened "Star Trek's" lead
over its closest competitor, which this week was MCA's
"Xena: Warrior Princess" at 5.1. "Xena" was up 9% from
its previous showing to leapfrog its companion show,
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." That show was down
6% to a 4.7, a low for the season.  All American's
"Baywatch" and Warner Bros.' "Babylon 5" were among
other gainers for the week, with a 4.1 and a 3.3,
respectively.  MGM's "The Outer Limits" lost ground for
the week, falling from a 3.6 to a season-to-date low of
3.2.  The trio of "Highlander," "Renegade" and
"Baywatch Nights" also slipped by varying degrees to
tie for a 2.7 rating. Among the other shows to exhibit
erosion were "Land's End" and "Tales From the Crypt,"
tied at a 2.4; "The Lazarus Man," at a 2.2; and
"Flipper," at a 1.7.  "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues"
gained 5% to a 2.2, but it exhibited signs of the
across-the-board depression that has afflicted much of
syndication this season. "Kung Fu," for example, was
37% below last year's mark of 3.5 at this time. Even
top-flier "Star Trek" is tracking 16% behind last
year's 6.7. 


[310b] 05-31-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Page 3. 460 words. "Off-nets Mow
Syndie Vets; Frosh Sitcoms Brighten Grim Week as
Talkers Take a Tumble" By Jenny Hontz.
   COMMENTARY: THE GREATER GOOD, 1st release
   EXCERPT:
   Nearly all the syndication veterans lost ground in
May from last season, as ratings for freshman off-net
sitcoms continued to soar.
   Nielsen Syndication Service ratings for the week
ending May 19, which overlapped with the final week of
May sweeps, held few surprises....
   ...Paramount's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" led the
weekly action-hour gang with a 5.8, down 16% from a
year ago. Coming in second place was MCA TV's
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," with a 5 rating, a
dip of 2%.
   MCA TV's freshman hour "Xena: Warrior Princess"
placed third, 4.7, but in the fourth week of sweeps
managed to edge out
"Hercules" for the second time in the last three
airings...


[310c] 06-03-96
   VARIETY. Page 37. 184 words. "Nielsen Syndication
Ratings".
   COMMENTARY:  The numbers for THE GREATER GOOD,
episode no. 21.  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine tied for
7th in rank with 5.6, and placed first in the action
hours. XWP ranked 13th with 5.1, and placed 2nd. HTLJ
tied for 14th with 4.7, and placed 3rd. No other action
hours made it to the top twenty.
   REPRINT:
   For week ended May 19, 1996  
                                    Stations/
Rank  Program                       %coverage   AA%  
GAA%   
1   Wheel of Fortune               226/99  11.2     --  
2   Jeopardy!                      221/99   9.6     --  
3   Oprah Winfrey Show             235/99   7.9    8.0  
4   Home Improvement               224/98   7.7    8.3  
5   Seinfeld                       223/96   6.8     --  
6   Entertainment Tonight          178/95   5.9    6.0  
7   Inside Edition                 166/91   5.6    5.7  
7   Star Trek: Deep Space Nine     235/98   5.6    6.0  
9   Wheel of Fortune -- Wknd.      183/84   5.4     --  
10   Simpsons                      192/96   5.3    5.6  
11   Fresh Prince of Bel-Air       171/93   5.2    5.7  
11   WCW Wrestling                 183/93   5.2    7.6  
13   Xena                          204/97   5.1    5.5  
14   Journey of Hercules           231/98   4.7    5.0  
14   World Wrestling Fed. PR       163/90   4.7    6.1  
16   Hard Copy                     181/92   4.4    4.4  
17   Home Improvement -- Wknd.     213/95   4.3     --  
17   Live w/Regis & Kathie Lee     234/99   4.3     --  
17   Roseanne                      173/91   4.3    4.6  
20   Jenny Jones                   214/96   4.2    4.4 
   AA average refers to nonduplicated viewing for
multiple airings of the same show. GAA average
encompasses duplicated viewing. GAA average does not
apply when there is only one run of a show 


[310d] 06-03-96
   VARIETY. Page 37. 370 words. "Off-net Freshmen
Bright amid Syndie Rating Blues" By Jenny Hontz
   COMMENTARY: THE GREATER GOOD, 1st release.
   EXCERPT:
   Nearly all the syndication veterans lost ground in
May from last season, as ratings for freshman off-net
sitcoms continued to soar.
   Nielsen Syndication Service ratings for the week
ending May 19, which overlapped with the final week of
May sweeps, held few surprises....
   ...Par's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" led the weekly
action-hour gang with a 5.8, down 16% from a year ago.
Coming in second place was MCA TV's "Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys," with a 5 rating, a dip of 2%.



-------------
THE BACK PAGE
-------------

NEXT ISSUE
Issue #22 will begin at annotation 311 and end
tentatively at 330, dated from June 1, 1996 to June 14,
1996.  It is scheduled to be released whenever I get
around to it!

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


BACK ISSUES
Back issues of XMR are available at the XMR Archive on
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Permission to use, copy and distribute Xena Media
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both the above copyright notice and this permission
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and that proper credit is given for any excerpts. Any
other format or purpose for distribution requires
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Send cites, references, articles, annotations, and/or
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Submitted materials will not be returned to the sender.

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, and any other rightful
and legal copyright holder).  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 mass media.  XMR exercises its
right to quote, excerpt or reprint 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. This is
an All Talk No Action Publication. Copyright 1996,1997
by Kym Masera Taborn.


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