     _____               ______                               ._
     `\`/>`\            /`/` /`__________,.'>___      _____   )~\
       /<`\ `\        /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\     |\./|  / | \
      /< `\`\ `\    /`/` /`   | | |----\ /  | |\ \    | | |././^\ \
 |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----.
[\\\\\\\{*}==`>      <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==-->
 |/~~{o}/-- /`/  /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--'
      \<  /`/` /`  `\`\ `\    | | |_____,.'>| | |   `\`\| | /'    \ \ \
       \< /` /`      `\`\ `\  ,/ /^\------> / |/^\|   \ | |/       \/^\\.
      /`/\>/`           `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~   )^\,\,      '~~~~~
     `~~~~~`             '~~~~~`            `          ~~~~~~
==========================
XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #15
==========================
http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html
c/o RIF BBS, P.O. Box 81181, Bakersfield, CA 93308
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122 subscribers and growing!
This document has 1276 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. 15
Release date: July 12, 1996
Covering 02/25/96 through 03/14/96
Annotations #178 through #200


-------------
Introduction:
------------

This week's exciting issue
--------------------------
   Most rabid Xena Media Hounds suffered mild ennui for
the first fortnight of March 1996.  In contrast,
January and February reflected the pomp and
circumstance of the NATPE related press junkets and
press releases.  What went up, must assuredly had to
come down.  It did.  The first two weeks of March
represented a bit of repose from the previous flurry of
activity.  Xena addicts in need of a potent fix had to
wait until late February for a substantial review; then
April for a squall of interviews (including that most
eventful moment where Lucy Lawless received her first
mention in a sleazy tabloid -- forget about being on
the cover of TV Guide or a side of an L.A. bus: you are
"in" when the supermarket tabloids start featuring
you!).  Unfortunately, you, the reader, will have to
wait until next week for those little nuggats (maniacal
laughter).  Be happy I am not leaving for my vacation
this weekend.
   The most significant press in this week's XMR was in
the Realms of Fantasy/SCI-FI Channel Magazine interview
which for the most part covered HTLJ (XMR184). There
were references to XWP, and it included the not-quite-
so-infamous Lucy Lawless' quote: "She's [Xena] a bit
dysfunctional, yet she understands the dark side of
human nature. She's actually the person I could've been
if I was born to different parents."
   The next highlight was an article about writer
Brenda Lunsford Lilly who wrote the XWP episode,
"Warrior...Princess" (XMR200). Feature articles not
about the producers or actors are rare. This piece
should be cherished.
   Other than the fan magazine offerings (XMR184a;
XMR184b) and the article about the writer of
"Warrior...Princess" (XMR200), there were local paper
Q&As (XMR178; XMR191); mentions in local fluff pieces
(XMR179); Xena v-chip, censorship, and TV ratings
concerns (XMR180; XMR183; XMR193; XMR198) (which were
discounted by an actual test of watching XWP with a
fully functional V-Chip (XMR198)); local programming
blurbs (XMR181; XMR185; XMR188; XMR194); more on
Beastmaster (XMR182), the show that will NOT die;
ratings for Mortal Beloved, first release (XMR186),
Royal Couple of Thieves, first release (XMR190), and
The Titans, second release (XMR199); news of
Renaissance Pictures continuing relationship with
Universal (XMR187); James McNamara's appointment as a
President at MCA/Universal TV (XMR189; XMR196); local
Xena programming politics (XMR192); local trivia
(XMR195); and an article about toy collecting (XMR197).

Random thoughts
---------------
   Last week I opined about Ms. Lawless' hair color. I
was going to do the same about her height (5'10" to 6';
not much divergence) and age (27 to 31; significance
divergence), but then decided too much of a good thing
is, well, too much.
   I did notice something new this week. My favorite
shows of XWP are all by the same person. So, expect a
wordy and drawn out analysis of these shows in the
somewhat near future.  That, or either a nervous
breakdown. I just can't seem to fit either into my
schedule right now.
   I will be going on a three week sans internet
vacation starting after XMR #17 is scheduled to be
released. I will not be sending out any XMRs during
that time. However, I will be meeting with some of the
many XMR subscribers during my Minneapolis, Milwaukee,
Kalamazoo tour. 

Focused thoughts
----------------
   I have been editing XMR for FIFTEEN issues. Wow.
It's been three full months and I have been churning
this out every Friday except for one week I missed way
back when. I have decided that it's time to open up
this "lead" article to people other than myself. This
is your chance Xenadom! Have your very thoughts and
words known to the world! Nothing too small and nothing
is too large.  All it has to have is some relationship
to XWP! Come on, take the heat off me. Start those
contributions now! 

The Great Database Project
--------------------------
   As stated in last week's XMR, I have begun work on a
searchable database of as much Xenalore as I can
discover. So far four brave souls have volunteered to
begin transcriptions of magazine articles, interviews
and dialogue of the shows.  Because of copyright
reasons, I will not be able to release this database
over the web; however, it will be offered to IAXS
(International Association of Xena Studies) members on
an individual basis for use in their research projects. 
Hopefully, by December of 1996, I will have all the
episodes of XWP transcribed, along with all the fan
magazine references and broadcast interviews, along
with the XMR material (which covers the major world
press) to date.  Such a resource will greatly aid Xena
scholarship, and I am proud that XMR & IAXS will be
able to provide this service.
   I still need more volunteers to do the transcribing,
especially of the shows. I will furnish the material
that needs transcribing for free. All you need do
is...transcribe it into an ascii text file and send it
to me. 

Bolshie Reference
-----------------
  I knew it had either to do with the Bolsheviks or
ballet. Fourteen subscribers set me right. The
Bolsheviks win again! Thanks, I appreciated it. 

XenaFest II
-----------
   XenaFest II will be Sunday, July 21, 1996 in Rancho
Cucamonga. XMR will be there, covering the momentous
event. More on this...next week.
  Until next week, Kym.   
   

----------
TIMELINE
----------
 2/05/96  15   Warrior...Princess  
 2/12/96  16   Mortal Beloved      
 2/19/96  17   The Royal Couple of Thieves 
 2/26/96   7R  The Titans      
 3/04/96  18   The Prodigal
 3/11/96   8R  Prometheus
 3/18/96   9R  Death in Chains


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

[178] 02-25-96
   USA WEEKEND. Page 02. 1204 words. "Who's news" By
Lorrie Lynch.
   COMMENTARY: Another petite Q&A about Lucy Lawless.
   EXCERPT:
   ...- Lucy Lawless, who stars as Xena in the
syndicated spinoff of Hercules, is reminiscent of '70s
TV action heroines like the Bionic Woman and Wonder
Woman. She's really cool. Where is Lawless from? And
how tall is she? Matt Clark, North Bend, Ohio.
   Lawless, a recent TV Guide cover girl, is developing
quite a cult following. She's a native of Auckland, New
Zealand, where Xena: Warrior Princess is shot. The
6-foot-tall beauty, who is married and has a 7-year-old
daughter, took martial arts training for the role...


[179] 02-25-96
   THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Page 8. 1849 words. "Comedy
Is Queen; Funny females stand up to take their place in
TV history" By Mike McDaniel
   COMMENTARY: In a local reader's choice for favorite
female comedians, Xena got one vote.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Here are readers' choices for their favorite
female
comedians...
   1. Fran Drescher, 64.
   2. Ellen DeGeneres, 26.
   3. Cybill Shepherd, 18.
   4. Christine Baranski, 13.
   5. Brett Butler tied with Julia-Louis Dreyfus, 10
each. 
   7. Candice Bergen tied with Helen Hunt, 6
   9. Lisa Kudrow, 4
   10.  Queen Latifah tied with Tea Leoni and Patricia
Richardson, 3 each.
   Other women with votes were Bonnie Hunt, Peri
Gilpin,
Roseanne, Crystal Bernard, Jean Smart, Vicki Lawrence,
Lucille Ball and Kathie Lee Gifford.  Oprah Winfrey and
Xena got 1 vote each - and Hillary Rodham Clinton got
2...


[180] 02-25-96
   AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Page G1. 1721 words. "How
does TV rate?; Questions abound in ratings controversy,
leaving some believing television is in over its head"
By Diane Holloway.
   COMMENTARY: In an article about the controversies
surrounding the v-chip and ratings for television, the
author mentioned XWP in passing while asking the
question who would determine the rating for non-network
syndicated programs. 
   EXCERPT:
   Seems like a simple solution, doesn't it?
   Slap a PG-13 rating on ''Roseanne,'' flip the V-chip
to block PG-13 fare, and Mr. and Mrs. Doe won't have to
worry about little Janie stumbling onto crude language,
dope-smoking and sexual situations. At least not for
that half-hour. 
   But nothing about the debate over television's
negative impact on children is simple. And many
questions arise out of the recent rumblings from the
four major networks about devising a rating system
that's similar to the ratings used by the Motion
Picture Association of America for theatrical films.   
   Who will impose the ratings, the TV industry
(networks and producers) or the government? Will the
MPAA guidelines fit TV programs? What about the
logistics of such a task?...
   ...WHO RATES THE SHOWS?
   Assuming the TV industry comes up with a rating
system that is acceptable to the FCC, it likely will
fall to cable and broadcast networks' standards and
practices divisions, which are responsible for
monitoring sex, violence and language on programming
now, to apply the ratings. Independent stations would
have to apply the ratings themselves. Non-network
syndicated programs, such as ''Xena: Warrior
Princess,'' might be rated by the distributing
companies or by the programs' producers...


[181] 02-26-96
   TIMES RECORD NEWS (Wichita Falls TX). Page A1. 783
words. "Wichita Falls gets fifth TV network -- UPN" By
Jim Mannion.
   COMMENTARY: Local scheduling announcement. Passing
mention of XWP in Texas. Strangely enough, no mention
of native daughter Renee O'Connor.
   EXCERPT:
   ...At 6 p.m. each weeknight and Saturday, UPN 35
will air "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which had
been showing at 9 p.m. Tuesdays and 6 p.m. Saturdays on
Fox 18. In its place, Fox will air the original "Star
Trek" series at 5 p.m. Saturdays. And--on a note for
sci-fi fans--the first airing on March 9 will be the
pilot episode for the original "Star Trek," which has
not been seen in this market since September 1990 and
features a different captain than William Shatner as
Capt. James Kirk. At 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Fox will air
"Xena: Warrior Princess."...


[182] 02-29-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 206 words. "May unlock TV
Beastmaster" By Steve Brennan 
   COMMENTARY: News about MCA's possible production of
"Beastmaster" as a weekly series to add to the HTLJ and
XWP line-up. Passing mention of XWP.
   EXCERPT:
   MCA TV is considering developing an action series
based on The Beastmaster movies to join its syndication
hits Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior
Princess. Hercules and its spinoff Xena have made a
major impact in syndication with their mythical- heroic
themes.   MCA TV executives will be looking closely at
how the two-hour syndicated action-adventure
Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus does in its May
debut with Marc Singer reprising the role of Dar the
Beastmaster....
   ...Universal Television executive vp Ned Nalle
confirmed that talks have taken place with Singer about
the possibility of a series. But in confirming that
Beastmaster is being actively considered for a series
outing, Nalle said MCA TV had captured the imagination
of a lot of people with Hercules and Xena but does not
see Beastmaster as a substitute show. While the ratings
from the two-hour Beastmaster movie will influence its
future as a series, Nalle said the ability of producers
to provide story lines for at least five years will
also be major factors...


[183] 03-01-96
   THE ETHNIC NEWSWATCH. Vol. 99. No. 31069. Page 7.
879 words. "Legislating Sexual Morality" By Julius
Lester
   COMMENTARY: Article about censoring the internet.
XWP was mentioned in passing as a series where
"semi-nudity...is the norm".
   EXCERPT:
   ...Yet no one asks, from what does the Communication
Decency Act protect children? Congress and the
Christian right can't be serious when they maintain
that they are protecting children from sex. Music
videos provide images of sexuality 24 hours a day that
are more tantalizing than the pictures on the Internet.
A child needs only to know how to turn on a TV set and
push a button on the remote to see the semi-nudity
which is the norm on television shows like "Baywatch."
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Princess
Warrior." Madison Avenue uses half-clad bodies to sell
anything and everything. Erotica has been
commercialized to such an extent that Americans live in
a state of semi-sexual arousal. The ads in Sunday's New
York Times Magazine are more erotic than the glossy
pictures in Playboy or the fuzzy ones on the Internet.
More children are sexualized by television talk shows
than the Internet or World Wide Web...


[184] 03-01-96 through 04-01-96
   NOTE: Craig Reid's article on HTLJ and XWP appeared
in two versions in both SCI-FI Channel Magazine March
1996 and Realms of Fantasy April 1996 issues. 


[184a] 03-01-96
   SCI-FI CHANNEL MAGAZINE. Page 54. "Hercules and
Xena: The Legends Continue..." By Craig Reid.
   COMMENTARY: I am not sure of the date of this
magazine. I have approximated the date from the content
of some articles on the photocopy that was sent to me.
If anyone has the proper month of this magazine, please
contact me.
   CONTRIBUTOR: J. Hogan
   EXCERPT: 
   Since its introduction in January 1995, Hercules:
The Legendary Journeys has been a consistent ratings
winner in the United States, the crown jewel among
Universal Television's offerings, and the sole
unqualified TV success of Renaissance Pictures, the
outfit behind televisions M.A.N.T.I.S. and American
Gothic, as well as the feature films Darkman and Army
of Darkness. 
   The show caught viewers' attention with a
combination of pugilistic mayhem, sly humor, and the
innovative use of the new generation of digital visual
effects. All that, and especially the natural "good
guy" appeal of Kevin Sorbo, have helped executive
producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert breathe new life
into the "sandal epic" genre, known to previous
generations as a domain of overblown Hollywood epics,
and bottom-line Italian movie moguls. And now, the
show's success has spawned a spin-off series poised for
equal success. Xena: Warrior Princess stars Lucy
Lawless as the title character, repeating her role from
three well-received Hercules episodes of last year.
   Tapert, whose partnership with Raimi extends back to
their college days, comments on the birth of Hercules.
"We were approached by Universal Studios to do some
Hercules movies for their "Action-Pak" series of
television films; we wanted to do Conan, but the rights
weren't available. 
   "So we watched the old Steve Reeves Hercules movies,
and realized that we couldn't use that stilted dialogue
and guys-in-togas. So we invented our own Golden Age
mythology, with green pastures, no togas, and a
conscious effort to modernize the dialogue -- without
making it "hip." We also didn't want to emphasize
Hercules' feats of strength. Muscle-bound guys are hard
to relate to, so we opted for a more athletic,
good-looking kind of guy, someone you felt you could
talk to." 
   Sorbo definitely has an athlete's body -- he's 6'3"
tall and weighs 215 fatless pounds -- but he's unlikely
to be mistaken for a world-class weighlifter. "People
are so used to Steve Reeves or Lou Ferrigno, they think
that Hercules must have huge muscles," Sorbo says, but
the show's producers didn't want to go that way.
Critics originally didn't like that, they just didn't
understand what the show was all about. Once they
realized he is supposed to be more of a decathlete,
they loved it. People can identify with Hercules and
say, "hey, he's like me," and "I wish I could be like
him," He's approachable, attainable, the kind of guy
you can share a beer with."...
   (Discussed Hong Kong action movie influences on the
show and Kevin Sorbo's marital arts training)
   ...Upon the great success of Hercules, Universal
turned again to the Renaissance partnership and Tapert
proposed a spinoff show, based on a character from the
Hercules series. Xena, a warrior woman who, after doing
her best to put Herc's head on a pike, was abandoned by
her army when she learned that, deep down inside, she
was really a compassionate person. Although no longer
fighting for territory and the spoils of war, she
remains a warrior, in defense of the defenseless and
combatting the darkness of her barbaric times. 
   At the start, the biggest problem was that the
syndicators were leery about a female action show.
Plus, they worried she would be a female Hercules. Says
Tapert, "We did everything we could to make her
different."
   "Again, Tapert took inspiration from Hong Kong
films. "I have to give a great deal of credit to
Bridget Lin. In some respects, we westernized her
character from Swordsman and Bride with White Hair
films. A volatile dark character, yet still very
feminine; you never know what she's going to do next." 
   Lucy Lawless, a New Zealand native, brings a natural
thirst for adventure to the role. At 17, she abandoned
college in mid-studies in order to travel the world,
grape-picking on the Rhine and gold-mining deep in
Australia's outback. She returned to Auckland, not yet
20, married and mother to Daisy, now 7 years old. "Xena
is as strong as any man or woman," Lawless says of her
alter ego. "She's a bit dysfunctional, yet she
understands the dark side of human nature. She's
actually the person I could've been if I was born to
different parents."...
   (Discussed Ms. Lawless' study of the "white lotus
system" of marital arts training; and Tapert commented
on how the fight scenes are done they way they are on
purpose.)
   ...Another highlight of both shows is the generous
use of visual effects, including some work that is
sharply reminiscent of Ray Harryhausen-style
stop-motion work. "... 
   (Discussion of fx)
   ..."Our FX guys are really on the cutting edge,
working under incredible time constraints, yet they
continue to excel and deliver state-of-the-art effects
on a TV schedule and a ridiculously low budget," says
Tapert....
   (More fx discussion)
   ...The earliest episodes of Hercules included a fair
amount of location-based puppetry special effects, but
the production has since gone over to the primary use
of CGI [computer-generated imaging] for creature
creation. And what creatures they are: giant snakes,
pterodactyls, three-headed dogs, half-human snake
demons, centaurs, assassins made of fire and water,
two-headed fanned-lizard serpents, bird women and,
recently, eight (count 'em) sword-wielding skeletons.
Not only do Sorbo and Lawless have their hands full,
but so does [visual effects supervisor Ken] O'Neill...
   (More about fx)
   ...Certainly the biggest challenge was a pet project
of producer Tapert. "Jason and the Argonauts" is my
favorite mythological film," he says. "I directed a
sort of "revisited episode" from Jason, which of course
features the famous skeleton fight. It's really cool."
   Sorbo agrees that the episode was quite a rush. "It
was a dream episode. Even as a kid, this was a fantasy
for me, watching those skeletons rising up out of the
soil and then fighting Jason. I kept thinking, "of all
the six billion people in the world, I'm the only one
fighting the skeletons!...
   (More about the episode)
   ...Flat Earth [FX visual effects company] managed to
bring the sequence in economically, without compromise,
by making a few discreet inquiries in the appropriate
Usenet newsgroups and locating a fellow animator who
had created a detailed digital skeleton for another
project. "We bought that skeleton model," explains
O'Neill, "and modified it to match the skeleton that we
used in the practical photography."...
   (more about fx)
   ...Tapert left us with his thoughts for the future
of both legendary heroes. "I love the fights in Xena,
but the Hercules fights are getting just a little bit
dull, and too repetitive. It's hard with a guy who
punches people to continue to come up with new brawls
that are interesting without going into too much
kung-fu. But we are continuing to try, still being
careful not to use too many gadgets.
   "For both shows, we'll start to raise a few stories
from the Bible. We're going to break out of some of the
ruts in Hercules that we are falling into. Lucy is
becoming more comfortable with Xena and becoming a much
better actress. We plan to do a pure slapstick episode,
and perhaps a few dark ones. So going light, then going
real dark, we are expanding in all directions, and
trying to give the audience an interesting mix."


[184b] 04-01-96
   REALMS OF FANTASY. "HERCULES AND XENA PUT A NEW FACE
ON FANTASY LEGENDS IN THEIR MOST ANCIENT FORMS." By
Craig Reed.
   COMMENTARY: Edited down version of XMR184a.
   CONTRIBUTOR: Paul S. Manson (pmanson@inforamp.net)

   
[185] 03-01-96
   PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Page C16. 394 words. "TV
Today" By Lee Winfrey.
   COMMENTARY: A very dense local promo for The Titans.
Included a tangent about Xena's chakram and her
medicinal "touch".
   EXCERPT:
   ...XENA:  WARRIOR PRINCESS. (9-10 p.m., Ch. 57) -
This mythological action series is the season's highest
rated new syndicated show.  The formidable Lucy Lawless
stars as Xena, a bad girl who turned into a good woman. 
Xena's weapons include the chakram, a razor-sharp,
discus-like weapon she hurls with devastating effect,
and the ``Xena touch,'' a two-fingered pinch on the
pressure points of the neck, which she uses to extract
information from uncooperative sources.  Renee 
O'Connor portrays her feisty young sidekick, Gabrielle. 
This evening Xena frees three Titans encased for
centuries in stone.  Syndicated...


[186]
   NOTE:   First run "Mortal Beloved" earned a 5.5
rating, and placed 3rd in the action hours genre.


[186a] 03-04-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Page 16. 649 words. "Bad News for
Mags;
From 'ET' to 'Journal,' tab shows take a hit" By Jim
Benson
   COMMENTARY: 1st release, Mortal Beloved
   EXCERPT:
   In a bad omen for syndicated magazines, the pack
continued to erode during the frame overlapping the
third week of the February sweeps. 
   The tabmags declined for the second consecutive week
and showed significant year-to-year erosion, according
to the Nielsen national barter rankings for the week
ended Feb. 18...
   ...At the top of the weekly action race, Par's "Star
Trek: Deep Space Nine" stayed out front despite
slipping 7% to 6.5. Against last year, the sci-fi
franchise saw 22% of its ratings vaporize.  MCA TV's
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" apparently
offended the gods, declining 9% to 5.9.
   All American's "Baywatch" floated 6% higher to tie
MCA's "Xena: Warrior Princess" (down 4%) for third
place at 5.5. However, "Baywatch's" ratings were
watered down 23% year-to-year...



[186b] 03-04-96
   VARIETY. Page 65. 187 words. "Nielsen Syndication
Ratings"
   COMMENTARY: 1st release, Mortal Beloved
   REPRINT:
For week ended Feb. 18, 1996  
                                     Stations/
Rank             Program           % coverage   AA%  GAA %  
1    Wheel of Fortune                227/99     12.9     --  
2    Jeopardy!                       221/99     10.7     --  
3    Home Improvement                222/97     10.1   10.7  
4    Oprah Winfrey Show              235/99      8.8    8.8  
5    Seinfeld                        218/98      7.9     --  
6    Warner Bros. Vol. 30            163/88      7.8    8.1  
7    Wheel of Fortune-Wknd.          184/83      7.1     --  
8    Entertainment Tonight           175/95      6.8    6.8  
8    Simpsons                        186/96      6.8    6.8  
8    WCW Wrestling                   176/93      6.8   11.2 
11    Home Improvement-Wknd.          214/95      6.7     -- 
12    Star Trek: Deep Space Nine      235/98      6.5    7.1 
13    Inside Edition                  165/92      6.1    6.1 
14    Journeys of Hercules            230/98      5.9    6.4 
15    Baywatch                        221/97      5.5    5.7 
15    Fresh Prince of Bel-Air         163/92      5.5    5.8 
15    Xena                            205/97      5.5    5.9 
18    Roseanne                        178/94      5.3    5.4 
19    Hard Copy                       178/91      5.0    5.0 
19    Live With Regis & Kathle Lee    233/99      5.0     -- 
   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 



[187] 03-04-96 through 03-07-96
   NOTES: Coverage of the Universal and Renaissance
Pictures development deal. 


[187a] 03-04-96
   MEDIAWEEK. Vol. 6. No. 10. Page 28; 259 words.
"Front-loading for the back end; Universal Television
Div.; Brief Article" By T.L. Stanley
   COMMENTARY: Passing mention of Xena in regard to
Renaissance Pictures development deal with Universal.
   EXCERPT:
   When it came time to make some long-term production
deals recently, Tom Thayer had his sights set on both
the international marketplace and syndication. Thayer,
president of Universal Television, says that he and
other Universal executives chose a diverse slate of
producers based mainly on their edginess and commercial
appeal...
   ...Shaun Cassidy, who created the eerie American
Gothic and may return to the small screen as an actor,
has inked a multiyear drama development deal with
Universal. Also on board are Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert,
whose Renaissance Pictures created two runaway
syndication hits for Universal, Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess...


[187b] 03-07-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 620 words. "News"
   COMMENTARY: Notice of Universal and Renaissance
Pictures development deal. 
   EXCERPT:
   ...Universal Television has signed writing-producing
partners Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert to a long-term drama
development deal. The partners are working on a
one-hour pilot drama Lorne & Max set to air on ABC this
fall. The duos credits include creating and executive
producing CBS American Gothic and MCA syndicated hits
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior
Princess...


[188] 03-05-96 
   PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Page I8. 1634 words. "Fresh
Picks" By various writers
   COMMENTARY:  The selection was by Danielle Campbell,
and she was apparently clueless as to the show.  She
was confused by a syndicated show playing on a network
affiliated station.  She believed that UPN was showing
XWP.  Sadly for UPN, she cited XWP as possibly helping
the fledgingly network get better ratings.
   EXCERPT:
   ...TELEVISION 
   Fox hit the airwaves just about 10 years ago.
Initially considered a joke, this fourth network gave
birth to several successes that covered all TV genres
from comedy to drama. 
Several years later, other fledging networks, including
UPN, have emerged to test their luck. However, unlike
Fox, UPN hasn't fully developed a niche. Sticking to
Saturday afternoon-type fare rather than more
well-planned entertainment  has relegated UPN to the
status of a pseudo-network.  
   Still, UPN's  ``Xena: Warrior Princess'' is gaining
some recognition.  The show has been on for a minute,
but it's started to become a bit of a cult hit. But
don't expect to see its episodes rerun as PBS classics
10 years from now. 
   The show, which stars Lucy Lawless as Xena, is
identical to an adult version of the Power Rangers.
Xena, who is basically an American Gladiator in a
dominatrix suit, saunters around a pre-medieval world,
encountering mythical challenges. During the course of
her hour-long show Xena battles and defeats her male
foes, leaving them bruised or dead, but still in awe of
her . . . gifts. 
   With a bawdy mix of humor, role reversal and Sonic
the Hedgehog-inspired flips and kicks, ``Xena: Warrior
Princess,'' is the same type of fodder that is embraced
by the lonely male set that made ``Baywatch'' a hit.  
   If this is the path UPN plans to take to increase
viewers, don't be surprised if Joey Buttafuoco gets his
own talk show there next.  
- Danielle Campbell, Temple University...


[189] 03-06-96 through 03-08-96
   NOTE: Coverage of James McNamara appointment as
president of the worldwide television distribution at
MCA/Universal Television.


[189a] 03-06-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 406 words. "McNamara tops
MCA TV output McNamara tops MCA TV output" By Steve
Brennan
   COMMENTARY: Passing mention of XWP.
   EXCERPT:
   In a first step toward restructuring MCA/Universals
television operations, Greg Meidel, MCA TVs group
chairman, has appointed James McNamara to the post of
president of worldwide television distribution...
   ...Meidel said that McNamaras deep understanding of
the business of domestic and international distribution
will be instrumental to us as we reposition our company
around the world. McNamara said that while the domestic
market will continue to be a primary focus for MCA TV,
he envisages that the rate of growth in the U.S. market
will pale in comparison with the expansion of the TV
markets in such markets as Eastern Europe and Latin
America. As these markets continue to develop and the
ad pie starts to grow the way it should, it is
inevitable that the international market for MCA and
other companies will get larger and larger, he added.
He forecast more productions from MCA such as the
current hits Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys, both of which are shot in New
Zealand....



[189b] 03-08-96
   LOS ANGELES TIMES. Page D4. 320 words. "Executive
Suite; 
MCA TV Unit Gets Chief of Distribution"
   COMMENTARY: Passing mention of XWP. Told of MCA's
plan for producing more hour dramas and using cable
more aggressively as an outlet for their product.
   EXCERPT:
   James McNamara, the former chief executive of New
World Entertainment, has joined MCA as president of
worldwide TV distribution for the MCA Television Group.
In addition to
producing first-run syndication programs, McNamara will
supervise distribution of live-action and animated
series, specials, TV movies and Universal feature films
both domestically and abroad.   McNamara, who is the
first major hire by Greg Meidel, chairman of MCA
Television, said one of his priorities is to get the
syndication business humming, building on the success
of the action-adventure hits "Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess." He said the
company will produce one or two more action hours this
year and will buy stakes in
broadcasters overseas and launch new pay and free
channels to help compensate for MCA's lack of U.S.
network distribution...


[190]
   NOTE: Royal Couple of Thieves, 1st release, earned a
5.6 share and ranked 3rd in action hours.


[190a]  03-04-96
   THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 242 words. "Lazarus' alive;
action gets results" By Jonathan Davies
   COMMENTARY: 1st release, Royal Couple of Thieves
   EXCERPT:
   Action hours continue to be among the most dynamic
shows in syndication, with the newest entrant, "The
Lazarus Man," bolting up the ratings chart, according
to data from Nielsen Media Research for the week of
Feb. 18....
   ...The surge from "Lazarus Man" mimics similar
sudden movements this season from such shows as "Xena:
Warrior Princess," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and
"The Outer Limits."...


[190b] 03-07-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Page 12. 578 words. "Sweeps Prove
Uplifting to 'Oprah,' Other Talkers" By Jim Benson
   COMMENTARY:  1st release, Royal Couple of Thieves:
5.6 share; tied 3rd in action hour rankings.
   EXCERPT:
   ...in February, according to the Nielsen national
barter rankings overlapping the local market sweeps....
   ...In weekly action, Par's "Star Trek: Deep Space
Nine" veered 18% off course, landing at a 6.6 from an
8.0 a year ago. It managed to edge out MCA TV's
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" by the narrowest of
margins, with the sophomore series rising 12% to 6.5.
   MCA's "Xena: Warrior Princess" and All American's
"Baywatch" tied for third at 5.6, but the beach patrol
sank 25% from last year, when it was second only to
"Deep Space Nine."...


[190c] 03-11-96
   VARIETY. Page 35. 182 Words. "Nielsen Syndication
Ratings"
   COMMENTARY: 1st release, Royal Couple of Thieves.
   REPRINT:
   For week ended Feb. 25, 1996  
                                    Stations/
Rank            Program            % coverage   AA%  GAA %     
1 Wheel of Fortune                  228/99  13.0     --     
2 Jeopardy!                         221/99  11.0     --     
3 Home Improvement                  223/97   9.9   10.5     
4 Oprah Winfrey Show                235/99   9.4    9.4     
5 Seinfeld                          219/98   8.1     --     
6 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine        236/99   7.3    7.9     
7 Journeys of Hercules              225/97   6.7    7.3     
8 WCW Wrestling                     178/93   6.6   10.3     
9 Wheel of Fortune-Wknd.            177/82   6.5     --    
10 Entertainment Tonight             174/95   6.4    6.5    
10 Home Improvement-Wknd.            217/96   6.4     --    
12 Simpsons                          186/96   6.3    6.3    
13 Inside Edition                    165/93   6.2    6.2    
14 Xena                              202/96   5.7    6.2    
15 Baywatch                          222/96   5.5    5.7    
16 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air           162/91   5.3    5.7    
17 Hard Copy                         178/91   5.1    5.2    
17 World Wrestling Fed.              159/90   5.1    6.4    
19 Roseanne                          177/93   5.0    5.1    
20 Jenny Jones Show                  212/97   4.8    5.0 
   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. 


[190d] 03-11-96
   VARIETY. Page 35. 477 words. "Sweeps talk rates
sweet to 'Oprah'" By Jim Benson
   COMMENTARY: same information as XMR190b] 
  

[191] 03-10-96
   THE TENNESSEAN. Page 43S. "Ask Showcase" By Ken Beck
   COMMENTARY: An uncharacteristically lengthy Q&A from
a local paper. Graphic was of Ms. Lawless.
   EXCERPT:
   Q: I have recently become a huge fan of the TV show
Xena: Warrior Princess and its star Lucy Lawless. I
would like to know more about her personal history. Is
she married? Does she have children? What else has she
been in and where can I write her?     R.S./Gallatin
   A: Lawless was born and raised in Mt. Albert,
Auckland, New Zealand, and coincidentally, the TV
series is filmed in and around Auckland. The fifth of
seven children, she has four older brothers and is
nearly 6 feet tall with intense blue eyes and raven
hair. Her father was mayor of Mt. Albert the year
Lawless was born and he is now chairman of finance for
Auckland City.     
   Lawless grew up a tomboy while attending convent
schools and pursuing acting in plays and musicals in
high school. After graduating at 17, she traveled to
Europe and then went to
Australia where she worked for a gold-mining company
500 miles into the outback.  
   She married in Australia and then returned to
Auckland, N.Z., where her daughter Daisy, now 8 was
born. Lawless sought an acting career and began making
TV commercials and wound up in a local TV comedy, Funny
Business. Later she moved to Vancouver, Canada, to
study drama. When she went back home to New Zealand in
1992, she was hired to co-host Air New Zealand Holiday,
a travel magazine show broadcast there and across Asia.
She co-hosted for two years before being cast in
Hercules and the Amazon Women, which led her to the
Xena role.
   Lawless practices yoga but had no special training
in martial arts, sword play or stunt work before
becoming Xena. She has always been a horsewoman and now
works with a personal trainer. She did spend time in
Los Angeles last summer working with martial arts
master Douglas Wong, who worked on Dragon: The Bruce
Lee Story, learning kung fu and fighting techniques
with swords and staff. 
   Lawless speaks English, German, French and a little
Italian, and has studied opera but now has developed a
passion for jazz. You can write to her in care of the
Lucy Lawless Fan Club, P.O. Box 49859, Brentwood,
Calif. 90049....
   ...GRAPHIC:  PHOTO: BEFORE LUCY LAWLESS JUMPED TO
FAME AS XENA SHE WAS A GOLD MINER IN THE AUSTRALIAN...


[192] 03-10-96
   NEWS TRIBUNE. Page SL3. 1562 words. "Changed
Channels; One Year after CBS Switched from KIRO to
KSTW, Stations Are Assessing 'Progress'" By Marisa
Lencioni
   COMMENTARY: In this detailed report on the change of
KIRO (Seattle) from CBS affiliate to UPN, the station
manager called Xena "sleazy" and stated that it had
"poor production values".  Thus KIRO was not going to
air it any longer.
   EXCERPT:
   At KIRO, they're using words like "growth" and
"progress." At KSTW, you hear "take some time" and
"changing habits."
   On Wednesday one year will have passed since CBS
ended its 37-year affiliation with KIRO (Channel 7),
switching to KSTW (Channel 11). Though both stations
differ as to who got the better of the deal, they agree
that it's too soon to assess the impact definitively.
   Ratings can tell only part of this tale of two
channels. Overall, KIRO, a station emphasizing a format
heavy with local news, seems to be doing well; and KSTW
is a station affiliated with a network that has been
struggling in the ratings until recently....
   ...Forty miles up the road and four places down the
dial lies KIRO. Though conventional wisdom might have
said that losing a network affiliate would be
disastrous, personnel at KIRO seem happily surprised
with the station's showing so far.
   "We're still a work in progress, but we're very
pleased with the progress," said Glenn Wright, KIRO's
general manager. "There's no road map for something
like this. No one knew what to expect."...
   ...Wright said KIRO's UPN affiliation provides some
strong programming for the station, but the
relationship isn't always perfect.
   "We were not happy with 'Live Shot,' " Wright said,
speaking about the UPN show about TV news that lead
into KIRO's 10 p.m newscast. "It was sleazy. And we're
not returning 'Xena.' It hasn't done that well for us
and had poor production values."
   Wright also said KIRO was happy to lose syndicated
afternoon talk shows such as "Carnie," the content of
which Wright said they didn't like. Wright said within
about a year, KIRO plans to replace most of its
afternoon talk lineup mostly because the shows' content
isn't meeting station expectations....


[193] 03-10-96 
   PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Page G1. 1263 words. "Program
Ratings Might Not Have the Hoped-for Effect. Research
Shows Some Ways of Labeling Violence Attract More
People to a Show. A Researcher Recommends Describing
the Contents Of a Show, Without Referring to Age
Suitability" By Stephen Seplow.
   COMMENTARY: This article discussed the difficulty of
issuing program ratings and how such ratings would
affect shows so rated. Author was concerned how a
program such as XWP would fare.
   EXCERPT:
   Researchers last year described three fictitious
television shows to a group of boys aged 10 to 14. Two
shows were given no rating, the other carried the
warning ``viewer discretion advised.'' Each attracted
about a third of the boys, suggesting the rating had no
effect. 
   But when the boys were told one of the programs
carried the warning ``parental discretion advised,''
things changed. The number of viewers suddenly jumped
to 51 percent.
Why the parental advisory acted as such a lure for boys
was not absolutely clear - perhaps it was just boys
asserting their independence. In both cases, less than
a third of girls chose to watch the program with the
advisory. 
   Clearly, ratings mean different things to different
people, and when the television industry begins to rate
programs, presumably by the end of the year, the
outcome may not always be what's intended....
   ...``Now, we're going to try to figure out how to do
that. It's going to be much more difficult than it was
with movies. Until you sit down and really talk about
it, you don't know.'' 
There are, he said, ``hundreds of questions.''
   Three of the most obvious:
   * If, as several of the executives asserted, news
definitely will not be rated, where does news end and
entertainment begin? Is it with shows like 60 Minutes,
or Entertainment Tonight, or maybe Hard Copy?
   * How will the ratings make distinctions among
Walker, Texas Ranger, where much of the violence is
perpetrated for good causes in the name of law and
order; Xena, Warrior Princess, where the violence is
ludicrous and cartoonish; and the Texas Chainsaw
Massacre, where the violence is unrelenting and
gratuitous?
   * If, as the industry said, ratings will be done by
the network or station showing a program, what's to
guarantee that a drama given a particular rating when
originally aired on NBC, for example, will have the
same rating when repeated several years later on an
independent station in Philadelphia?...


[194] 03-11-96
   THE WASHINGTON POST. Page D04. 1603 words. "The TV
Column" By John Carmody
   COMMENTARY: Minor local Washington DC promo for XWP.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Channel 50 introduces "Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys" at 8 tonight, followed by the spinoff "Xena:
Warrior Princess" at 9 ... 
   Both programs formerly aired on UPN's Channel 20...


[195] 03-11-96
   THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH. Page 6B. 340 words. "Country
Show Heavy on the Special Effects" By Jim Spriggs.
   COMMENTARY: Review of local country western show
inspired comparisons to Xena and Hercules; the
characters, not the shows.
   EXCERPT:
   At first glance, last night's country music show at
Veterans Memorial could have been the road show version
of Hercules and Xena.
   Terri Clark, all 5 feet 11 inches of her, would make
an admirable Xena, and longtime weightlifter Aaron
Tippin would have no problem portraying Hercules. That
leaves Lee Roy Parnell, but with his goatee and intense
expressions, he was born to play an evil king (his
somber bandmates, none of whom ever smiled, would make
excellent henchmen)...


[196] 03-11-96
   BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 126. No. 11. Page 27. 438
words. "MCA taps worldwide distribution chief; James
McNamara named president of worldwide distribution for
MCA/Universal" By Cynthia Littleton
   COMMENTARY: In a standard trade blurb about the
president of MCA, it was mentioned that H:THJ and XWP
helped revive the "moribund action-hour genre".
   EXCERPT:
   ...Syndication has been the bright spot in the MCA
TV picture during the past year. After launching the
high-profile first-run failures Last Call and The
Suzanne Somers Show in 1994, MCA has been credited with
helping to revive the moribund action-hour genre with
its highly rated first-run hours Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess...


[197] 03-12-96 
   PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Features. Pg.23. 975 words.
"Better Late than Never for Film Pig Babe" By Rose
DeWolf
   COMMENTARY: Interesting article about the problems
encountered with making toys based upon television
shows.  XWP is an example used.
   EXCERPT:
   ...Characters based on a TV series tend to be
handled differently from movie characters, according to
Dumbacher. A toy tie-in to a TV show isn't considered
late if it hits the market six to 12 months after the
show's premiere. It's done that way, he says, because
TV shows take longer than movies to build an audience.
   Which might explain why it's hard to find ``Xena,
Warrior Princess'' on toy shelves.
   Xena, a TV series beauty with a take-no-prisoners
attitude, is seen on Channel 57 Friday nights at 9. The
show, launched last fall, is a spin-off of ``Hercules,
The Legendary Journeys,'' which comes on at 8 p.m. 
   Herc, well known ancient strongman, battles evil
monsters and assorted villains. Xena started her TV
career as a villainess who challenged Herc, but she was
so popular that MCA/Universal decided to have her go
straight and start fighting evildoers on her own.
   But Xena doesn't have her own toy line yet. She
appears in a line of action figures produced by Toy Biz
Inc. for the Hercules show. In a box of 24 five-inch
action figures, there may be two Xenas.
   Toy Biz sales coordinator Nally Dookwah says the
growing demand for Xena hasn't gone unnoticed. This
year, she says, her company will be coming out with a
10-inch Xena in addition to the 5-inch. 
   Dumbacher says decisions are being made now about
which characters from Xena's stories could be featured
in a Xena action-figure line. 
   Which comes first, the mass entertainment or the
toy? Almost always, the entertainment....


[198] 03-12-96
   THE TORONTO STAR. Page A1. 1124 words. "TV device a
dunce at zapping violence" BY Antonia Zerbisias 
   COMMENTARY: In this article the writer reported his
experiences using the "V" chip. He noted that XWP was
not blocked.  Thus showing the previous concern about
XWP being harmed by the introduction of the v-chip
groundless.
   EXCERPT:
   Oh yes , indeed, the V-chip is aptly named.
   Inventor Tim Collings, an engineer at Simon Fraser
University, meant the "V" to stand for violence - as in
television violence.
   For parents, his controversial contraption was going
to take the worry out of kids watching VR Troopers,
Freakazoid, and those Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. 
   But if you ask me, after three weeks of using it,
the V really stands for Vexing - as in Very, Very
Vexing....
   ...Yet Star Trek (the original) on CBC got through
without a hitch, despite Captain Kirk's boldly coming
on to every alien female in the galaxy, and, on Fox,
the leather-bustiered Xena, Warrior Princes busted
heads with impunity....


[199] 03-14-96
   NOTE: 2nd release (repeat) of "The Titans", earning
a 5.6 share and a 3rd place ranking. The first run
earned a 5.4 share.         

[199a] 03-14-96
   DAILY VARIETY. Page 28. 456 words. "Yakkers Quiet in
Feb. Sweeps" By Joe Flint.
   COMMENTARY: 2nd release, The Titans.
   EXCERPT:
   The usual promotion blitz associated with sweeps
wasn't enough to boost ratings for most talkshows for
the week ending March 3, which includes the last three
days of the February sweeps. Only four talkers were up,
with nine down and six flat...
   ...Most of the weekly shows suffered losses,
probably in part to the influx of college basketball.
Paramount's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" fell 11% from
last year's 7.5 to a 6.7, but stayed at No. 1.
   In second was MCA's "Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys," which was up 2% from a year ago to a 6.5
from a 6.4. Spinoff "Xena: Warrior Princess,"
meanwhile, posted a 5.6.
   All American's "Baywatch" was off 17% from last
year's 6.3 to a 5.2...


[199b] 03-18-96
   VARIETY. Page 39. 184 words. "Nielsen Syndication
Ratings"
   COMMENTARY: 2nd release, The Titans.
   REPRINT:
For week ended March 3, 1996  
                                     Stations/
Rank  Program                       % coverage   AA%   GAA%   
1   Wheel of Fortune                228/99     13.2     --   
2   Jeopardy!                       220/99     11.3     --   
3   Home Improvement                223/98      9.9   10.5   
4   Oprah Winfrey Show              235/99      8.5    8.6   
5   Nat'l Geo. on Assignment        171/96      8.4    8.9   
6   Seinfeld                        216/98      8.1     --   
7   Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey      122/95      7.6    8.2   
8   Century 16                      198/97      7.4    7.7   
9   Entertainment Tonight           176/95      7.0    7.1  
10   Star Trek: Deep Space Nine      236/99      6.7    6.9  
10   WCW Wrestling                   174/93      6.7   10.2  
12   Journey of Hercules             229/98      6.5    6.9  
12   Simpsons                        184/95      6.5    6.5  
14   Home Improvement Wknd.          206/92      6.4     --  
14   Wheel of Fortune Wknd.          179/83      6.4     --  
16   Inside Edition                  164/91      6.2    6.2  
17   Xena                            203/96      5.6    5.9  
18   Fresh Prince of Bel-Air         163/91      5.4    5.7  
19   Baywatch                        222/96      5.2    5.3  
19   Roseanne                        176/92      5.2    5.3 
   AA average refers to nonduplicated viewing for
multiple airings of the same show. GAA average
encompasses duplicate viewing. GAA average does not
apply when there is only one run of a show. 


[200] 03-14-96
   ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES. Page 1C. 558 words.
"Asheville Native Brings Writing Talents to ABC Drama"
   COMMENTARY: An article about writer Brenda Lunsford
Lilly who wrote the XWP episode: "Warrior...Princess". 
   EXCERPT:
   Asheville native Brenda Lunsford Lilly is a story
editor on the new ABC television mid-season series,
"Second Noah." The show premiered Feb. 5 in the Monday
8 p.m. slot....
   ...Brenda Lilly, a writer for the show, is the
daughter of Kiffin and Iris Lunsford of Asheville. She
attended St. Genevieve of the Pines Academy and
graduated from the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, where she received a bachelor of fine arts
degree in theater arts.
   After graduation, she and her husband, Michael
Lilly, were among the first recipients of Third Century
Artist grants from the North Carolina State Arts
Council. Sponsored by the United Arts Council in
Greensboro, they served as Artists in Residence
presenting workshops in creative dramatics in area
schools and producing free theater in the back of the
Mantleworks Restaurant in Old Greensboro.
   During the second year of their grants, the formed
the ACT CO., a resident theater company and produced
two seasons of plays in the Carolina Theater on Greene
Street.
   After moving to California, Brenda Lilly worked as
an actress and then turned to writing in 1990. She was
staff writer on the CBS series "BIG" and worked as
story editor on the syndicated series, "Shades of L.A."
Among her other writing credits are "L.A. Law" and
"Christy," and the children's animated series, "Bobby's
World."
   In 1993, she was commissioned to write a one-woman
show about hotel queen Leona Helmsley which ran for two
months in Los Angeles. During 1995, she wrote episodes
for "Walker: Texas Ranger" and "Xena: Warrior
Princess." 
   She wrote an ABC After School Special called
"Bigfoot and Elvis" about a young girl who aspires to
play basketball.
   Lilly is a member of the board of directors of the
Writers Guild of America and resides in Sherman Oaks,
Calif....


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

Issue #16 will cover annotations #201 through #222,
dated from 03/16/96 to 04/08/96.  It is scheduled to be
released July 26, 1996.

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

DISCLAIMER: XMR (Xena Media Review) is a free non-
profit informational release.  XMR in no way intends to
challenge, disregard or profit from any of the original
copyright holders of the material excerpted, reprinted,
or referred to (including but not limited to MCA,
Universal, Renaissance Pictures, 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. Copyright
1996 by Kym Masera Taborn.

REPRINT POLICY: Permission to use, copy and distribute
Xena Media Review (XMR), or parts thereof, by
electronic means for any non-profit purpose is hereby
granted, provided that both the above copyright notice
and this permission notice appear in all copies of the
newsletter itself, and that proper credit is given for
any excerpts. Any other format or purpose for
distribution requires permission of the author.
   Reproducing XMR or parts thereof by any means
implies full agreement to the above non-profit-use
clause.
   
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and/or submissions to ktaborn@lightspeed.net. XMR is a
non-profit fan publication. The editors retain
editorial control and reprint privileges over the
submitted materials and reserve the right to use the
material in whatever way they deem appropriate.
Submitted materials will not be returned to the sender.


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