THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS.... TWXN #28 09/20/96 Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR): http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html XMR is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationally syndicated television show XENA: Warrior Princess (1995 - ) and the castmembers, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. For a free e-mail subscription send "subscribe XMR" to ktaborn@lightspeed.net. Excerpts from the following cites will appear in future issues of XMR. From Kym: Everything is behind, okay???? OKAY???!!! [ b] 09-09-96 THE DES MOINES REGISTER. Monday. Page 4. 627 words. "Lucy Lawless is a star on the strength of 'Xena'" By Christy Slewinski. New York Daily News COMMENTARY: Another appearance of the The Daily News article from 08-19-96 (see TXWN #21) [ ] 09-10-96 DAILY VARIETY. Tuesday. Page 25. 263 words. "Syndie talkers tumble; tabmags take a hit" By Jenny Hontz COMMENTARY: Altared States (#19), 2nd release, 08/19/96. Ran Ranked as the 2nd action hour with a 4.4 rating. [HTLJ took 1st place with a 5.2 and ST:DS9 too 3rd for the fifth straight week with a 4.2]. 1st release: 04/22/96, the show did not make the top twenty. [ ] 09-11-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Wednesday. Baylife. Page 3. 555 words. "Xena faces a new battle: to keep fans" By Walt Belcher. COMMENTARY: Mr. Belcher took many words to say that XWP had changed channels and times in Tampa, Florida, because the original station (Channel 13) said XWP was too expensive to continuing running. Channel 10 picked XWP up, but will run it midnight Sundays starting 10/06/96. The area still will receive XWP over WGN for those who have cable. [x053] 09-11-96 THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE. Wednesday. Page 06. 99 words. ""Adopt a Pet" COMMENTARY: Not a XWP mention, but Putnam County is offering a Siamese cat named 'Xena', for adoption. Only $25! [ ] 09-11-96 THE BALTIMORE SUN. Wednesday. SPORTS. Page 2D. 713 words. "Numbers show Ravens, Orioles cutting into each other's ratings" By Milton Kent COMMENTARY: I always find it heartwarming to locate a XWP mention in the sports pages! Mr. Kent mentioned XWP in passing when he dwelled upon whether HTLJ or XWP would be delayed for a big sports event. [ ] 09-12-96 THE TORONTO STAR. Thursday. Page SW64. 3167 words. "New for '96 Canadian specials Socumentaries, movies and mini-series" COMMENTARY: In a preview of the what each network/channel will be offering for Toronto this new TV season, it was mentioned that XWP will be broadcast on the New VR station. [ ] 09-12-96 THE TORONTO STAR. Thursday. Page SW74. 1764 words. "New for '96 Kidstuff" By Louise Brown COMMENTARY: A preview of shows coming up in the new season which are targeted to the 9-13 year-old crowd. The article noted that half of the 'tween live action dramas are from Australia "where quality programs for young adults clearly is a priority." XWP was mentioned in the description about "The Adventures of Sinbad". Ms. Brown wrote, "No, this isn't another vehicle for the standup comic, but rather the latest entry in the hot new genre of muscle-bound, barechested hunk heroes such as Tarzan, Hercules and Xena (well, she wears a pointy bra thingy)." Pointy bra thing? Do you think she was thinking about Madonna by mistake? Madonna, Warrior Princess. [ c] 09-14-96 THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Saturday. Page 15C. 1010 words. "The Cape' has earthbound moments, but it often soars" By Ed Bark. COMMENTARY: In a review of "The Cape", Mr. Bark mentioned XWP. He wrote: "Whatever the verdict, The Cape clearly is classier than most of syndication's competing action hours. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess strive to be nothing more than 'knucklehead TV' in the words of producer Sam Raimi. Highlander, High Tide, Baywatch and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues are merely more junk-on-a-bunk." We should be grateful Mr. Bark did not include XWP in "junk-on-a-bunk". While Mr. Bark was alluding to his own interview with Mr. Raimi (The Dallas Morning News, 03/25/96, "Knuckleheads, Raimi's your guy"), he took liberty with Sam Raimi's 'knucklehead TV' quote. Raimi's original quote was embedded in Mr. Bark's sentence, "Xena, an evil warrior introduced in a recent Hercules episode, is likely to get her own 'knucklehead, fun adventure'". From this Mr. Bark deduced 'knucklehead TV.' [ c] 09-15-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Sunday. Page 48. 338 words. "Actor finds "Xena' role grueling but fun" By Christy Slewinski of the New York Daily News. COMMENTARY: Another appearance of the The Daily News article from 08-19-96 (see TXWN #21). [ ] 09-15-96 LOS ANGELES TIMES. Sunday. Page 20. 634 words. "Turn On, Tune in or Miss Out; PBS Discovers 'the West'; NBC Reserves a 'London Suite'; HBO Congas with Gloria Estefan in Miami" by Steven Linan. COMMENTARY: Linan mentioned XWP as being responsible for such series as "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures." [ d] 09-17-96 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Tuesday. Page D-3. 385 words. "'Xena' Wins Fans' Admiration" by Christy Slewinski, New York Daily News. COMMENTARY: Another appearance of the The Daily News article from 08-19-96 (See TXWN #21) [ ] 09-17-96 AP ONLINE. Tuesday. Entertainment, television and culture. 1134 words. "Lawless Lays Down Law As Xena" (also released as "Xena: So Mean She Got A Series") By Eileen Glanton COMMENTARY: The amazing Ms. Glanton has recycled her 08-28-96 article about XWP for the third time and relied heavily upon quotes used in the 08-28-96 article. However, this is the most fleshed out version of the interview material. Ms. Glanton opened her article fantasizing what it would be like to peruse the job requirements of being a warrior princess (should be strong and brave; being pretty is a plus; must vow to protect the powerless and battle barbarians; superhuman powers are not mandatory, but advisable; and must be able to save whole civilizations in a single episode). Reflecting on the shows popularity, Ms. Lawless was quoted as saying, "It just seems to have hit the world at the right time...The world is ready for a woman hero who is smarter and stronger than she is good-looking." This is an exact reprint from the 08-28-96 article. Regarding Xena's costume, Ms. Glanton wrote, "While no one doubts Xena's brains and brawn, executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi don't mind having a little fun with Lawless's beauty. Muscular, and nearly 6 feet tall, Lawless is laced each week into a bustier-like costume of leather and metal. If the outfit seems a little exploitative for a feminist icon, a bit constricting for a superheroine, that's one of Xena's little jokes." Ms. Glanton then listed more "little jokes" in XWP (the blatant anachronism; the disclaimers in the credits at the end of the episodes; the show's wide variety of sexual interpretations; and no respect for the genre). Regarding the character of Xena, Ms. Lawless was quoted as saying, "Xena can make mistakes, although she's never made to look stupid...That gave me a whole new perspective and I let go of all those super-protective guards that actors like to have on their characters." Ms. Glanton also listed Xena's armory (chakram, accupressure, battle cry, martial arts) and then mentioned that Ms. Lawless was taken by surprise by the heartfelt letters from fans, the Internet forums, and the Ms. cover article that hailed Lucy Lawless as a feminist icon. Ms. Lawless was quoted as saying, "People somehow find [Xena] really empowering...For a long time, I was very afraid of the role model stuff. But only recently, I'm realizing that this is just a true honor." This was also taken from the 08-28-96 article. Ms. Glanton incorrectly stated that the second season of XWP would consist of 22 episodes. The Daily Variety reported the 2nd and 3rd seasons would have 26 episodes (two more than the 1st season's 24).