THIS WEEK IN XENA NEWS... TWXN 87 07/16/97 Wednesday Brought to you by XENA: MEDIA REVIEW (XMR): http://xenafan.com/xmr All back issues of XMR and TWXN are available at the above site. We herein give praise and thanks to Tom Simpson for the space he has graciously donated from his spectacular, TOM'S XENA PAGE (http://xenafan.com). TWXN is the advance sheet for XMR, an annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationally syndicated television show XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (1995 - 2000+?) and the castmembers, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. TWXN is not available for subscription, however it is posted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the XenaVerse, Hercules-Xena, and Chakram Mailing Lists (thank you Lucia! I am greatly indebt to you), the MCA NetForum, the Xenite Message Center, and alt.tv.xena. I also would like to thank sirvin@law.wfu.edu for assitance in collecting the newstories. For a free e-mail subscription to XMR subscribe by e-mail to ktaborn@lightspeed.net by stating somewhere in the subject or text "sub xmr". Excerpts from the following cites will appear in future issues of XMR. I am not wordy today, so lucky you! Let's just get to the stories: [ b] 03-05-97 PR NEWSWIRE. Wednesday. 517 words. "Television's Hercules And Xena Spring To Life This Summer As Universal Studios Florida's Newest Spectacular Attraction. Multimillion Dollar Interactive 'Live' Attraction To Feature Stars Kevin Sorbo and Lucy Lawless" COMMENTARY: Universal Studios Attraction announced. REPRINT: Hercules and Xena, the top-rated syndicated action shows in the U.S., will spring to life this summer at Universal Studios Florida in a multimillion dollar interactive "live" attraction featuring Kevin Sorbo and Lucy Lawless. Based on the hugely popular television series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," the attraction will utilize state-of-the-art digital and sound effects along with "live" action stunt performers to allow studio guests to fight shoulder to shoulder with their mythical heroes in an all new adventure. "One of the great things about the Florida attraction," said Sorbo, "is it will give fans of our shows the chance to experience firsthand the excitement of fighting exotic creatures, evil gods and even wielding a sword or two." Lawless said, "People seem to love our world of fantasy and adventure and now they can live it." Universal Studios Florida's "Hercules and Xena: Wizards Of The Screen" will give guests a behind-the-scenes look at how the highly popular television shows are produced and blend special effects with "live" action to thrust guests into an actual episode with Sorbo and Lawless. Similar to the television shows' imaginative blend of reality and fantasy, "Wizards Of The Screen" will feature exotic sets and costumes, enhanced by specially shot footage of Sorbo and Lawless on location in New Zealand where the series are filmed. The two shows have a worldwide following and air in more than 15 countries, including Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand. Beyond television, the shows attract hundreds of people to fan clubs, conventions and Internet web sites. Universal Studios, Inc. also plans to capitalize on the shows' success with numerous upcoming projects throughout its divisions. Hercules and Xena are produced by Renaissance Pictures for Universal Studios. Sam Reimi and Rob Tapert are the shows' producers. Universal Studios Florida, which opened in 1990, is the No. 1 movie studio and theme park in the world and is a joint venture between Universal Studios, Inc. and The Rank Group P1c. Universal Studios, Inc., a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., a global beverage and entertainment company, is a diversified entertainment company and a worldwide leader in motion pictures, television, music, home entertainment and location based entertainment. Academy Award-winning producer/director Steven Spielberg serves as creative consultant to Universal Studios Florida and to the future Universal City Florida, a multibillion dollar expansion project being built in phases over the next decade. Universal City Florida will include the existing Universal Studios Florida along with a new theme park named Universal's Islands of Adventure(SM) to open in 1999; a 12-acre entertainment complex opening in 1998 featuring themed restaurants, nightclubs, shops and a 16-screen, 5,000-seat movie megaplex; four hotels, the first of which will open in 1999 and expanded film and television production facilities. SOURCE Universal Studios Florida CONTACT: Jim Canfield or Linda Buckley of Universal Studios Florida, 407-363-8220, or Jim Yeager of Universal Studios Recreation Group, 818-622-3022 [ ] 03-05-97 NEWSDAY. Wednesday. Page B60. 1014 Words. "The Marvin Kitman Show / Scripts Are Needed, Too / Arsenio's Celebrity Alone Can't Create a Hit" by Marvin Kitman COMMENTARY: Read it here! Jamie Tarses is the "Xena of network programmers"! EXCERPT: ...As if "Arsenio" didn't have enough trouble, DreamWorks hired Ted Harbert to work on the show. Harbert was the former head of ABC programing who lost the power struggle with [Jamie] Tarses, the Xena of network programers. The man who led ABC from the top to the bottom of the Big 3 networks in one year was swimming to the rescue of the sinking "Arsenio."... [ c] 03-05-97 DAILY VARIETY. Wednesday. Page 12. 699 words. "Sound editors bow Golden Reel noms" EXCERPT: ...The Motion Picture Sound Editors on Tuesday announced nominees for Golden Reel awards in the TV category; the Golden Reel ceremony is slated for March 22 at the Century Plaza Hotel. The MPSE, a nonprofit organization of sound editors, announced its feature film nominees in January. In addition to awards in the film and TV categories, the MPSE awards Golden Reels for student work. A complete list of nominations follows with the nominated episodes of series in parentheses.... ...TV -HOUR AND 1-HOUR ADR EDITING HBO: "America's Dream" ("Long Black Song") MTM Entertainment: "The Cape" ("Reggie's Wild Ride") Twentieth Century Fox TV: "The X-Files" ("Hell Money") TriStar Television: "Early Edition" ("The Choice") CBS Prods.: "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" ("The Tempest") Paramount Network TV: "Star Trek: Voyager" ("Future's End Part I") Universal Domestic TV: "Xena: Warrior Princess" ("Return of Callisto")... [ f] 04-01-97 DAILY VARIETY. Tuesday. Page 15. 740 words. "Sound choices: 'Daylight,' 'Hunchback,' 'Xena'" EXCERPT: ..."Daylight" took honors for motion picture sound editing at the Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Awards.... ...In the TV arena, "Xena: Warrior Princess" won the nod for one-hour series sound editing... ...A complete list of winners follows:... ...TV Hour Series: "Xena: Warrior Princess" ("Girls Just Wanna Have Fun") (MCA TV) --- supervising sound editor, Jason Schmid; sound effects editors, Dorian Cheah, Kelly Vandever, Anthony Suraci, Lisle Engle, Duce Vines; dialogue editors, Susan Shin, Louis Creveling, Robert Jackson, Joshua Schneider, Patrick Giraudi; Foley editors, James A. Williams, Thomas Volckmann. Benjamin Cook... [ ] 03-05-97 THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 6. 15 words. Letters. "Warrior Princess" REPRINT: Sir, -- If we must have warrior MPs, my vote goes to Xena. CHRIS WHEATLEY Thorndon [ ] 03-07-97 TRUTH (Auckland). Page 11. 186 words. "All their own work" COMMENTARY: A quote from Sam Raimi. EXCERPT: ..."I'M surprised. I'm very surprised" -- filmmaker and producer SAM RAIMI of the widespread success of Hercules and Xena, both of which are filmed in New Zealand.... [ ] 03-07-97 PR NEWSWIRE. Friday. 517 words. "DIRECTV Adds Superstation WGN to Its Channel Lineup" EXCERPT: ...From favorite children's programs like Bozo(TM) the Clown, to award-winning educational specials, WGN delivers the best in family entertainment. Viewers also can take in hit movies and action series (such as Hercules and Xena), as well as local, national and international news given from a midwest perspective. WGN offers something for everyone!...