_____ ______ ._ `\`/>`\ /`/` /`__________,.'>___ _____ )~\ /<`\ `\ /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\ |\./| / | \ /< `\`\ `\ /`/` /` | | |----\ / | |\ \ | | |././^\ \ |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----. [\\\\\\\{*}==`> <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==--> |/~~{o}/-- /`/ /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--' \< /`/` /` `\`\ `\ | | |_____,.'>| | | `\`\| | /' \ \ \ \< /` /` `\`\ `\ ,/ /^\------> / |/^\| \ | |/ \/^\\. /`/\>/` `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~ )^\,\, '~~~~~ `~~~~~` '~~~~~` ` ~~~~~~ ========================== XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #05 ========================== http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html c/o RIF BBS, P.O. Box 81181, Bakersfield, CA 93308 RIF BBS (805) 588-9349 [24hrs, 14.4bps, free] 94 subscribers and stalling! This document has 598 lines. Xena Media Review (XMR) is a periodic annotated review of mainstream media reports found in electronic form regarding the 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. 05 Release date: April 26, 1996 2nd edition: 07/10/96 Covering 07-17-95 to 09-03-95. Appended annotations [010.5a] 03/25/95 THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Early XMR mention [010.5b] 04-04-95 THE PHOENIX GAZETTE. Reprint of XMR010.5a. [010.5c] 04-26-95 SUN-SENTINEL. Same as XMR010.5a. [011b] 05-04-95 NEWSDAY. Parts of XMR011a. [018b] 05-22-95 NEWSDAY. Same as XMR018a. [019.5] 05-23-95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Warrior woman mention Annotations #025 through #033 [020.5] 06/95 VIDEO AGE INTERNATIONAL. Not in production note [025] 07-17-95. BROADCASTING & CABLE. Minor mention. [026] 07-24-95. BROADCASTING & CABLE. Minor mention. [026.5] 07-28-95. BUSINESS WIRE. Nominal mention. [027a] 08/21/95. THE DENVER POST. Nominal promo. * [028] 08/21/95. BROADCASTING & CABLE. Bkgd on producers * [029] 08/21/95. BROADCASTING & CABLE. State of TV action shows [029.5] 08-27-95. PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Minor mention. [030] 08/28/95. THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. Minor mention. [031] 08/29/95. NEWS & RECORD. Minor mention. [032] 08/29/95. DAILY VARIETY. Minor mention. [032.5] 08/29/95. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Minor mention. [033] 09-03-95. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Sorbo mention of Xena doll ------------- Introduction: ------------- The big news of the summer before XWP was released was the internal musical chairs being played at MCA. Broadcasting & Cable Magazine covered most of the brouhaha and provide some of the best coverage of the shakedown, the immediate results and how the general entertainment business scene was affected. Next issue we see the initial promos for Xena: Warrior Princess, plus the reviews from the Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety. I have received some very nice e-mail about this project. Nothing negative: not like last week! Sheesh! This issue and the next issue covers the "lull" promotion period between when the production has started and the product is released. The most riveting reading is the business articles. You know it's pretty bad when that's the case. I am anticipating some grumbling among the ranks. But scholarship isn't always pretty! If I am to get my anal-retentive badge this semester, I must present even the drudge periods of the media coverage. Enjoy! ------------------- AMENDED ANNOTATIONS ------------------- [010.5] 03-25-95 through 04-26-95 NOTE: I have not been able to locate the full text for this reference. Without it, it can be determined when this interview occurred. It appeared in two papers. [010.5a] 03/25/95 [[XMR #005]] THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Today; Pg. 1C. 883 words. "Knuckleheads, Raimi's your guy" By Ed Bark. COMMENTARY: This sounds like an interesting interview. I found this reference before I had decided to do this newsletter. All I had in my notes was this quote. Perplexing. EXCERPT: ...Mr. Raimi also has a TV spinoff in mind. Xena, an evil warrior introduced in a recent Hercules episode, is likely to get her own "knucklehead, fun adventure ... [010.5b] 04-04-95 THE PHOENIX GAZETTE. Sports; Pg. D1. 610 words. "Filmmaker Is Basking in Knucklehead Arena" by Ed Bark COMMENTARY: How this wound up in the sports section is anyone's guess. Perhaps the use of the word "knucklehead". Same text as XMR010.5a. [010.5c] 04-26-95 SUN-SENTINEL (Fort Lauderdale). Lifestyle, Pg. 4E. 538 Words. "'Hercules' a Strong 'Knucklehead'" by Ed Bark COMMENTARY: Same text as XMR010.5a, but properly in the "Lifestyle" section! [011b] 05-04-95 NEWSDAY. Pg. B81. "TV Spots". By Diane Werts. COMMENTARY: Reprint of first four paragraphs and last paragraph of XMR011a. [018b] 05-22-95 NEWSDAY (Nassau and Suffolk Edition). Part 2. Pg. B3. "The Reluctant Hunk. Kevin Sorbo's finally glad he became Hercules" By Diane Werts. COMMENTARY: Same text as XMR018a. [019.5] 05-23-95 [[XMR #05]] THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 421 words. "Rising value of Kiwi dollar threatening production" By Phil Wakefield. COMMENTARY: This is an article which covered how television and film productions were affected by the fluctuations of New Zealand currency. The author added though that Hercules and Xena were unlikely to be affected because of the EVEN GREATER fluctuation of the U.S. dollar. EXCERPT: ... buoyant, then co-productions with countries such as Canada will dry up. However, he noted that it's unlikely to affect U.S. productions, such as "Hercules" and "Xena, Warrior Woman," shooting in the country because the currency difference is still a "great deal" for them.... [020.5] 06/95 [[XMR #05]] VIDEO AGE INTERNATIONAL. Vol. 15 ; No. 6 ; Pg. 19; 1893 words. "Heated marketplace flares at Promax; 'counterpromoting' a controversial trend." By Virginia Robertson. COMMENTARY: Mention of how MCA was shilling Xena: Warrior Princess even before they had any footage of the show. They used Hercules material. EXCERPT: ... MCA will be work-shopping the Hercules action adventure hour and introducing a new hour companion show called Xena. "The show has been an enormous success in syndication and we want people to know where we are going with the show in the future. We'll be introducing ... ... give people a little overview of how well the show has done and the future of Hercules. The same producers will be introducing XENA for the first time to the promotion people right then and there. They'll get their first look at footage and the character."... ... other plans for the shows will be presented along with the on-air promos, except for spots for the XENA, which aren't ready as the show hasn't been produced yet, Fisher said.... ----------- ANNOTATIONS ----------- [025] 07-17-95 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 125 ; No. 29 ; Pg. 20; 809 words. "Meyer to take over at MCA; Ron Meyer appointed president, chief operating officer" By D. Tobenkin. COMMENTARY: XWP is mentioned in business article about MCA management upheavels. EXCERPT: ...On the syndication side, MCA TV will follow up hit Hercules this fall with a spin-off, XENA: Warrior Princess. Ironically, the warrior princess vanquished another MCA TV first-run show, Vanishing Son, to gain its Hercules adjacencies. Several talk shows are in development, including one from Studs creator Stephen Chao... [026] 07-24-95 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 125 ; No. 30 ; Pg. 18; 213 words. "For MCA, it's 'Captain Zoom' to the rescue. MCA TV will offer pilot for The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space" By David Tobenkin. COMMENTARY: The first announcement about MCA's "Captain Zoom." XWP is briefly mentioned in the first paragraph. REPRINT: MCA TV in fourth quarter 1995 will offer affiliates of its Hercules and XENA: Warrior Princess syndicated series a 90-minute pilot for a new syndicated action hour: The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space. The pilot, part of syndication division MCA TV's strategy of testing one new potential action hour series per quarter using a feature film producer or director, was created and executive-produced by Brian Levant, director of The Flintstones, Beethoven and Problem Child 2, and will air first on premium cable service Starz! on Aug. 26. Levant also would serve as executive producer of the series. Captain Zoom's premise is as campy as its title. The high-concept story features actor "Ty Farrell" (Daniel Riordan) as an actor who portrays the fictional "Captain Zoom" on a 1953 television show. Unbeknownst to Farrell, the inhabitants of the faraway planet Pangea have picked up the show's broadcast transmission traveling through space, believe Captain Zoom is a true superhero, and kidnap Farrell to Pangea to help them fight the evil Lord Vox (Ron Perlman, the uglier half of Beauty and the Beast). On Pangea, Farrell discovers he does possess super powers. The Captain Zoom pilot is co-produced by the MCA Television Group and Starz! Pictures. [026.5] 07-28-95 BUSINESS WIRE. 936 words. "Major Hollywood studio participates in San Diego Comic Book Convention; four MCA/Universal divisions to collectively join forces to reach sci-fi genre audience" COMMENTARY: More MCA shilling of XWP. This time at the San Diego Comic Convention, where MCA had a booth hawking its productions. EXCERPT: ... o Hercules: The Legendary Journeys o Waterworld o Hitchcock (various) o Weird Science o Jaws o Xena... [027] 08/21/95 NOTE: The Denver Post and Newsday jumped the gun in sending out minor promos for the premiere of XWP. Most of the media outlets preferred to run the promos the week of or even the day before or of the show. The Denver Post & Newsday released theirs two weeks before most everyone else. [027a] 08/21/95 THE DENVER POST. Section: Living; Pg. F-01. 586 Words. "Some Premieres to Fall into Place Before the Big Switch" by Joanne Ostrow. COMMENTARY: One of the very first of many minor promos for the upcoming season. EXCERPT: ...On Sept. 9, Channel 2 introduces "Xena: Warrior Princess" at 6, followed at 7 by the "Hercules" season premiere and a "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" repeat at 8... [027b] 08/21/95 NEWSDAY (NASSAU AND SUFFOLK). Pg. B25. 482 words. "TV SPOTS" By Diane Werts; Andy Edelstein COMMENTARY: One of the very first of many minor promos for the upcoming season. EXCERPT: ...Also new this fall a Sunday night of WB Network programming and "Xena" (Saturdays at 9 p.m., starting Sept. 9), a spinoff of the highly successful "Hercules."... [028] 08/21/95 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 125 ; No. 34 ; Pg. 25; 974 words. "MCA muscles in on action hours; on strength of 'Hercules,' producers add 'Xena.'" By D. Tobenkin. COMMENTARY: Nothing substantative about XWP, but gives detailed background on Tapert and Raimi (the producers). REPRINT: On strength of 'Hercules,' producers add 'Xena' When MCA TV in 1994 launched its Action Pack syndicated package of telemovies (featuring five different recurring movies by feature film producers and directors), Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert's Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was deemed by many the runt of the litter. "Few people paid much attention to it or gave it much chance for success compared with the other projects," says MCA TV President Shelly Schwab. A 6.0 Nielsen gross average audience household rating after the five Hercules movies aired made it clear, however, that the superhero might pack a punch after all. And so it has. Since January, when MCA launched Hercules as a weekly syndicated show, it has risen to rate consistently among the top three syndicated action hours. "It surprises a lot of people, but it doesn't surprise me and a lot of people at MCA," says Schwab. "We felt good about it because we knew the people who would do it, Sam and Robert, have such a strong track record and had such passion behind it that it had a shot." Now Tapert and Raimi, whose feature film credits include "Darkman" and Jean-Claude van Damme thrillers "Time Cop" and "Hard Target," are expanding their small-screen ambitions. For fall they are producing syndicated Hercules spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess and CBS suspense thriller American Gothic, which deals with an evil sheriff who terrorizes a small town. All three projects are being distributed by MCA Television Group, with which Raimi and Tapert's Renaissance Pictures has a production deal. With the syndication and network markets littered with the cancellations of action hour projects, Tapert says it is the pair's theatrical approach to the action and suspense elements in their shows that sets them apart. "I think we bring a greater and wilder action than normal," he says. "Hercules is a big barroom brawl on a massive scale, while Xena's action will be more a Hong Kong style of acrobatics, martial arts and weaponry." They also give credit to "Hercules" himself, Kevin Sorbo, who they say strikes an appealing balance between camp and a strong image that makes an impression on adults, teens and kids. Tapert says Raimi, who directed "Darkman" and "Army of Darkness," has met extensively with the directors of Hercules and Xena to infuse them with his trademark kinetic camerawork and suspenseful editing. American Gothic's signature will be suspense rather than action, he says. "There's not too much violence, because violence is a turnoff," says Tapert. "It's the threat of violence that drives the audience crazy." However, the opening scene in the American Gothic pilot was an early--and glaring--exception to that game plan. In the scene, a man hits his 16-year-old daughter with a shovel. The evil sheriff (Gary Cole of Midnight Caller) walks up and snaps her neck. An uproar followed release of the tapes to television critics; the scenes eventually were shortened to imply rather than dramatize the blow, and the thud of impact was removed. Raimi later told the critics that although he understood their concerns, he felt the scene was essential to establishing the amorality of Cole's character. The series, created by former teen heartthrob and Hardy Boys star Shaun Cassidy, is scheduled for Friday at 10 p.m., a low HUT slot but one that will allow the show to face relatively light competition from 20/20 on ABC and Homicide: Life on the Street on NBC. Tapert hopes that AG will garner a crossover lead-out audience from Fox's own quirky show at 9-10 p.m., The X-Files. "We think this will be an accessible version of Twin Peaks," says Universal Television President Tom Thayer. "It has a very fine tonal line and a good premise and a writing staff that can take it in a lot of directions." Despite their use of visual effects and action, shows like Hercules, concludes Tapert, are no less in need of good writing. "After looking at all the episodes and which ones have rerun best, we realized the shows that did the best weren't those with the best special effects," says Tapert. "The episodes that rerun the best are the ones with good stories, good villains and some sort of moral and redemption to them. We're trying to create stories that flow out of personality and goals." Tapert and Raimi find themselves concentrating almost exclusively on television less by design than by fortuity, says Tapert. "We did something that spun out of something else which spun into something else," he says. "It's not as lucrative as feature films that work, but what I enjoy most about producing television is that in feature films you spend 18 months producing two hours, whereas television is a whole different ballgame." Commitments to 57 hours of programming for the coming year, 22 episodes each for the syndicated shows and 13 for American Gothic, will keep them busy for the time being, Tapert says. But the pair already is developing another action hour for fall 1996, a pirate saga that would feature their former Renaissance partner, actor Bruce Campbell. Ironically, Tapert and Raimi nearly swore off action hours just before Hercules and after their experience producing the pilot for Mantis last season for Fox. They left the project after serious creative differences with Fox. "It was a horrible battle, and eventually we were paid off and left," says Tapert of the groundbreaking project, which featured Carl Lumbly as an African-American superhero. The show repeatedly was tinkered with by Fox, including a reduction of its African-American elements to broaden its audience, but it never gained a ratings foothold and was canceled. " Fox violated a basic rule of a superhero story," says Tapert in retrospect. "They failed to protect their hero and made him not a hero." [029] 08/21/95 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 125 ; No. 34 ; Pg. 16; 5259 words "Television writes Rx for action hours". By D. Tobenkin. COMMENTARY: A massive news article analyzing the then current state of TV action shows. Fascinating read. Technical references to XWP. EXCERPTS: ...The going remains tough for action hours, but the networks' greater patience--and willingness to experiment with innovative new shows--has paid off in large dividends for some producers and distributors. Positive signs for the format include: * The use of the action hour to build a new network, UPN... [and] MCA TV's willingness to experiment with a syndicated project ridiculed in many quarters--an updated, campy Hercules with humor, fist fights and cutting-edge effects--has paid off: The show has joined the pantheon of top-ranked syndicated action hours... ...Still, there is no shortage of new action hour strips, with 12 poised to enter the market despite the fact that, of the 12 that premiered last season, eight have perished or are performing poorly. And most of the latter 12 have strong clearance numbers. The success of MCA TV's Hercules has allowed the company to clear the show on 193 stations covering 98% of the country for a second season this fall and an even more remarkable 187 stations covering 97% of the country for the fall debut of spin-off show Xena: Warrior Princess. "What we're hearing from stations is that these shows are getting higher CPMs than are shows from the new networks, so we don't think the expansion of those new networks will affect us that much," says MCA TV President Shelly Schwab. "After all, if you were a station affiliated with Hercules, would you give it up?"... ...Still, Schwab concedes that the environment has prompted tough assessments by syndicators about what shows will be able to go the distance and accumulate the 100 or so episodes necessary for stripping and a healthy back-end. That was the thinking that led MCA TV to cancel the sixth-highest-rated syndicated action hour show this season and a show originally paired with Hercules--producer Rob Cohen's Vanishing Son--because Xena was thought to be a better show for Hercules... M the confidence to greenlight a second season of 22 more episodes of the show. ...MCA TV will continue to roll out one action hour pilot per quarter for airing by affiliates of Hercules and Xena. The first project is The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space, a movie being co-produced by premium cable service Starz! It will air there first, Aug. 26, and then in syndication... ...Fall's new syndicated action hours # of stations/ Show Distributor % coverage Debut week Baywatch strip (All American) 165/94% Sept.25 Baywatch Nights (All American) 180/95% Sept.25 Beyond Reality (ACI) 100/82% Sept.18 Flipper (Goldwyn) 128/85% Oct. 2 The Hitchhiker (Rysher) 130/85% Sept.25 Land's End (Buena Vista) 170/98% Sept.18 Lazarus Man (Turner) DNA Jan.1996 One West Waikiki (Rysher) 150/90% Sept.25 Outer Limits (MGM) 174/96% Sept.11 Tales from the Crypt (Genesis) 170/95% Sept.11 The Wanderer (DLT) NA Sept.25 Xena: Warrior Princess (MCA) 187/97% Sept. 4 [029.5] 08-27-95 PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Features. TV Week Pg.6 "Spin Off, Start Up, Remake in Syndicated TV Land, "Baywatch" Breeds "Baywatch Nights," Disney Explores with "Land's End" and Lt. Worf Beams onto "Deep Space Nine." By David Walstad COMMENTARY: Announcement of show. EXCERPT: WHILE the broadcast and cable networks' series get most of the media's attention, viewers are well aware that there's plenty of entertainment in the less-recognized arena of first-run syndicated dramas. Shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Highlander have followings that equal or surpass those of many of their network counterparts. And the new season is bringing changes in this crowded field... ...Here's how the shows will line up when the new season begins next month; some are moving to new times and/or channels:... ...Xena: Warrior Princess is the obvious offshoot of three of last season's highest rated Hercules episodes. It premieres Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. on Ch. 57. Lucy Lawless stars and Renee O'Connor supports in this fantasy adventure epic.... [030] 08/28/95 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT (Norfolk). Section: Daily Break, Pg. E1. 1317 Words. "''Voyager'': UPN Launches Season with ''Trek'' Fave" by Larry Bonko. COMMENTARY: Announcement of a local video promo on XWP, among other syndicated new shows. EXCERPTS: ...After the ''Nowhere Man'' premiere tonight, WGNT at 10:30 will run a 30-minute peek at its new syndicated programming including ''Baywatch Nights'' and ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' from the folks who bring you ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.''... [031] 08/29/95 NEWS & RECORD (Greensboro, Nc). Section: Life, Pg. D1. 1087 Words. "Stations Plug in Syndicated Shows for Fall" by Leigh Pressle. COMMENTARY: Minor mention. EXCERPT: ...WNRW, which becomes the Triad's ABC affiliate on Sept. 3... ...The station's [WNRW] other new syndicated shows include ''The Extremist with Gabrielle Reece,'' an adrenaline-sports show hosted by model and pro volleyball player Gabrielle Reece, and ''Hercules,'' the bulging bicep drama about the adventures of the son of Zeus. Also on tap: animated shows for kids including ''GI Joe,'' ''Jelly Bean Jungle'' and ''Creatures,'' a private-eye-at-the- beach show called ''Land's End'' and a ''Hercules'' spinoff called ''Xena the Warrior Princess.''... ...WANT TO WATCH? Here's a list of air times and start dates for new syndicated shows: ...''Hercules'' - 11:30 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 10 ''Xena the Warrior Princess'' - 12:30 a.m. Sundays, Sept. 10... [032] 08/29/95 DAILY VARIETY. Section: News; Pg. 1. 795 Words. "Wertheimer Walks; Meidel, Tortorici Rumored for Top Mca Tv Job" by Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: More inside scoops on the inner workings of MCA. Nominal mention of XWP. EXCERPT: ...MCA has been perceived to have lagged behind competitors in certain areas, possessing a shortage of firstrun hits other than the weekly action series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (a spinoff, "Xena: Warrior Princess," will premiere next month) and few hot network properties in recent years to take the baton from shows such as "Coach" and "Murder, She Wrote," which have been modest off-network performers... [032.5] 08/29/95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. "Wertheimer out as MCA TV chief; Harbert turns down post to stay at ABC" By Lisa de Moraes. COMMENTARY: Minor mention. EXCERPT: ...MCA-TV is launching "Xena," a "Hercules" spinoff, as a result of the success.... [033] 09-03-95 CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Section: Sho; Pg. 3; Nc. 448 Words. "the Labors of 'Hercules'". By Jae-ha Kim. COMMENTARY: An interview with Kevin Sorbo. He mentions Xena. EXCERPTS: ...Q. I hear there will be a Hercules doll coming out. Does he look like you? Sorbo: Yes. The doll is coming out in November, along with dolls of Iolaus (Michael Hurst) and Xena (Lucy Lawless), and four or five different creatures. They showed me the prototype of the Hercules doll, and the face really looks like me. It was very strange. I haven't seen the body to it yet, though. They've also got pillowcases and sheets and all these other things coming out, so it's going to be very weird when I walk into a department store... ------------- THE BACK PAGE ------------- Issue #06 will contain annotations #34 through #40, dated from 09/03/95 to 09/08/95. It is scheduled to be released May 3, 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, Dallas Morning News, Phoenix Gazette, Sun-sentinel, Newsday, Hollywood Reporter, Video Age International, Broadcasting & Cable, Business Wire, Denver Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Virginian-pilot, News & Record, Daily Variety, And Chicago Sun-times). 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. SOLICITATIONS FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS Send cites, references, articles, annotations, and/or submissions to ktaborn@bak2.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. Editor-in-Chief: Kym Masera Taborn BBS: Resistance is Futile BBS (805) 588-9349: Oxnardus Internet: ktaborn@lightspeed.net US Mail: RIF BBS, P.O. Box 81181, Bakersfield, CA I also edit a free netzine called "Resistance is Futile," a Star Trek parody and all things Borgish newsletter which is issued every 19 days and has been published since 1992 (the Borg jokes just keep on coming!). Request a free subscription at ktaborn@lightspeed.net. Check out the back issues at WEB SITE: http://www.startrek.in-trier.de/rif/