_____ ______ ._ `\`/>`\ /`/` /`__________,.'>___ _____ )~\ /<`\ `\ /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\ |\./| / | \ /< `\`\ `\ /`/` /` | | |----\ / | |\ \ | | |././^\ \ |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----. [\\\\\\\{*}==`> <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==--> |/~~{o}/-- /`/ /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--' \< /`/` /` `\`\ `\ | | |_____,.'>| | | `\`\| | /' \ \ \ \< /` /` `\`\ `\ ,/ /^\------> / |/^\| \ | |/ \/^\\. /`/\>/` `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~ )^\,\, '~~~~~ `~~~~~` '~~~~~` ` ~~~~~~ ========================== XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #06 ========================== 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] 99 subscribers and growing! This document has 642 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. 06 Release date: May 10, 1996 2nd edition: 07/10/96 Covering 09-03-95 to 09-08-95 Annotations #034 through #040. [034a] 09-03-95 THE WASHINGTON POST. Nominal [034b] 09-03-95 NEWS TRIBUNE. Nominal [034c] 09-03-95 THE HARTFORD COURANT. Minor [034d] 09-04-95 NEWSDAY. Nominal [034e] 09-04-95 ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONST. Nominal. [034f] 09-06-95 HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Nominal. [034g] 09-06-95 CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Nominal. [034h] 09-07-95 HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Nominal [034i] 09-09-95 BALTIMORE SUN. Minor. [034j] 09-09-95 TENNESSEAN. Nominal. [034k] 09-10-95 HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Minor. [034l] 09-10-95 SACRAMENTO BEE. Minor. [034m] 09-10-95 PLAIN DEALER. Nominal. [034n] 09-10-95 DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Nominal. [034o] 09-10-96 LOS ANGELES TIMES. Minor [034p] 09-10-95 DAYTON DAILY NEWS. Nominal. [034q] 09-08-95 PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Nominal. [034r] 09-08-95 PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Nominal. [034s] 09-04-95 TAMPA TRIBUNE. Nominal. [035] 09-04-95 VARIETY. Action competition in Fall '95 * [036] 09-05-95 TORONTO STAR. Xena as "plucky" * [037] 09-07-95 SEATTLE TIMES. "campy" ***[038] 09-08-95 DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Renee O'Connor ***[039] 09-08-95 HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Detailed review ***[040] 09-08-95 DAILY VARIETY. First major review. ------------- Introduction: ------------- This issue includes the last batch of media coverage before the release of the first episode of XWP and the initial reactions to "Sins of the Past", the first run XWP episode. To keep straight the dates and episodes, I have included a section called Timeline which will help jog everyone's memories. Well, I have 99 subscribers. Who will be the 100th? I know we are all on the edge of our seats. I wanted to write a meaningful introduction but a spider bit me in the foot and I have been, let's say, rather testy. This testiness contributed to the lateness of this issue. I got to see "Ties That Bind" before sending this out. Sometimes Xena: Warrior Princess seems more interesting than it really is. Perhaps I will explore that theme later. For now, I must take more anti-histamine and watch a tape of "Sins of the Past". PS I was terribly disappointed when the centaur husband of Lyla said that he had left the wife and kid at home for Hercules' mother's wedding. Oh well. Perhaps I do need to get a life. -------- TIMELINE -------- 09/04/95. Episode #1. SINS OF THE PAST. SYNOPSIS: Xena, disgusted with her life after her close encounter with Hercules, buried her clothes and weapons in a forest. Fortunately she chose the forest where Gabrielle's village was being systemically pillaged at that very moment. Xena saved the village (natch); decided that she liked her leather outfit and weapons; and left. Gabrielle, knowing a good story when she saw one, followed Xena, who had decided to seek amends from her mother. Both separately encountered a blind cyclops on the way to Xena's village. Xena found her mother really angry at Xena for Xena's warrior princess hi-jinks. Xena also discovered the village soon-to-be in conflict with a visiting horde of evil warriors. The villagers didn't take a shine to Xena either, thinking that the visiting horde was her army (done purposely by Dracus, who told Xena plainly that "You can never home"). Xena was about to be beaten to a pulp (or was it pelted by tomatoes) when Gabrielle talked both of their ways out of the village. Xena made up with her mother and village when she saved them by challenging Dracus (who wanted either to have Xena as a mate or fight her to the death -- guess which one Xena chose) to a fascinating battle on scaffolding and people's heads (first to touch the ground was to be dead meat). Dracus fell. Xena allowed him his pathetic life. He repaid his debt by killing one of his men who tried to backstab Xena. Later, when Xena went to the grave of her brother, Gabrielle informed Xena that she was not alone (whether Xena liked it or not...they implied that Xena liked it). Thus the great adventures began! ----------- ANNOTATIONS ----------- [034] 09-03-95 through 09-10-95 NOTE: The first episode of XMR was released 09/04/96. This event was heralded by a plethora of standard local blurbs. Most were terse, some were cute, and others basically reflected the idiosyncracies of the region. They were all short and in themselves nominal, but as a group they illustrated how the first viewers of XMR were prepared for the series. [034a] 09-03-95 THE WASHINGTON POST. TV Week; Pg. Y03; 614 Words. "UPN and Fox Series Sightings". COMMENTARY: A nominal mention prefaced by the caveat "may appeal to younger veiwers." EXCERPT: ...SERIES PREMIERES The following new series may appeal to younger viewers. FRIDAY: Xena: Warrior Princess 9 p.m. on 20... [034b] 09-03-95 NEWS TRIBUNE. Soundlife; Pg. Sl6. 731 Words. "Local TV Stations Add, Swap and Drop Shows for Fall" by Stephanie Reader COMMENTARY: A bare mention with station identification. EXCERPT: ..."Xena: Warrior Princess," a companion piece to "Hercules," will air at 8 p.m. Fridays and midnight Sundays starting Friday. [KING, channel 5]... [034c] 09-03-95 THE HARTFORD COURANT. Arts; Pg. G6. 773 Words. "New Talk Shows to Duke it out in the Syndicated Marketplace" by James Endrst COMMENTARY: A wordy, yet nominal mention. Compared to the others, however, it's as if it wanted to be more, but wasn't. Regional difference? You decide. EXCERPT: ...Elsewhere on the bod patrol . . . With the success of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" too good to pass up, the same syndicators have now spun off "Xena: Warrior Princess," starring Lucy Lawless. Filmed in New Zealand, "Xena" is set in the mythological past and offers big action, big yuks and big-screen special effects. But you'll have to stay up late to catch it. "Xena" bows Saturday at 1 a.m. on WTIC... [034d] 09-04-95 NEWSDAY. Nassau and Suffolk Edition. Part II; Pg. B33. 474 Words. "Tv Spots" by Diane Werts. COMMENTARY: Standard local blurb. EXCERPT: ...Herc gets a heroine: "Xena: Warrior Princess" debuts Saturday at 9 on WPIX/11, after Kevin Sorbo's series starts its second season at 8... [034e] 09-04-95 THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION. Features, Pg. 10b. 606 Words. "Review: The Morehouse Men";9 Tonight WGTV/Channel 8 (89742) and 9 P.m. Wednesday on WPBA/; Channel 30 (81506). Ratings range from one to four stars.; The Verdict" by Drew Jubera COMMENTARY: Strictly nominal announcement. EXCERPT: ...Attention, all fans of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Baywatch": Both popular syndicated series are moving to WVEU/Channel 69. "Hercules," with Kevin Sorbo, will air at 8 p.m. Thursdays beginning this week. It will be followed at 9 p.m. by the new spinoff series "Xena: Warrior Princess," starring Lucy Lawless... [034f] 09-06-95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 319 words. "Journalist Jim Lehrer on "Equal Time," CNBC." COMMENTARY: Another nominal announcement. EXCERPT: Selected TV viewing of interest to the film, TV and music industries. Programming schedules are subject to change (all times PDT)... ...THURSDAY... ...9 p.m. Debut of MCA's action series "Xena: Warrior Princess," KTLA (multiple airings)... [034g] 09-06-95 THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Tempo, Pg. B08. 374 Words. By John Kiesewetter. COMMENTARY: Yes, they had some tough choices to make that night in Cincinnati. EXCERPT: ...TV TONIGHT: Biography profiles Liberace (8 p.m., A&E). . . . HBO dramatizes the life of French composer Georges Bizet in HBO's Composers' Specials (7 p.m. ). . . . Xena: Warrior Princess, a Hercules spinoff, premieres today (8 p.m., Channel 64)... [034h] 09-07-95 THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Houston; Today on TV; Pg. 6 COMMENTARY: Ms. Lawless receives a mention, but not native daughter Ms. O'Connor. EXCERPT: ...8 p.m., Channel 11. Xena. Lucy Lawless stars in Xena: Warrior Princess, the new action series paired with Hercules... [034i] 09-09-95 THE BALTIMORE SUN. Features, Pg. 8d. 419 Words. "Fox Trots out New Episodes for Fall" by Steve Mckerrow. COMMENTARY: This was a substantive introductions. It mentioned both Ms. Lawless and Ms. O'Connor, not to mention Xena's relationship to Hercules AND a bit of the premiere's plot. Conclusion: they are civilized in Baltimore. EXCERPT: ...* "Xena: Warrior Princess" (4 p.m.-5 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- A syndicated spinoff from "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," this series stars Lucy Lawless as the warrior first seen as a deadly adversary of Hercules. In the first episode she gains a sidekick, Gabrielle (Rene O'Connor), as she journeys to her homeland... [034j] 09-09-95 THE TENNESSEAN. Living, Pg. 3d. 1065 Words. "Want More Talk? Got It; Want More 'Baywatch'? Sorry, You Got That, Too" by Sandy Smith. COMMENTARY: Par for course one-liner promo. EXCERPT: ...WXMT-Channel 30... ...Xena: Warrior Princess at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays. The latter is a spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Lucy Lawless stars as Xena. [034k] 09-10-95 THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Zest; Pg. 9. 638 Words. "in Syndication, the Talk Is 'Seinfeld,' 'Baywatch Nights'" by Mike Mcdaniel. COMMENTARY: A little more information, but barely. The emphasis is on the martial-arts and Hercules. EXCERPT: ...''Xena'' - Lucy Lawless plays a princess with martial-arts talent in this spinoff of the successful Hercules series. 8 p.m. Thursdays, Channel 39. [034l] 09-10-95 SACRAMENTO BEE. Encore; Pg. En14. 1947 Words. "Rerun Improvement" by Dan Vierria. COMMENTARY: A nice flowing promo which connects Xena with Hercules and complimented the show. EXCERPT: ...Xena: Warrior Princess: Anyone who watched her defy Hercules last season ("Journeys of Hercules") had to figure she was destined for her own show. (midnight Saturday with reruns Sundays at 11 p.m., Channel 31, already on the air.)... [034m] 09-10-95 THE PLAIN DEALER. Arts & Living; Pg. 11j. 686 Words. "Syndicated Shows this Year Are Heavy on Talk, Comedy" by Tom Feran. COMMENTARY: Nominal mention. EXCERPT: ...Syndicated reruns of "Home Improvement" and "Seinfeld" are the big additions at WUAB Channel 43, which is now affiliated with both the UPN and WB networks... ..."Xena: Warrior Princess," an action spinoff of "Hercules" at 5 p.m. Saturdays... [034n] 09-10-95 THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Pg. 2Q. 699 words. "Nine new talk shows will debut in syndication" By Manuel Mendoza. COMMENTARY: Nominal mention. EXCERPT: ...Xena: Warrior Princess is a Hercules spinoff (11:30 p.m. Sundays, starting tonight, Channel 4)... [034o] 09-10-96 LOS ANGELES TIMES. TV Times; Page 14; 1044 Words. "Preview '95;syndication Will Get You Everywhere" by Ted Johnson. COMMENTARY: EXCERPT: More substantive, but still leaves you aching for more. ...KTLA "Xena: Warrior Princess": Call this a female companion to last year's syndication success story, "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," with Lucy Lawless as the warrior who uses martial arts and acrobatics. Fridays at 9 p.m. Already premiered... [034p] 09-10-95 THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS. Entertainment, Pg. 4c. 589 Words. "Syndicated Shows Abound this Fall" by Tom Hopkins. COMMENTARY: EXCERPT: Nominal mention. ...Channel 22... ...* Xena: Warrior Princess, a spinoff of Hercules, to follow that show at 11 a.m. Sundays beginning Sept. 17 in a two-hour block replacing the 10 a.m.-noon Perry Mason movies... [034q] 09-08-95 PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Features Magazine. 373 words. Pg. F14. "TV Tonight" by Lee Winfrey COMMENTARY: Nominal mention. EXCERPT: ...XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS. (9-10 p.m., Ch. 57) - This is the premiere of a new adventure series spun off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Lucy Lawless plays the title role. Syndicated.... [034r] 09-08-95 PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Features. Pg.61. 329 Words. "Weekend Watch It" by Mark De La Vina. COMMENTARY: The main attention was given to Hercules. Xena was mentioned almost as an after thought. EXCERPT: ...HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS CHANNEL 57, 8 P.M. FRIDAY What started as a cult hit has vaulted over every syndicated drama short of ''Baywatch." Even "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" fell behind this action/ fantasy series, starring Kevin Sorbo as the mythical do-gooder. Bruce Campbell, star of "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.," plays a trouble- making thief who commits a crime attributed to Iolaus (Michael Hurst). At 9 p.m., look for its broadswords-and-bustlines spinoff, "Xena: Warrior Princess."... [034s] 09-04-95 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Baylife, Pg. 1. 1377 words. "Oprah's move highlights major changes in daytime Television" by Walt Belcher COMMENTARY: Description of XWP as an "action fantasy". EXCERPT: ...Other new entries are on their way to the "off-network" world of syndicated programming, such as the action fantasy "Xena" (a spinoff of "Hercules" debuting Thursday at 11 p.m. on Channel 13)... [035] 09-04-95 VARIETY. Special Report: Focus: Fall Preview; Pg. 38. 1061 Words. "Talk Is Cheap, but Lucrative." by Joe Flint. COMMENTARY: A nice review of what other action shows Xena was competing with in it's first season. In this article the two standouts of the upcoming crop were Baywatch Nights (which fizzled rather quickly) and our very own Xena: Warrior Princess. EXCERPT: ...On the action front, the theme this year seems to be spinoff. Two of the more anticipated shows are based on current hits. All American is rolling out "Baywatch Nights" and MCA has "Xena: The Warrior Princess," which is a follow-up to the surprise hit, "Journeys of Hercules." "Spinoffs are what they are," says Fentress. "Few work as well as the original." "It is impossible to know what will work. Nobody knew that "Hercules" would be such a big hit," Carroll adds. Other action hours and half-hours for the fall include Buena Vista TV's "Land's End," starring Fred Dryer; MGM's "Outer Limits"; Samuel Goldwyn's "Flipper"; New Line's "Nancy Drew" and "Hardy Boys"; and in January, Turner Program Service's "Lazarus Man," starring Robert Urich... [036] 09-05-95 THE TORONTO STAR. Entertainment; Pg. D4. 813 Words. "TV's Deadly Games Is for Video Buffs New Series Makes Debut on New Web." by Jim Bawden. COMMENTARY: It has a loooooong introduction and the reviewer really did review every single new episode of the new season (yawn), but he ended the seige with two paragraphs on XWP. Mr. Bawden called Ms. Lawless "the pluckiest heroine since Charlie's Angels went off the air." He declared that the series had "absolutely no redeeming qualities" and described Xena, our heroine, as "a scantily clad heroine who fights back. Sort of a liberated lady of the ancient world." Did he hit the nail on the head, or what? EXCERPT: This is the time of year I get ever so slightly down. No, not really depressed. Just a mite discouraged. And there's nothing I can do about it. I'm suffering from a non-terminal case of "TV critic's blues." Every year at this time, the fall season premieres. I get to watch each and every one of the new shows before you do. The preview tapes come rolling in and I sit at home every night munching my diet popcorn and watching my TV the way it should be watched - sans commercials. At the end of this gruelling schedule, I sit down at my computer and tell you what's good and bad in the year ahead. I know you're reading from the feedback I get. But do you really believe me? I'd like to know, because I suspect TV critics are toothless. We couldn't save My So-Called Life last season. And all our verbal jousts against Melrose Place have only served to make the series even more popular. Let's face it, every viewer thinks he or she is a TV critic. When you go to the movies you have to plunk down $ 8 or more per ticket. Then there are the beverages, the candy, the babysitter, the parking. No wonder you read movie reviews so thoroughly first. It's the same, or even more so, if you go to the theatre, a rock event or a classical music concert. But TV? As a critic I get no respect, I tell you. Oh, people are cagey and always making believe they watched PBS the night before. But I know from the volume of mail to Starweek's TV Talkback column that they're really watching Friends and Murder, She Wrote. But why should it be any different? All you need to be a TV critic is a clicker. You turn the set on and make your own judgments. You don't watch what's good for you, but what's entertaining. But I'll persevere... ...And here's my secret confession. I even liked the pilot for the Hercules spin off called Xena: The Warrior Princess. Gee, can that warrioress toss a spear! The debut is Friday at 9 on CKVR's Channel 3. I liked Lucy Lawless in the lead. She's the pluckiest heroine since Charlie's Angels went off the air. Here's a series with absolutely no redeeming qualities. It features a scantily clad heroine who fights back. Sort of a liberated lady of the ancient world. And I know a lot of people who secretly tell me they watch Hercules. But not TV critics. We're far too busy watching our PBS tapes. [037] 09-07-95 THE SEATTLE TIMES. TV; Pg. D6. By John Voorhees. COMMENTARY: Short but memorable mention. XMR is cited for its "campy moments", "far too much violence", and that it did not exhibit "even the foggiest sense of history." Looks like this reviewer missed the joke or worked for NPR. EXCERPT: ...What can one say of "Hercules," which begins its second season at 9 p.m. tomorrow, joined this season by a spinoff, "Xena: Warrior Princess," debuting at 9 tonight, both on on KIRO-TV. Both have their campy moments (and far too much violence) and neither exhibits even the foggiest sense of history... [038] 09-08-95 THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Today. Pg. 5c. 804 Words "Screenwriter got more than good advice at Austin festival" By Jane Sumner COMMENTARY: Texas loved Gabrielle enough to give her a graphic! EXCERPT: ...Sidekick When the new syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess kicks off Sunday at 11:30 p.m. on Channel 4, one of the stars of the Hercules spin-off will be Katy, Texas, native Renee O'Connor. She'll be seen as Xena's comical, high-spirited sidekick Gabrielle. The daughter of Eddie and Sandra Wilson, owners of Threadgill's restaurant in Austin, began studying acting at age 12 at Houston's Alley Theatre. She worked at Astroworld through high school and, upon graduation in 1989, made her professional acting debut in the Teen Angel series on the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club. The same year, she moved to Los Angeles and landed a featured role in an episode of Tales From the Crypt directed by Arnold Schwarznegger. She first caught the eye of Xena executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi at an audition for their adventure Hercules and the Lost Kingdom. They were so impressed they put her in Darkman II: The Return of Durant (released on video in July) and signed her for their new action series shot in Auckland, New Zealand... ...GRAPHIC: PHOTO(S):...3. Texas native Renee O'Connor has a role in the new syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess. [039] 09-08-95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 1193 words. COMMENTARY: This reviewer got it! The anonymous reviewer even called Renaissance Pictures "zany". What a word. What a review. EXCERPT: ...XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (KTLA) 9 tonight It may not be possible within human endurance to view all the new teleproductions, but you may not be able to find a slyly funnier series than "Xena: Warrior Princess" or a more memorable woman than its beauteous star, Lucy Lawless. She leaps, hurtles and spins through the air, jousting and stabbing, clobbering and kicking impossible war hordes. It's silly enough to achieve cult status. Xena is spinning off the MCA TV syndicated adventures of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" from the zany Renaissance Pictures team of Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert ("The Evil Dead," "Darkman"). We're set in mythical times, so the historical rules of logic don't apply. What makes it delightful and goofy is that it's all straight-faced, even the most raucous situations. The deeply blue-eyed Lawless (from New Zealand; this is shot there) is assigned to do the most outrageous shtick -- but she maintains the straightest face. She's good... [040] 09-08-95 DAILY VARIETY. Review. 337 Words. " Xena: Warrior Princess (Fri. (8), 9-10 p.m., KTLA)" By Brian Lowry COMMENTARY: The first official review of Xena: Warrior Princess was favorable. The episode was "The Sins of the Past", the premiere XWP episode broadcast in the United States of America. Although XWP did not "measure up quantitatively" to Hercules' "sort of mythological Baywatch," Mr. Lowry was of the opinion that XWP was in and of itself not bad. Xena was described as "in the spirit of Red Sonja" and "easy on the eyes." Mr. Lowry further stated "Lawless is convincing in the title role, and the action sequences are cleverly staged..." He also stated that Gabrielle, in the function as the comic relief foil, did not generate humor as well as that found in Hercules. The reviewer described Gabrielle as "a contemporary-minded young woman (Renee O'Connor) determined to become Xena's protege and traveling companion." Mr. Lowry feared that XWP would not appeal to young males as much as Hercules did; but concluded that if XWP made it over that hump, then it would no doubt be successful. REPRINT: TX:Filmed in New Zealand by Renaissance Pictures and distributed by MCA TV. Exec producers, Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert; co-exec producer, R.J. Stewart; supervising producers, Babs Grehosky, Steven L. Sears; producer, Eric Gruendemann; co-producer, Liz Friedman; coordinating producer, Bernadette Joyce; line producer, Chloe Smith; director, Doug Lefler; writer, Stewart; camera, Donald Duncan; editor, Jim Prior; music, Joseph Lo Duca; production design, Robert Gillies; visual effects supervisor, Kevin O'Neill; sound, Digital Sound & Picture. Cast: Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Jay Laga'aia, Darien Takle, Stephen Hall, Linda Jones, Willa O'Neill, Geoff Snell, Anton Bentley, David Perrett, Patrick Wilson. MCA unleashed an unlikely firstrun hit in "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and now provides the big lug a compatible companion in this spinoff series making its debut in syndication. Featuring the same mix of action, goofy dialogue and nifty special effects, the shows promise to pack a solid one-two punch. BODY: "Hercules" stumbled into a formula that incorporates plenty of action, reasonably good effects on an obvious budget, a self-effacing sense of humor, California surfer dialogue that for some reason doesn't seem out of place and enough scantily clad flesh to qualify as a sort of mythological "Baywatch." "Xena" doesn't measure up quantitatively in that last regard but compensates with its lead, Lucy Lawless, who -- in the spirit of Red Sonja and other sword-wielding females -- wears uncomfortable looking metal breastplates and proves undeniably easy on the eyes. Little girls, in fact, will finally have their own hero amply capable of kicking butt, which violence watchdogs may consider a dubious distinction. Still, the action and tone is on such a cartoonish level no one should take offense. For those poor souls who haven't been following "Hercules," Xena originated in that show as a bad gal who eventually turned good, briefly teaming up with Hercules. Now mimicking his penchant for traveling around righting wrongs, she initially saves a village from siege by a warlord (well played by Jay Laga'aia) from her own past, then finds herself defending her home village -- which hasn't forgiven Xena for her more nefarious days -- from the same band of marauders. Lawless is convincing in the title role, and the action sequences are cleverly staged, making the budgetary limitations involving a giant cyclops, for example, almost an asset. As with "Hercules," the hour fares less well in its attempts at comic relief, here embodied by a contemporary-minded young woman (Renee O'Connor) determined to become Xena's protege and traveling companion. The only real question commercially is whether the young men who account for most of "Hercules' " audience will hang around to watch a woman do the same, though Lawless and the wholesale action should be a solid attraction. As a result, this warrior princess should reign long enough to give even macho males a chance to get over their "Xena"-phobia. ------------- THE BACK PAGE ------------- Issue #07 will contain annotations #041 through #055, dated from 09/05/95 to 10/02/95. It is scheduled to be released 05/17/96. 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, WASHINGTON POST, NEWS TRIBUNE, HARTFORD COURANT, NEWSDAY, ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONSTITUTION, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, BALTIMORE SUN, TENNESSEAN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, SACRA- MENTO BEE, PLAIN DEALER, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, LOS ANGELES TIMES, DAYTON DAILY NEWS, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, TAMPA TRIBUNE, VARIETY, TORONTO STAR, SEATTLE TIMES, DAILY VARIETY). 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@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/