XENA MEDIA REVIEW #30 (04-15-97) Borg 08 of 11 ================= CUT HERE =================== [564ai] 10-15-96 SACRAMENTO BEE. Page A2. 106 words. "Short Stuff" By Ed Fishbein. COMMENTARY: Report of Lawless' expected release from the hospital. EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, the star of the syndi-syndicated series "Xena: Warrior Princess," who fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show," is expected to leave the hospital today. [564aj] 10-15-96 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS. Tuesday. Page 38A. 254 words. "ETC" COMMENTARY: Again, a report of Lawless' expected release from the hospital. EXCERPT: ...The star of Xena: Warrior Princess is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.... [564ak] 10-15-96 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Tuesday. Pg. D3. 227 words. "The Buzz" By Ed Masley COMMENTARY: Perhaps we should classify this as the ultimate in confusion of actress with character. This writer declares that Lawless herself is invincible. I suspect that Lawless would disagree with that statement.[DS] EXCERPT: ...WARRIOR FELLED ''The Tonight Show'' got a little too rough and tumble last week for Xena, Warrior Princess. The invincible Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis while taping a comedy skit on horseback. The horse lost its footing, sending Lawless tumbling to the ground of the NBC studio parking lot. Lawless was in stable condition in an L.A. hospital, and the injury isn't expected to have an effect on production of ''Xena.'' [564al] 10-15-96 THE ORLANDO SENTINEL. Tuesday. Page A2. 794 words. "Alphabet Beauties Give Book its Wings" By Leslie Doolittle COMMENTARY: Similar to XMR564ac. EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, star of the syndicated TV show Xena: Warrior Princess, fractured her pelvis last week when her horse lost its footing and fell during taping of a skit on horseback for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Lawless is expected to leave the hospital today.... [564am] 10-15-96 THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Tuesday. Page A02. 982 words. "People" COMMENTARY: The newspaper that first announced the impending Leno skit provides some new information about the accident. It notes that "there were two trainers on site and the horse had rubber coverings on its shoes." I've been told that special rubber shoes are required when a horse rides on pavement. [DS] EXCERPT: 'Xena' is on the mend, Michael Landon's daughter keeps her promise, Alabama declines Nat King Cole Lucy Lawless, star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," remained in stable condition Monday after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit last week for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. " The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave a Los Angeles-area hospital today, said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc. "She's doing great, she's just going to need rest and recuperation time," Benson said. Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in NBC's Burbank studio parking lot Tuesday when her horse lost its footing. Benson said it was still not clear why the horse slipped. There were two trainers on site and the horse had rubber coverings on its shoes. The skit was supposed to be taped before "The Tonight Show," and Lawless never appeared as a guest that night... [564an] 10-15-96 NEWS TRIBUNE. Tuesday. Page A10. 476 words. "Stephen King Not Satisfied with Just Saying 'Boo!'" By Jerry Holloron COMMENTARY: Same old stuff about Lawless' release from the hospital. EXCERPT: ...The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave the hospital today. "She's doing great; she's just going to need rest and recuperation time," said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc... [564ao] 10-15-96 LOS ANGELES TIMES. Tuesday. Page E2. 459 words. "Laugh Lines. Punch Lines" COMMENTARY: The accident is mentioned as a punchline to a comedian's joke, Lawless is not even referred to by name. This was actually a sign of the show's growing popularity. To find XWP in a professional comedian's joke assumes that the audience is familiar with it. Stand up comedy tends to cater to the lowest possible denominator. Also, that the LA Times ran it in it's best lines heard by comics reflected the growing popularity of the show.[KT] EXCERPT: ...The actress who plays Xena the Warrior Princess fractured her pelvis while rehearsing a stunt for "The Tonight Show." Says Steve Voldseth, "Obviously a freak accident. Where else on TV could an actress break her pelvis rehearsing . . . I mean, besides 'Melrose Place.'" [564ap] 10-15-96 LOS ANGELES TIMES. Tuesday. Page F2. 932 words. "Arts and Entertainment Reports from the Times, National and International News Services and the Nation's Press" By Art Berman COMMENTARY: Same basic information about Lawless expected release. EXCERPT: ...Sick Call: The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" is expected to leave the hospital today after fracturing her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Lucy Lawless, the 28-year-old New Zealander who stars in the=7F popular syndicated show, was in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine, but not Lawless. "She's doing great; she's just going to need rest and recuperation time," said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc... [564aq] 10-15-96 THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Tuesday. Page 2. 516 words. "Newsmakers" COMMENTARY: The familiar wording marks this as a probable AP story that is being picked up and reprinted in various newspapers around the United States. [DS] EXCERPT: Xena: X-ray princess The star of ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. '' The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave the hospital on Tuesday. "She's doing great, she's just going to need rest and recuperation time,'' said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc. Lawless stormed into the world of syndicated action-adventure television in March 1995 as a guest character on ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. '' Her own show, which began a year ago, has been among the top 10 this season. [564ar] 10-15-96 THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION (Jacksonville, FL). Tuesday. Page A2. 483 words "Newsmakers" COMMENTARY: Announcement of Lawless' expected release. EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, the star of Xena: Warrior Princess who fractured her pelvis after a fall from a horse, is expected to leave the hospital today... [564as] 10-15-96 THE DETROIT NEWS. Tuesday. Page A2. 447 words. "Stephen King's real horror? Censorship" COMMENTARY: Same old release announcement. EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, TV's Xena: Warrior Princess, will leave a Los Angeles hospital today to recuperate from a fractured pelvis. She fell off a horse while taping a skit for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.... [564at] 10-15-96 THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS. Tuesday. Page 2A. 395 words. "People" COMMENTARY: Dayton reports her release as if it were fact. In reality, Lawless was released a day later. [DS] EXCERPT: ...The star of Xena: Warrior Princess is getting out of the hospital today in Los Angeles, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. New Zealander Lucy Lawless, 28, fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. ''She's doing great, she's just going to need rest and recuperation time,'' said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc.... [564au] 10-15-96 THE COURIER-JOURNAL. Tuesday. Page 03D. 880 words. "the Insider" By John C. Long COMMENTARY: Same old released-from-hospital story. EXCERPT: ...The star of the syndicated TV action-adventure show ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' is expected to get out of a Los Angeles hospital today, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.'' Lawless was taping in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine... [564av] 10-15-96 CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Tuesday. Page 2. 82 words. "Xena Recuperating from a Horse Spill" COMMENTARY: AP strikes again. REPRINT: The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave the hospital Tuesday. In the U.S. vacationing and doing publicity for her syndicated show, Lawless was taping the skit in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine. [564aw] 10-15-96 CHATTANOOGA FREE PRESS. Tuesday. Page A2. 711 words. "Newsmakers" By Howard Cross COMMENTARY: Yet another probable AP story on Lawless' expected release from the hospital EXCERPT: ...The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave the hospital today. Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine, but not Lawless... [564ax] 10-15-96 The Charleston Gazette. Tuesday. Page P8B. 398 words. "What's Up" COMMENTARY: Same old story about Lawless' hospital release. EXCERPT: LOS ANGELES - The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess" is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave the hospital on Tuesday. "She's doing great, she's just going to need rest and recuperation time," said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc. Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine, but not Lawless. Lawless stormed into the world of syndicated action-adventure television in March 1995 as a guest character on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." [564ay] 10-15-96 THE BALTIMORE SUN. Tuesday. Page 2E. 582 words. "The same old Roth irritates Van Halen after MTV Awards." COMMENTARY: Short and sweet. Another story about Lawless' expected release. EXCERPT: ...Stars are recovering, resting or semi-retiring. TV land is full of off-screen drama at the moment:... ...The star of "Xena: Warrior Princess," 28-year-old Lucy Lawless, who fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," is likely to get out of the hospital today but needs recuperation time before she gets back in the saddle, a spokesman says. [564az] 10-15-96 THE CHATTANOOGA TIMES. Entertainment. Page A2. 320 words. "People". COMMENTARY: This appears to be a longer version of the AP story about Lawless' expected release from the hospital. EXCERPT: 'Warrior Princess' recovering LOS ANGELES -- The star of Xena: Warrior Princess is getting out of the hospital, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lucy Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. The 28-year-old New Zealander is expected to leave the hospital Tuesday. "She's doing great, she's just going to need rest and recuperation time," said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc. Miss Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine, but not Lawless. Miss Lawless stormed into the world of syndicated action-adventure television in March 1995 as a guest character on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Her own show, which began a year ago, has been among the top 10 this season. [564ba] 10-15-96 THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (RALEIGH, NC). NEWS. Page A2. 568 words. "Short Stuff". COMMENTARY: Same old story about Lawless' expected release. EXCERPT: . ... Lucy Lawless, star of "Xena: Warrior Princess," is expected to get out of the hospital today, but she won't be back in the saddle soon. Lawless fractured her pelvis last week while taping a skit for Jay Leno's show. "She's just going to need rest and recuperation time," said a spokesman. Lawless' show, which began a year ago, has been in the top 10 this season. [564bb] 10-16-96 The Record. October 16, 1996; WEDNESDAY; ALL EDITIONS. SECTION: YOUR TIME; Pg. Y10. LENGTH: 547 words. HEADLINE: TELEVISION NEWS & NOTES. COMMENTARY: Does this sound familiar? Yet another story on Lawless' expected release. EXCERPT: ...FALLEN WARRIOR Life got a little too rough and tumble last week for "Xena, Warrior Princess" star Lucy Lawless, 28, who fractured her pelvis while taping a comedy skit on horseback for "The Tonight Show." Her horse lost its footing, sending Lawless tumbling to the pavement of the NBC Studios parking lot in Burbank, Calif. The formerly invincible TV action heroine was in stable condition at a Los Angeles hospital, but the injury isn't expected to affect the production of "Xena."... [564bc] 10-17-96 THE COLUMBIAN. Thursday. Page A4. 249 words. "Torme Making Progress * Lucy Lawless * Salman Rushdie" COMMENTARY: At last! The first AP story appears reporting that Lawless was indeed released from the hospital on Wendesday, October 16, 1996, eight days after the accident.[DS] EXCERPT: ...The Warrior Princess is on the mend. Lucy Lawless, star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was released from a hospital Wednesday, a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."A spokesman for MCA Television, the show's distributor, said the New Zealand actress, 28, is unlikely to resume work for four to six weeks. Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in NBC's Burbank studio parking lot Oct. 8 when her horse lost its footing and fell.... [564bd] 10-17-96 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Thursday. 747 words. "Names in the News" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR [564bc] [564be] 10-17-96 AP ONLINE. Thursday. 187 words. "Jay Leno Takes Out Xena." COMMENTARY: Same as XMR564bc [564bf] 10-18-96 THE TIMES-PICAYUNE. Pg. A21. 937 words. "Jagger's Infidelities May Add Up" Compiled by J.E. Bourgoyne COMMENTARY: An expanded version of the AP story. Nothing new here, except that the headline is interesting as yet another example of the confusion over actress and character.[DS] EXCERPT: 'Xena' only human Lucy Lawless, star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was released from a Burbank, Calif., hospital Wednesday, a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." "She's fine," said Jim Benson, spokesman for MCA Television, the show's distributor. "She just needs some rest and recuperation." The 28-year-old New Zealand actress is unlikely to resume work for four to six weeks, Benson said. The injury was expected to have little impact on the production of "Xena." Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in NBC's Burbank studio parking lot on Oct. 8 when her horse lost its footing and fell. [564bg] 10-18-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Friday. Baylife. Pg. 2. 389 words. "Warrior Princess recuperates". Compiled by Robert Bowden COMMENTARY: Report of Lawless' release from the hospital. No new information. EXCERPT: The Warrior Princess is on the mend. Lucy Lawless, star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was released from a hospital Wednesday, a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." "She's fine," said Jim Benson, spokesman for MCA Television, the show's distributor. "She just needs some rest and recuperation." The 28-year-old New Zealand actor is unlikely to resume work for four to six weeks, Benson said. The injury was expected to have little impact on the production of "Xena." Lawless, in the United States vacationing and doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in NBC's studio parking lot in Burbank, Calif., on Oct. 8 when her horse lost its footing and fell. Source: The Associated Press [564bh] 10-18-96 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Friday. Pg. E-2. 662 words. "Sick-bay report." By Jeanne Beach Eigner COMMENTARY: Same old information about Lawless' release from the hospital. EXCERPT: ...Sick-bay report Lucy Lawless, star of TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess," is out of the hospital a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The bemuscled action star, 28, is "fine,"=7F said Jim Benson, spokesman for MCA Television, the show's distributor. "She just needs some rest and recuperation."... [564bi] 10-18-96 THE ORLANDO SENTINEL. Friday. Pg. A2. 826 words. "Break out the Suds! Soap Winners Are In". By Leslie Doolittle COMMENTARY: Same report about Lawless' release EXCERPT: ...Sick bay report:... Lucy Lawless, star of syndicated TV's Xena: Warrior Princess, was released from a hospital on Wednesday, a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The 28-year-old actress from New Zealand, who won't resume work for four to six weeks, fell after the horse she was on lost its footing. [564bj] 10-18-96 THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Friday. Page A02. 768 words. "People" COMMENTARY: Another version of the AP story on Lawless' release from the hospital. EXCERPT: Lucy Lawless, star of TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was released from a Burbank hospital a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. " Lawless, 28, was discharged from St. Joseph's Medical Center on Wednesday. "She's fine," said Jim Benson, spokesman for MCA Televison, the show's distributor. "She just needs some rest and recuperation. " The New Zealand actress is unlikely to resume work for four to six weeks, Benson said. He refused to say where Lawless planned to recuperate. [564bk] 10-18-96 Newsday. October 18, 1996, Friday. Nassau and Suffolk Edition. Page A14. 1042 words. "Flash! The Latest Entertainment News And More" By Patrick Pacheco. Patrick Pacheco is a free-lance writer; By Anthony Scaduto. COMMENTARY: Same old, same old on Lawless' release. EXCERPT: ...LUCY LAWLESS Xena' Released From Hospital The Warrior Princess is on the mend. Lucy Lawless, star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was released from a hospital Wednesday, about a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The 28-year-old actress, who is from New Zealand, is unlikely to resume work for four to six weeks. Lawless, in the United States doing publicity for her popular syndicated show, was taping the skit in NBC's Burbank studio parking lot on Oct. 8 when her horse lost its footing and fell... [564bl] 10-18-96 NEWS TRIBUNE. Friday. Pg. A14. 470 words. "People: Cher Objects to Magazine's Version of Her Body". Compiled from news services by Yoko Kuramoto COMMENTARY: Yet another version of the AP story on Lawless' release from the hospital. EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, 28, star of TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was released from an LA hospital Wednesday, a week after fracturing her pelvis when she fell from a horse doing a skit for Jay Leno's show. Her spokesman said she's expected back at work in four to six weeks.... [564bm] 10-18-96 MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Friday. Pg. 7. 611 words. "Celebrities" COMMENTARY: Yet another report on Lawless' release. EXCERPT: ... Xena on the mend Lucy Lawless, 28, star of TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess," has been released from an L.A. hospital after fracturing her pelvis when she fell from a horse doing a skit for Jay Leno's show. [564bn] 10-18-96 THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL (Memphis). Friday. Pg. 3C. 106 words. "'Xena' mending after accident." By our press services COMMENTARY: Same old story about Lawless' release. EXCERPT: The Warrior Princess is on the mend. Lucy Lawless, 28, star of television's Xena: Warrior Princess, has been released from the hospital, a week after fracturing her pelvis while taping a skit for The Tonight Show. The actress will be off work for four to six weeks. [564bo] 10-19-96 THE PLAIN DEALER. Saturday. Pg. 2A. 206 words. COMMENTARY: This appears to be the Cleveland newspaper's first report on Lawless' accident, which may be evidence that the wave of stories about her release from the hospital may have actually increased the penetration of the publicity about the accident. [DS] EXCERPT: ...Tumble from a horse leaves Warrior wounded The Warrior Princess is on the mend. Lucy Lawless, star of television's "Xena: Warrior Princess," was released from a hospital Wednesday, a week after fracturing her pelvis when she fell off a horse while taping a skit for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in Burbank. The 28-year-old New Zealand actress is unlikely to resume work for four to six weeks, said Jim Benson, her publicist. GRAPHIC: ...Lucy Lawless [564bp] 10-25-96 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Page 18. 367 words. "News & Notes/ Monitor" By Tom Sinclair and Alanna Nash COMMENTARY: This is the first report on the accident to appear in the United States' leading entertainment magazine. [DS] EXCERPT: ...Lucy Lawless, 28, star of Xena: Warrior Princess, after fracturing her pelvis while rehearsing a stunt for a comedy segment on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Oct. 8, in L.A. Lawless fell on the NBC Studios parking lot when the horse she was riding for the skit stumbled. According to Lawless' spokesman, the Amazonian actress will be out of action for four to six weeks. In a statement, Leno apologized to Lawless and thanked her for being a good sport. [564bq] 10-25-96 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Page 14. 309 words. "Jim Mullen's Hot Sheet. What the Country Is Talking about this Week..." By Jim Mullen COMMENTARY: In a humorous list of trendy items happening in the entertainment biz, XWP was mentioned in regard to Ms. Lawless' injury. While in questionable taste, the mention does attest to XWP's rising popularity. [KT] EXCERPT: ...10 XENA The Warrior Princess hurt herself falling off a horse in L.A. Fortunately, Dr. Quinn belongs to her HMO.... [564br] 10-27-96 THE SUNDAY STAR-TIMES (Auckland). Page 3. 261 words. "Get well messages swamp Warrior Princess: By Helen Bain COMMENTARY: New Zealand once again provides a new slant and new information. Lawless' hometown newspaper focuses on all the support she received from the Internet, including a get-well message from Kevin Sorbo. The last few paragraphs of the article may be the most interesting to fans. In reporting statements from an unnamed MCA spokesman, the article provides evidence that the accident was both harder and easier on Lawless than fans may have thought. The spokesman report that "Lawless was now able to walk again but it is slow and painful," and added that she "was coping extremely well emotionally." The story also reported that Lawless hoped to be back at work in four weeks, which turned out to be true, and would be "performing fairly rigorous stunts," which did not occur in the few episodes that were filmed after her return.[DS] REPRINT: XENA Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless has been swamped by thousands of Internet messages wishing a her a speedy recovery after breaking her pelvis. The New Zealand television star fell from a horse two weeks ago after filming a stunt for the NBC network's Tonight Show but is recovering well and has been discharged from a Los Angeles hospital. An MCA TV series spokesman said her spirits had been boosted by thousands of fans from around the world who sent e-mail messages, including the star of the Hercules TV series, Kevin Sorbo. Xena Warrior Princess is a spin-off from the Hercules series in which Lawless also appeared with Sorbo. "Lucy, what can I say? You're the greatest. Get well soon," Sorbo's message says. "Get well soon! Hope the insurance companies don't make you wear a seatbelt from now on," another well-wisher's message says. "Best wishes for a speedy recovery, remember you're supposed to kick their butts, not the other way round," says another. One well-wisher says she adopted a feral kitten and named it Xena "in your honour because she's a feisty good-looking girl". The MCA spokesman said Lawless was now able to walk again but it is slow and painful. "We are anticipating her recovery will be quick." He said Lawless hoped to be back at work filming Xena Warrior Princess in four weeks, including performing fairly rigorous stunts. The spokesman said Lawless was coping extremely well emotionally following the accident. ================= CUT HERE =================== XENA MEDIA REVIEW #30 (04-15-97) Borg 08 of 11