THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS.... TWXN #01 05-21-96 Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR) 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. CHICAGO TRIBUNE: May 21, 1996. Tuesday. Tempo. Pg. 3. "Hair- raising Tales; for Marc Singer, Dealing with Costars on 'Beastmaster' Is an Adventure All its Own" By Allan Johnson COMMENTARY: This article promoting Beastmaster includes a nominal mention (once) of Xena: Warrior Princess in context to the other shows produced under the "Action Pack" umbrella. THE NEW YORK TIMES: May 19, 1996. Sunday. Page 12-4; Television. "[COVER STORY] A Woman Wielding Many Weapons, Among Them a Sneer and a Stare" By William Grimes. COMMENTARY: 1039 words as a cover story in the New York Times, albeit Section 12, is nothing to snuff at! It's a very pleasant article. Ms. Lawless is quoted as saying that she suspects the some of her internet web site visitors are "55-year-old lawyers who want to be spanked". Ms. Lawless is further quoted when referring to her previous Hercules roles with "I was sort of a Bolshie lieutenant to the Amazons...I brutalized Hercules a bit and then we raped and pillaged a village down the road." She also described her appearance as Lyla as "a centaur's moll." It's an article you would expect from the Times: very thoughtful and it attempts to rationalize and understand why Xena: Warrior Princess is so popular. It doesn't read like Star Log, but it doesn't call it "stupid history" either. It strikes a happy medium without talking down or up to it's readers. It has more depth than most, but it ain't The Village Voice. Ms. Lawless gets a graphic on the cover! There is also a photo of Ms. Lawless and Ms. O'Connor in the text part. ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE. May 18, 1996. Saturday. "The Daily Record". COMMENTARY: Not about our Xena, but news that a Xena was granted a divorce in Arkansas. Just thought I'd throw it in. No Xena is safe from the watchful eyes of the Xena Media Review! THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT (Norfolk). May 18, 1996. Sunday. Pg. 1. "'Norma Jean and Marilyn' Come Face to Face in HBO Film" By Larry Bonko. COMMENTARY: Nominal mention (once). States that Beastmaster is "in the spirit" of XWP and H:THJ. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. May 17, 1996. News & Notes/Trends. Pg. 12. "Hollywood Classics" By Kristen Baldwin. COMMENTARY: Nominal mention of XWP in discussion of TV and movie productions centering around ancient Greece and mythology. Mentions XWP (once) and H:TLJ as examples of ancient Greece productions on TV. AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. May 16, 1996. Pg. 25. "A World of Class; Xena Features Diverse, Quality Menu, Sophisticated Dining Experience" By Dale Rice COMMENTARY: Not about OUR Xena, but a three and half star restaurant in Austin, Texas. Not Greek, though. DAILY VARIETY. May 16, 1996. Thursday . "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: The chart lists only programs that are currently in production which cast actors in the L.A. area. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess are listed under MCA's aegis. MCA's number for those who care: (818) 777-1242. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. May 16, 1996. "Talkers shine in May sweeps ratings climb" By Stephen Battaglio. COMMENTARY: It's the numbers! The ratings for the week ending May 5th ("Ties That Bind"): 5.0 rating (22% better than the week before). Hercules had a 4.9. Deep Space Nine was a 6.5. Thus, Xena ranked #2 for the first run action hours. Today...HERC! Tomorrow... the STAR TREK!!!! Pr0521