XENA MEDIA REVIEW (XMR) #22 (07-14-97) Part 4 of 5 ================ CUT HERE ========================== [318] 06-05-96 through 06-10-96 NOTE: MCA's President, Shelly Schwab, resigned after 18 years, and MCA was not expected to replace him too soon. The other presidents were expected to take up the slack, although a new president for syndicated sales would probably be appointed. HTLJ and XWP has become the Great White Hope of Universal/MCA TV in that it is the most successful syndicated show in their stable. [KT] [318a] 06-05-96 DAILY VARIETY. Pg. 1. "Schwab exits post at MCA TV" By Jenny Hontz COMMENTARY: The article cited some highlights of Schwab's career with MCA and listed HTLJ and XWP first. Before these two shows, "the company struggled to develop successful firstrun syndie shows." Schwab was credited for some of its success. Regarding his retirement, Schwab was quoted as saying, "The company has treated me very fairly...and it's a real good company for young people to work at. For me, with new ownership and new corporate management, it is the right time to leave. But I'll be loyal to this company for the rest of my life." [KT] REPRINT: In a move anticipated since Seagram bought MCA Inc., MCA TV president Shelly Schwab resigned from his post Tuesday after 18 years at the studio. He will remain as a consultant to MCA for two years, but will be available to work on other projects. MCA has not finished restructuring the syndication division, but it is not likely to replace Schwab outright. Instead, Jim McNamara, named president of worldwide TV distribution several months ago, will continue to oversee both the domestic and international syndication arms, and a new head of syndie sales will likely soon be named. MCA is also unlikely to replace Colin Davis, the former president of MCA Television Intl. His second in command, Peter Hughes, executive vice president of MCA Television Intl., will likely report directly to McNamara. Named president of MCA TV in 1986, Schwab sold the studio's two hit action hours "Hercules" and "Xena," as well as offnet rights to "Coach", "Magnum" and "Columbo." Before "Hercules" and "Xena," the company struggled to develop successful firstrun syndie shows. The studio pulled its last two first-run efforts before "Xena" and "Hercules" launched. Schwab's departure has been expected since Greg Meidel was named chairman of MCA TV Group last year. "The company has treated me very fairly," Schwab said. "I'm a big fan of Meidel, and it's a real good company for young people to work at. For me, with new ownership and new corporate management, it is the right time to leave. But I'll be loyal to this company for the rest of my life." [318b] 06-05-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 602 words. "Schwab's journey ends as head of MCA syndie" By Jonathan Davies COMMENTARY: MCA president of worldwide television distribution James McNamara was quoted as saying about Mr. Schwab, "Under his leadership, MCA TV has made numerous ground-breaking deals and launched some of syndication's most ambitious and successful first-run programming, such as 'Hercules' and 'Xena,'" [KT] EXCERPT: Longtime MCA TV president Shelly Schwab has exited his post, clearing the way for a major restructuring of Universal's syndication division. Schwab's retirement, which was announced Tuesday by president of worldwide television distribution James McNamara, had been widely anticipated since Greg Meidel took over last year as chairman of the MCA Inc. Television Group... ...During Schwab's 10 years as president of MCA TV, he was instrumental in the launch of such first-run successes as sophomore "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and freshman "Xena: Warrior Princess." The two weeklies, developed by executive vp Ned Nalle, have become fixtures at the top of the syndication ratings. "Under his leadership, MCA TV has made numerous ground-breaking deals and launched some of syndication's most ambitious and successful first-run programming, such as 'Hercules' and 'Xena,'" McNamara said. During Schwab's 18-year tenure at the company, where he was previously head of sales, he oversaw the first-run launch of "Charles in Charge" after its network run was canceled and the successful sales of the company's movie packages and off-network shows including "Coach," "Magnum, P.I." and "Columbo." However, the company has also experienced some setbacks in the face of an increasingly crowded syndication marketplace. This season, the company scrapped plans for a strip titled "Justice" from "LAPD" producer Dave Bell and a talk project, "He Says, She Says."... [318c] 06-05-96 DAILY VARIETY. Pg. 1. 258 words. "Schwab exits post at MCA TV" By Jenny Hontz. COMMENTARY: Same as XMR318a. [318d] 06-10-96 ELECTRONIC MEDIA. Page 30. 400 words. "Shelly Schwab Retires, but the Phone Keeps Ringing" COMMENTARY: More on Schwab's retirement. EXCERPT: Though Shelly Schwab has retired from his longtime post as president of MCA TV, he is anything but retired. Besides agreeing to serve as a consultant for MCA over the next two years, Mr. Schwab said he is already fielding phone calls from others looking to tap into his expertise... ..."This is the start of a new phase of my life," he said. Mr. Schwab stepped down from his post, which he held for more than 10 years, as part of MCA's sweeping management changes following the buyout by Seagram Co. last year. Those changes saw Greg Meidel named chairman of the MCA Television Group and Jim McNamara named president of worldwide television distribution. No replacement for Mr. Schwab has been named, and the company said it is evaluating the position. "Under (Mr. Schwab's) leadership, MCA TV has made numerous groundbreaking deals and launched some of syndication's most ambitious and successful first-run programming, such as 'Hercules' and 'Xena,'" Mr. McNamara said. "We are pleased that he will continue to work with the new team as we expand our business."... [ 318e ] 06-10-97 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Vol. 126. No. 25. Page 24. 74 words. "Schwab exits. Shelly Schwab retires as president of MCA Television" By Cynthia Littleton . COMMENTARY: Even more on Schwab's retirement. REPRINT: Shelly Schwab has retired from his post as president of MCA Television after 18 years with the studio. Schwab, who was named president in 1986, will remain a consultant to the syndication arm of MCA Television Group, which has undergone major staffing changes during the past few months. Schwab most recently was responsible for the launch of MCA's first-run action-hour hits Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. [319] 06-06-96 NOTE: Production charts for 06/96. These charts list what TV shows are currently in production in LA. [ 319a ] 06-06-96 DAILY VARIETY. 6091 words. ""TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Production chart for LA area: HTLJ and XWP. EXCERPT: ...Chart includes only programs that cast actors in the L.A. area... ...MCA TELEVISION (818) 777-1242 HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS (synd) (in assn w/Renaissance Pictures) EXP, Robert Tapert, Sam Raimi; COEXP , John Schulian ; SUPR PROD, Robert Bielak ; PROD, Eric Gruendemann ; COPROD , David Eick ; CASTING, Beth Hymson - Ayer . XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (synd) (in assn w/Renaissance Pictures) EXP, Robert Tapert, Sam Raimi; COEXP , R.J. Stewart; SUPR PROD, Steven Sears; PROD, Eric Gruendemann ; COPROD , Liz Friedman; CASTING, Beth Hymson - Ayer ... [ 319b ] 06-13-96 DAILY VARIETY. 6107 words. "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR319a . [ 319c ] 06-18-96 DAILY VARIETY. 5650 words. "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR319a . [ 319d ] 06-20-96 DAILY VARIETY. 6003 words. "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR319a . [ 319e ] 06-27-96 DAILY VARIETY. 6165 words. "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Same as XMR319a . [320] 06-06-96 THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Page 10. 440 words. "Wacky Atkinson in plodding copper role" By Phil Wakefield COMMENTARY: Announcement of the airing of XWP in its native NZ on TV3 on Wednesdays. It is to be placed (eagerly) between BEVERLY HILLS 90210 and STAR TREK: VOYAGER (a scheduling dream or nightmare -- you decide!). It referred to XWP as a "sort of mythological BAYWATCH" (shudder -- if you would like to read more about my irrational obsession with historical BAYWATCH-XWP comparisons, please read my article "The Curse of Baywatch" in WHOOSH #10 (July 1997), at http:// www.thirdstory.com /whoosh/ issue10 / taborn4 . html ). XWP began airing on NZ television on June 19, 1996. [KT] EXCERPT: TV2 plans to put a stop to Police Stop!'s phenomenal popularity with a new Rowan Atkinson comedy about the ol ' bill. The Thin Blue Line - the BBC's biggest hit in years - will premiere on June 18 in The Nanny slot. It will be double-billed with another new British comedy, Father Ted, which will take on the top-rating 3rd Rock From the Sun... ...Though TVNZ Television chief Mike Lattin has said TV1 will always be the domain of top British comedy, he clearly sees The Thin Blue Line as TV2 's only defense against Police Stop. Meanwhile, TV3 hopes to revitalize Wednesday nights by sandwiching Xena: Warrior Princess in between Beverly Hills 90210 and Star Trek: Voyager. Xena is a spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys that in the US has rivaled the popularity of its stable-mate. Variety said it features the "same mix of action, goofy dialogue, nifty special effects . . . and enough scantily clad flesh to qualify as a sort of mythological Baywatch". Xena springs into action from June 19. TVNZ and TV3 programmers have been in Los Angeles this week and last previewing the new series that will go to air from September on US TV.... [321] 06-07-96 XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 10. 20 pages. 8338 words. Annotations XMR007c, XMR084 -099. Edited by and annotations by Kym Masera Taborn. COMMENTARY: A world press review of coverage on XWP, Renee O'Connor, or Lucy Lawless. Covered 11/23/95 through 12/13/95. Lucy Lawless interview; XWP's first mention in mainstream British press; Captain Zoom; Kevin Sorbo interview; licensing of products; November sweeps results; and more. Editorial covers the announcement of the IAXS (International Association of Xena Studies) website and the Hercules movies with Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. [KT] [322] 06-07-96 THE TORONTO STAR. Life. Page D1. 599 words. "Reforming ways to use The Star" By Linwood Barclay COMMENTARY: In a tongue-in-cheek commentary on a political party's contest on the best uses for the Toronto Star, the reporter offered as the second choice: "Check the TV listings to make sure they haven't changed the times for The Equalizer or Xena: Warrior Princess." Proof that even Canada was having pre-emption problems with XWP. [KT] And, proof that at least one possible fan in Canada, Lindwood Barclay, cares. [DS] EXCERPT: RATS! A really great contest comes along that I'm just dying to enter, and it turns out I've already missed the deadline. And by golly, I think I could have won, too. The contest is being held by the Reform party's constituency association for Scarborough-Rouge River, and was announced in its spring newsletter. (Yet another mailing list I'm not on.) The newsletter starts off this way: "For years now, The Toronto Star (possibly the most biased and misleading publication in Canada), has been taking cheap shots at everything we believe in and stand for. Now it is our turn to strike back!" Then it explains the contest: All you have to do is come up with three ideas for the best uses for the Toronto Star. The best entry wins a dinner for two. Being a perceptive kind of guy, I get the sense that "subscribing to it, reading it, and embracing its point of view" would not be a winning entry. The dinner for two is to be awarded this week. The newsletter wishes entrants a "Bon Apetite!" clearly in a bid to win over a few more French-speaking voters in the Metro area with the Reform party's newfound skills with our country's other official language. Trouble is, the contest deadline was May 31. It doesn't seem fair, since I have all kinds of great ideas.... ...Anyway, even though I missed the deadline, I'd like the Scarborough-Rouge River Constituency Association to give serious consideration to any three of the following suggestions on how Reformers could best use The Toronto Star:... ...* Check the TV listings to make sure they haven't changed the times for The Equalizer or Xena: Warrior Princess.... [323] 06-07-96 through 06-10-96 NOTE: Ratings for CALLISTO (#22), 1st release (05/13/97). Illustrating how much viewership lessens in the summer, this weeks numbers show XWP ranking 10th while taking the 3rd place, with 5.1 even though it is a first run episode. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE ranked 6th with a 6.0 share and took 1st place for action hours. HTLJ ranked 8th with a 5.4 and took 2nd. XWP did a three way tie for 10th with "Inside Edition" and "The Simpsons". Looking into the future, CALLISTO was re-released on 09/09/97, where it ranked 14th with a 4.3 taking 3rd place; and on 03/03/97, where it ranked 10th with a 5.8 taking 2nd place. [KT] [323a] 06-07-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 16. 198 words. "For week ended May 26, 1996" COMMENTARY: CALLISTO (#22), 1st release (05/13/97) REPRINT: Rank Program (Stations/% coverage) AA% GAA% 1 Wheel of Fortune (226/99) 11.0 -- 2 Jeopardy! (221/99) 8.8 -- 3 Oprah Winfrey Show (235/99) 8.0 8.0 4 Home Improvement (227/98) 7.1 7.6 5 Seinfeld (222/97) 6.2 -- 6 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine(236/99) 6.0 6.4 7 Wheel of Fortune--Wknd. (178/83) 5.5 -- 8 Journeys of Hercules (227/97) 5.4 5.7 9 Entertainment Tonight (178/94) 5.3 5.4 10 Inside Edition (166/93) 5.1 5.2 10 Simpsons (193/97) 5.1 5.4 10 Xena (206/96) 5.1 5.5 13 WCW Wrestling (182/93) 4.6 5.9 13 World Wrestling Fed. (159/90) 4.6 6.0 15 Fresh Price of Bel-Air (160/89) 4.5 4.9 16 Montel Williams Show (164/92) 4.3 4.4 17 Roseanne (175/91) 4.2 4.5 18 Hard Copy (180/92) 4.1 4.1 18 Jenny Jones (215/96) 4.1 4.2 18 Live With Regis & Kathie Lee (234/99) 4.1 -- AA average refers to nonduplicated viewing for multiple airings of the same show. GAA average encompasses duplicated viewing. GAA average does not apply when there is only one run of a show. [323b] 06-10-96 VARIETY. Page 33. 278 words. "Syndies see action climb, laughs labor" By Jenny Hontz COMMENTARY: CALLISTO (#22), 1st release (05/13/97). EXCERPT: Top off-net sitcoms took a nose dive, but action hours held steady the week ending May 26, which included the last three days of May sweeps. Although some programs may have been hurt by NBA and NHL playoff games May 25 and May 26, nine of the top 10 off-net sitcoms fell from the previous week, according to Nielsen Syndication Service ratings... ...'Trek' on top Action hours fared better. Paramount Domestic Television's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" grew 7% to 6.0, widening its lead among actioners, but still falling 13% being last year's 6.9. MCA TV's "Hercules: the Legendary Journeys," grew 15% from the previous week to a 5.4 and recaptured second-place from MCA TV sister, "Xena: Warrior Princess," flat at 5.1. "Hercules" was still down 4% from last year... [323c] 06-10-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 16. 377 words. "Off-Net Sitcoms Slip; Nine of 10 laffers fall in syndie ratings for week" By Jenny Hontz. COMMENTARY: Same as XMR323b. [323d] 06-10-96 VARIETY. Page 33. 186 words. "NIELSEN SYNDICATION RATINGS" COMMENTARY: Same information as XMR323d. [324] 06-07-96 to 06-10-96 NOTE: MCA's black Thursday. Even with the popular HTLJ and XWP, the MCA Television Group was still in financial trouble. They pink-slipped 90 staffers on Thursday June 6th, 1996 by being "informed in the morning to cancel their lunches for the day." "[T]hose let go will be given 'comprehensive outplacement support and generous severance packages.'" [324a] 06-07-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 1. 489 words. "For 90, It's Black Day at MCA; TV unit cut across the board in L.A., N.Y., Chitown" By Anita M. Busch COMMENTARY: The article mentioned that while XWP and HTLJ "have garnered good ratings, both carry large production budgets and, despite success in the international markets, [they] are still in the red." [KT] REPRINT: The MCA Television Group has pink-slipped up to 90 staffers in its latest restructuring. The layoffs were across the board throughout the TV group, including the division's sales, business affairs, legal and marketing units. MCA president and chief operating officer Ron Meyer, in a memo to the studio's department heads, said the changes were necessary for the TV arm to reach its "maximum potential." He added in the memo that "these were painful decisions to make, but essential to the company's long-term growth." In a separate letter, recently installed MCA TV Group chairman Greg Meidel told staffers that "in order to achieve our goals, we are broadening our restructuring efforts, which will result in some layoffs within our group ... where production demands and workload dictated we have eliminated or reduced staff, bringing us more in line with the rest of the television industry." The downsizing in the TV department had been expected since Seagram bought MCA last year and Meidel, and more recently James McNamara, joined the firm, the latter as head of worldwide distribution. MCA's TV Group has not performed at the same level of other studios but had the same overhead as its competitors, sources said. The layoffs were not part of the re-engineering program that MCA announced recently. Recommendations from that program will be presented to MCA brass in the next four to five months, which could result in further layoffs. At the same time, Meidel is looking to improve the studio's TV performance through other means. Last month, MCA closed on its roughly $ 80 million deal with production and management firm Brillstein-Grey Entertainment. The studio also has been looking to bring on new talent to bolster its development arm. The layoffs took place Thursday morning not only in the Universal City headquarters but also the TV Group's New York and Chicago offices, which house many of the syndication arm's regional sales teams. Those in the departments affected were informed in the morning to cancel their lunches for the day and one by one they were given notice. In his letter to staffers, Meidel said those let go will be given "comprehensive outplacement support and generous severance packages." The layoffs went up to the senior VP level on the sales side. However, the retirement of MCA TV president Shelly Schwab early this week was said to be unrelated to Thursday's cutbacks. Currently, MCA has two firstrun syndication action hours in "The Legendary Journeys of Hercules" and "Xena: Warrior Princess." While the shows have garnered good ratings, both carry large production budgets and, despite success in the international markets, are still in the red. The studio's last network shows to make it into syndication were "Coach" and "Law and Order," both of which did not make the huge dollars that other comedies and dramas are now commanding in a more competitive marketplace. [324b] 06-10-96 VARIETY. Page 29. 314 words. "Schwab exits MCA; 90 laid off" By Jenny Hontz and Joe Flint COMMENTARY: More on Black Thursday REPRINT: In the first phase of a massive restructuring of the MCA TV Group, MCA TV president Shelly Schwab resigned from his post last week, and about 90 staffers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago were laid off. The June 6 layoffs, which went as high as the senior VP level on the sales side, have been expected ever since Seagram bought MCA Inc. All TV divisions were touched, including sales, business affairs, legal affairs and marketing, and the company plans to make more changes in the next few weeks and months. While Schwab's June 4 retirement was deemed unrelated to the cutbacks, MCA will not likely replace him outright. "It's fair to say we're not going to have another president of MCA TV," says Jim McNamara, president of worldwide TV distribution, who will continue to oversee both the domestic and international syndication arms. Instead a new head of syndie sales is expected to be named soon. MCA is also unlikely to replace Colin Davis, the former president of MCA Television Intl. His second in command, Peter Hughes, executive vice president of MCA Television Intl., will likely report directly to McNamara. In a memo to department heads, MCA president and CEO Ron Meyer said the changes were "painful," but "essential to the company's long-term growth." MCA's TV Group has not performed at the same level of other studios but had the same overhead as competitors, sources say. Named president of MCA TV in 1986, Schwab oversaw the studio's two hit action hours "Hercules" and "Xena," but prior to that, the company struggled to develop successful first-run syndie shows. The studio pulled its last two first-run efforts before "Xena" and "Hercules" launched. Schwab will remain as a consultant to MCA, but will be available for other projects. "The company has treated me very fairly," he said. "I'll be loyal to this company for the rest of my life." [325] 06-09-96 THE BUFFALO NEWS. Page 19A. 111 words. "David Duchovny Voted Twice" COMMENTARY: In a quick blurb about the People On-Line poll for the most beautiful people (see XMR276), the article noted that the different sites on CompuServe and Pathfinder had different results. Lucy Lawless is mentioned as 8th in the Pathfinder poll. Kevin Sorbo is mentioned as 4th at the same site. They did not make the CompuServe listed. Only David Duchovny of "X-Files" made it on both lists. [KT] REPRINT: USERS OF different on-line services have very different ideas of who's beautiful, according to People magazine. People polled users of its on-line sites on CompuServe and Pathfinder, and asked them who they would put on the magazine's list of the most beautiful people. On CompuServe, the top 10 were, in order: Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Mel Gibson, Jennifer Aniston, Cindy Crawford, Sharon Stone, David Duchovny, Antonio Banderas, Mariah Carey and Pamela Anderson. On Pathfinder, the top 10 were: Gillian Anderson, Teri Hatcher, Mitch Pileggi, Kevin Sorbo, Duchovny, Claire Danes, Geraint Wyn Davies, Lucy Lawless, Alicia Silverstone and Gary Cole. [326] 06-09-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. METRO EDITION. Page 7. 1037 words. "Some TV shows, movies don't deserve to be in re-runs." by Larry Bonko, of the Providence Journal-Bulletin. COMMENTARY: Xena is deemed the worst impression of Wonder Woman of the year. Obviously an attempt at humor, the article implies that there are actual competitors in the competition, which we all know there is not! [KT] EXCERPT: The May sweeps have come and gone, bringing with them the end of the 1995-96 network prime time season... ...Summing up, here are some examples of the best, worst, least and most of the past season... Worst impression of Wonder Woman: Xena, the Warrior Princess... [327] 06-10-96 VARIETY. Page 6. 2818 words. "'Trainspotting' trio offers H'w'd an expensive ticket" By Adam Dawtrey, Martin Peers, Ted Johnson, Ray Richmond, Dennis Wharton, Ted Johnson, Jenny Hontz, and Robert Quigley COMMENTARY: MCA was still having problems. HERCULES and XENA were still the jewel in the crown, but the company was still striking out on other projects. In the aftermath of Black Thursday (see XMR---), MCA TV now needed to "develop some successful syndie shows for fall 1997." Which they did not do, by the way. [KT] EXCERPT: ...After the new crew at MCA TV finishes its hirings and firings, the next step is to develop some successful syndie shows for fall 1997. Aside from its two recent hit action hours, "Hercules" and "Xena," none of the studio's first-run projects has elicited much enthusiasm among buyers in recent years. Jim McNamara, president of worldwide TV distribution, has some interesting ideas. Among them: resurrecting some of MCA's older off-net dramas and reselling them into syndication. The market for off-net dramas is very hot now, with most being sold as strips to cable, but with a weekend syndication window left open. See related story, page 29.... ================ CUT HERE ========================== XENA MEDIA REVIEW (XMR) #22 (07-14-97) Part 4 of 5