XENA MEDIA REVIEW #30 (04-15-97) Borg 10 of 11 ================= CUT HERE =================== [573] 10-15-96 XENAVERSE MAILING LIST. (xenaverse@umail.umd.edu) COMMENTARY: In yet another post to the Xenaverse mailing list, Supervising Producer Steve Sears updated fans on Lawless' condition and on the status of the show. This was posted one day before she was released from the hospital.[DS] REPRINT: From: Tyldus@aol.com Again, for anyone who has sent me any e-mail, I'm not being rude, I just haven't been reading it. At best, I shoot through the tons o'Xenaverse stuff and, occasionally, hit one at random. As an update: Things move at the same pace with Lucy. She's doing fine, watching the TV and the nurses rotate her flowers. She has more magazines than she knew existed and wants to get out. First thing's first though; she has to heal. We keep her appraised of the Xenites devotion and it cheers her quite a bit. The series moves on. As you have guessed, we're VERY BUSY. We're trying to make as much lemonade out of this situation as possible. The show will not be delayed, but you are sure to notice some "creative choices" in the episodes. Fortunately, we have some latitude to work with and with a series such as ours, there are very few limits to what we can do. Other shows can only DREAM of the stuff we can get away with. Example: Overheard at a recent story meeting "How many times can we kill him and bring him back?" Kinda' reminds me of a couple of lines from the movie APOLLO XIII (paraphrasing) "This could be the biggest disaster NASA has ever had." "With all due respect, sir, I think this will be our finest hour." Okay, we're not bringing astronauts back in a crippled craft, but I like to be optimistic. And I'd like some sleep! So, there's your update. Back to work. Tyldus [574] 10-15-96 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Tuesday. Page E-3. 1213 words. "Xena Allure Makes Her Legend in His Own Mind" By Welton Jones (welton.jones@uniontrib.com) COMMENTARY: This item was Welton Jones first substantial XWP article. Previously Jones had mentioned XWP in an aside using it as an example of a quality show (he mentioned it along with NYPD Blue) (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10-01-96, page E-1, "The Current Cosby Creation Leaves Him Cold"). This time up to bat, Jones devoted 1,213 words to XWP. After comparing the birth of Xena to the birth of Venus, he made the observation that Xena, as a character, was "the most likely new candidate since Mr. Spock and Darth Vader" to become a new folk hero. This article, perhaps, is the best example so far of a trend I having been noting in news coverage of XWP. At last, professional TV watchers are coming out of the closet to defend and extol XWP. They are not afraid to admit their bias towards the show and use an almost proselytizing demeanor in their writing. For example, Jones then justified his interest in XWP by listing what he believed to be what made XWP so compelling. He listed them in order of importance: (1) Heroism. Jones alluded to the battle between Xena's quest for morality and redemption and the curse and pull of her past. (2) Atmosphere. Citing New Zealand landscapes as compelling, he also stated "The large and vivid crowds, the complex special effects, the rich textures of the decor, the vast outdoor panoramas and even the broad overacting of the supporting players all contribute to an accumulated sense of importance." (3) Attitude. In a reference to the producers purposefulness in ignoring inconsistencies, Jones noted "A gee-whiz sense of wonder balances precisely with the casual hangout humor to solve deftly the problem of access between eras." He also brought up the "shared conspiracy" which was created between the show and the viewers regarding such "inconsistencies". (4) Casting. Jones was clearly impressed with Lucy Lawless. He wrote, "Her presence is commanding and her athleticism is formidable, but her real secret is the intelligent sensitivity she brings to her acting. While Xena certainly is what the Irish call 'a fine broth of a girl,' careful study reveals the sophistication of Lawless' technique." (5) Stories. Citing the rich repository of ancient Greek mythology, Jones recognized that the creators of XWP did not limit themselves to that. He cited Goliath appearing in a show and Bacchus as a bad guy. Jones observed, "By remaining vague about the show's dates (roughly 1000 B.C.) and background (something about a wronged girl who learns martial arts to seek revenge), the producers provide themselves limitless opportunities for borrowing legends to retool." After listing these aspects of the show, Jones then compared XWP to HTLJ and HTLJ came up short. "They both handle the action with a hero's aplomb but she [Xena] gleams with the added glow of the unexpected, a fictional hero both resourceful and efficient who also happens to be a major babe." He then criticized the first two episodes of HTLJ stating that "The villains are mere cartoons, the plots are clumsy (a female scribe does a tiresome enterprising reporter bit) and Sorbo seems bemused to find himself, as the greatest hero in history, helping jolly peasants with their yardwork." Jones then stated, "No such drift with Xena". To be fair, he did criticize XWP by stating, "her season premiere does labor through enough alternate universe gibberish to stir interest aboard the starship Enterprise." [Apparently, Mr. Jones was confused and actually referred to the second show of the new season REMEMBER NOTHING, and not the first show, ORPHAN OF WAR]. On the debate of which show was better, Jones concluded with the observation, "There's a temptation to see these two series as interchangeable. But Xena is pulling away in the subtlety stakes, thanks to the little mysteries that surround her past and her future." Jones obviously prided himself in his knowledge of both shows and felt he knew them well enough to compare them. This is not a review of a casual viewer or of a reviewer who just watched a couple tapes in order to make copy. Jones continued to reveal his personal interest in the show by making a comparison between the side kicks of Hercules and Xena: Iolaus and Gabrielle, respectively. Jones concluded that Gabrielle was more interesting than Iolaus because "Sorbo and Michael Hurst (as Iolaus) do a lot of guy stuff to compensate. But Xena and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) are another matter. When they cuddle, the air is charged with romance. And, believe me, the Internet is buzzing." Cuddle? [Sorry, couldn't help it]. My favorite line in the article was "Unless you're really obsessed with metaphors, both shows are, finally, just well-crafted escapist nonsense." THERE'S THE RUB: "Unless you are really obsessed with metaphors..." Well, about three quarters of Xena fandom are OBSESSED with metaphors. The charm of the show is that it's jam-packed with metaphors, symbolism, references, nuances, double entendres, dumb jokes, corny situations, etc. That is why Craig Miller in his SPECTRUM, No. 5, May 1995, review of XWP episode THE RECKONING (XMR262) was wrong when he wrote "Xena is certainly not an allegory, and we doubt that it employs, or even attempts, symbolism." [This statement was discussed in more detail in "Xena as Allegory", my editorial in XENA MEDIA REVIEW (XMR #12).] Jones has clearly grasped a fundamental understanding about XWP and its meaning to many in fandom. In concluding the article, Jones returned to the theme that he believed that XWP was here to stay. He wrote, "Other than the obvious opportunity for women to identify with a hero as assertive, confident, daring and crafty as any man, the creators of Xena also offer a vivid central character at home in a timeless universe and just waiting for an entire history of her own. It isn't often that we can watch the birth of a new legend." This article is easily the non-intellectual counterpart of the most seminal articles on XWP published to date. The "seminal" articles being, THE VILLAGE VOICE, (XMR115) 12-26-95, page 47, "Xenaphilia" by Stacey D'Erasmo; MS MAGAZINE, (XMR322), Vol 7, No. 1, July/August 1996, page 74, "Xena. She's Big, Tall, Strong- -and Popular" by Donna Minkowitz; and THE WASHINGTON POST, (XMR pending) 09-21-96, page C01, "Woman of Steel; Television's Warrior Xena Is a Superheroine With Broad Appeal" by Elizabeth Kastor. [KT] REPRINT: Venus, according to classic mythology, "sprang from the froth of the sea" and so impressed the immortals with her beauty that they made her goddess of love. Xena, according to studio press releases, was "initially conceived as an evil figure" in one of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" but so impressed the viewing public that they made her a warrior princess headed for television immortality. It takes time for a new folk hero to solidify in the mass mind, but Xena is the most likely new candidate since Mr. Spock and Darth Vader. She's a hero approaching Hercules' own Olympian proportions. "Xena: Warrior Princess," being a syndicated TV show rather than a network program, shows up all over the TV log, on Channel 69 in San Diego and Channel 5 in Los Angeles. Could be this floating schedule exposed her to a wider audience than a fixed weekly spot. Maybe the lurid, comic strip title snagged a few more viewers. Whatever, Xena captured enough fans to position herself on 212 U.S. stations in the new season for a run at the syndicated champs, like "Bay Watch." I stumbled across Xena last season, while looking for something mindless to accompany Saturday night dinner. Right away I got hooked and, all things being equal, there are few current television shows I prefer now more than this pungent stew of Classic Comics mythology, kung fu flicks, computer tricks, science fiction, fairy tales, arcade games, cheesecake, slapstick, campy romp and buddy epic that all blends so smoothly together. What's the big attraction? Here's my guess, roughly in order of importance: Heroism -- Though not perfect, Xena manages to nurture fairness and virtue in a world where the distinctions are slippery. She is a mortal made special by her purity of purpose yet kept interesting by the flaws she must control. Atmosphere -- The show, shot in New Zealand, simply drips gorgeous, lush, unspoiled scenery, quite acceptable as an ancient world where elaborate wonders are commonplace. The large and vivid crowds, the complex special effects, the rich textures of the decor, the vast outdoor panoramas and even the broad overacting of the supporting players all contribute to an accumulated sense of importance. Attitude -- A gee-whiz sense of wonder balances precisely with casual hangout humor to solve deftly the problem of access between eras. The producers simply ignore the inconsistencies. Of course knowing exactly how much modern slang will work -- "you guys" and "she's starting to bug me' " are OK but "cool dudes" would not be heard -- is part of the formula. The rest is a genial shrug that links classic resonance and contemporary comfort into a shared conspiracy simply to suspend disbelief and enjoy the story. Casting -- Maybe this should rate higher, because Lucy Lawless is really terrific, a tall brunette with the look of eagles in her icy blue eyes and the voluptuous figure well-displayed in comic-book tradition. Her presence is commanding and her athleticism is formidable, but her real secret is the intelligent sensitivity she brings to her acting. While Xena certainly is what the Irish call "a fine broth of a girl," careful study reveals the sophistication of Lawless' technique. Stories -- There is no richer, deeper supply of tales than the mythology of ancient Greece. But the makers of "Xena" don't limit themselves to the foibles of Olympus. In a recent episode, the giant Goliath wanders through from the Old Testament. And some of these standard Greek icons turn up in surprising contexts, like Bacchus as a bad guy. By remaining vague about the show's dates (roughly 1000 B.C.) and background (something about a wronged girl who learns martial arts to seek revenge), the producers provide themselves limitless opportunities for borrowing legends to retool. Many of these elements are present in Xena's parent show, "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." Kevin Sorbo, a definite hunk with an easy, unforced charm, has grown into the lead role despite being less beefy than one might expect from the strongest man in the world. He gets the same great scenery, the same natural cool and the same rigid codes of ethics as Xena, plus they're both stuck with the same silly kung fu stuff. But Hercules is coated with centuries of stereotyping. Even audiences who can't name one of his 12 labors still know that he was gifted beyond most mortals and that he retired more or less undefeated. Not so Xena, who totes no more baggage that any other attractive, assertive young woman surviving in a traditionally masculine business. They both handle the action with a hero's aplomb but she gleams with the added glow of the unexpected, a fictional hero both resourceful and efficient who also happens to be a major babe. After a good launch in 1994, Hercules' people seem to be going dry. The first two offerings of the new season were a standard two-rivals-against-the- real-baddies plot with some menace borrowed from Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic, "Dune," and a muddled tale about Daedalus, bummed at losing his son Icarus in the world's first plane crash, turning out weapons of mass destruction. The villains are mere cartoons, the plots are clumsy (a female scribe does a tiresome enterprising reporter bit) and Sorbo seems bemused to find himself, as the greatest hero in history, helping jolly peasants with their yardwork. No such drift with Xena, though her season premiere does labor through enough alternate universe gibberish to stir interest aboard the starship Enterprise. There's a temptation to see these two series as interchangeable. But Xena is pulling away in the subtlety stakes, thanks to the little mysteries that surround her past and her future. Take the sidekicks, for example. Each hero has a principal pal -- a shorter, plainer, funnier and less perfect version of themselves -- but Xena's Gabrielle is far more interesting than Hercules' Iolaus. There was an Iolaus in the Hercules myths, a sort of assistant hero who was a big help during the Herculean labors. According to Plutarch, one of the best sources for the times, Iolaus inspired shrines "where lovers used to go and bind themselves by the most solemn oaths of fidelity, considering the place as sacred to love and friendship." Now that's a bit racy for a popular television action series, so Sorbo and Michael Hurst (as Iolaus) do a lot of guy stuff to compensate. But Xena and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) are another matter. When they cuddle, the air is charged with romance. And, believe me, the Internet is buzzing. Unless you're really obsessed with metaphors, both shows are, finally, just well-crafted escapist nonsense. But Hercules, who already has had his centuries of fame, probably will fade away soon (along with the inevitable imitations now turning up) while Xena may turn out to have surprising legs, if you'll pardon the expression. Other than the obvious opportunity for women to identify with a hero as assertive, confident, daring and crafty as any man, the creators of Xena also offer a vivid central character at home in a timeless universe and just waiting for an entire history of her own. It isn't often that we can watch the birth of a new legend. GRAPHIC: Campy goddess: Xena has fought her way into many viewers' hearts. [575] 10-15-96 THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. ARLINGTON. Page 2. 1155 COMMENTARY: The Classical Studies program at the University of Texas at Arlington takes advantage of the popularity of XWP and HTLJ to promote a symposium. This is one of many signs that Renaissance Pictures most profitable TV shows are making a dent in academia.[DS] EXCERPT: Greek mythology, history are focus of UTA symposium Greek mythology and other subjects of classical history will be addressed at a daylong symposium from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the University of Texas at Arlington. Sessions will include "Winning and Losing at the Olympics," "Xena, Athena and the Warrior Princesses of Greek Mythology" and "Stones and Bones: Tales of Classical Archaeology. " After a lunch in the university center, the symposium will close with "The Lighter Side of Classics: Lou Ferrigno's Hercules. " The symposium, presented by the Classical Studies program, is free and open to the public. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in Room 100 of Nedderman Hall. For more information, call 272-2764. [576] 10-15-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 354 words. "Atlantis battles for 'Earth'" By Eric Hansen COMMENTARY: Article on the Atlantic Communications and Tribune Entertainment partnership for Gene Roddenberry's "Battleground Earth". XWP was mentioned as an action hour that was successful for Tribune Entertainment Co. [KT] "Battleground Earth", which is now more well known by the name, "Earth: The Final Conflict," debuted in the fall of 1997. So far, the show has failed to come close to attaining the ratings of either XWP or HTLJ.[DS] However, it is one of the few syndicated hour episodes to get kind of close to where XWP was during its first year. EARTH has been renewed for a second season and periodically makes it into the the top twenty-five syndicated shows. [KT] EXCERPT: Canada's Atlantis Communications will be partnering with Tribune Entertainment to the big new action sci-fi hour ''Battleground Earth'' created by the late Gene Roddenberry, sources say.... ...Tribune has had recent success on its Tribune one-hour series with the MCA-distributed shows ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' and ''Xena: Warrior Princess.'' [577] 10-15-96 THE DENVER POST. Tuesday. Page E1. 563 words. "When TV and computers merge, forget about sleep" By Joanne Ostrow COMMENTARY: In a review of the computer game Myst, the reviewer began with "I've escaped into 'the surrealistic adventure that will become your world.' And I don't mean 'Dark Skies,' 'The Pretender' or 'Xena: Warrior Princess." [KT] EXCERPT: I've escaped into "the surrealistic adventure that will become your world." And I don't mean "Dark Skies," "The Pretender" or "Xena: Warrior Princess." True confession: I'm hooked on "Myst," the popular CD-ROM game that offers an intuitive quest through an incredibly artful graphic environment in search of I'm not sure what. Like life, it's a mystery to be lived, not a riddle to be solved.... [578] 10-15-96 TRANSCRIPT -- Interview with Xena Producer Liz Friedman on "One in Ten", a lesbian and gay radio program from Boston. Broadcast October 1996 Transcribed by Diane Silver (dswriter@idir.net) COMMENTARY: Yup, this is my one and only transcript. However, beside from that extremely minor bit of trivia, this interview is also important in Xena lore because it is the longest to date with Friedman and may stand as the one where she gives the most complete answers on her view of lesbian subtext. Friedman is in the unusual position of being the only out lesbian on a show that was created and produced by heterosexuals. Her position as producer puts her in the middle to low end of the producing hierarchy. Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi are at the top as the executive producers. In the interview, Friedman says that both she and others at Renaissance Pictures delight in purposely adding subtext to XWP, but she stresses that Xena and Gabrielle are not being written as lovers. She calls herself a "representationaly starved queer" and talks about the importance of seeing positive images of same-sex love. Also in the interview, Friedman talks about her education and how she got the job. Lawless' accident is not mentioned, which leads me to believe that this may have been taped before the accident occurred.[DS] TRANSCRIPT -- (The show opens with audio of opening sequence of XWP, including narration & music) Female host -- Oh, we love that! I'm Mary Bresslour (spelling?) and this is One in Ten, along with Keith Orr (spelling?). The chat rooms have been buzzing for months now. The cult television hit, Xena: Warrior Princess, has lots of fans estatic over fearless heroine Xena and her red-headed companion, Gabrielle, and the twist is that the producers also seem to be consciously using the pair to cultivate a bit of a lesbian following. And, no one is better to speak to us about that and talk to us about Xena, then lesbian co-producer Liz Friedman from Renaissance Productions. Hi Liz. Liz -- Hi Mary, how are you? Mary -- I'm great, how are you? Liz -- Very good. Mary -- I love Xena. Liz -- Oh good, I'm glad. Mary -- It's just a very good, very hot, very different show. And let's bring people up to date here Liz. I mean Hercules begot Xena so why don't you? Liz -- Well, Xena started on Hercules. She was a bad girl and she wanted to kill him, Through a few episodes she got turned around and eventually they had their little roll in the hay. That and some other things turned her into a good girl and she ended up with her own series. Mary -- So this is a theme of if you just find a good man and you can have you're own series and you can be good. Liz -- (laughing) Mary -- Starting a new trend here Liz. Liz -- (laughing) Oh, is that a new trend? Mary -- It's certainly not a new myth, that's for sure. Liz -- Yes. And Xena, Xena's an interesting character because she really came from a bad past, I mean I sort of think of the Atilla the Hun of her time in her early years. She got an army and started with some decent goals to protect her home village, but pretty soon she just got into the power and after she realized that was not a good thing to be doing, she now=7F has a lot of blood to wash off her hands. Mary -- So, she's constantly making atonement with that sword of hers? And the horse and the cute little companion who just sort of trots along beside her? Liz -- Yeah. That's right. Keith -- Let's get into the whole Gabrielle thing. Let's talk about that a little bit. What's up with their relationship? What do you take it on? Liz -- Well, I think that they have a, the characters, I mean we -- Honestly, we didn't write the characters to be explicitly lesbian. Going into it we never really had any thoughts about that. I think what we really wanted to do was we wanted to make a very strong and real relationship between the two of them in that their friendship does not consist of the two of them talking about their boyfriends and what kind of sanitary protection they like, which tends to be what you see on television when women talk. They have a real concern and respect for one another. I think that it's interesting that when you portray that kind of a female friendship it instantly starts getting read as if, well, they must be lovers. I think it tells us a lot about what television doesn't tend to show in terms of real relationships between two women, whether or not there is a sexual component to them or not. Keith -- So in future episodes we don't see Xena hanging up her sword and opening up a bed and breakfast in ancient Greece? Liz -- No, absolutely, There's not really a bed and breakfast series franchise that I know of. No, she'll be sticking to her ways and Gabrielle will be right there beside her. Mary -- It's kind of like a great female Butch Cassady and the Sundance Kid. Liz -- Yeah. They're just a terrific pairing. My take on it is what Xena and Gabrielle do in between episodes, I don't actually know. Mary -- Hey, don't ask, don't tell. Right? Liz -- (laughing) Yes. Mary -- But that must be some of the fun off it, too, which is their relationship can really be anything to any viewer in many ways. And you have some fun with this. Let's be honest. Liz -- Absolutely, oh absolutely! That's one of the best parts of the job, getting to throw in references that I know the fans who are interested in that will pick up on, but don't necessarily flash any irrevocable red lights. We opened up a show with the two of them fishing naked and we're about to have a Halloween episode that will certainly have some nice moments for our queer fans, a little lesbian vampire show. Keith -- How do the actors feel about the sort of gay twist to their characters? Liz -- I think they really like it. They get a real kick out of it. Lucy thinks it's great and I think Renee does also. ================= CUT HERE =================== XENA MEDIA REVIEW #30 (04-15-97) Borg 10 of 11