_____ ______ ._ `\`/>`\ /`/` /`__________,.'>___ _____ )~\ /<`\ `\ /`/` /``\ \./------> /|\./\ |\./| / | \ /< `\`\ `\ /`/` /` | | |----\ / | |\ \ | | |././^\ \ |\__{o}\--`\`\ `\/`/` /`-----| | |-----`------\`\`\--| | |----^ \ \----. [\\\\\\\{*}==`> <`=======| | ==============`\`\`\| | |=====\ \ \==--> |/~~{o}/-- /`/ /\ \ `\------| | |---------------`\`\\ | |------\ \ \--' \< /`/` /` `\`\ `\ | | |_____,.'>| | | `\`\| | /' \ \ \ \< /` /` `\`\ `\ ,/ /^\------> / |/^\| \ | |/ \/^\\. /`/\>/` `\`\ `\`~~~~~~~~~~~\ / ~~~~~ )^\,\, '~~~~~ `~~~~~` '~~~~~` ` ~~~~~~ ========================== XENA: THE MEDIA REVIEW #11 ========================== 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] 192 subscribers and hovering! This document has 916 lines. Xena Media Review (XMR) is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationally 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. 11 Release date: June 14, 1996 2nd edition: 07/10/96 Covering 12/14/95 - 12/24/95 Annotations XMR100 - XMR114 * [100a] 12-14-95. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Ratings for 2nd "Sins" * [100b] 12/14/95. DAILY VARIETY. Ratings for 2nd "Sins" [100c] 12-18-95. VARIETY. Same as XMR0100b. * [100d] 12-18-95. VARIETY. Nielsen Syndication Ratings ** [101] 12-15-95. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Letter re XMR085/086. * [102] 12-16-95. TV GUIDE. Kevin Sorbo interview ***[103] 12-16-95. TV GUIDE. Short int. of R. Tapert ***[104] 12/17/95. NEWS TRIBUNE. Question & answer * [105] 12/17/95. BOSTON HERALD. Syndicators making action [106] 12/18/95. ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONSTITUTION. Year end list [107] 12-20-95. LOS ANGELES TIMES. Minor mention * [108a] 12-21-95. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Ratings for "Chariots" * [108b] 12-21-95. DAILY VARIETY. Ratings for "Chariots" * [108c] 12-21-95. DAILY VARIETY. Nielsen Syndication Ratings [109] 12-22-95. ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE. Minor mention * [110] 12-22-95. PR NEWSWIRE. Year end list [111] 12-24-95. PALM BEACH POST. Year end list [112] 12-24-95. ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Year end list [113] 12-24-95. ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Year end list [114] 12-24-95. INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Year end list ------------- Introduction: ------------ Although most of my research is current, the task of preparing this newsletter on a weekly basis is quite taxing. Especially now with IAXS (International Association of Xena Studies) seducing my attentions, I am finding less time to actually sit down and think about what I am doing. For example, I wanted to do a short essay about how the internet has changed fandom forever and how Star Trek fandom was the historical precedent of all this. But no time. I also wanted to bring my episode synopses up to date. But no time. I am torn between holding the issues until I can get to the "side" articles or releasing it as is because I want to get the information out. I haven't even got to 1996! At the rate I am going I will not make my goal of reaching October 1996 in October 1996! As Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. wrote, "So it goes" (actually I was more partial to the sound of a drum on Mars, but that's even more difficult to slip into a conversation). My decision has been to "get the information out". I realize my fundamental reason for doing this newsletter was to be an exercise in ego -- to share all my views on the Xena phenomena on a passive audience; but the media has now become the message. The annotations have become greater than my editorials. My ego can handle that, I think. Talking of ego, I have decided to attend the Southern California Xena-Fest II in July. It will no doubt be an interesting gathering. It will give me fodder for yet another exciting editorial. This week is not a powerhouse issue (not like, say, NEXT WEEK!), but there are some gems here. The annotations include the ratings for the "encore" showings of "Sins of the Past" and "Chariots of War"; two TV Guide interviews; and lots of year-end round-ups where XWP made the lists. ---Kym ---------- TIMELINE ---------- TimeLine is once again preempted! However, I have decided to delegate the task so perhaps we will get lucky next week. ----------- ANNOTATIONS ----------- [100] 12-14-95 through 12-18-95 NOTE: XWP beat out Hercules by a third of a rating point! The episode was the repeat of the season opener "Sins of the Past". Receiving higher ratings the second showing was a common event in both HTLJ and XWP. "Sins of the Past" was rated 14th, with a 5.9 first run and 6.1 when repeat showings were factored in, and clocked in as the No. 2 action hour for the week. When "Sins" was first released 09/04/95, it earned the 3rd place for action hours and achieved a 4.5 rating. [100a] 12-14-95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 240 words. "Xena bests Hercules as Trek tops actioners" By Steve Brennan COMMENTARY: The repeat of the opening episode "Sins of the Past" almost makes it to 6.0, and leaves Hercules in the dust! But Star Trek: Deep Space Nine still rules. Although XWP made the No. 2 slot for action hours, Xena was still just a "girl" to Mr. Brennan. REPRINT: Action girl Xena flexed her ratings muscles for MCA TV, leaping over her stablemate Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, to land in the No. 2 slot among the syndicated action weeklies, according to A.C. Nielsen Co. data for the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3. Xena: Warrior Princess, a spin-off from Hercules, posted a 5.9 rating in the No. 14 slot, up 16% from a 5.1 the previous week. Hercules landed a 5.6 rating at No. 15, down 19% from the previous weeks 6.4. Paramount Domestic Televisions Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (No. 10, 6.9) led the action hours. It was down from a 7.1 the previous week. All Americans veteran Baywatch (No. 19, 5.3) was down from a 5.5 while its spin-off Baywatch Nights (No. 33, 3.9) was down from a 3.6. The Buena Vista action hour Lands End (No. 37, 3.7) was down from a 4.5 while MGMs The Outer Limits (No. 41, 3.6) was down from a 4.4. It was a good week for reality in syndication with all of the so-called cop shows bettering their positions. Twentieth Televisions Cops (No. 28, 4.2) was up from a 3.9 the week before to post its best number in the season to date. New World/Genesis Distributions Real Stories of the Highway Patrol (No. 37, 3.7) was up from a 3.4. Twentieths Americas Most Wanted: Final Justice (No. 46, 3.2) was up from a 3.0. MGMs LAPD (No. 62, 2.4) posted its best number to date with an increase from a 2.1 the week before. [100b] 12/14/95 DAILY VARIETY. News. Page 6W/SYN. 563 words. "'Xena' tops 'Hercules'; sitcoms strong gainers" By Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: Ratings review for "Sins of the Past". It was ironic that the Billy Graham special was credited with helping XWP surpass HTLJ in the ratings. In one of the largest US markets (Los Angeles area) XWP was always preempted and shown at a different time when the Billy Graham specials were aired on KTLA, a Los Angeles station. Mr. Benson in his article assumed that the Graham special bumped HTLJ, not XWP. EXCERPT: Billy Graham strong-armed Hercules during the week ended Dec. 3 -- which overlapped the last few days of the November sweeps -- with a crusade special divinely interrupting the natural flow of the ratings universe in the weekly Nielsen national barter rankings. The syndicated special was at least the most convenient explanation for MCA TV's freshman "Xena: Warrior Princess" beating out its MCA sophomore companion "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" in the household ratings for the first time. The sword-wielding princess soared 16% to a record 5.9, trailing only Paramount's usual weekly front-runner, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (down 3%, to 6.9 and off 26% from a year ago). Despite the unusual household loss to "Xena" for "Hercules," which sank 19%, to 5.6, it continued to maintain its No. 2 standing in the key demos during the week. And "Hercules" still managed to out-muscle All American's "Baywatch" (off 4%, to 5.3), which has lost some of its bounce this season with a 17% year-to-year decline... [100c] 12-18-95 VARIETY. Television. Page 35. 408 words. "'Xena' climbs past 'Hercules'; sitcoms show syndie strength" By Jim Benson. COMMENTARY: Same as XMR0100b. [100d] 12-18-95 VARIETY. Television. Page 35. 183 Words. "Nielsen Syndication Ratings" COMMENTARY: The top twenty ratings for the 2nd release of "Sins of the Past", the first released XWP episode. REPRINT: For week ended December 3, 1995 Stations/ Rank Program % coverage AA % GAA % 1 Wheel of Fortune 226/98 13.1 -- 2 Buena Vistal 167/98 11.2 12.0 3 Jeopardy! 220/98 10.6 -- 4 Home Improvement 216/96 10.0 10.7 5 Oprah Winfrey Show 237/99 8.3 8.4 6 Seinfeld 216/98 7.8 -- 7 Imagination III 149/96 7.3 7.5 8 Entertainment Tonight 169/95 7.2 7.3 9 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 235/98 6.9 7.2 10 Simpsons 184/95 6.7 6.7 11 Inside Edition 168/93 6.3 6.4 12 Home Improvement-Weekend 194/90 6.1 -- 12 WCW Wrestling 172/93 6.1 9.4 14 Xena 196/95 5.9 6.1 15 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 162/92 5.6 5.9 15 Journeys of Hercules 222/98 5.6 5.8 15 Roseanne 172/92 5.6 5.7 18 Baywatch 214/95 5.3 5.5 19 Hard Copy 172/90 5.2 5.2 19 Imagination II 155/95 5.2 5.3 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 [101] 12-15-95 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Mail. Page 6. 448 words. COMMENTARY: A good rule of thumb is if you like what you read in a magazine, then you should write to the editor. If enough interest is shown, more likely than not, the subject will reappear. Ms. Matias of New York shared her support of XWP by giving EW warm fuzzies for the article appearing in Entertainment Weekly on 11/24/95 (XMR #085 & #086) EXCERPT: 'XENA'-PHILIA I ENJOYED your review of Xena. As adult professional women, my friends and I thoroughly enjoy the show. Yes, the action scenes are fun, but the shows are very well scripted, and the dialogue surprisingly campy and funny. Deep down I think we really like it because it plays to every woman's fantasy to be able to kick the stuffing out of every guy who has slighted us or done us wrong. Yo, Xena. ANN MATIAS New York City [102] 12-16-95 TV GUIDE. Page 20. 1207 words. "A Sensitive Superhero Classical mythology takes it on the chin in Kevin Sorbo's tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the buff, bronzed demigod" By Glenn Esterly Contributor: Paul S. Manson (pmanson@inforamp.net) COMMENTARY: This article is about HTLJ and Kevin Sorbo. XWP and Lucy Lawless are each mentioned once in passing. The first three paragraphs described the Hercules of the five Action Pack Movies almost to a tee. The fourth then segued into the 'new and improved sensitive guy' Hercules of the series. Later in the interview, Mr. Sorbo discussed the change as purposeful and he preferred the 'new and improved' Hercules. The companion article about XWP is cited as XWP103, and is substantially smaller than this article. REPRINT: Darn those thieving hoodlums, the Ugly Brothers. Drat, not the wicked Darphus and his soul-eating dog again. And that pesky demonic Snake Woman? -- been there, beat that. All in a day's work for Hercules. What ya gonna do when you're stuck in the Bronze age, and you're a people person, and you have all these expectations from a populace that's sick and tired of getting sacrificed to a multiplicity of gods who manipulate mortals for sport. Add on the dilemma you're not sure whether you're a god like the old man, Zeus, or mortal, like mom. And that the mother of all stepmothers, Hera, queen of the gods, tries to torment you at every turn. It's a wonder poor Herc isn't spread-eagled on the ancient Greek equivalent of a shrink's couch. Instead, as played by Kevin Sorbo, Hercules is undefeated, untied and largely unperturbed. Sorbo's relaxed, tongue-in-cheek approach to the mythic muscleman is a major reason Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, which debuted in January, became the surprise syndicated hit of 1995, even beating the world-wide hit Baywatch in the Neilson ratings in the U.S., and spawning a spin-off in Xena, Warrior Princess. "It's been very unexpected and very nice," says Sorbo, in a rare interview -- he's learned to pace himself given the demands of the show's production schedule. It's 9 a.m., New Zealand time, on a Saturday morning (Friday in North America), and Sorbo is speaking from his apartment in Auckland. "I'm in a bubble because the show doesn't air in New Zealand, so I hear all these things second hand about the show's impact, which is amazing. Here," he adds, laughing, "people know me mostly for a Jim Bean commercial that's run for the last year." Having lost out to Dean Cain for the role of Clark Kent in ABC's Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, the 36-year-old Sorbo has responded by becoming a mythic muscleman in quite another setting. This one could go on longer than Lois & Clark -- even though his show doesn't air on a network and doesn't appear in all markets -- given the way syndicated hits work these days. "Hercules has empathy," Sorbo says, "He's been a victim himself. He lost his own family, wife and children to an evil god in a ball of fire. So he knows what other people are going through and he'd rather help them than walking around saying, 'Hey, what about me?'" Even snarly beasts get a break. Asked to share a meal with a half-man, half-horse, Herc replies sincerely, "I'd love to -- it's been years since I broke bread with a centaur." Sorbo's sensitive version follows many no-neck, physically intimidating, inarticulate Hercules before him, including Steve Reeves, Lou Ferrigno and Arnold Schwarzenegger, at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Sorbo couldn't match their heft, but that turned out to be an advantage. Using football terms to explain, executive producer Rob Tapert (M.A.N.T.I.S) says: "We wanted a Joe Montana, a savvy athlete who makes things happen, not an oversized monosyllabic lineman. This Hercules tries to use reason before he has to resort to force." Sorbo points out that he had to figure out for himself the overall demeanour that a Hercules for the '90s needed to attract a large audience. "Nobody gave me a guidebook to playing the character in a way that works for today," he says. "We did five movies before we went to series, and it was the second one where I found the answer. It was sort of like a spiritual awakening for the character because he saw the light. Hercules -- product of a broken home, his father wasn't even there for him and then he loses his wife and children. Is he going to run around taking it out on everybody in sight the rest of his life, or is he going to do good deeds and have that be his therapy? "So he makes the last choice and that's more interesting than previous Hercules, more interesting than Superman, as far as I'm concerned. I was very disappointed at the time not to get that [Lois & Clark] part, but it wasn't about envy or jealousy or anger that used to accompany earlier setbacks in my career. I'd had a lot of close calls in this business that didn't work out, and I just had to believe that as close as I was coming, sooner or later I'd get a break." Sorbo grew up in Mound, Minn., then the most rural part of the suburbs of Minneapolis, in a family of Norwegian background. "I grew up with a real midwestern work ethic that was instilled by my parents," he says. "I started a paper route when I was in the third grade, getting up at 4:30 in the morning, and did that till my sophomore year of high school. The whole family, including three brothers and a sister, was that way." Sorbo decided after seeing a stage version of "Oklahoma!" when he was 11 that he'd be an actor, but kept it a secret until he was an adult because his family and friends would have thought he was nuts. When he made his move to Hollywood, he paid his bills doing a number of commercials, but his shots at a series ended when NBC and Fox pilots in which he had leads went nowhere. Sorbo has no doubt that the lush New Zealand landscape is a co-star in the success of Hercules. "The look is great," he says, "and the special effects are great. I think a lot of weeks we look as good as a feature film." It also doesn't hurt that Herc's world is populated with lots of gorgeous women close to popping out of their breastplates. Says Sorbo: "My L.A. friends call it 'Hercules in the Land of Cleavage.'" New Zealand has some fine Shakespearean actors who are utilised to the hilt. Hercules' best buddy, Iolaus, is Michael Hurst, a noted Aukland stage actor. Lucy Lawless is another native who was in three highly-rated episodes before getting her Xena spin-off. On the other hand, the recurring Salmoneus, played by New York actor Robert Trebor, is the smarmy equivalent of Angel on The Rockford Files, always on the hustle. In one episode Salmoneus says: ''Hey, Hercules, you ever thought about getting an agent? ... I could get you a contract for big dinars... Suppose you wanted to get out of the hero business, ya know, open up a souvenir shop. There have been downsides to Sorbo's success. One is that a relationship with a girlfriend in L.A. couldn't survive the long-distance separations. The other, Sorbo says, "is simply that I get homesick for the climate and ocean of Santa Monica where I lived." But he's not complaining. "I waited too long and worked too hard to get some momentum going, so I'm not going to mess up the opportunity. I'm completely committed. PHOTO One Kevin Sorbo as Hercules. PHOTO Two Kevin Sorbo kneeling holding a TV set on his shoulder with a picture of Hercules on the screen. "HERCULES has empathy," Sorbo says: He's been a victim himself... so he knows what other people are going through." [103] 12-16-95 TV GUIDE. Page 25. 224 words. "A Feminine Fable" By Glenn Kenny. Contributor: Paul S. Manson (pmanson@inforamp.net) COMMENTARY: TV Guide's extremely short but first substantive article about the XWP phenomenon. Essentially a short interview with Robert Tapert, an executive producer of the show, Ms. Lawless nevertheless piped in after a reference was made to Wonder Woman [implying that she was at the interview even though she wasn't quoted saying anything else]; she said "I've just had a sudden urge to cross my wrists in front of my chest!" Observed more to be more 'serious' than HTLJ, Mr. Kenny described Xena as "more soulful and enigmatic" than Hercules. Single graphic of Lucy Lawless. REPRINT: While Hercules tends to tease, its spin-off show Xena: Warrior Princess takes things more seriously. Xena (played by Lucy Lawless) is a more soulful and enigmatic character than Kevin Sorbo's droll, meat-and-potatoes Herc. Co-creator and executive producer Rob Tapert says Xena was deliberately given a more mature perspective. "The thing that stands out about Hercules character is his decency," Tapert notes. "It's pretty basic and easy to understand. With Xena, we have a character whose way of carrying herself states: 'I have something to say but I can't quite say it yet.' That will deepen, actually, before it's resolved." Lawless is a native of New Zealand, where the shows are shot, so she doesn't have to deal with homesickness U.S.-born Sorbo contends with while shooting Hercules. Tapert credits movies from Hong Kong with inspiring his vision of Xena: "The female superheroes you see in Hong Kong fantasy and action films have the same kind of steely resolve we gave Xena. There weren't really a lot of television precedents to draw from, or that we would want to draw from. I think the last female superheroine on television was Wonder Woman." Lawless chimes in: "I've just had a sudden urge to cross my wrists in front of my chest!" -- GRAPHIC: Lucy Lawless as Xena holding the ring in a throwing position. [104] 12/17/95 NEWS TRIBUNE. SoundLife. Page SL5. 674 words. "Two Fine Physical Specimens Play Xena, Hercules" By Keith Raether. COMMENTARY: A fan wrote into a local question & answer column and asked why there was no promotion of the Lucy Lawless and Kevin Sorbo. Mr. Raethner curtly answered, "She Xena. He Hercules. We scared. Friends, Romans - meet Lucy Lawless and Kevin Sorbo, the larger-than-life stars of the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess"...She outwits man-eating cyclopses. As Zeus' son, he braves angry lynch mobs bent on snuffing Deric the Centaur. With that kind of power, who needs press kits and promotion?" In a serious mode, however, he stated that Channel 7 was promoting it. The reporter goes on to mention something about the station not having network affiliation. Perhaps Mr. Raethner believed that network affiliation immediately means better promotion. The highlight of thee article is where Mr. Raethner cites a passage from a Newsweek article from June 5, 1995 (XMR022), "Newsweek called her 'a formidable natural resource,' which left the National Park Service scratching its head and Lawless holding a big new contract." Mr. Raethner mentioned that Ms. Lawless considered XWP her "big breakthrough, and [was] serious enough about the part to train with martial arts master Douglas Wong ("Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story")". EXCERPT: Q: I would like to know more about the characters who play "Xena" and "Hercules" - Lucy Lawless and Kevin Sorbo. These are two fantastic shows, and I don't know why there's no promotion of them. A: She is 6 feet tall, all raven-black hair and blue eyes, the daughter of the former mayor of Mount Albert in Auckland, Australia. He is 6 feet, 3 inches and 215 pounds of personal-trainer perfection, the son of a junior high school teacher and a nurse who grew up in Mound, Minn. She Xena. He Hercules. We scared. Friends, Romans - meet Lucy Lawless and Kevin Sorbo, the larger-than-life stars of the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess" (8 p.m. Friday, repeated at midnight Sunday, Channel 7) and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (9 p.m. Friday, repeated 11:30 p.m. Saturday). She outwits man-eating cyclopses. As Zeus' son, he braves angry lynch mobs bent on snuffing Deric the Centaur. With that kind of power, who needs press kits and promotion? In truth, Channel 7 has regularly promoted both shows. Without CBS affiliation, however, the station can do only so much to hook an audience. In the "Xena" series, Lawless landed the part of the warrior princess after playing her in three episodes of "Hercules" last season. Newsweek called her "a formidable natural resource," which left the National Park Service scratching its head and Lawless holding a big new contract. By her own admission, Lawless was "a tomboy" until she turned 8. Then convent schools in Mount Albert took over. She attended Auckland University until, against parochial school code, she ran off to Europe to pick grapes along the Rhine. When she ran out of money, she signed on with a gold-mining company in the Australian outback. It was all the training she needed to play Xena. At age 20, Lawless began her acting career in a TV comedy troupe known as Funny Business. She considers "Xena" her big breakthrough, and is serious enough about the part to train with martial arts master Douglas Wong ("Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story"). For his part, Sorbo may not boast the strength of Zeus' son, but he brings a lifetime of athletics to the role of Hercules. He played football and basketball through high school, and insists on doing his own stunts for "Hercules." Still, he sees his hero as more than a hunk in a toga. "Hercules is a very human and accessible hero," Sorbo insists. The publicists at MCA-TV say Sorbo is very dedicated to his Herculean role. He's awake by 5 a.m., on set for a minimum of 12 hours and in the gym for 90 minutes after that. He finishes his work day with a run and works with three different trainers to keep him willing and able for the daily requirements of a man who's only half mortal.... [105] 12/17/95 THE BOSTON HERALD. Television. Page 006. 971 words. "The Action Pack; From 'Hercules' to 'Forever Knight,' syndicated and cable shows are gunning for fans of drama and derring-do" By Mark A. Perigard COMMENTARY: This article discussed the shift from networks to syndicators for action hours. Further discussed are what the syndicated action hours have in common: "budget constraints (about $ 600,000 per episode, half what a network show might cost); a fondness for stunts and pyrotechnics; a determination to capture female viewers; and a willingness to exploit the male body." XWP was mentioned when it was observed that many productions are made in different countries in order to keep costs done. XWP and HTLJ were mentioned as being made in New Zealand. In the closing part of the article, Mr. Perigard recommends HTLJ and XWP to his audience. EXCERPT: It used to be a staple of the network prime-time schedule: the one-hour action drama. You could click on the tube and find any number of these loud, energetic crimebusters, on shows like "Starsky & Hutch," "T. J. Hooker" and "Mannix." Today, with the exception of CBS' "Walker, Texas Ranger," you have to turn to cable or to independent stations to find the men -- and women -- with guns and the brass to use them. While Congress and conservative leaders decry network TV's body count, shows like the syndicated "Renegade," "One West Waikiki," and "Land's End" keep the genre alive for action- starved fans who really aren't in the mood for a lot of talk and would much rather see someone duke it out with his fists. Talk to the creators of today's shows and you realize what they have in common: budget constraints (about $ 600,000 per episode, half what a network show might cost); a fondness for stunts and pyrotechnics; a determination to capture female viewers; and a willingness to exploit the male body. "Our TV is the toughest medium to produce," says Fred Dryer, veteran of the long-running cop series "Hunter" and now the proud star, creator, producer and owner of "Land's End," a series about a frustrated cop who escapes to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "It's not like I'm in Borneo doing a documentary on headhunters. It's very challenging. I'm just juggling chainsaws for nine months out of the year."... ...Dryer, like other syndicated producers, has learned to stretch his budget by moving out of Los Angeles to another city, sometimes even out of the country, to Canada ("Forever Knight") or even further, like New Zealand ("Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess"). By placing "Land's End" in Mexico, where "Arizona meets Newport Beach," Dryer gets gorgeous scenery and plenty of local talent -- usually unproven, untested and cheaper... ...Escapism artists Looking to escape? Don't really care about what personal demons are tormenting George Clooney on "ER" or which social issue of the week is being skewered on "Picket Fences"? Check out these alternatives: In "Hercules: the Legendary Journey's," star Kevin Sorbo fights baddies as he seeks vengeance on stepmom Hera for destroying his family. Sorbo makes for a skinny Hercules, but the show has a sense of fun and derring-do. Its new spinoff, "Xena: Warrior Princess," features Lucy Lawless fighting to master her strength as Ares, god of war, tempts her soul... [106] 12/18/95 THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION. Features. Page 1D. 6 words. "the Year in TV; A few good shows and some major static; With remote controls on stun, our TV staff Bob Longino, Phil Kloer and; Drew Jubera counts down 1995." By Bob Longino, Phil Kloer and Drew Jubera COMMENTARY: In a massive amount of charts representing the reporter's best of the year (10 Best Series, 9 Major Bummers, 8 Don't Miss Supporting Players, 7 Showing Promise, 6 Guilty Pleasures, 5 Forgettable Talk Show Topics, 4 Fun Couples, 3 Scary Things, 2 Big Hits that Niss, and 1 We'll Never See the Likes Again), Xena received mention with Hercules as #5 in the 6 Guilty Pleasures. EXCERPT: ...6 GUILTY PLEASURES 1. "Live With Regis & Kathie Lee." 2. MTV's "Singled Out." 3. Any soap on Univision. 4. "Jeopardy!" (still!) 5. Syndicated's hot double bill: "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess." 6. Jerry Springer, Charlie Perez, Ricki Lake, Richard Bey (but not Sally Jessy, Montel, Geraldo, Jenny Jones, Oprah, Tempestt, Mark Wahlberg, Danny, etc.)... [107] 12-20-95 LOS ANGELES TIMES. Sports. Page C1. 685 words. "Barnett Ought to Be Fixture at Rose Bowl" By Mike Downey. COMMENTARY: A UCLA fan sportswriter revealed his top two heroic action figures. The article was about the author's appreciation of Northwestern University's coach Gary Barnett. EXCERPT: ...As far as I'm concerned, Gary Barnett is the coach of the year, of the century, of the millennium. I personally put him third on my list of heroic action figures, right behind Hercules and Xena. We should stop at nothing to lure him, short of asking him to father Madonna's child... [108] 12-21-95 NOTE: "Chariots of War" garnered a 4.5 rating when it was first run. By the time of it's repeat, it received a 5.4 rating. [108a] 12-21-95 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 247 words. "Newsmagazines drop in post-sweeps ratings". By Jonathan Davies COMMENTARY: "Chariots of War" repeat. The show posted a 4.5 rating in it's first run; on it's repeat it rated 5.4. EXCERPT: Many syndicated shows came down with a case of the post-sweeps blues, according to A.C. Nielsen Co. data for the week of Dec. 4-10, the first full week following the November book... ...Among weekly action hours, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (No. 11, 6.7) jumped 19% to place ahead of its companion show Xena: The Warrior Princess (No. 20, 5.4) after trailing it last week... [108b] 12-21-95 DAILY VARIETY. NEWS; Pg. 6. 387 words. "'Hercules' flexes, 'Xena' dips; "Limits' stretches" By JIM BENSON. COMMENTARY: Chariots of War ratings; 2nd release. EXCERPT: In the first full week after sweeps, a third run of MCA TV's "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" came within a fraction of tying a repeat episode of Paramount's dominant "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." "Hercules" leaped 20% to a record 6.7 mark in the Nielsen national syndication barter rankings for the week ended Dec. 10. It tied "Deep Space" in women 18-34 and came within a 10th of a point in men 18-34 and 18-49. The "Trek" series, which "Hercules" surpassed on a few previous occasions, declined a mild 1% to 6.8, but dropped 17% from a year ago. Meanwhile, MCA's "Xena: Warrior Princess"-- second last week -- settled for third in this skirmish, after deflating 8% to 5.4... [108c] 12-21-95 DAILY VARIETY. News; Pg. 6. "For week ended Dec. 10, 1995" COMMENTARY: Chariots of war ratings; 2nd release. REPRINT: Rank Program (Stations/% coverage) AA% GAA% 1 Wheel of Fortune (225/98) 13.1 -- 2 Jeopardy! (219/98) 10.6 -- 3 Home Improvement (215/97) 10.0 10.7 4 Oprah Winfrey Show (237/99) 8.1 8.1 5 Seinfeld (213/97) 7.6 -- 6 Buena Vista I (169/98) 7.4 7.7 7 Entertainment Tonight (168/94) 6.8 6.9 7 Simpsons (183/95) 6.8 6.8 7 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (234/98) 6.8 7.5 10 Journeys of Hercules (222/98) 6.7 7.2 11 Natl. Geographic on Assignment (172/96) 6.2 6.4 11 WCW Wrestling (171/93) 6.2 9.6 13 World Wrestling Fed. Pr. (158/90) 6.0 7.2 14 Roseanne (173/92) 5.9 6.0 15 Inside Edition (166/90) 5.8 5.9 16 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (159/90) 5.6 6.1 16 Home Improvement--Wknd. (189/84) 5.6 -- 16 Wheel of Fortune--Wknd. (162/71) 5.6 -- 19 Xena (193/96) 5.4 5.8 20 Baywatch (210/94) 4.9 5.0 20 Outer Limits (201/93) 4.9 5.1 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. [109] 12-22-95 ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE. Weekend. Page 2W. 710 words. By Ellis Widner. COMMENTARY: In an article reviewing styles and the artists creating velvet Elvis', the author opined that the Xena action figure will be a hot stocking stuffer. EXCERPT: What I really want for Christmas this year is an Elvis painting on black velvet. But, somehow, I don't think ol' Santy's gonna come through. I put it in my letter. I mailed it extra early, too. I told him at the mall -- twice. What's more, I've been extra nice this year. Even when I was naughty, I was real nice about it. But Santa probably thinks I'm kiddin' him. I mean, how many people would ask for such a thing? Other than Michael and Lisa Marie, I mean. But there was also an action figure of The Tick and Xena: Warrior Princess on my list, too. Maybe I confused Mr. Claus.... [110] 12-22-95 PR NEWSWIRE. Entertainment, Television, and Culture. 391 words. "'Friends' Cast Named Entertainers of the Year by Entertainment Weekly Magazine" COMMENTARY: The EW coverage is annotated in XMR106. Kevin Sorbo and Lucy Lawless (eternally joined at the hip) made the rookie list in Entertainment Weekly. EXCERPT: ...In its sixth annual naming of the Top 12 Entertainers of the Year, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY picks the cast of NBC-TV's "Friends" for the top spot. EW's year-end double issue hits newsstands for two weeks, beginning Monday, Dec. 25.... ...EW also ranks the Rookies -- this year's freshman class of entertainers. Heading the list: Alicia Silverstone, the star of this summer's "Clueless."... ...The rest of the Rookies: filmmaker Ed Burns ("The Brothers McMullen"), New Wave band Elastica, singer Alanis Morissette, actors Kevin Sorbo & Lucy Lawless, Kids screenwriter Harmony Korine, actress Salma Hayek, Christine Baranski (Cybill), author David Guterson, and Babe -- the pig... [111] 12-24-95 THE PALM BEACH POST. Arts and Entertainment. Page 1J. 1081 words. "TV's Outer Limits" By Larry Aydlette. COMMENTARY: Nestled between "Furniture to Go" and "Whose Line is It Anyway", Mr. Aydlette ranked XWP & HTLJ number 2 of his choice of the best off-beat shows of the season. EXCERPT: It's another night on the couch. TV time. On every major network, it's the same old drama. The same old been-there, done-that sitcom. What should you do? Start channel-surfing. And pretty soon you'll enter, as Rod Serling used to say, another dimension of time and space: the alternative universe of cable and syndicated television. Quirky, original shows. Single-subject networks. Bad reruns. It's those flickering images you usually click right past: a kung-fu warrior princess, a weird cooking contest, a Spanish-language variety show, two goofy guys fixing furniture, a tough nun. We've flipped up and down the dial choosing 10 of the best offbeat shows. Turn on the VCR and consult your TV guide because sometimes these shows switch times from day to day. And watch out: You may never return to your regular programming.... ...1. Furniture to Go (Weekdays, 2:30 p.m., The Learning Channel)... ...2. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess (8-10 p.m., Thursdays, WDZL-Channel 39; Saturday afternoons, WFLX-Channel 29) Take a bad '60s sci-fi movie, really weak acting and gags too stale for Mel Brooks and you've got these two superhero shows. Hercules features an incredible hunk fighting off dinosaurs and fending off comely maidens. Xena is a female Conan, ''a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle,'' who regularly kicks the stuffing out of men with her vast array of cartoonish martial arts moves. Of course, the stars look good, which is wise, since their modern California dialect contrasts hilariously with their period costumes... ...3. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (9 p.m., Monday, Comedy Central)... ...4. Ready Set Cook! (Weeknights, 8 p.m., The Food Network)... ...5. Sabado Gigante (Saturday, 8-11 p.m., Univision)... ...6. Land's End (8 p.m., Saturday, WTVX-Channel 34)... ...7. Fabulous Sports Babe (1 p.m., weekdays, ESPN2)... ...8. Next Step (Weeknights, 7:30 p.m., The Discovery Channel)... ...9. Charlie Daniels Talent Roundup (7-8 p.m., Saturdays, The Nashville Network)... ...10. The Best of Mother Angelica (Weekdays, 9 a.m., Eternal Word Television Network)... ...GRAPHIC: 2. Lucy Lawless is Xena: Warrior Princess, while Kevin Sorbo has the lead in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (center)... [112] 12-24-95 THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Show. Page F09. 2231 words. "A Look Back at '95 Television; One Trying Year; 1995: It was a long TV trial, as O.J. walked, smarmy talk shows talked, and viewers balked at the worst slate of new fall series in years." By Kinney Littlefield COMMENTARY: Still joined at the hip, Kevin "biceps-rippler" Sorbo and Lucy "You Go Girl!" Lawless, were chosen by Mr. Littlefield as "in" for 1995. A companion article was XMR113, which appeared in the same bat issue and same bat page of the Orange County Register. EXCERPT: ...In all, TV '95 goes out with a giggle, a flex and a drunken stumble. In like sin for '95 were goofy-gawky "Late Night" host Conan O'Brien, David Hyde Pierce as Frasier's snobbish sibling, Niles, Christine Baranski as tipsy Maryann Thorpe on "Cybill," even tipsier Patsy and Edina on British import "Absolutely Fabulous," Kevin Sorbo as syndicated biceps-rippler "Hercules" and Lucy Lawless as Herc's sister-in-arms "Xena," the "You Go Girl! " of ancient Greece... [113] 12-24-95 THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Show. Page F06. 1995 words; "A Look Back at '95 Images; Cries & Whispers; 1995: as the Lines Blurred and the Denominator Slid Downward, We Got What We Paid for in Entertainment." By Scott Duncan. COMMENTARY: Mr. Duncan decided that 1995 was the year of the woman. Citing XWP second in his list (just after Marcia Clarke and right before Alanis Morrisette), he called Xena a "she-ro warrior" with "bulging bi-ceps" [hey! isn't that's Ken Sorbo's nickname?] and a "leather bustier" who "throws a mean chakram". Other women making the list were: Alicia Silverstone, Pocahontas, Natasha Henstridge [who just last night picked up the 'Best Kiss Award' from the MTV Movies Awards--ouch!], Selena, and Natalie Merchant. EXCERPT: ...The year of the woman? Men were boring this year. 1995 was the year women got tough, took charge and made a difference: Marcia Clarke Chris Darden wept after the O.J. verdict, but Marcia kept her poise and waited for her $ 4 million book deal. Xena A spinoff from syndicated "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," this she-ro warrior has bulging biceps, a leather bustier and throws a mean chakram. Alanis Morissette That wailing voice, that bad attitude, those fingernails . . . Alicia Silverstone She's soft-tough. As Cher in the summer sleeper "Clueless," this Beverly Hills "betty" by way of Jane Austen is a fresh new comedian. Pochahontas She chooses an interracial relationship but rejects the idea of marriage, better to pursue her personal fulfillment. Does this sound like traditional Disney values? Natasha Henstridge In "Species" she has a supermodel's body, alien DNA and a single-minded desire to mate watchout for that first kiss, guys. Selena Her killing in March caused ripples in the music industry and a surge in tejano music. Natalie Merchant She dropped the other 9,999 Maniacs and proved the naysayers wrong with her solo hit album, "Tiger Lily."... [114] 12-24-95 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR. TV Week. Page TV01. 806 words. "'95 on-air fare mixed winners with stinkers" by Steve Hall COMMENTARY: Listed second of three right after 'Ned and Stacy' and right before 'The Dave Wilson Show', XWP was described on Mr. Hall's Best Guilty Pleasures List as "a wizard and warrior epic with modern dialogue - in New Zealand accents, natch", although no wizards had appeared on the show (priests and priestesses, but no wizards!). Mr. Hall also described Xena's costume as "a sort of black leather teddy". EXCERPT: My five picks for best shows will run next Sunday, but here are some other thoughts on 1995... ...Best guilty pleasures: Ned and Stacey, with former Wings star Thomas Haden Church having fun as a venomously glib adman; Xena: Warrior Princess, a wizard and warrior epic with modern dialogue - in New Zealand accents, natch - and star Lucy Lawless wearing a sort of black leather teddy; and The Dave "the King" Wilson Show on WIBC-AM (1070). Wilson doesn't sound like Elvis Presley, and most of his jokes were old when I was a kid. It's almost unbelievable this guy ever made a living as a comedian. So why do I tune in? Beats me... ------------- THE BACK PAGE ------------- Issue #12 will contain annotations #115 through #137, dated from 12/26/95 to 01/13/96. It is scheduled to be released June 21, 1996. 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, Daily Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, TV Guide, Variety, News Tribune, Boston Herald, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Pr Newswire, Palm Beach Post, Orange County Register, and Indianapolis Star). 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. 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