XMR #20 Part 2 of 4 ============= CUT HERE ====================== ------------------- AMENDED ANNOTATIONS ------------------- [090.5] 11-30-96 THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Page 16. 362 words. "Hercules set to muscle in" By Phil Wakefield COMMENTARY: TV3 finally purchased the right to air HTLJ! Article referred to XWP as a "sister sandals-and- swords romp" and noted that 23 episodes were scheduled. XWP had originally been ordered with 22 episodes. By April 1996, MCA began to hawk XWP at MIP-TV Con as a 24 episode package (XMR219.8). Somewhere between May 1995 (the first official notice of XWP being in production, XMR011) and April 1996 a decision was made to extend the season by two episodes. I have a theory that the decision may have been made around January 1996 and that the EVENING POST's sources jumped the gun and got it off by an episode. Even this is conjecture since I am basing it on the fact that VARIETY in January 1996 (XMR134) reported that at NAPTE, MCA was hawking 26 episodes of XWP! My explanation for this is that VARIETY discovered that there were 2 more shows being added to the season than originally planned and that the season was at 24 already. They then did the logical thing and added 2 to 24 to get 26. They should have added the 2 to 22. It could happen to anyone! Last time I was able to talk to a member of the XenaStaff, I of course asked them the question of whether the producers were planning to expand the episode order to 26, just in case the VARIETY report was about the next season (XMR does not shy away from asking the tough questions!). I was told that the they are planning to produce 24 episodes again for the second season. EXCERPT: TV3 HAS added more strength to its 1996 line-up by buying Hercules. The US syndicated TV hit has been shooting in Auckland since 1993, and this year spawned a sister sandals-and-swords romp called Xena: Warrior Princess. Both shows are widely watched in the US, where Hercules has been out-rating Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Baywatch. By the time shooting wraps in March, Pacific Renaissance Pictures will have shot five feature-length and 37 one-hour episodes of Hercules, and 23 Xena hours; both giant-killers should be rubber-stamped for renewal. The shows have been a boon to the local film and TV industry, employing dozens of actors, 300 permanent crew and up to 100 casuals. By March they will have pumped $ 74 million into the economy. Among the faces viewers will recognize are Herculean star Kevin Sorbo, who was in the "this ain't Jim Beam" ads, and local leads Michael Hurst and Lucy Lawless (Xena). If you want a sneak preview of the series, one of the movie-length Hercules adventures can be rented on video.... [090.6] 12-02-95 THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 23. 116 words. "Hercules Series to Run next Year" COMMENTARY: A notice about TV3 plans to air HTLJ in 1996. Lucy Lawless is mentioned in passing but not Xena. REPRINT: A TOP-RATING American television show that has been filmed in New Zealand will screen on TV3 next year. Kevin Sorbo, better known as the man in the "this ain't Jim Beam" commercial, plays the title role in the adventure-fantasy series Hercules. The show consistently rated in the top five syndicated shows in the United States, ahead of Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Baywatch. The show was filmed around Auckland and most of the cast and crew were from New Zealand. Michael Hurst and Lucy Lawless featured in starring roles. Shooting began in November 1993 and by the time series two is completed in March 1996, the producers will have spent more than NZ$ 50 million in New Zealand. [099.5a] 12-13-95 THE EVENING POST (Wellington). Page 7. 1120 words. "NZ - the last Arcadia" By Paul Johnson COMMENTARY: In an intensely jingoistic and overly polemic essay (aka racist drivel) on why New Zealand is clearly the best place on earth, HTLJ and XWP was sarcastically cited because they used New Zealand for ancient Greece and required native actors to speak in an American accent. The essayist stated that two of the island's main problems were that its edenhood attracted foreign film-makers (HTLJ and XWP, 'natch) and it originally attracted Maoris. Not a pretty essay. EXCERPT: On the other hand, natural conditions are so good that film-makers flock there for location sequences. The variety of scenery is such that it can be made to look like anything: the Congo, Sherwood Forest, the Jurassic era or Mansfield Park. Local crews are cheap and nice to work with. One Hollywood director, who makes 60-minute television yarns called Hercules and Xena, told me there was no difficulty in getting the South Island to look like Greece 2000 BC: the problem was to get New Zealand actors to speak the American English which, Hollywood decrees, was the demotic of the Golden Age: "They keep calling him 'Ercules".... [099.5b] 12-15-95 THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 10. 1099 words. "NZ great except for Maori claims" By Paul Johnson COMMENTARY: Reprint of XMR099.5a [100.5] 12-14-95 THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 10. 377 words. "Cultural Differences No Barrier" By Anna Kominik COMMENTARY: Brief mention of Cameron Rhodes, who played Deiphobos in BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS (#12). EXCERPT: ...On the subject of American imports, Wellington actor Cameron Rhodes, who plays the lead of Cyrano in the Theatre at Large production of Cyrano de Bergerac, is at present in Auckland practising his fighting skills. He has nosed his way into the cast of the American cable television extravaganza Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless -- better recognised as Stanley's mum (from the ASB ads)... [122.5] 12-31-95 THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland). Page 27. 192 words. "Kiwi Lucy nudges Pamela" COMMENTARY: In celebrating XWP's first taking of the top action hour honors (thus beating HTLJ; the show: 2nd release of CRADLE OF HOPE, #04), THE SUNDAY NEWS observed that the producers of BAYWATCH were so nervous that they developed SINBAD to specifically compete with XWP and HTLJ. Also announced was Kevin Sorbo's casting as the star of the motion picture "Kull". The writer mused that Lucy Lawless was on her way to becoming the next Pamela Anderson. EXCERPT: THE producers of Baywatch are mounting a fresh assault on Hercules. The mega-hit fantasy-adventure series that's shot around Auckland has been outrating Baywatch for months on syndicated TV in the United States. Now All American TV, which produces Baywatch, is hitting back with a Hercules contemporary -- Sinbad. The weekly action hour is set to sail into primetime in 1996, and is the creation of Ed Naha, who dreamed up the Walt Disney blockbuster, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. His latest creation will rely just as much on special effects for its storytelling. In the meantime, Hercules' Kevin Sorbo soon will make his big-screen bow in a Conan The Barbarian-style movie while Kiwi Lucy Lawless, who stars in the Hercules spin-off, Xena: Warrior Princess, could be well on her way towards becoming the next Pamela Sue Anderson. For the first time, Xena has overtaken Hercules in popularity, proving right the reviewer who quipped: "This warrior princess should reign long enough to give even macho males a chance to get over their Xena'-phobia." Expect Xena to screen here if Hercules is the ratings colossus on TV3 it is in the US. [144.5] 01-27-96 THE DOMINION (Wellington). Page 23. 406 words. "Pilot to kick off Hercules' NZ run" COMMENTARY: The premiere of HTLJ in New Zealand. Momentous occasion! Producer Grundemann was reported as saying that he was inspired to film the series in New Zealand because of a "Good Morning America" special on Australia and New Zealand. Lucy Lawless and XWP was mentioned in passing as the spawn of HTLJ. EXCERPT: THE blockbuster action series that has topped America's syndicated television ratings, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV3, 8.30pm, Monday), kicks off with a special pilot, before moving to a regular Friday-night spot. Kevin Sorbo plays Hercules, the son of Zeus, who with faithful sidekick Iolaus (Kiwi actor Michael Hurst) travels a mythical world fighting evil gods, slaying dragons and righting wrongs. Hercules' myth-land of snow-capped mountains and beautiful beaches will be familiar to viewers -- the series was shot in New Zealand, with a mainly Kiwi cast and crew. Filming began three years ago with the making of four Hercules movies, which spawned the series. Executive producer Eric Gruendemann says a Good Morning America special on Australia and New Zealand prompted his interest in filming the series in New Zealand. He saw the special just before he was assigned to find a location and was impressed by New Zealand's beauty. "We were looking for a primordial-looking, beautiful land with lush ferns and waterfalls." The healthy exchange rate also helped, as did the technical expertise of New Zealand's film industry. Gruendemann was also impressed by the abundance of acting talent, as well as "good old Kiwi ingenuity". "Sometimes we want to do the impossible and the crew always come up with a way to do it -- it must be due to that magical No 8 wire I keep hearing so much about." The series has a distinctly New Zealand flavour with Kiwi slang creeping in to the dialogue. The pilot episode features Shortland Street's Elizabeth Hawthorne as Hercules' mother, and Cover Story's Mick Rose as Lycus, a farmer trying to prevent the men in his village from being turned to stone by a she-demon. Hercules' world is shattered when the evil Hera, his scheming stepmother, wipes out his wife and children in a huge ball of fire. Enraged, he sets off on a path of destruction, but along the way saves the life of a young woman who persuades him to put aside his plans for revenge and help Lycus. The series has made Sorbo -- best known in New Zealand for his "this ain't Jim Beam" television commercial -- and Hurst household names in America, with a line of action dolls on the shelves there, and set for release in New Zealand this year. It has also spawned a hit spin-off series, Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Auckland actress Lucy Lawless. [149.5] 01-28-96 THE SUNDAY NEWS. Page 31. 370 words. "Legendary stuff" COMMENTARY: In a review of HTLJ, where it is called the Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid of ancient Greece, a brief mention was made to XWP as a spin-off of HTLJ. REPRINT: Hercules is really Butch gone Greek Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ride again, but this time their frontier is ancient Greece, they have swords instead of six-guns, and two-headed monsters -- not town marshals -- are the enemy. Strange but true. The premise of TV3's filmed-in-New Zealand series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, which premieres tomorrow night, owes as much to Butch and the Kid as it does Greek mythology. Says co-executive producer Robert Tapert: "We wanted to do a Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid version of Hercules with monsters, special effects and contemporary dialogue. "There are no gods in robes and no guys in togas. We brought humour and a Butch and Sundance mentality to the project to make it accessible and relevant -- and it worked." The series bowed this time last year in the United States and quickly pushed aside Baywatch to become the second highest-rating drama on syndicated TV. Already it's spawned a sequel, Xena: Warrior Princess, and has prompted the producers of Baywatch to create their own fantasy-action hour based on Arabian Nights sailor, Sinbad. Crucial to success has been star Kevin Sorbo, a hunk-for-hire whom Newsweek described as "buff without being steroidal" and whose azure eyes "(hint) at a brain and a sly sense of humour". But it's not just a one-man show. Chop-socky action, scantily-clad damsels, corny humour, goofy dudespeak and spiffing special effects also have helped to make Hercules "absurdly popular and supremely silly". Contributing to its appeal here will be the local locations and actors. Shooting in Auckland not only kept the budget low but provided the heroics with an exotic backdrop that hasn't been seen on US television. Also distinguishing the show is some colloquial colour. Says co-executive producer Eric Gruendemann: "Certain features of Kiwi slang have crept into the dialogue and we've had some Polynesian-based looks for several episodes. "We like to pollinate the show with some Kiwiana." What next -- G'dday Zeus? [149.6] 01-28-96 THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland). Page 29. 542 words. "He's an Herculean Joker" By Louisa Cleave COMMENTARY: In an article about the manufacturer of the foam plastic (Mackay) used by HTLJ, the graphic is of Lucy Lawless as Xena with the caption: "BODICE RIPPER: Lucy Lawless as Xena in Hercules." REPRINT: The top rating US show is made here and stars Jim Beam ad man Kevin Sorbo from America as Hercules and Kiwi actor Michael Hurst as Hercules' faithful side-kick Iolaus. Hurst also starred in New Zealand feature film Desperate Remedies, another production Mackay worked on. Tomorrow's pilot of Hercules starts with the legendary strong man setting out to avenge the murders of his wife and children. The heroes will be fighting the good fight using gear Mackay (28) helped make using industrial foam plastic, a fertile imagination and plenty of ingenuity. The foam, used for Amazon masks and suits of armour, replaces the heavier fibreglass and papier-mache used in other productions. "It's a bit of a secret my friend Matt (Bylett) and another designer came up with," Mackay said. "Usually fibreglass or papier-mache would be used, but that is time-consuming and heavy for the actors. "The foam enabled us to make 30 or 40 Amazon woman masks in one morning and the actors thought they were great to wear." Mackay again used his favourite foam plastic for Sky City casino's chip, dice and joker outfits. The bright and unorthodox get-ups feature large cod pieces which are becoming a Mackay trade-mark. They also featured in his 1994 Wearable Art Award entries. "I find they get a giggle out of people who find them a bit naughty," Mackay told Sunday News. His entry in the contest was called "Spike" and featured a cod piece with handle bars and wing mirrors. He's won twice at the Nelson awards, with a solo entry in 1993 and with Bylett last year. Mackay can sometimes be found rummaging through Auckland factory yards for materials to create his outrageous outfits. "I like to make things that are humorous. I always like to push things to get a reaction." His 1993 Wearable Arts winner "Sunyama" -- an orange creation of number eight wire, plumbing insulation and the industrial foam plastic -- was completed in a week. It's a long way from the 10m crocodile he made to lay across the stage for a capping show at the Dunedin School of Fine Arts in 1989. After completing a diploma in Fine Arts and a brief stint in theatrical lighting in Wellington, Mackay went on to a design career in television -- advertisements at first -- short films, music videos then feature films. As well as Desperate Remedies, he worked on Once Were Warriors and the yet-to-be released Broken English. Next week he starts work as art director on a feature film called The Ugly. Mackay started working with leather costumes during filming of Once Were Warriors -- he worked on the Toa gang costumes. The experience helped with Hercules. "We made lovely costumes with russet leather. It is moulded wet then turns very hard when it's dry." Mackay also ran the Hercules prop room for a year, providing carts, wagons, spears and boomerangs to the cast. "The amazing thing about Hercules is they had a big resource of people. There was an air of creating something that hadn't been done in New Zealand before." After tomorrow's two-hour premiere, Hercules will screen on Fridays at 8.30pm. The Auckland casino opens to the public on Friday. GRAPHIC: "BODICE RIPPER: Lucy Lawless as Xena in Hercules." [149.7] 01-28-96 THE SUNDAY STAR-TIMES (Auckland). Page 13. 823 words. "Dame Malvina: A star rises again" By Mark Henderson COMMENTARY: Performance notice about Grant Bridger, who played Sinteres in THE ROYAL COUPLE OF THIEVES (#17) EXCERPT: ...Other concert highlights include performances by multi-talented Grant Bridger, pianist Henry Wong Doe, and cellist David Garner. Bridger is familiar to New Zealand audiences through his many appearances in theatre, film and television, as well as his frequent concert work. He has recently completed a gruelling 15-month stint in Jesus Christ Superstar, performing eight shows a week in New Zealand and Australia. Bridger could also become a known face in America after his role in a new episode of Xena -- Warrior Princess which is rating high in the US.... [219.8] 04-01-96 TELEVISION BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL. April 1996. Page 114. 1667 words. "Children's Programming at MIPTV" COMMENTARY: XWP hawked as children's programming. The correct number of episodes for the first season were reported. EXCERPT: ...MCA TV International has 24 one-hour episodes of the live-action children's series Xena: Warrior Princess... ----------- ANNOTATIONS ----------- [266] 05-02-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Baylife. Page 1. 1277 words. "Couch spud unplugged; The Tribune's TV critic takes National TV-Turnoff Week to heart. The good news is he's recovering nicely, thank You." By Walt Belcher COMMENTARY: XWP was mentioned on a list of shows the writer would have enjoyed watching, but missed while participating in National TV-Turnoff Week. EXCERPT: Giving up TV for a week should be a snap. If you've watched as much television as I have, it would seem like a vacation. Even though I usually scoff at stunts such as National TV-Turnoff Week, I thought I'd try it because I hadn't gone a week without TV since I went off to summer camp in 1958. The week, which began April 24 and ended Tuesday, coincided with the first week of the May sweeps - a real test of courage organized by a group called TV-Free America.... ...Day 5: lists. Enough, already! I've started a list of the things I would have enjoyed watching:... ...- "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," which manages to mix cleavage, biceps and action with tongue-in-cheek humor. - "Xena: Princess Warrior" (see above)... [267] 05-02-96 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 408 words. "MCA's dynamic duo goes int'l 'Hercules' and 'Xena' wrap up virtually every major market" By Steve Brennan COMMENTARY: Citing the "runaway domestic success" of XWP, the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reported that MCA had sold the series to "virtually every major international market." Apparently, this was "something of a surprise for the company" since XWP and HTLJ was "developed almost exclusively with the domestic market in mind". The shows have "turned out to be the best overseas sellers for MCA TV since MIAMI VICE." The only major market not shorn up was the Japanese. REPRINT: Capitalizing on the runaway domestic success of its two action hours "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," MCA TV has locked down sales in virtually every major international market for the duo, according to Jim McNamara, president of worldwide television distribution. Announcing a slew of clearances in Europe, Asia and South America for the stablemate actioners, McNamara said the sales have come as something of a surprise for the company. "They were developed almost exclusively with the domestic market in mind," McNamara said. "But they turned out to be the best overseas sellers for MCA TV since 'Miami Vice."' Most international broadcasters have bought both shows. Among the big European buyers are Germany's RTL and France's TF1. RTL is airing "Hercules" in a very desirable early evening slot and "the numbers are going through the roof," McNamara said. TF1 plans to air "Hercules" in a Sunday afternoon slot in a bid to attract large numbers of viewers in the 12-34 demographic. Sky Television in the United Kingdom has also bought the weekly action shows as has Berlusconi in Italy and Holland's RTL 4. In the South American market, Chile's C7 and Telemundo in Puerto Rico have also acquired the hours. Among the buyers in the Asian territory are ATV in the Philippines and TV3 in New Zealand. The tough Japanese market has still not been closed, but McNamara said he anticipated closing "a major deal" there within weeks. "We have sold in basically every major market," McNamara said. "The international acceptance for 'Hercules' and 'Xena' is far greater out of the box than it was for 'Star Trek.' We have created a contemporary show in attitude and with a twinkle-in-the-eye approach to the subject matter and dressed it up in mythological costumes and setting and story lines, all of which has a very broad appeal internationally." McNamara added, "If you look at the success around the world of U.S. shows you'll find that generally speaking they are programs that bucked the trend and this is what these shows have done." [268] NOTE: Production charts for 05/96. [268a] 05-02-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 10. 5866 words. "Production Chart Key" COMMENTARY: Production chart for 05/02/96 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/Renassiance Pictures) EXP, Robert Tapert, Sam Raimi; COEXP, R.J. Stewart; SUPR PROD, Steven Sears; PROD, Eric Gruendemann; COPROD, Liz Friedman; CASTING, Beth Hymson-Ayer... [268b] 05-09-96 DAILY VARIETY. 5879 words. "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Same information as XMR268a. [268c] 05-16-96 DAILY VARIETY. 6036 words. "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Same information as XMR268a. [268d] 05-23-96 DAILY VARIETY. 6036 words. "TV and Cable Production Chart" COMMENTARY: Same information as XMR268a. [269] 05-03-96 THE COURIER-JOURNAL. Page 01C. 1014 words. "Mythical beasts and god-like heroes attract a following" By Kevin Baker. COMMENTARY: Describing Xena as having "the strength of 10 men, the body of an Amazon and the wardrobe of Madonna," the author continued with a reference to the episode ALTARED STATES, in this local promo for XWP and HLJ. The reviewer also noted that "The tongue-in-cheek humor keeps the shows comfortably between corny and clever. And the imaginative stories are solid" immediately after comparing it to ULTRAMAN. He concluded that XWP and HTLJ were "no-brainers". What makes this otherwise non-outstanding promo so unusual is that it apparently was written for no direct purpose other than the author rambling on. Customarily this only happens when the author is a hardcore nutball themselves. Mr. Baker has obviously watched the show, but he still is too irreverent to be numbered among the ranks of reviewers "in the know". He represents the breed which are obviously attracted to the show, but they have not made the leap of consciousness where they realize there is more to this show that the silly humor and bizarre approach to chronology. This article also has the notoriety of having the most misspellings of an article thus encountered: Alemene, Iolas, and Zena being my personal favorites. REPRINT: The TV gods must be smiling. Weekend viewing takes on mythic proportion with two syndicated giants, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." The two series follow the adventures of their scantily clad, sinewy heroes in a land of magical beasts, ignorant mortals and fickle gods. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" is on at 8 p.m. tomorrow and "Xena: Warrior Princess" follows at 9 on WAN. Watch different episodes on WFTE-58, with "Xena" at 5 p.m. Sunday and "Hercules" at 6. In the first, Kevin Sorbo plays Hercules, the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and the mortal beauty Alemene. He's equal parts muscle and marshmallow - a sensitive strongman. He battles brutes, gods and monsters to protect the weak and the virtuous. His enemies include centaurs, cyclops, giants and his beastly stepmother, Hera, queen of the gods, who sees Hercules as a constant reminder of Zeus' infidelity. He once saved his sidekick, Iolas (Michael Hurst), from execution. He rescued the daughter of the goddess Demeter from the Underworld. He braved a lynch mob bent on destroying Deric the Centaur. Hercules tries to settle his scores peaceably but his unruly nemeses unfailingly incite him. He's just defending himself with those powerful blows, kicks and slams. It's Bruce Lee meets Batman in these campy fight scenes from Hades. In the second series, Xena (Lucy Lawless) has mastered a similar repertoire of Power Rangers maneuvers. She can cartwheel her way through a mob of savages. She has the strength of 10 men, the body of an Amazon and the wardrobe of Madonna. Xena was introduced in "Hercules" as a warrior bent on destroying the he-man. But when her own army betrayed and defeated her because she saved a baby's life, she underwent a conversion. Now, determined to make amends for her past sins, Xena protects victims from tyranny and injustice. It's best not to cross Xena's path. Last week she clobbered a band of rogues with a whirling line of fish. Normally she breaks out two monstrous swords and kicks barbaric butt. If that doesn't work, she has a Spock-like pinch rendered to pressure points on the neck that she uses to extract information from her unwilling sources. Her sidekick, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), trails Xena to gather exciting material. She's a storyteller and whenever she relates a tale, the details are so vivid, the story comes to life. Computer graphics-imaging techniques, including 3-D animation and digital compositing, as well as prosthetics and makeup, make for enjoyable enemies in both series. The tongue-in-cheek humor keeps the shows comfortably between corny and clever. And the imaginative stories are solid. Youngsters won't mind the amateur acting and filming (remember "Ultraman"?). And these sorts of flaws only add to the series' cult appeal among adults. They're no-brainers. Online hero worshipers can visit "Hercules" and "Zena" on Sony's World Wide Web at http://www.mca.com/tv/hercules and http://www.mca.com/tv/xena.... ...GRAPHIC: Lucy Lawless has the title role in "Xena: Warrior Princess," and Kevin Sorbo stars in "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." =============== CUT HERE ======================== Continued in part 3