Tuesday, July 11, 2000

• Yes, I'm back from the abyss... oh, come on... the fresh air is too lovely to resist...but I do have a sh*t load of new things to report... aren't you the lucky one! First, the visual element of our update.

  

  Check out Gabrielle's sixth season outfit. And you thought her outfit couldn't get any more revealing. The pic is from Heart of Darkness. Courtesy of Creation Entertainment. Man, if this show last 'til season eight, Gabrielle's outfit will be made of dental floss (oh, why what an image...)

• And since we are stealing info from Creation Entertainment, might as well bleed them dry. Here's all their exciting info for sixth season:
  

  Heart Of Darkness written by Emily Skopov

  Who's Gurkhan story by Rob Tapert, written by R.J. Stewart
  Lila tells Gabrielle the fate of family members which leads her and Xena to North Africa on a trail of vengeance.

  The Haunting Of Amphipolis story by Edithe Swensen and Joel Metzger, teleplay by Joel Metzger
  Lucy mentioned I should ask Renee about the pureed asparagus! (Something tells me Gabrielle is going to get SLIMED!!!)

  Legacy written by Melissa Good
  This episode sure made for some beautiful photos. And if you wanna see some of these beautiful pictures courtesy of Missy Good. Go to http://www.ausxip.com/news/season6/legacy.html

  The Abyss written by James Kahn
  Rob said I should brush up on my Beowulf and "The Ring" saga for the next three episodes. Actually, he said I could read the comic book version of "The Ring."

  The Rhinegold written by R.J. Stewart

  The Ring written by Joel Metzger

  Return Of The Valkyrie written by Emily Skopov

  Coming Home written by Melissa Good

  Send In The Clones written by Paul Robert Coyle
  This is a clip show. And according to Whoosh, it will be directed by Renee O'Connor.

  Under the Sweltering Sun no info yet.

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Monday, June 5, 2000

• From Josh Becker's Site:
  When asked (again) why he wouldn't be doing anymore Xena or RenPic stuff, his response:" The reason I got was that they were exclusively using New Zealand directors from now on, as they cost half as much money and don't get residuals. However, the first two directors up on Xena were both American. I asked Rob Tapert about this and he said that there would be no comedies this season, and if they're only doing serious ones, then I'm probably not the guy for the job."
  Okay, NO COMEDIES! We'll just see about that one!
• From Sharon Delaney:
  "Who's Gurkhan." I recently spent 9 days on set in New Zealand filming every aspect of the making of this episode. It covers the first readthrough of the script; early morning makeup sessions and porridge; wardrobe; props; set design; the choreographer teaching the actors dance routines; filming on board Rob's Folly (that ship with the ubiquitous eye that has, sadly, been painted over); Tilly, Barbie, Mac and Zulu (who he?? wait and see ); Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee, and Willa O'Neill (guesting on this episode); a prosthetic eye and blood in a dixie cup; harem girls and Turkish baths; pseudo North African body decoration and Gabrielle painting by the numbers (painting who? hmmm); exotic costumes; an Amazon village, Poteidaia and a strangely haunted Amphipolis; an incredible rainstorm; Renee kicking the stuffing out of a poor defenseless pillow; Mama Lucy and her bags of chips; and, reigning over all -- Michael Hurst as director. Michael is a wonder to behold -- especially on "frock" day!

  There are also interviews with Lucy, Renee, Michael, Rob Tapert and Eric Gruendemann.

  Renaissance gave us total access to every department and every moment of filming. It was warm, wonderful and exciting. The amount of work and the efficiency with which it is done is mind-boggling. There were cameras perched on ladders towering over my head, a focus puller in 6-inch platform heels, early morning fog pocketing the valleys of New Zealand -- andthrough it all, the heart of the show -- Lucy and Renee at work and at play.

  A few comments:
  1. You have to give it to Creation, they are always finding inventive ways to take your money.
  2. ZULU, ah...couldn't they think of a MORE original name?
  3. WILLA O'NEILL!!! I'm GLAD about this one. I hope they address the family issue...considering we are in the future.
  4. Hmm... part of the rumored North Africa Trilogy.

• And finally, there are new episode names to report. Drum roll please....

  Heart of Darkness
  The Abyss
  Who's Gurkhan
  Legacy
  The Haunting of Amphipolis
  The Rhinegold
  The Ring
  

  1. The last two listed are part of part of the Ring Cycle from Wagner's operas. Brunhilda is reportedly a character. (I get flashes of Bugs Bunny in breast armor, don't ask me why! KILL THE WABBIT...)

  2. The Haunting of Amphipolis... ah, Cyrene? Hmmm...

  3. The Abyss.. Xena and water episodes never really mix... I hope we are not going to an underwater station where aliens that look like water communicate with our heroines.

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Wednesday May 24, 2000

• RJ Stewart attended Feminism Conference recently at the University of Southern California and let the beans spill on some up coming Xena story lines and a few interesting tidbits on fifth season. For a complete wrap up of these events, go to http://extra.newsguy.com/features/heroines.htm :
• RJ revealed we are DONE with the Christianity story arc. Instead, we will see storylines on the Norse Gods. Including a three-part arc which "where Xena and Gabrielle will be physically separated and dealing with their emotional loss."
• Alti WILL BE BACK!!! The woman has more lives than a cat!
• Virgil WILL NOT be a love-interest for Gabrielle. Although he will show up from time to time, it will be more of a mentoring relationship.
• RJ also revealed the episode that became Lyre, Lyre originally involved Sappho. They were going to tell her story through song. Hmm...no wonder the song "Sisters are Doin' It" was in that episode.
• For those of you wondering WHY IN THE HELL we heard the song Carnival by Natalie Merchant in Looking Death in the Eye, RJ explained "that frequently the editor puts down a temp music track after he edits the picture and before Joe Lo Duca completes his scoring. They liked Natalie Merchant's song so much on the temp track that they decided to use it for the final." I just hope we don't ever hear "Nookie" in an episode 'cause it sounded good during editing.
• And two little tidbits on MOTHERHOOD:
  1. There was a kissing scene cut from the episode. Ares and Xena were supposed to lock lips after Ares heals Gabby and Eve! RJ would have preferred they left it in.
  2. The reason WHY Xena Cut Gabrielle's Head open was because she knew the Furies were tormenting her (don't ask how!). According to a post on Xenaverse:

  "Explanation: Xena knew The Furies were inside Gabrielle's head. They had planned this scene with a lot of special effects: the chakram would hit Gab's head and we would see the furies leaving Gab's head. But due to budgetary/time constraints they couldn't put the FX in..and we were left with Xena chakraming her best friend for no apparent reason... (that is, no explanation why Xena couldn't use something else to stop Gabrielle)"

  
  Hmmm...I STILL don't like it!!

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Monday, May 8, 2000

• Some interesting info has been circulating regarding the sixth and, most likely, the last season of Xena. For one... the 25 year leap folks... WILL BE PERMANENT...there is no going home and no going back (which if you ask me takes a lot of balls!).
• It has also been rumored the Eve/Livia will be sticking around for awhile as well as Joxer's son, Virgil. And there has been talk of a possible romantic pairing between the two...which is a little weird if you ask me, considering Eve/Livia kills Joxer in the episode EVE...would you date someone who killed a parent...hmmm...
• As reported earlier, Melissa Good (fan fiction writer worshipped by thousands) has penned an episode of Xena called Legacy. It is a Xena script and not a DAR/KERRY thing, so if you were expecting Uber-Love, you will be disappointed.
• A script for sixth season has been floating around ebay... entitled Heart of Darkness...this script involves Lucifer... hmmm...
• Something tells me that we will be exploring Catholicism in this last season of Xena. John the Baptist is reportedly a character in the season finale. Could an appearance by Jesus be far behind?
• And speaking of MOTHERHOOD, everyone here at AB is scratching their head over the appearance of Hope in this episode. Why is she there? How is she alive? Why isn't she dead? Something tells me Robert Tapert is going to ruin my summer for the third year in a row!

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• Episode 22
  (airing week of May 15, 2000)
  Motherhood (previously titled Twilight Of The Gods)
  With the lives of Gabrielle and Eve hanging in the balance, Xena faces the gods in a final showdown.
  CAST:
  XENA -- LUCY LAWLESS
  GABRIELLE/HOPE -- RENEE O'CONNOR
  JOXER -- TED RAIMI
  ARES -- KEVIN SMITH
  APHRODITE -- ALEXANDRA TYDINGS
  EVE -- ADRIENNE WILKINSON
  VIRGIL -- WILLIAM GREGORY LEE
  ATHENA -- PARIS JEFFERSON
  DISCORD -- MEIGHAN DESMOND
  HADES -- STEPHEN LOVATT
  HEPHAESTUS -- JULIAN GARNER
  DEMIOS -- JOEL TOBECK
  ARTEMIS -- JOSEPHINE DAVISON
  ALECTO -- ASA LINDH
  SHEPHERD -- DIANA ROWAN
  BAPTIST -- JON BRAZIER
  TISIPHONE -- ANNMARIE DENNIS
  CULLAR -- SIAOSI FONUA
  POSEIDON -- TALL WATER SPOUT (grin)
  STORY BY ROB TAPERT
  TELEPLAY BY R.J. STEWART
  DIRECTED BY RICK JACOBSON
  

  Episode 21
  (airing week of May 8, 2000)
  Eve
  Xena must decide whether she can kill her own daughter (Adrienne Wilkinson), who continues her murderous campaign to eliminate Eli's followers.
  CAST:
  JOXER -- TED RAIMI
  ARES -- KEVIN SMITH
  LIVIA -- ADRIENNE WILKINSON
  VIRGIL -- WILLIAM GREGORY LEE
  YOUNG VILLAGER -- BRENDAN YOUNG
  WRITTEN BY GEORGE STRAYTON & TOM O'NEILL
  CURRENT REVISIONS BY CHRIS MANHEIM
  DIRECTED BY MARK BEESLEY
  

  Episode 20
  (airing week of May 1, 2000)
  Livia
  After 25 years, Xena and Gabrielle finally escape their tombs of ice and immediately go in search of Eve.
  CAST:
  XENA/MEG -- LUCY LAWLESS
  GABRIELLE -- RENEE O'CONNOR
  JOXER -- TED RAIMI
  ARES -- KEVIN SMITH LIVIA -- ADRIENNE WILKINSON
  VIRGIL -- WILLIAM GREGORY LEE
  AUGUSTUS -- COLIN MOY
  KARA -- KATE SMEDA
  THEON -- MICHAEL LANGLEY
  WRITTEN BY CHRIS MANHEIM
  DIRECTED BY RICK JACOBSON