The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
24 November 1997What hath `Xena' wrought?: Hero worship, for one thing. Also, a host of campy imitators hoping to: share a demographically rich audience
Ralf Moeller is no barbarian, except on TV. The German-born ex-Mr. Universe is the star of "Conan," the latest in a slew of sword-and-sandal television series to follow in the wake of popular vamp goddess "Xena: Warrior Princess." They are sidestepping the big networks to become tongue-in-cheeky hits on cable and in syndication. "My Conan brings beef to television," says Moeller of the role made famous by his pumping-iron idol Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1985 film "Conan the Barbarian.""I play him as a heroic guy who is not only destroying things but is also concerned about his buddies. I want kids to see that a strong guy is not always in control." But these fantasy-adventure series aren't just for the traditional Saturday morning cereal-and-cartoon crowd. Industry analysts say the shows are unique because instead of "narrowcasting" audiences, they appeal to a demographic smorgasbord of kids, teens, young adults and even wistful middle-age viewers whose pecs and glutes aren't what ---or where - --they used to be. "I think it's just such a natural thing, the old story of good triumphing over evil," says Lanie Richberger, a TV programming consultant for Seltel in New York.
"People don't just grow up and forget those fantasies. It's mind candy and it's fun." In addition to durable sci-fi franchises like "Star Trek" that have spawned syndicated clones, every week at least a half-dozen fantasy heroes ---and sheroes ---do battle with computer-generated monsters and evil wizards dressed like Renaissance Festival rejects.
This season, relative newcomers "Conan" and "The Adventures of Sinbad" have joined TNT's "The New Adventures of Robin Hood," "Highlander" and the mega-popular prime-time fantasy two-fer "Xena" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" as members of TV's babe-and-beefcake epics.
"The networks wouldn't do these shows except under conditions that we would bristle at," says Rob Tapert, executive producer of "Xena" and "Hercules."
"The networks have three rules: no killing kids, no killing mothers in the teasers and no sex stuff. I'm proud to say we have broken all three."
More like smashed them in the case of "Xena." The show is a pop culture phenomenon whose zealous fans attend Xena-cons, buy her action figures and imitate her ear-splitting battle cry: "Yi-yi-yi-yi-yi! " And long before Ellen DeGeneres admitted her homosexuality on her ABC sitcom, Xena and her constant companion Gabrielle were tickling fans with not-so-subtle hints that they are romantically involved.
Dozens of unofficial "Xena" Web sites are devoted to the painstaking dissection of the sexual "subtext" in each episode. "We would never say Xena or Gabby is gay," says Tapert, who recently got engaged to series star Lucy Lawless. "But we are going to milk it for some ---if not all ---of what it's worth. The show isn't about sex, it's about love between two women who are the best of friends. The grown- ups get the subtext, but it goes right over the kids' heads."
Contributing to the shows' bottom lines is the fact that they are filmed in countries such as Mexico ("Conan"), Lithuania ("Robin Hood" ), South Africa ("Sinbad") and New Zealand ("Xena" and "Hercules"), locales that offer exotic scenery and plenty of non-union labor. "It's cheaper to shoot in Mexico than in Hollywood," says Max Keller, who produces "Conan" with wife Micheline. "The currency here is worth about a third less (than the U.S.) so we can take advantage of that." He says "Conan" costs about $1 million per episode; it would be another $300,000 if shot in the United States.
Although the shows are set in fantasyland, they are brimming with unmistakably '90s sensibilities. Lawless of "Xena" is still the only female lead, but all the shows feature formidable female co-stars. "Conan" claims the diversity jackpot, teaming the he-man with a woman, an African-American, a little person and a mute. Barbara Griffin, the Irish actress who plays "Robin Hood's" swashbuckling Marian, says her character is no longer a swooning damsel in distress. "I watched Robin Hood movies when I was younger, and at the time I was happy with (Maid Marian)," she says. "But now I have her picking up swords and having a go at it. She's not better than the lads, she' s just seen as equal."
Most of the shows are played strictly for camp ---a recent episode of "Hercules" had the demigod entering an ancient "Saturday Night Fever"-esque contest against a dark-haired hoofer named Travoltus. But the frequent battle scenes can be gory: "Xena's" latest season opener showed her mounting her enemies' heads on spikes.
A 1996 UCLA study of television violence found that "a much higher percentage" of syndicated shows contained more intense scenes of graphic violence than their network counterparts. That doesn't bother Elizabeth Baldwin, 28, of Marietta, who says blood and guts is not what has made her a full-fledged "Xenite." "Here's this 6-foot-tall chick who doesn't look like anybody else on TV and she's holding her own," says Baldwin, who is planning a small shrine to Xena in her apartment. "I know it's goofy, but everybody needs to totally escape sometimes. Even when we grow up, we still have to have our Barbies and G.I. Joes. We still have to have a toy."
Chart:
"XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS"
STAR: Lucy Lawless.
FAVORITE ENSEMBLE: Heavy metal bustier, leather corset.
Favorite weapon: Chakram, a razor-sharp Frisbee.
FAVORITE SIDEKICK: Plucky, sexually ambiguous girlfriend Gabrielle.
EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE: Dissed by mom, needs anger management classes.
SHOWTIME: 9 p.m. Sundays on WUPA; 3 p.m. Saturdays on WGN.