Australians Stand Up and Be Counted! - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

august · 11th August 2001, 02:52 PM

I've just discovered in the last couple of days that there are tons of Australians who miss Hercules and Xena, yet don't realize that their very own Ch. 10 is showing the last of the Ren Pics productions, the short-lived "Back 2 Back Action" at 4:00 AM, Friday night/Saturday morning.

Why should they care? Well, it's kinda cool to see what Ren Pics does with a non-mythology setting. The answer: pretty much the same thing! A lot of action, a lot of comedy, a lot of anachronism, a lot of hip wisecracking dialogue, a lot of slapstick, a lot of outta-control camera-work, a lot of Hong Kong-style martial arts, and a lot of scantily clad women (and men!)

The first half of B2B is "Cleopatra 2525," which takes the premise of the old "Amazon High" pilot (which we saw parts of in "Lifeblood" on XWP) and sets it in a "Terminator"-style future where mankind has been driven underground. Jennifer (Amarise) Sky stars along with Vicky (Cyane) Pratt, Gina (Nebula) Torres, and Patrick Kake (who was in virtually every Hercules episode filmed, as Sorbo's stunt double.) Look for everyone from Danielle (Ephiny) Cormack to Joel (Strife, Deimos) Tobeck to guest star.

The second half is "Jack of All Trades" which can be pretty accurately described as "Autolycus dresses up as Zorro." Bruce Campbell plays Bruce Campbell...errr....Jack Stiles, an American spy fighting Napoleon's incursions on the South Sea island of Pulau Pulau. Besides teaming with a breathtaking British spy named Emilia (played by the utterly luscious Angela Dotchin, previously seen as Kora on Young Herc and Nautica the Mermaid on HTLJ) he moonlights as a caped crusader called the Daring Dragoon. Hijinks ensue. Look for more of your favorite NZ performers - everyone from Danielle Cormack again (as a very horse-loving Catherine the Great) to Stuart Devenie (Cernunnos on HTLJ) to Michael Hurst to the little girl who played Gab's daughter Hope. Verne Troyer (Mini-Me from Austin Powers) shows up as...... Napoleon Bonaparte!

So be sure to check it out, and then come join us in the Jack and Cleo sections to discuss!

ewlyn · 11th August 2001, 03:56 PM

August,

Has all of Xena aired there? And, if not, would viewer support of Back 2 Back possibly bring it back if it's been put on hold or something?

~Ewlyn
(who has no idea as she's never been to Australia)

august · 11th August 2001, 04:11 PM

Xena never did as well in Australia or NZ as it did elsewhere. The 6th season has yet to air there, and I think not all of HTLJ did either. Maybe not even all of the 5th season.

B2B is running in both AU and NZ now, so *in theory* it could be revived as a show there, or anywhere else. They're running Cleo as a separate half-hour show by itself in the UK right now, in fact. And Ren Pics shows always do well in Germany and Israel, where I think only the first third of XWP season 6 has run.

Realistically, you'd need the big $$$ that an American company has to fund something like this, though. 3/4 of their programming is American shows already, and locally produced ones (Shortland Street, Home and Away, Neighbors) are often inexpensive family dramas (i.e. normal costumes, normal sets, no special effects, etc.) And you'd need the revenue from world-wide syndication. And since they already *had* that, and it didn't work.... the chances look pretty slim.

Plus - Vicky has a new show now, so she might not be available, and Stuart (Gov. Croque) has already filmed another NZ series, and is booked up with theatre projects. And Angie is surely getting ready for the furor/acclaim that will surround her boyfriend when he appears in the next Star Wars film as Boba Fetts's daddy!

ewlyn · 11th August 2001, 04:27 PM

Yup, I'm watching Cleo in the UK right now.

Neither Xena or Herc have fully aired here. Both have been put on permanent hold (from what I can gather) due to not enough audience.

Kephallinian · 12th August 2001, 01:25 AM

As far as I know, Back to Back Action was long gone here in Canada!, I did watch them from time to time it's quite entertaining. I thought the plot in Cleo was just getting interesting, then it was off air. I don't think it's because they don't have enough audience....it's prabably just business!
Anyway, glad I didn't miss any Xena episodes.
Hope you guys get all of them...I'll cross my fingers for ya.
Keph.

ewlyn · 13th August 2001, 08:40 AM

Hey Keph!

I have all my Xena eps on tape. I'm really American so I have a good support network back home which was taping and mailing them to me as they aired there.

wikiberry · 13th August 2001, 01:34 PM

lucky you...

ewlyn · 13th August 2001, 02:21 PM

wikiberry ~

You're in the UK also, right? They just started showing season 3 on channel 5 at 10am each morn, Monday - Friday. You could always set your VCR if you want to start your own little collection.

wikiberry · 14th August 2001, 02:38 PM

really?
i didn't know that...

i usually am too busy in the morning
ESPECIALLY during the holiday!!!
sleep sleep sleep that's all i do...

no actually i eat a lot too...

i can't believe i didn't know xena was on!
will set the vcr NOW!!!

11th August 2001, 02:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
august Nymphet Connoisseur Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the deep south, home of Hootie, Strom Thurmond, Vanna White and Donna Rice! Posts: 206	Australians Stand Up and Be Counted! I've just discovered in the last couple of days that there are tons of Australians who miss Hercules and Xena, yet don't realize that their very own Ch. 10 is showing the last of the Ren Pics productions, the short-lived "Back 2 Back Action" at 4:00 AM, Friday night/Saturday morning. Why should they care? Well, it's kinda cool to see what Ren Pics does with a non-mythology setting. The answer: pretty much the same thing! A lot of action, a lot of comedy, a lot of anachronism, a lot of hip wisecracking dialogue, a lot of slapstick, a lot of outta-control camera-work, a lot of Hong Kong-style martial arts, and a lot of scantily clad women (and men!) The first half of B2B is "Cleopatra 2525," which takes the premise of the old "Amazon High" pilot (which we saw parts of in "Lifeblood" on XWP) and sets it in a "Terminator"-style future where mankind has been driven underground. Jennifer (Amarise) Sky stars along with Vicky (Cyane) Pratt, Gina (Nebula) Torres, and Patrick Kake (who was in virtually every Hercules episode filmed, as Sorbo's stunt double.) Look for everyone from Danielle (Ephiny) Cormack to Joel (Strife, Deimos) Tobeck to guest star. The second half is "Jack of All Trades" which can be pretty accurately described as "Autolycus dresses up as Zorro." Bruce Campbell plays Bruce Campbell...errr....Jack Stiles, an American spy fighting Napoleon's incursions on the South Sea island of Pulau Pulau. Besides teaming with a breathtaking British spy named Emilia (played by the utterly luscious Angela Dotchin, previously seen as Kora on Young Herc and Nautica the Mermaid on HTLJ) he moonlights as a caped crusader called the Daring Dragoon. Hijinks ensue. Look for more of your favorite NZ performers - everyone from Danielle Cormack again (as a very horse-loving Catherine the Great) to Stuart Devenie (Cernunnos on HTLJ) to Michael Hurst to the little girl who played Gab's daughter Hope. Verne Troyer (Mini-Me from Austin Powers) shows up as...... Napoleon Bonaparte! So be sure to check it out, and then come join us in the Jack and Cleo sections to discuss!

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11th August 2001, 03:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
ewlyn Proud Ringer & HCNB Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ascot, England Posts: 498	August, Has all of Xena aired there? And, if not, would viewer support of Back 2 Back possibly bring it back if it's been put on hold or something? ~Ewlyn (who has no idea as she's never been to Australia)

11th August 2001, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
august Nymphet Connoisseur Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the deep south, home of Hootie, Strom Thurmond, Vanna White and Donna Rice! Posts: 206	Xena never did as well in Australia or NZ as it did elsewhere. The 6th season has yet to air there, and I think not all of HTLJ did either. Maybe not even all of the 5th season. B2B is running in both AU and NZ now, so in theory it could be revived as a show there, or anywhere else. They're running Cleo as a separate half-hour show by itself in the UK right now, in fact. And Ren Pics shows always do well in Germany and Israel, where I think only the first third of XWP season 6 has run. Realistically, you'd need the big $$$ that an American company has to fund something like this, though. 3/4 of their programming is American shows already, and locally produced ones (Shortland Street, Home and Away, Neighbors) are often inexpensive family dramas (i.e. normal costumes, normal sets, no special effects, etc.) And you'd need the revenue from world-wide syndication. And since they already had that, and it didn't work.... the chances look pretty slim. Plus - Vicky has a new show now, so she might not be available, and Stuart (Gov. Croque) has already filmed another NZ series, and is booked up with theatre projects. And Angie is surely getting ready for the furor/acclaim that will surround her boyfriend when he appears in the next Star Wars film as Boba Fetts's daddy!

11th August 2001, 04:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
ewlyn Proud Ringer & HCNB Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ascot, England Posts: 498	Yup, I'm watching Cleo in the UK right now. Neither Xena or Herc have fully aired here. Both have been put on permanent hold (from what I can gather) due to not enough audience.

12th August 2001, 01:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kephallinian Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 68	As far as I know, Back to Back Action was long gone here in Canada!, I did watch them from time to time it's quite entertaining. I thought the plot in Cleo was just getting interesting, then it was off air. I don't think it's because they don't have enough audience....it's prabably just business! Anyway, glad I didn't miss any Xena episodes. Hope you guys get all of them...I'll cross my fingers for ya. Keph.

13th August 2001, 08:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
ewlyn Proud Ringer & HCNB Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ascot, England Posts: 498	Hey Keph! I have all my Xena eps on tape. I'm really American so I have a good support network back home which was taping and mailing them to me as they aired there.

13th August 2001, 01:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
wikiberry DOYLE! and HARPER!!! Join Date: May 2001 Location: uk Posts: 858	lucky you...

13th August 2001, 02:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
ewlyn Proud Ringer & HCNB Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ascot, England Posts: 498	wikiberry ~ You're in the UK also, right? They just started showing season 3 on channel 5 at 10am each morn, Monday - Friday. You could always set your VCR if you want to start your own little collection.

14th August 2001, 02:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
wikiberry DOYLE! and HARPER!!! Join Date: May 2001 Location: uk Posts: 858	really? i didn't know that... i usually am too busy in the morning ESPECIALLY during the holiday!!! sleep sleep sleep that's all i do... no actually i eat a lot too... i can't believe i didn't know xena was on! will set the vcr NOW!!!