November 2010 Archives

In May 2008 Lucy went to London for her "Bad Girls in Heaven" concerts (lucky brits) and she also went to entertain the fans at a Xena convention.
Some kind soul has posted little snippets of Lucy during the convention. I don't believe this was taped by Creation, which was unfortunate.
Click here to watch the convention snippets
(News submitted by Adi)

Lucy's Bad Girls in Heaven concerts were, according to all present and those who have seen the clips, one of her best performances.

You can check out the clips, photos and read the reports on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Bad Girls in Heaven page

Creation Entertainment wasn't able to tape these shows to put them on DVD which is most unfortunate.

Miss Starbuck has sent in another beautiful artwork of Lucretia. Click here to view

You can also see more of Miss Starbuck's Lucretia artwork here

It seems there is something called Black Friday in the US after thanksgiving where there are mega sales and Amazon.com is having their own sale. They have reduced prices for the Spartacus Season 1 DVD & Blu Ray!

Season 1 Soundtrack is only $9.99!

Season 1 Blu-Ray is only $34.99

Season 1 DVD is only $32.99

Canadian fans are to see the premiere of GotA on 23 January 2011 according to Channel Canada for the show

Current GotA Premiere Schedule:

USA - 21 January 2011
Canada - 23 January 2011
Australia - ??/2011 (GO! has announced it's picked up the show for 2011 - exact date not known yet)

Reported by MaryD / Barbara Davies

Xena has made it to number 35 in the Sci-Fi online list of the top 100 Sci-Fi/fantasy shows of the last 60 years. Not sure if I agree with what the best episodes were (the comedies) but it's a good writeup. Xena did pave the way for Buffy and the others. There hasn't been another show like it since.

The 100 Greatest Sci-Fi & Fantasy TV Shows

35) Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)

A spin-off from Hercules, villainous Xena became a heroine with her own comedy sidekicks. At its best in the comedy or self-referential episodes (‘The Xena Scrolls’, ‘Déjà Vu All Over Again’) and in its teasing the audience as to the exact nature of Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship, later seasons became a little too serious and it lost its lightness of touch. This fantasy romp paved the way for many late-1990s TV heroines, from Buffy to Alias’s Sydney Bristow.

View the full list

News submitted by Helen

Lucy was invited to speak at the Mt Albert Historical Society where family and friends showed up to support Lucy. The photo was posted in the November newsletter of

Left: Alice Wylie with guest speaker, Lucy Lawless, at the A.G.M. on August 22nd,
2009. We had a marvellous (and unsurprising!) turnout of sixty M.A.H.S members and even a few members of the
public. Lucy’s attendance was mentioned in the October issue
of Next magazine. Click here to for pdf

Lucy's interview with NEXT magazine (read the article and view the pics on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Media) had mentioned the visit:

The sword-wielding, butt-kicking actress had taken time out of her shooting schedule to address the Mt Albert Historical Society AGM. Lucy thought about six people would turn up; instead the hall in her Auckland home suburb was full. And when she looked at the sea of old school and family friends, she knew she was in the right place - for good.

"It was the richest homecoming experience," Lucy says.

Her appearance at the Historical Society's AGM was a favour for the former deputy mayoress of Mt Albert

News submitted by MaryD and Barbara Davies

In January 2009 Lucy simply amazed her fans with The Pleasuredome concerts on 30 and 31 January 2009 at the Roxy in Hollywood.

Having attended both concerts I can say it was INCREDIBLE. Lucy's voice was strong, her performance was outstanding, her energy was unbelievable as she gave her fans two nights to remember. Her singing of my favourite Hallelujah was truly an experience I am going to treasure. Lucy put her heart and soul into these concerts and she did it for her fans.

Creation Entertainment will soon release the DVD of this special event. Watch out for it on www.creationent.com

I created some art based on Lucy's concerts..

You can also view the images and some clips from the concerts on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Pleasuredome music page

Is it January yet? Take a look at behind the scenes of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.

Lots of Lucy and Lucretia sounds like she's a seriously bad girl in this along with Gaia and a host of other cool characters!

The Behind the Scenes video interviews and showcases all the new characters as well.

I'm very pleased to welcome Miss Starbuck to the Spartacus Art Gallery.

Her first three artworks are all of Lucretia!

Click here to view

Klippart has sent in this gorgeous new Lucy as Lucretia artwork called "Exquisitely Wicked"

Click here to view larger image

Check out Klipp's other fantastic artwork in the AUSXIP Spartacus Art Gallery

It's been a Lucy picture hunt today! Check out all these goodies:

Lucy and spencer1024 taken on 21 January 2010 (during Lucy's Spartacus PR juggernaut)





Found on Flickr
Submitted by: Barbara Davies

Lucy Lawless Impromptu photoshoot Comic Con 2009 by edwardehrbar Here are the links to the photos:

Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #4
Photo #5

Submitted by: Adi

Lucy at the Dinah Shore White Party

Click here for photo

Submitted by: Adi

Gods of the Arena has now been added to AUSXIP Spartacus Video channel with the four newly released clips

In Production –...
Gladiator Boot Camp ...
Blood, Lust and Bloo... and Gladiator Boot Camp ...

Click here to view the new Gods of the Arena Video Channel

The following photos were posted on IMDb for the first episode "Past Transgressions" - Click here to view the larger versions

The Hutchins Photo site has a collection Lucy photos taken by Kathy Hutchins from 1997 to 2008. Kathy is also selling these photos - they look pretty sharp.

Click here to view

Starz has released more Episode 1 Past Transgressions Episode stills.
Click here to view them all

A younger Batiatus finds himself newly in control of his father’s gladiator school. He uses his most skilled fighter to win favor with a cunning nobleman behind the building of the new arena.

EW has an exclusive Spartacus trailer and it looks FABULOUS! Here are some screencaptures from it. Click here to view the trailer

Here are just the Lucy / Lucretia caps. For more Lucretia promo images go to: AUSXIP Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Images

Episode #1 - Past Transgressions

A younger Batiatus finds himself newly in control of his father’s gladiator school. He uses his most skilled fighter to win favor with a cunning nobleman behind the building of the new arena. USA - 2011 - NA

View Official Page

Starz has released some pictures to go with the bio for each of the new and old characters and actors:

RETURNING CAST

LUCRETIA

Lucretia is her husband’s foundation, always supportive of his dreams, however wild the direction they threaten to grow. Though conscious of the role she’s expected to play as a proper Roman woman, through the ideas she and her husband cultivate she will discover that when the moment most needs it, she has a true talent for maneuvering the levers of power.

Played by Lucy Lawless
Learn more about Lucy Lawless

Batiatus
Bold and impulsive where his father is restrained and conventional, Batiatus has newly come to inhabit his family’s ludus while his father is away attempting to regain his health. Wishing to seize more for himself and rise beyond his father’s station, Batiatus, with his wife Lucretia ever by his side fueling his ambitions, schemes beyond his reach.


Played by John Hannah
Learn more about John Hannah

Oenomaus
Oenomaus is not far removed from the status of top gladiator at the House of Batiatus, having only recently survived his fight with the legendary Theokoles. He longs to return to the sands of the arena and reclimb the peak he feels is rightfully his, but he is yet a slave like so many others and bound to the notions of his masters.

Played by Peter Mensah
Learn more about Peter Mensah

NEW ACTORS / CHARACTERS

GANNICUS
A true physical specimen, fearless in the arena and possessed by a thirst for the fleeting pleasures of life, Gannicus is the gladiator a girl’s mother doesn’t want her to bring home. Newly promoted to the top position at Batiatus’ ludus, Gannicus is best friend to Oenomaus and his wife Melitta, forming an unlikely triangle of loyal friendship.

Played by Dustin Clare
Learn more about Dustin Clare

GAIA

A longtime friend of Lucretia, Gaia arrives unannounced in Capua, bringing along her taste for certain vices. On the prowl for a new husband, endowed with beauty, sexual adventurousness and an artful mind, she lends her assets to the cause of her friends, stoking their schemes.

Played by Jaime Murray
Learn more about Jaime Murray

MELITTA

Personal slave to Lucretia and wife to Oenomaus, the lovely and dedicated Melitta struggles to balance the small portion of freedom she's attained within the villa. Subjected to the careless whims of her masters, she finds herself caught up in a web of desire and betrayal that threatens to tear apart her fragile place in the world.

Played by Marisa Ramirez

Learn more about Marisa Ramirez

Goodness these are fantastic!

Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440	Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440

Check out the rest of the Spartacus related wallpapers that have been released by Starz today

Click here to view and download

This is all very exciting - we are getting a flurry of videos from Starz in preparation of the premiere of Gods of the Arena in January. Look at that Lucy megawatt smile!

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena - In Production with the cast, crew and executive producers in New Zealand.

Premieres Jan 21st at 10 pm e/p on Starz.

I'm going to let two my favourite fandoms collide and say "And so it begins..." (Babylon 5 and Spartacus..how different can you get?!)

Here's the second trailer (which is actually the first trailer featuring the Gods of the Arena cast)

You know give a Lucy fan an incentive and they will find whatever they can :) Or I should say whatever we can! I love the internets.

Just got this note from Sofia!

Mrs. World 1989 - Parade of Nations video
I found a video from the Mrs. World 1989 competition Lucy Lawless was in on youtube.

At 4.03 in the video you can spot Lucy Lawless in the Mrs. World 1989 being announced wearing a white dress.

The AUSXIP Xena Image Archive is slowly coming back. The Image archive is being restructured with images being consolidated into other galleries to make images easier to find.

In addition there is now a "New Images" section where you can see, at a glance, what's the latest images added to the galleries.

The current archives are online:

- What's new in the galleries
- Conventions
- Episode Stills for Season 1 - 6
- MaryD's Art
- Xenaverse Art

The following are still offline

- Xena Photoshoots
- Behind The Scenes
- Adverts & Promos
- Magazine Covers
- Comic Books
- Misc Images
- Screencaptures

Gretal Thompson has uploaded a new video of her footage from the March Against Mining rally. The rally was held in Auckland on 01 May 2010 40,000 kiwis turned out to send a message to their government to stop mining in national parks Lucy was in the front marching with everyone to show her support.

You can also see AUSXIP Reporter Jo's photos and video (focused on Lucy) on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless March Against Mining subpage

Watch Gretal's video here (You can see Lucy around the 3:12 mark)

The PLanet BabyLon Convention was held in Paris (October 30th - November 1st) and two L Word actors held Q&A sessions.

Rachel Shelley was Helena Peabody and she was asked about Lucy who guest starred in two episodes of Season 6: Episode 1 Long Night's Journey Into Day and Episode 8 Last Word

In the last episode of the show, Lucy Lawless does a cameo as Sergeant Duffy and in the interrogation tapes her character and Helena get a little flirtatious. How was it to have Lucy Lawless on set?

Rachel Shelley: Well, it must have been tricky for her, because she was coming to a set where people had been working together for such a long time, and knew each other pretty well, and the atmosphere was pretty tense since it was the very last episode of the show and Jenny had died and most of the cast members didn't like that ending, so it must have been a bit tough for her, but Lucy was like (Rachel mimics her Kiwi accent and low voice): "So, ladies, things seem a little tense here..." (those were not her actual words, but it was something to that effect).

Read more from the Q&A Report

Watch Video - Rachel's Lucy impression comes on 1 min: 16 seconds 

News submitted by Barbara Davies

Back in February 1989, Lucy entered the Mrs New Zealand contest and won.

The Vicious Imagery blog has an article from a journalist who interviewed Lucy back in 1989. Lucy had beaten 14 other women for the title of Mrs New Zealand (not Miss New Zealand) which earned her a trip to Las Vegas for the Mrs World 1989 contest.

Another interesting fact is that Lucy's daughter was named Caitlin (I've seen this in several older articles) and not Daisy.

Click here to read the article

Update: 17 November 2010

David has updated the blog to include a large photo of Lucy with Daisy (Caitlin) as Mrs New Zealand. The photo was taken by NZ Herald photographer Geoff Dale. Click here to view larger photo

-

Barbara Bruno sent in the following Tweet from David Bishop, the writer of the Vicious Imagery Blog about the use of Caitlin instead of Daisy:

@davidbishop
@Xenawp7707 That's what Lucy was calling her daughter Daisy in 1989 - until I got that completely wrong at the time - entirely possible!
http://twitter.com/#!/davidbishop

Following my post yesterday about Creation creating some Xena Softball shirts - In part I said: Creation's design will have a small number on the front. Number 10 (X) has been chosen for very obvious reasons (and for those that don't know why...with Xena everythig happened 10 years before...and of course the Roman numeral for 10 is...X (love that). For Gabrielle, V1 (number 6) has been chosen because...Gabrielle had 6 toes on one foot (we found that out during the Season 1 episode "Dreamworker"

and I speculated that these may be the new uniforms for the softball teams organised by Penny and Regina. This afternoon I received a note from Kim alerting me to something I wasn't aware of about the softball game that was organised and the uniforms:

Penny & Regina created their own shirts via cafepress and the proceeds of those sales went to charity. How utterly cool is that! In addition to the girls making/buying their own shirts, they gave the donation to charity + the $1700 raised. That figure will go up with the auctioning off of the two autographed balls as well.

So I'm guessing they won't be using the Creation shirts for the game come next January :)

In just a few short months (it has been way too long) and Gods of the Arena will start (21 January 2010).

IMDB has now put up their GotA page which also includes the name of the first episode (there will be 6 episodes in the prequel) and the cast list. I've added the official Starz cast descriptions since they are not the same characters we have come to love from Blood and Sand but younger versions and also new characters.

Episode 1 - Beneath The Mask

I think we are missing some of the cast from the IMDB listing but here is what they have:

Manu Bennett ... Crixus
The future Champion of Capua is at this time a newly purchased recruit enlisted into Batiatus’s gladiator school. Crixus revels in the opportunity put before him, to become a gladiator, to reap the glory that he’s always longed for. But to attain it, he’ll have to start
at the bottom of the gladiator food chain and fight the titans above him.

Dustin Clare ... Gannicus
A true physical specimen, fearless in the arena and possessed of a thirst for the fleeting pleasures of life, Gannicus is the gladiator a girl’s mother doesn’t want her to bring home. Newly promoted to the top position at Batiatus’s ludus, Gannicus is best friend to Oenomaus and his wife Melitta, forming an unlikely triangle of loyal friendship.

John Hannah ... Quintus Batiatus
Quintus is back and looking younger than ever and minus that awful shaving cut from Kill Them All. Batiatus is one in a long line of gladiator owners in his family, and at the time of the prequel, with his father away attempting to regain his health, has newly come to inhabit the role. Bold and impulsive where his father is restrained and conventional, Batiatus wishes to seize more for himself, to rise beyond his father’s station. With his wife Lucretia ever by his side fueling his ambitions, Batiatus schemes beyond his reach.

Lucy Lawless ... Lucretia
The beautiful and self-possessed wife of Batiatus, Lucretia is her husband’s foundation, always supportive of his dreams, however wild the direction they threaten to grow. Though conscious of the role she’s expected to play as a proper Roman woman, the ideas she and her husband cultivate and the company they are prone to keep means Lucretia continually stretches the bonds of propriety. Though initially reluctant to carry some of their schemes through to the end, Lucretia will discover that when the moment most needs it, she has a true talent for manoeuvring the levers of power.


Peter Mensah ... Oenomaus
Before he became Doctore...hunky Oenomaus (excuse me while I get my smelling salts...) Oenomaus is who we already know as Doctore. But at this time he is not yet the rigid disciplinarian who will come to reign over the ludus as the gladiator trainer. He is not far removed from the status of top gladiator at the House of Batiatus, having only recently survived his fight with the legendary Theokoles. He longs to return to the sands of the arena and reclimb the peak he feels is rightfully his, but he is yet a slave like so many others and bound to the notions of his masters. He finds himself caught in the middle of much turmoil, his status seized between the generational conflict within the house, between old loyalties and new responsibilities.

Lesley-Ann Brandt ... Naevia
Naevia is new to Batiatus’ villa, and soon learns that the position of female slave is vulnerable to both her masters’ bidding and the random turn of fate.

Nick Tarabay ... Ashur
Having just arrived with the new batch of recruits, along with Crixus, Ashur is swept up in the grueling fight to survive and prove himself worthy enough to secure standing as a gladiator. When it quickly proves difficult for him to advance on pure physical ability
alone, he must call on his more devious gifts in order to assure his place.

Jaime Murray ... Gaia

A long time friend of Lucretia, Gaia arrives unannounced in Capua, bringing along her taste for certain vices. On the prowl for a new husband, endowed with beauty, sexual adventurousness and an artful mind, she lends her assets to the cause of her friends, stoking their schemes.

Marisa Ramirez ... Melitta
Melitta is Lucretia's body slave and Oenomaus's wife.


Jeffrey Thomas ... Titus
Father to Batiatus, Titus is frail and ill of health yet still looms large as a commanding, paternalistic voice of discretion in his son’s life. Titus is a man of tradition, a proud master of gladiators who is devoted to the old ways and disapproving of his son’s departure from them. His conservative instincts are triggered by the audacious initiatives of Batiatus and Lucretia, throwing them all into greater and greater conflict, which threatens the house he’s given everything to build.


David E. Woodley ... Petronius
Starz has not released any info about this character as yet

This week's featured Xenaverse artist is Calli. Calli has been creating fanfic covers, montages, wallpapers for close to 10 years! One of my personal favourites is the image to the left - Season 6 episode Coming Home. GORGEOUS! I've been a fan of hers for a very long time.

Check out Calli's work on her site Calli's Creations.

Jo, who sat down to watch the unsensored ITM Fishing Media Awards has reported in about some extra Lucy footage

"the only difference to Lucy's presentation segment was an added 5 seconds as the winner came up on stage and she greeted them! that was it, a hug & a kiss from Lucy for surprise, surprise the co-host of the ITM fishing show"

That's it.

Many thanks to Jo for sitting through the entire fishing awards for that extra little bit of Lucy.

View screencaptures from the one hour version

Also available is video from the one hour version - Lucy and Rob on the red carpet and Lucy's presentation.

WATCH VIDEO | BUY OFFICIAL PHOTOS | PRESS

The following is for NZ fans who have Sky TV - tune in on 14 November at 7 pm for the uncensored version of the ITM Fishing Media Awards.

On 6 November we had the one hour version where there was an interview with Lucy and Rob on the red carpet and Lucy's presenation of the Best Reality show award.

If there is any more footage of Lucy and/or Rob that wasn't seen in the already televised version, we will have the extra footage up soon after.

Created screencaptures and they are now available to view /download for the one hour version

Also available is video from the televised one hour version - Lucy and Rob on the red carpet and Lucy's presentation.

WATCH VIDEO | BUY OFFICIAL PHOTOS | PRESS

Creation is creating some softball shirts for the convention. I wonder if that idea was inspired by the fans who played for charity during the 2010 Xena Convention. Aussie Penny organised the Amphipolis Vs Potadeia softball game which raised an incredible $1700 for Starship (Amphipolis won). The girls played in the rain. It was coming down hard that day and they still played.

A couple of softballs were autographed by Lucy and Renee and they will be put up for auction by Creation (propably at the 2011 Xena Convention).

Creation are now creating Xena and Gabrielle softball shirts for the convention -- the Amphipolis Warriors and the Poteidaia Bards. Penny did say last February that they were going to continue to play the charity game at conventions so this may be their new uniforms!

Creation's design will have a small number on the front. Number 10 (X) has been chosen for very obvious reasons (and for those that don't know why...with Xena everythig happened 10 years before...and of course the Roman numeral for 10 is...X (love that).

For Gabrielle, V1 (number 6) has been chosen because...Gabrielle had 6 toes on one foot (we found that out during the Season 1 episode "Dreamworker"

I wonder if the shirts are going to have some blue for Xena and some green for Gabrielle or Purple for both. It will be interesting to see.

Penny and the girls will have nifty shirts to wear when they take to the field next year. Let's hope it's not raining when they do!

Great news for German fans. Ralf sent me the following note about Spartacus Season 1 in Germany.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand will air in Germany on the Pay TV channel "RTL Crime" (part of SKY Network) from 15/12/2010 on, in the uncut, but dubbed in german version.

Lucy and Rob attended the ITM Fishing Media Awards on 28 August 2010 but were televised on 06 November 2010. Lucy presented the award for best reality show.

Created screencaptures and they are now available to view /download

Also available is video from the televised awards - Lucy and Rob on the red carpet and Lucy's presentation.

WATCH VIDEO | BUY OFFICIAL PHOTOS | PRESS

Lesley-Ann tweeted the following this afternoon - wishing LAB a great flight to the US!

Naevia and Lucretia officially wrapped on the prequel. Off to the airport, here I come Cali! about 7 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone

You can follow Lesley-Ann's tweets on her Official Twitter account

The following was posted on the Official Starz Spartacus forum by sparta64

Well a movie was going off at 11pm tonight on one of the stations and they showed this 5 or 7 minute type ad for it where they interviewed Lucy, John, Peter, and Dustin Clare who plays Gannicus, as well as Manu and Jaime Murry who plays Gaia. .

Let me tell ya..Crixus is gonna look different because they showed clips and he has long hair,,,similar to how Sparty looked in the first episode. It was weird. I can't believe I saw this after I ask this question.

Lucretia looks better because her hair is more natural and not that red wig she normally wears. I know they are suppose to look 5 years younger... and they did. They showed some short clips of Gannicus fights and they looked exciting. Anyway if you stay up late enough that seems to be when they show these ads.

Mel talks to actress Lucy Lawless about being typecast. Hear the "Xena: Warrior Princess" star's insight.

The video is now available on YouTube for non US fans and has been posted by the official site

News submitted by Barbara Davies

Xena Music Video – Unforgetable by Sabina Shamsed

This is s super video not only because it’s a great montage of footage but Sabina sings the soundtrack to it!

The song is Unforgetable which was sung by Ruslana at the 2004 Eurovision Contest.

View on AUSXIP Xena Music Videos Section

Mel B: It's a Scary World Season: 1 Episode: 9 Mel talks to actress Lucy Lawless about being typecast. Hear the "Xena: Warrior Princess" star's insight.

*ONLY AVAILABLE TO US VIEWERS*

Click here to view interview

News submitted by Barbara Davies

In a night of glitz and glamour hosted by Leigh Hart, with special guests Lucy Lawless and her husband Rob Tapert, the ITM Fishing Media Awards focused on The ITM Fishing Show’s best catches and greatest moments of the last seven years. Lucy and Rob went to the ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 in NZ on 28 August 2010. The Awards were televised in New Zealand on TV3 on 6 November 2010 at 5 pm. The video features Lucy and Rob on the red carpet and Lucy's presentation of best reality fishing show.

Video contributed/Created by Jo for AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Video

This week's featured Xenaverse Artist is Rebekah Lynn.

Rebekah has created some beautiful art and she is truly a gifted artist.

Click here to view her Xena art on AUSXIP

You can check out her official site as well - Rebekah Lynn Southwind Art

The PLanet BabyLon Convention was held in Paris (October 30th – November 1st) and two L Word actors held Q&A sessions.

Rachel Shelley was Helena Peabody and she was asked about Lucy who guest starred in two episodes of Season 6: Episode 1 Long Night's Journey Into Day and Episode 8 Last Word

In the last episode of the show, Lucy Lawless does a cameo as Sergeant Duffy and in the interrogation tapes her character and Helena get a little flirtatious. How was it to have Lucy Lawless on set?

Rachel Shelley: Well, it must have been tricky for her, because she was coming to a set where people had been working together for such a long time, and knew each other pretty well, and the atmosphere was pretty tense since it was the very last episode of the show and Jenny had died and most of the cast members didn’t like that ending, so it must have been a bit tough for her, but Lucy was like (Rachel mimics her Kiwi accent and low voice): “So, ladies, things seem a little tense here…” (those were not her actual words, but it was something to that effect).

Read more from the Q&A Report

News submitted by Barbara Davies

Here are more pics of Lucy and Rob attending and presenting (Lucy) an award at the ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 in NZ on 28 August 2010. The Fishing Media Awards will be televised in New Zealand on TV3 on 6 November 2010 at 5 pm

You can view the larger versions of these images on the Fishing.net.nz forum

Related Posts
- NZ TV Reminder - Lucy On ITM Fishing Media Awards 6 Nov 2010
- Lucy & Rob at The ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 on 28 August 2010
- More Photos of Lucy & Rob at the ITM Fishing Awards 28 August 2010
- Rob and Lucy in Herald on Sunday 05 September 2010

News submitted by Barbara Davies

The edited version Spartacus: Blood and Sand has just ended in Australia on Channel Nine's GO! channel with decent ratings

It has now been confirmed that GO! will screen Gods of the Arena some time in 2011. As previously announced, GotA will screen in the US starting 21 January 2011.

Before Spartacus struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed though the gates onto the sand. "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," the highly anticipated prequel to Starz' hit series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus: Gannicus (Dustin Clare) in a more ruthless time before Spartacus' arrival where honor was just finding it's way into the arena. The new series adds to the cast Jaime Murray as Capua's sexy social climber Gaia and Marisa Ramirez as Melitta, a beautiful slave who must face the ultimate decision of the heart. Jeffrey Thomas plays Batiatus's father Titus, the traditional and cautious Lanista, head of the Ludus. They join returning cast members John Hannah (Quintus Batiatus), Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), Peter Mensah (Oenomaus, before he becomes Doctore, the gladiator trainer) and Manu Bennett (Crixus).

As the prequel begins, Quintus Batiatus is the acting Lanista while his father Titus is on an extended visit to Sicilia. But Batiatus isn't satisfied with just the thought of taking over the Ludus one day; he aspires to political power and prestige in Capua, and perhaps beyond. In the class-conscious world of ancient Rome, the House of Batiatus must first earn the respect of both politicians and socialites before being granted the right for its gladiators to fight in the much-revered championship bouts called the Primus. Batiatus must not only survive the harsh politics of Capua, but also compel his hedonistic fighter, Gannicus, to embrace being a champion gladiator who will bring esteem and respect to the House of Batiatus.

"Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" is produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight. Season one of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" was the highest rated show for the 18-49 demographic among all cable networks for 12 of the 13 Fridays on which it aired based on coverage rating.

More About Spartacus: Gods of the Arena on AUSXIP Spartacus

I have been redesigning / reorganising my artwork section. I have now desgined the section in Season and Episode Name to make them easier to identify.

There are 271 episode montages/artworks based on each episode. These were created between 1996 and 2001 (with a smattering of beyond 2001 but I can't remember when I did those).

Click here to view entire gallery here

Organised by Season / Episode Name
- Season 1 - 34 Artworks
- Season 2 - 32 Artworks
- Season 3 - 36 Artworks
- Season 4 - 37 Artworks
- Season 5 - 36 Artworks
- Season 6 - 96 Artworks

For those curious as to which montage was created first - it's Season 2 Episode 9 A Solstice Carol (goodness knows what Xenaverse artists could have done with high res episode stills back in the day...we didn't have them so we made do with small screencaptures - the quality wasn't great but it let everyone be creative. We have it really great today with huge episode stills and HQ caps but back in the day...just small/medium captures and very grainy. That's why the early work was restricted to 500 x 500 px in size. The screencap quality increased and so did the size of the art. What I would have given to have high quality stills especially from Is There A Doctor In The House (that blue filter drove me insane trying to get good shots that weren't dark). The artworks need alot of work but it was FUN!

Screencaptures were created by Tom's Xenafan site and later by Judi who created them for AUSXIP.

It was all thanks to Rob Tapert and Studios USA for allowing the fans to create screencaptures and be creative.