Section Links

01. [Greetings, once again, fellow Hudsonians]
02. [HLOFC & HLOFCWS News]
03. [More HLOFC News]
04. [Hudson in Burbank...Meeeeow!]
05. [Hudson's Signing at Metro Comics]
06. ["Hudson Haze"]
07. ["After the Fire"]
08. ["Not Quite Valentine's"]
09. ["Why I Love Callisto"]
10. ["Last Light"]
11. ["A Day At the Surgery"]
12. [What A Character?!]
13. [Featured Web Sites/Pages]
14. [One Last Reminder...]

I hope that everyone enjoyed the month of February as much as I did. The numerous appearances by Hudson on Xena, Hercules and 7th Heaven had my VCR running almost the entire month. Wasn't it great seeing Hudson so much? :)

As of this writing, Hudson has once again returned to New Zealand to film 1 more episode of Xena and at least 1 more episode of Hercules. So, it looks like we'll be seeing our favorite goddess, 'Callisto', at least a couple more times this season.

Because of Hudson's short break between filming schedules in New Zealand, and her very busy schedule here at home, Hudson was not available for the 'Hudson's Favorite Things' and 'Ask Hudson' sections for this issue of the newsletter. I'm sure that we all understand that Hudson's schedule has been very demanding, lately, but I will do my best to 'pin her down' for contributions to the next issue of the newsletter.

Now, I would like to address a different subject. As the Hudson Leick Official Fan Club (HLOFC) has evolved over the past few months, we, all the members of the HLOFC Maintenance Team, have done our best to keep the entire HLOFC membership informed about the latest and most up-to-date 'Hudson news' and Hudson's upcoming scheduled activities. As this information has been made available to us, we have passed it along to you, the HLOFC members, by way of the 'HLOFC Broadcasts'. We hope that everyone has found these 'broadcasts' to be helpful and informative.

Modern technology now being what it is, and the advantage that we have of being able to send and receive the latest information within minutes, like in the case of the 'HLOFC broadcasts', I am finding that the role that the newsletter now plays in correlation to the fan club has changed significantly.

It wasn't too long ago that a fan club newsletter was primarily the *only* way to send information to it's members and keep everyone informed as to what was scheduled and upcoming for their honoree (in this case, Hudson Leick). But as the times have changed, and we have incorporated the Internet and email into the fan club, and our daily lives, the newsletter must now play a different, but equally important, role in the fan club.

Because we are now able to immediately send up-to-date information to all HLOFC members, by way of the 'HLOFC broadcasts', a significant part of the newsletter will now depend almost entirely upon contributions from you, the fan club members. The newsletter is your chance to relay personal thoughts, feelings and 'fun stuff', i.e. poems, short stories, skits, songs, responses to the newsletter questions, articles, etc., directly to Hudson. And because of the role that the newsletter now plays, it is imperative that as many people contribute to each issue of the newsletter as possible. How else can we as a collective group show our support for Hudson as well as our appreciation for the many hours of entertainment that she has given us? And continues to give us as time goes on.

As always, I will continue to relay the most up-to-date information about Hudson and the fan club that I have available in each issue of the newsletter, provided there is new information available. But without your contributions the newsletter will be very bleak, indeed.

That said, it is with much gratitude and appreciation that I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this issue of the Hudson Leick newsletter. Your contributions are *very* important to the quality and quantity of each and every newsletter. From everyone who took the time to answer the 'March Newsletter Question', posted on the HLOFC web site, to those people who submitted articles specifically for the newsletter. Not to mention those hard working and dedicated Hudson Leick/Callisto web site/page operators who have submitted their specific web site/page information for the 'Featured Web Site' section of the newsletter. Thank you all very very much. Without each and every one of you the newsletter would not be possible. You did a *fantastic* job and your contributions are *greatly* appreciated.

We would like to welcome 3 new people to The Hudson Leick Official Fan Club Maintenance Team. They have all done an outstanding job with their contributions to the HLOFC and we're grateful for all their hard work.

First, 'The Mad Catter' aka Jack Cummings, who did an awesome job of setting up and maintaining the Hudson Leick Official Fan Club '[Convention Attendees List]' web site pages for both the Burbank and Dallas conventions. Even though Hudson wasn't able to attend the Dallas convention, Jack did a terrific job of maintaining both convention pages, making it much easier for fellow convention attendees to get in touch with each other, as well as helping everything to run much smoother for everyone. Thanks, Jack...It sure will be extremely helpful to have your 'Convention Attendees Pages' for future conventions.

Also, *mega* kudos and thanks to Trancer, our new HLOFC Convention Coordinator, for all her hard work on the Burbank convention booth. This was the first time that the HLOFC had a booth at one of the conventions. And not only did Trancer do a *terrific* job of coordinating the fan club booth, but she went above and beyond the call of duty by making sure that all HLOFC members who attended the Burbank convention had membership badges. Now, *that's* a team player! :) Thanks, Trancer!

And last, but certainly not least, Dyann aka Geekgrrl, has agreed to help Trancer with future conventions as HLOFC Co-Convention Coordinator. Geekgrrl was a *tremendous* help, at the recent Burbank convention with, amongst other things, her *many* contributions to the HLOFC convention booth. And from what I hear, what a remarkable booth it was! We are very lucky to be able to add Dyann to the HLOFC Maintenance Team. Besides, she has enough energy for 10 people. hahaha...(luv ya, Dyann)

Thank you and welcome to everyone!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank *everyone* who helped out with the Burbank convention booth and the Burbank convention. Your help and dedication made the HLOFC's first convention booth a big hit and we appreciate all your hard work.

A Message From Wesser: Wes <wesser@hudsonleickfan.com>

We are currently working on a new interface design for the HLOFCWS, and need a couple people to "beta view" the page to make sure everything is working correctly. We need people with various operating systems and web browsers basically. We will not be selecting many people to view the beta page, maybe 6 to 8 people, and we will select based on the variations of their system and browser. Basically, at this time, we need a couple people who are running Windows 3.1 (Netscape requested), a couple who are running WebTV, and a couple who are using non-standard web browsers and/or non-standard operating systems. We would also like 1 person that is using a Mac. Please note that we are NOT looking for anyone using America Online's web browser, and we have sufficient Windows 95 testing already done.

Most of the changes are graphical, and we want to make sure everything displays correctly on various browsers and operating systems.

Let me make it clear, again, that NOT everyone will be allowed to beta view the site, please don't e-mail asking if you can view the site if you're not seriously interested in helping us out. Before you e-mail a request to be a beta viewer, make sure you're not running Windows 95 because we don't need more Win95 testers (Windows 98 beta is ok) and not using AOL's browser (using Netscape through AOL winsock in Windows 3.1 would be fine). To request to be on the "beta view team", send an e-mail to wesser@hudsonleickfan.com. Make sure you let me know what operating system you are using and what browser you are using in the message.

Also, photos from the 1998 Burbank convention are now online at the HLOFCWS. You can view them by going to [http://www.hudsonleickfan.com/photos-burbank98.html]. We will soon be posting images from the newest appearances Hudson has made on Xena and Hercules as well as 7th Heaven, so check the site often.

One last note: If you do not already belong to the Hudson Leick Official Fan Club you may sign up at: [http://www.hudsonleickfan.com]. After you click on 'Fan Club', you will be asked to fill out a very brief questionnaire which will then enable you to receive all the latest fan club information as well as our 'HLOFC Broadcasts' that will keep you up to date on all the latest news pertaining to Hudson. And the best part is....IT'S FREE!

By: Rob Allis <rallis@frontiernet.net>

Everyone in the audience knew things were going to be wild, when Hudson like strolled on stage in a patent leather bodice - hotpant outfit complete with high-heeled boots. She strutted across the stage a couple times for photographers and fans alike. When the cheering started to lull a little, she turned to the audience and coyly said, "Meeeeooooooww. Are you good…. no… me neither." Many of the 2200+ people that were in attendance had seen Hudson at a previous convention, and thus had expectations that were not disappointed. Those newbies were also invited to partake in one of Hudson's more revealing Q&A sessions.

Hudson answered questions about Callisto: what she did for the audition, what first attracted her to the role of Callisto (a paycheck!), does she do any of the stunts ("No… they are afraid I'll break my precious little neck. In the ladder scene of Callisto… I was happy.. drinking tea off the set."), her favorite quote ("Here comes trouble." and her favorite scene (the Truth or Dare sequence in ANE). When asked how she got her part on Touched by an Angel, she commented "It's funny to me too… What were they thinking." Someone asked Hudson about the rumor of Callisto's demise this year. "What else can the poor girl do… she's a god. Let the woman die.. she just wants to die!" What about a spin-off.? "Ya never know. It couldn't be Callisto though… this week Callisto kills a small family… stay tuned!"

Of course Hudson had to play with the crowd as well. One guy posing a question couldn't conceal his nerves, and paid the price. "You're shaking… I like that in a man." Later comments like, "This is not camera time.. I am having a moment." and "She wants a picture and I said yes… My stage.. My rules!" kept the crowd laughing. Hudson had problems when asked to imitate Lucy's war cry, but demanded that the audience make Lucy scream like Callisto on Sunday. She was also asked if she dated anyone on the show, specifically Kevin Smith. "Kevin is married, with a lot of children… not that he's not handsome. No.. no cast members… That's it.. that was her question.. I answered it…. to the best of my ability."

More revealing moments: when asked, "What was the most dangerous thing you ever did?" She talked about a time where she had taken a ride in a strangers car because he bought her some soap. "Dangerous and stupid.. I'm lucky that I'm alive." Hudson did her best to give sound advice to a young man going to the same high school Hudson did. "That's a dark place for me.. that's where I discovered Callisto. Go where the love is… find people that you feel comfortable with, and it doesn't matter what others think of you, it only matters what you think of you." Hudson also got a bit "misty-eyed" when fan club member Ephiny sang "32 Flavors and then Some" to Hudson on-stage. Just before leaving the stage, Hudson made the comment, "I appreciate you all so much… you have no idea. Thank you for everything you have done, and thank you for being here today." More proof that Hudson has as much fun at the conventions as the fans do.

In retrospect, Hudson definitely lived up to her previous convention performances. The energy level and intensity she provided was not matched by any other stage performer (… well actor at least). If you have not had the opportunity to see Hudson at a convention, you have missed the chance to meet a remarkable woman. I do not believe you will be disappointed if you go to a future convention to see her.

Editors Note: Hudson is *not* currently scheduled for any additional convention or personal appearances at this time. We will notify all HLOFC members, via an 'HLOFC Broadcast', as new information becomes available. So, watch your mailboxes....

By: Autumn <wrr@deltanet.com>

I just got back from a three hour drive from Santa Barbara, and am ready to tell all!

I got to Santa Barbara about 3 hours before I had to be at Metro. I had a quick bite to eat (I was hungry in the car, but once in SB, all either bodily functions and feelings, besides adrenaline and fear kinda are forgotten, though I did have to pee during the _long_ autograph line...) And went to Metro, I looked around for a wee (no pun) bit, then got in line for the packets. (An autographed [not sure by who, though, I think one of the Raimi's] comic book and the ROC pic of Hudson that we're all sick of...Even Hudson)

Then I went into the store and looked around for a little bit again, then went out to the autograph line outside. I was #133, the guy ahead of me was # 85. We talked, and it turned out he was a local Santa Barbarain and was kinda scared of me cause I was such the Hudsonian... =). Hudson came with a group of about four or five people with her, around 1. I couldn't really see her that much, except for her braided hair, looking quite sophisticated. I also made friends with the girl in front of him, # 75, she recognize when I told them I named my rat after you know who :) and so we talked for an hour while waiting for Hudson.

I had brought with me the Callisto and Herc pic from Surprise and bought the new one with Hudson smiling on it (thanks to the guy in front of me who loaned me a dollar twenty five.) Then we went inside. (we went in groups of five...)

The girl in front of me was first and Hudson was like. "Hey, I remember you!" and the guy in front of me said: "Do you remember her?!" Hudson looked at me for a minute and so I was like: "Rat girl, you know, the one who named her rat after you." And she raised her arms in triumph and said "Of course, how could I forget that. What can you say to that?" Then I said: "Freak?"

Then she signed the girls in front of me and she got a picture of them, both with their jackets off, doing the muscle thing. Quite fun! Then the local channel three did a short interview, when it was done, she was like. "Well that was kinda like a doctors appointment, quite painless.

Then the guy in front of me got his picture signed, he had this Australian hat on, and Hudson put it on her and did a cowboys impression voice. Heehee.

Oh yeah, when I was waiting in line, I was getting quite giddy, so I bobbed my head up and down in excitement, then Hudson saw me and bobbed her head up and down too. She did a similar thing at the Burbank con. I thanked her using my hand for emphasis, then she welcomed me with the same emphasis.

Well, then my turn came, I went up and did my little "hail" wave, only, I didn't say "hail," Hudson Haze you know, so she laughed at me and did the wave too. Then she started signing my three things, mean while saying: "So, rat girl, how are you"

"heeheefinehi" <desperate attempt to talk>

"Do you live around here?'

"Yeah, in the Irvine, Lake Forest area."

"oh"

"Thank you. Um, picture?"

"Okay."

Then she got up and we had the professional photographer take a shot. While he was getting ready, she said: "Haven't you taken pictures before?"

"Yeah, with the fan club, but all my pictures were over" pushes glasses up, the furkin things keep on sliding down! "explo-exposed."

"Oh, bummer."

Then she put her hand on my back and we smiled for the camera. After it was done she stared at me with a weird look on her face. Like she was trying to remember me or couldn't quite believe that I would actually namesake a rat to her...

Anyway, I went back to my sister's boyfriends car and we were on our way out of town when I remembered that I had taken my picture with Hudson, and yet didn't know how they were getting it to me, I didn't remember giving my address to them... (DUH DUH DUH!) (hey, I was in a Hudson haze!) so we made a quick run back, and I talked to one of the guys that was running the signing, confirmed that they had all the info they needed to make sure that when the pic was developed, I would get it in the mail.

Then I spent a happy three hours driving home, reading the comic book, relating my adventure to those who took me there, and gazing at my three new treasures. *sigh*

Autumn-the keeper of the rats, (but you can call me rat girl, cause that's what Hudson calls me =)

Editors Comment: Thanks, Autumn...It sounds like you had a great time as I'm sure everyone else did, as well.

By: Dyann aka GeekGrrl <geekgrrl@ix.netcom.com>

Celebrating the Hudson Haze What is it about the power and grace of her?

Author's note: This is a bit of a paraphrase of the article that I wrote for the On The Road edition of Whoosh. I set out to write this article not so much about the Burbank appearance by Hudson Leick but by the amazing phenomena I have seen concerning the influx of new fans of Hudson Leick after they see her live. To that end, this article may sound like nothing more than a "Hudson is a Goddess" tangent, which only slightly resembles my intention<grin>. I wanted to try and cover as much of the experience as possible. One other point of merit is that many of the quotes are taken directly from individuals who responded to an on-line questionnaire. Unfortunately, when I sat down to write this I did not note who said what since I was trying to compile and assimilate as much of the overwhelmingly insightful and incredible observations as possible.

There came one day riding from the flames with a shriek of fury that cut to the bone a blonde haired woman from Xena's past seeking vengeance for the death of her family. In the gallery of rogues, Callisto came onto the scene and the world of Xena and Gabrielle was forever changed. There is a lot I could say about the complexity and depth of the character Callisto and her impact on the Xenaverse but I believe I would be redundant. There already exists a brilliant article in the Whoosh archives by Bret Rudnick. (http://thirdstory.com/whoosh/issue4/rudnick2.html) If you are a fan of the character Callisto and have not read this article or the other that are in the Whoosh archives, get thee gone there now. One cannot discuss the actress who brought Callisto to vengeful, pained, psychotic, humorous life without some commentary and feedback from fans on the character of Callisto. However, the focus of this article is Hudson Leick.

The term Hudson Haze was coined by Ephany and myself regarding the state of euphoric mind that takes place after seeing Hudson live. It is an apt description. The term, born in Burbank 1997 it was cemented by Valley Forge 1997 and became a permanent fixture in our terminology by Burbank 1998. What is a haze? According to the word man, Webster, it is a vague or disoriented state of mind. Foglike. How does one come to this state of mind? One sure way is to encounter the warm, gracious and playful Ms. Leick. The effects? Well, that could be along list. Some manifestations are to collapse into giggles or smile just because of reliving a moment. Fleeting encounter or not, there is an energy that is exchanged between Hudson and her fans. Seeing Hudson Leick live is worth a thousand words. In Valley Forge, I listened as those that had earlier teased me about my raving fandom gush, rave and admit they now understood the haze. She was for many the highlight of the Valley Forge Con. That was when I began to formulate the idea for this article. How many people became fans once they saw her live?

Let's start back at the beginning though. When the character of Callisto was first introduced on Xena: Warrior Princess, I will be first to admit that as a villainies I had initial problems when I saw the promo's. In the sometimes unforgiving scrutiny of the on-line lists the fact that she had appeared on Melrose Place immediately branded her as an 'potential cast member for BayWatch', certainly not fit competition for the Warrior Princess. Psycho Barbie, psycho cheerleader, too skinny, too small. etc. etc. were some of the laments by fans of the show. Eating crow, especially for me, was not a problem once I saw Return of Callisto. It was a main dish for quite a few of the naysayers out there. There were those fans that immediately adored Hudson as Callisto and others, like me, who came to our senses because of the depth and complexity that Hudson gave to the character. What other villain has elicited this degree of passionate discourse? Until Hope's appearance, virtually none.

Unlike other villains, the creation of Callisto is pretty clearly identified as being a direct result of the action or non-action of warlord Xena and her army. As one fan observed, "Her (Callisto's) motivations are pretty complex and it's possible to feel for her even though she's obviously a pretty evil character. She's the villain most able to get under Xena's skin--one gets the feeling that she haunts Xena's nightmares." Other notes about how Callisto made the viewer sit up and take notice, some later than her original appearance on Callisto. "By RoC we got more of an in depth feeling of the hatred and obsession that Callisto has. Xena has the power, physically, but Callisto has all the power mentally." This thought was echoed by others, "Callisto is the most worthy adversary Xena has ever faced. So evil yet with an integrity like no other opponent...She feels in her heart (as dark as that is) that what she is doing is right." "Most other villains (on the show) have been caricatures, but Hudson has given Callisto depth. On a strange level, the viewer cares what happens to her. This is a testament to Hudson's fine acting."

A further testament to the triangulation of the Callisto, Xena and Gabrielle relationship is the almost palpable tension that exists between Callisto and Xena. Even the way Callisto speaks Xena's name, with the slightly sillibant "Sssss" and drawn out "eeeeeee" effect makes the way she calls to Xena uniquely her own. Seductive, taunting and a little arrogant. This is the dance that these two warriors do, arrogant and flirtatious. No wonder the appearance of Callisto makes every one a little jumpy, almost like the re-appearance of a scorned ex who won't go away. Hudson has talked about the love hate relationship that she feels Callisto has towards Xena. As the actress who brings this tension into play with Lucy Lawless, Hudson playfully acknowledges the subtext of the show and the large fan base it appeals to. "I appreciated her accepting attitude towards lesbian fans and her having fun with subtext. She didn't have any big need to distance herself from it/us, make fun of it, minimize it. She was game..." The admission by Hudson that she and Lucy approach some of their scenes with the 'Let's flirt' attitude made one fan acknowledge, "Hey, Hudson gets it...Then I thought Hudson must be way kewl!!!" Another replied, "I do think that her support of subtext is wonderful and deserves mention."

This provides an excellent springboard into the litany of praise for those newly converted to the Haze. I'll start with my own perceptions. I stated earlier that the character of Callisto certainly had its draw but in reality, it wasn't enough to warrant a deep and abiding affection for the professional who played the complex character. Until I saw Hudson live at her first Con appearance, Burbank 1997. Her appearance kept being confirmed and then canceled until a production member gave up her time slot so that Hudson could take the stage. She stepped out onto the stage, dressed in an understated, almost demure outfit and tentatively introduced herself, "I'm Hudson Leick and I play Callisto." She could barely be heard for all the screaming that erupted from the auditorium. She had a moment where she looked like she might bolt off the stage, that look of sheer amazement that there were 2,000 plus people screaming at her. She recovered quickly and began chatting. She was, in a word, charming. A few more adjectives that came to mind, warm, sweet, sincere, funny, kind, vulnerable, strong and generally gracious. She listened to every person that spoke to her, meeting their gaze before she signed whatever they offered to her. (That would likely be the praying mantis pose that was, for too long a stretch of time, the only picture that seemed to be available for Callisto, which they also ran out of, so I am not sure what else she signed before the night was through.) When I got to the table she was sitting at with Ted Raimi, I set the picture down and thanked her for staying so late. She looked up at me and smiled a genuinely warm smile. "No, thank you," she said. Once she had signed the picture, as she was handing it back to me she asked, "Do I know you?" -you may insert any array of emotions, disbelief, stunned amazement or dazed disassociation.- I opted for the latter and replied, "Not that I'm aware of." She cocked her head quizzically and looked at me a moment longer before smiling again and turning to meet the next person. In that exchange and the subsequent stories I heard (if you've been to a Con then you know autograph line stories are de rigor in the evenings rehashing.) Last year she dashed into the bathroom and then back out again, this year I suspect they would have cleared it out for her like they have in the past for other stars. She also stayed and chatted in the lobby with several fans after the con. It was then I came to the conclusion that there was something incredibly special about this woman, Hudson Leick.

When asked how they felt about Hudson Leick based *solely* on her appearance on Xena, fans responded with a gamut of responses: "This was the first work I had ever seen Hudson do. I liked her a lot." "She is marvelous...Her mixture of hate, rage, childlike innocence, and psychosis is unique and powerful, to say the least." "I didn't really know anything about her as a person, I didn't think much about her...In my mind she had really embodied Callisto." "At first I was unimpressed by the actress. Even tried to suggest better blondes for the role, with my on-line buddies. But then return of Callisto aired and I was HOOKED...Couldn't wait to see another episode with her in it." "OK actress - I didn't think Callisto was that hard to play. I was more impressed when she played Xena." "She is the most talented actress I've seen yet." "I think Hudson is brilliant (as an actress)." "I thought she had a fair amount of talent and a lot of style/presence. After seeing her as Xena in IS and 10LW I was impressed with her raw acting skills as well."

What made people become a fan of this woman, beyond the character Callisto, beyond her presence? The replies begin to take on a kind of mantra about the person that we were getting a glimpse of: "I became a bigger fan in part because I appreciated her big heart toward fans. I was surprised at the level of vulnerability that she sometimes shows in interviews and during appearances." "When I read the March 1997 Axcess magazine interview...and learned about her growing up, and the problems she had with acceptance among peers...One more thing. Her devotion to her fans, that as of a year ago she really didn't know she had, is truly phenomenal. She gives us so much in her work and her appearances that you can't not help but love and appreciate her." "I never took time to find out anything about Hudson. Just rumors but (those were) shot down after I saw how she interacted with the fans at Burbank...When you see her in person you can tell she is a very deep and caring person." "The live appearance *definately* converted me to fandom on many levels. I was very impressed with how she worked the room from the first moment she strutted on stage...She let us see many shades of herself...her honesty on stage and her willingness to play and/or be serious as the question/situation warranted...I was very taken with the fact that she was *with* me, all her attention focused, while the photo was being taken. What I appreciate is that she is so willing to 'be there' with the fans." "I think Hudson goes out of her way to be accessible to her fans. She doesn't have to do that and it makes her loved even more." "Hudson was performing for us in the most entertaining fashion and yet, occasionally, she let the mask drop and we got to see the caring, thoughtful person beneath...Her thoughtful answers to some of the questions (at Burbank 1998) - like "find the love" and "don't worry what other people think" and the way she broke the rules and let people on-stage! I became a fan of the woman that afternoon." "I feel she has a presence on stage that is very magnetic. I think she was a little higher energy at Burbank...What I came away...with was the sense that aside from being playful and a bit wicked, Hudson is really at the core a very nice woman. She really impressed me." "I thought she was awesome in person. She was very vulnerable and honest with the audience. I also thought she was much more beautiful in person...She was very giving to a bunch of whacked out screaming people that anyone on their right mind would have hid from. She really seems to appreciate her fans. I was one of the screamer my head off - I *loved* her energy." "Seeing Hudson in person the first time really blew me away...She must be experienced to be believed. After signing (autographs) for hours at VF she came out in the lobby and took pictures with everyone there! Amazing. When I came up to her she looked dead in my eyes and treated me like a person. That is not easy with a stranger and 10 times harder (I would think) after an exhausting day...Hudson is just a very special lady. I was really impressed with her honesty and depth." "(seeing her live in Valley Forge) heightened my interest in her...She was dressed beautifully and she was a fun guest. In the autograph line, she really won me when she had them stop the line while she got up on the table to pose for some sexy pictures. Then she got down and sat in her Mom's lap with the cutest girlish smile." "Seeing Hudson live reaffirmed my affection." "Her live appearance clinched it for me. She was just such a darling person and still deliciously wicked." "Do you want to know about someone who has become a huge fan after seeing Con photos and reading Con reports and posts from others who saw her there? After VF, my interest in Hudson really blossomed in to adoration. It's now...cemented after seeing and hearing about her in Burbank" "She gave the fans what they came to see...and what I presume to be her 'real' personality - thoughtful, caring, sincere and warm." "Well, I have to admit it and I am proud to admit it. I have the haze. I was extremely impressed by Hudson...She is an incredible woman." "There is her beauty and underneath it all her humanity and kindness. I felt...that she cared for and appreciated her fans." "What really impressed me was her spirituality, which I didn't expect to find." "Hudson is AWESOME!"

When I sat down to write this, I could think of no other way to tap into the phenomena than to quote those that had experienced the haze. The words become limited when trying to describe the haze. They seem almost incomplete when trying to describe Hudson. There is something forceful and vulnerable about her personality. Even in interviews, the interviewers often convey a sense of her fierce spirit that is interwoven with a sensitivity and a deeper spirituality. What we see are only glimpses but they are consistent glimpses of an intelligent, focused woman who appreciates what fame offers without losing herself.

I believe that Hudson's star is another one that is about to go supernova and while I still have the Hudson Haze club - co-prez with Ephany - there are new members converting every day. While reactions to news of Callisto's demise on the show were mixed, some felt the character had indeed run its course while others clung to they never will they be able to kill her off. One thing was overwhelmingly clear, in the small sampling I got from my on-line survey, every single person said they would check out whatever Hudson was in. Most intimated that they had faith in whatever vehicle she chose next to showcase her talents would be as complex and fantastic as the depth that she brought to Callisto.

No matter what happens from here on out, everyone who has the haze knows the woman behind the actress is a warm, kind astonishing woman. Her passionate and memorable portrayal of Callisto has given her a unique place of fame in the Xenaverse. Female villains will here on out be compared to Callisto. "Callisto will live in infamy as one of the all time great villains on TV...In everyday lexicon instead of saying "someone wants to get revenge", they'll be saying "they're going to pull a Callisto". "The legendary status that Callisto has already attained will only grow in time is a testament to Hudson Leick's incredible 3-dimensional interpretation of the character."

So here's to Hudson and to all the fans who share in the wonderful synergy that you help create. I'll see you in the haze.

Editors Comment: Thank you GeekGrrl for so eloquently putting into words what those of us with lesser abilities have been trying to do for a very long time. Excellent article...I loved it! See *you* in "The Haze"! :)

By: Darth Skeye <mjm86@columbia.edu>

After the Fire

Life's malicious melody
It's humbling humor
Makes you think a soul can be repaired
After it's burned, tattered, and teared
An eye for an eye,
A lie for a lie
Now an emptiness prevails
My vacant vessel Marches onward into the dawnless dark
An endless eternity
To ask myself why
What should have been done different
Where I went wrong
My sleepless night goes on.

-Darth Skeye

Editors Comment: I loved it, Darth, and I'm sure everyone else will, too. I hope you continue writing such wonderful poems and sharing them with us. *hugs*

By: Matt Peters <ghoti@cannet.com>

"Not Quite Valentine's"

Dramatis Personae
MP: Matt Peters, an Oddity Twin, coiner of term "Goddess of Obsession" and all around good guy.
MM: Melissa Monson, a Twin, Bard, and remote control on occasion.
Debbie: a liaison
Hudson: an actress
Trancer: another Twin and owner of soundtrack pants
Jeff: another Twin and owner of fuzzy handcuffs (assorted members of the mailing list)

Scene: New Cirra. Melissa's temple apartment. Out near the pool. Matt and Melissa as usual, are arguing.

MP: You can't argue with ineffability.

MM: Don't start with that.

MP: I was just saying...

MM: I know what you were saying, and stop it or I'll turn the hose on you. It's not my fault that you had forgotten it and it's not my place to fix it for you.

MP: Like you've never forgotten Valentine's day.

MM: No, I've forgotten plenty of Valentine's days in my time. I've never promised to take someone out for Valentine's day and forgotten about it. Big difference, Mallboy.

<It should be noted here that because he is one of the best bootlicks in Our Little Town (TM) Matt had agreed to take Debbie, Melissa, Hudson and Callisto to dinner on Valentine's day. He slept through the Saturday in question. Waking up early Sunday, he uttered a flood of curse words and an oath to never drink Ny-Quill, the sniffly, sneezy, stuffy head, take-a-capful-and-wake-up-on-the-bathroom-floor-thirty-hours-later, medicine again>

MM: Well, I gave GC a poem, cause after all I *am* a bard (which she was) It goes:

"Oh, the grand old Bard of Cirra She had ten thousand men She marched them up to the top of the hill And crushed all the nations of the world and brought them under the rule of Callisto our Goddess."

And I took everyone else to lunch. Trancer, Jeff (yet more twins), Hudson, Debbie and I went over to Barry's Bagels for some sandwiches and talked bad about you.

<It should also be noted that Barry's Bagels is a great little deli. Kinda pricey at nigh 5 bucks for a sandwich and small soda, but wait till you see how big the sandwich is! And, for the reader's information, Hudson had the salad bar and filled up on pasta salad, bagel chips and pudding; Debbie and Melissa had corned beef on rye while Jeff had ham and co-jack with mustard and mayo on a garlic bagel --garlic cause really, who was gonna smooch him out of the group, he was related to, friend with or a worshipper of, all the women present--and Trancer had some nice wedding soup. Also, Hudson grabbed some "roadies" (things to eat in the car)--a dozen onion bagels. Naturally, Melissa used Matt's Visa (it's everywhere, even if you're not.)>

MP: Well, as long as you had fun. You didn't max out my card did you?

MM: No, not at lunch. But we went next door to Thackeray's books and kinda went nuts. Good thing Hudson drove. Did you know she got a new car? A Honda Nigirizushi. Really big trunk. You can fit a body in there.

MP: <blank stare>

MM: Anyway, while I stretched out one of their convenient sofas and perused _Kama Sutra for One_, Goddess and Jeff went crazy in the self help aisle and picked up everything from How to Build Your Own Ferret Farm to Martha Stewart's Guide to Do-It-Yourself Goth Fashions. Trancer read Heavy Metal and hummed a few lines from a Gloria Gaynor song over in the magazine section and started a chain reaction of infectious songs. It was because of her that we were forced to leave. Well, that and the fire in the children's section. Point of interest, never let Debbie alone with a Mister Wizard book. No good can come out of it.

MP: I remember the hot glue gun incident. What was Hudson doing?

MM: Laughing till she snorted at some old Garfield books.

MP: Ok I missed Valentines day. Instead of some day commemorating a guy who lost his head, I've planned something special for St. Patrick's day.

MM: You planned something special to praise a guy who got rid of snakes in a wet and cold country? I hate to tell you this, but *I* could have gotten rid of the snakes in Ireland.

MP: You laugh, but I worked hard to get this thing settled and I'm not going to let you rain on my parade. <uses foot to push his twin's little blow up raft into deep end of pool>

[later, like mid-March]

<It had been a long night. Hudson had filmed a few more episodes for various shows and her flight did have a layover in New Cirra that arrived at 4 AM. so, she grabbed a taxi over to Melissa's place and slumped onto the couch and fell asleep with an almost audible thud.>

Then, promptly at seven o'clock.

voices: <shouting> Happy Saint Patricks Day!

HL: <rolling over, burying face in sofa cushion> Goway, lemmelone.

voices: Give her some Lucky Charms. Get her in the mood of the holiday.

HL: don't feed me anything. Go away, it might save your life. <against her better judgment, Hudson opens her eyes to see thirteen brightly dressed people who all measure under three and a half feet tall. A sign that reads: From Matt hangs on the wall>

HL: Matt got me leprechauns?

On the other side of town, Debbie, Trancer, Jeff and upstairs, Melissa all had Munchkins (they were cheaper to rent) and were woken up to the "Lollipop Guild" song. Hudson was the lucky one.

End

Matt Peters is a sometimes bard, and CRS contributor. He is a fan of Hudson's and frequent fan mail writer. If you were to tell him that much of this smacks of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet's _Good Omens_ he'd be flattered. And for any interested he'd gladly supply an annotated version of this post. Mainly cause he has spare time.

Editors Comment: Too funny, Matt...Way to go! By the way, where *is* that Mr. Wizard book you promised me for Christmas? <grin>

By: Melissa Monson <socbard@hotmail.com>

The people who know me, I mean really know me - beyond the sort of pseudo-academic facade I attempt to create - would not be at all surprised to find me drawn in, dare I say, a somewhat obsessive fashion to the X:WP character, Callisto. Of course, for them, the mere fact that Callisto is a woman who kicks butt would be enough to tip them off to my potential enjoyment of the character. And yes, in all honesty, that is part of the allure. There is something I find very gratifying, if only on a primal level, about watching a woman warrior unapologetically knock the Tartarus out of all who oppose her...well, all with one very notable exception.

In recognition of that exception, before I comment further on Callisto, I would like to briefly note what drew me to the television program Xena: Warrior Princess and more specifically to the character of Xena herself. As a woman, and in particular as a feminist, I am continually on the look out for a portrayal of women which embodies strength, intellect, power, and intensity. Such characterizations are few and far between. Often, I find myself drawn to the female villains in television and film. For many years, I questioned why this was. And in typical self deprecating fashion, I wondered, what was the matter with me? How could I have such an affinity for those committing vile, often murderous, acts? Then after much soul searching it finally dawned on me, it wasn't so much the evil that these characters were engaged in, as it was the fact that, for women at least, the villains were and are often the only characters doing anything more interesting than pining, swooning, or otherwise waiting for the arrival of their knight in shinning armor. Xena turned this formula on it's head. Finally! Here was a female hero who was a self-determined, autonomous, free-thinking being. She, being a woman of many skills, also enjoys what she does, she relishes the physical challenge, the thrill of victory. Add to that the gabby companionship of a certain sidekick bard and you have a show about women - strong, independent women. Fantasy yes, but no less inspiring for it. I found myself completely captivated by the Warrior Princess, until....a certain Warrior Queen entered the picture.

While my respect for Xena's unique strength has not faltered, Callisto brought something extra, an element that the show, IMHO, was lacking - Fury - unadulterated passionate rage. For me, Callisto embodies the hurt, the pain, the anger, the frustration of being wronged by forces beyond one's control. That, along with her sardonic wit, biting sarcasm, flirtatious, if not malicious, banter, sharp mind, ferocious fighting skill, and at times arrogant sense of self righteousness make Callisto far and away my favorite character in the Xenaverse.

Now don't get me wrong, if I saw Callisto walking down the street, I would turn and run the other way...for all the good it would do. But as a work of fiction, I find her entirely compelling. As someone who finds it difficult if not impossible to vent her anger, I envy the blonde avenger's ability to let go. Before anyone becomes too frightened, I should add that in real life I am not an advocate of violent solution, I am in fact, much more like Gabrielle in that regard. However, and I say this with a great deal of self-reflection, watching Callisto lash out, rage, snarl, hiss, and scream becomes a sort of cathartic therapy for me. Sometimes I think I may be a Callisto trapped in the body of a bard.

Contrary to popular opinion regarding the Warrior Queen, I myself, do not believe Callisto is evil or insane so much as she is in her words "just misunderstood." [Ref. SURPRISE] Oh, Callisto is bad, there's no denying that. But unlike other villains her deeds are not without, to some extent, justifiable provocation. Or at least understandable if one is inclined to empathize. I can not help but feel if someone had only reached out to this lost soul, loved her, that she would not have taken the path that she is on.

Callisto has been jokingly dubbed, Psycho-Barbie, by many members of the Xenaverse. And while it is true that her outward physical appearance does reflect a certain Mattel-like quality, her character is anything but the same old tired unidimensional portrayal of a female villain. She is not your typical feme fatale. Although she most definitely exudes sexuality, she does not rely on sexual manipulation to achieve her goals, rather she turns inward for her strength. She does not aspire toward money or power, nor even life for that matter, but rather toward justice, vengeance, peace - hers is an eternal quest to put out the rage in her heart. Here in lies the tragic irony which has befallen Callisto, the truth that seems just out of her grasp. Avenging the death of her family, while potentially gratifying in and of itself, will not - cannot - bring her the peace that she so desires.

In a commentary about Callisto, I would be remiss to exclude the actress who brings the Warrior Queen turned Goddess, to life - Hudson Leick. From a strictly physical point of view, Leick's statuesque but slight frame does not scream fierce warrior. But it's all in the attitude, and Hudson plays it to the hilt. With a well executed mixture of seething passionate rage and confident "don't f*ck with me" bravado, I have no trouble believing that Callisto can dish out some serious pain.

But beyond Hudson's acting abilities, I find her personal attitude/philosophy on life (all of which I have only gleaned from various interviews and convention reports, having never been fortunate enough to have met Hudson personally *sniffle*) to be most refreshing. In a world of political apathy and false consciousness her willingness to speak her mind in an honest, self-reflexive manner serves as an inspiration. Above all, I applaud her for her candor.

It is easy to see where Hudson draws the inspiration to portray Callisto as more than just a psycho-Barbie with attitude. There is an aura of integrity, of resilience, of inner strength about the actress that shines through.

Editors Comment: Wow, Melissa! I think that you have totally captured the true essence of "Callisto". As a woman, a feminist and a "Callisto" fan, thank you. Great job!

By: [wight@axl.be]

LAST LIGHT-

The fires had never died ...

So many years ago, on that fated day, they had destroyed a village called Cirra, and killed every occupant ... save one. Almost like a supernatural force, they had chosen that one person to continue their existence, surviving past Cirra, past that day of destruction. And so it was that the fires lived on, inside that person's mind, behind those eyes. They were fed by her rage. Fueled by her anger. Given form by her madness. And they consumed her soul ....

A single ray of light made it through the heap of stones, illuminating the cave beyond, and chasing away the darkness. Inside, shadows fled deeper into the cave, revealing the form of the woman trapped within. She was sitting in lotus position. Long blond hair flowed down her shoulders. Black leather armor, obviously worn and used, fitted tight around her skin ... And brown eyes looked up at the light, wondering what brought about this intrusion into her nightmares. The woman was beautiful, but it was a deadly beauty. Like fire, burning all who got too close. Her eyes shone with an unearthly madness, promising death and pain for those that did not heed their warnings. But beyond that, focus and determination had been replaced by emptiness and despair ...

The woman was a Goddess now, she could have easily escaped from the cave had she wanted to. But where would she go ? What would she do ? How could she escape the visions that haunted her so ? She used to think revenge was her escape, that revenge could somehow extinguish the fires burning her village and family. For years, she had pursued it, wanted it, anticipated it, but when she finally had her revenge, it turned out to be a hollow victory. The fires were still there, the hellish flames torturing her ... there was no escape. She would have cried, but she had ran out of tears many years ago.

How long had it been since she had been trapped here, days ? weeks ? months ? She didn't know. Apart from a small crack in the rubble of rocks blocking the entrance to this cave, which, on rare occasions, allowed some light from outside into the cave, nothing ever changed here. Everything remained exactly the same, hour after hour, day after day.

Or did it ?

Ever so slowly the woman started to turn her ahead, and let her gaze sweep over the cave. Something had brought her out of her reverie, out of her nightmare. It wasn't the invading light, she had gotten used to that a long time ago, scarcely even noticing it these days. No, it was something ... or someone else.

At first, she could detect nothing different, until she lowered her gaze towards the floor ... there, a shadow was moving. She hadn't detected it right away, attributing it's movement to the light from outside. But now she could see the shadow's movement was different ... almost deliberate. Other shadows started to move as well, heading towards each other, absorbing smaller shadows and growing in size. At a certain point, the shadow seemed to have grown as large a full grown man, and then slowly started to lift up from the ground. As it did so, it took on a humanoid form, and started to become more dense, started to become solid. Finally, all movement ceased, and before her now stood a humanoid creature, shaped like a man. It's skin was pitch black, and any distinguishing characteristics like a nose, eyes, a mouth or hair were missing. It looked a bit like a black puppet, one without a face.

During all this time, the Goddess hadn't moved, but she had been busy. She was using her supernatural sense to 'scan' the thing before her. Trying to understand what it was, what it could do. To her surprise, she couldn't even sense it at all. It was like it wasn't there, even though she could clearly see it.

"Greetings Callisto". Although the creature had not moved, it had somehow spoken. It's voice had a warm and kind feeling, and sounded very much human, almost like a friend, or a brother.

Her previous feelings temporarily making way for curiosity to take over, the woman replied "Who are you ? " Her eyes lit up a little again, showing a little of their past magnificence.

"I am an Avatar of Death." It replied, matter-of-factly

Curiosity disappeared. "You are one of Hades' servants ?" she asked, already becoming bored with the current conversation. She had little love for any of the other gods, and did not feel like playing any of their predictable games.

"Hades ? No, I am, as I said, an Avatar of Death. I have nothing to do with Hades, or any of the other gods, for that matter". It didn't sound like a lie.

"Ok, then what is it that you are doing here ?" She asked, deciding she might as well play along to get this over with.

"I have come to bring you the gift of Death". Kindness and affection still showing in it's voice.

This was new. "You are here to kill me ?" She asked, a slight smile forming on her lips. Perhaps this would be interesting after all.

"Only because you want me to."

"Why would I want you to ? " She asked, meanwhile narrowing her eyes. She looked very much like a predator searching for a flaw or a weakness now.

"I wouldn't be her if you didn't want me to." It's unusual reply caught her off-guard. She had expected the usual justice/you are so evil speech. She decided to take a different approach.

" And how are you going to kill me, hmmm ? I'm immortal you know. " She wanted to get some sort of reaction from the thing. A change in it's stance or voice. No such luck.

"Nothing or no one is truly immortal. Even the gods can die."

This was getting her nowhere. She wanted to know who was playing this game with her, and why. And if playing along didn't help, then she would just have to confront it. She stood up and carefully walked closer to the thing, all the while watching it like a hawk for any movement. It made none. She stopped about two meters away from it, and fixed her gaze directly were it eyes would be, had it been a human.

"I don't believe you" She dared.

Finally, ...movement. Slowly, the creature started raising it's left arm. It wasn't a hostile move, so she decided not to react and let it continue whatever it was doing. The black thing continue raising it's arm until it was pointed directly at her, five black fingers outstretched, almost like it was trying to feel something. Then it spoke again: "Let me show you" It said, and a dark shadow started forming around it's hand. Like a black cloud the shadow started moving out towards her, creeping closer inch by inch. She quickly considered whether this was some kind of attack, but then decided that it's movement were too slow and clear. It was deliberately moving this way to make clear it's intentions weren't hostile. Nevertheless, she decided to keep her guard up just in case, but she did let the black shadow come closer and closer to her.

The shadow made contact with her skin just below the chest, and suddenly she could 'feel' the creature before it. A wave of sensations crashed over her as she felt what it was, where it came from, and what it could do. She remembered it's answer when she had asked who it was: 'I am an Avatar of Death'. Somehow, that single phrase said it all. Plain and simple. She had known what it was and what it did all this time, had she listened the way she could listen to it now. And it was here to kill her. But it wasn't cold, it wasn't malicious, it was friendly, and warm, ... almost loving.

"NOOO !!" She cried out suddenly, and blasted the creature with an lightning bolt of such intensity it shocked even her. The creature flew backwards through the cave and collided with the wall. Then it seemed to just simply fall apart in a series of fleeting shadows, until there was nothing left.

As she regained her sense, she desperately looked around in the cave. She hadn't meant to attack it ... hadn't meant to kill it. It had been a reflex. She had done it before she realized just exactly what it was she had done. Frantically, she started moving around the cave, looking for some sort of indication it was still alive ... anything.

Minutes passed but nothing seemed to happen. The only movement in the cave was hers. Everything else was exactly the way it had been before. She was just about to give up, when suddenly, the movement of a shadow caught her eye. She watched it, hoping it wasn't a random movement caused by the light inside the cave. It wasn't. Ever so slowly, it moved forward, merging with other shadows, in an almost rhythmic dance that finally caused to creature to appear once more. It stood before her now, not even a meter away, unmoving. But she had touched it before, she understood it better now. It wasn't angry, it's feelings were exactly the same as they had always been.

"What will happen when I die ?" she asked. This wasn't a game anymore, it was very real.

"I can't explain, " it answered in it's familiar voice. " but you will find the peace you have searched for so long. No tortures, no after-live."

"Why me ?" she asked after a few moments of silence, as the implications of what it was saying fully hit her.

"Several reasons " she could have sworn it smiled, but how could it have, it didn't have a mouth "First of all, you don't fear Death. Many people claim not to fear Death, but when it comes down to it, very few people actually do. Second, you like Death. You like to cause it, you like to watch it. But most importantly, you want it. You called it." It was right, she had. Seconds turned into minutes as she simply stood there, considering the creature's words.

"What else is there ?" she asked after a while. Already knowing what would follow.

"Take my hand." It replied. Once again it raised its arm and stretched out its hand. This time she took the hand in hers, and was surprised how warm and alive it felt. Just like she was holding a human hand. Then suddenly her sight left her, all her senses grew still, and she felt a very unfamiliar feeling settle over her. She was dying, she could feel it, but even as she was doing so, she could feel no pain, no regret. She could only feel one thing, one feeling.

It was restful, calm, still ... peace.

And the fires finally died.

Editors Comment: Thanks, Wight. Very interesting and insightful. I enjoyed it very much.

By: Heresy <heresy@voicenet.com> and Tevin Adaultin <TevinAdaultin@juno.com>

A Day at the Surgery

Who's who:

HE: Dr. Heresy, town sadist -- sorry -- dentist.
TA: Tevin Adaultin, Cirra's used car salesman and bounty-hunter/vigilante.
IG: Knuckle-dragging dental assistant.
HL: The beautiful, enchanting, stunning, wondrous, talented actress, Hudson Leick.
GC: The Goddess Callisto.

Today is a very busy day in the Cirran Dental surgery. A long line of miserable citizens, all cradling their jaw, can be seen trailing from the surgery door. Inside, there are the familiar screams of those who made the mistake of sitting in the escape-proof chairs of the waiting room, and who are now being forced to watch endless non-Hudson episodes of '7th Heaven' while they wait. In with Dr. Heresy though, the used car salesman and town bounty hunter/vigilante ("hey, it's what I do!"), Tevin Adaultin, lies strapped in the chair awaiting treatment. Sitting opposite him is the Goddess Callisto, already diving her seventh bag of popcorn. The Doctor's assistant, Iggy, who happens to be an Orangutan (it's a long story), sits at the Goddesses feet, lovingly polishing her boots...

IG: <spit! squeak-squeak>

GC: <giggles, spitting popcorn across the room> Stop it! I'm ticklish!

IG: Oook! <translation: "I'm very sorry Goddess. Naturally, I will commit suicide this instant!"> <leaves the room>

GC: <taking no notice> So, why are there so many patients?

HE: <looks up from his examination of Tevin's teeth> Hmm? Oh, well, business has been a little slow lately, so I went down to Gene's store and sabotaged all the boxes of Cocoa Puffs with painted marbles.

<NOTE: Putting marbles in cereal boxes is a bloody stupid thing to do>

HE: <to Tevin> This looks like the broken one. <taps the tooth with a scalpel>

TA: <grips the arms of the chair> AAAAAAOOW! Yeah, that's it! I hope you're not gonna use that thing are you?

HE: Hmm? Oh, the scalpel? No, no. I always keep that handy just in case. But if you want me to use it...

TA: NO! Do it the proper way.

HE: OK. <reaches for a bloodstained pair of pliers>

TA: Hey! How about a little something for the pain?

HE: Oh, yeah! <knocks back a glass of GlenLivet> Now I won't feel a thing!

TA: <whimper>

GC: <eyes flaring> That wasn't alcohol was it? You know how I feel about intoxicants...

HE: Um...no...it was...iced-tea...in a shot glass. The way I like to drink it. <approaches Tevin again>

TA: Wait! Don't I get an injection or something?

HE: I think you're forgetting where you are...

<after twenty minutes, Tevin is carted out by Trancer's firemen, mouth full of bloody gauze, in a state of pain induced shock>

HE: NEXT!!

HL: <staggers in with a swollen jaw, moaning> Ooooow! It huuuurts!

HE: Have a seat, Ms. Leick. I'll be with you in a second. I just have to go stop Iggy from hanging himself. <leaves the room>

<NOTE: Hanging yourself is a bloody stupid thing to do>

HL: <sitting down> Why are there straps all over this chair?

GC: This is why. <snaps her fingers> The straps wrap themselves around Hudson's wrists, knees, elbows, ankles, neck...well, you get the picture>

HL: <struggling> Hey! What's the big idea?

HE: <reentering> Oh, I see you're ready. This is your first time here, isn't it?

HL: <getting scared> Yes, why?

HE: <displaying a diabolical grin> No reason. Now, open wide.

HL: <opening wide> Aaaaa.

HE: <peering in> Hmmmm. Oh, I see the trouble. Broken tooth.

GC: Oh, what a surprise.

HL: What are you gonna do?

HE: <picking up the pliers> Do you really want to know the answer to that?

HL: <looking frantically towards GC> You can't let him do this to me! I play you on TV!

GC: So?

HL: Well, it would be like doing it to yourself.

GC: <sulking> She's right. Give her an anesthetic.

HE: Killjoy! <gets bottle of Novocain> it's against my principals to use this, but... <fills a syringe>

HL: <wide-eyed> You're not sticking that in me!

HE: Why?

HL: look at it! It's a foot long!

HE: I also have to inject it into your palette. It has more resistance than your gum, so I have to push the syringe in *real* hard. Then it suddenly gives and the needle jerks in quickly. and do you know how much *that* hurts, Ms. Leick? Ms Leick? Ms. Leeeiiick?

GC: She's fainted.

HE: It happens. <goes over to the wall, to a fixed glass panel which says "In Case of Unconsciousness, Break Glass." Dr. Heresy smashes the glass and comes back with a bucket of cold water>

<SPLOOOOOOSH>

HL: <comes to> AAAAAAAAIIIII! That's cold!

HE: Right. Where were we? <holds up the syringe...>

<Due to doctor-patient confidentiality, the details of the procedure will not will not be given. All that can be said is, the screams that came from that surgery were louder than those given at any convention!> >;-)

<FINAL NOTE: Performing oral surgery without a license is a bloody stupid thing to do>

Editors Comment: hahahaha...Remind me *never* to visit the dentist in new Cirra. It sounds like it could be hazardous to my health. :)

For the past few weeks we have had the March newsletter question posted on the Hudson Leick Official Fan Club Web Site: [http://www.hudsonleickfan.com/newsletter.html] Thanks to everyone who responded to that question.

The question was: Which Disney or Warner Bros character most reminds you of Hudson and why?

Even though the question asked which character most reminds you of *Hudson*, we had a lot of responses from people who's characters reminded them of "Callisto". Consequently, I have included the responses from people who had Disney or Warner Bros characters that reminded them of Hudson *or* "Callisto".

Here are some of the responses that we received...

From: [yrios@wetv.net]
Answer: A character that i have to describe hudson is minnie mouse because shes sweet and kind to others thats why i like hudson she really cares about people and she has a nice personality just like minnie mouse.

From: [ab678@acorn.net]
Answer: The Tasmanian Devil! Callisto is a whirlwind!!

From: [Callisto97@aol.com]
Answer: Tweety Bird reminds me most of Hudson because they are both cute and charming, but extremely clever! And they are both blonde!

From: [darrel@silcom.com]
Answer: Hudson reminds me of Belle (as in the beauty) because she is a quick thinker, very charming, down to earth, and light on her feet.

From: [dera@gomontana.com]
Answer: Hudson is like Tweety Bird because she can look innocent, but she is very smart and full of cunning. She can lure that cat up to the cage and then take 'em down. I love your tenacity Hudson!

From: [driggs@e-tex.com]
Answer: Lolla Bunny from Space Jam. Both are, in their own ways, beautiful, smart, and very skilled just to name a few similar traits.

From: [dstuart@telusplanet.net]
Answer: Wil E. Coyote,because she is always trying to get Xena and never succeeds. She is always dying or getting hurt but never gives up. She is outsmarted at the last minute all the time.

From: [echo13@msn.com]
Answer: I think she most reminds me of Animaniac Dot Warner for as Dot would say "Aren't I cute?" and that is exactly what Hudson is.

From: [hugginkf@sbu.edu]
Answer: Cinderella Don't know just seems like her :)

From: [Jenny@pmprodukties.demon.nl]
Answer: bugs bunny and that's meant in the best way, because i love bugs!

From: [keving@iw.net]
Answer: Snow White: Her beauty and charisma are timeless!

From: [Peyton01@aol.com]
Answer: Uh I hope Hudson isn't too insulted but I'd say Sassy from Homeward Bound the Incredible Journey. Sassy is smart, and felineist (ok a feminist). She flirts, always has the perfect comback. Isn't afraid to say what is on her mind. That I think sums up Hudson, she is one cool cat. MEOW I loved the Burbank out fit!

From: [psgribosky@aol.com]
Answer: Dorothy McGuire's character as the mother in "Old Yeller". I just watched the new, restored version with extra footage about the making of "Old Yeller". When I got a good look at Dorothy McGuire I couldn't get over how much Hudson resembles her. In the bonus interview with Dorothy McGuire, she seemed very graceful, like Hudson.

From: [rabbate@scccpoa.org]
Answer: I think Hudson reminds me of the evil lady from Sleeping beauty. I can't remember her name. She's the one with the horns on her head. She was both beautiful and evil at the same time. I went to the Burbank convention and that's what she's like. Well she doesn't have the evil powers.

From: [sangsaric@earthlink.net]
Answer: After viewing "The Bitter Suite" I would definitely go with Alice (after a few years of consultation with Dr. Jung himself - Blue eyes notwithstanding*) - Alice singing and dancing our collective fate.

From: [swanky_mo@msn.com]
Answer: I only know Hudson as Callisto so I'm a little limited in my perspective, but I'd have to say she reminds me of Daffy Duck. Definitely not in a physical way. Daffy always seems to be crapped on and usually pictured as a bad guy. He really is not. With Daffy, Bugs is always around hogging all the glory. Everything seems to work out right for Bugs. And half the times, Bugs is up to the same mischief as Daffy, but who gets caught? That's right.. the duck.. So to Daffy, Bugs is just a big jerk. As is that evil Xena to sweet Callisto. Callisto was dumped on in a big way by Xena. We all know the story, so I won't tell it, but man! Where does Xena get off? All she offers up is some lame apology? When does she pay for all her nastiness? A few bad dreams and some uncomfortable situations. Well, Callisto's died like a thousand times already and Xena's still killing her off (even when she just wants to walk away I might add). Bugs never killed Daffy, but he has dropped anvils on his head. And that's not right either....

From: [THMontgmry@aol.com]
Answer: Warner Bros.: It would most definitely have to be Harleyquin, from the Batman cartoon series... the partner of the Joker. If there were a live action version, she'd be perfect, because she could pull off all the lines perfectly, and she already has some experience, in part of the personality, by playing Celeste... If at all confused, ask me.. I'll explain better... But, she'd just be marvelous as Harley... :)

From: [TRI@aol.com]
Answer: Donald Duck, he is one of my favorite Disney characters and he has a temper and we all know Callisto does.

From: [i-am-the-1@2die4.com]
Answer: Hudson reminds me of Dot from Anamaniac because Dot has many personalities and so does Hudson (in movies or T.V. shows).

From: [yellowsubmarine@rocketmail.com]
Answer: Hudson Leick reminds me of the Warner Bros. character named Felice. Felice is a feline femme fatale. She'll flirt and occasionally vamp enticingly for the males who cross her path. Felice does it because she enjoys having fun. She keeps her distance because she doesn't want to become seriously involved with a specific suitor. Felice wishes to have fun without hurting someone's feelings.

From: Aliaa Abdel
Answer: Hudson reminds me of Nala from THE LION KING because she is centered, she knows what she wants and she (Hudson) is tough. Now the character (just an afterthought)Callisto reminds me of Maleficent in SLEEPING BEAUTY.) However, back to Nala, although she is not the focus in the animated feature, I have heard that in the Broadway production Nala's character was expanded to be more of a "center" for Simba, and I believe that Hudson is a good person, and as a friend, and even to strangers, she would be that center..that rock because she strives to do good in the world. In the FEMME FATALE article she mentioned India, I think she is an amazing person, like Nala (in a fictional sense) to Simba and the pride.

From: [boby98@aol.com]
Answer: sleeping beauty

From: [winturbine@compuall.net]
Answer: Dot from "Animaniacs" reminds me most of Hudson. They're both extremely cute and on screen if you get them angry they'll drop an anvil on you (or in Callisto's place gorge you out with a sword).

From: [uriel74@aol.com]
Answer: Alice in Wonderland

From: [apd@ptassoc.com]
Answer: Possibly the "Hello Nurse" from Animaniacs. Blond, buxom, and beautiful.

This is where we pay tribute to some of those truly dedicated Hudson Leick/Callisto fans who spend much of their free time, and quite often their own money, to provide the rest of us with information, entertainment and hours of enjoyment by hosting some truly incredible Hudson Leick/Callisto web sites/pages. We owe these people a huge amount of gratitude for their endless hours of hard work and considerable contributions. "Thank You"!

Be sure and stop by these wonderful web sites/pages, say "hi" to the web master and tell them that you saw their web site/page listed in the Hudson Leick newsletter.

Each web master has provided their own web site/page information, so if you have any questions concerning a particular web site/page please write directly to the web master listed.

If you would like to have your web site/page featured in a future issue of the Hudson Leick newsletter please email me: Debbie <fire.ice-sac@worldnet.att.net>.

Callisto's Universe
[http://www.kiss.uni-lj.si/~k4bf0024/Afrodita/Callisto/]
Web/Page Master: Marko Puschner
Email Address: [Marko@MariahC.com]

My web site is mainly about Callisto. In some way it is a story. It looks like you visit Callisto and that you are her guest. You will find a lot of pictures from XWP show where Callisto/Hudson Leick took part. I did not find pages like mine on the web yet and I think they are unique.

It is funny that I began to make those pages before I saw all parts of XWP with Callisto and I still haven't. In Europe we are at second season (in Germany; in Slovenia where I am from, we saw only first season and it does not look that we will see the second season).

Question: How did you first discover Hudson Leick and what compelled you to start a Hudson Leick/Callisto web site/page?

Marko Puschner: That is funny story. I watched XWP. I saw part called "Callisto". Of course I saw evil blonde woman who tried to kill Xena. But that just passed me without hitting me. Time was passing by and about month latter I saw part in which Xena almost dies from poisoned dart. Camera showed for few seconds a blond woman who shoot her. At that time something hit me also. Next evening I went on web just to find who she was. I was searching through Xena pages and found nothing. I also send an e-mail to Chris (webmaster of one of Xena pages). Few minutes latter I got an e-mail from Christine in which she described me who is Callisto. When I was reading the letter computer was already loading "Callisto" pages. I really became obsessed with Callisto and I just had to make Callisto pages. So that is the story. All that happen in autumn 1997.

REMEMBER CIRRA!
[http://members.aol.com/Tman966/goddess.html]
Web/Page Master: Tim Strong a/k/a fleetfoot [tman966@banet.com] or [aol.com] (depending on which is working on any given day)

The site is a fun site. I have taken pictures that I have collected of Callisto & Hudson and added captions of a humorously misappropriate sort. The pictures follow in a sort of storyboard fashion.

Question: How did you first discover Hudson Leick and what compelled you to start a Hudson Leick/Callisto web site/page?

Tman: I first saw Callisto in TLW as I was channel surfing. Her beauty stopped me but it was her acting that kept me there. And kept me coming back again and again until I found out from a friend who she was. When "March Madness" rolled around with 4 straight eps of Callisto I was in 7th Heaven (the real one) and I was hooked on Hudson forever. My site is a small effort to honor a large talent.

Oddity Twins Productions
[http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/7385/]
Web/Page Master: Melissa, Matt, Trancer, Jeff <odditytwins@geocities.com>

This web site was born out of the Cirran Restoration Society a collective of hard core nutballs on the Hudson Leick Mailing list dedicated to the reconstruction of The Goddess Callisto's home village. Oddity Twins Production is a small group of...how can we put this nicely....strange? Weird? Sick freaks? Interesting? Yes, interesting. ...a small group of interesting people who share a similar quirky, if not odd, sense of humor and have been known to telepath on occasion (but we're not one's to gossip so you didn't hear it from us). There are currently four Oddity Twins. [note: Matt and Melissa continue to maintain that Hudson Leick is actually a long lost twin...for her sake, we hope they are wrong.] Melissa, that's me, is the Mayor of Cirra, Bard to the Goddess Callisto, and one heck of a remote control (don't ask, it's embarrassing really). Matt, her younger brother, is the proprietor of the Kindling Gate Shopping Mall and an all around bootlick to the Goddess Callisto (but that's just gross, so we're not even going to go there). Trancer, the mayor's younger sister is, well we are not sure what exactly Trancer does but she gets to hang out with firemen all day and we all know how cool that is. And finally there is Jeff, the oldest brother and Chief of the Cirran Police Department. Jeff likes to play with guns and start random fires, but then, who doesn't? Wait, what was the question again? Oh yeah, this web site offers parody, fan fiction, episode reviews, skits and other oddity related to The Goddess Callisto and the Cirran Restoration Society. From this site you may also ask the Goddess a question, in the Cirran version of "dear Abby". *shudder* We can not guarantee that she will get back to you, but her bard will and we quote, "or else". *sigh* It's not easy being green...er I mean a bard in Cirra.

Question: How did you first discover Hudson Leick?

Matt: What first attracted me to Hudson? Well, I first saw her on Xena, so I guess it was her physical attractiveness for starters. But quickly, and I mean like real quick, I loved the way "something extra" oozed out of Hudson's Callisto.

Later, when listers went and saw Hudson at the cons, we saw a women who was a dynamo. Her kinetic energy moved her around the stage, laughing, screaming and joking with the crowd. Also we see another side to Hudson in interviews where she comes across as quieter, introspective and centered.

So if you were to ask what attracts me now to Hudson? It's Hudson. A person who is just as complex funny and entertaining as my closest friends.

Melissa: I first discovered Hudson Leick when attempting to find a trade route to Chin, my sailboat got blown off course and I....no wait that was the Americas, and it wasn't so much a discovery as an invasion...and it wasn't even me. So, uh...never mind. Seriously tho, the first time I saw Hudson Leick was on Melrose Place, but it wasn't until her appearance on Xena: Warrior Princess as Callisto that I really took note of her. (For more please see my Callisto commentary in this newsletter)

Question: What compelled you to start a Hudson Leick/Callisto Web Site/Page?

A: The Goddess made us do it.

Don't forget that Hudson's birthday is on May 9th. Hudson will be 29 this year... You may send all correspondence and birthday greetings to Hudson at:

The Hudson Leick Official Fan Club
P.O. Box 775
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Also, if you would like to see the transcripts from Hudson's February 19th, Online "People" Chat, you can find them at: [http://www.pathfinder.com/people/interactive/transcripts/l/leick.html]. The transcripts were not yet available, as of this writing, but I have been told that they will be available in the very near future.

The next newsletter will be available on June 1, 1998. Until then.... Be Well, Everyone,

Debbie - 1st Fire [fire.ice-sac@worldnet.att.net]