March 2010 Archives   30 March 2010 Ratings Climb for Spartacus Episode 10 Here's some great news about Sparty's ratings..they continue to climb much like the body count. Episode 10 climbed to 1.265 million! Spartacus Blood and Sand hit highs on Friday with a .6 rating (.58, actually) with adults 18-49, and 1.265 million — series highs in both categories and substantial week-to-week growth with adults 18-49. Season one of Spartacus: Blood and Sand is winding down. Here’s the ratings recap for season one: Date Net Show 18-49 Rating/Share Viewers (Millons) 22-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.659 29-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.773 5-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.858 12-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.662 19-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.846 26-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 1.078 5-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.974 12-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.875 19-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 1.109 26-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .6/2 1.265 - Update: Starz advises that Friday’s episode also set series high in the combined viewing of the 10pm premiere and the 12:55am encore. Here are some additional numbers for Friday via Starz: Read More     30 March 2010 Steven DeKnight Talks Spartacus GamerLive.TV Steven DeKnight Talks “Spartacus” Season Two and iPhone Game The creator of "Spartacus" discusses the influences videogames are having in Hollywood When he’s not plotting the course for the second season of Starz Entertainment’s gladiator series, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” executive producer and writer Steve DeKnight can be found playing games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Gears of War 2 on his Xbox 360. One of a growing number of Hollywood creatives who’s grown up with a controller in his hands, DeKnight talks about the new Spartacus iPhone videogame, which could be heading to the iPad, as well as the technology behind the groundbreaking TV series and the impact videogames are having in Hollywood today in this exclusive interview. Read Interview     30 March 2010 Message From Lucy About The Auction & Early Tallys Hi folks, I'm beyond stoked with the figures I was tallying last night. Beyond stoked. Here are the prelim figures for Starship & ROC Outreach Fund. Starship Foundation $ 11,917.74 NZD (that figure will rise with some late sales and some donations) ROC OutReach Fund $3,240.82 USD Lucy sent me a message about the wonderful support for the auction. Holy cow! My god, that is a lot of money! You can be sure that that will go right where it is vitally needed. Thank-you Friends, from the bottom of my heart!I have never worked on a show with a fanbase as giving as the XWP gang. I guess it was the nature of the show and its message that formed such a community. I am a day wiser today. I had a wonderful birthday and I just realised that that was truly a birthday present to me! Gosh, now I feel all redfaced. I know you all work so hard for every buck you make and I never want to cajole money out of my beloved fans for any reason. I appreciate all you have done for me in my life and career and I truly ask for nothing more from you. But you make these things happen anyway. On behalf of all my collegues at the Starship Foundation, our great love and thanks to you, dear Friends, dear Nutballs, old Pals! Thanks to Mary, Christa, Roger and team for making it all go. I am so touched. Love always and everywhere, Lucy     30 March 2010 Spartacus S1 E11 Old Wounds Episode Stills Spartacus S1 E11 Old Wounds Episode Stills Spartacus struggles with a fellow gladiator’s death. The Magistrate is declared missing as Batiatus and Numerius begin the search for him View Episode Stills | Watch Episode Promo     30 March 2010 Lucy Interview on 94.5 The Buzz Podcast Audio interview with Lucy from 94.5 The Buzz 01-19-10 Lucy Lawless Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:55:00 -0500 We talk to Lucy Lawless about her new show on Starz called Spartacus: Blood and Sand Listen to Lucy's podcast   News submitted by Barbara Davies     29 March 2010 2010 AUSXIP Charity Auction Update Hi folks, Well the auction has ended and I want to thank everyone, to those who bid and who won, for their support of this auction. It wouldn't be possible to achieve what we have achieved without your support. I'll have some figures for you as to how much we have raised for Starship, ROC Outreach Fund and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Crystal Chappell) over the coming days. Since the auction software is somewhat new(ish), there were some glitches. Nothing major but some glitches. Thank you all for your patience in regards to this; it did make for an interesting end to the auction. For those that have won, you would have received an email to let you know how to pay for your item. For those who won items in the ROC OutReach Fund and Crystal Chappell items, you will be getting an invoice from our paypal account in the coming day/s. For those who won Starship items, please follow the directions in the FAQ on how to convert the US$ amount to NZ$ and proceed to payment on the Official Starship site. Starship will be letting me know towards the end of the week or early next week (as it's Good Friday this coming Friday and it's a public holiday in New Zealand) including Monday, as to payments received. Once I've received their list and matched it with ours, we will begin to mail out the items won. Payments for the ROC OutReach Fund and Crystal's items will be through paypal. Once payment has been received, the items will be shipped immediately. Once again it's been an exhilarating, rewarding experience to be a part of this auction and knowing it will make a difference. Oh behalf of myself and my hard working team (Christa and Roger), thank you for participating in this auction! MaryD     29 March 2010 2010 AUSXIP Charity Auction Ends Today! The 2010 AUSXIP Charity Auction is nearing the end. Today is the last day to bid on all the items! Check out the goodies. The auction ends between 5:30-6:30 pm US Pacific Standard Time. - Starship Foundation - Renee O'Connor Outreach Fund - Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Crystal Chappell)     28 March 2010 Spartacus E11 Old Wounds Promo Video - SPOILERS Spartacus S1 E11 Old Wounds Spartacus struggles with a fellow gladiator's death. The Magistrate is declared missing as Batiatus and Numerius begin the search for him. Watch Video Some thoughts on the video - SPOILERS - How incredibly difficult would it be for Sparty to take Varro's body back to his wife? Wow. - Looks like Spartacus is having Sura flashbacks again - The magistrate is going to feel the weight of Batiatus' boot...who is back to being ruthless and not idiotic like the previous episode. - Looks like the guy that is on the other end of Sparty's rage is Ashur (from slowing down the video and watching frame by frame) and Ashur is also going to cop it from Batiatus. I could be wrong and it could be wishful thinking. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Looks like another fantastic episode!     28 March 2010 Katrina's Blog 27 March 2010 - A Few Thoughts on Nudity A FEW THOUGHTS ON NUDITY by Katrina Law I have received several letters asking me about how I handled all the nudity on the show and I thought it was a really good topic to blog about. I wanted to try to explain all the things that an actor goes through when he or she is both considering handling such a scene and also when they are actually shooting it. When I was given the audition for Spartacus, the very first question I was asked was if I was okay with doing nudity. My initial reaction was to say, “No!” But I asked the Producer what sort of nudity was being done on Spartacus and why was it being done. Was it simply to titillate and for shock or was there a deeper motivation behind those scenes? Read More     27 March 2010 S1 E10 Party Favors Episode Review - SPOILERS Spartacus Blood and Sand Episode 10 Review By MaryD SPOILERS AHEAD! Episode 10: Party Favors The celebration of Numerius' 15th birthday brings about unexpected consequences as he is given liberty to control gladiators as if they were his own Favourite quote: "You are an ass" - Mira to Spartacus Wow. Batiatus has rocks in his head for allowing a 15 year old to have control of his gladiators! Just when I think the man is smart and ruthless, he does something so stupid, so idiotic. This was one of his idiotic moves. Forcing a man to kill his only friend in the ludus; It's tantamount to signing all their death warrants. Make no mistake...Sparty is going to exact his revenge. I'm going to be cheering when he does. I want to say I want Ilithyia's head. I'm not usually bloodthirsty nor wish any ill towards anyone normally but Illythia is not human. I would love Spartacus to do the honours...in the arena. I'll bring the popcorn. I'm surprised at myself for writing that but this episode made me sad, mad and out for Ilithyia blood. The woman is devoid of any sense of humanity. Her hatred for Spartacus is so beyond reasonable. Sparty didn't even kill her husband and she's on a rampage. Goodness knows what she would have done if he got rid of the Legate. This episode was supposed to make you feel. If you didn't feel anything then check if you have a heart or a pulse. I know Illythia doesn't. Going after a 15 year old boy to achieve her ultimate goal of hurting Spartacus is below par even for Illythia but that's where she ended up. Seducing a 15 year old boy...wow how desperate and utterly devoid of any morals is this woman! I don't blame the kid. Like any 15 year old, he didn't actually care; he got his birthday present a little early. I ADORE Viva Bianca. I'm shocked that I had never seen her in anything before. She's an Aussie and yet has totally bypassed my attention. That's going to be corrected. Viva did an OUTSTANDING job. When a character makes you want to reach out and throttle them, then you know it's one hell of a great character. Kudos to Viva. Away from Varro's death, we had Crixus continue his own hatred for Spartacus and he finally got lucky with Naevia. Naevia is one of my favourite characters and her relationship to Crixus is so beautifully handled. Crixus is still the big dumb gladiator but somehow Naevia mellows him just a little. One can hope that Ashur doesn't squeel like a pig and have them both killed. That voyeur.. is he everywhere? Does he usually spy of couples? Is that his hobby? Barca and Pietros, Crixus and Naevia...doesn't the guy have anything else to do? What a weasel. The ending was heartbreaking. Mira attending to Spartacus as he hurting was just heartbreaking. I think a tissue or two may have been needed after seeing this episode. Beautifully written, wonderfully acted. I will miss Jai Courtney as Varro. He was one of my favourites. I want Ilithyia's head. Make it happen, Spartacus. Rating: 10/10     27 March 2010 Lucy Lawless Gets Down And Dirty In The Arena iF Magazine Interview: LUCY LAWLESS GETS DOWN AND DIRTY IN THE ARENA FOR 'SPARTACUS' The XENA star talks her new role in the gladiator series, sex scenes, new technology and fans Lucy Lawless is still dearly beloved for her star turn as XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, which ran in syndication for six years. After doing a whole range of other roles, and touring in concert, Lawless is now playing another woman of the ancient world: Lucretia, wife of to the owner of a gladiator training camp in Starz’s new series SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND. There are big differences between both the series and the characters, however. Xena fought mostly for good (despite a questionable past) among mythic gods and monsters, and the series was shot on New Zealand locations. Lucretia, like most Romans of her day, believes slaves are less than human and SPARTACUS is darkly dramatic, shot against green screens in New Zealand studios so that epic backgrounds can be supplied by CGI. Lawless talks with us about both the new show and loyal longtime fans. Read Full Interview     27 March 2010 Interview: Lucy Lawless Having Fun As Lucretia Lucy was interviewed on uinterview.com about Spartacus Blood and Sand. U Q&A Lucy Lawless She was the almighty Xena. Now, Lucy Lawless is having fun in and out of her clothes on Starz' hit Spartacus.   Lucy answers the following questions: Have you had a chance to talk to your Spartacus co-star Andy Whitfield since he was diagnosed with cancer? - What has been your favorite scene to work on in the show so far? Your husband is one of the creators of the show. What does he think about all the nude scenes that you're in? You have a merkin [a pubic wig] for the show. Have you gotten to use it? They gave the men prosthetics as well. Who's using one? In preparation for all these scenes where you get to expose yourself, have you felt the need to go back to the gym and get into fighting shape for the show? The show has brought movie-like production values to TV. What's the feedback you've gotten from the network? Do you still have a very big following from your Xena days? Would you ever consider going back and doing a follow-up to Xena? What are you doing in your time off before you go back to working on Spartacus? Read her answers Submitted by: Barbara Davies     26 March 2010 Lucy Lawless Back For Season 2 Updated News Is Lucy coming back for Spartacus Season 2? It seems so. Lucy posted the following in her blog dated 17 March 2010 on her official fan club site We are looking forward to having him back kicking Roman ass --better, stronger, faster! Rock on, Andy! In the meantime, I am deciding what to do with myself until Sparty resumes in September. I've got a lot of work to do with Sign-On and Starship continues to be a wonderful focus. Still loving those guys after all these years. and on the 25 March 2010 Lucy gave an interview to uinterview.com Q: What are you doing in your time off before you go back to working on Spartacus? - Erik Meers A: Well, I'm doing sailing lessons today with my kid's school because we live in Auckland, New Zealand, the "city of sails." And I'm having a good life. At some point, I need to get back to work and I'm on the look out for a project to keep me busy in the interim.     26 March 2010 S1 E10 Episode Promo Exhibition Match S1E10 – Exhibition Match Ep 110 ‘Party Favors’ Spartacus and Crixus are commanded to spar in exhibition for Numerius birthday celebration Watch Video     26 March 2010 Q&A With Steven Submit Questions The following was posted on the Official Starz Spartacus forum about an upcoming Steven interview: Steven S. DeKnight, Executive Producer and Head Writer, has agreed to answer 10 questions from Spartacus fans. Please post your questions in reply here. We will choose the 10 best for Steven to answer. The deadline to submit questions is Wednesday 3/31 5pm MST. Submit questions Submitted by: Barbara Davies     25 March 2010 New Episode Promo S1 E10 Favor for Favors S1E10 – Favor For Favors Ep 110 ‘Party Favors’ Lucretia assists Ilithyia in keeping her secret, though requires a favor in return. Friday, 3/26 at 10pm et/pt on Starz. Click here to watch     25 March 2010 New Video - Spartacus The Women - Part 2 Spartacus The Women Part 2 The powerful women of Spartacus Blood and Sand: Lucretia, Illithya, Naevia and Mira. Click here to watch   Spartacus The Women The women of Spartacus: Blood and Sand can be just as ruthless and skilled. “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” The Women - Part 1 here     24 March 2010 Spicy 'Spartacus' Slays 'em For Starz There's no confusing Starz's "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" with Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." In the pay TV channel's adaptation of the tale of the rebel Roman slave, the battle cries from the Classical Age have, well, a distinctly 21st century ring ("My boot will meet your ass in the afterlife!"). The sexual intrigue seems lifted right out of a VH1 dating show (when a socialite decides to buy one of the gladiators-in-training, the men are ordered to drop their loincloths so she can make an informed choice). Then there's the graphic, slo-mo violence (including a severed, flying head that would impress Quentin Tarantino). With 1.1 million viewers, "Spartacus" is a home run for the cable channel, which is available in a modest 17 million homes. Long overshadowed by rivals HBO and Showtime, Starz has seen the sword-and-sandal melodrama become its first original series hit. Read More     23 March 2010 Episode 9 Ratings Climb Back over 1 Million Episode 9 was THE best episode so far and the ratings are back over a million. Stellar performances by everyone. Katrina Law's debut was outstanding and could have easily been overshadowed by the episode stealing Lucy Lawless (don't you just love Mount Lucretia? Whooshka! Mount Vesuvius had nothing on her!) Katrina held her own and wasn't overshadowed by the Lucretia and Illythia fireworks. Spartacus has a group of seriously talented actors and superb writing. I recall writing my review for the second episode and I said that there wasn't a dud actor or character amongst this cast...wish I could predict the Lottery just as well! The whole cast has been an absolute revelation (Lucy being the exception. I've followed her career for 14 years now so it's no big surprise to see her own her character and let rip. Lucy in a group of actors who are just as talented is just manna from heaven. I can't believe this season will end in 4 episodes! By the way is it just me or has Spartacus been a little too docile? Hmm...something to ponder. The following is by tvbythenumbers.com on Spartacus' ratings for Episode 9 "Whore" Spartacus: Blood and Sand climbed back over a million viewers and with 1.109 million viewers saw its season and series highs for viewing. As ever, 18-49 viewing has been consistent with a 0.4 adults 18-49 rating. Date Net Show 18-49 Rating/Share Viewers (Millons) 22-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.659 29-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.773 5-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.858 12-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.662 19-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.846 26-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 1.078 5-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.974 12-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.875 19-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 1.109 Read More     21 March 2010 Episode Recap "Whore" from AfterElton AfterElton has the funniest episode recaps..here is the one for Whore. The episode begins with a mass-sparring session in the ludus. The two hottie German brothers are battling each other, and nearby Spartacus and Blond Favreau are going at it. Attention shippers: the fight ends with Spartacus holding Blondie from behind and whispering, "Your head is mine. How shall I mount it?" I'm just sayin'. Meanwhile, Frenemy #1 from the last episode is checking out a gallery of masks with Lucretia Lawless in the villa. Turns out the masks are to hide her identity when she comes back to the villa to get her freak on with Sparty. It turns out Batty runs a full service ludus. The episode is titled "Whore," and we learn that in addition to fighting in the arena, the gladiators are expected to service noble women who come to the villa. But of course these ladies want anonymity, thus the masks. Read More     21 March 2010 Spartacus Episode 10 Video Promo The celebration of Numerius’ 15th birthday brings about unexpected consequences as he is given liberty to control gladiators as if they were his own Click here to view promo Click here to view Episode Stills     21 March 2010 Spartacus Episode 10 "Party Favors" Episode Stills Added the high resolution episode stills for Spartacus Episode 10 'Party Favors' The celebration of Numerius' 15th birthday brings about unexpected consequences as he is given liberty to control gladiators as if they were his own Click here to view     21 March 2010 Spartacus New York Premiere Report & Pics The BigBoyParty blog has a report about attending the premiere "Sparty party" of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" in New York in January and met Lucy and Andy among others. Lots of nice pictures are attached to his report. click here to view report and pics News submitted by Adi     21 March 2010 Andy Radio Interview 01 March 2010 Andy Whitfield Monday, 01 March 2010 15:37 On today’s show, Mac jumps into the arena with Andy Whitfield, star of the critically-acclaimed original drama on Starz from Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND. This series has already been picked up for a second season and is chock full of legends, bullwhips, naked men and scheming women. Andy gives Mac the business on being thrown into this den of debauchery (as a married man, to boot!), chats about life with Xena, tells us the one actor he would absolutely die to work with and shares his Oscar picks. Enjoy! Listen to the interview here News submitted by Barbara Davies     20 March 2010 Interview with Erin and Steven From Comic Con The following interview is from asitecalledfred.com (don't you just love that name? I think it's hysterical. Cute). Christopher Stipp interviewed Erin and Steven during 2009 Comic Con. Erin Cummings and Steven DeKnight - INTERVIEW So, when you go to Comic-Con, as you’re there trying to score interviews, you sometimes have to sit on things. Last year I did a rather lengthy interview with Zachary Levi of Chuck that I had to sit on for months because we didn’t know when the show was coming back on the air. When I talked to Michael Jai White and Scott Sanders of Black Dynamite, I had to wait for that one to catch a little fire before releasing that one as well. So, when I was literally pulled into a hallway to be shown the trailer for Spartacus: Blood and Sand, now playing on the Starz channel, and had a chance to talk to the always affable actress Erin Cummings who I talked to exactly 12 months before that for her film Bitch Slap and showrunner/writer/director/producer/ender of anyone not in awe of his body art Steven DeKnight I was game to get an interview that would sleep away for months while the show generated some steam. Cribbing a little bit from 300’s style but being wholly original in crafting a series that is not your usual sword and sandals production Spartacus separates itself from other shows in that you get blood but you also get a little drama, some heartfelt emotion. The series is just past the half-way point for the first season but it was a pleasure to talk to someone like Steven, a man who has had his fingers in Angel, Dollhouse, Smallville, ahem Viva Laughlin, ahem, and even has written some episodes for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The man is impressive simply by the successes he’s had on the production and written side of the business while Erin Cummings, who played a tempestuous little tart in Bitch Slap, simply exudes the kind of intelligence, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor you wish more starlets would possess. Click here to read the interview     20 March 2010 Spartacus Character Promo Picture Update - Mira Added a high resolution scan from Spartacus Blood and Sand of Katrina Law as Mira. Click here to view Click here to read the new AUSXIP Interview with Katrina     20 March 2010 AUSXIP Interviews Katrina Law Katrina Law is the newest cast member of the new hit series Spartacus: Blood and Sand on the Starz Network. A multi-talented actress, dancer, singer and comedienne, AUSXIP took the opportunity to get to know Katrina in this very extensive and fascinating interview. Katrina talks about working on Spartacus, her fellow castmates, a little about her character of Mira, some hilarious set stories and her plans on being a Mord'Sith in Legend of the Seeker and much more. Read the Interview     18 March 2010 AUSXIP Charity Auction Update 18 March 2010 hey folks, Just a few more days to go and the auction will begin (22 March) I've just finished adding all the items in both the Starship and ROC OutReach Fund sections. This year I'm doing things just a little bit differently which should make finding things so much easier! I've created categories: 1. CD & DVD 2. Collectables 3. Apparel 4. Photos and Posters 5. Magazines & Books Tomorrow I willl post a list of all items that will be in the auction for both charities. If you haven't registered for the auction, may I suggest you do so if you wish to participate. Register here You can now read the Auction FAQ on how the auction works, how to register, how to pay (when you win) for Starship and for the ROC Outreach Fund. Read Here Enjoy! MaryD     18 March 2010 New Episode Promos for Episode 9 S1E9 Requirements of a Champion Ep 109 'Whore' Spartacus is commanded to lie with the richest woman in Rome. Watch Video   S1E9 Arrangements Are Made Ep 109 'Whore' Lucretia arranges an evening between Spartacus and Licinia (Brooke Harman), cousin of the powerful Marcus Crassus. Watch Video     18 March 2010 Spartacus Screencaptures No More Hi folks, Many years ago the Xenaverse was blessed with Rob Tapert and USA Studio who allowed us to play without hindrance. They allowed screencaptures and artwork, fanfic to flourish. The internet was in it's infancy in regards to fandom. The Xenaverse grew. USA did have some restrictions like selling images etc which was fair and they came down on a few people but left us all to our copyright infringing happiness because we behaved. We are not in Kansas anymore kiddies. Due to the idiocy of some people in posting episodes that haven't been aired, creating artwork from these unaired episodes, etc and giving Starz a jolly good reason to stomp down (as is their right to do so) ALL the fans are now subject to a new ruling that no screencaptures are to be allowed. Now how do you enforce this ruling is beyond me BUT being that Starz has been very kind to AUSXIP and has given me clearance to post episode stills and other media, I have complied with this request. I do not know how Starz will enforce this on the net. IMO it's impossible but that's their decision. So no more screencaptures for any Spartacus episodes. The official episode stills I have been posting will still be available as AUSXIP has been given that clearance. Thanks for your time. MaryD     17 March 2010 Lesley-Ann and The Spartacus Cast Photos Lesley-Ann and the cast of Spartacus having fun. Check out the new photos in the Photo Galleries of Lesley-Ann with her Sparty cast and crew. Click here to view     17 March 2010 Antonio Te Maioha Interview Windy City Times 17 Mar 2010 'Spartacus' gladiator on playing gay, fights NUNN ON ONE: TV Antonio Te Maioha plays the gladiator Barca in Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Working as a hitman, bodyguard and gay lover on the show keeps this New Zealander busy. Antonio Te Maioha plays the gladiator Barca in Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Working as a hitman, bodyguard and gay lover on the show keeps this New Zealander busy. Windy City Times: Hi, Antonio. What's the weather like in Auckland, New Zealand? Antonio Te Maioha: It's beautiful, actually. I live two hours down the west coast from Auckland on a small little town right on the coast. WCT: It's a surfing town, right? Antonio Te Maioha:Yeah, I am sitting here watching the Winter Olympics on a hot summer day. Read More     17 March 2010 Erin Interview with Icon vs Icon 16 March 2010 Erin Cummings may not yet be a household name, but with her unbelievable range and dedication to her craft, she is poised to become one of Hollwood’s brightest stars. She made a huge splash in 2009, when a new cult classic film by the name of “Bitch Slap” erupted onto the silver screen. As one of the film’s leading ladies, starring alongside Julia Voth and America Olivo, Cummings provided creative depth to the epic cat-fighting, hair-pulling, go-go dancing, pile-driving, thrill-a-minute fury that allowed the film to kick ass and take names with fans worldwide. Now in 2010, Cummings continues to wield her acting might opposite of actor Andy Whitfield in the critically acclaimed series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, where she plays the pivotal role of Sura, a Thracian princess and wife of Spartacus. Jason Price of Icon Vs. Icon recently caught up with this woman on the move, to discuss her journey in the entertainment industry, breakthrough performances in ‘Bitch Slap’ and Spartacus: Blood and Sand, as well as her upcoming pilot for ABC’s ‘187 Detroit’. Read on to find out what makes her tick and what the future holds for this multi-faceted artist! Read full interview     16 March 2010 Lucy Lawless on Kicking Ass Through The Ages UGO has an exclusive interview with Lucy which has some great quotes from Lucy from Xena to Spartacus. Exclusive: Lucy Lawless on Kicking Ass Through The Ages - From Roman times to Ancient Greece to the Colonial Fleet and everything in-between. Though Lucy Lawless is best known as Xena: Warrior Princess, she's also starred in everything from Battlestar Galactica, as scheming Cylon D'Anna Biers, to her current lead role in Starz' surprise hit Spartacus: Blood and Sand. We talked with the sci-fi/fantasy icon by phone in New Zealand about getting nude in Roman times, whether she'll show up on Caprica, and just what Xena and Gabrielle are up to now. Click here to read News submitted by Barbara Davies     16 March 2010 Spartacus Ratings Sheds A Few Viewers But Steady Here at the latest SBS ratings from TVByThe Numbers: Not much new to report here. Though obviously the news that Andy Whitfield has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and that production on season two of Spartacus: Blood and Sand was shut down while he gets treatment, the ratings are steady as they go. The numbers look go, but for Starz, it’s a hit. Remember while most of the bigger cable channels are available in around 98 million to 100 million homes, as a premium subscription channel, Starz is only available in about 22 million. Date Net Show 18-49 Rating/Share Viewers (Millons) 22-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.659 29-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.773 5-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.858 12-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.662 19-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.846 26-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 1.078 5-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.974 12-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.875 Source     15 March 2010 Lucy in TV Direck Magazine 12 March 2010 The following scan and translation was submitted by Swania from a German TV Magazine called TV Direkt 12 March 2010 What has become of....? 1995-2001 As sword wielding Warrior Princess Xena she raged trough the ancient world of Greece via Britain to Germania. 2010 Lucy Lawless (41) surfaced as murderous-powerful Lucretia in the US Spartacus the US screens with Blood.     15 March 2010 Lucy and Andy NZ Herald On Sunday 14 March 2010 TV star diagnosed with cancer - Herald on Sunday article about Andy's cancer and Lucy. Herald on Sunday - 14 March 2010 TV star diagnosed with cancer BRITISH ACTOR Andy Whitfield, 35, who plays the lead in raunchy TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand is undergoing chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Production has been delayed on the second series which was due to start filming in Auckland from April 26. Extras casting director Rebecca Rowe sent an email on Wednesday to talent agencies informing them production had Stopped "due to unforeseen circumstances". Rowe said there was a possibility the series will resume later in the year. Whitfield said: "I'm receiving excellent care, and am feeling strong, positive and determined with an army of support behind me". Meanwhile, Lucy Lawless told Venice magazine last month she's not sure she will he in the second series. "We're in talks tor me to be in the second season - because I wasn't supposed to be. It could all fall apart. I might not be in it; I don't know!" You would think hobby Rob Tapert would have some inside juice. He's the executive producer on the show. But Lawless said the power couple keep their marriage and career separate. "I'm not dealing with [Rob]. My deal is never made with him." Lawless credits moving home for her happiness. "Life got 800 per cent better, at least, when I moved hack to New Zealand... So I went home, and my husband and I are under one roof, my parents live nearby, and all my girlfriends from grade-school. There are a few people I miss here, but in every other way life's just much better. I've got dogs, and chickens coming. And we live right in the city!"     15 March 2010 Lucy Photos from Spartacus PR New York Tour The following pics were taken during Lucy's Spartacus PR tour in New York.           Check out the full size versions on twitter News submitted by Adi     14 March 2010 Spartacus Episode 9 "Whore" Episode Video Preview Spartacus Episode 9 "Whore" Episode Preview Batiatus breaks the news that Spartacus is to service the richest woman in Rome and agrees to perform whatever duties necessary. Special note to Xena fans: Michael Hurst directed this episode. Read MaryD's Episode Preview Watch Episode Promo Video | View Episode Stills     14 March 2010 Spartacus Ep 9 Whore Episode Preview Spartacus Episode 9 "Whore" Episode Preview by MaryD Batiatus breaks the news that Spartacus is to service the richest woman in Rome - and agrees to perform whatever duties necessary. Special note to Xena fans: Michael Hurst directed this episode. Wowie. Um. Let's hope I can write something that won't break the spoiler rule. Okay I'll comment on matters already revealed in the logline. Wow. Batatius and Lucretia now run a brothel with a twist! Talk about surprising. I guess having the Champion of Capua and lots of coin isn't enough for them. The women of Rome want more than just to gaze upon the Gladatiors... Crixus and Naevia continue their secret love affair...one of these days they will get caught...it's just a matter of time. I fear for young Naevia when her Domina finds out...its going to be Mount Lucretia that will explode and it won't be pretty especially considering what happened in this episode between the two BFFs...you do NOT want to cross the Domina... Again the interaction between the two BFFs is on show...I never know what to make of Illythia - she finds herself in some very deep hot water...and there is a SPECTACULAR Lucretia eruption that is just amazing to watch. Lucy does mad, bad and absolutely twisted so well! Lucy in full flight is a joy to watch, had to rewind it several times to just savour it because it is fantastic. I've been waiting for this volcanic eruption for a while now. The ending once again surprising me! The last few frames of this episode are truly SCARY. I have no words to describe the look on Lucretia's face without giving away a major spoiler. I thought Batiatus was ruthless...his wife certainly matched him here and I thinks surpassed him. Those two are just perfect for each other. Memo to Illythia...DO NOT MESS WITH LUCRETIA and for those hoping to see Xena in this show...me thinks Bad Xena showed up and was in full flight. BAD BAD MAD Xena...REALLY bad Xena. So BAD it's absolutely awesome to watch Lucy transform. Rating: 9/10 Watch Episode Promo Video | View Episode Stills     14 March 2010 Spartacus Ep9 Episode Stills Now Online Added high resolution episode stills for the Spartacus Blood and Sand Season 1 Episode 9 "Whore" Batiatus breaks the news that Spartacus is to service the richest woman in Rome - and agrees to perform whatever duties necessary. Click here to view the Episode Stills     13 March 2010 Sword and Sandals Epics Are Back Times Online 13 March 2010 Sword and sandals epics are back Movie technology and contemporary geopolitics have made the Ancient heroic narratives relevant once more Somewhere in the North of Britain, AD117. A rain-sodden band of Roman soldiers from the infamous Ninth Legion bemoan their lot while keeping guard at midnight in a fort. It’s the start of Neil Marshall’s Ancient-era action movie Centurion, and the hero, Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender) grumbles, “I know this enemy well. They will not be drawn into open combat. This is a new kind of war!” Suddenly, the soldiers are snapped to attention by a noise from the darkness outside. It could be the dreaded savages from the local Pict tribes. It could be a Boadicea-style female assassin who is lurking in the shadows. Or it could, given the right timings and locations, be the sound of the cast and crew from another competing Ninth Legion movie, which is gaining ground near by. This one is called Eagle of the Ninth, and stars Jamie Bell, is directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), and is coming soon to a sword’n’sandals-filled cinema near you. There has never been a better time to make a movie set in the Ancient era. Besides these two high-profile Ninth Legion films, we are also about to witness a big-budget Clash of the Titans remake that features Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and $100 million worth of special effects. We’ve already had the Greek gods and teen heroes in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Mickey Rourke, meanwhile, is starring in Dawn of War, a mortals-versus-gods adventure from the director Tarsem Singh (The Fall). Plus, the TV series Rome is being revamped for the big screen, and the hottest story in US TV right now is the explicit raunch and violence in the Gladiator-inspired series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. ... Even Tapert, who previously worked on the high camp of Xena: Warrior Princess (his wife is the Xena star Lucy Lawless) and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, says that the mood had changed by the time Spartacus came along. “We wanted the characters to play it 100 per cent straight, and to allow the dramatic flourishes — the sex and the violence — to be the things that would provoke the audience. We never wanted to acknowledge to the audience that they are in on a joke, which we did periodically on Xena and Hercules.” Tapert says that he is aware that the sex and violence in Spartacus — which runs the gamut, respectively, from orgies to on-screen dismemberment — is regarded as controversial. The British pressure group Mediawatch UK is so offended that it is trying to block Spartacus from reaching our TV screens. Tapert dismisses the group, saying that its members are using the show to “fuel their own popularity and promote their own agenda”. He says: “Although we’ve pushed the boundaries of what one would normally see on television, there are ancient plaques from the houses of prostitution in Pompeii that are also pretty explicit.” Read Full Article     12 March 2010 What's Hot in Hollywood USAWeekend 14 March 2010 USAWeekend 14 March 2010 (released a little early?) What's Hot in Hollywood Lucy Lawless gained worldwide fame as a leather-clad Amazon in Xena: Warrior Princess. Now the actress, 41, finds herself in revealing wisps of fabric as Lucretia on the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. “I appreciate modern clothing like nobody else,” Lawless says with a laugh. She’s “not a lunatic body freak,” although the prospect of having to bare some skin onscreen “does make you a little more inclined to put down the doughnut. ”   Source     12 March 2010 Lucy In The Mercury Magazine Supplement on Sunday The Mercury - Previewing this Sunday’s print edition, March 14, 2010 USA WEEKEND: This week’s magazine urges you to spring out into the great outdoors, offering 10 free ways to unplug from your digital world and get outside to spend time with your loved ones. Plus, a chat with two of today’s top college basketball stars, just in time for March Madness. And Jessica Simpson returns to TV with a new VH1 reality show, Lucy Lawless reveals a different fashion sense for Spartacus, Lost star Emilie de Ravin recalls her early ballet ambitions, and find out who’s the new voice of CBS Evening News. (Hint: He has played God … twice!) All in this weekend’s issue. Source News submitted by Barbara Davies     12 March 2010 Erin Radio Interview 05 March 2010 Salt and Demetri the Greek Interview actress Erin Cummings on March 5, 2010. Cummings has recently starred in the movie ” Bitch Slap” and has a role on Starz show ” Spartacus Blood and Sand” Click here to listen     11 March 2010 AfterElton Interviews Steven DeKnight 10 March 2010 Warning: This interview refers to major spoilers from the last several episodes of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. You can't say we weren't warned: in the promotion for the new Starz show Spartacus: Blood and Sand, the actors and creators all stressed that this was unlike anything else on television — that it would be sexier, with both female and male nudity, and also much more violent. We knew about the sexy part right from the beginning. But two weeks ago, we got another reminder of just how violent the show is when Barca, a gay gladiator, was unceremoniously killed after a misunderstanding with the unforgiving Batiatus. This last week, in response, Barca's partner Pietros, took his own life. The two plots twists, which we wrote about here, have been the subject of much debate on the site. But we wanted to know exactly what the producers of the show were thinking, so we called up co-creator Steven DeKnight, who is also the show's executive producer and head writer. DeKnight has also worked on, and written for, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, and Angel. The interview took place last week, before the episode in which Pietros kills himself had aired. Read Interview     11 March 2010 Spartacus Has Biggest Combined Viewing Ever Starz’ Spartacus: Blood and Sand Steady, But Drops Back Below 1 Million, But Has Biggest Combined Viewing Ever The premiere airing of Friday’s episode (107) of Spartacus: Blood and Sand averaged 0.974 million and again had a .4 rating with adults 18-49. Though Friday’s episode ranks second to the previous Friday, the total Friday night viewership (10PM + 12:46AM repeat) registered more viewers (1.26 million) than any other episode’s combined Friday telecasts, including 2/26 (1.21 million) episode. 2-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.659 29-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.773 5-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.858 12-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.662 19-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.846 26-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 1.078 5-Mar-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.974 Read More     10 March 2010 New Spartacus Episode 8 Video Promos S1E8 – Ilithyia Mark of the Brotherhood Episode 108 'Mark of the Brotherhood' Ilithyia contemplates owning a new gladiator recruit as she assesses their qualities. Oh my! Click here to watch   S1E8 – A Lesson from the Champion of Capua Episode 108 ‘Mark of the Brotherhood’ Spartacus makes his point at Crixus expense. Friday, 3/12 at 10pm et/pt on Starz Click here to watch Previously updated episode promo for Spartacus Episode 8 "Mark of Brotherhood" Continue reading New Spartacus Episode 8 Video Promos.     10 March 2010 Steven DeKnight Interview with The TorchOnline Interview: SPARTACUS Co-Creator Steven DeKnight Hopes to Tell “a Rollicking Good Story” After writing and/or producing stints on Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Dollhouse, Steven DeKnight knows genre television. Now DeKnight finds himself ensconced as head writer and executive producer of a show he helped create, Starz’ Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Last year, when I interviewed Spartacus co-creator Rob Tapert (who also co-created Xena: Warrior Princess), Tapert credited DeKnight with the day-to-day handling of the show. That was all I needed to know. With the show a solid hit (and having firmly won over most of us here at TheTorchOnline.com), I was eager to do a mid-season check-in with DeKnight, to find out exactly how the show ended up where it did — and get a sense where it’s going next. Read interview     10 March 2010 Lesley-Ann Updates Her Official Blog Lesley-Ann has updated her blog with the latest news about a new role in New Zealand, Andy's illness and other interesting stuff. Click here to read     10 March 2010 Press Release Andy Whitfield Diagnosed With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' Star Andy Whitfield Diagnosed With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma News Release Issued: March 9, 2010 2:44 PM EST Production on second season of the hit Starz series delayed to accommodate treatment LOS ANGELES, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Andy Whitfield, who plays the title role in Starz Original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," announced today he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and will begin treatment immediately in New Zealand. Whitfield discovered the cancer during a routine checkup as he prepped for the sophomore season. Andy's doctors have stated his condition is very treatable, and was detected in its early stages. "I'm receiving excellent care, and am feeling strong, positive and determined with an army of support behind me," says Whitfield. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Andy," says Chris Albrecht, President and CEO of Starz. "His health, of course, is our primary concern. He has our complete support during this difficult time." The second season was scheduled to begin shooting shortly in New Zealand, but has been postponed to accommodate Andy's treatment. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" has been a breakout success for the Starz network. The first season finale airs Friday, April 16th. Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 16.9 million and 30.6 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies and new original series every month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand, and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Starz (Nasdaq: LSTZA), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.     9 March 2010 New Spartacus Artwork by Klippart Klippart has sent in another gorgeous piece and this time it's centered on Champion of Capua, Crixus. It's called Capua!!! Click here to view the larger version Click here to view Klippart's Work     9 March 2010 Spartacus Goes to UK Bravo Virgin Media's pay-TV channel to air drama criticised in US for graphic sex and violence Mark Sweney guardian.co.uk, Monday 8 March 2010 11.36 GMT Virgin Media's pay-TV channel Bravo has acquired the rights to the first two series of US drama Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The drama about the Roman slave revolt in the first century BC, which is executive produced by Sam Raimi and airs on US cable channel Starz, has attracted significant media attention in the US for its graphic scenes of sex and violence. Spartacus, which stars Four Weddings and a Funeral actor John Hannah and former Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless, has been compared to a combination of films 300 and Sin City. Bravo has acquired the UK broadcast rights to first two TV series, as well as seven-day catchup and video-on-demand rights. The second series was given the go-ahead even before the US premiere of the show. The 13-part series will form the centrepiece of Bravo's summer schedule, although a broadcast date is yet to be set. "As soon as we saw Spartacus we knew it was the ultimate testosterone-fuelled series guaranteed to put Bravo on the map in its 25th anniversary year," said the Virgin Media TV head of acquisitions, Amy Barham. "Provocative, technically brilliant and brutal, we're positive Spartacus will live up to the hype and controversy." The show, like previous dramas set in ancient times such as Hercules and Xena, was filmed in New Zealand. Source     8 March 2010 AfterElton Looks At The Deaths of Barca & Pietros AfterElton has such a beautifully written article at the death of Barca and Pietros. Tim has written a great article. Check it out. What Worked – and Didn't Work – About "Spartacus"' Shocking Gay Twist When the Starz network began its advertisement campaign for Spartacus: Blood and Sand, it seemed obvious that this would be a show unlike any other on television. Clearly taking its visual cue from the film 300 and its basic storyline from Gladiator, it was to be a series that would push the boundaries of sex and violence on television. And then, another big reveal: there would be equal parts male and female nudity – almost unheard of when it comes to American entertainment. And if that wasn’t enough to lure in gay and bisexual male viewers, we got the scoop that there would also be – get this – a gay gladiator. And not just any gladiator, but one of the biggest and toughest on the show! By now we were hooked, and Starz not only kept their word, but exceeded it. Yes, there was ample eye candy that gay male viewers could enjoy, and yes, there was certainly a bad-ass gay gladiator, but the writers went above and beyond by showcasing the fact that the gay gladiator, Barca, was in a committed and loving relationship with another slave named Pietros. Even better, none of the other characters thought any less of him or anything negative about their relationship at all. It seemed too good to be true. It even caused some to wonder who exactly the target demographic for this show was. Surely, heterosexual men aged 18-35 would be uncomfortable with the level of intimacy shown between Barca and Pietros. Read More     7 March 2010 Spartacus Episode 9 Preview on Lucy's Official Site Ooh this is awesome - Lucy's official site has a preview of sorts to Episode 9 of Sparty. Episode 9 is when everything changes for Lucretia and Illythia - it is an AMAZING episode. I'll have my preview of it next week but you can see scenes from it now! http://www.lucylawlessfanclub.com This is downright awesome. Episode 9 is absolutely amazing!     7 March 2010 Spartacus Season 1 DVD Possible Release Date The following was posted on Twitter (many thanks to MichealHurstOnline) RT @Todfilm be sure to pick up Spartacus Season 1 when it comes out on DVD. Will prob be around Dec-Jan before the premiere of season 2. Cool!     7 March 2010 Manu Interview - Boston Herald 7 March 2010 Manu Bennett proudly wears the scars of a warrior in Starz’s ‘Spartacus’ Manu Bennett can act, dance and play classical piano. He can also wield a trident and subdue an opponent in nasty ways not seen since the heyday of the Roman Coliseum. Bennett portrays Crixus - the powerful gladiator who hates the titular warrior of Starz’s “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” (Fridays at 10 p.m.). It’s a demanding role, and the 40-year-old Maori has the scars to prove it. “There is never a fight scene where someone doesn’t get a sword across the knuckles,” Bennett said in a telephone interview from New Zealand, where the show is produced. “I’ve hit Andy (Whitfield, who plays Spartacus) a couple of times, and he’s gotten me back. I already have a couple of scars from the show where the sword blade found home - notably a cut across my right pec.” The wound came as Bennett was shooting a scene with one newcomer. Read Full Interview     7 March 2010 Spartacus Episode 8 Mark of Brotherhood Video Promo Season 1 Episode 8: Mark of Brotherhood Video Promo Batiatus purchases a fresh batch of slaves at an auction to be trained as gladiators and ponders the idea of selling Crixus. Illythia coaxes a new recruit to try to kill Spartacus. Watch episode promo on AUSXIP Video Spartacus Channel     7 March 2010 Season 1 Ep 8: Mark of Brotherhood Preview Season 1 Episode 8: Mark of Brotherhood Episode Preview by MaryD Batiatus purchases a fresh batch of slaves at an auction to be trained as gladiators and ponders the idea of selling Crixus. Illythia coaxes a new recruit to try to kill Spartacus. My first reaction to this episode was 'oh those poor slaves' and then it was "oh my those slaves" <g> Illythia new slave has some serious problems on his hands by the end of the episode. Since the log line spoils that particular pairing he does indeed try and please his new Domina. The episode has several subplots running through it. The aftermath of Crixus' wounds, Naevia and Lucretia's concern for him; neither of them wants to see Crixus be sold off to another Ludus, Barca's "freedom", the relationship between Crixus and Spartacus, the power plays, Varro and the rest of the Ludus. It's a hotbed of intrigue. Batiatus is up to his usual nasty ways but that's now normal programming for the Dominos. We get new slaves who are in for a world of hurt (some more than others). One major subplot involves Lucretia and her BFF Illythia. What a fascinating look at those two. I have a feeling Illythia is in WAY over her head with Lucretia. The young Roman is going to find herself in a very sticky situation; one of her own making that will come back and bite her. The ending will make you sit up and take note. Two slaves follow their Domina's orders...one is thrilled and the other...not so thrilled with the outcome. Let's just say it's sometimes not a great idea to follow the orders of your Domina. Not a good idea at all. Rating: 8/10 Episode Stills | Video Promo | Official Episode Page | Credits     6 March 2010 2010 AUSXIP Charity Auction Coming Soon! Hi folks, We are 2 weeks away from the start of the 2010 AUSXIP Charity Auction to benefit The Starship Foundation (Lucy) and The Renee O'Connor Outreach Fund (Renee). The auction will start 22 March until 28 March 2010. This will be our 4th AUSXIP Charity Auction and the AUSXIP team (myself, Christa and Roger) hope to bring you some amazing goodies. This year we have got a ton of great autographed stuff specifically signed for this auction and non autographed stuff. There are a some VERY special items that I will go into more detail in the next few days that are just totally incredible. Two of the items are: a new ipod nano (16 gb) for Lucy (metallic blue) autographed by Lucy AND it includes a video to go with the ipod for the successful bidder which is extremely cute and very Lucy, a new ipod nano (16 gb) for Renee (metallic green) autographed with two Renee videos thanking the successful bidder. That's only 2 of the items in a huge swag of goodies. Other autographed Items are from: Lucy Lawless Renee O'Connor Adrienne Wilkinson Katherine Fugate Michael Hurst Jennifer Ward-Lealand Erin Cummings Lesley-Ann Brandt Katrina Law Rick Jacobson Steven L. Sears Hudson Leick Peter Mensah Steven DeKnight Brent Fletcher (Spartacus Writer) America Olivo Zoe Bell Kevin Sorbo Julia Voth Ron Melendez Manu Bennett and Crystal Chappell Stay tuned! MaryD     6 March 2010 The "Historical" Spartacus - Part 2 The "Historical" Spartacus - Gladiators by Jeffrey Stevens, Historical Consultant, Spartacus: Blood and Sand Spartacus: Blood and Sand represents a deliberate and entertaining mixture of gladiatorial types drawn from the Late Republican period, in which Spartacus lived, as well as the later Imperial period that contained a wider variety of fighters. While some imperial gladiatorial types, like the net and trident wielding retiarius, and certain equipment representations, involving shield shapes along with helmet and weapon styles, are not always completely historically accurate with respect the time period of Spartacus, one of the strengths in the first season is that it shows the diverse backgrounds and fighting styles that defined the evolution of gladiatorial culture throughout all phases of Roman history. Throughout the first season, Spartacus will evolve and employ a variety of weapons, armor, shields, and fighting styles that are not simply representative of a typical thraex of the Late Republican period. In some ways, as the heroic catalyst of this story, he becomes an embodiment of many different gladiatorial types during his ongoing transformation throughout the first season. Read More     6 March 2010 New Naevia and Crixus Wallpaper from Starz Starz has released a new Naevia and Crixus wallpaper with the two love birds. I just love those two and you know they are in serious hot water if Domina finds out. 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1440     5 March 2010 Spartacus Panel 2010 Xena Convention Photos I've been meaning to post these photos over to the Spartacus Galleries now for over a month from my main 2010 Xena Convention Page and I've finally found some time to do so. The panelists were Peter, Erin, Steven DeKnight, Eric Jacobson and Brent Flecther. The panel occured during the 2010 Xena Convention at LAX on 06 Feb 2010. Click here to view pictures (photos were taken by Jennifer Crawford (19 Pictures) and myself (83 pictures...there seems to be alot of Peter...hmm <g>     5 March 2010 Spartacus Season 1 Episode 8 Episode Stills I have posted Episode 8 Episode Stills to the Spartacus Galleries. I will be posting a review of the episode (minus spoilers) tomorrow after Episode 7 airs. Episode 8 Stills (For Lucy fans - they contain no Lucretia shots but Lucy is definitely in this episode) For those that haven't read my review of Episode 7 Episode stills for Episode 7 is located here Episode Promos for Episode 7 are available on the AUSXIP Video Spartacus Channel 1. Great and Unfortunate Things 2. Doctore's Warning 3. No Longer A Thracian     5 March 2010 Is there No Purpose Beyond The Blood? I've often imagined what Angelina Jolie films would be like if they starred Lucy Lawless. Tomb Raider was in a manner envisioned for the Kiwi television icon-it's a film based on a video game character, who was in turn inspired and made possible by the groundbreaking heroine Lawless created the year before in the syndicated television epic Xena: Warrior Princess. We forget now-after Buffy, Lara Croft and their increasingly pallid descendents—how recently women started kicking ass and how the ass kicking kick-started with Xena. If Lawless had played Lara Croft more girls would have taken up archaeology. As depicted by Jolie, raiding tombs looked like the most boringest job ever. As Walter Matthau said of Lillian Hellman, Jolie is "as seductive as a large bowl of oatmeal." She turns stealing cars, being a hitwoman, and even belonging to the orgiastic cult of Dionysius into chores to be approached with detached and botoxed disdain, and I've pined often, when Jolie pops up onscreen, for the non-ironic glee with which Lawless embodies eros and toughness. I'm glad she's back on TV. Lawless's performance in Spartacus: Blood and Sand leaves no doubt that Alexander would have been a hit if Oliver Stone anointed Lawless as Queen Olympias instead of Jolie. Lawless is the brand, as they say, in this reboot of Spartacus, and for good reason. She retains the voluptuous beauty she had as Xena (now accented by a more colorful wardrobe) and more importantly, the bold shamelessness. Xena, which had low production value and likely necessitated the coinage of "cringeworthy," charmed audiences because every time Lawless struck a well-placed, slapstick blow against evil, she broke out a brazen, infectious smile. Though Spartacus has inherited none of the lighthearted fantasy of Xena, Lawless is equally brazen. Read More     5 March 2010 S1 E7 Great and Unfortunate Things Episode Promos S1E7 - Doctore's Warning Posted On: March 5, 2010 Doctore is not a happy man over Spartacus drugging him in Season 1 Episode 6 "Delicate Things" You wouldn't expect him to be very happy. Ep 107 'Great and Unfortunate Things' Doctore confronts Spartacus on his failed plan to escape. Click here to watch S1E7 - No Longer A Thracian Posted On: March 5, 2010 Ep 107 'Great and Unfortunate Things' Batiatus arranges a grand spectacle where Spartacus is forced to fight his own people. Friday, 3/5 at 10pm Click here to watch     4 March 2010 Lucy Interview With Good.is Welcome to our series Talking to a Famous Person. In this series we publish our conversations with high-profile nonprofit founders, actors, and everyone in between. Known internationally for her role as Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess, Lawless has had a diverse career onstage, behind the camera, and working with organizations to help children in need around the world. Lawless was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine in 1997, the same year she first appeared on Broadway in the remake of Grease. Her long career spans music, television, film, and the stage. In addition to working on blockbuster films like Bedtime Stories and Eurotrip, she has also appeared as a guest star in episodes of The Simpsons, The X-Files, Just Shoot Me!, Veronica Mars, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Burn Notice, Less Than Perfect, Flight of the Conchords, and Battlestar Galactica. This year you can catch Lawless on Spartacus. Beyond the studio sets, Lawless is involved in a number of different charities, many in her home country of New Zealand. Read on to learn more about Lawless' charity work, her views on climate change skeptics, and the strangest Xena fan request yet (hint: it involves an axe). Read more     3 March 2010 IESB Exclusive Interivew - Erin Cummings On the Starz original action-adventure drama series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Erin Cummings plays Sura, a Thracian princess and the wife of the title character. When Sura is captured, taken from Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) and sold into slavery, his sole focus in life becomes doing whatever it takes to get her back. Even though his rebellious tendencies initially get him into trouble, he is tamed by the promise of one day being reunited with his wife. In this exclusive interview with IESB, Erin Cummings talks about playing such a strong woman, how much she enjoys working with her co-star Andy Whitfield, filming in New Zealand and her feelings about the critics of the show's graphic violence, sex and nudity. Read Full Interview News submitted by Barbara Davies     3 March 2010 Where In the World Is Spartacus Here's a round up of where Spartacus will be showing in your country (that we know of at the moment) Australia - Channel 7 (7two digital channel) UK - Bravo Nertherlands - March 14 on RTL5 Belgium on Prime From Martine For the Netherlands the RTL5 channel is pay-tv. And for Belgium the Prime channel is also pay-tv. However we have several providers who work with the Prime product so we don't know which provider will be the choosen one. One thing for sure, in Belgium it will be expensive. General Spartacus will only be available in The Netherlands and Belgium on the digital TV. Additional news submitted by Barbara Davies     3 March 2010 Erin in FHM Magazine UK April 2010 Erin is featured in the latest issue of FHM Magazine UK Edition April 2010 Issue. She talks about Spartacus and Bitch Slap. The magazine also mentions that Spartacus will be shown on Bravo in the UK.   Click here to view     3 March 2010 Spartacus on Australian TV For Aussies waiting to see Spartacus Blood and Sand, the wait is nearly over. It seems Channel 7 has bought the rights to the show (which is quite a surprise as I figured Foxtel would snap it up). According to an Express.co.uk article about how a group in Britain wants to ban the show from being shown on British TV there was mention of Channel 7 buying the show. It will be shown on 7two (the second channel 7 station). No date was given. Source     3 March 2010 AUSXIP Interviews Nick Tarabay - March 2010 Interview AUSXIP Interviews Nick Tarabay by MaryD and Christa 03 March 2010 Nick Tarabay is Ashur on Spartacus Blood and Sand, meet the man behind one of the show's very interesting characters. Spartacus Blood and Sand Episode 6 "Delicate Things" introduces us to another side of Ashur, one that most of the fans would not have envisioned. Nick sits down with us as we find out more about the man and what it's like to work on Spartacus Blood and Sand.   click here to read the interview     2 March 2010 Spartacus Ep 7 Great and Unfortunate Things Review WARNING: Contains spoilers for Episode 6....you have been warned! Here is a mini review of Episode 7... Episode 7: Great and Unfortunate Things Overcome by the pressure of Batiatus' control, Spartacus must make a choice: leave his past behind and assume the mantle of a champion gladiator, or die. I sit here and wonder how this show does it. How in 6 episodes one can be so emotionally invested in the characters to care when one of them or two of them (in the case of Sura and Barca in Episode 6) dies. I found myself mourning their passing (more Sura than Barca). For Sura fans can I just say (without giving too much away) that Spartacus has not forgotten her. I doubt he ever will. Sura is a part of him which is both beautiful and frightening at the same time. This episode also gives you a closer look at Naevia (Lesley-Ann Brandt) and her love for Crixus. Beautiful scenes. Varro has troubles of his own and Pietros misses Barca, Lucretia has some girl talk with Ilythia and Batiatus continues his nasty ways and there is a battle or two along the way. This is quite an emotional episode. The end will leave you gobsmacked. Utterly gobsmacked. Took me totally by surprise. Click here to view episode stills Click here to watch episode promo     2 March 2010 Viva Bianca Interview Spartacus' baddest bad girl Ilithyia Slight spoiler alert; if you read between the lines, go no further. Spartacus nation swells weekly with the layers of story the writers have heaped on top of each other for Starz original series, "Spartacus" Blood and Sand." No castmember is more complex, vexing or as unpredictable as Ilithyia, played to the hilt by Aussie flaxen-haired beauty, Viva Bianca. It is our seemingly vapid and oblivious Ilithyia whose actions will greatly color the rest of season one, as she continues her house guest crashing ways on Lucretia, her frenemy and facilitator of all potential gladiator trysts. Ilithyia plays the typical blond role well, but make no mistake, she is clever, cunning and has ice water flowing in her patrician veins. Viva Bianca plays the young Roman noblewoman Ilithyia in “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” set in the brutal Roman gladiator era. The spoiled, selfish daughter of Senator Albinius is also the loyal wife of Legatus Claudius Glaber. She may be trolling for male flesh, but her heart belongs 100% to her "gone on Roman business" Glabby. This past week was tough for our Spartacus (Andy Whitfield). Duplicity is the modus operandi of Batiatus' (John Hannah) ludus. Who to trust, who to fear, all these things now will weigh heavily on Spartacus as his wife has died in his arms, and Batiatus continues to manipulate him to his end. But there is a thorn in Batiatus' side as well, as he and his wife Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) continue to entertain the never departing guest, our fair Ilithyia. There's a price to pay for her valuable friendship. Ilithyia will exact that pound of flesh. As Batiatus and Lucretia continue their social climbing, entertaining the Magistrate and the Roman snooty snoots along with Ilithyia, their ludus serves as the hippest hot spot in all of Capua, replete with glistening male flesh that does the bidding of their Roman overlords. Ilithyia engages in a subtle power struggle with Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), whilst admiring the attributes of the gladiators, yet harbors deep-seated ill-will towards Spartacus. Monsters and Critics was fortunate to catch up with Viva Bianca and chat about all things Spartacus. Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/features/article_1537713.php/Spartacus-baddest-bad-girl-Ilithyia-Viva-Bianca-interview#ixzz0gzlgJtr7     2 March 2010 Spartacus Ratings Hit 1.08 Million The premiere airing of Friday’s episode (106) of Spartacus: Blood and Sand averaged 1.08 million, the first time the show has gone over a million. It again had a .4 rating with adults 18-49, though it had about 80,000 more adult 18-49 viewers than the previous week (550K vs. 471K). Date Net Show 18-49 Rating/Share Viewers (Millons) 22-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.659 29-Jan-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.773 5-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.858 12-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .3/1 0.662 19-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 0.846 26-Feb-10 STRZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .4/1 1.078 - I know the numbers don’t seem like much, but for Starz, these are a pretty big deal. It might have outdone Caprica on Friday (still haven’t seen those numbers) — it’s better than Caprica’s viewer totals from last week, and Starz is available in about 22 million homes versus Syfy’s 96+ million homes. Read More     1 March 2010 New Artwork by Klippart - Ilithyia Added new artwork by Klippart to the Spartacus Artwork Gallery - a humorous piece on our favourite blonde Illithyia. Click here to view   You can also view Klippart's other artwork on her page here     Read More Archives