01. [From the editor's desk]
02. [Hudson as Callisto: What's not to Leick?]
03. [Her Crowd: The Adventures of Hudson Leick and Company]
04. [Final Words]
"When I give, I give myself." Walt Whitman said that. The idea behind the Walt Whitman quote was to kind of let everyone in the fandom know that helping out with the fan club and doing the on-line newsletter has been a labor of love. Not just for me, but for so many of the people who work on the OFC.
It was 2 years ago this month that I took over the reins editing the OFC newsletter, and so it seems apropos that this be the venue that I announce that I will no longer be doing the newsletter or be the Convention coordinator. It is not just the winding down of the show Xena: Warrior Princess, it is knowing when it is time to move on. This experience has been so amazing. I loved working with the Maintenance Team, they are some pretty spectacular people, being involved with Hudson’s fan club, meeting so many of you, working with Sword and Staff, and other charities has been so rewarding.
There is also a time and a place to know when to walk away. To take the warmth and fond memories and move on down the path life has set before you. Now is such a time. To everyone that has contributed to the fan club, from the art work to the articles, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have given to me. One of the most rewarding moments has been to see the effect that Hudson has on her fans. She is more than an incredibly talented actress (and I hope one day to see her in a venue that will showcase the depth and breadth of her talent), she is a kind and generous woman who has shared her self with her fans. This is an atypical fan club, this is true, but Hudson is an atypical woman.
I said it this way to someone, the ride is over, it had its ups and its downs, but the ride has pulled into the station and it is time to unbuckle the seat belt and move on. I should probably amend that somewhat to Never say never, but until our paths cross again.
I will always remain co-prez with my good friend Ephany of the HudsonHaze Club, the haze is eternal, but the time for me here has ended.
Take care and of course, HAZE ON –
[Dyann]
Hudson as Callisto: What's Not to Leick?
(A Report From the Valley Forge, Pa. Convention, March
3-4,
2001)
Hartriono B. Sastrowardoyo [alert5@yahoo.com]
"I'm sure you guys don't want to hug me." [pause] "You guys don't care!" She imitated wiping her nose with the back of her hand then intoning, "Yay! Callisto snot!"
She then segued to "I always chew gum, and this one man in England asked me, 'Can I have your gum?' And he would take the gum from my mouth - and sometimes he would eat it actually - and then he would carefully save it. We're going to auction it off later," she joked.
"Mom didn't come," she announced, to the audience's 'aaawwwws'. "I know, I'd be much meaner if she was here. They were afraid of the snow, and didn't want to get stuck in it. Unlike you guys. You're not even my
family.
"What have I been up to? I'm standing here wearing a wig and high heels and my toe rings hurt. What, you didn't like that answer?
"Xena. What was it like to play Xena? It was dreadful. Lucy Lawless is such a different human being than I am. You can see it in our acting. She's very stationary and steady, and I'm all over the show. For
me to change my style, and try to do a straight line like her, it's very difficult for me. Plus, there's not a lot of room for me to come up with creative stuff. It's already been done.
"She already has a character, and you're watching her. When I first got the job, I was like, 'I don't want to play Xena. Everyone wants to see Lucy play Xena. That's why Lucy is Xena.' When I got the job, Lucy and I did have fun with it, though. I had more fun trying to teach her to play Callisto. I don't know if she had fun trying to teach me how to play Xena. Renee [O'Connor] helped me out a lot, and that was
very helpful."
"Do I like playing Callisto? Of course. Where else can you scream and throw fits and get paid for it. And then people like you come and thank me for it. It's so bizarre! 'Thank you for being so ugly on TV, and
hateful.'
"I love doing action films. And I love to be hateful. It's fun. Actually, I don't really have a preference. It's wherever life takes me. I like the opportunities. Does it have to action? No. I'd like to try a drug addict prostitute. That should be a lot of fun. And it
would. Because it's interesting and dramatic. To play something normal, I would have a very hard time.
"I scream a lot. Do you want to know if it's me, it's real, do I like it, does it hurt my throat? It does hurt, but it's fun, and it feels really good. It gets all the stress out. Do you want to try it?
"What was my relationship like with the cast? It was a good working relationship, but we were never close. I would come in, do my job, and then leave. I wasn't there long.
"What's my hobbies?" [to herself] 'What are my hobbies?' " Do I have anything interesting about me? Not really.
"What's my favorite episode? Let's see. The one where I became a demon and where I became a god. You know, where I crawled out of the cavern and Gabrielle grabbed my hand - how delicious was that? And then I strangled her and she went 'Aaahhhh!!!' Because I killed her husband. He had to go. He did. Xena paid me," she said, acknowledging the subtext with a smile.
Another audience member asked, "What was it like to kiss Kevin Smith [Ares, God of War] ?" Hudson's reply: "I kissed Kevin Smith?! Where was I? When I played Xena? No…. Several times?! I remember kissing Xena. That was real nice. You know what, I was so nervous at the time, I had so much on my mind. I don't know. I think it was nice kissing Kevin. I'd like to try it again, though.
"The meanest thing I ever did as Callisto? I think the meanest thing I ever did that was most enjoyable was tricking Gabrielle. We were at the campfire, and she said to me, 'Why are you like this?' And I gave her this sad sad story on how difficult it was to be without a sister and mother, and then I turned around and asked her how it was with her husband dead. I think that was pretty bad. And I loved that. I loved it when I read in the script. I was reading it on the plane and went 'Ohhh! __That __ was good!'
"Do I do my own stunts? No, but I beg to do them. There was this scene in Hercules, where he flips Callisto, and she does this
back flip. And I was like 'Let me do it.' Because Kevin [Sorbo] did it to the stunt double. 'Alex let me do it, let me do it. I can do that.' And they were like, 'Nope.' Some of things I can't do. When you see my face it's me, but when you see the back of my head it's my double.
"What's it's like wearing the Callisto outfit? A little on the chilly side. Plus they have body paintings in the morning. You're in the makeup trailer, you're butt naked, it's not sexy (you can fantasize all you want), it's freezing, it's winter, they come in with a bucket, a sponge, and a big thing of
cover-up. And they start slobbering this makeup all over you. First thing, four or five in the morning. And you put on your outfit, there's this girl that ties you up in it. Is it comfortable? No. It's okay. But fighting, it'll chafe, especially when you're using the sword.
"How did I get into acting? Um, I slept with a lot of directors. I had second thoughts about saying that, because you [the young girl asking the question] seemed too young for that to be appropriate, but I
said it anyway. That's not true, I maybe dated one director. I went to Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, and after that I moved to L.A. I had a lot of auditions. A lot of it is luck, a lot of it is hard
work.
"Do I think I'm like Callisto in real life? In some ways, yes, because only I can play that role. How can I play her without knowing what she's about? I'm not all Callisto, because that would be no fun. And those candy kisses I threw you would come much harder. But I'm not. I'm a sweet, innocent, little angel. You know it's true, right?"
Lastly, Robert Duncan McNeill (Tom Paris, Star Trek Voyager) got on the question line and asked Hudson, "Do you think Tom Paris is the sexiest character on television?"
Her response: "Of course he is." After the audience died down, she finished, "That was a good answer, wasn't it? I've never seen you before or know who you're character is."
Robert continued, "I was told to ask you…. Is your character and Xena 'together'?"
"Do you have more gum?" (Robert was chewing gum as well.)
"Depends on how you answer the question."
"Were we together?"
"Yes, are you 'together'?"
"I don't know what you mean by that," Hudson replied innocently.
"You know, 'together.'"
"Explain what you mean by that." Robert came up on stage and said, "You know, 'together.' You see, on our show we have this Klingon, who is very mean, and -"
Well, maybe Robert hasn't, but Hudson's playful banter makes her show on stage a must-see at any convention she's at.
Elizabeth Carroll [ani8299@yahoo.com]
I had the honor of meeting Hudson at a Chicago convention. She was wonderful.
She looked right in my eyes when we talked and hugged me, I was so happy to find out she was as wonderful of a person as she is an
actress.
Thank you who made it possible for me to meet Hudson.
J Connell [Jconnell1@hotmail.com]
When it comes to Hudson, quite literally *every* moment with her on stage is memorable. Three instances I've seen personally however stand out:
-at ZonCon (Baltimore, Sept. 1998), when personal photos were being taken, Hudson arranged it so I was standing behind her with both my arms wrapped about her waist. This of course left me so flabbergasted I probably looked like I was having a stroke.
-at the Palo Alto Creation Con, 2000, I was at the microphone and tried
apologizing for doubting her ability to make the return of Callisto in "Ides of March" anything more than a cameo, to which she grinned and said "I just love a kiss-ass.", which came out sounding like a compliment coming from her.
-at the New York Creation Con, 2001, a fan dressed as Ares came to the
microphone and demanded Hudson kick him in the stomach the way she had Kevin Smith a few season back; given he was shorter than Hudson herself (the fan, that is, not Kevin) this made for a very humorous moment.
Larry Williams Metal Master [susanwilliams00@webtv.net]
I would like to share with you my recent experience with the most breathtaking woman on planet earth; Ms. Heidi Hudson Leick. First I have to say
I am the biggest Hudson fan alive, and this woman has touched my life in so many ways, that
I couldn't even begin to describe them-so I won't even try. suffice it to say, I
could not wait to see her in Pasadena. Others have described - I should say
TRIED to describe-what she is like onstage, but all I can say is that I was in absolute awe, the entire time she was up there. There is just something about this woman that makes you HAVE to look at her-she demands your attention. I don't know what it is, and I probably could not describe it if I did, but there is just a feeling that I have never experienced before-something intangible that makes you forget about anything and everything around you, and be in complete and absolute joy. At least
that is what it was like for me. You just don't know until you experience it for yourself.
So after I got the ability to move my legs back, I walked to the front of the auditorium to get in the question line. I didn't really have a question, as my brain was still not functioning properly at this point, but I was in row N, and I wanted to be closer to Hudson. At one point, she got offstage and ran around the auditorium passing out Hershey's kisses. She came by the question line and handed some to me. It turns out I didn't get to ask a question, as time ran out before I got up to the front. I don't know what I would have said-I probably would have just incoherently mumbled something, then passed out.
All I could do now was wait until Sunday, when I would actually get to meet the goddess in person-my biggest dream. Everything was a blur for the rest of
Friday, and Saturday was fun, but all I could really do was think about meeting Hudson on
Sunday. So finally the big day rolls around, and she would be signing in the annex (a
room adjacent to the
main auditorium) at 1:00. I had my autograph tickets-creation was selling autograph tickets for 30 bucks a pop, that would guarantee you an autograph with someone from the show. You could buy up to two tickets for each star. I had two for Hudson, and one for Alexandra Tydings. I was one of the first in line, and was waiting in excruciating anticipation. As I waited, Lady of Shallot-who was a friend from the netforum, and working as a volunteer-came over and we talked for a little bit. At this point the stars who were signing started to come in one by one. I think it was Claire Stansfield who came in first-looking
great (and very intimidating, as she is at least four inches taller than I am)- then came Tim Omundson and Adrienne
Wilkinson-who was very cute, Ted Raimi came out at some point, then came Alexandra, and last, but most certainly not least.......Hudson. By the gods she is gorgeous!!!
She was wearing a white strapless dress with her shoulders bare, and her hair pulled back, and big gold loop
earrings. She was greeted with many cheers, and as she walked by a man yelled out to her-to which she stopped and replied; "well hello strange man". Finally I got into the front of the line, and I'm standing a few feet away from Hudson, who is
of course, not sitting behind her table like everyone else, but rather on top of it-so there is nothing in between you and her. I gave my tickets to the great Mike
Ownby - who was taking them-and my heart was racing. Then the person in front of me moves, and there is Hudson.
Looking at me. I almost froze. When Hudson looks at you, she looks you directly in the EYES, and to look up and see those perfect big brown eyes looking at me was almost too much to take-I think pure shock was the only thing that kept me from breaking down. She said hi, and I gave her my pictures to sign, which she did, and I asked her if there was any way I could get a picture with her. She said it was pretty crazy at that time, but we could do one after she was done signing. Then she told me to eat some of her birthday
cake (there were little pieces of cake on napkins next to her) to which I jokingly replied I'd rather have a picture. She than reassured me we'd do one, and again told me to eat some cake. I thanked her, and took a piece. Then I had to sit down to catch my breath and compose myself-or at least try. After I regained my faculties, I got in line to get an autograph from Alexandra-who was very cool. I ended up
missing half of Sunday's presentations, just sitting at a table watching Hudson, which was fine by me. Even if Lucy and Renee had come onstage right then, I would not have moved an inch. Finally everyone was done with autographs, and we are informed that Hudson will do pictures for ten minutes-I think she had a plane to catch. I rush into line and get a spot towards the front. I think
I was fortunate, because there were a lot of people behind me, and I know quite a few of them didn't get pictures. Mike Ownby was taking
pictures, so you had to have your camera ready-which I did. As I got closer in line, my heart started pounding so hard I thought I would have a heart attack-I have never been that nervous in my entire life. Then it was my turn, and this time
I did break down, and started to cry-which I am NOT afraid to admit. This woman is a huge part of the reason I'm still around to write this today. She just looked at me with such compassion as I started to break down in front of her-here I am, this 210 pound man, just losing it at the sight of her. I asked her for a hug, and with 100 people waiting behind me, and a plane to catch-she not only hugged me, but held me in her arms. It felt surreal, and for those few moments that I was in her arms, I felt true peace-which is something I had never felt before. She then took a picture with me, in which you can see the most caring brown eyes you will ever see. I then told thank you so much, and again, she looked at me with those eyes and with such a genuine quality so
understanding and pure, and with a look that I shall never forget, said; "You're welcome".
Her Crowd: The Adventures of Hudson Leick and Company.
Usual cast plus some others. Blah, blah, blah.
(The first one who mentions that the last installment was a year ago gets a fist in the teeth ok?)
When we last left our intrepid crew, Hudson was about to launch a full scale rescue mission to save the girls from the slave labor camps aboard Kathy Lee Gifford's galleon where they made black market Beanie Babies. When the dust settled and the blood was washed off, Melissa had been hit in the face with a kickball - which Hudson has repeatedly apologized for - Gene had a strained right thing and Jeff fell in love with a Laotian girl who can stitch 17 Beanies in an hour. Pandora was forced to belly dance as a form of distraction to the guards, Geek lost a bundle of cash playing craps with some Vietnamese kids, Gallo found God but was forced to keep his location a secret, Trancer was spitting out teeth but it was ok cause they weren't hers and Ephany made some cash by selling some stolen Beanies. Hudson however, broke a nail.
In a side note there was the discovery of two final Twins out in the snow. Goddess only knows how long they've been out there, but by this time people stopped caring how many of them there were out there and the Tibetans used them as strange topiary ornamentation and would occasionally use them to fend off tiger attacks. These last twins are Cal (as in the Priestess and keeper of swords or things) and Shadow Dancer, who wasn't part of New Cirra but was picked up in the surrounding countryside. She collects tropical fish and stamps.
Matt has thus far been moved from Brando's private island, was employed as the mop-guy for Fire-Island men's rooms, was the on-set gold paint applier for The Mummy Returns and was thoroughly enjoying a stint as Terri Farrell's personal pedicurist when he was "rescued" by his "loving Family."
MP: But I don't wanna...
HL: It doesn't matter if you wanna!
TR: When did she start channeling WWF's The Rock and using his catchphrases?
HL: Oh I channeled him...
In any event a rather distressed Mallboy was forced from the buffed and pampered feet of The True Dax and forced back to New Cirra.
(Back Home)
MM: Well that adventure was pointless.
MP: How so?
MM: Well, let's see, aside from my kidnapping the highlight was Galloway's Vulcan Urine-weld to his yak. That isn't much of a highlight.
MP: Yeah it sure does sound a lot worse than BEING SOLD INTO SLAVERY.
MM: Don't give me that I saw you with Dax toes in your hand. You weren't hurting.
(In the front yard, playing catch)
HL: I say oppose the rigid and socially-enforced straitjacket of patriarchal hegemony. 'Sides, Pandora and I want a cookie.
Jeff:
But it's close to dinner and you know how *she* gets.
Geek: And a Dr. Pepper.
HL: And some cheese slices.
Jeff: Dr. Pepper - Geek, cheese - Pandora, cookies - Hudson. Sounds like a dream inside Mallboy's head.
HL: (shudders)
(Meanwhile: In the kitchen)
Gene:
You'd better go check on Galloway. He's wrapping the dogs in duct tape and mumbling 'never again, never again'.
TR: Eww. No way. I dunno, but since you took Pledge to the bannister, he gets that same look every time he smells lemons.
Cal: (looking out the kitchen window) Jeff's coming in. He's got a funny look on his face.
TR: That's just his way, dear.
Jeff (inside house): I've been sent on a Food Raid. Cheese, cookies and Dr. Pepper.
Cal: Sounds like a scene in Mallboy's head.
Jeff: Exactly.
(outside) HL: (shudders)
(later)
MM: Ok, ok. Everyone listen up.
GC: Excuse me?
Velasca: When did you lose control of your remote control, Callisto, Dear?
GC: Hush. <looks at her Bard> When did I lose control of you?
Ares: mmmm...bard control... (Author's note and really who wouldn't like Bard control?)
MM: Like I was saying, I wanted to have this little barbecue after our latest adventure to say something important.
GC: Since when?
MP: seriously, we've all had a good go in our day. We helped raise a village and we all helped to make the world an Odder place.
GC:
If there's more of you I swear ....
TR: No, it's actually time to say goodbye. An adieu if you will.
GC: No way. I'm not going anywhere. Remember what happens? Rocks fall - I come back. It's the way of the universe.
MM: No really, there's one of us here who is going away for a while, and she'll be missed. She's been odder than most, and has been the editor of the HLOFC Web-Newsletter for a while now. And, as this is her last one, we're here to say goodbye. And maybe it's time for us all to pull up tent stakes and spread our oddness elsewhere. Take over the good people at #jesus on IRC or something.
MP: But in the end, things change. Change is the word that we use to tell us that we are growing older and that new things are on the horizon. We have our flings and we move from flower to flower, or maybe it better to say that life is like a big party and we move from cake to cake, licking frosting from everything in sight.
MM:
(man you're strange)
MP: I guess I'm trying to say that ...well, perhaps it's as if there's a odd sort of banging like throwing rocks down the hall. Down the wells in the courtyard, too. There's a clock near Bard's haystack with a cute little bird, that's popping out to say "how do you do?"
Trancer: So Geek, it all starts to tell us... Obsessively compel us, to say goodbye to you
All: So long, farewell, auf Wieder sehen, good night
Gene: Remember when we had that eggnog fight?
All: So long, farewell, auf Wieder sehen, adieu
Jeff: And the time that Mallboy took your shoes?
Geek: (makes a face) No I never knew - (gags)
All: So long, farewell, au revoir, auf wieder sehen
Gallo: (slightly drunk) And that Callisto chick - what an eternal pain...
GC: (smacks the lips right off Gallo)
Just Gallo lips: ouch.
All: So long, farewell, auf Wieder sehen, goodbye
Pandora: After she's gone that big bedroom is MINE!
Cal: I'll just sit and be cute cause this' my only line!
Shadow: I'm outta this family if everything has to rhyme
Eph: And at the end, Geek, I want to say one last time:
GC: So long, farewell, auf Wieder sehen, goodbye Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Hudson: Goodbye, Dyann. It's been fun and thanks for all the fish.
GG: When in the hell did you ever read Doug Adams?
So Dyann - from The Family to you - best of luck. It's been surreal. Big Love, from Your Oddity Family.
Mel, Matt, Trancer, Jeff, Gene, Galloway, Pandora, Shadow Dancer and Cealaigh. And Eph - who helped take over the world ;-)
Editors Note: Aww, now I am going to get all misty eyed. Thanks for the sentiments. It was great fun!
See what that skit made me do? J
This is kind of an homage, because way back when, in the early days, I used to write skits concerning Callistoga water, Gummy Bards and a 'lapdog' to the Goddess Callisto, although in those days I just called her Cali. Then I discovered (thanks to Griller - thanks Griller) the Hudson Leick mailing list, so I joined, and lo and behold, there were these 'Twins' who wrote skits involving a Goddess and a surly attitude and the havoc we could wreck in a make believe corner of cyberspace that they had named New Cirrah, I was just playing in a playground. I learned certain rules about that Goddess (gone were the days of me calling her Cali, well at least in public, and hanging out watching trash TV, eating Gummy Bards and drinking the Callistoga water.) There was talk that maybe I was a twin, but some geneology research discovered I was actually a cousin - removed by a generation of Sea Eels, but I try not to dwell on that. Anyways, as I was writing my 'farewell' to the editor position, I starting getting nostalgic, and then I read MallBoy’s skit and well, I decided to dust off some of my 'skit-writing' skills and give it one more go. Hope you enjoy it!
EverGeek, GG
Titles: Lapdog to the Goddess Callisto, Geek, Julius Geek, Co-Prez of the HudsonHaze, The Goddess's Favorite (MM: Oh you are so NOT the favorite!)
Once upon a time, in a land, far far away, there lived a lapdog.
GC: <burst of flames> There lived a WHAT?
GG: Ok, there lived a Goddess.
GC: Better.
GG: <rolls eyes> Anyways, there lived a Goddess, who was born of fire and passion and rage.
MP: Excellent!
GC: I was born in Cirra.
MM: <mutters> how come the lap dog can roll her eyes and not get a smack, but I even breathe wrong...
GC: BARD! Are you muttering?
<smacks Bard>
MM: <lips from across the room> See...
GG: I was telling a story.
GC: About ME!!!
GG: Right, about you.
Eph: Why are we always telling stories about her? For instance, I know this great story about Gillian and the Vagina Monologues…
GC: I loved that play!!
All: She said Gillian…In front of the Goddess…
GC: I can’t say that I like the direction of the character this season though.
Eph: I know!! What are they thinking?
GG: Was I just imagining talking or did that really happen?
MM: <mutters> What am I? Everyone else gets to…
GC: Bard! Are you still muttering? <casts fireball>.
Of course, it would take Trancer and the team of firefighters 45 minutes to revive the pile of ash that was the Bard, still muttering though.
Pan: You know what this story needs?
Cal: <jumping up and down> Oh Oh Oh, I Know!!!!
GG: NO! Mallboy, put the Crisco away slowly.
<Plates come flying into the crowd>.
GG: What the blazes?
GC: Did someone say blaze? <pillar of fire>
Hudson runs over to them, tossing plates as she goes.
Shad: Is this some strange custom someone neglected to mention to me?
All: <blank stare>
Shad: Right, never mind.
Barbara Hershey chasing after Hudson: Give me back my dishes.
Gene: Are you going to be the one to tell her that those are not Hershey’s kisses?
Jeff: Are you high? Or do your pupils always look that way?
Gallo: He never recovered from the time we all went to the Rock the Casbah night and Trancers pants got stuck on ‘Send me an Angel’.
Velasca: You people are freaks.
Trancer: That wasn’t my fault, Mallboy melted the circuits during the fireworks display.
MP: I did not. By then, I had come unglued.
All: Ewwww.
GG: So there was a STORY here.
MM: Oh, now you have a story too. I suppose you want remote control responsibilities next.
HL: C’mere bard, you need to sparkle! <pulls a gallon of glitter from her purse>
MM: <whines> Noooooooo.
GC: Oh! Glitter! <joins in the glittering of the bard>
GG: Barbara Hershey is going for one of the hoses. This does not look good.
BH: <grumbling> Run off with my dishes will you?
Eph: I think I am going to go check out how things are in V-Land.
Shad, Gene, Gallo, Jeff: V-land? There is such a place? Wow…
The rest of the story is lost amidst the flurry of glitter, water and of course, twins running amuck in a panicked state. The last thing left standing is one glittering Bard.
MM: HEY!!
There isn’t much left to say, I will always be here, captured so long as these pages remain. I hope that future legions of fans of Hudson Leick appreciate what my time in this ‘fanclub’ world resulted in. To Debbie and Wesser, thank you so much for everything that you have given. To Mike, for always having the pictures. To Ephany, well haze, what more can be said. You and I know the haze is eternal. To my ‘cousins’ the Oddity Twins, thank you for all the laughs! To the bard, thank you. To Hudson, we will never be in this same place again, so may your journey continue to light your soul and if our paths cross again, we will know the other and smile. Thank you for everything! To everyone else, May the Haze be with you!