People

By Michele Orecklin

IT'S NOT LIKE SHE WAS THE "PACIFIST" PRINCESS

It was an inglorious way for a princess--warrior or otherwise--to end her reign, but if nothing else, the series Xena: Warrior Princess seemed to come to a definitive conclusion. After six seasons, the show's final episode saw Xena, played by LUCY LAWLESS, being riddled with arrows and decapitated. Her corpse was later hanged from a tree and cremated. On the plus side, she did vanquish some evil spirits. But that wasn't enough to pacify fans of the show. An angry rabble has taken to the Internet, complaining on fan sites of the violent nature of Xena's death and the fact that it seems to preclude the possibility of future Xena Christmas reunion specials. Xena producer (and Lawless's real-life husband) Rob Tapert said Xena's death was true to the ethos of the show and hinted that resurrection is not impossible. "This is about the fifth time that Xena has died in the series," he said, "so I'm not worried about the franchise ending."

Heir Jordan

Not only was youth served at last week's NBA draft, it was also indulged with fawning deference. For the first time, the No. 1 pick, KWAME BROWN, 19, drafted by the Washington Wizards, was plucked straight from high school. Three of the top four picks were high school seniors, while only four players of 28 drafted in the first round were college seniors. This led to the usual brow furrowing over premature NBA matriculation, but Brown, who has been working out with Wizards president (and potential teammate) Michael Jordan, sees only the benefits. The 6-ft. 11-in. Georgia native, who will earn $12 million over three years, is the seventh of eight children raised by a single mother who supported her kids by cleaning motel rooms. When asked how he would spend his paycheck, Brown (with NBA commissioner David Stern) said, "I've got to take care of Mom. You cannot give your mom enough."

YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS

You might think a kiss that generated so much attention would be sexy, shocking, or at least involve two sets of lips. As it happened, the first public peck between England's PRINCE CHARLES and longtime consort CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES was a rather chaste affair. The eruption of unbridled cordiality occurred at a charity event in London given by Parker Bowles. Upon greeting, she and Charles fleetingly brushed both cheeks. No knees were weakened, no monarchy fell. Nevertheless, pictures landed on the front page of virtually every British newspaper. The prearranged public display of affection, which perhaps not so coincidentally happened days before Princess Diana would have turned 40, was seen as another step in a methodical plan for Charles and Camilla to win public acceptance as a couple. In some quarters, at least, it had the desired effect. The next day, a British bookmaker slashed the odds that Charles would marry Camilla within two years from 10-1 to 5-1.

MAYBE HE'LL SMILE FOR THEM TOO

There are pitfalls and privileges to being the daughter of the Texas Governor. The pitfalls arrive when your father ascends to the presidency and the national media start taking an avid interest in your drinking habits. The privileges occur when your father arranges to have a movie star and his band play at your birthday party. Unfortunately, George W. Bush's twin daughters Barbara and Jenna are experiencing the former, while their replacement gets to enjoy the latter. At her 15th birthday party in August, the daughter of Texas Governor Rick Perry will be entertained by RUSSELL CROWE and his band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, with proceeds going to charity. Perry, who succeeded Bush, met Crowe when the actor was in Austin recording an album, and Crowe suggested he'd like to do a benefit in town. Barbara and Jenna can take consolation in the fact that when their birthday rolls around, their father has connections with some very good military marching bands.