WEEKEND: By Zeus!First it was “Star Trek.”Then...

WEEKEND: By Zeus!

First it was “Star Trek.”

Then it was “The X-Files.”

Now it seems just about any television show has its own convention for those adoring, obsessive fans for whom once a week is definitely not enough. And, it seems, most of the conventions wind up coming to the Burbank Airport Hilton.

This weekend, we have the official “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Warrior Princess” conventions.

The two Universal Television syndicated action programs air Saturday nights on KTLA-TV--”Hercules” at 8 and “Xena” at 9.

The two-day event in Burbank will offer onstage presentations, behind-the-scenes footage plus lots and lots of show-related merchandise and personal appearances by the two shows’ stars: “Hercules’ ” Kevin Sorbo on Saturday and “Xena’s” Lucy Lawless on Sunday.

* The first official Hercules and Xena Convention will run 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Burbank Airport Hilton, 2500 Hollywood Way. Tickets are $10-$18 per day, children 6 and younger accompanied by a parent or guardian are admitted free. Call (818) 409-0960.

FRIDAY: Duel

Piano will be the weapon of choice Friday when jazz greats Billy Taylor and Ramsey Lewis perform at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.

Taylor, who has recorded many jazz albums since the early 1950s, is also well known as a writer, jazz educator and for his television appearances. As the musical director of the David Frost television talk show in the late 1960s, Lewis was the first African American to hold such as position.

In the 1960s, Lewis created a commercial formula that mixed jazz licks with pop tunes and consistently broke into the Billboard pop charts during the height of Beatlemania and thereafter. His style managed to have wide pop audience appeal while not alienating his original jazz faithful.

Lewis scored 13 Hot 100 singles from 1964 to ‘69, including instrumental cover versions of “Hi-Heel Sneakers,” “Hang On Sloopy” and “Wade in the Water.”

This is the fourth event in the Playboy Jazz Festival in Concert series at the Alex.

* Ramsey Lewis and Billy Taylor perform jazz piano at 8 p.m. Friday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $22.50-$29.50. Call (800) 233-3123.

WEDNESDAY: Jewish Soul

The Cantors Assembly will present “The Soul of Our People,” a memorial concert for Hazzan Allan Michelson, on Wednesday at Adat Ari El.

The concert will feature the University of Judaism Concert Singers conducted by Tova Morcos, the Cantors Assembly Ensemble conducted by Hazzan Jeremy C. Lipton, and other Hazzanim of the Cantors Assembly. The accompanist will be Aryell Cohen, organist of Sinai Temple of Los Angeles.

Michelson, who served as cantor at Adat Ari El for over 30 years, died in 1991. He is credited with creating a singing, participatory worship environment at the temple. Proceeds will benefit the Cantors Assembly and the Hazzan Allan Michelson Memorial Baal T’Filah Institute Scholarship Fund, which helps train lay people in liturgy.

* “The Soul of Our People,” a memorial concert for Hazzan Allan Michelson, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Tickets are $20 general, $10 students. Call (818) 766-9426.