Episode 145: Precocious Man Child
No Pink Spandex – Episode 145: Precocious Man Child (1:10:59, 49 MB)
[audio:http://awwman.com/podcasts/NPS145.mp3]
Show Notes
Hosted by: Lisa J, Jer, Tristan, and Spy
Topics: Licensing Expo News, Casting Sides for Power Rangers Megaforce, Saban Acquires 4Kids Saturday Morning Block, DVD Box Set Art, and more!
Brought to you by:
Podcast Sentai Power Rangers – A podcast about everyone’s favorite costumed heroes in Power Rangers, Super Sentai, and Kamen Rider.
“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series” to be Available as a Comic-Con Exclusive
Shout! Factory will be at San Diego Comic-Con July 12-15th selling Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series as an exclusive. From their press release:
Get this 19-DVD box set Comic-Con Exclusive version only at the Shout! Factory booth! Featuring all 145 original episodes from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Seasons One, Two and Three, plus the ten-episode series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alien Rangers. In-depth bonus content includes retrospective featurettes, brand-new interviews with members of the cast and the creative team and much more!
(Courtesy: Samurai Cast)
Austin St. John, Walter Jones, and Paul Schrier in Short Film “Steps Towards the Sun”
Austin St. John, Walter Jones, and Paul Schrier are featured in this old short film Steps Towards the Sun and here’s the description from co-director Matt C. Burnett:
The Shortest Short film ever. Cowboys vs. Samurais. It took over five years to finish this. Arnie Peterson was the Director of Photography. He shot well over an hour of footage in what resulted in a 60 second piece. Two of the original power rangers are in it- Austin St. John, Walter Jones and “Bulk” Paul Schrier. Many thanks to Trey Alexander, Daryll Chan, Billy Wong, Bryan Byrd and the indestructible Brett Davidson. Produced by Len Kreutner and Jim Gaisford. Edited by Matt C Burnett. Written and Directed by Nick Kellis and Matt C Burnett.
(Courtesy: Austin St. John fan site via Facebook)
More Details on Power Rangers Megaforce
The past few days have been a bit hectic with information and misinformation about Power Rangers Megaforce, so hopefully I can break it down for you with some commentary. Here we go:
1. Megaforce is using Goseiger for adaption because Saban isn’t skipping Sentai seasons. Why would they anyway? “Oh yes, let’s skip this entire season so that we can throw money out the window. No worries!” Gokaiger did make more sense for an anniversary season, but let’s be honest. The fans made this item more newsworthy than it really was suppose to be. I got caught up in the hype too because it was so “obvious” that Gokaiger was going to be used. It should have been more obvious to us that skipping seasons wouldn’t make financial and television production sense.
2. According to Rangercrew Media, Megaforce “will have an original story that is centered on five high-school teenagers. The concept sounds familar to the first season (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) [...], but the story will be completely new and original.” For example, “RoboKnight (placeholder name) will appear fairly early in the season.” As much as I’d like to believe that Megaforce will be different from the Sentai counterpart, I’ll believe it when I see it. We are still in the hype machine that is the Licensing Expo, to be fair.
3. Promotion for Power Rangers Megaforce will be in full swing starting with San Diego Comic-Con. Saban Brands will have a big presence there and at Power Morphicon with “MEGA” surprises and giveaways. (Yes, they said “MEGA”. No, I’m not making this up.) Megaforce will also be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, so promotion for the new season will not be lacking. Disney could learn something.
(Courtesy: Rangercrew Media)
Power Rangers Samurai Cast Appearing at San Diego Comic-Con and Power Morphicon
The cast of Power Rangers Samurai will be appearing at San Diego Comic-Con July 12-15th in San Diego, CA and at Power Morphicon August 17-19th in Pasadena, CA. If you don’t have tickets for Comic-Con, then you’re out of luck!
(Courtesy: Rangercrew Media)
Saban Acquires 4Kids Saturday Morning Block
According to Ira Mayer of EPM Communications, Saban Brands will acquire the “4Kids Saturday morning Kids TV block subject to court approval.”
Konami and Saban have been figuring out how to divide 4Kids Entertainment’s assets after the auction for the bankrupt company adjourned. They had until July 31st to come to an agreement or else 4Kids would go back on the auction block.
If the acquisition is approved, there’s speculation that after Saban’s contract ends with Nickelodeon in 2014, Power Rangers will be moved to the CW. Others say that it would be another outlet for reruns. Don’t be surprised if this is Fox Kids all over again.
(Courtesy: Worldscreen.com)
Update: Power Rangers Megaforce Episode Count
According to Rangercrew, Power Rangers Megaforce will have two seasons: 20 episodes and 2 holiday clips shows each season in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Power Rangers Megaforce Episode Count
According to Rangercrew, Power Rangers Megaforce will premiere in early 2013 with 22 episodes including holiday specials.
Power Rangers Megaforce Logo and Poster Revealed!
(Courtesy: Rangercrew)
Exclusive: “Power Rangers: From Mighty Morphin to Lost Galaxy” Box Art
Here is the box art for the Power Rangers: From Mighty Morphin to Lost Galaxy box set. The set has been split into two: one for Mighty Morphin Seasons 1-3 and the second for Power Rangers Zeo through Power Rangers Lost Galaxy.
As previously mentioned in our interview with Brian Ward, two discs of bonus features is with the Mighty Morphin set and one bonus features disc is with PRZ-PRLG. Click on the images for a larger view.
Episode 144: Interview with Brian Ward, Director of DVD/Blu-ray Production at Shout! Factory
[audio:http://awwman.com/podcasts/NPS144.mp3]
Show Notes
Hosted by: Lisa J, Jer, and Tristan
Topics: We talk with Brian Ward of Shout! Factory about producing the “Power Rangers: From Mighty Morphin to Lost Galaxy” box set and the Power Rangers DVDs in general. He answers questions about bonus features, quality of episodes, domestic and international masters, and more.
Links
Pre-order “Power Rangers: From Mighty Morphin to Lost Galaxy” on TimeLife.com
UPDATE – 6/12/12
Here a follow-up question about Blu-ray:
NPS: Will we be seeing DVDs go to Blu-ray as well? Are there plans, even down the road?
Brian Ward: No plans for BD. The masters aren’t HD compatible in their present state. If Saban decides to go back and recut the entire series from the original film elements, maybe. But I’m not sure I see the value in that, given the nature of 16mm film. Even with an HD transfer, there’s going to be a lot of grain and visual pitfalls. So, no, I don’t really see it happening anytime soon.
Brought to you by:
Podcast Sentai Power Rangers – A podcast about everyone’s favorite costumed heroes in Power Rangers, Super Sentai, and Kamen Rider.
Mike Ginn Appearing at Power Morphicon
Power Morphicon 3 have announced Mike Ginn (Gem from Power Rangers RPM) as their newest guest.
Power Morphicon will be held on August 17-19, 2012 in Pasadena, CA.
Power Rangers Megaforce to Premiere on Nickelodeon in Early 2013, Goseiger to be Adapted
The newest series marks 20 years for the Power Rangers franchise
LOS ANGELES (June 11, 2012) – (Virtual Press Office) – Saban Brands will launch the newest version of Power Rangers, the number-one kids action series on television, with Power Rangers Megaforce . The all new series, which premieres in 2013, will deliver mega action, humor, excitement, and entertainment, in addition to the core themes of friendship, teamwork, fitness, and helping others. Power Rangers Megaforce will air as Saban Brands celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise.
“Power Rangers continues to delight fans of all ages, even nearly 20 years after it was first introduced to kids across the world,” said Elie Dekel, President of Saban Brands. “We are excited to continue the success we’ve experienced with our partnership with Nickelodeon and introduce fans everywhere to a MEGA- installment in 2013.”
Power Rangers Megaforce introduces a plot line that is sure to captivate audiences with exciting new characters, villains, and high-octane action. The new series features Gosei, a supernatural guardian who for centuries, has protected the earth with his robotic aide, Tensou. But when the evil Warstar aliens begin their massive invasion, Gosei calls upon five teenagers with attitude to form the ultimate team…the Power Rangers Megaforce!
When the teens morph into Power Rangers, they gain superhuman strength, agility, and mastery over martial arts. In addition to defending earth against the Warstar aliens, other monstrous factions emerge to challenge the Megaforce Rangers. Under the leadership of a malevolent alien, toxic beasts rise from their slimy underground lair to attack the Earth and a ruthless robot army launches an offensive from their deep sea compound. In order to face these new threats, the Power Rangers Megaforce unlock powerful battle modes to fight their adversaries. Go Go Power Rangers! – fans can look forward to all new MEGA adventures in 2013.
Saban Brands’ Power Rangers Megaforce
Saban Brands will launch the newest version of Power Rangers, the number-one kids action series on television, with Power Rangers Megaforce. The new series, which premieres in 2013, will deliver mega action, humor, excitement, and entertainment, in addition to the core themes of friendship, teamwork, fitness, and helping others. Power Rangers Megaforce will air as Saban Brands celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise. The series will be helmed by Haim Saban, who created and produced the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series in 1993. Following its introduction, Power Rangers quickly became the most-watched children’s television program in the United States. The series followed the adventures of a group of ordinary young people who “morphed” into superheroes. It was seen in more than 60 countries, translated into numerous languages, and was a mainstay in the most prominent international children’s programming blocks. Power Rangers LLC, which licenses and merchandises the Power Rangers brand, is an affiliate of Saban Brands. For more information, visit http://www.powerrangers.com.
About Saban Brands
Formed in 2010 as a subsidiary of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands (SB) was established to acquire and develop a world-class portfolio of properties and capitalize on the company’s experience, track record and capabilities in growing and monetizing consumer brands. SB applies a strategic transmedia management approach to enhancing and extending its brands in markets worldwide and to consumers of all ages. The company provides full-service management, marketing, promotion, and strategic business development for its intellectual properties including comprehensive strategies unique to each brand, trademark and copyright management and enforcement, creative design, retail development, direct-to-consumer initiatives, and specialized property extensions. SB is led by a superior management team with decades of experience in media, content creation, branding, licensing, marketing, and finance. For more information, visit http://www.sabanbrands.com
(Courtesy: Virtual Press Office)
Austin St. John Sighting! Austin St. John Sighting!
Austin St. John keeps a low profile, so this latest sighting is damn refreshing albeit short. In 2009, Melissa Mata went to the auditions for The Biggest Loser and recorded her time with would-be trainers and contestants. Austin is with her chillin’…at 6am in the morning. No big deal! Check him out below:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYuzP9-CqO0[/youtube]
Power Rangers’ 20th Season is “Power Rangers MEGAFORCE”
You read that correctly. Power Rangers MEGAFORCE. All one word. Yes. Let it sink in. According to Retail Merchandiser, the new season will “embrace the series’ cross-generational appeal during the anniversary by celebrating its past as well as its present and future. Older fans will be able to participate in special events and online activities.”
They also state that a new Power Rangers series will launch every two years with a new theme. It looks like Saban Brands will keep to the Samurai route of having two seasons per one adapted Sentai counterpart.
(Courtesy: Iam_DarkBlaze via Twitter)
“Power Rangers: From Mighty Morphin to Lost Galaxy” Now Available for Pre-Order!
From TimeLife.com:
Your favorite childhood show has morphenomenal action, adventure, and meaningful lessons for both original and young fans. Now you can relive these action-packed adventures and share them with the next generation when we unleash the ORIGINAL POWER RANGERS on DVD for the very first time! Plus, you’ll get exclusive in-depth bonus content, including a retrospective featurette on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers phenomenon, brand new interviews with the cast and creative teams, and much, much more!
Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, fitness, responsibility and helping others, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers follows the thrilling and humorous adventures of ordinary teens who “morph” into extraordinary superheroes over the course of three seasons. The adventures continue with Power Rangers Zeo, as the team takes on a new member, new zords, and meets new challenges and enemies. Then shift into Power Rangers Turbo, with the fastest team yet! Next, “Let’s Rocket!” as we blast off for Power Rangers In Space; then we’ll “Go Galactic!” as we join a new team in unexplored territory with Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. Order your own incredible POWER RANGERS box set today!
Why You’ll Love This Set:
- Complete Set: Get all the original episodes from Seasons 1 – 7!
- 40-DVD Set: 338 episodes of high-energy, family-friendly entertainment!
- Bonus Features: 3 DVDs of bonus content including rarely seen archival material; exclusive new featurettes; and interviews with the cast, creators, and fans of POWER RANGERS.
- PLUS: You’ll get an exclusive and rare Mighty Morphin figure with accessory sword and blaster!
Price is $219.95. Expected ship date is August 6, 2012. You can pre-order now at TimeLife.com.
Erin Cahill in “The Ventriloquist”
Erin Cahill (Jen from Power Rangers Time Force) can be seen in the short film The Ventriloquist starring Kevin Spacey. She plays Stephanie, the love interest. Check it out below!
[youtube width="480" height="295"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOPJxBjHkgc[/youtube]
Dan Southworth’s Upcoming Series “DIVERGENCE” – First Look at Season One
Dan Southworth (Eric from Power Rangers Time Force) has co-created a upcoming series called Divergence. The first ten episodes of season one will premiere in 2012. Here’s the season one first look below:
[youtube width="480" height="295"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBYDsUKSkDs[/youtube]
Sneak Peek of “Power Rangers: Seasons 1-7″ Bonus Features
Producer Brian Ward has been giving his followers on Twitter little updates here and there about the bonus features for the Power Ranger DVDs, including interviews with Steve Cardenas, Walter Jones, and casting director Katy Wallin. We previously reported that Jason David Frank did an interview with Hulu, but it turns out that it was part of the bonus features. You can view clips of his interview here, but check out the picture below:
(Courtesy: Brian Ward via Twitter)
V.R. Trooper’s Richard Rabago Passes Away
Richard Rabago (Tao from V.R. Troopers) passed away May 17, 2012. Here’s the blurb from World Wide Dojo:
High-ranking Shorin-ryu karate Master Richard Rabago has the experience, training credentials, and Budo skill to have earned the right to be called “Master” several times over. If you call him that, however, you’ll most likely get a roll of the eyes, a slightly embarrassed laugh, and the words, “just call me Sensei – that’s enough”. A throwback to the age of Budo and Honor, where a Karateka earned respect through skill and dedication, not by self-given titles, Rabago measures himself against a higher standard than is commonly used in Martial Arts today. Trained by two of Karate’s most famous Shotokan masters, Nishiyama and Oshima, Rabago has learned his most important lesson from them – THE BASICS ARE EVERYTHING…
Applying the karate lessons of commitment, perseverance, and mental training, Rabago also embarked on the dual careers of engineering design and acting. Appearing in numerous television and movie roles, while holding down a job as a digital chip designer, he became well-known for his part in VR Troopers. Still working, teaching, and pursuing his acting career, Rabago insists that the most important lessons he can teach his students are not physical ones, but the MENTAL. “I teach my students never to say the words, ‘I can’t do it.’ Because this will help them for their entire life. If you have a positive attitude from a young age, and then become an adult, your positive thinking will push you to whatever goals you might have.”
He was born August 14th, 1943 on the Island of O’ahu and raised on the garden isle of Kauai. As he was growing up on the Islands, Rebago had a chance to experience and study many different forms of martial arts. My studies included: Judo, Aikido, Kempo and boxing. This is where my interest into the career of martial arts began.
After completing high school he moved to California in August of 1961. Then, he began his training in Shotokan Karate under the instruction of Tsutomu Oshima and Hidetaka Nishiyama. Sensei Rebago trained and studied the principles of Shotokan until 1968. In 1969, he had the chance to study Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate under Senseis’ George Terukina and Seikichi Iha. He progressed through the years and earned his title as “Sensei”. Richard Rabago then opened his own dojo and for the past 30 plus years taught Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and specialized techniques in use of force.