**************************************************************************** THE POWER RANGERS ZEO NEWSLETTER © THE NEWSLETTER OF THE POWER RANGER CLUB ISSUE #64 -- MAY 22, 1996 "YOU'VE GOT NICE LEAVES... AND, YOUR BRANCHES AREN'T BAD EITHER!" **************************************************************************** INDEX TO PRZ NEWSLETTER #64 1: PLANTE A MAGIC SEED My trip to Magic Mountain with one of the members! 2: SABAN SIGHTINGS! Haven't I seen you somewhere? 3: TOP TEN LIST The top ten things Power Ranger fans want to see a theme park. 4: NICE TO MEET YOU Adam Varney's profile. 5: RANGER MIX Three articles on "Power Rangers". (Outdated). 6: DID YOU KNOW? Betcha didn't know this!!! 7: ASK MAX Answers to your questions. 8: STRETCH A new stretch! 9: MUSIC BOX Five, Rangers Five -- just like bolts of lightning in the sky! 10: PRZ POLL #8 Your vote counts! 11: THE PRZ BULLETIN BOARD Looking for some hard-to-get merchandise? Here's the place to look... 12: TODAY'S TRIVIA Do *you* know the answer? 13: POWER RANGER B-DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS! Happy, happy birthday, Baby! 14: WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK? Don't miss it! 15: NEXT ISSUE! A sneak peak at issue 65. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** PLANTE A MAGIC SEED by Marx Okman (marxokman@aol.com) From April 27th to May 24th, this month has been Power Ranger/ Magic Mountain month. Every two weeks, I went to Magic Mountain (first on Saturday, then on Sunday, then on Friday) and I went because of Power Rangers. I told people about the first one in "Max's Zeo Search", the 7th article in Issue #61. Now, it's time to tell you about my second trip. On AOL, I talk to a lot of the members, but I talked to CJ Plante (FalconCJ@aol.com) for an excessive amount, about such things as TAGJ, the newsletter, and Nickelodeon. During one chat, he told me his family was taking a trip to Magic Mountain on May 12th, which was Mother's Day. I was instantly interested in going, because I have only met three members so far (LeiLani, Terri Ann, and Rebecca) and I knew CJ really well so I thought it would be cool to meet him. After talking my mom into it, we finally got the plans settled and I was actually going to go on it! I woke up early, made my mother Breakfast-In-Bed (Hey, it was Mother's Day) and then went to meet CJ, Stevie (his sister), and Yvonne (his mom). They were all really nice and all big fans of Power Rangers. That made for a really fun drive to Magic Mountain (We listened to Power Ranger albums, Sailor Moon albums, looked at Power Ranger books, and even pictures of the Power Rangers when CJ showed up to see them put their handprints in at the Chinese Graum Theatre). Finally, we arrived at the park and then we went wild. When we first went on, I told CJ and his family that they could pick any item and I could stretch it into something Power Ranger related. They began with "Chicken Plantation" which I related with the Chunky Chicken and the Juice Bar... The first ride we rode was Colossus. I was *very* surprised to see there was hardly a line for it. There was so little people, we (CJ and me) actually got to sit in the front seat. I've never done that before and it was soooo cool! The next ride we went on was "Batman the Ride". The line was about thirty minutes long, but it usually is *a lot* longer, like two hours or so. We went on that and we screamed all the way. When we got off, we started making plans how to fit the ride into The Angel Grove Journey ("Oh no, Destructosphere wrecked Gotham City. Let's help Batman!") Next, we went on Ninja. When I had gone two weeks earlier, the line had been 45 minutes long. This time it was a mere two minutes. That was really cool, especially when we swung near the water. We shouted "Go Go Power Rangers!" the whole way. :) During the next hours, we went on Viper, Revolution (Another "Go Go Power Rangers!" ride), the Log Ride ("Please do not rock the boat -- thank you." "Who me?"), the bumper cars ("My wheel won't turn!!!) and Roaring Rapids (which had the longest line, because it was so hot out there. Doncha just LOVE California?) For lunch, we ate at a restaurant called "Kattie's Kettle" and sat on Stevie's Power Ranger towel, since CJ and I got soaked on Raging Waters. And, I do mean SOAKED. After lunch, we went on the carousel, played some more Stretch games (I got a good one for laundry, and had to use Aisha's grandmother from "Stop The Hate Master" for dentures, a difficult one), Flashback ("Remind not to eat a Lemon Slushie before I go on that one again!"), the Log Jammer (again! -- we loved that one), Revolution ("Keep your head back!"), Viper (again!), Jet Stream ("Let's zeonize!") and finished with my first time ever on Psyclone ("This is so fun -- OW! Go Go Pow--OW!")*. We had gone on every single ride on the park except for Freefall and Tidal Wave, which was having it's water changed for the day. Every line had been surprisingly short, except for Roaring Rapids -- perhaps it was because it was Sunday, or maybe it was because it was Mother's Day. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the Ice Cream Dots, these little ice cream balls that melt in your mouth a.k.a. The Ice Cream of the Future. They were delicious! We also walked in a stream, which felt REALLY good. And, we watched people do this little Bunjee Jumping/Slingshot thingee. "Happy Mother's Day, Mom -- you're going Bunjee Jumping!") At the end, we went into "Flags", the largest gift store in the park and I got my mom this little carousel horse figurine for Mother's Day. The lady working took 15 minutes looking for a box there, however! :| Finally, the day had come to an end. I said goodbye to three wonderful Ranger fans I had met that day. But, not goodbye forever -- they're coming to the Angel Grove Journey, and if you're coming too, you get to meet this wonderful bunch. One more thing -- on the way home, my mom stopped at a McDonalds in Valencia and there were big Power Ranger sticker thingees on the windows. As if I hadn't had enough Power Rangers for one day ....sheesh! ;-) * Psyclone is a rickety ride and shakes you back and force, creating a lot of headaches. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** SABAN SIGHTINGS! -- Speaking of Magic Mountain, Maxxe Sternbaum , who played Young Kimberly on the "Rangers Back In Time" miniseries was on a TV-movie called "Thrill". She did an excellent job -- she played Antonio Sabato Jr's daughter, who was trapped on a sabotaged roller coaster when a psycho invaded the park. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** TOP TEN LIST by Marx Okman (marxokman@aol.com) Here they are -- the Top Ten things Power Ranger fans want at a theme park. 10. THE MEGAZORD -- you get to control the Megazord and ride it around the track. Similar to the race cars, but the cars are *slightly* bigger. ;) 9. THE POWER CHAMBER -- a walk-through tour of the Power Chamber. 8. THE PEACE CONFERENCE: Sit in an "airplane" as you fly to Switzerland. 7. THE JUICE BAR -- while cooling off, stop by a replica of the Juice Bar for smoothies or even to work out. 6. THE PACHINCO MACHINE -- Sit in a circular coaster as you roll around a giant replica of a Pachinco Machine, until you safely make it out. 5. THE POWER RANGERS STUNT SHOW -- it's a "behind-the-scenes" look at Hollywood stunts and special effects as the Power Rangers battle evil space aliens. 4. FREEFALL -- jump off a diving board into a pool, and confront your fear of water! 3. BILLY'S GO-COASTER: It's Billy's new invention: an out-of-control roller-coaster! 2. JOURNEY TO AQUITAR -- you will get wet, you MAY get soaked. And, the number one ride Power Ranger fans want to see at a theme park is: POWER RANGERS: THE RIDE -- It's a day in the life of the Power Rangers, as you journey through Angel Grove High, then the Power Chamber, then finish with a battle in the Megazord. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** NICE TO MEET YOU SCREEN NAME(s): ALVarney@aol.com, AdManDent@aol.com, CVAdam@aol.com REAL NAME: Adam Varney BIRTHDATE: 5/29/84 CURRENT RESIDENCE: Warfield, KY and Delbarton, WV FAVE EPISODE: Every episode. FAVE QUOTE: Every quote. -- Hey, guys! I need some more profiles (Actually, I need *a lot*!) So, please fill out this info. and I'll include it A.S.A.P. Thanks! :-) ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** RANGER MIX reported by Grace Trias (GRTrias@aol.com) From USA Weekend (Around the time Austin St. John left the show) Q: Austin St. John who was red ranger Jason on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show, left at the end of the second season without explanation. Why? A: St. John, 20, and two other Rangers quit the superhero biz to pursue other acting jobs. (It was explained on the show that they had been chosen to attend a world peace conference.) Their absence leaves a pint-sized viewership dazed and confused - new actors now wear the old power suits - at the same time the series is under fire for violence. Has the Power Ranger phenom, which St. John called the "biggest thing that's hit since the turn of the century", peaked? Possibly. "The fantasy that you can save the world with your friends is pretty heady stuff," St. John told us. "But I don't really get it, either. It kind of makes my head spin." Ours, too. ------------------------------------------------------------------ From USA Weekend: (very outdated) Q: It's great that Amy Jo Johnson - Kimberly on the hot Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show - has stayed with it. What does she want to be when she grows up? A: Johnson ("AJ" on the set) is grown up. She's 24 and smart enough to stay with a good thing - unlike 3 of her Power Rangers colleagues, who became the David Carusoes of kid TV by walking out after only one season. (then it has a picture of her from "Best Man For the Job") ------------------------------------------------------------------ From People Magazine Another year, another backpack in the dinosaur-eat-turtle world of children's TV. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - six multicultural teenage superheroes who battle evil, dominate ratings and cause mini-riots in toy stores - have zapped the once invincible Barney. An Americanized version of a low-budget Japanese serial, Rangers has run up $1 billion in profits so far for Egyptian-born entrepreneur Haim Saban, who introduced them to the U.S. last year. Now, says Saban, 50, "we look on the whole world as our market". The whole world isn't thrilled by the karate-kicking Rangers, though. They've been given the heave-ho in New Zealand, Canada and -briefly- in Norway by authorities concerned that the show promotes kiddie violence. And three of the original actors - Austin St. John, Thuy Trang, and Walter Jones - have left the series, citing, among other things, burnout schedules and inadequate salaries. Yet, on Oct. 22, the trio, out of uniform and not using their Power Ranger names, drew 45,000 adults and children to an appearance at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Even ex-rangers, it seems, have the power. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** DID YOU KNOW... .... that there was an unaired episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers called "Lost and Found", about Ernie cleaning out his broom closet, and one of his items (a bird cages) gets turned into a monster? I remembered this when I saw that the newest episode was titled "Found and Lost". .... that Shawn, Tanya's boyfriend, will return on upcoming episodes? .... that the third season is not over, as some have been told? ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** ASK MAX Q: I heard that there were going to be Helper Rangers, played by 13-year-olds. Is this true? A: My friend, Ray, got this letter in his e-mail box. This has to do with me, so I thought I'd answer it. The Angel Grove Journey, or TAGJ for short, is going to be filmed and turned to our own very special episode of "Power Rangers". The people in it were going to be called the Helper Rangers, and most of us were around 13-years-old. Apparently, somebody thought I was a producer for the show or something, and they thought the TAGJ story was a storyline for PRZ. By the way, the Helper Rangers have been changed to Jr. Ranger. Q: Does your mom watch Power Rangers? -- FalconCJ@aol.com A: No, she doesn't. She hasn't seen an episode, but I made her watch a part of one and she was cracking up at Rito and Goldar. I did "drag" her to see the movie when it first came out, though and she liked it. But, my mom has lack of experience with the show -- fortunately, she never questions why I watch it. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** STRETCH Today's stretch word is "seal". How is a seal related to Power Rangers? The results will be in Issue 67. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** MUSIC BOX by Marx Okman (marxokman@aol.com) Big Bang (Jim Cushineri) Big bang! Big bang! Big bang!.....Bang! Five -- Rangers Five. They're just like bolts of lightning in the sky. Five -- Rangers Five. Throw the Power Rangers near the fire. Big bang! Big bang! Big bang!.....Bang! Go -- Rangers Go. Watch out ... we may be too close. Stride -- Rangers Stride. Find and crash whenever one's in sight. (Instrumental) Five -- Rangers Five. They're just like bolts of lightning in the sky. Five -- Rangers Five. Throw the Power Rangers near the fire. Big bang! Big bang! Big bang!.....Bang! repeat ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** PRZ POLL #8 Question: Which did you like the best? Trini and Kimberly, Kimberly and Aisha, Aisha and Kat, or Kat and Tanya. Send your vote to marxokman@aol.com -- your vote counts! ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** THE PRZ BULLETIN BOARD If you have an announcement you'd like me to print, send it to "BULLETIN BOARD" at marxokman@aol.com! --- Today's quote comes from Rocky in "A Few Bad Seeds". --- NOW AVAILABLE: A .wav file of "Angel". However, I accidentally turned the Echo up on the microphone so it kind of vibrates. If interested, please e-mail your request to marxokman@aol.com --- marxokman@aol.com is also looking for the #4 VR Trooper McDonald's toy. --- Wanted: a box of MMPR series one cards. If found, please contact LLinkJr@aol.com --- Looking for someone to buy any series of Cardzillion cards from. If interested, e-mail marxokman@aol.com --- To sell or trade: A bunch of series two and new season cards. If interested, e-mail LLinkJr@aol.com --- Rushnrulet@aol.com is looking for the following cards: series 1: 26, 32, 37 series 2: 74, 96, 115, 122 series 3: 6, 33, 58, 59, 61, 64, 71 ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** TODAY'S TRIVIA Today's trivia question is "Which actor/actress has been on every episode so far?" Last week's trivia was "What is the name of the elf on "Island of Illusion"? What was he repeatedly called?" The answer is Quagmire, and he was often referred to as Quasimodo. I was reminded of him, when I heard that the star of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was named Quasimodo. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** POWER RANGER B-DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS! Welcome to the PRZ Birthday Announcements! It works like this: We'll list your name, either your real or screen, your e-mail address directly after, and then the month and day of your birth. Happy birthday to these PRZ Newsletter members, from May: Beau Lamourex (lucien@ix.netcom.com)..................5/1/81 Kathie Whitmore (Oshaun@ix.netcom.com)................5/12/62 Jenny Colby (JojoStix@aol.com)........................5/23/80 Emily Chen (EChen13@aol.com)..........................5/24/82 Heather Almeter (halmeter@spea.spea.indiana.edu)......5/26/70 Liz DeHoff (AerobicLiz@aol.com).......................5/26/79 Aaron Eiche (meiche@teleport.com).....................5/28/80 Owen Humphreys (EnsTomP@aol.com)......................5/28/85 Steve Cardenas........................................5/29/74 Adam (CVAdam@aol.com).................................5/29/84 ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK? These summaries comes from Fox Kids web site and TV Guide. Saturday, May 18 "CHALLENGES" Tommy is sees a young man in the desert who could be his double, but before Tommy can find out who the young man is, Sam Trueheart appears, and tells Tommy that another quest lies before him, and only the end of that quest can reveal the identity of the young man. Meanwhile, Ernie's new boxing ring sparks an interest in pugilism in Prince Sprocket. Not being the athletic type, Sprocket creates his own Great Metallic Hope: Punchabunch! TVG: When Adam is captured and miniaturized by Prince Sprocket, it's up to Tommy to win him back in a boxing match against Punchabunch. Monday, May 20 "FOUND AND LOST" No summary. Tuesday, May 21 "A ZEO BEGINNING, PART I" The teens can hardly believe what they've seen-the Command Center, for years their sanctuary from the devious Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, lies in ruins before them, the fate of their friends Alpha and their mentor Zordon uncertain. It looks like this is truly the end of the Power Rangers. But the end is always a new beginning... Wednesday, May 22 "A ZEO BEGINNING, PART II" Zordon tells the Rangers that they no longer need fear the menace of Zedd and Rita-even they have fled before the terrifying power of the Rangers' new foe: The Machine Empire has arrived, and is intent on making the planet Earth their next conquest. Can the Rangers reclaim their powers in time to stop them? Meanwhile, Rito and Goldar have lost their memories, and are running loose in the streets of Angel Grove! Thursday, May 23 "FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD" As a school project, Tommy and Kat must pretend to be married. And to make the exercise even more realistic, Kat brings along Joey, whom she's offered to baby-sit for the duration of the experiment. Joey's crying is driving the teens nuts, but when King Mondo sends Boo Hoo the Clown to amplify the baby's wail, the effects are devastating. If the Power Rangers can't get the child to stop crying, he'll lay waste to Angel Grove! Saturday, May 25 "TARGET RANGERS" Rocky's computer science project is challenging, but not half as challenging as his beautiful lab partner, Jennifer. While Rocky is trying to figure out a way to ask the intimidating computer whiz to the dance, Mondo and Machina plan on stealing the project for use in their latest diabolical creation, a ballistic baddie called Silo. ****************************************************************************** *********************** **** NEXT ISSUE! The 65th issue with... A gigantic story on meeting seven of the Young Rangers and spending a day at Magic Mountain with them, *exclusive* info. in "Did You Know" about things you've been asking, Thuy Trang's new movie, "Stop Those Villains" in the music box, outdated articles about the Rangers, another What's On This Week, a new top ten list, and more! Coming on May 29th!!! That's all for now! I want to take the time to thank the Plante's for a wonderful Mother's Day! And, I'm not even a mother! ;-) Mark "Power Ranger Boy" Oxman President of the PRZ Fan Club Visit me on the Web at "http://www.afn.org/~afn45072/fanclub.htm" ****************************************************************************** SEND REPLIES & CORRESPONDENCE TO marxokman@aol.com ******************************************************************************