TV Pilots That Were Completely Reshot: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

[JamesG]

"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" established itself as a unique series, using stock footage from the Japanese TV show "Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger" then interspersing this in between the new filmed footage.

However, this doesn't mean the pilot, "Day of the Dumpster," was easily produced. Quite the contrary, it took three rounds of morphin' time before airing in the version that fans are familiar with now.




The pilot's co-writer Tony Oliver revealed the arduous process at the 2007 Power Morphicon. Oliver explained how there's a different Yellow Ranger actor in this pilot, with Audri Dubois playing Trini.

In addition to this, the Rangers hang out at a bowling alley, not their regular hangout spot: The Gym and Juice Bar. (This episode eventually aired as the special "Power Rangers: The Lost Episode" in 1999.)




Fox Kids liked what it saw but urged the violence to be toned down. A second pilot went into production — this time replacing Dubois with Thuy Trang — however, it was still seen as too violent for kids, so it underwent a third reshoot.

Years later, on the documentary series "Hollywood Demons" (via Entertainment Weekly), Dubois opened up about shooting the pilot, stating it wasn't a pleasant working experience. "When we're shooting the pilot, we're out in the desert — it's got to be 110 degrees — and someone has heat stroke," Dubois said. "It was one of the bad guys in a wet suit with a rubber mask over their head with pinholes for the eyes and mouth. He's flopping around like a fish."

https://www.tvline.com/2016387/tv-sh...before-airing/