My Best guess, cost cutting. Paying to use their image for such is a lot cheaper than paying them to show up in person for a shoot, even if they were just standing in the background. Let alone actually writing a scene for them if they are more than “extra level Easter eggs”.
TBH Whenever I see someone ask "why didn't X come back" or "why didn't they do this" or anything like that, I just Occam's Razor where the simplest answer is often the correct one. This franchise has always operated on minimizing costs wherever they can.
It was one of the first things Saban dropped to save money after In Space, along with stuff like commissioning battle music. That's why rangers always resorted to running off screen to escape a battle. This would be the same case throughout Disney Era all the way to Hasbro. In Cosmic Fury, somebody is teleporting almost every 5 mins.
The point is that the people in charge of this franchise go as cheaply as possible, which is why teleportation was avoided for so long. But their hypocrites when they feel like it for no reason. Take megaforce, they spent budget filming new scenes when there was no reason why the gokaiger footage couldn't be used. They filmed a whole new galaxy rangers scene because they didn't want people confused about goseiknight but didn't think the same about the clearly visible green ranger dagger hitting the collar.
And even then, it's kinda obvious that bulk and spikes scenes were kinda shot either later or earlier since there was barley any interaction besides Spikes crush on mia or the Christmas special
My guess is they didn't want to pay the actors to film a cameo, and also probably didn't think of a way to insert them naturally. The special was on the more serious side and Bulk and Skull were always more of the comic relief characters.
Yeah, I don’t think it’d’ve been *that* appropriate to go from a big plot point revolving around Trini’s death at the hands of Robo Rita to Bulk and Skull being up to their usual shenanigans. Even if Power Rangers *is* primarily a kid-friendly franchise, it would be pretty, you know, disrespectful to the legacy of the OG Yellow Ranger?
Once & Always, regardless of seriousness, is meant to serve as this huge legacy special; having random comedic snippets for any reason other than ‘oh hey remember this thing that happened in MMPR? We’re gonna reference it because nostalgia’ would be a bit of a travesty, especially given 2 of the 6 OG rangers are no longer with us in the mortal plane for one reason or another.
They only had 55 minutes. I like Bulk & Skull but I’m fine with them being left out so we got to spend the limited on this with the main story and characters. And I thought the way they were referenced was really fun.
I love that apparently skull brought in bulk into whatever his business that got him rich is. Those two could not stay separated from each other forever.
And spike should be like almost thirty now 😦
Honestly this seems more like a side hustle for Skull. Like his main business is ding so well it’s pretty much running itself so no he’s just doing something with his best bud.
Can agree with this. I personally like to imagine Skull made it as a concert pianist. It might even be that this business was Bulk's idea and Skull could have bankrolled the startup costs in exchange for a partnership.
My headcanon was that Bulk was the successful one, having owned a resort or tropical bar as shown in Forever Red, and possibly Bulk Foods Co., sharing the wealth with his buddy. Then for whatever reason, he became a weeb and gave everything to Skull just to live like a samurai in a shack. I dunno why he'd even give up that life, but he seemed happy living that way.
That’s one way I could describe his lifestyle, the other being a broke mall ninja. Unreasonably obsessed with his interpretation of Bushido, self-proclaimed know-it-all of one particular part of Japanese culture, even getting samurai equipment.
Probably a mix of not enough money and not enough runtime. For contractual reasons relating to Paramount, the special literally couldn’t be longer than it was.
The executive producer said in an interview they didn’t have the budget to bring Bulk and Skull back in person. The whole special had a very low budget. It only got the budget of 2 regular PR episodes and they were only given money to make a 40 minute special. So they had to work lots of miracles to get what we got.
Probably cost cutting as it probably costs quite a bit to fly over 10 actors for Cosmic Fury and Once And Always and housing them for filming and ultimately they probably wouldn’t have had a big role anyway but the cameo is good enough
The shows cost cutting methods are annoying but from Hasbro’s perspective it makes a lot of sense considering the show’s not their big brand and isn’t making a huge load of money and their going through quite a crazy time right now
Might be because the actors are kinda jerks.
For context: I was a volunteer moderator for Power Morphicon years ago. I got asked to moderate the Bulk and Skull panel, because the organizers felt they needed someone to reign them in after previous property damage. We were Facebook friends at the time, so I sent them a message to a) warn them this was happening, and b) ask how they wanted to do the panel.
No response, weeks pass, I get to the panel and they show up fifteen minutes late. They walk on stage, and Paulie looks at me and goes, "Are you the moderator? You're fired." followed by Jason saying, "Yeah, get the fuck out!" (This was not on mic, so the audience couldn't hear, clearly wasn't a performance.) So I left, 'cause I wasn't getting paid and I'm not putting up with being treated like that, but it sucked a lot. (Especially considering how lovely Jason had been at the first Power Morphicon.)
Two years later, the show is about to happen again, and it still rubbed me the wrong way, so I sent them a really politely worded letter explaining that PMC would probably send them another moderator, and while I knew they had a reputation as the con bad boys, it had really sucked to be treated like that. I asked that they not do it to the next guy.
Got a response days later that read, "This is Paulie on Jason's phone. Get over yourself, and STAY OUT!"
Kinda hard to like/dislike someone they'd literally never talked to, but ok
EDIT: Holy shit, is this Paulie or Jason's account? It's weird that someone who has only ever commented on NSFW stuff and posted pics of his dick would come here to comment on JUST this comment.
Let's be real: Bulk & Skull, were nothing more than Comic Relief characters, which kinda worked during the initial 1st few seasons. But Once & Always was a mostly serious take on MMPR Season 1. At no point did we need a Gag of Bulk ripping his pants or getting food splattered on him, or Skull doing his annoying laugh...
I've only really watched the original on Netflix and when I was younger so I haven't seen O&A but when you mentioned their general actions, their theme music started playing in my head. This isn't relevant to the overall discussion other than the fact that yes we didn't need their moments but damned if they aren't memorable.
>it's almost always a scheduling conflict or the studio didn't have the money to cover the expense of traveling.
Same like with Super Megaforce but worst. Lots of the past PR actors turned down the offer to reprise their roles due to low pay and that low pay is not worth the traveling expenses to go to New Zealand.
It is a nice easter egg in the special. I would've loved for Bulk and Skull to be there in person and perhaps play a role in the plot but at least they got an acknowledgement.
Surprisingly enough I feel like Bulk and Skull made out like bandits and had a great redemption arc from being bullies, to standing up against evil for the power rangers and then becoming successful business owners! I also believe they were in the series longer than anyone even Tommy.
My Best guess, cost cutting. Paying to use their image for such is a lot cheaper than paying them to show up in person for a shoot, even if they were just standing in the background. Let alone actually writing a scene for them if they are more than “extra level Easter eggs”.
TBH Whenever I see someone ask "why didn't X come back" or "why didn't they do this" or anything like that, I just Occam's Razor where the simplest answer is often the correct one. This franchise has always operated on minimizing costs wherever they can.
And yet they spend so much of the budget on teleportation in cosmic fury for some reason.
And they don't even use the teleportation gimmick for fights ffs
Do you really think teleportation effects are expensive or something?
It was one of the first things Saban dropped to save money after In Space, along with stuff like commissioning battle music. That's why rangers always resorted to running off screen to escape a battle. This would be the same case throughout Disney Era all the way to Hasbro. In Cosmic Fury, somebody is teleporting almost every 5 mins.
Well back then it would be expensive to add it in. Nowadays it's a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to add in effects.
And yet movies and television costs more.
Inflation🤷
The point is that the people in charge of this franchise go as cheaply as possible, which is why teleportation was avoided for so long. But their hypocrites when they feel like it for no reason. Take megaforce, they spent budget filming new scenes when there was no reason why the gokaiger footage couldn't be used. They filmed a whole new galaxy rangers scene because they didn't want people confused about goseiknight but didn't think the same about the clearly visible green ranger dagger hitting the collar.
Money, schedule, script, health, there could be all sorts of reasons.
Because Paul Schrier and Jason Narvy may not have been able to make it to New Zealand for what'd likely be a cameo at best?
Didn't they made to New Zealand for Samurai and Super Samurai (in Narvy's case, cameo)?
That was in 2010, a lot can change in 12-13 years
Furthermore, Schrier was a regular in Samurai.
IIRC, Schrier did not want to relocate to New Zealand in a long term. If he had, he would have return for Megaforce and subsequent seasons.
And even then, it's kinda obvious that bulk and spikes scenes were kinda shot either later or earlier since there was barley any interaction besides Spikes crush on mia or the Christmas special
My guess is they didn't want to pay the actors to film a cameo, and also probably didn't think of a way to insert them naturally. The special was on the more serious side and Bulk and Skull were always more of the comic relief characters.
Yeah, I don’t think it’d’ve been *that* appropriate to go from a big plot point revolving around Trini’s death at the hands of Robo Rita to Bulk and Skull being up to their usual shenanigans. Even if Power Rangers *is* primarily a kid-friendly franchise, it would be pretty, you know, disrespectful to the legacy of the OG Yellow Ranger? Once & Always, regardless of seriousness, is meant to serve as this huge legacy special; having random comedic snippets for any reason other than ‘oh hey remember this thing that happened in MMPR? We’re gonna reference it because nostalgia’ would be a bit of a travesty, especially given 2 of the 6 OG rangers are no longer with us in the mortal plane for one reason or another.
They could have made a nod to the comics where Bulk and Skull temporarily took on the roles of the Purple and Orange Rangers.
Those coins don't exist in TV cannon.
Neither did the Dino Charge Dark Ranger until Heckle returned in Cosmic Fury.
And what would you have cut out of the special to add in all the necessary exposition, also to add the two of them getting fight scenes?
You're talking about two lines of dialog. One line for rocky, zack, or Kat to suggest them. And one for Billy to say they are on KO-35.
[удалено]
It’s someone’s birthday in the office - Bulk falls through the cake
They only had 55 minutes. I like Bulk & Skull but I’m fine with them being left out so we got to spend the limited on this with the main story and characters. And I thought the way they were referenced was really fun.
Who knows if Dr. Narvy or Paul was able to make time out of there schedules to fly to New Zealand.
You learn something new everyday. I had to look it up and yes, Narvy is a doctor. Specifically a PhD in theatre studies.
He was my professor in an intro theater class I took as a freshman in undergrad. (:
That is awesome!
Yep he’s had that for about 15 years. He’s a college professor and I think he runs the local theatre there as well
Yep he’s had that for about 15 years. He’s a college professor and I think he runs the local theatre there as well
I love that apparently skull brought in bulk into whatever his business that got him rich is. Those two could not stay separated from each other forever. And spike should be like almost thirty now 😦
Honestly this seems more like a side hustle for Skull. Like his main business is ding so well it’s pretty much running itself so no he’s just doing something with his best bud.
Can agree with this. I personally like to imagine Skull made it as a concert pianist. It might even be that this business was Bulk's idea and Skull could have bankrolled the startup costs in exchange for a partnership.
I can see it being Bulk's idea. He did introduce the bulkwich sandwich all the way back in S1E47.
My headcanon was that Bulk was the successful one, having owned a resort or tropical bar as shown in Forever Red, and possibly Bulk Foods Co., sharing the wealth with his buddy. Then for whatever reason, he became a weeb and gave everything to Skull just to live like a samurai in a shack. I dunno why he'd even give up that life, but he seemed happy living that way.
A ***suddenly cash-strapped*** weeb?
That’s one way I could describe his lifestyle, the other being a broke mall ninja. Unreasonably obsessed with his interpretation of Bushido, self-proclaimed know-it-all of one particular part of Japanese culture, even getting samurai equipment.
Probably a mix of not enough money and not enough runtime. For contractual reasons relating to Paramount, the special literally couldn’t be longer than it was.
The executive producer said in an interview they didn’t have the budget to bring Bulk and Skull back in person. The whole special had a very low budget. It only got the budget of 2 regular PR episodes and they were only given money to make a 40 minute special. So they had to work lots of miracles to get what we got.
What purpose would they serve?
That's what I've been asking for 30 years.
Schedules and timing. Money costs to. Same with Sentai. Hard to gather all Sentai veteran and PR ranger family together.
Money.
Now that I think about it, none of the casts from Saban Brands era in Once and Always.
All about money.
*We just wanna make the world dance* *Forget about the price tag*
Who knows, just be glad we got this cause who knows maybe this was a last minute thing.
Probably cost cutting as it probably costs quite a bit to fly over 10 actors for Cosmic Fury and Once And Always and housing them for filming and ultimately they probably wouldn’t have had a big role anyway but the cameo is good enough The shows cost cutting methods are annoying but from Hasbro’s perspective it makes a lot of sense considering the show’s not their big brand and isn’t making a huge load of money and their going through quite a crazy time right now
They probably didn’t want to fly all the way to New Zealand for a short cameo at best.
Kinda the same reason Amy Jo Johnson didn’t as well
Considering bulk and skull knew who the rangers were they could of been working for billy keeping an eye out for Rita.
Probably busy, and also don't live in NZ.
Might be because the actors are kinda jerks. For context: I was a volunteer moderator for Power Morphicon years ago. I got asked to moderate the Bulk and Skull panel, because the organizers felt they needed someone to reign them in after previous property damage. We were Facebook friends at the time, so I sent them a message to a) warn them this was happening, and b) ask how they wanted to do the panel. No response, weeks pass, I get to the panel and they show up fifteen minutes late. They walk on stage, and Paulie looks at me and goes, "Are you the moderator? You're fired." followed by Jason saying, "Yeah, get the fuck out!" (This was not on mic, so the audience couldn't hear, clearly wasn't a performance.) So I left, 'cause I wasn't getting paid and I'm not putting up with being treated like that, but it sucked a lot. (Especially considering how lovely Jason had been at the first Power Morphicon.) Two years later, the show is about to happen again, and it still rubbed me the wrong way, so I sent them a really politely worded letter explaining that PMC would probably send them another moderator, and while I knew they had a reputation as the con bad boys, it had really sucked to be treated like that. I asked that they not do it to the next guy. Got a response days later that read, "This is Paulie on Jason's phone. Get over yourself, and STAY OUT!"
I feel like they just didn’t like YOU
Kinda hard to like/dislike someone they'd literally never talked to, but ok EDIT: Holy shit, is this Paulie or Jason's account? It's weird that someone who has only ever commented on NSFW stuff and posted pics of his dick would come here to comment on JUST this comment.
Because the actor who played skull was still going through college and bulk is really old
I think Jason Narvy is more into teaching and theater. Wouldn’t be surprised if he just doesn’t wanna do it.
Let's be real: Bulk & Skull, were nothing more than Comic Relief characters, which kinda worked during the initial 1st few seasons. But Once & Always was a mostly serious take on MMPR Season 1. At no point did we need a Gag of Bulk ripping his pants or getting food splattered on him, or Skull doing his annoying laugh...
They are part of the MMPR package. At least they got some acknowledgement here.
I've only really watched the original on Netflix and when I was younger so I haven't seen O&A but when you mentioned their general actions, their theme music started playing in my head. This isn't relevant to the overall discussion other than the fact that yes we didn't need their moments but damned if they aren't memorable.
They did in super samurai.
Narvy was in for a cameo, not a recurring character in Samurai+Super Samurai like Bulk.
When someone doesn't show up for "x" it's almost always a scheduling conflict or the studio didn't have the money to cover the expense of traveling.
>it's almost always a scheduling conflict or the studio didn't have the money to cover the expense of traveling. Same like with Super Megaforce but worst. Lots of the past PR actors turned down the offer to reprise their roles due to low pay and that low pay is not worth the traveling expenses to go to New Zealand.
Clever!
New Zealand location limited a lot of cameos a lot of actors have said they would have loved to come back but couldn't justify the travel
They were probably busy or didn't want to.
We really don't have Official WORD FROM THEM?
I want a sandwich from their deli.
They had to make a YouTube channel about dry aging steaks in weird ways
It is a nice easter egg in the special. I would've loved for Bulk and Skull to be there in person and perhaps play a role in the plot but at least they got an acknowledgement.
Man I can't stop smiling at that billboard. From beginning to end they were together
 Same reason other rangers who interacted with MMPR don't get to come an play but just referenced.
I mean: Jason Narvy (Skull) is a college Prof. (I think technically he has a doctorate, but that’s beside the point). Maybe he couldn’t get away?
Surprisingly enough I feel like Bulk and Skull made out like bandits and had a great redemption arc from being bullies, to standing up against evil for the power rangers and then becoming successful business owners! I also believe they were in the series longer than anyone even Tommy.