The appeal of Tommy
 

Can someone explain to me just why so many people love and adore him? I just don't get the appeal?

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Because a lot of people grew up watching the show with him. Tommy was the cool new kid who had all the cool weapons. Not to mention the Dragonzord. Also ypu had the whole soap Oprah around his powers. And JDF just had an alpha male on screen presence.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Its hard to see why fans wouldn't like him in his debut run.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Here's my take on this:

When MMPR first came out, it was instantly a hit show. It's just that the producers weren't ready for what's to came back then as they were only set out to do Zyuranger stuff and end the show after 40 episodes. However, nobody counted on PR sticking for more than originally planned, so when it was decided to change the originally intended ending, Power Rangers BEING WITHOUT Tommy became a problem because the Green Ranger had all the good stuff and all the good fight scenes.

So when the fans got their way, season 1 was extended. But the fans also wanted Tommy back, so Saban had Zordon re-charge the powers. They wanted some more of the guy in the gold shield. Then MMPR got a 2nd season renewal and a movie deal and it became clear to the producers that the show was going to stick around some more. With "Green No More", the Green Ranger was done. So was Tommy. Then JDF did the pilot for what become VR Troopers (Cybertron) so fans, once again, wrote to Saban about wanting Tommy back.
So they ditched the actor that was supposed to be the White Ranger and brought Tommy back as White.

Now I don't know if all of the above is 100 % accurate (I might have left something out), but it looks like - at least to me - that the MMPR producers realized that they needed an already established character if they wanted to keep the show going for a longer period of time. JDF definitely left a big mark during his time as the Green Ranger on the show and a memorable character behind, so the producers just did what they had to do and built up upon what actually GLUED the show to the TV world and made it ultra recognizable - and that was Jason David Frank as Tommy Oliver. So keeping the character in the show (and the actor) was the way of making sure that the show and the franchise stuck around.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

basically based on what we know it's pretty accurate.
Fox Kids ordered 40 episodes. Saban shot an alternate ending closer to the Zyuranger finale in case the show crashed and burned but when it became a hit the network ordered 20 more episodes so Saban opted to go to Toei and Rainbow Productions for help since the Zyuranger footage was nearly exhausted they only had 2 Dora Monsters left so on Saban's paycheck Toei and Rainbow went to work on creating new monsters and filming them in the style of Zyuranger but then Saban decided to order Dairanger since he wanted new merchandise to market and yes that's indeed true in regards to Tommy.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Didn't the Cybertron pilot happen before "Return Of An Old Friend"?

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Miki is mostly right . But the fan write in stuff and Cybertron happened before Tommy's first return. " Green No More " was meant as a write off for the Green Powers, not Tommy. Once they brought Tommy back, Jason Frank was brought back as a full timer. Who just had to transition to new powers.

There was supposedly a point where Brad Hawkens was in the running for White Ranger. But that came from Frank whose memory is known for not being very good. The timeline for that is more hazy. But Tommy was sticking around indefinitely by the Zyu 2 episodes.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

not according to both JDF and Brad the Cybertron/VR Troopers stuff was in Season 2 of MMPR's production that's why Brad had been cast as the White Ranger but things had to be switched around because of kids starving themselves.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

That is strange. Since it felt like JDF was already set to be a regular. I mean there wasn't a lot of time between " Green No More " and "White Light". Plus I thought the protest was for when he was written off in "Green Candle"

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

People can dislike him. But you can't argue with how popular was and what he still means to the franchise today.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

There is just so many reasons why Tommy is great. He was brave and loyal. He was a victim of Rita's evio yet overcame it all. He was a great leader and a charismatic personality. He was an awesome martial artist. And he had an unbelievable romance with Kimberly. Other then falling for Kat's nonsense, whats not to like about Tommy?

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I can see why Tommy was popular, he's not my favourite Ranger but i don't dislike him. As a kid i was sadder to see Jason go.

Obviously MMPR was an unexpected and massive hit. I think Tommy having a bit more of a story to him was what got peoples attention, going from bad to good and having his own zord and shield was exciting for kids. It just gave people more of what they already loved about the show.

When a show is that popular you keep what made it popular going for as long as you can.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

that's what I had originally thought as well regarding the protests but it really wouldn't have made much sense since he had to be back according to the Zyu2 footage

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

It was Tommy Oliver who got me into Power Ranger. I like it when he came back for Dino Thunder. He became Lord Drakkon for Hyperforce, and I hope that he come back for a Power Ranger mini-series where he fought Power Rangers from Sentai teams that doesn't have any American counterpart. :idea3:

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Humm I always thought the Zyu2 footage was made after they decided to bring Tommy back. I also had the same idea of Goldar's timeline. Seems kind of confusing now.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Well, once Lord Zedd came into the picture, Goldar changed looks. They gave him a different face and wings. However, during the second season, Goldar does show up a couple of times in his original form due to usage of stock footage.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

yup it's very confusing now.

yea but that's only because Goldar's Japanese suit fell apart since they weren't made to last long.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I always thought it was wiere when Zedd gave him his wings back. When they a
ready showed him flying on stock Zyuranger Footage.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

That was Zordon showing the teens footage of when he had his wings in the past.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Tommy seemed like a pretty likeable guy to me. Plus he had a lot of sympathy due to his power loss storyline. He was a great fighter and had some cool powers. He was also a great fighter.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Tommy was the most popular character. Not building around him in his first run would have been foolish. In DT they did a good job of showcasing him but still having him pass the torch.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Not all of us are fans of Tommy. He was in fact given way too much hype from the get-go. Jason is proven to be more popular.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Thank you, glad to see not everyone here is caught up in the Tommy hype.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I am just stating the truth, but you're welcome.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Yes, some of us do like Jason a lot better.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I can and I will. Its all Tommy Lover propaganda.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

then you're going to get attacked the same way you're attacking him. It's not propaganda and if you seriously think so you need to be evaluated.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I also feel Tommy got too much attention so back off....please.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

no I also feel it's all propaganda with anyone believing he got too much attention as soon as he came on board. He didn't so YOU BACK OFF... please. I'm a Tommy fan BUT I will admit that he got too much attention placed on him after he became the White Ranger but saying he got it as soon as he came on board is nothing but propaganda and hogwash.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Actually he did get too much attention once he returned. That is a fact, not propaganda as you claim. If I remember correctly in the Japanese version not only did the Green Ranger die but the White Ranger was played by a small boy. Yes I do watch some of the Sentai stuff so I do know more than people think.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

He said "from the get-go" though that doesn't count as "from the get-go."

Also you're forgetting that DragonRanger didn't get much focus due to him dying so there was very little of him fighting with the others so yes what you claim isn't a fact it's just propaganda. Dairanger's Kibaranger was Kou (I think?) but who Kibaranger is isn't relevant since both productions wouldn't have had the actor wearing the suit much if at all. Toei rarely shoots their hero actors in the suits except for the sequences and promotional material.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I understand where you are coming from Hailey. I think people just don't take Tommy Hater seriously because he tends to go over the top. You are just stating what you believe and don't take it as far as him . So thats cool.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Really when you think of it, it isn't a big deal. Tommy hasn't been around for a long time. Even if he comes back for anniversy specials he isn't the focal point of the franchise. So like him or hate him, he just isn't around anymore.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I'm with Hailey and Hater, Tommy is way overhyped. I do think he was cool in season 1.5 though.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Tommy was amazing! And I will never be sick of him. I only question why he dumped Kimberly for Kat. But that was the writers stupid idea.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

more like it was her (Amy's) decision to leave which forced their hand since they could no longer film an on-screen relationship granted I don't blame her for wanting to leave

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I never understood why the actors would want to leave. Even with the harsh conditions, your basically playing Power Rangers all day. Its a great job! Especially back then.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

There is a lot more to it then that. The job was actually harder back then. And lets not forget the actors wouldn't have grown up with the series. Not that many actors let that influence their job.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

Very true in fact here's basically a recap to give PRFan an idea of how bad it was back then especially during back then.

1. They worked 14-16 hours a day on a daily basis
2. They had to come in to do their ADR
3. Their pay well let's just say McDonald's paid their employees better
4. Stunts. Remember the ep where Billy and Kimberly switched bodies? During 1 of their tapings of that something went wrong and at least Amy got caught on fire. Nowadays? If a hero actor is that close to a fire device they won't let them do the scene unless they're 100% confident of their ability to do the scene but back then Saban Entertainment didn't have a choice since they budgeted for only so much stunt doubles so if they had their stunt team filming as Putties elsewhere then no one would've been available.

Re: The appeal of Tommy
 

I actually can see where some people felt Tommy was overhyped. He was at timea. But at the same time I do think he was a good character and a big part of thhe mythos of the series. He isn't the only think PR has going for it though.