ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997 TAG: 9703060073
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TAMPA, FLA.
SOURCE: TOM BAYLES ASSOCIATED PRESS
The producers of "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" are planning a high-tech, '90s version of the old favorite. First step: finding a Captain.
Hundreds of would-be TV stars auditioned Wednesday by reciting the following line with feeling: ``You know, I'm really worried about Mr. Moose. He's not acting like himself lately. He hasn't even tried to trick me with a knock-knock joke.''
The role they were vying for was Captain Kangaroo, the kindly, mustachioed seafarer made famous by Bob Keeshan. The hopefuls ranged from a Santa Claus-like teacher to a cable TV show producer in sailor-type garb.
The producers of the ``Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' and Anheuser-Busch are teaming up to revive the popular children's show, which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1984, then on PBS until 1993.
This time, the Captain will be aimed at the 2- to 7-year-old children of the baby boomers who watched the original show.
``I was born and raised on Captain Kangaroo,'' said Captain hopeful Steven Fiorenza, who produces a local children's educational TV show. He wore seafaring attire to the tryouts at Busch Gardens theme park, where some of the new series will be filmed for syndication.
The rights to Captain Kangaroo were bought several years ago by Saban Entertainment, maker of ``Power Rangers.''
``We are looking to contemporize the show and give it the sense and the look of a kid's show in the nineties,'' Saban spokesman Barry Stagg said. ``It will be interactive, computer-related, high-tech, with an MTV-style approach.''
Saban plans 26 half-hour episodes for the first season, starting in September.
Keeshan isn't involved with the new show, but Stagg said Saban is negotiating to bring him on. ``Maybe we'll have him elevated to admiral and make periodic appearances on the show,'' he said.
Keeshan, in California shooting an episode of the ``Jeff Foxworthy Show,'' wasn't available to discuss the show Wednesday.
Wednesday's tryout brought out amateurs and local acting professionals, such as Patrick Doyle, 45, a veteran of a national bug-spray commercial.
``I'm sure I did OK,'' Doyle said. ``But it really doesn't matter if you do somersaults. You've got to have the look they want.''
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Captain hopeful Patrick Doyle readsby CNBhis lines in front of producer Julie Ashton and cameraman Darren
Brower on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla. color.