Steve Cardenas Rejects Offer to Appear in Super Megaforce
 

Sad news for those hoping to see the return of Rocky, who played the second Red Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo.

On his personal Facebook, Steve Cardenas posted the following:

The offer was too low and there's not a lot of character development. Just basically going to be in the background as an extra. I would've loved to do it but I could possibly take that amount of time away from my business for that little amount of money. I'm sorry but I believe that it's them that's letting the fans down because they want to get away with paying too little. I hope you understand.

The message was posted here.

What do you guys think? Is Steve Cardenas in the right for rejecting to appear for a cameo appearance? Or is he letting the fans down by wanting more money than Saban Brands was willing to offer? Let us know!

Thanks to raz for the heads up!

Well, it's unfortunate that we won't see him, but he does state that he was gonna have a nothing role, so...I guess he's in the right.

I am disappointed to be honest. He missed out on the 10th Anniversary and has now chosen not to be included in the 20th Anniversary. You have people like Jason David Frank, stating he'd do Super Megaforce for a $1 because he wants to make his fans happy, yet Steve Cardenas believes that he's being paid too little to appear as an extra for an episode.

I don't know. I just don't feel it. I'm sorry. I think Steve is cheating the fans on this one.

Honestly? I see this as no big loss. Would him being in SMF really have made the show better? He couldn't make the shows he was actually in better.

He had impossible shoes to fill when he became the Red MMPR. But during Zeo his character became likable, though he was re-written in to a comedy-relief role.

I'm sad he won't be returning. And I'm sad to know it's because of money. I mean, if Saban is willing to foot the bill to fly you out and put you up and pay your meals as well as pay you for showing up then pay you to fly home ... how is it that it's still not enough money? Especially if you're just as a cameo, what do you want, like full-on guest-star credits and money?

I dunno.

Honestly, as an aspiring actor, I wouldn't care how much I'd get paid for a job. As long as I somehow managed to get myself out there. JDF is one of those people who has gotten a lot of experience, has fans, and is willing to do what makes them happy. That's an amazing iteration of an actor right there.

Steven Cardenas shouldn't even care how much he gets paid for the job. He's given a chance to at least reprise the character that let people know who he was in the acting industry- even if his appearance is a small cameo that borderlines the concept of an extra, so what? That's camera time right there, and added publicity. Seeing as how he runs a martial arts place like JDF, which should have a numerous amount of child students, he should go for the job. Would benefit his business, and give his fans a chance to see him again, even if it doesn't have the monetary gain he desires.

Steve has a business he runs primarily on his own, while JDF's can run it self for most likely short periods at a time. If the costs were equal and he was making the same money (and it doesn't sound like he would be) then I myself wouldn't put it as a priority.

Then again, I'm a full time college student and a part time Walmart slave. I'd take more money over less money any day.

It does open the question of what exactly was Saban offering to pay, and what expenses was he willing to pay. I mean ... if Saban is footing the bill for travel, lodging, and expenses, and then giving money for an appearance on top of it, is Steve being a dick by saying "I deserve more" or is he making a legit business decision of "I will lose money by not being at my school"?

It sounds to me like the latter, honestly. Steve's a nice guy, cares about his fans... I mean, it could be an equal pay all in all, but being away from the school... is it worth all the trouble?

I say we give him a pass on this one.

It's a shame to see Steve Cardenas not returning for the anniversary, but I respect his decision. There are numerous variables about his business and financial situation that we don't (and shouldn't) know about. Any decisions made on that basis are sound to me.

Actors who say that they would work for free or little pay are out of their minds. They have bills to pay too.

Does this mean we now risk not having a mmpr red ranger ? Or another infamous voice over lol

Something about his post bothers me. Not alot of character devolopment? It's a guest star role, for one maybe two episodes. How much character devolopment did he want? It's Power Rangers.

We may still get Ausitin St John, the original MMPR Red. And JDF. Honestly? The only cameo we get could be Jason and I'd be great with that.

I think the same thing I said in the other thread is true here:

Yes, its a little sad that he's not coming back, I liked Rocky way more then the annoying Gary Stu that Tommy has always been and Jason became in his Zeo appearance and wouldn't mind them never coming back, but I don't think we should blame Steve for not being screwed around by Saban.

I've been thinking about this. I've been giving him a hard time because the only thing I remember about Rocky is the Pachinko machine episode of MMPR. But maybe Steve has a point.

The actors all found lives after Power Rangers. Buisnesses, other acting gigs, what have you. It's asking alot for someone to uproot themselves from their lives, fly across the world to New Zealand, just for what amounts to usually two days work. Jason David Frank said he'd do it for a dollar, and I love him for it. But expecting that of everyone is asking alot. Before we strap Steve to a cross and burn him alive as a non-believer, maybe we should see it from his side. He has to think about his finacial well being, that of his family, and everything else. Sure, it'd be nice getting as many actors back as possible. But sometimes life just gets in the way.

All due respect Steve, but I don't particularly think any of the returning rangers appearing in Super Megaforce are going to have "much character development".

Eh, I like Rocky but I don't see this as a big loss.

Why do we have to "blame" anyone? Truth is, Saban has no reason to pay anyone tons and tons of money for a quick appearance in a show where 20 episodes isn't enough to do anything significant. Meanwhile, Steve Cardenas isn't not showing up out of spite to Saban or the fans, he just actually works for a living. Any of you have a career? Try skipping off to New Zealand for awhile while trying to run a business.

What a spoiled brat. "They don't want me to be a main character, so I won't appear." Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Seriously, what the ****? The dude hasn't done anything important since PR, so he could definitely use some acknowledgment. But then, this proves why. I saw **** him and we don't need his loser attitude in the show ever again.

Just because he doesn't act any more doesn't mean he doesn't do anything important...

I get why he didn't do it. I mean, if he's got his own business going on then appearing, even briefly, would be time away from that and if he's not getting paid enough for it I completely get it.

Dunno how they're 'letting down fans' though.

It's fair enough, and they can always get someone else in for an MMPR/Zeo cameo.

What do you do for a living?

It's really refreshing to see someone admit it's about the money. I don't see any one less of a human for admitting this, everything is about money whether you want to live in an idealised bubble world or not.

It actually annoys me more when someone makes up some huge speal about like artistic integrity or something they think makes them sound better to the fans. It's okay to have other commitments and need x amount of money to make it viable to leave your commitments. Coming out of your daily life for a pittance and a tiny role isn't worth it.

So yeah, good on you for admitting the thing that everyone else is thinking but very few want to say.

While I admit that it's a bummer considering the casts that we came to know and love every year, I'm not hurt by this only because whether or not you personally care about the money, your bills still require it. I can work a photo shoot for $100 or $600 but I still have rent over my head at the end of the month regardless. If he can't afford to walk away from his business to do something on the cheap then I can't fault him for wanting to be financially secure.

I see Steve's point about not being able to take time away from his business. I think that's the biggest factor from his perspective. And honestly, there are many other actors from the MMPR and Zeo era that might be more memorable characters. Steve must always feel like "the replacement Red," even if he had the title of Zeo Blue Ranger all to himself. He's not like JDF who has a much larger fan base.

I do think the quip about not a lot of character development is kind of crap. I mean, seriously, this anniversary season is already being stuffed as it is. The returning actors probably WILL just be cameos, because besides several tribute episodes in Gokaiger the returning sentai actors were no more than supporting characters. That's how it should be, because Super Megaforce is ultimately the story of the Super Megaforce Rangers. The returning characters have had their day in the sun, and the point is to let the new cast shine.

I see both sides, though I find it funny almost all the cast members say Saban is stingy with money. We get it. Peace conference off you go.

Totally agreed with this.

No, seriously. What the... whatever you wanted to say. Everything you've accused Steve of being, you're doing right now. Irony.

Steve's post was very respectful and he was very candid with the fan that asked him. He could have said something else, flat out ignored it or even deleted it. But Steve answered the fan, and did it with grace and dignity. It wasn't him whining about it.

I'd say running your own business is important and more so than a two episode appearance on a show that according to most actors from it weren't treated right in the first place. (This could also be the reasoning behind "Saban's fault" here folks) Steve has acknowledged the show and has most certainly acknowledged the fans. His personal Facebook page is proof of this. Real life obligations do get in the way, and when you work hard from the ground up to create a business and it's something you want to do for the rest of your life, protecting that is more important than running around with a bunch of kids in spandex for two days.

Ugh. Looking back at most of your "rants" (especially Figuart ones) you're the one coming across as the one whose upset because you can't have your way. My suggestion is that you attract more flies with honey. I get your frustration, but "loser attitude?" No offense, but currently, that's you sir.

I hope that changes in the future though.

It may be something along the lines of a team thing for whatever team he was to represent. Just stand there, and pass along whatever key/card/body massage machine to the "Gokaigers" with little wording or lines, if any at all, with the rest of the "team." He said it was to be a background role, but we don't know the extent of that.

Honestly, Steve's never comes across as a glory hog. I really don't think that's the case here either.

Yep! Thats the Steve Cardenes I had the "pleasure" of working with for 3 days.
Seriously, ive tried to tiptoe around this in the past, but cast & crew, ive never met anyone with good things to say about this guy as a proffesional.

Do you keep constant tabs on his whereabouts and activities? Doesn't starting a business count as important? Does he not have a family? Employees? Students? Are none of these important?

You're coming off as a bit spoilt, to be honest.

Troy: "Hey, why are you the only veteran here? Where's the rest of your team?"
Veteran Ranger: "They're at a Peace Conference."
Gia: "Yeah, seems to be a lot of that going around..."

I enjoy the split opinion on "Well, he has his own life and his own business to take care of" vs. "He's just being greedy, always wanting more money than what he deserves."

I'm not trying to attack Steve, nor am I trying to defend him. But the tone I got from his FB post was: "They're only going to offer me what?! To show up and do nothing?! Saban is letting fans down by not making it worth it for us/me to come back. Blame Saban being cheap!"

Just how it reads to me.

Well that is how it reads because that's basically exactly what he's saying. But that's justifiable given everything that he's doing in his own life and how notorious Saban is for not giving a shit about their employees. That does not mean he's "in the for the money, not the fans" it just means he's not going to drop his life for Saban for petty cash when he has more important things in his life, which is what anybody would do.

Whilst I don't know personally what his business is, others have said its a martial arts school right? So, we're expecting this guy to ditch his job for say 2 to 3 weeks (thus possibly letting down a lot of his students/clients/fans) to earn what sounds like less then he'd make himself to appear in an episode for 5-10 minutes tops? Yeah that's a logical choice, he really is being completely selfish there (sarcasm)

If he is just being greedy then good for him, supply and demand and all that. These people don't exist to please us, they're just like anybody else trying to make a living, and if a job offer isn't good enough it isn't good enough.

If you have a job you need to do, then I can buy that as a legit reason. But this gig shouldn't be about money, it should be about celebrating the franchise that you were a part of and giving back a little bit of service to the fans. If you want to make it all about a pay check then I don't care if I see you in the show or not.

Lemme just reiterate. Ive met this guy, ive worked with this guy. Theres nothing about this that is anything more than "teh monez"

Also though.....if.Cardenas has been contacted....JDF is totally fibbing that he hasnt. Lol

Bit of an assholish kind of statement to make. "It wasn't enough money".

I don't know if I would have done it or not if I were in his shoes. I do know I wouldn't have talked about publicly though, and this is pretty much the reason. I wouldn't have commented on it till someone at Saban said they reached out to me and I was directly asked about it. Till then I just would have kept silent about the whole thing.

You worked with him for three days. And how long ago was that?

The dude has a life and a business, if he decides to pass on it then he can. He was honest about the reasons he did it, and im sorry, but until youre paying for a house and running a business, to slag the man off for making a legit financial decision makes you an asshole.

My best friend runs a brewery, makes good beer, and if he was invited to take part in an event requiring him to travel abroad celebrating beer, they would have to make a good offer otherwise it would be financially moronic to leave work on hold for several days/weeks.

Plus really, would he have made much impact? Really? I get that hes a fan pleaser at cons, but i thought he was forgetable

This was back in 08'. I'd worked with other cast/production member of the show before and after...and what I'd heard before met up with reality. I've worked with a lot of cast/production members of the show previously (and no where NEAR enough with Paul Schrier) and I can say Cardenas.....is just not good people.....he's actually kinda downright creepy behind closed doors.