Summary of Jack Olesker Interview - Power Rangers, New Adventures of He-Man, Heathcliff, Care Bears, M.A.S.K

00:00:00 - 00:50:00

Jack Olesker, a writer, producer, and consultant on some of the most iconic 80s and 90s kids shows, discusses his career in the industry. He talks about how he got started, how he met Saban, and how he worked on the new adventures of He-Man, Maskmobile, and Power Rangers. Olesker also discusses the negative reaction to the 1985 reboot of He-Man, and how it was different from the original series.

• 00:00:00 Andy Evans interviews Jack Alaska, an author, producer, and consultant on some of the most iconic 80s and 90s kids shows, about his career. Alaska discusses how he got started in the industry, met Saban, and worked on the new adventures of He-Man, Maskmobile, and Power Rangers.
• 00:05:00 The Retro Chat podcast is hosted by Andy Evans and features interviews with celebrities and professionals in the entertainment industry. Jack Olesker is a noteworthy writer, director, and producer in children's entertainment.
• 00:10:00 Jack Olesker discusses his career in animation, including his work on Mask, Heathcliff, and Care Bears. He credits John Shellap for nurturing and guiding him, and says it was an amazing time in animation television.
• 00:15:00 Jack Olesker discusses his experience working on multiple series at the same time, the importance of having a "certain kind of mentality," and his ability to shift characters within a paragraph.
• 00:20:00 Jack Olesker discusses his experience developing the Power Rangers reboot series, which was met with mixed reactions due to the similarities to the original show. Olesker credits his mentors, He-Man creator Mattel, and Heathcliff creator Deke Ady, for helping him get the project off the ground. He-Man debuted on TV in 1984, and within a month, Olesker had written a 96-page bible for the series. The first five episodes were aired as a movie at MGM theaters, and the rest of the series was written and revised in a space of 19 weeks.
• 00:25:00 Jack Olesker, the creator of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, discusses the negative reaction to the 1985 reboot of the show, and how it was different from the original series. Olesker also discusses the positive reaction to the new series, and how it paved the way for future reboots and revivals of older cartoons.
• 00:30:00 The Jack Olesker Interview covers Power Rangers, He-Man, Heathcliff, Care Bears, and M.A.S.K. Olesker thinks that if the show had been called something different, it would have had a better reception because the existing fan base didn't have the passion for the new show. He also believes that the shift from animation to live action using the Japanese footage was a good thing for writers because there were more places to deliver their work.
• 00:35:00 Jack Olesker, a producer of children's animation, discusses the origins of Power Rangers with Saban, who, seeing the escalating costs of animation, decided to create a live action show with voice over artists. The show became wildly successful, and Olesker later created other successful series for Saban, including Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
• 00:40:00 Jack Olesker discusses his career in children's entertainment, and how it has brought him happiness and satisfaction. He reflects on his legacy by saying that he is known for making people laugh, and that he will continue to do so by writing new comedy books.
• 00:45:00 Jack Olesker discusses his work in film, writing, and television, including upcoming projects relating to He-Man and Mask. He discusses the importance of finding something that brings joy, and how he loves his work more than his life.
• 00:50:00 In this YouTube video, Jack Olesker discusses his experiences with Power Rangers, He-Man, Heathcliff, Care Bears, M.A.S.K. He credits He-Man's creator, Val Mayerik, with keeping the franchise alive over the years and comments on how the new He-Man television series are a result of his efforts. He also offers his opinion on whether or not Netflix or Mattel would be interested in hiring him back to the franchise if approached.