[TokuChris]

Allow me to educate everyone on the rise and fall of Power Rangers from Mighty Morphin through In Space.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers became an instant hit during Season 1. So much so that, to continue the series, Saban Entertainment had Toei create all new footage in Japan of the Zyurangers, famously called Zyu2, to keep the series going. However, the cost was too much, and something had to be done.

Thus, the footage from Dairanger was purchased but the decision was made NOT to use the suits. However, the 6th Ranger in Dairanger, Kibaranger, was featured prominently in zord footage. Rather than shoot an all new cockpit scene for every use of the Green Ranger, the decision was made to bring the White Ranger in to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

But with the amount of mail being received wanting JDF back, the team decided to bring Jason David Frank back as the White Ranger. It was a win-win when three of the original six left the show, as JDF then became the leader of the Power Rangers and cemented his position as one of the all time favorite Power Rangers. In fact, the "White Light" episodes of Power Rangers are still the most viewed kids programming episodes in the history of television (it was estimated that nearly 3 out of every 10 televisions in America were watching Power Rangers during those episodes, or something ridiculous like that).

That spawned the first movie. They kept the same formula - adapting different Sentai footage but keeping the original suits. However, it continued to be hard to shoot new cock pit scenes, new fight scenes, and only adapt Megazord scenes. With ratings beginning to drop during Season 3, the decision was made to try to bring in new viewers with a new suit change like Sentai does (and save money on production). Thus, we get Power Rangers Zeo.

But it wasn't successful. Ratings continued to drop. In an effort to boost the ratings, Austin St. John was brought back to the show as the Gold Ranger and given a role in the next movie. His return helped - the show's ratings went up and the movie was released.

In an effort to bring in a new generation of kids, the decision was made to make the Blue Ranger from Power Rangers Turbo a kid. That was seen as a way to let kids instantly connect to a new Power Ranger and enjoy the series. But it didn't work - ratings fell through the floor. The producers began thinking of changing the cast and production, so much that they put out try-outs in the paper. The writers also changed at this point. The cast saw this in the paper and approached production, indicating they wanted to leave the show. A mutual agreement was made, and a new cast was brought in hoping that a whole new team of Power Rangers would boost the ratings.

It worked for the most part - ratings began to climb as kids tuned in to see these new Power Rangers and learn more about them. But Turbo was still seen as a failure, and production ended early (leaving story lines unfinished) to begin production of the final series - Power Rangers In Space.

During early episodes, an effort to boost ratings of Power Rangers, as well as Saban's new property, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a crossover was done between In Space and Next Mutation. It was successful, as viewers of both shows began watching both shows.

However, Power Rangers In Space was set to be the last Power Rangers show. So much that the writers made it a point to end story lines. Zordon and all the previous villains were destroyed at the end of the show, leaving the universe peaceful and the protected. But the ratings were higher than they had been for the last couple of years. So much that it was believed that Power Rangers had been saved from cancellation and they believed it more to be because of the setting (space) than anything else.

And thus, Lost Galaxy arrived, being another space series even though the Sentai footage had absolutely nothing to do with space. Saban learned that the same formula used for Turbo worked every year - reboot each season so new fans can join the show and get to know these Power Rangers. That trend has continued every single year.

There was a brief time when Time Force, viewed as another critical success of the franchise, was considered for not only a second season, but also a movie. But due to negotiations with Saban Entertainment and Disney for the eventual sale of the Power Rangers franchise, this never happened. Power Rangers was sold to Disney before Power Rangers Wild Force began, and Disney then planned to end the show with Wild Force.

However, thanks to Doug Sloan, Jackie Marachand, and other veterans of the show, production was moved to New Zealand to keep it affordable and non-union, and Power Rangers has since lived on, being relatively inexpensive to produce and reaping major rewards in terms of sales, merchandising, and licensing rights.

The end.