I was switching stations this morning and came across yet another incarnation of the Power Rangers. And I see that yet another version will be coming out this spring. What is the deal? Why have there been so many different versions of the Power Rangers? I remember being a teenager when the original Power Rangers started coming on and I thought that one sucked, but I know that kids liked it. But is there really that big a call to have kept it going this long? Does the show still air in Japan?

The show has been airing in Japan for 30+ years, since the 70s.

And I believe they aren't "new" shows, but just new seasons, each replacing the entire cast. I guess kids get sick of the same people every wekk.

I really don't know if it's still popular, but it's probably cheap programming for ABC to share with ABC Family, and has a small fanbase. I remember coming across various fan pages, which were rather odd to me, but hey...good for them.

I gather that it is VERY cheap programming. With that, and given it's demographic of tots screaming "gimme those toys" after seeing it and all the commercials it is broadcast with, it is definitely a cash cow.