The long-running US children's television series, which is filmed in New Zealand and employs local actors and production crew, is about to be dropped.

Since 2003, Disney-owned Power Rangers has been filmed in several spots around Auckland, including Vector Arena, Drury and Bethells Beach.

Its American production company, Ranger Productions, has a base in the Glen Eden Studio West buildings.

Filming for the 17th season, Power Rangers RPM, began in September and the 32 episodes are due to screen from today in several countries but not New Zealand.

It was cancelled here in 1993 when the Broadcasting Standards Authority deemed it too violent.

The production manager for the show, Sally Campbell, told the Weekend Herald that "at this stage we will not be shooting another season".

Several New Zealand actors have starred in one of the show's six New Zealand seasons, including Sunrise host Oliver Driver, Outrageous Fortune's Antonia Prebble, Go Girls' Anna Hutchison and former Shortland Street stars Miriama Smith, Katrina Devine and Tandi Wright.

Actor Charlie McDermott, who has done the voiceover work for the General Crunch character for the last three years, told the Weekend Herald he had not been told about the cancellation.

"It's a bit of a bummer. These big-budget American companies have got millions and they're using our studios. I'd say it would be the actors who lose out the least. It's all the camera guys, the sound, editing suites ...

"But [the Americans] are used to paying a lot more than they pay us, that's why they come here, their dollar goes a lot further. And they have it down pat. Once you've been here for a while you really refine your processes and make some money."

The Power Rangers contract is worth a substantial amount to post-production companies Digipost, which edits the video, and Inside Track, which produces all the sound effects.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10560372

I had no idea it was even still on - let alone 17 seasons old!! :eek: :lol:

I had stopped watching Power Rangers when they made it to their 2nd series. As more of the original cast had been gone the show didn't interest me as they kept getting more and more re-casts. Tommy (green ranger) was the only one that stuck around the longest.

It's amazing the series lasted as long as it did. I have seen clips and stuff from the recent shows and it just looks like it got cheaper and cheezier as it went on. I'm not saying the original series was state of the art because it wasn't at all, but it was groundbreaking for its time and it became a miracle hit.

I had watched the first two seasons, and later on, when ABC Family had shown the Time Travel Rangers season, I watched that one as well. But that's it. I've always thought it was ridiculous that it was still on, although I can't help but think... 17 seasons? Why not make a deal for three more seasons and end it with 20 seasons?

Rest in Rerun Peace, Power Rangers. And thanks for saving the world from Rita, Zedd and all the other countless monsters that have crossed your paths for 17 years. ;)

^ The Power Rangers were a ridiculous show period. When you're a kid you think it's great but of course logic doesn't cross your mind:

-If there is some evil witch lady living in a palace on the Moon with her ghoul minions; how come NASA didn't pick up on this? With all of their telescopes they seemed to miss this big palace on the moon with creatures.

- Where are all of the Power Rangers' parents? They travel through time and travel to other planets in the blink of an eye and their parents are clueless.

-If the Rangers' have this super megazord machine (i forget the name) that can destory any creature; well then why not just use that thing right away?

I did not even know that Power Rangers have been on that long

^ The Power Rangers were a ridiculous show period. When you're a kid you think it's great but of course logic doesn't cross your mind:

-If there is some evil witch lady living in a palace on the Moon with her ghoul minions; how come NASA didn't pick up on this? With all of their telescopes they seemed to miss this big palace on the moon with creatures.

- Where are all of the Power Rangers' parents? They travel through time and travel to other planets in the blink of an eye and their parents are clueless.

-If the Rangers' have this super megazord machine (i forget the name) that can destory any creature; well then why not just use that thing right away?
:brent I never thought about any of that, but you're right!!

:brent I never thought about any of that, but you're right!!

Another thing I noticed just now....

Wouldn't the school wonder where these kids are when they don't show up to class? There always seemed to be a "monster crisis" during the morning school hours.

i didnt even have any idea that it was still on

Another thing I noticed just now....

Wouldn't the school wonder where these kids are when they don't show up to class? There always seemed to be a "monster crisis" during the morning school hours.
See, you put a lot of thought into this!! That's a good question. :rofl:

I don't usually cover ABC Kids, but this is interesting. The classic “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” is scheduled to air in the 12:00PM & 12:30 PM ET (11:00 & 11:30 AM CT/PT; 10:00 & 10:30AM MT) time periods effective Saturday, January 2, 2010.

“Power Rangers: RPM” will have its last telecast on Saturday, December 26, 2009.

I had read about this before, but now the classic Power Rangers has a launch date. I like the move.

When you're a kid you think it's great but of course logic doesn't cross your mind:

-If there is some evil witch lady living in a palace on the Moon with her ghoul minions; how come NASA didn't pick up on this? With all of their telescopes they seemed to miss this big palace on the moon with creatures.

I never thought about NASA not seeing Rita's Moon Palace but I wonder how Rita, Zedd, and the other monsters were able to breathe on the moon since there's no oxygen. It's not like the entire palace was closed off to space. There was a balcony outside.

- Where are all of the Power Rangers' parents? They travel through time and travel to other planets in the blink of an eye and their parents are clueless.

I've wondered that same thing. They have shown the original MMPR parents on at least one episode before but this was never addressed. Another thing is that they seem to spend a lot of time away from home as teenagers and their parents don't seem to mind.

-If the Rangers' have this super megazord machine (i forget the name) that can destory any creature; well then why not just use that thing right away?

Their individual machines are called Zords and they combine to form the Megazord. One of the 3 basic rules of being a Power Ranger is that they can never escalate a battle unless forced to or they will lose the protection of the power. That's mentioned at the end of the MMPR pilot episode, Day Of The Dumpster and at the end of the episode, Green With Evil Part 5. The monsters usually start out normal size but they are grown to be as tall as skyscrapers when the rangers defeat them and that's when the Zords and Megazord are used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVinnS7ny4s

You can click on the 2:08 link in the comments section after the video loads to see the 3 basic rules of being a Power Ranger.

"2:08 - The 3 basic rules of being a Power Ranger."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqvGPJPp54k

You can click on the 2:46 link in the comments section after the video loads to see the 3 basic rules of being a Power Ranger.

"2:46 - The 3 basic rules of being a Power Ranger."

It's too bad that Power Rangers is ending since it's my favorite children's show but it will be nice to see the remastered episodes of MMPR that will start airing in 2010.