Power Rangers to return

McClatchy Newspapers

PASADENA, Calif.

“The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” who exploded on to the children’s television programming scene 17 years ago and instantly became a ratings and merchandising monster, are making a comeback.

The program, a mix of action scenes from a Japanese series and new footage shot with American actors, followed the exploits of a handful of teens who would morph into brightly dressed heroes to fight weird creatures.

An 18th season of the series is planned for Nickelodeon in 2011 and the original episodes will run on Nicktoons later this year.

Stewart St. John, a film and TV writer/director, wrote 30 of the original episodes and was the story editor the first season. He said he is certain another wave of “Morphin” mania is on the way.

“I think the show is going to be just as big as it was that first year. It’s obvious there are still plenty of fans,” St. John said after speaking at the “Power Morphicon 2” convention last weekend. “Many of us were saying that we just can’t believe what’s happening with this whole ‘Power Rangers’ thing.”