The Office and 25 TV shows that were never supposed to be hits

19. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (FOX)

Series run: 1993-1996 (3 seasons/145 episodes) 

It took nearly a decade for the kids show to reach the small screen, and when it did, it wasn’t a guarantee that it would survive.

At the time, Japanese anime was beginning to blow up, but a live-action series of Choudenshi Bioman (the show the English-version is based on) drew many skeptics from American television critics. Haim Saban was convinced that the show — retitled Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers when it reached the States — would be a sensation with American kids.

And, Saben was right.

The Power Rangers, with its catchy theme song and high-powered (and repetitive) action scenes, became a must-watch for kids when they got home from school; and during its initial run, it was one of the top-rated kids shows on television. Those high ratings also courted some controversy, as parents were concerned that the Power Rangers were too violent for the audience it marketed to, racial and homophobic overtones, and low-pay and moral for the production staff.

Basically, a story of the behind-the-scenes mess of the production of the Power Rangers could be a story unto itself.

Nevertheless, the show was a huge hit, both on the screen and in marketing. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing the Power Rangers. There were toys, backpack, trading cards, if the Power Rangers could be on a product, they were on that product. It made a lot of money for both Saben and FOX, but after the third season, the show was canceled.

The Power Rangers would stay on air throughout the years through various reboots and new franchises.