The longest running kid program, with new episodes for consecutive years, without a "year/two year break", keeping the same traditional name is...
...
Power Rangers
They are currently in their 14th year and entering their 15th Year Anniversary next season with "Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive". For 15 years straight they have been #1 in toy sales for boys. Here's the listing, for those bored.
YEARS/NAME:
1-3 - Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
4 - Power Rangers Zeo
5 - Power Rangers Turbo
6 - Power Rangers: In Space
7 - Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy
8 - Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
9 - Power Rangers: Time Force
10 - Power Rangers: Wild Force
11 - Power Rangers: Ninja Storm
12 - Power Rangers: Dino Thunder
13 - Power Rangers: Space Patrol Delta (SPD)
14 - Power Rangers: Mystic Force (airing now)
15 - Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive (next year)
Notable events include the 10 year anniversary episode which aired during "Power Rangers: Wild Force" which brought back every single Red Ranger (save one, Steve Cardenas as "Rocky") in a team-up episode against villians originated (so the story says) from the "Power Rangers Zeo" series. As another throw-back, some of the villians wore the costumes of the "Big Bad Beetleborg" series, and many villians were voiced by former Power Ranger actors (Catherine Sutherland "Kat" and Walter Jones "Zach").
Another was the return of Jason David Frank (Tommy in MMPR, PRZ, PRT) as the Black Dino Thunder Ranger in "Power Rangers: Dino Thunder". He narrated the history of the Power Rangers for the 500th episode, as well as had an episode where he had to fight his "past Rangers" (MMPR Green, MMPR White, PRZ Red) in the episode "Fighting Spirit" in Dino Thunder.
Some moments that Power Ranger fans love regarding the series history:
MMPR - "Green With Evil"
The first appearance of "Tommy", who is the evil Green Ranger. The final part of this 5 part series has Tommy turning good and joining the other Power Rangers.
MMPR - "The Green Candle"
Rita Repulsa (main villian) uses the green candle to "burn away" Tommy's powers. Jason (Red Ranger) fails to get the candle, and Tommy's powers are about to disappear when Tommy gives Jason his powers to stop the drain. Tommy leaves the team.
MMPR - "Return of an Old Friend"
The Power Rangers have their parents and friends kidnapped and held hostage in exchange for their powers. They give up their powers but the bad guys refuse to return their parents, and call up the Green Ranger's "Dragonzord" to destroy the city. The Power Rangers find Tommy, convince him to use his depleting powers to save their parents. After the battle, Tommy's powers are restored but are like a battery -- he only has so much before the powers are gone for good.
MMPR - "The Mutiny"
Lord Zedd, a new villian, arrives and takes over, which actually is the breaking point in the Power Rangers series. The show is so popular and making so much money, they decide AGAINST using new Sentai costumes and simply create a majority of the non-zord battles themselves.
MMPR - "Green No More"
Lord Zedd creates a monster that finally drains the last of the Green Ranger's power. Tommy defeats Lord Zedd and his plan to create evil rangers by himself, saving the other Rangers. Tommy leaves the team and the show.
MMPR - "White Light"
The Rangers find themselves completely overmatched by a new monster, when they discover Zordon (their mentor) has created a new Ranger. The White Ranger is none other than Tommy, who becomes the leader of the team and helps them beat the monster.
MMPR - "The Return of the Green Ranger"
Tommy, now the White Ranger, is forced to fight the evil clone of himself who now holds his old Green Ranger powers.
PRZ - "A Zeo Beginning"
The Power Rangers, who had their powers destroyed and their base destroyed, find themselves facing a new enemy in the likes of King Mondo of the Machine Empire. The Rangers use the Zeo crystal, which they salvaged from all over history, to become the Zeo Power Rangers.
PRZ - "The Power of Gold"
The Rangers are saved by a new ranger, the Gold Ranger, whose identity is unknown, but has the most awesome theme song ever created. The next few episodes are dedicated to finding the identity of the Gold Ranger.
PRZ - "A Golden Homecoming"
The Gold Ranger, aka Trey from the planet Triforia, has lost the ability to hold himself together and the Gold Ranger powers are nearing depletion without a host. Tommy finds the new Gold Ranger -- Jason, the original Red Ranger, and he ends up kicking all sorts of ass.
PRLG - Some random episode
The Pink Ranger, in real life, suffers from Lukeima (spelling?), so a new actress had to be found. The directors decide to use Karone, the main villian of the "In Space" series who turns out to be the sister of the Red Ranger of In Space series. This is the only time in the entire history of Power Rangers where a character is literally written off in terms of death. The character did return (Kendrix) at the finale, as a ghost ressurrected back to life by the power of the Quasar Saber.
PRLSR - "Titanium something-another"
The directors are frightened that there is no real 6th Ranger in the Sentai footage, so they spend a large portion of their budget in creating their own 6th ranger, titled the "Titanium Ranger".
PRWF - "Forever Red"
All the Red Rangers from Power Rangers history join forces to fight off the remnants of the Machine Empire. All by Steve Cardenas, "Rocky" from MMPR/PRZ, return for this one-shot special episode.
PRDT - "Day of the Dino"
Tommy returns as a paleontologist who has used fragments from the original asteroid that crashed in to Earth to create new Power Rangers. Three high school kids find the gems in his lab, and he becomes their mentor.
PRDT - "Legacy of Power"
The history of the Power Rangers is told by Tommy in a detailed narrative.
PRDT - "Back in Black"
Tommy returns to the Power Ranger fold by becoming the Black Dino Thunder Ranger.
PRDT - "Fighting Spirit"
Tommy fights against his old Ranger powers.
PRSPD - the entire series
A ton of throwbacks. From past costumes (In Space, Time Force), to an entirely US created evil ranger team (PRIS helmets used), to a one-shot use of a new 6th Ranger (ORANGE!!!).
Another fun fact, the character that played Adam (MMPR Black, Zeo Green, Turbo Green) is Johnny Young Bosch. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he played "Vash" in Trigun.
Some YouTube links.
MMPR Season 1 Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8RWeKkCprc
MMPR Season 2 Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuP60s7FLso
MMPR Season 3 Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlP9lnjh2vI
Zeo Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeuankqEEXU
Turbo Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEMjPohdgmc
In Space Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0flhn4hBA0c
Lost Galaxy Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7mN6p-xn6U
Lightspeed Rescue Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EkuXM4nS9Y (audio sucks)
Time Force Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaCbhE4sTzY
Wild Force Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5MvBFjTx3k
Ninja Storm Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8hdOiIuC1I
Dino Thunder Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb-93r6jIjo
SPD Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDm3Cjw8aps
Mystic Force Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_LF7GrH-7E
You can find episodes on You Tube from every season, especially fan-favorites. Yes, the only thing I follow as close as Transformers, is Power Rangers. That's what happens when you're in Transformers withdrawal and the only thing on when you're bored is Power Rangers.
Fucking Bandai.
