Mighty Raters

By GINIA BELLAFANTE

| By the time you are seven, the dictates of the cookie-and-Kool-Aid-culture require you to develop mature television relationships -- ones that no longer involve dopey, Leo Buscaglia-inspired dinosaurs like Barney.

This season what plugged-in Americans ages 6 to 11 are graduating to is the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Fox), an absurdly camp, live-action sci-fi show that in the past three months, airing six days a week, has become the top- rated children's program on TV. In Los Angeles the half-hour show has already garnered ratings that rival Oprah Winfrey's.

Don't expect to get it. Power Rangers is choppy, video-game-paced fare that has the feel of a cheap Japanese monster movie, circa 1956. The premise: five teenagers (three boys and two girls) are transmogrified mid-episode into spandex-clad superheroes who battle the vile forces of Rita Repulsa, an intergalactic witch. Through a mix of kung-fu acrobatics, pummeling and pouncing, the Rangers manage to defeat whatever band of clunky, plastic robot- cretins Rita enjoins to cause trouble.

The Rangers also manage to deliver a message about coping with adolescence. In one episode the Rangers wind up trapped on Rita's Island of Illusion, and their bodies dematerialize as they grow more frightened about their chance of escape. The heroes rematerialize only when they start believing in themselves again. Superhero Zack goes on to win a break-dancing contest. Along with lessons in self-esteem, the show serves up good-versus-evil showdowns and kids as Ninja-like conquerors. Get ready for some more heroic real-kid spin-offs.