Who Wants to Be a Superhero? explained

Genre:Reality
super heroes
Creator:Stan Lee
Bruce Nash
Director:Rick Telles
Presenter:Stan Lee
Judges:Stan Lee
Narrated:Stan Lee
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:2
Num Episodes:14
Runtime:60 minutes
Network:Sci Fi

Who Wants to Be a Superhero? was a superhero genre reality TV series broadcast on the Sci Fi Channel produced by Nash Entertainment and POW! Entertainment. The show was created by Stan Lee and Nash Entertainment.[1] A junior version of the show was broadcast on BBC Two/CBBC in the UK.

Premise

Potential contestants auditioned as their super hero selves. The final 10 selected were then placed in common quarters. The contestants were then tested for super hero traits.[2] Lee was the only judge and would instruct the eliminated contestant: “Turn in your costume”.[3] He also mentored the contestants and made appearances, primarily on TV screens, on a giant plasma at the top of a tower block, monitor resting in the middle of a pile of trash or on individually issued "communicators".[2] Winner's character concept would be the star of a Stan Lee scripted Dark Horse comic book and of a TV movie for the Sci Fi (SyFy) Channel.[1] [4]

Production

Stan Lee and Bruce Nash developed the concept.[3] In 2004, MTV was considering televising the show, even holding the regional auditions. The show moved to the Sci Fi Channel two years later[5] with the pitch well-received when they were told that Stan would judge.[3]

The show was renewed for a second season with hints of another country might get a junior version of the show.[6] Jarrett Crippen, aka the Defuser, won the second season.[7]

US season 1

At the Los Angeles 2004 auditions, Matthew Atherton applied as Knightbeam, powered from artificial light. Atherton reapplied as Feedback and was originally selected as an alternative.[5]

Some filmed challenges were cut from the show.[5] The first challenge (1a) was from Rotiart, a plant from Lee, who talked to the contestants to find out who was there for the right reasons. The next challenge (1b) was to discreetly change into costume and then race to a finish line, with a secret part being to help a lost little girl.

The three finalists had their potential comic book cover shown to them. Then they had the challenge of getting school children to vote for them after telling them their origin story. Fat Momma won the children's vote. The next challenge was to track down Dark Enforcer at Universal CityWalk via planned clues with Major Victory winning. Fat Momma wanted to quit, as she felt Feedback deserved it more, but was convinced to stick it out by the other two. Major Victory was then eliminated.[8]

Feedback won the first season over Fat Momma.[5] The top three, winner Feedback, runners-up Fat Momma and Major Victory, were made into action figures by Shocker Toys released along with the season two's figures.[9] Feedback appeared in the 2007 Sci Fi channel film Mega Snake.[10]

Key:

Superhero[11] Secret Identity[12] Concept 1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5 6
FeedbackMatthew Atherton
Software engineer
34 years old
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Absorb powers from video game characters/generate a feedback field that disrupts electronics within 15 feet/computer geniusIN IN INNOM IN IN IN IN IN WIN
Fat Momma ♀ Nell Wilson
Online sales specialist/single mother
42 years old
Los Angeles, California
Grows to 5X her normal size when angry/eating a doughnut activates other powersIN IN IN IN IN NOM NOM IN IN OUT
Major Victory ♂ Chris Watters
Disc jockey
38 years old
San Francisco, California
Super strength/flight/super jump/survive without air/super vision/manipulate sound wavesIN IN IN IN IN IN NOM NOM OUT
Lemuria ♀ Tonatzin Mondragon
Property manager/artist/sculptor
30 years old
Los Angeles, California
Shoot lasers/shoot fireballs/levitation/drain energy from people, animals, and plants/throw orbs of solar energyIN IN IN IN IN IN IN OUT
Creature ♀Tonya Kay
Automobile mechanic
25 years old
Coldwater, Michigan
Can heal others with fruit and raw foods/shoot fire beams/magical bullwhip/throws knives with unerring precisionNOM IN NOM IN IN IN OUT
Ty'Veculus ♂E. Quincy Sloan
Fire captain
34 years old
Bakersfield, California
Super strength/super speed/fire resistannce/lie detectionIN IN IN NOM IN OUT
Monkey Woman ♀Mary Votava
Real estate investor
28 years old
Seattle, Washington
Skills of a monkey/talk to monkeys/high-tech weapons disguised as bananas/bamboo staffIN NOM IN IN OUT
The Iron Enforcer ♂Steel Chambers
Bodyguard
35 years old
Brooklyn, New York
Densest bone structure of any human/death punch/various high-tech weaponsNOM NOM NOM OUT
Cell Phone Girl ♀Chelsea Weld
Interior designer
22 years old
La Crescenta, California
Teleport from one cell phone to another/eyes can take digital photos/mentally download information from a computer/use cell phone waves to move objects and shoot laser beamsIN IN OUT
Nitro G ♂ Darren Passarello
College student/filmmaker
19 years old
Staten Island, New York
Super strength/super speed/flight/energy manipulationIN OUT
Levity ♂Tobias Trost
Toy designer/animator
32 years old
Lakeside, Montana
Force shields/aerokinesisOUT
Rotiart ♂Jonathan Finestone
Business owner
27 years old
Los Angeles, California
Spy camerasplant/spy for Lee, not a true contestant

US season 2

Two or three villains, Dr. Dark and Bee Sting,[13] were used in this season and there was an overarching story line.[6] In addition to the first season rewards of a Stan Lee written comic book published by Dark Horse and a Sci Fi Original movie appearance, the winning character would also get a Shocker Toys action figure.[14]

Jarrett Crippen's character was originally named Take Down, but as that name was trademarked by a wrestler, Stan Lee chose "The Defuser" after discussing his job as a police detective.[15] Crippen finished filming for his character's movie appearance by January 15, 2009. The movie, Lightning Strikes, also starred Kevin Sorbo.[16]

Key:A plus sign indicates that the hero was singled out for praise by Lee in that episode.

SuperheroSecret IdentityConcept1 2 3a 3b 4 5 6 7 8
The DefuserJarret Crippen
Police detective
Austin, Texas
Use non-lethal weapons/body can function at 110%/super strength/super speed/enhanced reflexes/super hearing/night visionININININNOMNOMINNOMWIN
Hygena ♀Melody Mooney
Homemaker
Sherman Oaks, California
Use a magic necklace to turn cleaning tools into weaponsIN+IN+IN+INNOMNOMNOMNOMOUT
Hyper-Strike ♂John Stork
Circus performer
Plainfield, Vermont/Chicago, Illinois
Martial arts expert/super strength/enhanced durability/enhanced agility/can manipulate own qiINININNOMININ+NOMNOMOUT
Parthenon ♂Dan Williams
College professor
Orlando, Florida
Super strength/invulnerability/flight/force-field generation/sonic blast/illusion creationIN+ININ+ININ+INOUT
Whip-Snap ♀Paula Thomas
Security officer
Dallas, Texas/Los Angeles, California
Expert at using a whip/increased flexibility/decomposing touch/absorbs strength from the EarthIN+ININININOUT
Basura ♀Aja de Coudreaux
Artist
Oakland, California
Use magic to turn trash into weapons/communicate with insectsIN+INNOMNOMOUT
Ms. LimelightTrisha Paytas
Barista
Byron, Illinois/Los Angeles, California
Absorb the powers and skills of action stars from movies/fantastic swimmer/sense people's weaknesses/use a mirror to temporarily blind foesNOMNOMNOMOUT
Mr. MitzvahIvan "Sir Ivan" Wilzig
Multi-millionaire
Miami, Florida/New York City
Star of David paddle that can deflect any attack/super strength/flight/night vision/super sensesNOMNOMOUT
Mindset ♂Phillip Allen
Cashier
Coral Springs, Florida
Super intelligence/telekinesis/time travel/indestructible armor/sense danger/excellent problem solverINOUT
Braid ♀Crystal Clark
Homemaker/Former CIA
Bloomington, Illinois
Use hair extensions as a zip line/shape-shifting/super smell/can change into her costume using a prism stoneOUT

UK season 1

In the UK version, 13 children competed in superhero persona; it was broadcast on CBBC.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kerwin. Ann Marie. 'Who Wants to Be a Superhero?' Who Doesn't?. December 30, 2015. Ad Age. Crain Communications. July 26, 2006.
  2. News: Dee . Johnny . Johnny Dee on Who Wants To Be A Superhero? . June 1, 2018 . the Guardian . May 4, 2007 . en.
  3. News: Littleton . Cynthia . How 'Who Wants to Be a Superhero' Reflected Stan Lee's Amazing Legacy and Goofy Charms . May 29, 2019 . Variety . November 13, 2018 . en.
  4. News: Heffernan. Virginia. Who Wants to Be a Superhero?': Misfits Just Want to Save the World. December 31, 2015. New York Times. August 3, 2006.
  5. News: Goldman. Eric. Who Wants to be a Superhero? Interview: Feedback. December 30, 2015. IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC. September 6, 2006.
  6. News: Canning. Robert. SDCC 07: Who Wants to be a Superhero?. May 31, 2016. IGN. Ziff Davis LLC. July 29, 2007.
  7. News: Renovitch. James. Epaulets, Hard-Plastic C-Cups, and a Superhero Cop. May 31, 2016. Austin Chronicle. September 28, 2007.
  8. News: Bonawitz . Amy . Who Wants To Be A Superhero? . May 29, 2019 . CBS News.com . August 25, 2006.
  9. News: Snook . Raven . Who Wants to Be an Action Figure? . May 29, 2019 . TV Guide . June 19, 2007 . en.
  10. Web site: Mega Snake (2007) . Rotten Tomatoes.com . Fandango . May 29, 2019 . en.
  11. Web site: West. Latoya. Before You Watch Sci Fi's Who Wants To Be A Superhero?. about.com. About. May 25, 2016. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185746/http://realitytv.about.com/od/whowantstobeasuperhero/bb/Superhero.htm. dead.
  12. Web site: Nash Entertainment-Who wants to Be a Superhero?-Cast and Crew. nashentertainment.com. Nash Entertainment. May 3, 2022.
  13. News: Logan . Michael . Stan Lee Takes on Paris Hilton and Wannabe Superheroes . May 29, 2019 . TV Guide . July 26, 2007 . en.
  14. News: Werts . Diane . The TV Zone: New 'Superhero': The Defuser . June 4, 2018 . Newsday . September 7, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070916111721/http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/2007/09/new_superhero_the_defuser.html . September 16, 2007.
  15. News: Grimes . Andrea . Grown Man Wears Spandex, Touches Balls ... . June 1, 2018 . The Austin Chronicle . January 31, 2008.
  16. News: Whittaker . Richard . Shooting Hoops With the Defuser . June 4, 2018 . Austin Chronicle . January 15, 2009.