Who Wants to Be a Superhero? is a superhero genre reality TV series that was broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy) produced by Nash Entertainment and POW! Entertainment. The show was created by Stan Lee and Nash Entertainment. 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 superhero traits. Lee was the only judge and would instruct the eliminated contestant: “Turn in your costume”. He also mentored the contestants and made appearances, primarily on TV screens, on a giant plasma at the top of a tower block, a monitor resting in the middle of a pile of trash, or on individually issued "communicators". The winner's character concept would be the star of a Stan Lee scripted Dark Horse comic book and a TV movie for the Sci-Fi Channel.
Production Stan Lee and Bruce Nash developed the concept. In 2004, MTV was considering televising the show, even holding the regional auditions. The show moved to the Sci Fi Channel two years later with the pitch well-received when they were told that Stan would judge.
The show was renewed for a second season with hints of another country might get a junior version of the show. Jarrett Crippen, aka the Defuser, won the second season.
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.
Some filmed challenges were cut from the show. 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.
Feedback won the first season over Fat Momma. 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. Feedback appeared in the 2007 Sci Fi channel film Mega Snake.
Key:
+Superhero Secret Identity Concept 1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5 6 Feedback ♂ Matthew AthertonSoftware engineer34 years oldLas Cruces, New Mexico Absorb powers from video game characters/generate a feedback field that disrupts electronics within 15 feet/computer genius IN IN INNOM IN IN IN IN IN WINFat Momma ♀ Nell WilsonOnline sales specialist/single mother42 years oldLos Angeles, California Grows to 5X her normal size when angry/eating a doughnut activates other powers IN IN IN IN IN NOM NOM IN IN OUT Major Victory ♂ Chris WattersDisc jockey38 years oldSan Francisco, California Super strength/flight/super jump/survive without air/super vision/manipulate sound waves IN IN IN IN IN IN NOM NOM OUT Lemuria ♀ Tonatzin MondragonProperty manager/artist/sculptor30 years oldLos Angeles, California Shoot lasers/shoot fireballs/levitation/drain energy from people, animals, and plants/throw orbs of solar energy IN IN IN IN IN IN IN OUT Creature ♀ Tonya KayAutomobile mechanic25 years oldColdwater, 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 SloanFire captain34 years oldBakersfield, California Super strength/super speed/fire resistance/lie detection IN IN IN NOM IN OUT Monkey Woman ♀ Mary VotavaReal estate investor28 years oldSeattle, Washington Skills of a monkey/talk to monkeys/high-tech weapons disguised as bananas/bamboo staff IN NOM IN IN OUT The Iron Enforcer ♂ Steel ChambersBodyguard35 years oldBrooklyn, New York Densest bone structure of any human/death punch/various high-tech weaponsNOM NOM NOM OUT Cell Phone Girl ♀ Chelsea WeldInterior designer22 years oldLa 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 beams IN IN OUT Nitro G ♂ Darren PassarelloCollege student/filmmaker19 years oldStaten Island, New York Super strength/super speed/flight/energy manipulation IN OUT Levity ♂ Tobias TrostToy designer/animator32 years oldLakeside, Montana Force shields/aerokinesisOUT Rotiart ♂Jonathan FinestoneBusiness owner27 years oldLos Angeles, California Spy cameras plant/spy for Lee, not a true contestant
US season 2 Two or three villains, Dr. Dark and Bee Sting, were used in this season and there was an overarching story line. 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.
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. Crippen finished filming for his character's movie appearance by January 15, 2009. The movie, Lightning Strikes, also starred Kevin Sorbo.
Key:
A plus sign indicates that the hero was singled out for praise by Lee in that episode.
+SuperheroSecret IdentityConcept 1 2 3a 3b 4 5 6 7 8The Defuser ♂ Jarret CrippenPolice detectiveAustin, TexasUse non-lethal weapons/body can function at 110%/super strength/super speed/enhanced reflexes/super hearing/night visionININININNOMNOMINNOMWINHygena ♀Melody MooneyHomemakerSherman Oaks, CaliforniaUse a magic necklace to turn cleaning tools into weaponsIN+IN+IN+INNOMNOMNOMNOMOUTHyper-Strike ♂John StorkCircus performerPlainfield, Vermont/Chicago, IllinoisMartial arts expert/super strength/enhanced durability/enhanced agility/can manipulate own qiINININNOMININ+NOMNOMOUTParthenon ♂Dan WilliamsCollege professorOrlando, FloridaSuper strength/invulnerability/flight/force-field generation/sonic blast/illusion creationIN+ININ+ININ+INOUTWhip-Snap ♀Paula ThomasSecurity officerDallas, Texas/Los Angeles, CaliforniaExpert at using a whip/increased flexibility/decomposing touch/absorbs strength from the EarthIN+ININININOUT Basura ♀Aja de CoudreauxArtistOakland, CaliforniaUse magic to turn trash into weapons/communicate with insectsIN+INNOMNOMOUT Ms. Limelight ♀Trisha PaytasBaristaByron, 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. Mitzvah ♂Ivan "Sir Ivan" WilzigMulti-millionaireMiami, Florida/New York CityStar of David paddle that can deflect any attack/super strength/flight/night vision/super sensesNOMNOMOUT Mindset ♂Phillip AllenCashierCoral Springs, FloridaSuper intelligence/telekinesis/time travel/indestructible armor/sense danger/excellent problem solverINOUT Braid ♀Crystal ClarkHomemaker/Former CIABloomington, IllinoisUse 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.
References
External links Official website Who Wants to Be a Superhero? at NBC.com Who Wants to Be a Superhero? UK version at BBC.co.uk Pictures and profiles of season one contestants at CBS News.com
Page for the Dark Horse comic book Review of Who Wants to Be a Superhero? characters on Dark Horse comics page