10: BONUS EP - America’s Next Top Superhero

Summary

The Superhero Complex: Episode 10 - BONUS EP - America’s Next Top Superhero

Release Date: May 31, 2022
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Novel
Producer: Novel for iHeartRadio

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Introduction

In this special bonus episode titled "America’s Next Top Superhero," host David Weinberg takes listeners on a nostalgic journey back to the quirky and campy reality TV show "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" aired on Syfy in 2006. This episode explores the show's unique blend of comic book fandom and reality competition, drawing parallels to the real-life superhero movement exemplified by figures like Phoenix Jones.

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Background of the Show

"Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" was a distinctive reality competition that combined elements of "Big Brother" and "The Apprentice," but with a superhero twist. Contestants, passionate comic book fans, were tasked with creating their own superhero personas and competing in various challenges designed to test their compassion, courage, and kindness. The ultimate prize was having their character immortalized in an original comic book written by none other than Stan Lee, the legendary creator behind iconic superheroes such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the Fantastic Four.

David Weinberg (03:00): "Who Wants to Be a Superhero? was a reality competition show that aired on the Syfy channel in 2006. It was like a cross between Big Brother and the Apprentice, but with a whole lot more spandex."

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Audition Process

The audition day for the show was a spectacle of creativity and passion. Contestants arrived in elaborate homemade costumes, each embodying their unique superhero identities.

• Matthew Atherton (Feedback): Crafted a superhero named Feedback, with the power to draw energy from others. His costume featured a black Iron Man-like suit with electric blue detailing and a prominent "F" emblem.

  Robert Lamb (08:21): "I'm such a nerd. You know, you're here in my house and it's just board games everywhere and swords and beholders and mind flayers and dragons on the walls. And that's what makes me happy."

• Alison Wilson (Fat Mama): Created Fat Mama, a superhero dedicated to combating bullying and promoting self-acceptance. Her costume included donuts around her waist, symbolizing her mission.

  Alison Wilson (13:16): "I wasn't into superheroes and Stan Lee and I didn't really even know who he was, you know."

Despite initial setbacks, such as Feedback struggling with costume logistics, his heartfelt passion resonated with the producers, securing his spot on the show.

David Weinberg (10:03): "I knew that if I were on the show, then people who really loved comics and loved the stories... I feel like this is my purpose. This is the reason why I'm on the planet."

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Filming and Initial Challenges

Upon selection, the twelve contestants moved into a grand mansion that served as the façade for their secret lair. From the onset, tensions and rivalries surfaced as personalities clashed in close quarters.

Alison Wilson (16:34): "At first, I was a little bit intimidated because, like I said, all I saw was these people... they look like what American people think a superhero is supposed to look like."

The first major challenge was testing the contestants' genuine heroic instincts. Stan Lee appeared via a screen to oversee the process, emphasizing the importance of authentic superhero qualities over superficial theatrics.

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First Challenge: Testing True Heroism

The initial public challenge required contestants to navigate a staged emergency where a little girl needed help finding her mother. This task was designed to assess their selflessness and ability to prioritize genuine assistance over competition.

• Alison Wilson (Fat Mama): Stopped immediately to help the crying child, successfully completing the challenge by guiding her to security.

  Alison Wilson (28:15): "I saw this little girl crying, and I stopped and asked her, was she okay..."

• Feedback (Robert Lamb): Initially failed to notice the girl due to costume malfunctions but later redeemed himself emotionally by sharing his tragic backstory, connecting deeply with Stan Lee.

  Robert Lamb (36:21): "I don't know what your life was like, but I know what it's like to lose a dad... It was about fulfilling something inside of me."

• Lemuria: Failed the challenge by not assisting the little girl adequately, leading to her elimination.

  David Weinberg (38:05): "Stan told her it was time to pack her bags."

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Living Conditions and Rising Tensions

Living together in a cramped mansion with only one bathroom and shared bedrooms intensified the contestants' stress, leading to mounting tensions and conflicts.

Lemuria (32:17): "Tensions were starting to build."

Fat Mama and Lemuria's subtle conflicts, such as Fat Mama’s gentle pick-at issues, showcased the psychological strains of the competition.

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Subsequent Challenges and Eliminations

As weeks progressed, challenges became increasingly bizarre and emotionally taxing, designed to push the contestants' superhero qualities to their limits.

• Levity: Eliminated for attempting to monetize his superhero persona, contradicting the show's ethos of selflessness.

  David Weinberg (19:09): "One of the main qualities of a superhero is selflessness..."

• Lemuria: Removed from the competition after failing another critical challenge involving interacting with actors posing as prisoners, highlighting her inability to maintain respect and personal boundaries.

  Lemuria (35:33): "I try to give people a great deal of respect for their personal space..."

Feedback's emotional exchange during a challenge, sharing his personal loss, resulted in his survival and eventual recognition by Stan Lee, marking him as a standout contestant.

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Final Showdown and Winner Announcement

The final stages of the competition involved more elaborate and absurd challenges, culminating in a grand finale at Universal Studios CityWalk.

• Final Contestants: Fat Mama, Feedback, and Major Victory.
• Final Challenges: Included presenting origin stories, hunting a supervillain named "Dragon Breath," and facing a jury of fourth graders.

During the final showdown, Feedback demonstrated genuine emotional depth by sharing his tragic history, which resonated with both the producers and the audience, leading to his victory.

Robert Lamb (51:59): "There were a lot of people that thought I was just this attention seeking crazy guy. But it wasn't about getting attention. It was about fulfilling something inside of me."

Stan Lee declared Feedback the winner amidst a theatrical display of fake CGI effects.

David Weinberg (51:36): "Stan said, 'Congratulations, Feedback, you are the next great superhero.'"

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Aftermath and Reflections

Post-show, the contestants pursued various paths:

• Feedback: Despite winning, Feedback did not achieve lasting fame as initially promised. A potential collaboration with Phoenix Jones never materialized, and Feedback's superhero persona faded into obscurity. However, his participation provided personal validation and a sense of purpose.

• Fat Mama (Alison Wilson): Continued her real-life superhero activities, embodying the show's true spirit of community service and selflessness, despite not winning.

Robert Lamb (54:42): "It was about identity, you know, finding your people and making them feel like, wow, there's some validation there."

David Weinberg reflects on the show's legacy, noting its role in laying the groundwork for the real-life superhero movement, even as mainstream superhero media surged in popularity.

David Weinberg (54:15): "It's one of the few places in popular media that represented regular folks who created their own original superhero personas."

He ponders the dwindling presence of real-life superheroes despite the proliferation of comic book adaptations, suggesting potential reasons such as the rise of online lifestyles reducing real-world interactions.

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Notable Quotes

• David Weinberg (03:00): "The superhero complex is hosted and written by me, David Weinberg..."
• Alison Wilson (Fat Mama) (13:16): "I wasn't into superheroes and Stan Lee and I didn't really even know who he was, you know."
• Robert Lamb (Feedback) (36:21): "It was about fulfilling something inside of me."
• Lemuria (29:23): "I do not recommend that for anybody in the future who wants to create a superhero costume. Do not use stiletto heels."
• David Weinberg (54:15): "The show is about identity, you know, finding your people..."

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Conclusion

"America’s Next Top Superhero" serves as a time capsule capturing the early days of the real-life superhero movement and its intersection with reality television. While the contestants' dreams of fame and recognition were only partially realized, their participation highlighted the profound personal motivations behind adopting superhero identities. The episode underscores the enduring allure of heroism, both fictional and real, and the personal journeys individuals undertake to embody these aspirational personas.

Reflecting on the episode, David Weinberg emphasizes the importance of authentic heroism rooted in selflessness and community service, questioning the current state of real-life superheroism in an age dominated by digital interactions and mainstream media portrayals.

David Weinberg (54:42): "It's one of the few places in popular media that represented regular folks who created their own original superhero personas."

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Production Credits

• Hosted by: David Weinberg
• Reported by: Amalia Sortland and Caroline Thornham
• Executive Producers: Sean Glenn, Max O'Brien, and David Waters
• Fact Checking: Andrew Schwartz
• Production Management: Cherie Houston, Frankie Taylor, and Charlotte Wolf
• Sound Design, Mixing, and Scoring: Eli Block and Daniel Kempson
• Music Supervision: Nicholas Alexander and David Waters
• Original Music: Paul Housden
• Special Thanks: Peter Tangent, Willard Foxton, Matt O’, Meara, Katrina Norvell, Beth Ann Macaluso, Oren Rosenbaum, Shelby Shenkman, and the team at UTA.

For more from Novel, visit Novel Audio.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the episode's narrative and key discussions.

Transcript

[Danielle Fishel]

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[David Weinberg]

Novel it was a cold, unusually windy evening in downtown LA in 2006. The hum of the city was interrupted by a woman's screams for help. She was on the roof of a warehouse, running around in a pink skirt and flailing her arms. But on the neighboring roof was a sight that would make even the most jaded Angeleno do a double take. A group of superheroes were assembled there, dressed in colorful spandex costumes and billowing capes. One of the heroes cried out, help is coming. At the edge of the roof was a perfectly placed beam that spanned across the two buildings to create a precarious bridge. From this height, the people walking along the street below looked like ants.

[Lemuria]

We're going to go across two buildings on a beam because that's what superheroes do.

[David Weinberg]

That's Lemuria. She's one of the heroes. She's wearing a gold spandex suit with no sleeves and a black cape. Her black hair is flowing in the wind.

[Lemuria]

Gold. Lots and lots of gold. Lots of gold like gold power. And then I wore gold pants, golden main pants, super tight and stiletto, gold stiletto boots because every should wear stiletto boots.

[David Weinberg]

She stepped onto the beam towards the desperate woman.

[Lemuria]

It's at night, there's a wind going and I'm feeling my hair just kind of brushing against my face. I'm holding on to a beam, just white knuckling it, right? So I'm white knuckling this beam. I cannot see anything.

[David Weinberg]

With her face furrowed in concentration, Lemuria and the other superheroes navigated the narrow space between the buildings.

[Lemuria]

So there we go. So we're there and I literally no shame. I have no shame at all. No shame. I get on my hands and knees and the wind is coming and I'm getting cold and I'm just one inch time, you know what I mean? Just this is like internal ugly crying and just the fear of death.

[David Weinberg]

Midway across the beam, Lemuria thought it might be the end. But after some hyperventilating, she saved the damsel in distress. At this point I should Add that while Lemuria thought she was defying death 200 meters above street level, she was actually blindfolded on a TV set, tiptoeing across a wooden beam that was only a few inches off the floor. There was even a guy operating a wind machine to simulate the gusty LA wind.

[Lemuria]

I didn't realize it wasn't real.

[David Weinberg]

We're on the set of a reality TV show like no other.

[Danielle Fishel]

Somewhere inside all of us lives a hero.

[David Weinberg]

Welcome to who Wants to Be a Superhero? Before Phoenix Jones and the Rain City superhero movement started doing their thing, who Wants to be a Superhero was a reality competition show that aired on the Syfy channel in 2006. It was like a cross between Big Brother and the Apprentice, but with a whole lot more spandex. The premise was that comic book fans had to invent their own superhero Persona and battle it out in a series of challenges to see who possessed true superhero compassion, courage, and kindness. It's the chance to make lifelong fantasies.

[Danielle Fishel]

A reality source of light. I am Tobaculous. Spine Ball. Baby, it's fine Ball. I'm Monkey Woman.

[David Weinberg]

The last hero standing would receive a prize that money can't buy. They'd have their character immortalized in an original comic book written by Stan Lee, the mastermind behind Spider man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, and some of the greatest comic book superheroes in history. When you look back at footage from who Wants to Be a Superhero? It's campy and pretty ridiculous. The contestants have names like the Iron Enforcer, Cell Phone Girl, or Nitro G. And they carry homemade cardboard laser guns or plastic bananas which supposedly transform into high tech weapons. It all looks pretty low budget. Who Wants to be a Superhero aired before the renaissance of all the superhero blockbuster movies, back when the real life superhero scene was just getting off the ground. In a way, the show laid the groundwork for the whole movement. I wanted to get to know the people who played such a big role in this weird subculture. I'm about to dive back into the comic book universe to find out what it takes to triumph in the ultimate reality TV battle between real life superheroes. So don your capes, slip into your lycra, and rehearse your cheesiest catchphrase because things are about to get ridiculous. I'm David Weinberg, and from the teams at Novel and iHeartRadio, this is the Superhero Complex, episode 10, America's Next Top Superhero.

[Robert Lamb]

I'm such a nerd. You know, you're here in my house and it's just board Games everywhere and swords and beholders and mind flayers and dragons on the walls. And that's what makes me happy.

[David Weinberg]

I met Matthew Atherton at his house in the suburbs about an hour east of Los Angeles back in 2006. He was known as Feedback, a real life superhero, but not in the way that Phoenix Jones is a real life superhero.

[Robert Lamb]

I'm not the guy who, you know, is gonna put on a costume and go into dark alleys and look for wrongs that need to be righted.

[David Weinberg]

Feedback is Matthew's superhero character created for who Wants to be a Superher. Before he was Feedback, though, Matthew liked to roleplay as his favorite superheroes, in particular, Spider Man.

[Robert Lamb]

I made a Spider man costume and dressed up as Spider man and led the Halloween parade as Spider man and stuff like that.

[David Weinberg]

And in college, he even made his own Spider man movies.

[Robert Lamb]

So the first one was called the Origin. And I sent a copy to my mom and my mom sent it to Marvel. And so I got this letter that said, we really love that you're excited about this character, but you can't do this, you know, getting this. I'm like, mom, why did you do that? And so I wrote back a letter that said, hey, you know, we're not charging any money for any of this. I said, we're just making fan films. And I got another letter back that's like, you know, it's tough to break into the comic book business. You know, try hanging out at a comic book store and all this other stuff. And I thought, this is worthless.

[David Weinberg]

Maybe Marvel knew something Matthew didn't at the time, because hanging out at this local comic book store would change his life. One day, around 2005, many years after Matthew got in touch with Marvel, he saw an ad for an open casting call. It was for a show called who Wants to be a Superhero? Matthew raced home and forged a brand new superhero, Feedback. Feedback had the power to draw energy from others.

[Robert Lamb]

If I was with other heroes, I could enhance their powers. And if I were with a villain, I could pull their power down.

[David Weinberg]

Feedback wore a black Iron man looking suit with electric blue detailing and a big letter F in the middle. On the day of auditions, Feedback took the day off from his job as a software engineer and drove down to Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood. He parked his car and quickly realized he wasn't alone. There was a whole crowd of would be superheroes milling around, blinking in the rain and waiting to be told what to do. The battle to become one of the show's contestants was clearly Going to be fierce, like, how do you do this? And it's like, well, let's have an open casting call and we'll put it everywhere, Craigslist, everywhere. This is Rick Tellis. He's the director of the show. It was raining on the day of the auditions and he was scared nobody would show up. But Rick definitely underestimated the number of would be superheroes in la. And then I remember going outside and looking down the street and there was this huge line of people and it just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. He had to open a second studio to house them all. And they were all dressed up. And I'm thinking to myself, how do you keep them entertained? Rick didn't have to do anything because these weren't regular people, they were superheroes.

[Robert Lamb]

And it's just completely filled with spectacle. You know, people that are wearing huge wings and some people even like breathing fire, you know. And I'm like, how's that? You probably should not be doing that in an enclosed space.

[David Weinberg]

Feedback and the other superheroes walked into a dramatic black room and took their place in a pool of light. Then they introduced themselves, told their superhero origin story and explained their powers to Stan Lee, who was peering down from a large screen. There was Monkey Woman, who sounds exactly like a monkey. And there was Ice Bitch, who has the excellent catchphrase of freeze, motherfucker. There was Mullet man, who looks as you'd expect. And then there was also a guy who can unleash the powers of his quote, hairy ass, who when he puts on a yellow thong and heeled white boots. Here's director Rick. There was one woman that came in and took off her top and we were like, oh my God, how are we going to show this on tv? Stan was like, shocked.

[Danielle Fishel]

And we were all shocked.

[David Weinberg]

We're like, oh my God. Apparently she liked to fight topless to distract her enemies. Sometimes you have to go to extreme measures to combat evil. Some of the wannabe TV stars did seem more invested in their characters than others. The trick was figuring out who was the most genuine. Maybe it was the woman clad in a pink leotard over a skin tight black suit with donuts hanging around her waist.

[Alison Wilson]

My name is Alison Wilson, known as Nell Wilson. I wasn't into superheroes and Stan Lee and I didn't really even know who he was, you know.

[David Weinberg]

Alison's daughter had come home one day after seeing a post about the audition on social media.

[Alison Wilson]

She said they were doing auditions for who wants to be a superhero? And so we were playing around and trying to think of what we would be if I was a superhero. So I said, well, I'm fat and I'm a mama, so I'll be fat mama. And so I had these donuts, and I put some donuts around my waist, and I said, I'll rid the world of bullies so I would help people to accept themselves the way they are.

[David Weinberg]

And the producers loved her. They loved her so much that fat mama already knew she was in. By the time she attended the audition, it was merely a formality. But not everyone was having fun. Another aspiring superhero, Major Victory, was dressed in ballet tights and a red shirt with a letter V duct taped to his chest. He was fed up with the endless hours of auditioning and waiting around as the producers tried to whittle down their contestants.

[Danielle Fishel]

What am I doing? I'm dressed in spandex.

[David Weinberg]

I'm sopping wet my hair. I had all, like, a bunch of.

[Danielle Fishel]

Hairspray and stuff, and I just felt.

[David Weinberg]

Like a wet dog.

[Danielle Fishel]

And I. I wanted to leave.

[David Weinberg]

But just as he was about to give up and go home, he got a tap on the shoulder that would change his life forever. And I was just about to leave, and a producer grabbed me and said, hey, I want to introduce you to somebody.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is diamond girl. So he introduced me to Diamond Girl. So I met Diamond Girl.

[David Weinberg]

Hey, you want to see my diamond?

[Danielle Fishel]

I said, sure, I'll check out your diamond. And. And diamond girl ended up being my wife.

[David Weinberg]

While romance blossomed between these two masked adventures, their spandex clad rivals were being put through the wringer. After being grilled in a grueling round of interviews, psychological tests, and a final round of performing their superhero battle cry to Stan Lee himself, the producers picked their final 12 contestants. It took a bit of extra persuasion for Feedback.

[Robert Lamb]

I knew that if I were on the show, then people who really loved comics and loved the stories, and not just the great artwork and the funny parts of it, but the parts where you care about it. You know, stories that resonate with you as a human being. I wanted to represent those people who really appreciated it and just said, I feel like this is my purpose. This is the reason why I'm on the planet.

[David Weinberg]

His speech to the producers did the trick. Feedback secured his spot on the show and perhaps unadvisedly quit his job that same day. On the first day of filming, the chosen 12 superheroes arrived one by one on set to a luxurious mansion with large staircases. Each character was profiled in true comic book fashion. In a majestic entrance hall, Fat Mama, Feedback, Major Victory, and Lemuria were all sizing each other up over a welcome toast. Alongside them were Monkey Woman, Cell Phone Girl, Creature Iron Enforcer, Nitro, G tiveculous, Levity, and Rodiart, who was wearing a silver suit and a silver army helmet.

[Alison Wilson]

At first, I was a little bit intimidated because, like I said, all I saw was these people, and they're young and, you know, they look like what America or people think a superhero supposed to look like.

[Robert Lamb]

We had no idea what was going to be ahead of us.

[David Weinberg]

A party ensued. Monkey Woman was shaking her body wildly while Cell Phone Girl danced. The robot Levity, an action figure shop owner, discussed his plans to blaze a trail for the LGBTQ community as a superhero with the added perk of being able to cash in with his own action figure. Kreacher, who could heal others with fruit and raw foods, was flirting with the other heroes. An Iron Enforcer with his machine gun arm was bragging about his affinity for killing people. Suddenly, Stanley interrupted them from a screen in the corner that none of them had been paying attention to.

[Danielle Fishel]

Hold it there.

[David Weinberg]

He was wearing his iconic aviator glasses. He'd been watching them for a while and was appalled at the chaotic scene unfolding in front of him. This was serious business and not what superheroes were supposed to do.

[Danielle Fishel]

I spent my life creating superheroes. They don't act like that.

[David Weinberg]

He informed them that he was looking for human qualities that make superheroes great. They were going to move to a secret lair, because, after all, their identities were supposed to be kept secret. The mansion was just a tease. They were ushered into an inconspicuous vehicle to take them to their hideout. And by inconspicuous, I mean a long and glaringly white limousine with disco lights blasting from the inside.

[Lemuria]

We were driving around in limo, around and around, and then we pulled up to kind of a very nondescript building, and you wouldn't have been able to tell from outside.

[Robert Lamb]

I remember that excitement of we knew there was going to be a challenge, but we had no idea what it was going to be.

[David Weinberg]

They arrived at a storage facility with dumpsters and barbed wire lining the street. It took the contestants a while before they spotted Stan Lee on another screen. Stan Lee had a message for them. Quote, I'm afraid one of you will not be allowed to enter. There happens to be a spy amongst you. I've enlisted the help of one of my assistants to infiltrate the group. I have to be sure that all of you are here for the right reasons. They all started pointing fingers. Then Rotiart stepped forward.

[Danielle Fishel]

Rotiart spelled backwards is traitor. I've had all of you on tape since the very beginning, watching all of your moves.

[David Weinberg]

Pulling out footage from the party, rode art showcased multiple examples of indecent superhero behavior. In a tense moment outside the storage facility, Levity was eliminated. His plan to monetize his superhero status with an action figure did not sit well with the great Stan Lee.

[Danielle Fishel]

One of the main qualities of a superhero is selflessness. I understand you have a toy shop.

[David Weinberg]

And you hope to make millions on your character. Superheroes were not supposed to be greedy. Levity never got his chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a gay superhero icon. His sudden departure sent shockwaves through the remaining heroes. Shit just got real. This probably would have been a good time to remind everyone of the contracts they had signed, which allegedly included a clause that the producers could lie to their faces. But I'm willing to bet that reading the fine print was not a superpower that many in the group put to use on the show.

[Alison Wilson]

We walked through what looked like a sweatshop. It was these people sitting at sewing machines, sewing and all the factory going.

[David Weinberg]

The remaining 10 superheroes found a rickety old elevator. There was a warning sign on the door. After a few moments of hesitation, they decided to go in. The elevator took them up to a darkened floor. Then the lights came on, and they were standing in a huge room with tall ceilings lined with candlelight. The furniture was draped with velvet. There was even a hot tub. They had finally made it to their secret lair. Major Victory was psyched.

[Danielle Fishel]

When you got into it, you felt.

[David Weinberg]

More like a superhero.

[Danielle Fishel]

You know what I mean?

[David Weinberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Check this.

[David Weinberg]

Look at all the red brick.

[Danielle Fishel]

Kind of goes with my outfit. Nice.

[David Weinberg]

Cool. But the heroes were also a bit wary. It wasn't just the production team that the heroes were suspicious of. They didn't trust each other either. On the first night, Fat Mama overheard a whole lot of superhero bitching going on in the lair's hot tub.

[Alison Wilson]

I was on one side of the curtain, and Lemaria, Nitro, and Creature were in the hot tub. And so they didn't know I was on the other side of the curtain, and they were saying, oh, Fat Mama's definitely going first. She don't even need to be here. She can't do nothing. But, you know, all this stuff. So I never said nothing. It hurt my feelings, but at the same time, it gave me determination that I'mma show them, you know.

[David Weinberg]

The superheroes hadn't even started competing against each other. But already there were personality conflicts and rivalries were simmering. After toweling off, it was time to get some rest. The next day, the heroes would do battle for real in a series of outlandish challenges that would push their powers to the limit. That's coming up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Life's messy. We're talking spills, stains, pets and kids. But with Annabe, you never have to stress about messes again. At WashablesOfAs.com, discover Annabe sofas, the only fully machine washable sofas inside and out, starting at just $699. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, that means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refer refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus, they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Upgrade your space today. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offer are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. There's the part of me that everyone sees. I'm Howie Mandel, the comedian. Apparently I know what funny is. Funny bought me a house. But I also know what isn't funny. Ocd. I've lived with OCD my entire life and people throw the term around like it's no big deal. But OCD is severe, often debilitating. It's a mental health condition that involves unrelented unwanted thoughts that can make you question your character, your beliefs, even your safety. General therapy can help with some things, but for ocd, it can actually make things worse. That's why I want to tell you about nocd. NOCD is the world's largest treatment provider for OCD and is covered by Insurance for over 155 million Americans. Their licensed therapists specialize in ERP, the most effective treatment for OCD. If you think you might be struggling with OCD, go to nocd.com to book a free 15 minute call. They are here to help. Now I'd like to introduce you to Meaningful Beauty, the famed skincare brand created by iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford. It's her secret to absolutely gorgeous skin. Meaningful Beauty makes powerful and effective skin care simple and it's loved by millions of women. It's formulated for all ages and all skin tones and types. And it's designed to work as a complete skin care system leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished. I recommend sticking starting with Cindy's full regimen which contains all five of her best selling products including the Amazing Youth Activating Melon Serum. This next generation serum has the power of melon Leaf Stem cell technology. It's melon leaf stem cells encapsulated for freshness and released onto the skin to support a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. With thousands of glowing five star reviews, why not give it a try? Subscribe today and you can get the Amazing Meaningful Beauty System for just a $49.95. That includes our introductory five piece system, free gifts, free shipping and a 60 day money back guarantee. All of that available@meaningful beauty.com Unlock smarter learning with Lenovo AI powered PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors. Head to Lenovo.com and choose from multiple devices to fit your passions. If you're a gamer you can spend less time stressing about GPUs and CPUs and more time dominating with your AI enabled stream smart engine which optimizes your game performance in real time. Or maybe you're a scientist on the verge of a groundbreaking discovery and need a device with a longer battery life and AI enhanced tools to give you extra time to finish your research. Or you're a musician preparing for your biggest break and need better, faster AI tools to make digital art a breeze like creating band posters and T shirt designs. Or you're a soon to be graduate needing to catch a recruiter's eye to land that dream job. So you need cutting edge skills, smart tools to build your portfolio from scratch. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel Inside plus college students and teachers get 5% off with an education account on Lenovo.com A Better Future is waiting and it needs you.

[Howie Mandel]

Are you interested in investing in Bitcoin and not sure how to get started? Well, with the Gemini credit card, a card that I've been using now for a couple months, you can dip your toes in the bitcoin world without even trying. You just spend like you normally do. I go to the gas station, I use it, I go to the grocery store, I use it, I take my wife out, I use it and I instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin or one of the over 50 other cryptos straight to your account. You can choose. There's no annual fee and the Gemini credit card is a no brainer. I love it. I use it all the time and right now you can grab a 200 bitcoin intro bonus so just go to gemini.comjohn to learn more and start earning today. Terms apply. Again, you go to gemini.com john and start building your Bitcoin stash now. Terms apply. The Gemini credit card is issued by Web bank and in order to Qualify for the intro $200 crypto bonus, your application must be approved by June 30, 2025 and spend 3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply. Some exclusions apply to Insta Rewards, in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts. This content is not investment advice. In Trading Crypto involves risk for more details on rates, fees and other Gemini credit card terms, see Rates and fees. Go to gemini.comjohn to learn more and start earning today.

[David Weinberg]

The superheroes were all assembled at Pershing Square, a paved park in downtown Los Angeles. It was time for the first challenge. Their mission was to make it from one end of the park to the other as quickly as possible. At the same time, they had to inconspicuously change into their full superhero outfit. Think Clark Kent turning into Superman in the telephone booth, but while running at the same time. It was cheesy from the get go. Monkey Woman scaled a tree to change into her outfit, then somersaulted back down to the ground. The Iron Enforcer sprinted through the park brandishing a homemade laser gun. Then it was Fat Mama's turn.

[Alison Wilson]

I know I can't outrun these guys and all the younger people and stuff, but I'm just going to do as they ask.

[David Weinberg]

She rounded a corner and saw something unusual.

[Alison Wilson]

What's the matter, honey?

[Danielle Fishel]

I can't find my mom.

[Alison Wilson]

Oh, what does she look like?

[David Weinberg]

Come on.

[Robert Lamb]

Come on, let's go.

[Alison Wilson]

I saw this little girl crying, and I stopped and asked her was she okay, and she was saying she lost her parent and stuff. And then there was a sign over to the side that says security. So I ran her in there and I ran, you know, took her to security.

[David Weinberg]

There was a trick at play that Stanley didn't reveal. Here's director Rick Tellis. We put a little girl next to a fountain who was lost and she needed her mom. And we wanted to see who would stop and throw the challenge and help that little girl. And that was the real challenge. Major Victory also spotted the secret challenge and decided to ramp up the drama just a little.

[Danielle Fishel]

I think I said, who is this child's mother? I did my DJ voice, Lou.

[David Weinberg]

He proceeded to carry the little girl heroically to the security office. Lemuria also decided to help the girl, but she had A different problem.

[Lemuria]

I just remember running in these crazy heels. I do not recommend that for anybody in the future who wants to create a superhero costume. Do not use stiletto heels.

[David Weinberg]

And then there was Feedback.

[Robert Lamb]

Things were going wrong, and zippers were not going up and clasps were not clasping. And I was like, oh, man.

[David Weinberg]

After a struggle behind some porta Potties, Feedback was finally suited up. As he was running, some straps from his costume fell off in front of the girl.

[Robert Lamb]

All I saw was that archway, and I flew past.

[David Weinberg]

After he was done, the production team asked him how he thought he did.

[Robert Lamb]

And then they said, so did you see anything unusual? I said, unusual? No. They said, you didn't see a little girl? And I thought, oh, I missed. I'm done.

[Danielle Fishel]

Meet me on the rooftop.

[Robert Lamb]

It's time for an elimination.

[David Weinberg]

All the contestants were called up to the rooftop of their secret lair. In the middle of the night, they stood on glowing cubes with the lights of LA glittering behind them. It was the first of many supposedly epic game show eliminations. Stan Lee was peering down on them from a big screen. Once again, here's Lemuria.

[Lemuria]

So it's all very dramatic, and none of you know who's leaving.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're all packed.

[Lemuria]

I think we had to pack up every single time.

[David Weinberg]

Stan was disappointed at the six contestants that missed the little girl. This obviously wasn't a test of speed. The girl was practically screaming for help. Stan calls on three of the failures to explain themselves, and in the end, Nitro G gets sent home.

[Danielle Fishel]

Nitro G, turn in your costume.

[David Weinberg]

He changed out in plain sight and totally missed the girl. He was both the youngest contestant and the biggest comic book collector of all of them. When he heard the news, he solemnly pulled off his gloves and threw them into a nearby trash can. Fat Mama felt relieved.

[Alison Wilson]

I laughed so hard because I said, oh, I thought I was going to be the first one to go home. So I'm like, okay. So Fat Mama didn't go home.

[David Weinberg]

Feedback took the results of the challenge to heart.

[Robert Lamb]

I was crushed. I felt like I had disappointed Stan and disappointed myself. I thought I knew the trick, and therefore I closed my mind off to other things. And so being authentic was really the right way to go. And my most authentic self is Captain Oblivious.

[David Weinberg]

The contestants all lived together in a house and were filmed intensively every day for two weeks. Each episode took about three days to film. There wasn't a huge budget for the show, and the contestants suffered as a result.

[Alison Wilson]

You go into the bedroom, it was like Snow White. The seven Dwarfs. There's these lines of twin size beds, and I'm like, we gotta sleep in here all next to each other. We all thought we was getting our own bedrooms or maybe two to a room. So you never thought you was gonna be sleeping in a room full of grown adults. You know, at night, they say, goodnight, John. You know, you say goodnight to each person going down the line.

[David Weinberg]

As well as sharing a bedroom, there was only one bathroom between them all. They often slept with their shoes next to their beds in case a challenge was sprung on them during the night. Living on top of each other for days and days on end, the contestants started to get more and more tired. According to Lemuria, tensions were starting to build.

[Lemuria]

Okay, so Fat Mama really got reality. Like, she really understood. Like, she was gonna push buttons and kind of make things happen and be in the middle of all the. The craziness, right? But she. Oh, man, she got so. She would just pick at me a little. She was just somebody. And you're like, okay, cool. I can handle that. That's fine. Just get on my nerves, okay?

[David Weinberg]

She just.

[Lemuria]

Oh, I was getting pissed.

[David Weinberg]

There wasn't time for the contestants to hold grudges for long. The filming schedule was packed with challenge after challenge designed to put their superhero qualities to the test. By the second week of filming, the superhero's overcrowded bedroom was getting emptier and emptier. There were only four superheroes still standing. Lemuria, Fat Mama, Major Victory, and Feedback. They had to battle it out in a questionable challenge that would prove fateful for the ending. The remaining heroes were standing in the kitchen eating fruit before Stan Lee appeared on a screen. He said, very shortly, you'll meet some hardened criminals. All of them are incarcerated as we speak. You'll spend some quality time with them. In an effort to show them the error of their ways. The challenge was to prevent these criminals from reoffending. The superheroes were genuinely nervous as they got taken to the prison to meet the convicts. It was a big sandy yard surrounded by tall fences and barbed wire. The whole setup was fantastically absurd. The spandex, the minivan, the orange jumpsuits, and the camo clad prison guard brandishing liability contracts that assumed any and all risks, including death. What's more is that the superheroes had also been given secret tasks to complete in their encounter with the prisoners. Lemuria had to sit on an inmate's lap for 10 seconds. This challenge felt particularly gross to me, especially the use of prisoners as comic relief. Unsurprisingly, Lemuria felt uncomfortable with the situation that the producers had put her in.

[Lemuria]

I was really tired. I was so tired, and I hadn't been sleeping. I try to give people a great deal of respect for their personal space, for their personal body. So for me personally, I kind of felt a little bit weird being in somebody's personal space that had already been in prison, that had already been, that was already paying their dues. I didn't want to be more disrespectful. It doesn't matter if I'm on a TV show. It doesn't matter if I'm, you know, in a really cool costume. It does not give me the right to invade another human being's space. And especially a human being that is at a point in their life that they're not doing great.

[David Weinberg]

But in the world of Stan Lee, all is not as it seems. It turns out the prisoners were all actors. Lemuria was actually talking to Dot Marie Jones, who would go on to play Coach Sheldon on Glee. She was sitting on a chair with an angry demeanor, legs sprawled out in front of her. Her red hair was messy and unkempt. In a desperate attempt to complete her challenge, Lemuria abruptly tried to sit on the coach's lap without consent. The actress shoved her away and angrily stormed off again.

[Lemuria]

I'm sorry if I disrespected you in any way. I really, I really appreciate you.

[David Weinberg]

That's cool. Who the hell she thinks you touch? Feedback, on the other hand, had to hug an inmate three times.

[Robert Lamb]

I don't think being phony has any part of being a superhero. So the only way that I'm going to hug that person is, is if I feel a genuine response to hug.

[David Weinberg]

The fake convict asked to have his handcuffs removed. The man was apparently in jail for four counts of murder. Feedback asked if he felt any remorse for his victims families and the man replied no, because my own father was murdered. In return, Feedback opened up with his own story. He revealed that when he was a kid, his father took his own life.

[Robert Lamb]

I don't know what your life was like, but I know what it's like to lose a dad. When my dad died, I started getting back into the Spider man comic books. But for me, I was searching for father figures and the character of Peter Parker, the decisions he would make. I took that and was integrating that like a father figure almost. But it wasn't Peter Parker that I was looking at as the father figure. It was the creator of the stories, the writing, and that was Stan Lee.

[David Weinberg]

The producers had no idea. This emotional exchange turned into a big hug, and Feedback managed to complete his secret task. Later, at that night's elimination ceremony, Stan Lee announced that he'd won a place in the next round. Feedback thanked his father figure with tears in his eyes. The episode was a real emotional rollercoaster and reminded me of a lot of the time I spent with the real life superheroes, especially those moments where one minute I would be thinking, this is all so ridiculous, and then the next moment I would be so moved by the work the superheroes were doing and by their dedication to bettering their community, even if it was in this really bonkers way. Unfortunately for Lemuria, she was the only one who failed to complete the prisoner challenge. Stan told her it was time to pack her bags.

[Lemuria]

I was incredibly sad to leave from outside. It's kind of like this wacky show, I think, but for inside and being with the people that were on it and doing these challenges, we got to go on an amazing adventure and experiencing that adventure. And then when Stan's like, well, you're done. And then these other people get to keep on going, you kind of, you just want a little more taste, a little half. And, you know, I think I cried a lot because I wasn't going to be able to do that.

[David Weinberg]

In the battle of the real life superheroes, there were now only three contestants remaining.

[Danielle Fishel]

Superheroes.

[David Weinberg]

It'll only get harder from here, but.

[Danielle Fishel]

I suspect the three of you will.

[Robert Lamb]

Be up to it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, sir.

[David Weinberg]

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sleep well. Tomorrow is a new day.

[David Weinberg]

That'S coming up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Life's messy. We're talking spills, stains, pets and kids. But with Anabe, you never have to stress about Messes again. @washablesofas.com Discover Anabe Sofas, the only fully machine washable sofas inside and out, starting at just $699. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics. That means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, Our sofas feature changeable fabric covers, allowing you to refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus, they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made their the switch. Upgrade your space today. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. There's the part of me that everyone sees. I'm Howie Mandel the comedian. Apparently I know what funny is. Funny bought me a house. But I also know what isn't funny. Ocd. I've lived with OCD my entire life and people throw the term around like it's no big deal. But OCD is severe, often and debilitating. It's a mental health condition that involves unrelented, unwanted thoughts that can make you question your character, your beliefs, even your safety. General therapy can help with some things, but for ocd, it can actually make things worse. That's why I want to tell you about nocd. NOCD is the world's largest treatment provider for OCD and is covered by Insurance for over 155 million Americans. Their licensed therapists specialize in ERP, the most effective treatment for OCD. If you think you might be struggling with OCD, go to nocd.com to book a free 15 minute call. They are here to help. Now I'd like to introduce you to Meaningful Beauty, the famed skincare brand created by iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford. It's her secret to absolutely gorgeous skin. Meaningful Beauty makes powerful and effective skin care simple and it's loved by millions of women. It's formulated for all ages and all skin tones and types. And it's designed designed to work as a complete skin care system, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished. I recommend starting with Cindy's full regimen which contains all five of her best selling products including the Amazing Youth Activating Melon Serum. This next generation serum has the power of melon leaf stem cell technology. It's melonleaf stem cells encapsulated for freshness and released onto the skin to support a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. With thousands of glowing Fox 5 star reviews, why not give it a try? Subscribe today and you can get the Amazing Meaningful Beauty system for just $49.95. That includes our introductory five piece system, free gifts, free shipping and a 60 day money back guarantee. All of that [e-mail] Are you shopping.

[David Weinberg]

For a new laptop while still trying to keep up with technology and AI? Talk about feeling burnt out. But no more. Lenovo.com makes it easier than ever to find the perfect PC. In fact, we'll break it down for you. Shop our lineup of AI PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. Because why deal with downloading new software when you can buy a smarter PC that already comes with all of the AI features and tools? Step 2 Find the one that fits your passion. Whether you're a creative genius, a research scientist, a hardcore gamer, or a future CEO. No dream is too big. That's the power of Lenovo. With intel inside, you can keep up with your ideas as well as any challenges you may face. Step 3 add to cart and Purchase oh if you're a college student or a teacher, make an education account through us and get 5% off your whole order. Shop now at lenovo.com A Better Future is waiting and it needs to be you.

[Howie Mandel]

Are you interested in investing in Bitcoin and not sure how to get started? Well, with the Gemini Credit card, a card that I've been using now for a couple months, you can dip your toes in the bitcoin world without even trying. You just spend like you normally do. I go to the gas station, I use it. I go to the grocery store, I use it. I take my wife out, I use it and I instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin or one of the over 50 other cryptos straight to your account. You can choose. There's no annual fee and the Gemini Credit card is a no brainer. I love it. I use it all the time and right now you can grab a 200 bitcoin intro bonus. So just go to gemini.comjohn to learn more and start earning today. Terms apply. Again you go to gemini.com/john and start building your Bitcoin stash now. Terms apply. The Gemini Credit card is issued by Web bank and in order to Qualify for the Intro 200 crypto bonus, your application must be approved by June 30, 2025 and spend 3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply. Some exclusions apply to Insta Rewards, in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts this content is not investment advice and trading. Crypto involves risk. For more details on rates, fees and other Gemini credit card terms, see Rates and fees. Go to gemini.comjohn to learn more and start earning today.

[David Weinberg]

As who Wants to Be a Superhero reached its climax, the challenges got even more absurd. The three remaining contestants, Fat Mama, Feedback and Major Victory, had to win over a tough jury of fourth graders with their origin stories and superpowers. Then they hunted for a supervillain in a shopping center. They were also shown their potential comic book covers, AKA their passport to immortality.

[Alison Wilson]

When I first saw it, to be honest, I was like, why they make me look so mean. The face was so mean.

[David Weinberg]

Fat Mama wasn't sure about her own comic book, but she could see from Feedback's face how much the prize meant to him. Back in the secret lair in between Challenges. Fat Mama was worried. She had a bad feeling that Feedback was going to be eliminated. The fourth graders had been confused by the explanation of his powers, and he'd lost out. In the race to hunt for the supervillain at the mall, Fat Mama and Major Victory were going to be finalists. The producers had already planned to fly Major Victory's daughter out for an emotional finale. He wanted to be a hero in her life. And the producers could smell the tears. Fat Mama locked herself in the bathroom and asked to speak to the production team.

[Alison Wilson]

I told them to eliminate me and let the two boys do it and have it because they really wanted it. And I couldn't see taking that from someone when I came in. And I wasn't really even into the prize. When I look at Feedback, it was like I couldn't do it to him, you know, I was like, I need to go home.

[David Weinberg]

Fat Mama wasn't even into comic books now.

[Alison Wilson]

Maybe if it was two or three million dollars, we might be talking something totally different.

[David Weinberg]

The producers were in a difficult position. Feedback didn't want to go home, but he understood their dilemma.

[Robert Lamb]

It made sense for her to win this show as an audience member. I would have wanted her to win the show because then it would send the message of everybody can be a superhero. It's about how you treat other people and how you face different challenges.

[David Weinberg]

There was another complication, too. Before his superhero days, Major Victory was in a dance group called the California Dream Men. They were a bit like an off brand Chippendales. Apparently, they were huge in Italy. Stan and the producers were conflicted about Major Victory's dancing days. Apparently, according to them, stripping didn't qualify as a heroic activity. I'm noticing a pattern with you.

[Danielle Fishel]

No matter what I say, no matter what I do, you just can't seem to keep your clothes on.

[David Weinberg]

Personally, I think it takes a lot of courage to get naked in front of strangers. It also seems like a skill that would come in handy if you wanted to, I don't know, seduce a supervillain. But ultimately, Major Victory's fate was in the hands of Stan Lee, known skeptic of male strippers. Up on the roof of the lair, Stan summoned the three remaining superheroes for one more elimination ceremony. They took their places on the glowing cube shaped podiums to face the music one more time before the grand finale. From up on a giant TV screen disguised as a billboard, Stanley glared down at them and announced that one hero would be eliminated. Major Victory. The whole thing was surreal because you're.

[Danielle Fishel]

Up there they're trying to dissect everything you did wrong, you know what I mean? To justify you leaving. And you just felt, wow, this is coming to the end.

[David Weinberg]

Stan Lee told him he'd accomplished his mission. He had become a hero to his daughter. The producers handed him a phone and.

[Danielle Fishel]

They put my daughter on the line.

[David Weinberg]

And I lose it and it just feels so final. And it felt good to connect with her. It was cathartic and I really grew from it. And I got to connect with my daughter.

[Danielle Fishel]

I got to meet some amazing people, do some really fun things, meet my wife.

[David Weinberg]

It's like one of the best experiences I've ever had in my life. It was time for the final showdown between Fat Mama and Feedback. My money was on Fat Mama. For the next challenge, our two remaining heroes were sent to stunt school to learn the action packed moves that any self respecting superhero should be able to perform with ease.

[Danielle Fishel]

Going to teach you to fly using that green screen over there.

[Alison Wilson]

Oh, yes.

[David Weinberg]

Is that cool or what?

[Howie Mandel]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[David Weinberg]

Under the watchful eye of a Hollywood stunt coordinator, Feedback launched himself again and again onto a crash mat. Fat Mama traded punches with an instructor before flooring Feedback with a right hook and a kick to the stomach.

[Danielle Fishel]

Let's practice some punches. Watch out now.

[David Weinberg]

You can do it to me, man. So here we go.

[Danielle Fishel]

Boom. Bam.

[David Weinberg]

Then they were grilled by Stan Lee in a final interview.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is the last chance I'll have.

[David Weinberg]

To speak with you and I want to learn more about you, not your character. And finally, Fat Mama and Feedback were taken to the Universal Studios CityWalk shopping center. They were greeted by a cheering crowd and Stan Lee beaming down from his giant screen. Tonight, we will crown the world's next great superhero. High up on a balcony podium overlooking the crowd, Fat Mama reflected on what she and Feedback had shared.

[Alison Wilson]

Me and him are the only two that went through every single task. And we got to experience everything. We got to see the heartache and the laughter and the joy.

[David Weinberg]

Feedback's heart was pounding.

[Robert Lamb]

I had no idea what was happening. They told us to write two different speeches. One as a winning speech, one as a concession speech. And I didn't spend any time on the winning speech because I was completely convinced that Fat Mama was gonna win.

[David Weinberg]

For the final showdown, the producers rolled an action movie sequence of the two heroes dueling an evil villain called Dragon Breath in a last chance to prove their super credentials.

[Alison Wilson]

Well, if it isn't Mr. Dragon Breath.

[David Weinberg]

You're going down, Fat Mama. The producers threw in all the special effects that a mid tier reality TV show could afford. There were meteors, fire breathing dragons, and even a giant chicken rampaging Godzilla style through skyscrapers. Curse you, Fat Mama. Then the dust settled. Intense music ramped up. Up on his godlike TV screen, Stan bowed his head solemnly and declared the time had come for him to make the ultimate decision. After evaluating all the challenges over the course of the season, the winner was Feedback.

[Robert Lamb]

And then Stan Lee comes out. And so my mind was just jumping up to different levels.

[David Weinberg]

Cue the big fake explosions as Stan the Man Lee strolled over to meet Feedback in real life. They shared a big hug, which was a dream come true for the nerd of all comic book nerds. Then Feedback literally flew off into space in a big flurry of bad cgi.

[Robert Lamb]

There were a lot of people that thought I was just this attention seeking crazy guy. But it wasn't about getting attention. It was about fulfilling something inside of me. And at that moment of winning, I felt validation. I felt a purpose fulfilled.

[David Weinberg]

After blowing all that money on the giant CGI chicken. Maybe the producers didn't have any budget left for Stan's appearance fee because he didn't stick around to explain what exactly the superhero qualities were that made Feedback a winner. If you ask me, it seems like kind of a cop out, considering that it was meant to be the whole point of the show. But talking to his fellow contestants, they had some theories.

[Lemuria]

An incredibly humble, loving human being that would literally, you could see him be a fireman that would just save people's lives without any thought of their own. That is that man.

[David Weinberg]

But Feedback sees it differently.

[Robert Lamb]

It was Fat Mama's competition. In my mind, Fat Mama is the one, you know, who won. And I'm still runner up to her because I think she's amazing. And I still think the only reason why she didn't win is because basically she said she didn't want to win.

[David Weinberg]

As for me, I was happy. For Feedback, being a superhero clearly meant a lot to him. After all, he'd been dressing up like Spider man since he was young. And Fat Mama seemed perfectly happy to let Feedback have all the glory. After the show, many of the contestants remained friends, and some went on to make appearances at comic book conventions and gigs within the superhero community. Some of them used their superhero characters to become real life superheroes who went out on the streets and patrolled, just like Phoenix Jones. As for Feedback, he never became the next Spider Man. Despite overcoming six episodes worth of obstacles, his character faded into obscurity. He was even promised a role in a TV movie on the Syfy channel. But all he ended up getting was a cameo. At one point, he was asked to do a new TV show with our old friend Phoenix Jones. In true Phoenix Jones style, he was mid crisis, on his way to the hospital.

[Robert Lamb]

One night he gave me a call because he had been knifed. He had like a shaft of a knife, like stuck in his leg.

[David Weinberg]

The show they talked about never came to fruition and the two heroes never spoke again. But for feedback, it was never about the TV deals.

[Robert Lamb]

They offered this prize of immortality and getting your own comic book and stuff like that. But for me, then and now, the prize was always being on the show. And I think what the show is about is identity, you know, finding your people and making them feel like, wow, there's some validation there. It's not just me who likes this stuff. It's enough people where they're going to make a TV show about it.

[David Weinberg]

We live in the age of the slick six pack filled superhero industrial complex, where a new Marvel or DC movie gets pumped out every couple of months. It's easy to forget there was a time not so long ago when being into superheroes wasn't that cool. To me, who wants to be a superhero? Feels like an extension of the real life superhero movement. It's one of the few places in popular media that represented regular folks who created their own original superhero Personas. In the years following the show, superheroes became a dominant force in popular culture. But strangely, the rise in popularity of comic book superheroes was not accompanied by a rise in real life superheroes. I've always found that puzzling. Maybe it's because we are increasingly living our lives online, so there's less actual real life happening in general. Or maybe it was always going to be a fringe movement. But even if they are small in number, I'm glad they're out there suiting up and patrolling their neighborhoods, helping people in need and making the streets a little more exciting. I do wonder what Stan Lee would think of the real life superheroes who are inspired by his writing to take on the real world problems dressed as superheroes. I did come across a quote of his in which he talked about why he created characters like the X men and the Fantastic Four. He said, quote, we were fascinated by science and awed by the mysteries of the great beyond. Today we consider a nearer, deeper, unknown one inside ourselves. We asked what is more real, A world that we were born into or the one we create ourselves. The superhero complex is hosted and written by me, David Weinberg, and reported by me, Amalia Sortland and Caroline Thornham Production from Amalia Song and Caroline Thornham. Sean Glenn, Max o' Brien and David Waters are executive producers. Fact checking by Andrew Schwartz Production management from Cherie Houston, Frankie Taylor and Charlotte Wolf Sound design, mixing and scoring by Eli Block and Daniel Kempson Music supervision by Nicholas Alexander and David Waters. Original music is composed by Paul Housden. Special thanks to Peter Tangent, Willard Foxton, Matt o', Meara, Katrina Norvell, Beth Ann Macaluso, Oren Rosenbaum, Shelby Shenkman and all the team at uta. For more from Novel, visit Novel Audio.

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Robert Lamb]

To you by Hendrix Ginn. This is Robert Lamb from Stuff to Blow youw Mind. Here at Stuff to Blow youw Mind, we celebrate curiosity.

[Danielle Fishel]

And that's why I want to take.

[Robert Lamb]

A minute to talk about Hendrix Gin, the refreshingly curious choice for marvelous summer cocktails. Hendrix is crafted with care in Scotland by master distiller miss Leslie Gracie and is uniquely infused with rose and cucumber. To learn more about Hendrix and to find more refreshing cocktail recipes, visit hendrixgen.com US drink responsibly Hendrix Gin 44% alcohol by volume 2025 imported by William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY Let.

[Danielle Fishel]

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