# Who wants to be a superhero? 8/10 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 11, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242 "2006-08-11T02:30:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/1 "2006-08-11T02:30:35Z")
I like how the show is becoming less and less about the qualities of a superhero and more and more about angle shooting. Props to Creature for sussing out the self-sacrifice challenge and to everyone who twigged to her lead, and to Fat Momma for figuring out how to tweak it further. How amusing that Monkey Woman was eliminated in part for lying about being an actress when something like half of the contestants have acting or other show business ties. That plus Dark Enforcer’s horrible acting plus, well, everyone else’s horrible acting, I feel like this entire thing is completely scripted. And I seriously think that the meta-reason for this show is so that Stan Lee can flip the giant bird at the comic industry. That bit about how Peter Parker wouldn’t reveal his secret identity. I wonder if that was taped before Peter Parker recently revealed his secret identity? ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/2 "2006-08-11T02:55:18Z")
I’ve become so disillusioned with this program. Could it get any _more_ scripted, at this point? C’mon, The Dark Enforcer is so utterly pointless. He didn’t actually DO anything. Eh. I’m rather surprised that Monkey Woman was eliminated as well. I honestly thought she’d make it into the final episodes. It’s hard. I liked Ty’veculus a lot, but I like Fat Momma more. Still, though. I wish there was a way he could’ve stayed. It’s shocking that Major Victory gave away is secret identity too-- he always seems like the one who’s the most in character. Oh, well. One thing was made clear tonight; Lemuria’s a bitch. Did you see the way she kept arguing with and cutting off Fat Momma? Not cool. She may be the most attractive female, but she’s not a good superhero. She’d make a excellent super_villain_, however. Much better than the Dark Enforcer, anyway. Also, why does Creature wear an inverted pentagram? Is her character supposed to be, like, a witch or wiccian or what? And while the show maybe going downhill, I know I’m going to end up watching it until the finale. If only to oogle at Major Victory s’more. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/3 "2006-08-11T03:38:19Z")
Fat Momma wanted Feedback to go because he was taking things too seriously and was in danger of losing it? Sorry, but I don’t buy it… at least, not based on any of the footage we’ve seen. That seems like a bogus reason to me. Stan Lee opined that her judgment was based on compassion. Well, maybe it was, or maybe not… but I think it was pretty unconvincing. Fat Momma should have been the one to go. Frankly, I’m disappointed that Monkey Woman was asked to turn in her costume. After her show of courage last week, I was really rooting for her. Nuts. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/4 "2006-08-11T13:04:59Z")
_Fat Momma_ lost big points in my book, especially at the end. _Tyveculus_ got himself eliminated - she shouldn’t be blaming the others. _Lemuria_ also slipped for the reason in the next paragraph, but I’m still rooting for her and _Major Victory_, who still seems to be having the most fun. _Feeback_ is bland - neither good nor bad, and _Creature_ hasn’t overcome my poor first impression of her. It was probably coincidence, but this episode really sliced along racial lines. The two heroes who failed the self-sacrifice test were the only black heroes. Then, when _Tyveculus_ was eliminated, the only heroes who didn’t come to were _Creature_ and _Lemuria_ - the two remaining white women. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/5 "2006-08-11T14:31:40Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] Frankly, I’m disappointed that Monkey Woman was asked to turn in her costume. After her show of courage last week, I was really rooting for her. Nuts. [/QUOTE] Me too, her determination in the dog contest was great (scripted or not). She should have made to the finals. And yes, I liked looking at her body, too. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/6 "2006-08-11T14:40:39Z")
Why was _Lemuria_ bleeped when she gave her name? All of _Tyveculus_ name was given. Her name, as listed on the SciFi site, is uncommon, but is that a reason to bleep it? **Clockwork And Candy** , _Fat Momma_ was on the attack, and _Lemuria_ took her on. She didn’t win any Hero Points from me with her responses, but _Fat Momma_ lost a lot more. I’d prefer that Lemuria stayed to the final episode because of my lust for her, but I’m definitely in a _Major Victory_ FTW camp now. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/7 "2006-08-11T17:14:26Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Fat Momma wanted Feedback to go because he was taking things too seriously and was in danger of losing it? Sorry, but I don’t buy it… at least, not based on any of the footage we’ve seen. That seems like a bogus reason to me. See, I think Fat Momma was genius for coming up with this on the spur of the moment. Creature twigged to the point of the challenge and volunteered and everyone but Ty’Veculus followed along, and by the time it got to FM she figured out that she needed to set herself apart so she first tried not to pick anyone then did the “I’m worried” routine. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/8 "2006-08-11T17:42:29Z")
Oh, I’m sure that you’re right, **Otto**. Still, I have to wonder… Why didn’t Stan Lee call her on this gambit? As far as I can tell, Feedback had not displayed any signs of emotional or mental instability in previous footage. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/9 "2006-08-11T18:46:52Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] Oh, I’m sure that you’re right, **Otto**. Still, I have to wonder… Why didn’t Stan Lee call her on this gambit? As far as I can tell, Feedback had not displayed any signs of emotional or mental instability in previous footage. [/QUOTE] Lee was looking for a specific answer from the heroes, “pick me.” Everyone except Ty’V and FM gave the right answer. Remember that Stan said he couldn’t know what the others were actually thinking when they volunteered to take the bullet so he can only go by what they said. Same goes for Ty’V and FM. He had to choose between them, and without being able to read their minds and given the choice of “cut him for his own safety” and “cut her because she sucks” he had no alternative. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/10 "2006-08-11T19:10:04Z")
I was hoping that one of the heroes, when Stan Lee was harping on secret identities, would bring up the Ben Grimm. Or Hank Pym / Janet Van Dyne. Heck, while I wouldn’t call it a public identity like Richards / Storm / Grimm, Steve Rogers identity isn’t secret. But that’s just the geek in me. Did these people really think Stan the Man would have them traverse the buildings, on a beam, 5 stories up? If anyone really believed that, they should be booted because heroes shouldn’t be that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/11 "2006-08-11T19:17:41Z")
But, but, ok wait. FM said she wanted Feedback gone because of how he would hurt himself, and Stan Lee applauded her effort (or at least saved her) due to it being out of compassion. While Ty’V said Lemuria would’ve hurt herself if she continued to do things outside of her comfort zone. (And he’s speaking from experience as a Fire Captain) So what’s the difference here? It seems like they both had the same excuse, but he chose one over the other. Am I confused? (watching **this**?!) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Escorpio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@El\_Escorpio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Escorpio)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/12 "2006-08-11T21:25:32Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] Fat Momma wanted Feedback to go because he was taking things too seriously and was in danger of losing it? Sorry, but I don’t buy it… at least, not based on any of the footage we’ve seen. That seems like a bogus reason to me. [/QUOTE] It may indeed be a bogus reason, but I actually went to college with Feedback and he’s a good friend of mine, and he really does take things pretty seriously. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t sleep the night after he missed that crying girl. He’s wicked high strung, but (mostly) in a good way. I’m looking forward to the upcoming episodes and how he’ll come across in those. And yes, I’ve seen him since he wrapped filming. And no, he won’t tell me who won. I also got to meet Nitro G, Monkey Woman, Ty’veculus, and Major Victory (they were all at the San Diego Comicon). They were all pretty fun and cool folks-- I certainly couldn’t guess from anyone’s attitude who was going to be eliminated early on. Oh, and— Nitro G had me do a sketch for the Iron Enforcer of his favorite superhero; anyone care to guess who it was? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Escorpio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@El\_Escorpio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Escorpio)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/13 "2006-08-11T21:27:42Z")
That is to say: Anyone care to guess who the Iron Enforcer’s favorite superhero is? Not Nitro G’s. Anyway. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/14 "2006-08-11T21:40:03Z")
Punisher, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/15 "2006-08-11T21:53:27Z")
Not that I’m in the “it must be scripted” camp, but am I the only one who noticed the magic teleporting garbage can? when Monkey Woman was about to be eliminated, Stan told Fat Momma to get the garbage can, and she set it down right next to Monkey Woman. But in the next long camera shot, the can was clearly six or eight feet away. Then they cut to a closeup of Monkey Woman, and you could clearly see the can a foot away, then back to a long shot where it was six feet away. I think there was also a long shot somewhere in there showing the can a foot away. I know that, even in a “reality” show, they sometimes need to do more than one setup, but com’on, how many people were in the room? **Nobody** noticed the can in different places? Isn’t the “power of observation” one of the requirements of a super-hero? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Escorpio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@El\_Escorpio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Escorpio)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/16 "2006-08-11T21:58:38Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] Punisher, of course. [/QUOTE] Surprisingly, it was the Silver Surfer. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/17 "2006-08-11T22:12:19Z")
That is a surprise. They’ve both got bald going, and the tinfoil arm might have been a slight giveaway, but still… Now, had you said Lobo, I would have said understandable. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/18 "2006-08-11T22:24:36Z")
> [@Flightless Bird](#): > > But, but, ok wait. FM said she wanted Feedback gone because of how he would hurt himself, and Stan Lee applauded her effort (or at least saved her) due to it being out of compassion. While Ty’V said Lemuria would’ve hurt herself if she continued to do things outside of her comfort zone. (And he’s speaking from experience as a Fire Captain) So what’s the difference here? It seems like they both had the same excuse, but he chose one over the other. I’d have to see the footage again, but my recollection is that Ty’V phrased his nomination very much in the negative. He had that line about how it was an easy challenge if people were paying attention and his nom came off to me very much like “she’s out of her league, she’s lacking.” Whereas Fat Momma was all “I don’t want to pick anyone, but if I have to I pick Feedback because I’m worried for him.” > [@Roadfood](#): > > Not that I’m in the “it must be scripted” camp, but am I the only one who noticed the magic teleporting garbage can? Nope, I noticed that. My guess is that it was moved to allow for a better camera angle as she dumped off her costume bits and walked off. In retrospect it woulda been funny if Fat Momma had popped off with something like “oh no you didn’t just tell the only black woman to get the garbage can. I am a superhero, not your damn maid, Stan Lee!” But perhaps that would have been out of keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/19 "2006-08-11T22:32:09Z")
I can’t believe so many of those guys broke character in the “lunch challenge”. It should be blindingly obvious that the way to win the game is to stay in character 24x7, even when the cameras aren’t rolling. Every challenge in this show is a LARP challenge, not a physical challenge. Poor Monkey Woman. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242/20 "2006-08-11T22:47:09Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I’d have to see the footage again, but my recollection is that Ty’V phrased his nomination very much in the negative. He had that line about how it was an easy challenge if people were paying attention and his nom came off to me very much like “she’s out of her league, she’s lacking.” Whereas Fat Momma was all “I don’t want to pick anyone, but if I have to I pick Feedback because I’m worried for him.” [/QUOTE] That’s exactly right, I remarked on it to the other person in the room at the time. Tyveculus was the right choice for the boot because 1) His nomination clearly came from “this person doesn’t have what it takes to be a super-hero”, and 2) he’s gotta be dumb as a post to not have clued into the self-sacrifice deal by the time he stood up. **Otto** may or may not be right about Fat Momma being smart enough to have been trying for extra points, but there’s no question that Tyveculus must have some innate power that let him dodge all the clue bricks that were flying at him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-a-superhero-8-10/368242.md?page=2)