Brilliant Idea # 1

I always felt that if I had super-power, I wouldn't
immediately run out to the store and buy a costume.
-- Stan Lee
I have picked up silly TV viewing habits from Wired. Back in April, and again in May, they referenced The IT Crowd, and I dutifully downloaded, watched, and enjoyed it. Last month, they wrote about Who Wants To Be A Superhero?, and after downloading one episode, I was hooked on that as well.

The series starts with 11 superhero candidates, and comic book legend (and creator of Spiderman, X-Men, Hulk, others) Stan Lee manages to eliminate two out of the herd each episode for the first four weeks, based on their superhero-like performance in a number of comical tasks. He indicates to them that although they are expected to show courage and resoursefulness, that a hero is also self-sacrificing. At the completion of the fifth episode, he pared the field from three competitors to two. The winner won't get a million dollars, but his hero will be made into a Dark Horse comic, and a TV movie on the American Sci-Fi Channel.

Here's how one of those two competitors could turn the tables on Stan: Declare himself or herself to be a fantastic hero, but acknowledge that one's competitor is also worthy of the title. Then, suggest that the world can use, in fact needs, both superheroes. Suggest that they continue as a crime-fightint team. Finally, the bold candidate declares that Stan may not have him or her, except as half of this duo. For the candidates have to be respectful of Mr. Lee, but a superhero ought to be bold enough to challenge him as well.

As near as I can see it, the only option this leaves Stan Lee is to take them both. If he takes the one, they refuse. If he takes the other one, the ultimatum-issuing superhero appears to have usurped Stan's decision making ability. If Stan agrees and makes them into a crime fighting duo, everybody wins.

The finale has completed downloading - I'll find out what happens. I'm pretty sure it won't have been what I would have done.

If you want to see the show, let me know and I'll add you to the list of people who saw some and were intrigued. The Sci-Fi Channel doesn't air in Canada.