Robot 6
Hey, kid, big superheroes don’t cry
From "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?"
The BBC’s version of Stan Lee’s reality show Who Wants to Be a Superhero? reportedly is under fire for subjecting contestants — ages 9 to 13 — to unnecessary stress and criticism.
I didn’t even realize there was a British take on the series, which aired for two seasons in the United States on SciFi.
Although the original, American version featured adults, the Children’s BBC show focuses on 13 kids who create their own superheroes and participate in a series of trials. Each week the contestants are judged on their performance, and one is cut from competition.
The winner will travel to Los Angeles to meet Lee.
According to the Daily Mail, the controversy was sparked by the past two episodes, which each showed children crying or choking back tears as they were eliminated.
The newspaper quotes a few psychologists who say the experiencing is potentially damaging to children, but a BBC spokesman disagrees. “There is absolutely no evidence of any distress to the children,” he said. “They have all said they had a happy time.”
- March 2, 2009 @ 10:49 AM by Kevin Melrose
6 Comments
Richard
March 2, 2009 at 11:17 am
I didn’t even realize that the US version aired for two seasons. I think I just blocked out any mention of the show after the first one.
The way in which the kids are eliminated would determine how bad the experience is for them. If the judges are cruel and snarky, like Simon Cowell or seemingly any reality show judge of British descent, that may be a bit much for a kid to experience. If the criticisms are constructive, it could be something that builds character. Tears alone does not mean it’s bad.
-r-
Brad
March 2, 2009 at 11:23 am
I agree that tears are not bad- if the judges are constructive and not nasty…even if they were nasty whats the big deal? I mean you see Simon Cowell bash 16 year olds on American Idol….
I think this show could become a big hit in the states if its done right.
Wally East
March 2, 2009 at 12:15 pm
“Hey, kid, big superheroes don’t cry”
Apparently Superman isn’t a superhero.
Alvin
March 2, 2009 at 12:36 pm
If the judges are anything like Simon Cowell or Gordon Ramsey, you bet their crying, can’t you just hear them SC: that’s the worst idea for a superhero ever! I pray you don’t continue on in this competition” I say no.
GR: rubish! take of your cape and put it in the bin, Get Out! (I don’t know if they are Dads or not, this was just meant as a joke , no children were hurt in this writing) or maybe the Judge is Alan Moore now that might screw up a kid, it would scare me, Wahhh! I want me Mum! later!
Joe
March 2, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Alvin: I think a 13 year old just MEETING Alan Moore would be enough to damage a kid’s psyche for life.
Brian Douglas Ahern
March 3, 2009 at 7:02 am
Whoa, is that little guy Turtle Boy or something? Despite his sorrows, I think he looks pretty darn slick in his tiny costume. Now I want to see this British version of the show. It can only get better than Mr, Mitzvah!
(And if the kids feel bad for crying, just show them any number of 1970s Spider-man comics. He bawled his head off all the time.) When I was a kid, I would have loved to be in a show like this. Bless all these little heroes!
-Briz