Reality News Update, April 7: Superheroes, Comedians, and Sharon Osbourne

We’ve had quite a bit of reality TV news in the past week, but every time I was about to write and post it, more news came in. We ended up splitting off news about the Survivor betting scandal into its own article and will be doing likewise on other items in coming days. So let’s take a look at some of the shorter news blurbs we’ve gathered.

Ozzy Osbourne has said that wife Sharon is now free of colon cancer after several months of treatment, some of which was shown in the second season of The Osbournes.

The Associated Press reported that Ozzy is still worried about a relapse, but “she’s doing great” right now.

As for Ozzy himself, he said that he kind of freaked out over the combination of Sharon’s cancer and the show’s success – though viewers might be tempted to ask how you could tell a freaked-out Ozzy from a “normal” Ozzy. Still, with that mostly behind them now, it will be interesting to see how the third (and likely final) season of their show develops.

It may sound like a slightly late April Fools joke, but WB is apparently developing a new reality show called Who Wants to Be a Superhero?

The Hollywood Reporter says the show is being developed by Bruce Nash (Meet My Folks and other shows) and Stan Lee (of comic book fame) and is being planned for the 2003-4 season. Nash is quoted as saying it will be fun, “a blend of fantasy and reality.” Just like most other reality shows, in other words.

The idea is that everyday people will pitch concepts for new superheroes to celebrity judges who have played superheroes on-screen. (There should be enough from Batman alone to fill the panel.) The semi-finalists will have to compete in challenges after undergoing a “superhero makeover.” The winner may get his (okay, his character’s) story put into a comic book.

It’s interesting that this show will be on WB, which is owned by the same folks who own DC comics, yet they are partnering with Stan Lee, who is a Marvel type of guy.

Personally, I’m going to submit my idea for “Reality Show Writer Man,” a hero who can write up articles in no time flat and still have time for a full life. Yeah, it’s a fantasy, I know.

A show featuring a different type of comic – the stand-up one – was already announced for NBC this summer. Last Comic Standing is one of the new shows in the American Idol mold. People audition, are narrowed to semi-finalists, and then presumably viewers will be able to vote. Oh, and of course the finalists will all live together to provide us with other hilarious moments, I’m sure.

The news here is that NBC has entered into a deal with Comedy Central, which will re-air each episode within a week of its original showing on NBC. The original prize was an NBC talent deal, but now Comedy Central has also added a stand-up special for the winner.

If you are itching to try out – too late. Auditions have already been done. You’ll just have to hope for a renewal, or try out for Star Search.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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