Week 12: How the Cards Fall

Week Twelve Recap : The American Hero

American Hero began on a somber note this week.  Events on the other side of the world have brought home just how urgently selfless heroism is needed in the world — and what cost such heroism sometimes exacts.  We recognize some of our former contestants who have made the ultimate sacrifice during the recent conflict in Egypt.  Simoon, King Cobalt, and Hardhat will never be forgotten by fans of this show.  Let us all remember with pride the good that they accomplished in their all-too short lives.

Back in Hollywood, the excitement was almost too much to take as Rosa Loteria and Stuntman faced their final challenge.  Both aces were picked up early and escorted to Carpenter Avenue School where they appeared before a cheering crowd of school children.  One of the jobs of a hero is to be a role-model to children like this, and Rosa and Jamal got a taste of what that's like.  They also had their stamina tested as they signed autographs for hundreds of kids!

Stuntman told the audience of eager children what he thinks it means to be a hero:  "What we've all shown is that it doesn't matter where you came from or what you can do.  It's about how hard you try.  It's about taking risks to do what's right.  That makes you a hero."  Rosa had her own take:  "You have to stand up for yourself, and you have to stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves.  You have to protect other people, look out for your friends and family.  If you got the power to do that, then that's what you got to do."

The aces' next stop was the Los Angeles Police Department training academy, where they went through the obstacle course and hand-to-hand combat training with the rest of the rookies.  What would it be like for our heroes to work with law enforcement?  That was what Stuntman and Rosa demonstrated here, and both of them showed the talent and courage that got them through eleven weeks of competition to this point, leaping to each new challenge without batting an eye.  Rosa's luck was with her as she seemed to draw just the right card for each situation, from leading a squad of rookies to soundly defeating the academy's martial arts instructor.  Stuntman endured cringe-inducing blows that would have destroyed any but the strongest aces in the world.  He has more than proven himself worthy of joining their ranks.

The last obstacle on this final day of challenges might have been called "Grace Under Pressure."  Because all that was left for them to face were the judges, the final vote, and all of America in a live broadcast in which the whole world had a chance to vote.

The final votes were cast by you, the TV audience, via text message.  But that wasn't all, of course — the Discards had their say as well, and their inside knowledge of what it takes to be a hero and of these two aces in particular meant their votes held extra weight — and counted for a thousand viewer votes each.  Replays of the previous eleven weeks of challenges played on screens before the studio audience to remind us of where these aces have been, and what they've done.  Throughout it all, Rosa Loteria and Stuntman waited on stage for the results.  And it must be said that they both withstood the stress with heroic calm.  At last, the votes were tallied, the scores computed, and Peregrine took the stage to announce the winner:  Jamal Norwood, Stuntman!

Amidst the cheering of the audience, Jamal was so astonished he didn't seem to understand that he had won until Rosa hugged him, like the good sport she is.  The audience erupted with celebration as Stuntman's former teammates and rivals joined him to wish him congratulations.  Jamal had this to say about his victory.  "I couldn't have done this alone.  All of my teammates, everyone who challenged me, everyone who went to Egypt — we're all heroes, every one of us," he said.

And that says it all.

There you have it:  Stuntman is the new American Hero!

Keep on the look out for this week's verdicts:
Digger	Harlem Hammer	Topper	Peregrine

Comments

[BookWyrm]

Well, at least this season is over with. With everything that's happened, not only overseas but locally, my interest in this show has been sporadic at best. This last episode seemed...more scripted than usual.

I figure Rosa will get a 'consolation prize' out of this. But I feel cheated that Stuntman 'won' (no offense, Stuntman).

Simoon, Hardhat & Cobalt.....gone, just like that. I can hardly believe it.

I hope someone out there has good news to post here.

[QueenOfSpades]

Well on the maybe good news.. the Sudanese government didn't seem to say anything more about captured foreign invaders. My guess is that the death of both the Caliph and Djinn and then the turn-over of the Egyptian strongman made them rethink what to do next.

I actually couldn't see the show.. it was pre-empted with the saving of the UN chief by the British and the Hague coverage.. Uncle Eddie will be peeved.. he felt that Rosa should have gotten it hands down. The CNN talking heads were going over that it might not get renewed next season because the last couple of weeks ratings were so low... or it will show up in a different format with less voting off as that seemed to cause the most viewer drops.. who knows. I still think Uncle Eddies' idea was the best.. make it like Iron Chef... that weeks joker/ace/nat chooses one of the great heroes and then the 'evil' leader lays out that week's challenge. [And Mom's got it optioned so it might happen.]

Bookwyrm, I am glad you are feeling better. Emily's picture should be in the mail. I don't know if it will look as good as it does there.. we have no idea if her special parts of paintings has a 'range' or not. If it shows up as crayons, you should get a better viewing when you come down sometime.

Mom got a new tutor.. turns out that one of the guys in the Joker VFW is a former teacher. Got eyes in the back of his head and can't teach in a normal school so Mom's going to give him a try.

[Radio Free Alicia]

All right, we're finally back in communication. We tried to put some space between us and the mysterious horseman. We made sure the refugees got to a Canadian camp on the border with Chad; they're being set up with visas as we speak.

BlackBox, I'm sorry to hear about the meat, man. Once you get fixed up, maybe we could meet up to talk about it. You seem like someone who knows his stuff, and maybe we could get up our own news bu

WE ARE UNDER ATTACK

[Brownsville Barbarian]

Hey there you stick-up-your-ass diplomat types!

I've posted this on a dozen forums so I hope one of you reads it. This is the Brownsville Barbarian. Me, El Tejon, Mr. Toad, Mr. Mole, Ratty, and my good friend Hell on Wheels have pretty much been responsible for everything bad happening with Miss Angies mission. And by bad I mean we actually got humanitarrian shit done that you assholes in the UN and the EU would never do becaue your pussies. So dont try to arrest Angie or Laurie when they come back to the states because they had good intentions and wanted to do something good. They just didnt know how bad you got to be to make good stick in the world!

Hey you headless horseman bastard you better get your ass back to Khartoum if you want to save your leaders worthless life. You know the names Omar Hassan al bashir, salva kir and Alli Osman Taha? Well we got them sitting in the Sudan parlement building and theyre not real happy to have guns pointed at there faces. You can either surrender or try to rescue them but Ill tell you well shoot before your first ghost horse touches us. As for the Sudan army youd better surrender if you want these assholes to stay alive

--Yours truly,
DAMAGE INCORPORATED

[BookWyrm]

Qos:
Thanks, & thank your sister for me. I look forward to seeing her work.