Mark Weisenbeek
Appearances
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Every weekend I get a chance to put it on, I'll put it on. Every day that I don't have too much scheduled, I'll pop it on. A lot of times I can't wait to pop it on because you know as soon as someone sees you, their day is different, they've got a story to tell, and it's something that they're always going to remember.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
And I'll guarantee you that the pilot on that flight that we were on is still talking about this, that he had Superman on his plane.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
You get used to it, and I don't see it as a cut, but more a compliment that they even mentioned to the whole plane that Superman was on their flight.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Well, I'd never had anyone real close to me pass away before. Your grandparents, they've lived a full life, and you're expecting that. But someone so young and beautiful with their whole life ahead of them, it just really hit me that she doesn't have any more tomorrows. And I thought, well, I better start getting as much out of today, each today, as I can. And what would help me do that?
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
And I enjoy wearing the costumes and I just couldn't wait to go out somewhere and have a bunch of people see it. And it's just been a real kick ever since.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
What was that like? When I completed my first costume, I had to go down, put some gas in the car. And I climbed out of the car and I'm putting the fuel in and the car's pulling up to the signal. We're going nuts. And I knew right then that I'm on to something. This is going to be a lot of fun. And the neat thing is, is when they honk at you, they're all looking and you hear this talk in the car.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Oh, look, there's Superman. There's Superman. And the neat thing is, is they won't stop honking until you look at them. They have to have that eye contact with you, knowing that they're looking at you and that you see them looking at you. And then the whole cycle is complete and then everyone's having a good time.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
But here's the... Superboy costume, as seen on TV by millions, worn by Gerard Christopher. He took over the show in the second year through the fourth year. They had a different actor do it the very first year. But as you can see, the seam along most of the yellow here is hidden, except for these three areas.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
If it wasn't 100%, then I would be letting down the costume. I'd be letting down the people looking at it. You can get your little $40 Halloween costume ones that are great for the office party, and that's fine. But to go out in public, unless you look like you're right off of the movie screen, then I don't suggest that you do it because you'll be a joke then.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
it definitely takes your mind off of it. Uh, any kind of a diversion or activity instead of thinking about things that you've lost is, is always a plus the costumes, uh, to be able to wear those in public. I don't know exactly how she would have taken it. Uh, I miss her a lot.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
I think of her every day, but the way I think of her now is that I just have a feeling that she's out there and that she's helping with this.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
We'll just hop in the Superman mobile here, as you can see by my license plate. So you've got the Superman floor mats. floor mats. I got the neat little hang and flying thing here. A nice little custom logo on my steering wheel. Now I notice you put down a t-shirt.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Yeah, I just don't want to scuff the back of the heel there. Yeah, I was going to get a vet, but then for my work I needed a back seat. I thought, well, I'll just get something that's spunky and corners and accelerates to something that's fun.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Geez, on a Monday night, gosh. Oh, we could head down to a couple of local places here. I don't know how busy they're going to be.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
What's the occasion, guys? Just out having fun. Man of steel, man of steel. Give me credit.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
How about a Diet Coke and a Coke, please?
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
You got a sock in there? No, I'm just kidding, Superman. Man of steel.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
I don't know all the classic one-liners. I don't know all the current icebreakers. You can go into a bar and you can be a fly on a wall and just look and watch what everyone's doing and you can be yourself and not really have to interact with a lot of people. You can turn around and go into that same place with a costume on and everyone just has to interact with you.
This American Life
198: How to Win Friends and Influence People
There was this crow sitting in the front lawn. And as soon as the crow was out of my sight, that's when I got this thump on the back of my head.