Michael Wiseman (played by John Goodman and Eric Close) starts out as a
forty-something insurance salesman with a wife and a daughter and a generally
happy life. He is accidentally pushed in front of a subway train (in about
the first fifteen minutes of the first episode. Poor guy!) He wakes up in a
strange room to meet Dr. Theodore Morris. (Here's what happened next from a
transcript.)

[DR. MORRIS:
Hey. I see those eyes opening. How you doing? How do you feel?

MICHAEL:
(JOHN GOODMAN'S VOICE OVER)
( YAWNING )

DR. MORRIS:
It's okay. Don't feel you have to say anything. You've got a lot to absorb. I
understand. First and foremost, let me introduce myself. My name is Dr.
Theodore Morris.

MICHAEL:
Where am I?

DR. MORRIS:
You're in a hospital receiving the finest medical care that money can buy.
Courtesy of your Uncle Sam, I might add. Which reminds me, before I forget
let me be the first to tell you, you had a beautiful funeral, Mr. Wiseman.

MICHAEL:
I did?

DR. MORRIS:
Absolutely. Day before yesterday. I certainly hope when it's my time to go
that my loved ones send me off in as spectacular a fashion.

MICHAEL:
Help me. I don't understand. Is this a hallucination? How can I be in the
hospital if I already had my funeral? Am I alive? Am I dead? What am I?

DR. MORRIS:
Well... right now what you are is a middle-aged brain hooked up to some
extremely sophisticated computers that let me hear what you think you're
saying. The United States government-- our government-- has, since the
conclusion of World War II spent billions of dollars researching all sorts of
biochemical and bioengineering techniques in the hopes of one day actually
being able to build a man. An American man. A man who could do those things
mere mortal American men are loathe to do-- travel in dangerous places, take
risks, wage war.

MICHAEL:
Excuse me, I'm thirsty. Could you maybe give me a glass of...?

DR. MORRIS:
You, sir, have an opportunity to be the beneficiary of all that money and all
that research. You see, we're at the point in our work where we need... well,
we got everything pretty well figured out expect... the mind thing. Can't
lick the mind thing. I mean, we're all ready to go except for that. I mean,
ready to try anyway. Build a man with the speed of Michael Jordan-- the
strength of Superman and the grace... of Fred Astaire. A guy who's going to
look good, be young, be omnipotent. Wild, huh? We just can't lick the mind
thing. Just can't build a mind. You really have to... harvest one, you know
what I mean? And that's a problem. We were just about to give up hope and
then you had your unfortunate run-in with the F-train. And well, just seemed
like kismet to us. That thirst thing is in your imagination, by the way. You
don't have a skull, let alone a mouth. I know what you're thinking. What's
the catch? And, of course, there is a catch. A pretty big catch. Not huge,
but formidable. In return for saving your life-- and let me remind you that
for all intents and purposes you are already dead and buried, Mr. Wiseman--
in return for the gift of sight, mobility and tactile sensation-- for being
able to walk, talk, breathe, taste and touch all your government asks in
return is that you stay dead. By that, we mean you may have no contact of any
kind with anyone who you knew in your first life. Ever. That's all. We know
you didn't choose to die, Mr. Wiseman. We know there were no good-byes. And
we're sure your desire to let friends and loved ones know you're here, and
know you're well... well, like I said, I saw your family. I know how precious
they must be to you. But your government can't let anyone know about the
existence of this technology. You reaching out to anyone from your past
absolutely guarantees your immediate and final death and the death of
whomever you confided in. I need you to tell me you understand and agree to
that.

MICHAEL:
And what if I say no? What if I won't do it?

DR. MORRIS:
Well, hey, this is America. That's your right. Of course, we'll have to take
our $3 billion worth of logic sensors, voice emulators computer-driven neuron
transfer generators and assorted other doodads and go home. Let nature take
its course. I figure it will take about 16 seconds for you to turn into a
memory. Aw, forget memory. It will take about 16 seconds for you to turn into
waste. But please, do think about it. I'll check back.]

So of course Michael agrees. He gets his new body (a *very* nice body too!)
and is taken to their base of operations which is a lovely townhouse in
Manhattan. Incidentally, he can't fly.

[MICHAEL:
Can I fly, you know, like Superman?

DR. MORRIS:
Mr. Wiseman, over the past six months we've performed a complicated series of
operations. I'm tempted to call them "transplants," but in truth there was no
you to transplant them to. So let's call them "operations." In fact, let's
agree that you have been the recipient of some of the most sophisticated
surgical thinking and practice in the history of medicine. In addition, you
have been inoculated with and intravenously fed over 700 highly-experimental
and I believe extraordinarily-promising hormones, steroids and vaccines that
also were developed uniquely for you and this project. Now, I mention all
that because I'm embarrassed to admit that in the midst of all those
surgeries all those implant procedures all the beta trials, tests, failures
and successes it just never occurred to any of us to shove a rocket up your
ass. No, I'm sorry-- you can't fly.]

Since Michael is expressly forbidden from seeing his friends and family, the
first thing he does after getting his bearing is to escape and go see his
friends and family. He is found and he learns that he has been implanted with
a tracking device.

The show continues on with his acceptance of his new life, his changing
relationship with Dr. Morris (who at first saw him as just a science fair
project but grew to see him as a person and even a friend), his continued
interaction with his wife and daughter and his new job as a reluctant
superhero with a horrible diet (the doc won't let him eat anything he likes
because he wants to keep his $3,000,000 body healthy.)

Other things you need to know: He can leap tall buildings with a single bound
(well, actually he can leap *off* of tall buildings with a single *splat* but
he survives so it counts), he can punch holes through safes, he heals from
any injury remarkably quickly, he is called Mr. Newman when he goes out ('cuz
it would just be stupid for him to introduce himself as Mr. Wiseman,
especially to Mrs. Wiseman), his friends and family think he's with the IRS and he can be a complete and total smart-ass when
the mood takes him.

The season ended with Michael's tracker being taken out for another purpose
and him escaping again before it could be reimplanted and grabbing his family
and running for the hills about thirty seconds before Dr. Morris and a bunch
of government agents kicked in the door to the Wiseman home.

Other characters:
Dr. Morris is almost always very very serious. He believes there is a
scientific explanation for everything and is a control freak.

Lisa Wiseman loved Michael and after he got reborn they had this weird
relationship/attraction thing that was always interrupted by something or
another. For the purposes of this story I decided that Dr. Morris recovered
Michael and family a week or so after they escaped and Dr. Morris made Lisa
think Michael was insane. So she decided to marry a nerdy guy that she had
gone out with once or twice during the season by the name of Gerald
Mizenbeck. He's nice, sensible and boring. Lisa is figuring that after Mr.
Newman she needs some stability for herself and her daughter.

Heather Wiseman is Michael's fifteen year old daughter. She's a typical 15
year old and I think that says enough.

Roger Bender was Michael's best friend (before the changeover) he's a
spineless little wimp but he's fun in a strange way. He and Michael used to
work together. I don't know how much he'll be in the story (or even if he
will be at all) but I like to keep my bases covered.

The Eggman was the first villain of the season and also the last. He's an
elderly oriental man who injects nerve toxins into eggs and then leaves them
in places where they break easily, killing large numbers of people. Michael
stopped him the first time around and the last we saw of him he was escaping
from prison with the intent of getting back at Michael.

That's it for the basic synopsis.
Go here: http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/thren/main.html
to get more in depth info. This site is great, it has transcripts (which you
should definitely read 'cuz even though it's not as good as watching the
show, it's still hilarious), sounds, pictures, promo's for some of the eps,
episode guides, interviews with the cast, song lyrics etc etc...
And if you have any questions along the way, you can always write to me and
I'll do my best to answer them.

Now I'm going to include little scenes from various episodes, just so you can get a feel for the dialoge

(Lisa and Heather have a discussion about Lisa's date with Gerald Mizenbeck)
LISA:
I just have one of those feelings-- one of those instinctual feelings-- that this is not smart.
HEATHER:
There's nothing wrong with it, Mom. Daddy's been gone seven months. You're allowed to have dinner with a man.
LISA:
He's not a man. He's a lawyer. What if he has a lousy time? Maybe he won't want to work as hard for me anymore. Maybe he won't want to help me at all.
HEATHER:
Maybe he'll have a wonderful time. Maybe you'll both have a wonderful time. Maybe he'll take those bastards from dad's company to court and win us millions of dollars. Not Ben Stein's money, not Alex Trebek's money but our money. Then we'll be able to throw big parties and take lots of vacations like the people on E! True, someday the money will run out but then we'll be like the people on behind the music on VH1-- tragic but kind of inspirational. I've got a good feeling about this, Mom.
LISA:
I, for one, am glad we can't afford cable anymore.

(Roger and Michael having a coversation where Roger *thinks* he's figured out what's going on.)
ROGER:
You... are... Michael, aren't you?
MICHAEL:
Look, forget you came up with that. Forget you figured that out.
ROGER:
Reincarnated!
MICHAEL:
( chuckles ) Bingo.
( both laughing )
ROGER:
I got to tell you, I'm shaking over here. I mean, you could knock me over with a feather. You know, you hear these stories about people coming back as bugs or cows, but... I-I mean, a stud muffin? How does that work? Did you put in some kind of special request or did you do some extraordinarily Good deed? Oh... how... yeah, yeah, it was the testifying, wasn't it? Tell me the truth. I mean, my saying "Act of God" that's probably not going to work in my favor, is it? Look, I know I have a lot to make up for. Right now, I'm sure he has me penciled in as a some kind of cockroach or head louse or something but now that I know the deal... look, do you think it's possible I could do enough good things so that I might be able to come back as something like you? When it's my time, I'm talking about? ( yells ) God da...! Doggone it! Hey, where are you going?
MICHAEL:
I don't want to lose Lisee.
ROGER:
Am I ever going to see you again? Hey, don't forget to put in a good word for me!

(Roger and Dr. Morris after Roger *thinks* he's figured it out. BTW, he's blindfolded through this conversation.)

ROGER:
You don't understand. He's a troubled soul.
AGENT:
A troubled soul?
ROGER:
Yes.
DR. MORRIS:
Any progress?
AGENT:
I think you need to hear this for yourself. Would you repeat your theory about Mr. Wiseman?
ROGER:
Sure. Sure. I was just explaining. I know who Michael is. I'm pretty sure I know who you people are. And I'm certain that I know why Michael is behaving like this.
DR. MORRIS:
You do?
ROGER:
I'm very intuitive.
DR. MORRIS:
Oh, you must be.
ROGER:
Michael is a troubled soul.
DR. MORRIS:
You mean that literally? "Troubled"? Some kind of mental condition we should know about?
ROGER:
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. He's an excellent person. It's his soul.
DR. MORRIS:
His soul?
ROGER:
It's in torment. Believe me, no man ever loved his wife more than Michael loved Lisa and no man ever believed more fervently in the sanctity and the certainty of life insurance. You see, he thought that his wife was going to be all set with the insurance and everything so I've got to believe that when our company decided to... um... "f" her out of the money that his soul was so distraught that... that it came back to earth in human form. Not... not to wreak revenge, or anything but just to make sure that she got the money-- that she was taken care of. I mean, he loves Lisa. Uh... uh... by the way-- "f"-- that's not a curse, right? I mean, that isn't going to count against me?
DR. MORRIS:
With who? Do you mind if the officer and I step out for a few seconds?

DR. MORRIS:
What's this knucklehead talking about?
AGENT:
He thinks you're God, Wiseman's been reincarnated and I'm some kind of burning bush. You still want me to kill him? He's awfully annoying. He does work for an insurance company.
AGENT #2:
Sorry to interrupt. We're finally getting a steady tracking signal from midtown. I got a car waiting out front.
DR. MORRIS:
I'll be right there.
AGENT:
So, uh... what do you want me to do with Tammy Faye Bakker?

DR. MORRIS:
You know who I am, don't you? So you know what I'm capable of, don't you? Then hear me, friend. If you breathe a word of what you've seen tonight-- if you breathe a single syllable of your theory-- I will smite your ass so fast you'll skip fight past heaven and hell and be turned straight into pus.
ROGER:
Pus?
DR. MORRIS:
Pus. It's got to come from somewhere, right?

(Michael and Dr. Morris having a conversation about a mission. Incidentally, Michael is wearing a jumpsuit that lights up.)

DR. MORRIS:
Mr. Wiseman, do you have it on? Are you coming out? Stop right there. Turn around, please. Ah, terrific synthesis of form and function if I do say so myself.
MICHAEL:
And you do all the time.
DR. MORRIS:
Now, flip on the switch.
MICHAEL:
You don't want to gather the other kids around to sing "happy birthday" first?
DR. MORRIS:
Mr. Wiseman... Wow... look at you.
MICHAEL:
Very nice. Want to tell me what the point is? You're not thinking about lighting me up at night and running advertising all over me, are you? I'm an artist. I won't allow myself to be used that way.
DR. MORRIS:
Mr. Wiseman, you're about to make a historic contribution to science and technology. And if all goes as planned you will have been instrumental in helping to protect your country from attacks by outside forces that seek to do it harm.
MICHAEL:
If I had known that, I would have worn clean underwear.
DR. MORRIS:
As incredible as it seems that suit will allow you to be seen from distances as far as 50 miles away and from altitudes as high as 30,000 feet.
MICHAEL:
30,000 feet? What am I going to be doing at 30,000 feet?
DR. MORRIS:
Jumping out of an airplane.
MICHAEL:
I don't think so.
DR. MORRIS:
Think again.

(Michael and Dr. Morris have a conversation)

DR. MORRIS:
Mr. Wiseman, before I take off I need to talk to you about tomorrow.
MICHAEL:
Talk.
DR. MORRIS:
You know that technically, I'm a federal employee. For that matter, almost everyone connected with this project is a federal employee.
MICHAEL:
Where are you heading here? Did the government fail? Am I on my own? Where will I get my bulgur wheat?
DR. MORRIS:
As it happens tomorrow is a federal holiday.
MICHAEL:
No kidding.
DR. MORRIS:
No kidding.
MICHAEL:
Thanksgiving.
DR. MORRIS:
Yeah. Thanksgiving.
MICHAEL:
You know, it's funny, but... even without calendars or... newspapers or television... you can just feel it.
DR. MORRIS:
The thing is, I can't be here tomorrow.
MICHAEL:
Right. Of course.
DR. MORRIS:
I'll be spending the day having dinner at the home of my sister.
MICHAEL:
You have a sister?
DR. MORRIS:
Yes. Incredible, isn't it? Now, I don't particularly like what I'm about to tell you, Mr. Wiseman. In fact, it's fair to say it goes against everything I believe to the in the best interest of this project but union rules and federal law have conspired against me.
MICHAEL:
I'm going to get time-and-a-half for overtime?
DR. MORRIS:
No. You'll be joining me, my sister her husband, my niece, my nephew and my Grandma Pearl for Thanksgiving.
MICHAEL:
That is so nice of you... and Grandma Pearl.
DR. MORRIS:
You're to be dressed and ready to go by noon. Shirt, tie, jacket.
MICHAEL:
Should I bring my last report card to show everybody?
DR. MORRIS:
As with anything else, Mr. Wiseman there are rules governing this excursion. My sister knows I work for the government. She does not, of course, know anything about the specific nature of my work or about you. You'll be introduced as my associate Mr. Newman. You will do what I tell you. You will eat what I tell you. And most importantly, you will not eat those things I forbid. And of course, you will say nothing about the nature of our work or about your real identity. Is that clear?
MICHAEL:
( quietly ) Yeah.
DR. MORRIS:
Oh, yes. If you sass my Grandma Pearl tomorrow I will personally open up the stitches in the back of your skull and pull whatever's left of your personality out. Do you understand me?
MICHAEL:
I'll make you proud, Doc.
DR. MORRIS:
You'd better.

(Michael and the doc are having a conversation about a training exercise. Andc the doc has a gun hidden behind his back)

DR. MORRIS:
( singing ) Ooh, child, things are gonna get easier. Ooh, child, things'll get brighter.
MICHAEL:
Oh, no, I'm having a nightmare about that mad scientist Don Cornelius.
DR. MORRIS:
( singing ) Ooh-ooh, child, things are gonna get easier. Ooh-ooh, child, things will get brighter. Someday now, we'll put it together and we'll get it all done. Someday, when your head is much lighter.
MICHAEL:
Lighter? My head's removable?
DR. MORRIS:
( singing ) Someday now, we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun. Someday when the world is much brighter everybody! Ooh-ooh, child, things are gonna get easier.
MICHAEL:
Why can't I at least pick my own song to sing in the shower?
DR. MORRIS:
( singing ) La-la-la-la-la la-la-la. Good morning, Mr. Wiseman.
MICHAEL:
Says you.
DR. MORRIS:
To what do we owe this burst of good cheer?
MICHAEL:
I'm dying from the monotony, doc. Every morning, it's the same thing. 6:00 a.m., the shutters open, the sun comes in you serenade me and then you feed me gruel and you exercise me till it's afternoon. And then it's some kind of vegetable swill for lunch more exercise dinner and bed. Every day. Day in, day out. Haven't you heard? Variety is the spice of life. Wake me up at 7:17 some time. Go wild. Put some raisins in my bran, Bosco in my milk. I need a change, Doc.
DR. MORRIS:
And a change you shall have.
MICHAEL:
You're kidding.
DR. MORRIS:
I kid you not. Tomorrow, we're going on a trip to the mountains.
MICHAEL:
A trip to the mountains?
DR. MORRIS:
For survival training.
MICHAEL:
Survival training?
DR. MORRIS:
Sure. You're going to love it. We drop you from a plane smack in the middle of the Adirondacks without food, water or a compass and see if you can find your way back to civilization.
MICHAEL:
Boy, you do know fun.
DR. MORRIS:
And to keep things interesting my entire staff will be out there stalking you.
MICHAEL:
Stalking me?
DR. MORRIS:
Mm-hmm. With these.
MICHAEL:
Really, you spoil me. now forgive me for telling you something you already know but I think it bears reiterating. I'm not bulletproof.
DR. MORRIS:
Really? You sure?
( gunshot )
MICHAEL:
( shrieks )
DR. MORRIS:
My God! You survived. And that was the really tough weather-duty paint.

(Michael and the doc have a conversation)

MICHAEL:
Ah! The glop du jour. Wonder what today's will be. Yellowish-orange? Brownish-brown? Or could it be...? Oh, greenish-gray, my favorite.
DR. MORRIS:
Yes, sir. I understand. You can count on us, Mr. President.
MICHAEL:
Uh-oh. I've seen that look before. You usually get it right before I have to hang off someplace really high take some bullets in the gut, or outrun some traffic.
DR. MORRIS:
Mr. Wiseman...
MICHAEL:
And you get that sound in your voice, too. You can't fool me, Doc. I'm definitely in for some wear and tear.

(Michael has a conversation with Jimmy, a mentally ill young man who stumbled on to Michael when he was in the middle of stopping some terrorists by flipping over their car. Jimmy jumped into the middle of a gun-fight and got shot and is under the impression that Michael is a superhero.)

JIMMY:
Hey.
MICHAEL:
Hey. I heard on tv that you're some kind of hero. Heard that you busted up some domestic terrorists.
JIMMY:
Yeah... well, I had help.
MICHAEL:
Well, that's not the way I heard it. So they taking good care of you here?
JIMMY:
Pretty good. My mom is a nurse here. I thought I wasn't going to see you again. Am I going to see you again? I mean, can we still be friends?
MICHAEL:
Well, that's what I came to talk to you about. I mean, come on, Jimmy-- you know the deal with secret identities. Heck, you know better than almost anyone I've ever met.
JIMMY:
( chuckling ) Yeah, I do. And don't worry, your secret identity is safe with me.
MICHAEL:
I know.
JIMMY:
Hey, you remember you were talking about your girlfriend and how you don't see her anymore? That's the way it has to be. You're a superman. Superman doesn't get Lois lane.
MICHAEL:
Oh, yeah? What does Superman get?
JIMMY:
He gets... to be Superman.

(Michael and the doc have a conversation.)

DR. MORRIS:
( singing ) Good morning, good morning you slept the whole night through. Good morning, good morning to you. ( chuckling ) Mr. Wiseman?
MICHAEL:
Over here, your divaship.
DR. MORRIS:
My goodness. You haven't caught a dose of initiative, now have you, Mr. Wiseman?
MICHAEL:
Have no fear. I remain exactly as I was when you found me-- ambition-free when it comes to exercise. No, I just couldn't think of anything else to do.
DR. MORRIS:
Well, how about sleep?
MICHAEL:
Oh, I did that. Started doing that at 7:00 last night, in fact.
DR. MORRIS:
How can that be? I didn't leave here until at least 6:15.
MICHAEL:
I don't know what to tell you. Ate dinner, realized I had some free time thought, "maybe I'll just watch some tube" then remembered, don't have one. Figured I'd read the paper then remembered, can't get one. Then I thought, "ah, hell, I'll call a friend" but suddenly realized, don't got none.
DR. MORRIS:
Mr. Wiseman...
MICHAEL:
So, I counted the bricks in my bedroom wall. Balled up my socks and played hoops with the bathroom trash can. After that, I considered taking a little stroll over this way then I decided, "gee, maybe I'll save that for tomorrow night." Next thing you know, it's 7:00 p.m. and I'm out like light. Go figure. I know that look. You're jealous, aren't you? Wait, I'll get you a sock.
DR. MORRIS:
The answer is no.
MICHAEL:
Oh, that's funny, I don't remember the question.
DR. MORRIS:
Whatever it is.
MICHAEL:
Look around. There's nothing to do. There’s no place to go...
DR. MORRIS:
"Give me a television..."
MICHAEL:
Nothing to occupy my mind.
DR. MORRIS:
"Take me to the movies... "
MICHAEL:
I need stimulation.
DR. MORRIS:
"Read me a story."
MICHAEL:
My wife bought me a book and you took that away from me.
DR. MORRIS:
I'm tired of hearing it.
MICHAEL:
Even prisoners get to play in the yard!
DR. MORRIS:
Tired! ( grunts ) So, are you finished?
MICHAEL:
No. I'm just getting started.
DR. MORRIS:
I meant your work out.
MICHAEL:
Yeah.
DR. MORRIS:
Okay, then, after breakfast put on a shirt and tie.
MICHAEL:
What? Why? Where are we going?
DR. MORRIS:
To stimulate your mind.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MICHAEL:
So? Where we headed? A movie? A museum? A car show?
DR. MORRIS:
Actually, a medical conference.
MICHAEL:
Oh! Be still my heart. Or whatever it is you put in there. A medical conference?
DR. MORRIS:
Mm-hmm. The annual meeting of the human construction sciences movement.
MICHAEL:
Wow. Lucky us. So you were able to score a ticket, huh?
DR. MORRIS:
Well, actually, I'm one of the founders. In fact, the reason we're going-- the reason I'm going-- is to present a paper.
MICHAEL:
Back up, Yoda. I'm completely confused. I thought I was supposed to be top secret-- tip-top secret, in fact-- so why are you presenting a paper?
DR. MORRIS:
Well, as one of the pioneers in the human construction sciences I generate a fair amount of curiosity in the scientific community. When the government first recruited me for this project we came up with the idea of having me speak publicly every year or so presenting obsolete data to throw people off the scent of what we've really accomplished.
MICHAEL:
Mm. "Really accomplished," as in me.
DR. MORRIS:
Exactly. Which is why this afternoon I'm presenting a ten-year-old paper on artificial tissue synthesis.
MICHAEL:
Okay. I get it. You're going to pretend you're still figuring out how to make the tortilla, when the truth is you've already made the whole enchilada.
DR. MORRIS:
Hmm... something like that, yeah.