20/20 Reports on ‘Super Powers, Super Humans’ on July 22

Superpowers are usually associated with action superheroes like Superman or Batman. And right now, from movies like “Captain America” to weekly fan conventions across the country, superheroes are bigger than ever. ABC invites viewers to meet some real people with superpowers that they’ve developed by dedicating their lives to the basic human urge to overcome limitations, to soar by unlocking abilities hidden deep within. “A Special Edition of 20/20: Super Powers, Super Humans” airs Friday, July 22 at 9:00 pm ET on the ABC Television Network.

Amazing Artist: He didn’t speak until he was 5 years old, but that didn’t keep Stephen Wiltshire from developing a unique ability to communicate – through drawing. He has a super human ability to look at a huge landscape like London or Tokyo only once and then recreate it on paper down to the last detail — from memory alone. “20/20″ viewers will watch as Stephen draws the New York City landscape completely from memory, and a London skyline in three hours. Nick Watt reports.

Girl Wonder: Jackie Evancho is the Little Girl with the Big Voice: At just 11 years old, Jackie Evancho’s spellbinding voice has taken the Opera world by storm. A YouTube sensation, Jackie captured the nation’s heart when she took second place on the 2010 season of “America’s Got Talent” and became the best-selling debut artist of 2010 with her first EP. Dr. Clark Rosen, director of the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, says Jackie is “incredibly rare… her brain has the ability to use every facet of her body, her vocal chords, her lungs, her tongue, in a unique fashion.” Her fans agree. Her latest release, “Dream with Me,” contended for the top spot on the charts. Elizabeth Vargas reports.

Wing Walker: Ashley Battles is one of the world’s few professional wing walkers, who last year broke the world record for longest duration wing walking when she flew over the Golden Gate Bridge for more than four hours at 1000 feet, battling hurricane force winds, extreme cold and birds that could kill her on impact. She reveals the secrets of standing on top of a plane, even upside down, to Jay Schadler.

Birdman: Ever since Jeb Corliss was a young boy, he dreamt of being able to fly like a bird. Now, wearing a wing suit, Corliss does exactly that, jumping from tall buildings. Always pushing the limits, Corliss is now training for his next superhuman feat and his most death defying maneuver yet: he will attempt to fly through a small hole in a mountain in china… the human version of threading the needle — and our cameras capture him from all angles as he trains in Zurich. Jay Schadler reports.

Superhuman Mountain Climber: A catastrophic skiing accident left Chris Waddell a paraplegic – but also triggered something strange inside his broken body, turning him into a virtual man-of-steel. After the accident, Waddell didn’t even miss one ski season on his way to becoming a hall-of-fame paralympic skier and wheel-chair athlete. He even made People magazine’s list of The 50 Most Beautiful People. But the medals and accolades sought by mere mortals weren’t enough of a challenge for Waddell; at 33 he gave up competitive athletics in search of a bigger challenge, and found it in his quest to become the first parapalegic to ever conquer the highest mountain in Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro – without the use of his legs. Deborah Roberts reports.

“20/20″ is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo. David Sloan is executive producer.

ABC News ’20/20′ Investigates World of Reality Television on Special Edition, June 8

The phenomenon of reality television… We are amazed by its allure and longevity. As viewers, we cringe with embarrassment as people stumble through their lives in public… but we don’t look away. Why do so many tune in? And why do some reality shows thrive on their stars’ sometimes toxic behavior? “Reality Rule$: When TV Gets Real,” a special edition of “20/20″ anchored by Deborah Roberts, airs Wednesday, June 8 at 8:00pm ET on ABC. Reports include:

The New Reality: In 1998 there were zero hours of reality TV in network primetime. Today there are as many as 15 network hours a week, with dozens more on cable, all hitting top ratings week after week. What are the rules guiding this new reality world, and how did the success of reality on cable TV affect the change at the network level? Chris Connelly introduces viewers to four of the creators of today’s top shows: Sally Ann Salsano (“The Jersey Shore”), Andy Cohen (“The Real Housewives” franchise), JD Roth (“Biggest Loser” and the new ABC show, “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition”) and Michael Hirschorn (“Celebrity Rehab”). “20/20″ also gets unprecedented access to the control room of “The Jersey Shore,” now on location in Florence, Italy.

The Real Housewives Phenomenon: Bravo’s “The Real Housewives” franchise has become a breakout hit and pop culture guilty pleasure. Deborah Roberts takes a look at this reality phenomenon and examines why things often turn so nasty. “20/20″ speaks to Bravo VP Andy Cohen, Kyle Richards of the Beverley Hills show and Caroline Manzo of the New Jersey show.

Big Breaks – Big Bucks: From Bethenny Frankel’s “Skinny Girl” margarita to Kim Kardashian’s perfume to Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino protein-infused vodka to Nicole “Snooki” Pollizzi’s novel, Chris Connelly reports on how some reality stars are using their 15-minutes-or-more in the spotlight to set up earning opportunities apart from their shows.

From C List to A List: How did a rock superstar from the ’80s become a reality TV superstar, capturing the country’s imagination and turning himself into a brand? Bret Michaels tells “Reality Rule$”: “Nothing has ever come easy. I’m a junkyard dog that has been kicked a bunch of times. And so it’s kept me with a bit of an edge. I’ve got this fire in my gut and this passion. And my whole life is about fighting to, to make that passion somehow — try to make it succeed.” Chris Connelly reports.

Real Talent: As Deborah Roberts reports, from runway divas to cake bosses, some reality shows do require talent to win, and then succeed. “20/20″ profiles “Project Runway’s” Christian Siriano and Buddy Valastro, star of the hit TLC show “Cake Boss.”

I Want to be a Reality Star: How does one become the next big reality star? The reality star’s fate is in the hands of the casting director. Deborah Roberts gets an exclusive behind-the-scenes peak at a casting call in LA for a new reality series.

ABC’s 20/20 Reports on Pop Culture Success of Reality TV Stars

The phenomenon of reality television… we are amazed by its allure and longevity. As viewers, we cringe with embarrassment as people stumble through their lives in public… but we don’t look away. Why do so many tune in? And why do some reality shows thrive on their stars’ sometimes toxic behavior? The report airs on “20/20,” Friday, March 11 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Reports include:

Famous for Being Famous: Richard Hatch, Kate Gosselin, the Kardashian sisters, all those real housewives… a litany of names famous for just about one reason only — reality TV, people famous for being famous. But viewers gobble it up. Why? John Berman set out to find out. Are we all just trying to find our “inner Snooki?” Berman speaks to Richard Hatch — arguably the king of reality TV characters, who imprinted himself on our consciousness more than 10 years ago as the first winner of “Survivor” – to find out.

Real Housewives: Deborah Roberts takes a look Bravo’s breakout hit “Real Housewives” and examines why things often turn so nasty on the show. “20/20″ talks to Kyle Richards of the Beverley Hills show about the ugly showdown with her sister, Kim, and to Michaele and Tareq Salahis (best known for gate crashing the White House), who talk about why they believe the other DC Housewives turned against them.

Cashing in: From Bethenny Frankel’s “Skinny Girl” margarita to Kim Kardashian’s perfume to Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s protein-infused vodka to Nicole “Snooki” Pollizzi’s novel, Chris Connelly reports on how some reality stars are using their 15-minutes or more in the spotlight to set up earning opportunities apart from their shows.

Winners: As Deborah Roberts reports, from runway divas to cake bosses, some reality shows do require talent to win, and then succeed.

Bret Michaels: How did a rock superstar from the ’80s become a reality TV superstar, capturing the country’s imagination and turning himself into a brand? Bret Michaels tells “20/20:” “Nothing has ever come easy. I’m a junkyard dog that has been kicked a bunch of times. And so it’s kept me with a bit of an edge. I’ve got this fire in my gut and this passion. And my whole life is about fighting to — to make that passion somehow — try to make it succeed.” Chris Connelly reports.

Charlie Sheen: Is the next big reality star Charlie Sheen? Chris Connelly reports.

“20/20″ is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo. David Sloan is executive producer.

Teens and Growing Use of Heroin Investigated on ABC News ’20/20′

“I’m literally just rotting… there’s nothing I can think of that’s good in my life right now,” Ashley, a 21-year-old who smokes as many as 100 hits of heroin a day, tells “20/20″ in a rare look at a largely unknown and growing problem for American families — heroin addiction. The number of addicts in America has nearly doubled since 2007, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. ABC News Anchor Chris Cuomo reports that heroin addiction is not to be dismissed as an inner-city scourge — kids from suburban families are falling victim like never before. Chris Cuomo’s report airs on”20/20,” Friday, October 29 (10:00 – 11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

For eight months, “20/20″ follows young addicts Ashley, Dylan and Justin, caught in the grip of heroin. These teens represent the new face of the problem, and also serve as examples to dispel preconceived notions about “who is likely to become an addict”. “20/20″ delves deep inside the lives of their suburban families. Justin struggles on his own, thousands of miles away from home; Ashley braves treatment for the first time as her parents struggle, walking the line between enabling addiction and losing their child; and Dylan, a rehab veteran, faces his loving family, including three younger brothers, who worry that he will die if he doesn’t get help. Sobriety is an everyday fight for each of them, one where life is on the line.

“20/20″ is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo. David Sloan is executive producer.