Andrew Clements (Jerry O’Connell) is a 14-year-old boy who while looking one day for his friend and neighbor who happens to be the fourth-smartest man in the world, Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate (Derek McGrath), trips and is hit by a photon beam, causing him to develop… superpowers!

Clements uses these abilities to fight crime, to solve personal problems and to help others. He hides his powers from his mother, sister and friends with the exception of Jeffcoate. Andrew initially called himself Ultraman (the cheek of it!), but this was later dropped.

In the first season, Andrew must carry around aerosol spray containers and use them to move through the air, as his ‘flying’ ability is limited; he can make himself nearly weightless, and move up without any problems, but he cannot propel himself through the air or move down without some external force. However, he can jump quite high, and do impossible flips.

By the second season, without explanation, Andrew gains the ability to move through the air without the use of aerosol cans. Later in that season, after being struck by the photon beam a second time, Andrew develops superhuman strength but loses his invulnerability.

The show featured early tv roles for Mia Kirshner and Neve Campbell to name but a few.

For the entirety of the series, Andrew loses his powers when exposed to radiation (e.g. electromagnetic waves and x-rays). Early in the series he is unable to regain his powers quickly after exposure. Later in the series, he regains it immediately after the exposure stops.