Chapter 662: Complex humanity
The night on the East Coast is coming, the abbsp of the 66th Street in Upper West Side of Manhattan; time is approaching eight o'clock, and the Firefly Group, such as Kasenberg, Tom Murphy, and Robert Eiger, and the abc TV network are concentrated in the abc headquarters building. In the conference room, in addition to these heavyweight executives, Eric Fisman, former assistant to Eric, who is directly responsible for the Survivor reality show, Mark Bonne, director of Survivor, and Survivors The show's creators, Charlie Parsons and other masters of the show also appeared in this conference room. .`
The last few minutes of the "abc world news" program is being played on the large-screen color TV in the conference room. The people with different minds have no conversations, and their eyes are focused on the TV screen, waiting for the official broadcast of "The Survivor" at eight o'clock. Out, and subsequent ratings information.
In a minute and a minute, Tom Murphy, sitting next to Kasenberg, couldn’t help but watch the big TV network prime time program in his hand.
Nbc's "Song Fei Zheng Zhuan" and Fox's "x file" have been marked with a striking red star, "Song Fei Zheng Chuan" will be broadcast tonight is the second episode of the third season, as the popularity of recent years is second only to The sitcom of "Friends", "Song Fei Zheng Zhuan" last week, the number of viewers reached 21 million. Fox's "x-file" broadcasts the first episode with "Survivor" tonight, but the average number of viewers in the "X-Files" last season also reached 19o million, as a popular sci-fi drama of the loyalty, the new season When broadcasting, the number of viewers of 2ooo million is definitely no problem.
Even if another competitor, cbs, didn't have a good-looking contender, it was a new reality show that had never appeared in American TV history. At the same time, it was attacked by two powerful TV series. As a cc, even after experiencing Years of ups and downs, Tom Murphy, who is still in the 70s, is still full of worries. His fingers rubbed on the show for a moment and gently pressed on the "X-Files". Tom Murphy couldn’t help but blame Eric. Why did he only get back the "Friends" and left the "Millionaire" and "X-Files" programs to Fox, causing the new program of ABC now. To be attacked by Fox TV.
In the heart of the conservative Tom Murphy. The format of "Survivor" also implies a very large risk.
This reality show features a real no script, although many details can be arranged by the production team, but under the huge loan of 1oo million dollars, the 16 players are indeed doing nothing without any rehearsal. Polar competition. In addition to the relatively regular physical competitions arranged by the program group, the contestants are still full of undisguised arguments, gangs and intrigues.
This is simply a sign that humanity is ugly.
Tom Murphy, who has been in the media industry for most of his life, is very clear. The audience's mind is very difficult to ponder. The unobtrusive humanity display in Survivor is likely to result in two very extreme results, a suspenseful and dramatic form of programming that satisfies the audience's voyeurism. But in Tom Murphy's view, although this result will not make the program's performance seem too ugly, it does not necessarily bring the rating of the explosion table. Another kind of more embarrassing result is because this is not the case. The hidden humanity shows a strong dislike of the audience. Even the program was boycotted.
"abc world news" soon ended. After a short advertisement, accompanied by a native percussion full of quaint and ancient atmosphere, the helicopter-mounted lens flew over the scenic Malaysian island of Diga, and the music sounded slightly lower. Going to a fishing boat, in some chaotic scenes, the two teams of horses and horses piled up various materials on the bamboo poles, and then collectively swam toward Diga Island. The host on the fishing boat explained the "survivors". Kind of game rules. ????`c?om
After being briefly attracted by the beautiful scenery of the blue sky, white clouds, blue sea and jungle. In the conference room, Kasenberg couldn't help but look at the conference room door.
In ten minutes, it takes only ten minutes, and the staff waiting in the office can get preliminary ratings data from Nielsen Market Research.
Although the West Coast of the United States is only five o'clock in the afternoon, the prime time there has not yet arrived. However, after years of experience in data research and accumulation. By installing a viewing instrument in a representative tens of thousands of sample households, Nielsen not only monitors the ratings in real time to the minute, but also monitors the data in a few sample households if they are not synchronized in different time zones. With data collection, it is possible to more accurately count the national ratings of a program.
Relative to the various awkwardness and expectations of the abc headquarters, the estate of Long Island East Hampton. The atmosphere in the villa's living room was quite warm. The family had just had dinner, and Eric, Virginia and Joanna were holding a little guy and sitting in the large multiplayer sand. Originally wanted to squeeze together 'to join in the fun', but was pulled up by her sister and thrown in the single sand, Eva Pakula holding a bag of potato chips, from time to time teasing Eric's arms holding his father's fingers A small nephew. Hawaii cleverly sat on the mother's lap, and his eyes looked at the TV screen without looking at it, making it extremely quiet. It was too crazy to play in the kindergarten during the day, but Emma, who was held by Virginia, had already narrowed her eyes.
The family chatted with the sky, and with the end of "abc world news", the picturesque Malaysian island of Diga soon appeared on the TV screen.
Eva, who was sitting on the sand with her legs crossed, couldn’t help but admire: "It’s so beautiful, where is this?"
Both Joanna and Virginia are looking at Eric.
Although Eric did not participate in the specific production of Survivor, he was well aware of the relevant information and said: "This is the island of Diga, Malaysia. The virgin forest that has never been opened is of course beautiful."
Eva immediately looked forward to Joanna: "Sister, don't take the summer and summer to travel here..." He smirked twice, and Eva added: "...by the way."
Joanna lost her eyes and ignored the little girl.
Eric shook his head: "This is not a good place to travel, don't look beautiful, but in fact it is a snake island, there are no fewer than ten kinds of deadly snakes. Of course, you can go to other already opened Island travel, but you can go on your own, don't bring your sister and summer."
Eva snorted: "I don't have much money to travel overseas. My sister doesn't even give me the living expenses. You don't let me participate in the big show. Otherwise I can make more money... ”
Joanna glanced at her sister: "Eva, shut up."
Eva immediately shrank her neck and didn't continue.
Eric shook his head and smiled and explained: "You just received some simple model training, and you can do ordinary catwalks and plane models.". Participate in this top-notch show, at your level, when the popularity is improved. No, it will be laughed at by the media. Of course, if you are not afraid, I can temporarily put you in."
Eva vomited her tongue and turned to look at the TV set, but she did not mention the big show.
After Eric finished, he leaned over to Joanna’s ear and asked, “How come you don’t even give Eva to your living expenses?”
Joanna whispered: "I have given her to her, and Eva is not a child. I have to be self-sufficient."
Eric nodded and didn't say anything. He realized that Westerners always pursue individual independence. Although Joanna cares about this little girl, she obviously does not intend to let Eva parasitize herself.
The nerve-loving Eva is also not entangled in the problem. Attention was quickly attracted to the TV show. After listening to the background introductions of 16 players from all walks of life, I immediately pointed to the well-prepared former SEAL team in the group: "I I think this guy will definitely be a champion. This is a special soldier. There is no problem in the wild. This is unfair to other team members."
Eric looked at Joanna and Virginia: "Do you think so?"
Joanna smiled and didn't answer.
Vignia said: "I think that except for the two older players, only the guy who came from the SEALs is the least likely."
Eva immediately became a little confused.
Eric said to Eva: "You think about the rules that the moderator just said. Since you are an outsider, that guy is very likely to win. Other team members must be aware of this. For the $1 million bonus, they have Very big may kick this guy out of the tribal vote."
Although Eva had some ribs, she was not a fool. She immediately understood the meaning of Eric. Road: "That... I will not get the final strength but get the bonus?"
Eric reached out and put the molar stick on the coffee table into the mouth of the baby son who had left his right hand and licked his right hand. He said: "The weakest is definitely impossible to get the bonus, just like Vicky just said, in order to Being able to win at the physical level, they will definitely eliminate the weakest people in their group. But at the same time, relatively weak people will unite in order to stay competitive. Exclude the players who are considered to be the strongest. Of course, Things are not necessarily too absolute. In addition to showing the struggle between man and nature, this program will also test the unpredictable humanity. These people come from all walks of life, and their races, beliefs, occupations and personalities are all different. No one can guess their own ideas and choices. One of the highlights of this show is here, a strong drama and ubiquitous suspense, and very real."
Aiwa looked at a group of players on the TV screen. Just after she was 6th, she had a disagreement because of Mr. Fire or she first took a shed. The expression was a little bit stunned and she looked at Eric and asked thief: This is a $1 million bonus. Do you have nothing to do in private? Well, arrange it, for example, what is it?"
Eric laughed and said: "A lot of ordinary audiences will definitely have this kind of speculation. Of course, the program group will definitely guide the players to a certain extent, but the final winners are naturally produced after 39 days of competition. You only see this 1 million dollar bonus, but what you don't know is that the production cost of this program will reach 1ooo million dollars. As long as the audience rating is expected, abc can harvest millions of programs from this program. Advertising fees. The risk of the bonus is very high. Once it is dismantled, the credibility is lost. This program will not continue to be produced. Think about it, do you think we need to do this kind of thing?"
When Eric discussed this with the women in the East Hampton Estate, there were countless ones on the East Coast because the Firefly Group spared no effort to promote it in advance, and jumped to the abc TV station to watch the show's family on time, in the beautiful original of Diga Island. At the same time as the scenery and novel forms of the show are attracted, various issues are also being discussed.
At the abc headquarters in Manhattan, the ten minutes of the show was so long. But some are fleeting.
The players on the show had spent the first night on the island of Diga, and several mice climbed up and down in the night vision shots, Kasenberg, Tom Murphy, Robert Eiger. Others have frequently turned their attention to the conference room door.
When the most irritating Kasenberger almost got up and asked in person, the conference room door was ringing. A female staff member in her late thirties took a form and walked in.
"Mr. Kasenberg, Mr. Murphy, this is..."
The female staff member had not finished talking. The outermost Kasenberg had already grabbed the form in her hand and couldn’t wait to see it on the paper.
First place, "x file." The immediate rating is 2,21 million.
Although some expectations have vanished, this result is also expected.
Tom Murphy, Robert Eiger and others have also come together at this time, and Allen and other creative personnel can only stay anxiously waiting for the big brothers to take the initiative to disclose the results, did not dare to squeeze forward.
Kasenberg's eyes quickly moved down.
The second-time rating is "Song Fei Zheng Zhuan", 199 million, which is slightly normal compared to the first episode.
Thoughtfully continue to look down, Kasenberg and Tom Murphy and Robert Eiger are a little relieved.
"Survivor" is fortunately ranked third, with an immediate rating of 178,000.
Without looking at the follow-up rankings, Kasenberger nodded to Tom Murphy and Robert Eck. The three sat back.
"178o million," Kasenberger handed the form to other people, no joy in his expression, no loss, said: "A good start, then wait for the half point and the whole point and the ratings of the second episode, but I hope... the next will not disappoint."
Most of the people who had heard some of this data were relaxed and couldn’t help but mention it again.
178 million, if it is other new dramas, this rating is absolutely very eye-catching.
However, the Firefly Group's early publicity on "Survivor" is completely in line with the "Friends" that will be aired next week.
therefore. This is even a bit of a disappointing rating for other new dramas. In fact, it can only be regarded as the result of the early promotion of the Firefly Group. In order to test the market response of Survivor as much as possible, this reality show, like many new dramas, adopts a two-set broadcast mode.
The start is good. But the viewing curve of the program in the next two hours is the key to the true strength of this reality show.
Compared with Kasenberg, who is obviously not very satisfied, the directors who saw the data on the form, Mark Bonneth and the screenwriter Charlie Parsons, have already had some secrets.
For the current four major public television networks, the number of viewers of a program has exceeded 1ooo, and it will continue to play, at least not in the first quarter. The current 178 million start-up ratings are far beyond the expectations of Mark Bryant and Charlie Parsons, as long as the next ratings decline is not so miserable. This program has no problem with the renewal of abc.
Allen, who was airborne by Eric to abc as the prime manager of the prime time program production department and concurrently the producer of Survivor, saw this data, just a moment of relaxation and immediately got up and down.
Compared with other people, Allen's pressure is the biggest, "Survivor" failed, but for Kasenberg and others, it does not have much impact, but it is related to his future. As an 'airborne soldier', although he has served as a personal assistant to Eric, this layer of aura does not prevent him from being squeezed out by the abc elders.
Noting the expressions of Kasenberg and others, Allen knows very well that they are comparing "The Survivor" with "Who Will Be a Millionaire" that Eric once personally created, "Who will become a millionaire?" The average rating in the first quarter reached an astonishing 29 million, which is a bad day. Under the proper operation of Fox, even after five years, the ratings of this reality show will remain around 2ooo.
The current "survivor" start is relatively mediocre compared to the amazing "Who will be a millionaire."
However, of course, Allen did not have a higher level of thinking with Eric’s personally produced programs. He only hoped that the ratings of Survivors would not fall, even if they stayed at around 18 million. Let him firmly stand on his position. However, if the ratings declines too much, even if Eric is backing, this failure will make it difficult for him to stay in the position of deputy general manager of the abc prime time program production department.
Some anxious waiting, the players on the TV screen have begun to intrigue, perhaps this scene is very novel in the eyes of many ordinary audience, but the people in the abc headquarters conference room did not put much thought on it.
If possible, many people actually want to propose, it is better to drop the TV.
Finally, when the players began to participate in the first physical competition, the door of the conference room was once again ringed.
......
*ps: In reality, the number of viewers in the first season of "Who will be a millionaire" is really a 29-million-dollar, a miracle. In addition, the "Song Fei Zheng Zhuan" mentioned in this episode, the finale ratings 76OO million, is a little lively, but the global popularity of this sitcom is not as high as "Friends". To say that these are just to explain, most of the data in the book I have checked the data in detail, and I have not written it. (To be continued.)
...