"Hahahaha… Their heads are really made of iron! They still haven't given up on this piece of crap!"
Watching Fox Television still advertising "American Idol" on the TV screen, Eric couldn't help but admire them.
Theron lay in his arms, curled up like a lazy kitten, but her figure was so good that even at 177cm, she couldn't shrink much.
"I really don't understand what these people are thinking. "American Idol" has been slammed so badly. If it were me, I'd let the show die a natural death and just fulfill the advertisers' contracts."
"Perhaps Fox isn't too worried. After all, it was their ace show that just took off last year. The first season practically caused a ratings frenzy."
Eric thought about it, and it was true. Last year, "American Idol" ranked third in the United States in annual ratings, an absolutely god-tier performance that earned Fox over a hundred million dollars in profit.
It was said that they only spent 3 million United States dollars to buy the rights from the United Kingdom at the time, and they didn't expect the show to become popular. It was just meant to temporarily take over from an old variety show, but unexpectedly, it succeeded without much effort.
Such a promising talent, which could have become a super cash cow, unexpectedly went downhill in its second season.
Not to mention Fox's unwillingness, anyone in their position would be unwilling and would try their best to save it.
What's more, besides "American Idol," Fox currently has no other popular variety shows that they can proudly present. The television station definitely wants to hold on, waiting for the next big hit to appear before retiring "American Idol."
But the more resources they invested, the happier MGM would be, the happier Lionheart Network would be, and Eric would be equally happy.
Because given the current collapsed reputation of "American Idol," the more vigorously it was promoted, the more severely it would be criticized.
Instead, The Voice became the beneficiary. A large number of viewers were inversely attracted to Lionheart Network, which was truly a cruel trick!
"Darling, I'm also a premium member of Lionheart Network, contributing 99 United States dollars to you every month." Theron smiled sweetly.
Eric pinched her cheek: "99 United States dollars, truly a huge sum. I've noted it down. So now you still owe me less than 1 billion United States dollars."
"What?!" Theron stared at him with wide eyes.
"The 'soy milk' I pour into you each time, according to scientific research, contains hundreds of millions of precious tadpoles."
"Do you know there's always been a bounty on the black market? Someone is buying up the tadpoles of various rich and powerful officials at high prices."
"Ah? Really? No way!" Theron's mouth dropped open in surprise.
Eric took the opportunity to catch her tongue and suck on it: "Surprised, aren't you? But don't be surprised yet, because this is the truth."
"Bill Gates, Tom Cruise, Bezos, Vince Young—many famous wealthy people are on the list, and I am one of them, and my ranking is not low, either."
"Those guys want… well, what do they want to do? What's the use of this stuff?"
"What's the use? It's incredibly useful. They can artificially cultivate children. Do you know about test-tube babies? After having a child, they find celebrity tycoons to extort money."
"These things are hard to explain. As long as the DNA verification matches, even if you really didn't do it, you can't argue your way out. At that time, the media will be very keen to feast on the gossip."
"If the matter gets big, it will only lead to ruin, so many people choose to suffer in silence and pay to avoid disaster."
"Baby, as a woman, you might not have noticed, but actually, near the homes of many male celebrities, besides paparazzi, there's also a group of people who rummage through trash cans, looking for used condoms."
"If there's fresh stock inside, that's best. As long as it's taken to the black market, the people who want to buy it could line up all the way to Washington. It's a scarce resource with demand far exceeding supply."
"Eww!!!" Theron waved her hand in disgust.
"Stop talking, I feel a little nauseous."
"Hmm, that's true, it has a slightly sweet and sour orange taste."
"So, tell me, don't you owe me a lot of money?"
"Go to hell!"
Theron hit Eric, and the two immediately rolled together, kissing passionately.
Catching her breath, Theron asked, "Darling, can you get me the internal resources for The Voice? I really want to watch it."
"No, no, I signed a non-disclosure agreement, and the original resources are at UTA. If I were to take them, I'd have to tell Michael Jackson. Taking something without telling is stealing, no matter how good your relationship is." Eric shook his head and refused.
"Then I won't make it difficult for you. Just tell me who the champion is."
"I don't know."
"Liar! You're the producer, how could you not know? Tell me, I won't leak it."
"I really don't know. The finals haven't been recorded yet. Michael's intention is to see the live performance. He detests the unspoken rule of having a predetermined champion."
"The finals haven't been recorded, meaning the semifinals are done? Then tell me who the winners of the four teams are."
Seeing the man look a bit troubled, Theron took Eric's hand and put it inside her pajamas.
"Please, please, just tell me, darling. Katy Perry must make it to the end, right? I like her the most."
Eric's heart fluttered with Theron's coquettishness, and his mouth was stretched into a wide grin.
"You guessed correctly. Katy Perry indeed made it to the end, along with Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Xi Lin Trudeau. Those four will compete for the championship."
"Who won?"
"Baby, no matter how many times you try to probe, it's useless. The finals really haven't been recorded yet, and I genuinely don't know."
Theron puffed out her cheeks: "I don't believe you! Oh, I also wanted to ask you something."
"What?"
"What do you think about making TV series? Which has more future, movies or TV series?"
Feeling that she seemed to have realized something, Eric smiled and said, "Why would you ask such a question? Right now, of course, movies are stronger than TV series."
"I know movies are stronger now, but I mean in the future. Haven't you noticed? It seems like suddenly many movie stars are starting to move to the small screen."
"Especially Lionheart Network's newly launched "house of cards"! Oh my god! Kevin Spacey's performance is truly captivating. The dramatic plot combined with an Oscar-winning performance, this show is like a vortex, firmly drawing in the audience."
"You know, darling, I finished it in one day. Last weekend, I spent two whole days lying in bed and on the sofa watching variety shows and "house of cards."
"Oh, you brought up a new concept a few days ago, what was it called?"
"Binge-watching! Binge-watching shows!"
"Yes, it's binge-watching. Now a new term has emerged, called 'binge-watcher,' referring to people who watch "The Voice," "house of cards," and "supernatural" all at once. Now I am a big binge-watcher."
"Hahahahaha," Eric couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"The Voice," with its various gimmicks like superstars, duels, and PKs, was Lionheart Network's first wildly popular and breakout work.
And "house of cards" wasn't far behind. Viewers who finished the first half of "The Voice" would soon shift their attention to "house of cards."
Especially since "house of cards" was meticulously produced. Its 12-episode length wasn't too large, the pace was very fast, and each episode contained several climaxes and conflicts.
Most viewers, after watching the first ten minutes of the first episode, couldn't take their eyes off the screen. Then they watched episode after episode, finishing the entire series before they knew it, and then, still wanting more, looked for people to discuss the plot with.
IMDb has already opened its ratings, and "house of cards" lived up to expectations, scoring 9.1 points, with 75% of votes being 8 points or higher, an absolute high-reputation score.
Although conventionally, as the number of raters increases and time passes, scores generally decline, this has already shocked many people.
Currently, "house of cards" ranks 11th on the IMDb series leaderboard, just barely missing the top ten.
This ranking includes not only TV series but also various animations, making the base larger and more complex than the movie list. The difficulty of getting a high score in it is imaginable.
Scrolling through the comments below revealed a scene many directors could only dream of.
""house of cards" fully demonstrates what it means to be amazing. It's that even though I absolutely hate political dramas, to the point of physiological revulsion and nausea, this show is still so good that I simply can't stop watching. That's what I call amazing!"
"A divine show! This show fully demonstrates that politics is a game for people with high intelligence, high emotional intelligence, and low empathy."
""house of cards" can definitely be called the first divine show of the year. Watching the scheming and dramatic lives of well-dressed politicians, media, and upper-class individuals is truly addictive. I just love watching them fight like dogs, and finishing it in one go was absolutely exhilarating!"
"I watched the British version, so I registered as a member immediately to watch this version. Unlike the British version, Eric Cooper's version of "house of cards" is completely dark, a political thriller filled with cold-blooded politicians. Frank always likes to break the fourth wall and talk to himself, that's because their stories can only be told to themselves."
"Satan, the throne belongs only to you!"
"Are your reviews all so complex? My biggest feeling after watching it is that office workers really need a rowing machine. Where can I buy one?"
"My dad and I watched all 12 episodes in one go. We barely even ate lunch. I hope Lionheart Network quickly produces a second season, and even more, I hope they can release more excellent series like "house of cards" to help me lose weight."
"Raise your hand if you watched it all in one go! I'm a big binge-watcher!"
"The relationship between the male and female protagonists is truly divine. From them, I understand that interests are always more reliable than emotions."
"Breaking the fourth wall is a very clever trick. It can both explain the conspiracies hidden beneath the surface and maximize Kevin Spacey's personal charm. The entire show presents a gloomy tone, juicy dialogue, and intricate developments. It's absolutely to my taste."
"Since "tom and jerry," I haven't hoped for a villain to win in a long time, but are there really any good guys in this show?"
""house of cards" is again written and directed by Eric Cooper. I've noticed that any work he's responsible for is a masterpiece. He's definitely the top 1 among young directors, and by young, I mean under 40."
"Praise Eric Cooper!"
Because of the success of "house of cards," some viewers even questioned why Eric didn't win the Oscar for Best Director. Even if he wanted to stay behind the scenes, his talent was simply too strong.
Alas!
Unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable!
"Darling, because of the huge success of "house of cards," Kevin Spacey's salary has soared. His current market price has reached 13 million United States dollars."
"Envious? When "Inception" is released, your salary won't be lower than that."
"Not entirely. I just think making TV series is also a good option. As long as I find a suitable script, I can give it a try. What do you think?"
Eric shook his head: "My advice is to wait, at least until a year from now. The market should undergo significant changes then."
"What do you mean? You always say such vague things. Not everyone sees things as clearly as you do."
"Baby, Lionheart Network will completely change the market environment for film and television dramas, at least for TV series. Its existence will promote or force film and television dramas to develop in a more refined direction."
"And to produce good dramas, investment is essential. Money is the foundation of everything. Perhaps in just one year, more and more movie stars will join in. It won't be too late for you to enter the fray then."
Eric's advice was based on inferences from the development trajectory of the United States drama market before his transmigration. Judging from the current situation, things are indeed developing in that direction.
On the distant other side of the ocean, it was afternoon.
Yanjing, a press conference was underway.
A deputy director from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, a deputy director from Yanjing Satellite TV, a manager from Longteng Company, the two male leads of "supernatural," and Liu Yifei were all present.
Longteng Company was newly established specifically in China to handle the introduction of United States dramas. As for whether its power would expand to cover other types of dramas in the future, that remains unknown.
Currently, the company is affiliated with the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, as a subordinate unit, with Han Sanping as its general manager and legal representative.
"Manager Chen, is "supernatural" considered the first United States drama to be officially introduced into the country after the millennium? Can you talk about its significance?"
"Ahem… Strictly speaking, "supernatural" is not. CCTV's overseas theater has actually always broadcast United States dramas. I think many people have watched "band of brothers."
"However, the broadcast of "supernatural" on Yanjing Satellite TV this time represents the reopening of the door for introducing United States dramas to local satellite TV stations."
Everyone present knew that a new red-headed document had been issued recently, and they immediately understood that today's press conference was the implementation of it.
The reporter then directed a question to Liu Yifei: "What is the main role of your character in the TV series?"
Liu Yifei looked at the Winchester Brothers next to her: "Dean and Sam are ghost hunters, and I can also be considered a demon hunter. We were originally opponents, but later became friends, and I help them fight against ghosts and demons."
"So you are the female lead?"
Hesitating for a moment, Liu Yifei looked to the side again, then communicated with the Winchester Brothers in English, and they immediately laughed.
"I don't know how to answer this question either, but it doesn't seem like I can say I'm the female lead. However, my role has the most screen time among all the female characters."
"Who do you have a romantic storyline with in the show?"
"None of them, which is why I said I'm not like the female lead!"
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