Hollywood Hunter

During the conversation between Simon and Robert Iger, ABC also faxed more detailed viewing data.

On the first day of broadcasting, the number of viewers of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" reached 13.65 million, with a viewership percentage as high as 13%.

Moreover, the ratings of the core audience of 18 to 49 years old that are most valued by TV networks and advertisers also reached 5.9, which means that 5.9% of the core audience of North American 18 to 49 years old regardless of whether they turn on the TV watched last night This show.According to the total size of this part of North American population of about 120 million, the specific core audience reached 7.1 million.

All of these far exceed ABC TV network's previous expectations.

Due to viewing habits, the number of North American summer viewers is only 60% to 70% of the popular fall gear. ABC has therefore set a pass line for 6.5 million viewers for Who Will Become a Millionaire.

The reality is that this program has reached this level only for the core audience size of 18 to 49 years old.Next, even if a week's trial broadcast data is only 13.65 million on Monday, until the fall season, "Who will become a millionaire" is destined to become a popular program that can reach 20 million viewers.

Seeing the first-day viewing data of "Who Will Be a Millionaire", ABC executives generally began to regret not having finalized all cooperation conditions in advance.Now, although he has a certain degree of initiative, at least Daenerys can no longer sell "Who Will Be a Millionaire" to other TV networks, but ABC wants to ensure this program, but has to pay high The price.

Robert Iger said on the phone that ABC wanted to have a meeting with him immediately to finalize more details of cooperation.However, since the show has been successful, and perhaps will be more successful next, Simon will naturally not be as eager as ABC.

Rejecting Robert Iger's invitation to the meeting, Simon flew back to the west coast as planned.

In the next few days, with the further spread of popularity, the ratings of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" have increased.

After Tuesday’s 15.5 million and Wednesday’s 16.8 million, the trial broadcast data on Thursday also reached a peak, with 17.3 million viewers, 18% of the audience, and the core 18 to 49-year-old audience ratings are as high as 8.2 (10.2 million).

If calculated according to the average of 65% of the base of the summer audience in the summer season, this June’s 17.3 million viewers are equal to 26.6 million in the autumn season.

Even in this age when cable TV is still in the ascendant public television network, the number of TV programs that can reach 26.6 million viewers is absolutely rare.

Therefore, while "Who Will Be a Millionaire" became popular among the audience, the North American media immediately noticed this reality show.

"The New York Times" unabashedly marveled that'Simon Westero seems to have suddenly created a miracle again, even a cultural phenomenon that has been rare for many years.In just a few days, Regis Phil’s scaly and multi-choice issue became the topic of greatest concern to the entire American public. Some friends around me have even proposed that George Bush and Michael Ducakis Abandon those boring debates that accuse and blame each other, and decide who will become the next president of the United States by participating in "Who Will Be a Millionaire".

The operation of the ABC television network in recent years is actually not good.

After Warren Buffett and Tom Murphy acquired the television network with a huge investment of 3.5 billion US dollars in 1985, due to internal turmoil caused by the change of ownership, ABC Television Network lost 70 million US dollars and 3,000 US dollars in 1986 and 1987 respectively. Ten thousand U.S. dollars.

Without the appearance of "Who Will Be a Millionaire", ABC Television Network is destined to continue to lose money this year due to the Hollywood screenwriter strike.

For a large media group, if it is simply a loss,

As the pilot episode became more and more successful, the mood of ABC to finalize the cooperation plan as soon as possible became more and more urgent.ABC executives also generally hope that "who will become a millionaire" will become a resident program of the television network from July, not just the original 69 episodes that were originally planned to fill the schedule to deal with the lack of this autumn's program.

So, for a few days, Daniel Burke, the president of the Metropolitan-ABC Group, came to Los Angeles personally to discuss the specific cooperation of "Who will become a millionaire" with Daenerys Pictures.

Santa monica.

Simon and Terry Semel sit in the middle of an audition room at Daenerys Films' headquarters, and some other staff stand or sit around.

On the other side of the audition table, a pair of men and women are performing.

The woman is Valerie Galino, who has been confirmed to play Catwoman Selena Kyle, and another tall man named Adam Baldwin.Speaking of the surname Baldwin, it is always easy to recall the famous Baldwin brothers in Hollywood.

However, Adam Baldwin is not a member of the Baldwin family.

Adam Baldwin is 26 years old and made his debut in 1980. The most famous role before was a brutal soldier in Stanley Kubrick's "All Metal Shell".

In Simon's memory, the Hollywood actor with a famous'sliver face' has also appeared in many films such as "Independence Day", "Fireflies", "Out of the Serenity", but these are all supporting actors.Adam Baldwin was mainly a TV actor in the original space and time, and had a resident role in well-known American dramas such as "X-Files", "Bone Discovery" and "Crime Scene Investigation".

Among the last batch of "Batman" actor candidates for Daenerys, Adam Baldwin's advantage is very obvious. He debuted at the age of 18, has rich performance experience, no bad habits, and his appearance, image and age are also in line with Bruce Wei Most of the characteristics of En.

Therefore, today is the last audition for Batman.If confirmed, Bruce Wayne will completely finalize.

In the performance venue, Adam Baldwin and Valerie Gallino were obviously carefully prepared to carefully consider a performance fragment given by Simon.

This audition is about Batman just ending a battle with the villains, and Catwoman came to help Batman at a critical moment.After getting along many times, Batman has had a feeling for Catwoman, but stubbornly refused this feeling. Catwoman also has a good impression of Batman.

Although only wearing ordinary ordinary clothes, both of them are in a state of affairs.

Adam Baldwin carried a staff member acting as a “prop” on a chair in the corner as required by the script. This was a criminal Batman had just caught.

Valerie Galino followed him step by step, with a bit of fatigue after the battle in his expression. Seeing that Batman ignored him, he could not help feeling a little bit resentful, and changed his tone to Batman's identity with a mocking tone. Tao: "Thank you, Selena, thank you for helping out at a critical moment. Your behavior is like a hero."

'Batman' is still standing, turning around hesitantly, arguing rarely: "Everything is under control."

'Catwoman' leaned over like a wild cat, reached over and put it on the shoulder of'Batman', and said, "Yeah, yeah, now, be a good girl and offer a sweet kiss to your fearless hero."

Having said this,'Catwoman' will go ahead and kiss'Batman' when he bullies him, but he is firmly pushed away by'Batman'.The'Catwoman' who had just been tender and sweet also turned his face instantly, just like the cat's fickle personality, he stretched out the'claw' and grabbed the face of'Batman' without hesitation, but was easily caught Wrist.

Subduing'Catwoman', the tone of'Batman' is still cold, looking down at the struggling little cat in front of him, saying: "It's a good performance."

The body of the'Catwoman' was pasted again, and the tone turned charming again: "Then why didn't you follow along?"

'Batman' shook off Catwoman's wrist, took a step back and distanced her, and shook his head slightly: "No, I didn't act, never."

'Catwoman' watched'Batman' turn and flashed away, stepped forward, but stopped immediately, with a bit more sarcasm in his tone: "Oh, what does that mean?"

"It means, Selena, we are here," "Batman" turned his back to "Catwoman" before turning around again, saying: "This means that we cannot, I, cannot... Gotham needs a guardian, and I need to guard this city."

"Catwoman" listened to the words of "Batman", and stepped forward again, reaching out and gently resting on the shoulder of "Batman". The little cat just now had a little more tenderness and pity in his temperament, saying: "But I don't need your guard."

'Batman' raised his hand, not knowing if he wanted to press on the back of the hand of'Catwoman' on his shoulder, or to open her again. After a pause, he put his hands down again and said, "Selena ,I should be going."

'Catwoman' rubbed on the shoulder of'Batman' for a moment, and finally withdrew his hand, saying: "Well, we will see you next time."

"I don't want to see you again."

"Oh, how is this possible, you are Gotham's volunteer policeman, and I am a bad guy, the policeman is definitely coming to catch the bad guy, right?" After that, I didn't wait for'Batman' to answer,'Catwoman' He took the initiative to retreat and walked away. Batman stood at the spot watching the disappearance of Catwoman, and turned to leave.

At the end of the performance, everyone in the audition room applauded gently.

Simon clapped his hands, and when Adam Baldwin and Valerie Gallino nodded to the crowd, he temporarily left the audition room before he asked Terry Semel, "What do you think, Terry?"

"Excellent," Terry Semel nodded affirmatively, and then said: "However, Simon, a $50 million big production, is it too hasty to pick the two of them. Valerie Galino also It’s okay, but Adam Baldwin, really, if you didn’t put his information in front of me, I wouldn’t even know who he was.”

"Don't you already know it now?" Simon said with a smile on his face: "And, everyone will know the name by the end of next year, just like the hero of "Superman" Christopher Reeve."

Terry Semel knew that Simon’s heart was decided, and Warner did not have the right to decide on this matter. He simply said a few words and would not persuade more. The two continued to talk about some production matters. Terry Semel Mel got up and left.

Adam Baldwin and Valerie Galino are already waiting in another conference room, Simon sends Terry Semel away, and sends away the other staff in the audition room, leaving only Jonathan Friedman and the other two Matthew Stilt and Illian Borman, the leading actors and actresses of Batman.

Although WMA has tried to strengthen the cooperative mechanism through reforms in the past two years, it is obviously not easy for a talent agency company that has been established for more than seven years to make changes.Adam Baldwin and Valerie Gallino each have their own agents. Although Jonathan Friedman is the vice president of WMA, he cannot get a share from this cooperation.

However, in order to expand his influence and fight for the opportunity of the next WMA president, Jonathan Friedman tried to push Matt Dillon to Batman's position in this casting process, but he still took the initiative. Coming to the center to coordinate, the other two agents naturally joined Jonathan's faction.

None of the four sat down again. Simon stood at the audition table and said to Adam Baldwin's agent Matthew Stilter: "I heard that Adam is getting married soon?"

Matthew Steele features a head: "Yes, he has a girlfriend who has been dating for five years."

Simon didn't meander and said, "Let him postpone his marriage for two years. I don't want to see Robin Williams divorce his wives immediately after he became popular. If "Batman" is released, he will Willing to continue to marry his girlfriend, Daenerys Pictures will give him a generous wedding gift."

At the end of last year, Robin Williams was on the front line with "Good Morning Vietnam". This year he divorced his first wife who had been married for ten years.

Matthew Stilt agreed: "I will take the time to talk to him."

Simon shook his head and said: "Talk tonight and give me a result tomorrow. Tell him that it will be a test of affection. Of course, if he insists on marrying his girlfriend, Daenerys will not object. But, I just said, I don’t want to see the divorce of divorcing my wife just after the explosion. So, let him and his girlfriend sign a richer prenuptial agreement, which makes the man feel so sad that he can’t divorce. ."

The three of Jonathan Friedman heard the words and couldn't help but smile a bit bitterly.

Simon no longer bargained with them. Several people were about to leave the audition room. Amy Pascal hurriedly pushed the door in and walked in. Just glanced at the other three people and said to Simon: "Simon, the producers’ union just now. A block order was issued. The Producers' Union said they would no longer purchase any TV shows from production companies that had signed a contract with the screenwriter union in advance."