Chapter 59
"Big Challenge" is a flagship variety show of Yancheng TV, focusing on team game competitions.
Its predecessor, "Everybody Come Challenge," was a huge hit when it launched on Yantai TV 20 years ago, racking up massive ratings every episode. However, with the constant stream of new variety shows on various channels, the show inevitably fell into mediocrity.
Five years ago, the show hit a low point, and Yantai TV even considered canceling it. Faced with a life-or-death struggle, the production team took a desperate gamble, renaming it "Big Challenge" and introducing a live webcast format to engage with viewers in real time. This pioneering initiative revived the show, which has continued to achieve success year after year, returning it to the pinnacle of Yantai TV variety shows.
To ensure timely information, "The Great Challenge" was live-streamed on Wednesday afternoons and edited for television broadcast on Friday evenings. The "Bladeless Blade" production team considered He Tong and Ye Yuze's schedules and comprehensively considered the effectiveness of various variety shows in promoting martial arts films before ultimately choosing "The Great Challenge."
He Tong and Ye Yuze finished lunch early and came to the Yantai Studio Building. They happened to meet Liu Ke and Chen Zheng who came in the same car in the parking lot.
The four of them greeted each other and went upstairs together in the elevator.
Liu Ke rubbed his right eye from time to time, muttering, "My right eyelid has been twitching all day. I wonder if I'll win some super-difficult game on the show."
Chen Zheng smiled and comforted: "Although the games need to be selected by lottery, the program team will also arrange a game pool with suitable guests, so you don't have to worry so much."
He Tong also said: "Maybe you don't even need to draw, netizens will assign it to you."
"That can't be done," Liu Ke said firmly. "I'm just here to make up the numbers. I definitely meant for you three. But games designated by netizens don't necessarily mean they're easy to pass, so you better pray."
He Tong found it funny: "You're worried now, so why did you choose this program in the first place?"
Liu Ke sighed, "It was Editor Mao who instigated this. I was so impulsive that I signed the contract. Even after I calmed down and wanted to change my mind, it was too late. Oh, it's times like this that I envy Old Yan. He can just sit quietly behind the scenes, unlike us film directors who have to run our own publicity."
Everyone laughed good-naturedly when they heard this.
The group arrived at the filming floor. As soon as they got out of the elevator, Tang Yitian and Fu Ping came over to greet them under the guidance of their agent. As newcomers who were really there to make up the numbers, they naturally arrived early.
"The Great Challenge" focuses on team competition, and to facilitate better communication and collaboration among the guests, a large dressing room was provided. As soon as everyone was seated and the staff brought snacks and tea, hosts Jing Chengyu and Sheng Ting came over to review the process.
There's really nothing to be said for right. Anyone who's watched the show knows the key is half game play and half group competition. How to play depends on the netizens and the lottery. To ensure the show's effectiveness, Yantai takes the game very seriously. Whether the performance is good or bad, whether it showcases one's talents or makes a fool of oneself, all depends on the guests' on-the-spot performance.
Of course, the games and punishments wouldn't be overly extreme. Jing Chengyu and Sheng Ting briefly introduced the thirty games and ten punishments they had prepared for the film crew, preparing them for the competition. Finally, they asked a few people how they planned to form groups for the group competition.
He Tong naturally put his arm around Ye Yuze's shoulders and said, "Of course, Brother Ye and I can't break up."
On the other side, Tang Yitian also politely said, "Let's team up with Fu Ping and I, two newcomers, so as not to burden Director Liu and Brother Chen."
Liu Ke and Chen Zheng didn't care, so the groups were determined.
Everyone put on their makeup and the show officially began at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Opposite the studio stage, there is a large screen dedicated to displaying the comments of the live broadcast, which is equivalent to the "live audience". However, it will not appear when it is broadcast on TV, but will be replaced by funny dubbing.
As soon as Jing Chengyu and Sheng Ting appeared on stage with the guests, the barrage of comments started scrolling very quickly. If it weren't for the high-frequency words counted by the system displayed next to it, no one would be able to see what was written on the barrage of comments at all.
After introducing the guests, Jing Chengyu began to warm up the audience: "The audience today is so excited. Actually, I'm excited too. I've been a fan of Director Liu since I was a child, and I've seen every one of his movies."
Liu Ke complained to him: "No, I'm only a little over ten years older than you. Your definition of 'since childhood' is a bit wrong."
Sheng Ting took over the conversation: "Then I am truly 'since childhood'!"
She listed all the films Liu Ke had made, and the topic naturally transitioned to "Bladeless Knife".
After all, we are promoting the film, so the film still needs to be introduced.
A few of them chatted about the part of the promotional video, and finally ended with Jing Chengyu and Sheng Ting buying weekend movie tickets as usual - "Bladeless Blade" appeared on this show to boost its box office in the first weekend.
Then comes the highlight of the show.
The game part will be divided into two groups, one group will be assigned a game by the audience, and the other group will draw lots.
Sheng Ting smiled and asked, "Please look at the 30 games on the big screen. Which one do you want to see the guests play? Start playing!"
Everyone thought that the designated ones would be Chen Zheng, He Tong, and Ye Yuze, three popular actors, but the system actually extracted a complete high-frequency sentence from the dense barrage.
[Director Liu guesses the movie, He Tongye and Ze perform! ]
Liu Ke was stunned: "Why are you targeting me?"
Chen Zheng patted him on the shoulder and said, "Guessing movies should be your strong point. This is the audience taking good care of you."
Liu Ke said with a bitter face: "Actually, I haven't seen many movies, really."
Jing Chengyu pushed a small cart onto the stage. On it were three cups of blue and green drinks, with some red and yellow powder floating on the surface.
"This is a new secret recipe our staff has collected. It's absolutely sour and refreshing! For the sake of this drink, the three of you should work hard!"
He Tong smiled and said to Liu Ke, "Director Liu, why don't you try it first? It will definitely stimulate your memory."
Liu Ke glared at him and said, "Just act well. If the audience is not satisfied with your performance, you will be the first to drink!"
He Tong acted fearless: "As actors, we are fearless!"
Sheng Ting passed the message to Ye Yuze: "What does the movie actor think?"
Ye Yuze expressionless: "+1."
Sheng Ting smiled and pressed the button on the selector in her hand: "Let's see which one will be selected..."
Countless film clips on the big screen turned back and forth for a few seconds, and finally stopped on one of them and played it for three minutes - a tango between a man and a woman.
At this point the barrage was going crazy.
[Tingting is so lucky! Thumbs up!]
[Come on, place your bets and see who can dance the female steps!]
[That last line! I can actually hear my crush say that! I'm sending perfume to Sister Ting's golden hand!] [The tissue is already stuffed up my nostrils, let's have a passionate tango!]
Sheng Ting received a prompt from the director and showed her hands: "The audience is praising my good luck. It seems that they are all looking forward to your performance."
On the other end, Liu Ke, who had just taken off his noise-proofing helmet, said blankly, "Did we draw some weird plot? I feel a strange-smelling drink approaching me..."
Jing Chengyu was busy clearing the stage, and then asked He Tong and Ye Yuze, "Are you ready? Do you want to watch it again?"
He Tong looked at his brother Ye, and when he saw him nod, he raised his hand and said, "No need, let's get started."
The strong rhythm of tango music sounded, He Tongshen held Ye Yuze in his arms and spun out with the music.
Tango is a kind of dance that is both lingering and passionate. Dancing tango is often referred to as "a three-minute love affair."
To the sound of drums, the two people spun with cross steps that were sometimes fast and sometimes slow, swinging their legs vigorously from time to time, and occasionally bending their waists neatly. Their powerful dance moves were graceful and agile.
Their eyes were fixed on each other, sometimes arguing with each other, sometimes whispering to each other, as if they were evenly matched, both sinking, but neither willing to admit defeat.
When the song ended, the two, still breathing heavily, embraced each other in the lingering sound. He Tong reached out and held Ye Yuze's face, looking down at him affectionately, and whispered, "I want you to be my lifelong dance partner."
Liu Ke looked at the two people on the stage who were emitting a dog-abuse aura and silently raised the microphone: "Cut."
As he broke the spell with his voice, the barrage of comments that had just gradually calmed down exploded again.
[Oh my god! My heart is still beating wildly!]
[This is the first time I've known that two men can dance tango so beautifully... those two pairs of long legs flying around...] [I pinched my nose and dared not let go...]
[No wonder they say, "From strangers to close lovers, it only takes a tango"...] [I declare that from this moment on, I am a Tongze fan!]
I never understood what was so cute about two men until I saw their tango. This doesn't make sense. How could Ye Yuze suddenly switch to a female step without stepping on He Tong's foot? I've stepped on my dance partner countless times. Watching a movie once and being able to replicate it—the actor's skills are incredible! On the stage, Sheng Ting clapped her hands and walked forward.
"Amazing! You must have learned this before! Xiaoye even did the female steps, and she actually remembered it after only watching it once?"
He Tong smiled and scratched his head: "It's also good luck, we did learn tango."
Ye Yuze replied calmly, "The dance in that video uses common tango moves. If you break them down and remember the key points, you'll be able to connect them together. Of course, if you compare the two dances side by side, there will still be some differences in details."
Sheng Ting stroked her forehead and said, "I feel like I've been dealt a dimensionality-reduction blow by a top student."
Jing Chengyu smiled and looked at the camera: "Audience, do you think their performance is acceptable?"
Rows of “pass” appeared neatly on the barrage.
Jing Chengyu looked at He Tong and Ye Yuze with regret: "It's a pity that we can't see them drinking the strange-tasting juice."
Then he turned to Liu Ke and said, "Director Liu, have you guessed the name of the film? Or should we just drink the juice?"
Liu Ke rubbed his temples: "Let me think about it again..."
So Jing Chengyu interviewed the other three guests who had been standing nearby.
Chen Zheng looked relieved: "Fortunately, I was not asked to perform!"
Tang Yitian felt sympathetic: "Brother Chen."
Fu Ping said seriously: "I admit defeat."
Jing Chengyu patted their shoulders one by one and said, "Don't be afraid. When you draw lots later, we will exclude those who have played with it."
At this moment, Liu Ke, who had been thinking hard for a long time, finally clapped his hands and said, "I remember now! 'Wartime Romance'! Another translation is 'Dancing in the Smoke'!"
The others had just seen the title of the film on the clip, and now they all gave Liu Ke a warm round of applause.
Jing Chengyu: "Congratulations to Director Liu for getting the answer right! Oh, today's juice has been saved for the next show. The recent guests are so amazing."
Sheng Ting took over the conversation, "Congratulations to Director Liu, Xiao He, and Xiao Ye for successfully passing the level! Next, please invite Brother Chen, Xiao Tang, and Xiao Fu to draw a game."
He Tong and Ye Yuze retreated to the edge of the stage and stood with Liu Ke.
Liu Ke lowered her voice and said to He Tong angrily, "Idols pay for fans' behavior. You have to treat me to dinner tonight!"
He Tong didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Okay, okay, please, please."
The author has something to say: From strangers to close lovers, it only takes a tango to get there. —Excerpt from the Internet. Thanks to the little angel "twilight" for the nutrient solution~~
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