Chapter 703: Sixth Senior Brother's Skit

A few minutes ago, backstage, Station Head Xu Guan and a group of senior executives from Octopus TV were all staring intently at the real-time ratings.

They did not go over to the General Director, Ning Dan, to point fingers or interfere; they were just like shareholders who only provide money but are not responsible for management or operations, having completely delegated their authority.

They only cared about how much money they could split at the end of each month.

Sometimes, one is just afraid of laymen coming to dictate how things should be done and offering unsolicited advice.

Watching the real-time ratings curve, the group of old men almost hugged each other and wept.

It was rising all the way, with almost no small setbacks, and it had barely dropped at all!

It was just that during certain time segments, it rose faster, and during others, the growth rate was slightly lower.

They were all staring at the data without a word, their eyes wide open, as if they had reached an extremely critical node.

Last year, the average rating of the top-ranked New Year's Eve Gala among the Four Great Satellite Channels was something Octopus TV was about to reach!

Although there is a significant gap between the average value and the Peak Value, one must understand that Octopus TV's previous peak values were far from even the lowest values of others!

And this was only after a few programs?

Everything had only just begun!

Looking at the data, Xu Guan muttered to himself: "The next program is 'Palace Night Banquet', right?"

He had seen the rehearsal for this program, and it was incredibly stunning.

Luo Mo had clearly stated that he regarded this program as his seed program for this year.

He was relying on it to earn a reputation.

At the same time, he was also using it to go head-to-head with the dance programs of the Four Great Satellite Channels and even CCTV.

Xu Guan asked himself, and he also felt that this program was very eye-catching and exceptionally well-choreographed.

But after all, Luo Mo had never proven himself in gala-style dance programs before. Octopus TV was even more pathetic; last year's best dance program was a competition piece by children from a city kindergarten.

Therefore, Xu Guan was still a bit apprehensive.

No matter how well the preliminary preparations are, everything still depends on whether the audience buys it.

Many times, one is just afraid of it being a self-indulgent performance!

But since 'Palace Night Banquet' was adapted from 'Tang Palace Night Banquet' on Earth, how could it possibly disappoint Station Head Xu?

To be precise, not only would it not disappoint you, it would... give you a huge shock!

This program, which was just under six minutes long, saw its ratings skyrocket!

This could no longer be called a ratings curve, because it was almost a straight line upward!

Everyone felt that with Luo Mo as their trump card, this year's singing stage was secure.

But who would have thought that a dance program from his hands could reach such a level!

"It actually rose this much!" Xu Guan was completely stunned.

"Is there really a dance program that can achieve such an effect?" A senior executive beside him was also completely bewildered.

Just like on Earth, there are not many dance programs on Blue Star that truly break out of their niche.

Every year, the ones carrying the banner are mostly other types of programs.

Programs like comedy sketches can often crush dance programs into the ground.

"Station Head, the current data is only a tiny bit away from last year's Peak Value of Donghu TV!" someone said.

Xu Guan's fists under his sleeves could not help but clench slightly.

He did not say a word, only nodded forcefully.

All they could do now was wait.

In an apartment in Zhejiang Province.

The girls from the Disabled Persons Art Troupe were sitting together, watching this year's Octopus TV New Year's Eve Gala.

Yes, since they were all sitting here watching TV, some results needed no further explanation.

As for which channel to watch, the girls' opinions were very unified.

Between CCTV and Luo Mo, they decisively chose the latter.

The troupe leader, Xu Cong, was not here; he never went to the girls' residence. Besides, today was a holiday, and he had no work to attend to, so he had to spend time with his family.

The lead dancer, Chen Lili, was the prettiest among the deaf-mute girls, and her dancing was also the best.

She sat in the very center, staring at the TV without blinking.

Honestly, for them, the world is silent.

Therefore, those singing stages earlier should have been very lackluster for them.

However, all the girls watched with great interest.

In the opening show, they certainly could not hear Wang Rong's flamboyant "Dancing" line.

But fortunately, not only was his voice flamboyant, his dancing was too.

Coupled with the choreography being truly infectious, watching them keep dancing there without being able to hear the accompaniment made it appear even more silly!

This made the girls feel that Luo Mo's choreography was extremely interesting, and they all burst into laughter.

When Tao Jie, Chen Shanqi, went on stage to sing, the poor girls were also unable to feel the vibrant energy of 'First Day'.

Many people say that music has no borders.

But you need to be able-bodied.

Fortunately, however, Tao Jie, in a tipsy state, was on stage showing her smooth calves, wearing a black dress, and jumping around.

Some emotions can be conveyed and can be infectious.

It was just that after the program ended, one girl suddenly used sign language to say: "She dances so freely; I really want to hear what she is singing."

"Yeah, I really want to."

And when *Palace Night Banquet* appeared, the young women instantly looked at each other in dismay.

A pure dance stage! Luo Mo had choreographed a pure dance stage!

Everyone was watching with rapt attention, wanting to see what kind of effect Luo Mo could produce.

The moment the cultural relics came to life, the young women all opened their small mouths wide.

The exquisite costumes, the delicate and highly restored makeup 【Oblique Red】, as well as their hairstyles, Yueqi... all deeply captivated their gaze.

It was very obvious that Luo Mo had put a lot of heart into this stage.

When this cultural relic that had come to life officially began Dancing, the young women communicated using sign language.

"So cute!"

"Every single one of them is too cute!"

They did not stint on their praise.

And as the stage special effects emerged, along with the appearance of each transition, they all had only one thought—stunning!

Too stunning!

This perfect combination of culture and dance was as if it were slowly unfolding the scroll of the Prosperous Age of that dynasty right before your eyes.

As professional dancers, they watched a massive amount of stage videos every year.

But a program like this was something they were seeing for the first time.

Chen Lili felt that if they could feel so shocked without hearing the soundtrack, they would definitely find it even more beautiful if they could hear the music!

Yes, the *Tang Palace Night Banquet* on Earth was able to be so successful, and the soundtrack also deserved much of the credit.

Many people said that when the Pipa appeared in the middle section, they got goosebumps.

After all, the protagonists of this dance were little palace maid musicians, so the music definitely had to be done well.

By the time the entire stage ended, they had been deeply conquered by Luo Mo's choreography!

"He is too amazing!"

Following this came a surging feeling of regret.

"I really, really want to collaborate with him once."

CCTV, backstage area.

Director Li Dongliang watched the real-time viewership data slide slightly, his heart as calm as an ancient well.

For a dance program, a slight slide was normal.

What more could one expect from it?

Let alone the New Year's Eve Gala, even for the Spring Festival Gala, after being held for so many years, how many dance programs were there that left people with a deep impression and were unforgettable for a lifetime?

There were certainly some, but the quantity was definitely not as high as other types of programs.

"I wonder how things are over at Octopus TV," Director Li thought to himself.

He was too busy right now and had no time to find out about the situation over there.

Ah, how I want to lean into Director Li's ear and secretly tell him: "Octopus TV? It's legendary over at Octopus TV!"

Li Dongliang did not know at this moment that many people working in media with special characteristics were prioritizing watching the program on Octopus TV.

Of course, the vast majority of them would definitely write about the CCTV program when they finally put pen to paper.

But that could wait until after the gala ended; they could just pick a few passable programs to write about based on online feedback!

There was no need to watch the whole thing; just write about whatever you watch!

And after watching *Palace Night Banquet* on Octopus TV, a strong impulse arose in many people's hearts.

—Write about it!

It was too easy to praise; this program was just too easy to praise!

According to their experience from previous years, praising programs was truly painful.

You had to find an angle to force praise, to force writing.

It was hard, too hard!

But this *Palace Night Banquet* choreographed by Luo Mo was different.

It could even be said to have opened up a new situation for dance programs!

An editor-in-chief at a certain newspaper, after watching this program with his family, couldn't help but take out his phone directly and start typing.

He wanted to seize this moment of being moved and write these words down.

"The innovative Inheritance and rejuvenation of traditional culture is the true top-tier traffic."

"They do not pander, do not vulgarize, and do not sensationalize."

"Yet they move people's hearts because of their Oriental charm, enough to be praised across the four seas."

"From an ancient civilization to a cultural powerhouse, the most intuitive manifestation is the return of cultural confidence and the reshaping of Oriental civilization."

"This is our endless endogenous power!"

This editor-in-chief paused for a moment, and then his train of thought continued to open up.

The scope of this dance program is grand enough, and the cultural fusion is great enough, so I must also open up my own scope!

"The people are the creators of history and the leaders of the spirit of the times."

"When hundreds of millions of people consciously love traditional culture and are sincerely confident, this spiritual bond of national rejuvenation will be passed on eternally, and we will also hold the civilization code that leads to the future!"

After writing these core points, he did not forget to emphasize Luo Mo's contribution once more.

The perfect fusion of dance and culture was only one aspect of his strength.

For this stage to look so good, Camera Scheduling and Television Consciousness can be said to have contributed immensely, which is why so many god-tier transitions were produced!

There is a huge difference between watching a stage in person and watching it on television.

Luo Mo is truly a famous director; with his camera language, he has taught the entire industry a good lesson.

………

………

Luo Mo does not yet know exactly how many newspapers and how many media outlets will praise Octopus TV's program tomorrow.

He is currently backstage, only thinking about doing everything within his power well.

The next program is a vocal mimicry performance.

Once this program ends, it will be the turn of the sketch.

Time is tight, so Luo Mo stands up and says to Ning Dan, "I'm going to go check on Liu Shixiong one last time."

"Okay," Ning Dan replies.

Yes, the upcoming sketch is the responsibility of Liu Shixiong, Liu Gongming.

On Earth, many people first recognized not Shen Teng, but another name Shen Teng used on many sketch stages—Hao Jian.

The people in the Mahua FunAge team are truly different from ordinary sketch Actors.

People like Shen Teng are actually professional stage play Actors.

When they come to do sketches, they can be said to be at ease in their performance, and at the same time, they possess greater ambition and vision.

Don't look at how Uncle Shen has now become a 20-billion-box-office gentleman and is all smiles all day long.

Yet many people first got to know the people from Mahua FunAge on the program Happy Comedian. Many viewers might have been able to feel that the Shen Teng of that period had a bit of arrogance about him.

Facts have proven that he indeed had the capital for it!

In Happy Comedian, the first program he brought refreshed many people's perceptions: "So sketches could be done like this?"

Since then, the entire program began to become increasingly competitive.

Luo Mo is very clear that this year, no matter which satellite TV station it is, or even CCTV, the language-based programs will certainly carry some satirical elements and reflect some social issues.

This is the norm for sketch programs.

It is interesting to say that because everyone chooses highly controversial and high-heat social issues, the phenomenon of overlapping subject matter occasionally occurs.

And once the subject matter overlaps, it gets interesting.

Luo Mo was originally still struggling with which one to pick among so many sketches.

Later, he had a change of thought: "Why are Dan-jie and I holding a gala at Octopus TV?"

Once he thought of this, he had decided which sketch to pick.

This sketch is not only for the national audience to watch, but also for those few people at CCTV who can decide Director Chen's fate.

This is not just a program for Luo Mo, but also a move he is making in a game of chess.

Ning Dan has already prepared herself mentally, not considering working at CCTV in the future.

But Luo Mo has never thought about letting all his previous efforts go to waste just like that.

Therefore, he needs to make more layouts.

The sketch below is just the first step.

When Luo Mo finds Liu Shixiong backstage, he looks not at all nervous.

This point about Liu Shixiong is quite good, which is that like Luo Mo, he does not suffer from stage fright.

But thinking about it, that's right; with his current appearance, he even dares to openly perform Noble Consort Dances with Sword on stage, so what else is there that he wouldn't dare to do?

And the person partnering with Liu Shixiong for this sketch is naturally the actress who played Ma Dongmei in Charlotte Troubles.

On Earth, when this sketch program with an astonishing scale appeared, Ma Li was still in her peak period of beauty.

The Ma Li of that time was not yet the 15-billion-box-office actress of today, not as mature as she is now, but she was multi-talented, and her foundation in lines was terrifying.

Luo Mo has always felt that Ma Li would be qualified even if she went to be a voice actor.

When the vocal mimicry program on stage is about to end, Liu Shixiong and the others begin to board another stage to prepare.

The footage will switch over directly in a moment.

Previously, when Luo Mo went to participate in Director Show, many people were incredibly impressed by the Ten Years of Work Offstage that he produced.

Quite a few people were thinking, when could he make more of these little short films on stage, or sketches?

But as Luo Mo became a famous director of a generation, this wish seemed destined to fall through.

Then, today, let your wishes be granted!

(End of this chapter)