Chapter 317 - Saturday Night Live (Part One)

Jimmy Fallon, only 25 years old this year, was discovered by NBC for his eloquence and stage presence, and he became the host of the show.

Laila didn't know much about him, except that he had good popularity and some knowledge of his show style, which leaned towards celebrity impersonations, parodying videos, altering lyrics, and occasionally incorporating forgotten lines and laughter to liven up the atmosphere.

As she had mentioned to Roy, she wasn't the type to easily let loose, so whether it was making fun of others or being the target of jokes herself, it wasn't a program style she could readily accept.

Jimmy's script had a good solution to this issue. While the parody style remained, it wouldn't target her or require her to mock others. Instead, it would focus on parodying the movies she had starred in.

When it came to movies, Laila had no objections. Furthermore, she was curious to see how her films would be transformed by these comedic experts.

Additionally, the script accommodated her other requests with great sincerity. In other words, the entire program would not make her feel uncomfortable, and most of her requested elements were included. So, what else was there to consider?

"That's great!" Upon receiving her approval, Jimmy couldn't contain his excitement and clenched his fist.

He wasn't just excited about the show's potential for increased viewership due to Laila's appearance; he was more thrilled that Laila had endorsed his work. This was the greatest affirmation he could hope for. After all, her identity was well known, and if it weren't for work, even with his rising fame, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the legendary Hollywood director and the sole heir of the Moran family.

Now that she had agreed to participate, NBC naturally spared no effort in deploying significant resources for promotion. Everyone knew what Laila's appearance meant for the show and its ratings. The director, who preferred to stay low-key and avoid the spotlight at all costs, knew that people were eager to learn more about her.

The recent "plagiarism incident" has also generated a lot of attention. With these factors, who would doubt that the episode of Saturday Night Live featuring Laila would achieve high ratings?

Therefore, the entire network, as well as their cooperating partners, launched an extensive promotional campaign for the episode featuring Laila, to create a record-breaking viewership.

As for Laila's plans to address the "plagiarism incident" during the show, the audience's first reaction was, "This is going to be interesting."

People had grown tired of watching Faiza cry her eyes out on various media outlets and hearing her various irresponsible complaints.

Amid all the rumors and gossip, people were finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. They just wanted to know what Laila thought and what had happened. Finally, they had a chance, and everyone was eager to see how many people would be glued to their TV screens on the day of her appearance.

On the Saturday of the show, Laila and Roy arrived in New York and headed to the live studio of Saturday Night Live.

As mentioned before, this was a show that featured comedy sketches. Typically, there would be many actors performing together in various skits. However, to accommodate Laila's appearance, the skits would be done differently, with the main focus being on addressing and discussing current hot topics.

Laila was the heir of the Moran family and the future owner of NBC, and the people at the studio were well aware of this. Many leaders, both big and small, came to greet her. The time for simple pleasantries took up a lot of time, and if it weren't for the tight schedule, it probably wouldn't have been enough even if they had another hour or two.

This wasn't Laila's first time appearing on a show, but it was the most relaxed she had ever felt. Perhaps it was due to the show's style, or maybe it was because she found it amusing after seeing the hosts dressed in quirky costumes.

Saturday Night Live was born in 1975, and over the decades, many comedy actors have risen to fame through this show.

Laila didn't need to take the stage at the beginning, so she watched the show from backstage after it officially started recording.

The first act was a heavyweight "character" who received thunderous applause and cheers from the audience as soon as he stepped on stage. It was the puppet from the movie Saw.

Then, a voice came from behind the puppet: "I want to play a game."

"Wow!" As the most classic line from the movie appeared, the audience's excitement soared.

After the Saw II grossed several hundred million at the box office last year, who wouldn't know about this movie? It had long been enshrined in the hall of classics by its fans. Not only did those who loved horror movies worship it, but those interested in movies in general couldn't ignore it either.

Next, a television set hanging high on the stage lit up mysteriously, displaying nothing but static and a voice responding: "Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore." This was still a line from Saw.

"Haha—" Suddenly, the audience burst into laughter as the television screen abruptly came to life, with Jimmy appearing on it, looking terrified.

"Oh, I can feel it right here, The witch. She must be nearby! My two partners have already disappeared, and I feel I'm about to be the last one! But I don't want to die here. I don't want to become a legend in other people's mouths.

I still want to go back to host my show! Ah! Who's grabbing my foot, oh NO—"

The screams faded as the effects disappeared. This sequence, which was supposed to be terrifying, was performed by Jimmy in a way that not only didn't frighten anyone but also had the audience laughing heartily.

It was clear that they were mimicking a scene from The Blair Witch Project, which was even more famous than Saw. This movie still held the record for the highest return on investment in film history, and its promotional campaign was a classic case study. Moreover, it had introduced a shocking director to the world.