Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 125: Handling with Ease

Kristen Wiig, a comedic actress who rose to fame from "Saturday Night Live," is known for her quirky characters that carry a hint of awkwardness, often creating a stark contrast that results in deadpan humor. She later contributed to works such as "Bridesmaids," "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "Sausage Party," and "Ghostbusters." Tonight, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on "Saturday Night Live."

Faced with Kristen's teasing, Renly knew she was joking with him, but he was somewhat surprised—someone as insignificant as him, whose name and face most people wouldn't recognize, being approached in jest was unexpected.

Andy Rogers? That was the only answer in Renly's mind.

The thought flashed through his mind, but Renly didn't miss a beat. He politely nodded to Kristen and smiled, "Sorry for blocking your way. I hope I didn't disrupt your personal affairs." His gentlemanly response seemed typical of social situations.

However, Renly crossed his hands over his chest as if defensively, took a slight step back, and his eyes showed a hint of fear—as if he was maintaining his composure in an emergency. This made one wonder what "personal affairs" Kristen had to attend to. Perhaps she needed some "personal time" to calm down?

This was pure "Saturday Night Live" style. Seeing Renly willing to play along, the reporters cheered, with some even clapping. The laughter and applause were endless, catching Kristen off guard. Usually, teasing a young man would make them blush and become flustered, which was the fun of being a quirky older sister. But Renly's reaction made Kristen laugh out loud as well.

However, after years on "Saturday Night Live," Kristen wasn't fazed. She put her finger in her mouth, feigning a "smitten" expression, "Oh, th-thank you," she said with a face of mock desperation, her finger moving in and out twice before quickly leaving, her figure departing amidst a burst of laughter.

Renly, too young to keep up with Kristen's rhythm, could only watch her leave in amazement. He then turned to the reporters, his wide-eyed look causing another round of laughter.

The red carpet became lively even though it was only halfway through. At the start of the red carpet, "Glee" cast members were basking in fan adoration, while in the middle, Renly was fielding a barrage of questions from reporters.

Gradually, more reporters began to move toward the middle section out of curiosity—curious about what was happening, who the newcomer handling the press so skillfully was, and who had created the buzz in the first half of the red carpet.

It was indeed a spectacle at the 62nd Emmy Awards!

Daisy finally squeezed into position, although the crowded surroundings made it difficult to breathe, and people kept pushing from behind. She had long been accustomed to such situations and didn't mind. Seizing the opportunity, she loudly asked, "From being a controversial choice for a lead role in a series to earning an Emmy nomination, how has your mindset changed? Any special feelings?"

The question wasn't novel, but the phrasing was tricky, with traps embedded within. One misstep could lead to a slip-up.

"Oh, I didn't know I was controversial. I thought no one even noticed a no-name guy like me. After all, the series' focus wasn't on the actors, was it?" Renly's response was a deflective joke, showing no signs of panic. "The Pacific" always focused on the two producers, so his remark was valid. "Honestly, as an actor attracting so much attention at the Emmys is good for actors, but I'm not sure how others feel..."

He stopped mid-sentence. Renly's clever play of words implied that his nomination represented the importance of actors in the series, subtly mocking Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, whose limelight he had stolen—without naming them directly, making it a remark that could apply to other departments too, each less in the spotlight compared to him.

In a simple sentence, Renly conveyed multiple layers of meaning, each person interpreting it differently. Some even thought of the two big-name producers, trying hard to stifle their laughter.

"And how did your fellow cast members react to your nomination?" Eli Wallah from the "Seattle Post" couldn't resist joining the questioning, recognizing the evening's biggest surprise in this newcomer.

Renly seemed hesitant, "Well..." He dragged the sound, looking around before saying with a troubled expression, "Honestly, I haven't contacted Jon yet; James just sent me a text congratulating me; Rami and I talked a few times, but we never mentioned it. So, am I being shunned by my fellow actors?"

His jesting sarcasm made Eli laugh, even turning a mundane question into something interesting.

"Are you talking about me behind my back?" came a voice from behind, and turning around, Renly saw Rami Malek and James Badge Dale approaching, with James speaking.

Rami, with a big smile, hugged Renly warmly, "We were just saying we might only see you backstage."

Renly pushed Rami away, straightening his suit seriously, "This suit is expensive, careful of wrinkles." His disdainful expression and earlier words made the reporters laugh, while Rami stood bewildered, his innocent eyes making Renly break character and laugh, hugging Rami again. "They were asking how you all reacted to my nomination."

Rami caught on quickly and laughed brightly, "He's crazy, but also a genius. Although I'm a bit jealous, I don't envy the pain that breeds it. So, I'm fine, we're all fine."

Rami's insightful words intrigued the reporters, especially Bradley, who envisioned numerous scenarios from "The Pacific's" filming—what had happened, how Renly approached his role, the challenges faced, and the suffering endured to deliver such a stellar performance.

Bradley knew Renly was just a nominated newcomer, far from deserving so much attention unless he won tonight. Yet, his curiosity was uncontrollable, just like at the premiere. There was something about Renly that Bradley's instincts told him was worth exploring—a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

Maybe it was time for a behind-the-scenes special on "The Pacific."

James came over, putting his arms around Renly and Rami, poking his head between them, shaking it seriously, "I don't like him because the director always says, 'Look at Renly's performance, then look at yours.' God, I hate that guy." He laughed heartily, hugging his friends tightly before leading the way forward.

Renly spread his hands towards the reporters, showing a helpless expression before following James with Rami, leaving the interview area.

The reporters, standing in place, realized that over forty of them had gathered there, the air almost stifling. They had crowded together for a newcomer, something quite abnormal. But thinking back on the interaction, they felt it was worth it.

Who could have predicted that the Emmy red carpet, packed with stars every year to the point of being overwhelming, would present such a delightful surprise? A huge surprise.

Renly, Rami, and James walked together to the end of the red carpet, turning to face a large square where the fervent fans' enthusiasm was incomparable to what "Glee" had encountered. The thronging crowd, like a giant beast, devoured all life under the spotlight, thrilling yet terrifying.

Renly's back tensed slightly, the sticky air clinging to his skin, every pore sensing the oncoming surge of excitement and grandeur. This was Renly's first time truly feeling the fans' fervor, the heat of the spotlight, and the frenzy of being the center of attention. The glitz and glamor of fame converged, his mind going blank.

In that instant, it felt like he was at the center of the world.

Yes, at this moment, he was the center of the world! Taking a deep breath, Renly stepped forward, moving towards the heart of the spotlight, into a brand new world.