The level of excitement in the auditions was beyond what Laila had initially anticipated, and even the shrewd Moran had underestimated it. Even at the project's inception, when the think tank was fully supportive, Moran had considered it merely a reality show that might gain some popularity. He never imagined it could ignite such a sensational frenzy throughout the entire United States.
People with ambitions rushed to audition, while those without ideas eagerly awaited the spectacle from their television screens. When the auditions began, not only the United States but also neighboring countries within NBC's broadcasting reach were all paying attention to its existence.
High attention meant high advertising revenue. Those who recognized the program's potential were numerous, and companies of all sizes swarmed NBC's advertising department, seeking collaborations. Especially after the first episode achieved jaw-droppingly high ratings, businesses willing to advertise clamored to NBC with checks in hand.
Perhaps due to it being the first season of a talent show, many talented contestants emerged during the auditions. They brought a variety of acts—songs, dances, magic tricks, and more—each thrilling moment following the next, capturing the audience's undivided attention.
Of course, the show also featured some more amusing segments, such as a tone-deaf beauty who sang obliviously out of tune and a man who narrowly escaped being crushed by a falling boulder during a chest-breaking stunt. These elements added a humorous touch to the excitement, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained.
Not to mention the American populace, even if we consider the uproar caused by later shows like "Super Girl" in previous years, it's evident that such programs could drive people crazy.
In the evening, Laila made a call to her grandfather to inquire about the progress of the show.
"Doing well," Oswald said with uncontained glee, though he kept his voice steady, striving to maintain the dignity befitting his status as an elder. Anyway, he wasn't visible over the phone, and even if he was grinning from ear to ear, what difference would it make?
Laila interpreted his calm response as indicating that the program was being managed by the team below and that her grandfather himself might not be fully aware of all the details. She followed the flow and changed the topic accordingly.
Unbeknownst to her, this was her first project for NBC, and how could Grandpa not take it seriously? He made multiple calls to the program's production team every day, asking about progress, and inundating them with a barrage of repetitive questions. He had nearly driven the program director to the brink of a nervous breakdown.
Laila's call wasn't just about checking on the program's progress; she had another idea.
"I've come to the Victoria's Secret side, and suddenly I thought of a great idea for a show."
Old Moran was curious, "Another money-making scheme?"
"What do you mean by 'scheme'?" Laila was speechless. If it weren't for Grandfather's strict requirement for her to design a few shows for NBC, would she have thought of one and called him right away as if she was repaying a debt?
"Quit dawdling and just tell me!" Grandfather Moran petulantly huffed.
Laila stared at the receiver for a while, feeling a bit frustrated. If she were speaking to anyone else, she would have simply hung up the phone without saying anything and blocked that number. But, after all, it was her grandfather, and even if he was being unreasonable, she had to go along with it, right?
"Fine. I came to Victoria's Secret headquarters and saw many beautiful models. So, I thought, why not create a reality show about fashion and models?"
Oswald was intrigued, "A reality show about fashion? and models? How would that work?"
"No, I meant a reality show about fashion and models…" Laila was about to explain that she was talking about one show, not two separate ideas when she suddenly froze. Why couldn't it be two separate shows?
She had initially wanted to tell him about "Project Runway," the reality show about fashion designers. But his playful comment had reminded her that there was already a popular reality show about models.
"America's Next Top Model," often abbreviated as ANTM aired over 20 seasons. Although it concluded in 2018, no one could deny that it had been the most popular and attention-grabbing model reality show.
Thinking of this, Laila chuckled, "Exactly, I was referring to two shows."
"Huh?" Now it was Oswald who was surprised.
He had been teasing her earlier. When she said "a reality show about fashion and models," how could he have misunderstood it as two separate ideas? He had done it just to put a dent in her arrogance and keep her from becoming too proud.
But what was going on now? After he had jokingly said that, had it become two shows?
Even a genius shouldn't be able to turn a single show into two like this, right?
Oswald pursued, refusing to let it go, "Tell me, what are the shows about?"
"First, regarding fashion, I believe we can create a reality show about fashion designers..." Laila explained the competition rules of "Project Runway" and "America's Next Top Model" and then smiled, "This would be beneficial for all of us. I can absorb the models' contracts through my agency, my mother can handle the models' and designers' contracts, and your fashion magazine can offer magazine cover opportunities for the winners."
Laila spoke nonstop, and Oswald listened with his mouth agape. He was, after all, a discerning media tycoon. It would be comical if he couldn't discern the potential of a show, even if his granddaughter was explaining it to him. He had been so taken in by what she said that his jaw was still hanging open.
Was this truly his granddaughter? The people who had claimed she was a genius should hear what she had just said. It was monstrous, or rather, it was divine! No, an angel sent by God to bestow blessings!
After his initial shock subsided, Moran was overwhelmed by jubilation. With such a genius, no, angel at the helm of the Moran Group, he could peacefully close his eyes and die content.
If Laila had initially prepared two show ideas to share with him, he wouldn't have been so surprised. After all, he had long known that his granddaughter was a genius, so he wouldn't be amazed by her brilliance again.
The problem was, she clearly intended to present just one show, and after he had playfully teased her, the single show magically turned into two! Well, if it was two shows, then so be it. Moreover, she outlined all the details and rules for both shows. While it was acceptable for the rules to be laid out, both shows were simply unbelievably excellent!
Could it be that good shows were so worthless? Then why hadn't he received any worthy and commendable show ideas from the plethora of planners he was keeping on staff?
Moran was at a loss. If Laila hadn't been his precious granddaughter, he would have felt an impulse to drag her to the research institute and test her blood, peel her skin, and conduct experiments to see if she was truly human.