Surprise!
This was the real surprise.
24 million viewers. So, what exactly does that mean?
Although it's impossible to know the current state of the industry or the exact significance of the numbers, the magnitude of 24 million is undeniable. The simplest fact is this: 24 million people watched Anson's acting debut last night.
And!
The *Los Angeles Times* emphasized the key point in bold within its headline—second-highest ratings of the sixth season, marking a strong comeback as the show headed toward its season finale. This also set a solid foundation for the upcoming salary negotiations.
An absolute surprise!
Anson's thoughts rushed through his mind all at once.
Yet, it didn't feel real to him. From time traveling to auditioning, acting, and then making headlines, everything had happened so fast. In an instant, he finally understood what it felt like for a star to blow up overnight.
So, did this make him one of the "trending stars" of the early 21st century?
"Ah!"
This time, it wasn't Chris, but James.
"Ahhh!"
James jumped forward, grabbed Anson's shoulder, and started bouncing up and down. Having gone through the lows and struggles of *Freaks and Geeks*, he could appreciate this joy even more deeply.
As a reference, *Freaks and Geeks* was drawing around 6 million viewers before it was canceled.
That number, in the viewing landscape of 2023—where habits had drastically changed—wouldn't be remarkable but also wouldn't be disappointing. It might have been renewed easily. But back in 2000, when television was still the dominant source of entertainment, such figures were underwhelming, leading to the show's premature end.
In contrast, this number showcased the success of *Friends*.
24 million viewers placed *Friends* firmly in the top tier of television ratings. While the show's dominance was no longer as overwhelming as it once was, its solid foundation was undeniable.
This was a level other shows could only look up to.
At this moment, James seemed to lose all sense of reason, screaming wildly in excitement. His flushed face looked as though it could explode at any second. All the pent-up emotions he had suppressed and hidden for so long finally burst forth in a vengeful release, leaving him drenched in sweat.
Meanwhile, Brad, still sitting on the staircase, watched his friends dance around him like they were performing a Hawaiian hula. He lazily lay back, propping himself up with his left hand as though reclining on a couch, watching the spectacle unfold in front of him.
"Chris."
Brad called out.
"Chris!"
Finally snapping Chris back to reality, Brad curiously asked, "Isn't the newspaper supposed to be downstairs? How'd it end up in your room?"
Chris: "???"
Brad continued to explain further.
"The newspaper is always dropped at the door, but you just brought it out from your room."
"So, did you specifically go downstairs to wait for the paper just to check the ratings, only to be worried that the numbers might be bad? Then, after secretly taking it to your room, you found out the ratings were amazing and couldn't help but scream?"
Blah, blah—now things started to make sense.
At this moment, both Anson and James also turned to look at Chris.
Chris stammered, "I, uh, no, actually, what really happened was…"
Anson, with an exaggerated expression of disappointment, shook his head dramatically. "Chris, I never thought you'd have so little faith in me. I'm a bit let down." He gazed up at the ceiling as if hiding tears, playing the part of someone deeply wounded.
Chris: "???"
James, on the other hand, jumped in, wrapping his arm around Chris's neck playfully. "So, you're rubbing salt in my wounds, huh? Worried Anson would end up like me? Anson already told us that *Freaks and Geeks* would get its redemption in the future. What, you don't believe in me either?"
Without much effort, Chris gently broke James's hold and reversed the situation, easily pinning James. However, he winced, afraid to use too much force, worried that even a little pressure might snap James's skinny arm. He called out Brad's name, trying to clear up the misunderstanding, but it was clear Brad had no intention of responding.
Silently, Brad began sliding down further, preparing to disappear from the scene.
But unexpectedly, the commotion on the second floor woke up the "zombies," one by one, as people downstairs started stirring and "searching for food." A subtle unrest began below.
Seeing this, Brad lay flat on the floor, deciding not to go up or down, quietly attempting to hide in plain sight.
This scene made Anson chuckle aloud.
But he still had one question—who was behind this?
It made sense that the *Los Angeles Times* would cover the ratings of *Friends*. Everyone knew that negotiations between the cast and the network were about to begin, and the entire industry was watching closely.
After all, if *Friends* succeeded in breaking new ground, other shows could benefit as well, potentially changing the entire pay structure of the industry.
It was similar to how, in 1995, Jim Carrey's movie *Ace Ventura* shattered Hollywood norms, making him the first actor in history to receive a $20 million paycheck. The "20 Million Club" was born, revolutionizing the relationship between actors and studios.
*Friends* now had a similar opportunity.
So, reporting on the ratings wasn't surprising.
A headline wasn't out of the ordinary either.
But having Anson's name in the headline of the entertainment section?
That wasn't normal.
In the entertainment industry, there's a profession known as public relations (PR), responsible for promotion, marketing, crisis management, and image crafting—essentially, shaping the public perception of a brand.
Movies, TV shows, actors, producers—everyone had their own PR team. A great PR representative could secure top-tier exposure while suppressing negative news. They were often the driving force behind a celebrity's rise.
Headlines. Interviews. Reports. Events.
These were all the handiwork of PR. While real-life events certainly occurred, perhaps only 10% were purely organic, while the other 90% were orchestrated by skilled PR.
This situation was no exception.
The *Los Angeles Times* could have credited David Crane, mentioned the six main cast members, or discussed the power struggle between the show and the network. Instead, they chose to highlight guest star Anson?
That wasn't a coincidence.
And they really should read that article carefully—
"Handsome. Dashing. Sexy. Charismatic.
Should we focus on his deep, soulful eyes, or appreciate his effortlessly stylish wardrobe, or marvel at his playful and humorous performance? No…"
Oh.
Gloria was reading the entertainment section headline of the *Los Angeles Times* out loud, but as she read, she couldn't contain herself. She jumped around in excitement, practically screaming.
"Mom!"
"Mom, look, I told you! It's Anson—this is Anson!"
"Ahhhh!"
Mrs. Preston, holding a small spoon, had been about to tap the top of a boiled egg in its holder. But Gloria's ultrasonic scream stopped her in her tracks.
Watching her daughter dance around the breakfast table, Mrs. Preston closed her eyes, waiting for the screams to subside. "I watched TV with you last night, remember?"
"Yes, he's charming, I admit that. But I believe it was the character that was captivating—the writers created a very charismatic role."
Mrs. Preston remained rational.
Gloria, with a mischievous glint in her eye, smirked. "Ha, the *Times* knew you'd say that. Listen to this—"
Eager. Overjoyed.
Her eyes sparkled, unable to hide her excitement and enthusiasm.