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The sun shone brightly, casting dappled shadows from the trees as a warm, gentle afternoon breeze playfully swirled around ankles and fingertips. It felt as if one could hear laughter echoing through the air, with the vibrant orange hues of the setting sun burning intensely, clinging to the last remnants of summer, dancing and celebrating under the blue sky of the Northern Hemisphere.
It was time for another Emmy Awards ceremony.
Nicholas Flynn habitually chewed gum. Even though it had been six months since he quit smoking, he was now addicted to nicotine gum. Is this really okay?
It was 4:30 p.m. in Los Angeles, right around the time when people were finishing their sunbathing sessions, packing up to head home for a cocktail before attending an evening gathering with friends, seizing the last moments of a Sunday afternoon to relax. However, in New York, with the three-hour time difference, it was already time for dinner.
This was precisely why the lengthy duration of the annual awards ceremony was always criticized—
After a four-hour, sometimes even four-and-a-half-hour ceremony, it would already be midnight in New York. For the Academy members, whose average age was around sixty, it was too much; their bodies and minds couldn't take it. Even the younger party-goers would start contemplating whether to keep drinking or call it a night for some beauty sleep.
However, there was no such worry in Los Angeles.
The red carpet started at 4 p.m., and by the time the ceremony ended, it was only around 10 or 10:30 p.m. That's when everyone would cheer, "Party time!" The night was just beginning.
From another perspective, in the entertainment industry, Los Angeles time was the standard. It's hard to say that the complaints and criticisms from the East Coast didn't have a hint of resistance against the West Coast—
Among the "EGOT" four major awards, the Oscars and Emmys were permanently stationed in Los Angeles, while the Tony Awards were always in New York. The Grammys alternated between Los Angeles and New York, but for the past two years, they had been in Los Angeles and were confirmed to be there again next year. Clearly, things weren't so simple.
So, what's Nicholas's opinion?
Does his opinion matter? Not really. Not at all.
After all, he was just a small entertainment reporter for the "New York Times," with little influence. Wherever the awards ceremony was held, he would obediently go on assignment.
If he really had to express an opinion, Nicholas was more concerned about the outcomes of tonight's Emmy Awards—
The competition was fierce, with cutthroat intensity.
Almost every award was noteworthy, and the Drama Series and Comedy Series categories, which were the focus of countless viewers' attention, were exceptionally competitive this year.
For the audience and the entire television industry, this was a good thing.
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So, when the red carpet was rolled out and actors, directors, screenwriters, producers, and others made their entrances, each of them genuinely enjoyed the moment. Indeed, the past few years have been the golden age of television, with classic works emerging one after another, and major television networks fiercely competing with one another.
The Temple Hall, like a true pilgrimage shrine, was filled with laughter and joy in the air. The dazzling array of beautiful gowns and hairstyles left people in awe.
"The Temple Hall" has undoubtedly been the iconic building of the entire entertainment industry for the past decade. The Emmy Awards, Oscars, and Grammys have all been held here, frequently appearing on television screens and magazine covers. The dome, the arcades, and the mosaic windows, all with their vibrant colors, have become symbols of the artistic hall in the hearts of countless viewers.
Every newcomer entering the entertainment industry, from directors to actors to journalists and even behind-the-scenes staff, all long to step into the Temple Hall—
It's a kind of pilgrimage.
When the moment of dream fulfillment arrives, the happiness and joy are indescribable, as if finally standing under the spotlight in Hollywood's Vanity Fair.
Take Jane Kaczmarek, for example.
This 45-year-old actress has been in the industry for nearly a decade but has always played small roles in TV series.
It wasn't until this year that Fox's spring pilot comedy, *Malcolm in the Middle,* became her breakthrough. She was widely regarded as the soul of the show and quickly became one of the hottest stars in the television industry. At this year's Emmys, she broke through and won a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy.
By the way, the cast of *Malcolm in the Middle* also includes another actor, Bryan Cranston, who would later become famous for *Breaking Bad*. Like Jane, he is still on a long journey.
Now, Jane Kaczmarek has finally stepped onto the red carpet at the Temple Hall, with her face still full of disbelief. She looked like a schoolgirl attending a science fair, with so many new and exciting things that she didn't know where to look. The smile on her face was more one of bewilderment and surprise.
Everything was astonishing.
She looked around, paused, hesitated, feeling both expectant and nervous, excited yet anxious, with a swirl of emotions dancing in her eyes.
"Jane!"
"Hey, Jane!"
"Lois, over here!"
The reporters on the left side of the red carpet tried everything to get Jane's attention, hoping she would stop for an interview:
"Lois," that was her character's name in *Malcolm in the Middle*.
However, there were so many voices that Jane didn't know where to look. Her eyes darted around like a lost lamb.
At this moment—
"Kaczmarek!"
A loud shout, like a spell cast by Moses at the Red Sea, drew everyone's attention in that direction.
Everyone was trying to catch Jane's gaze, even resorting to special tactics; but in the end, that reporter managed to pronounce Jane's complicated surname correctly. One by one, people turned to where the sound came from:
Well, you win.
Sure enough, Jane took a step toward that reporter, her smile fully blossoming.
But it lasted less than thirty seconds, and before the interview could even begin, there was a cheer from the front of the red carpet—an uncontrollable cheer that exploded with unbelievable energy, sweeping through the entire Temple Hall like a storm, with an oppressive wave sweeping across the venue.
"Brad!"
"Jennifer!"
Unlike before, this time the names alone were enough. It was undoubtedly the hottest couple of the summer, who officially tied the knot on July 29th. Two weeks later, *Us Weekly* exclusively released a large number of wedding photos, setting off a frenzy across America.
Although *Us Weekly* never confirmed it, industry rumors said they paid three million dollars for the exclusive rights to the wedding photos.
"Brad X Jennifer," they are currently the undisputed first couple of North America, their influence even surpassing that of the President.
Today, at the Emmy Awards ceremony, this is their first public appearance as a married couple after their honeymoon.
No one could resist.
And so.
When they appeared, the entire Temple Hall went wild—completely wild, in the literal sense.
The crowd surged forward wave after wave, with flashlights, shutter sounds, and various calls overwhelming the scene, even more ferocious than a volcanic eruption.
Not far behind, a sedan quietly arrived on the scene amidst the frenzy. Inside the car, Eve and Edgar looked at each other—
Damn, it's over.
This is the second update.