During the phone call between Simon and Robert Iger, ABC also faxed more detailed ratings data.

On the first day of broadcast, the number of viewers of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" reached 13.65 million, with a viewership percentage of 13%.

Moreover, the ratings of the core audience of 18 to 49 years old, which TV networks and advertisers attach most importance to, also reached 5.9, which means that 5.9% of all core viewers in North America aged 18 to 49 years old, regardless of whether they turn on the TV or not, watched last night

According to the total size of this group of people in North America, which is about 120 million, the specific core audience reached 7.1 million.

All of this far exceeded the ABC television network's previous expectations.

Due to viewing habits, the number of North American summer viewers is only equivalent to 60 to 70% of the popular autumn season. Therefore, ABC set a passing line of 6.5 million viewers for "Who Will Be a Millionaire".

The reality is that this show has only reached this level among its core audience of 18 to 49 years old. Next, even the one-week pilot episode viewership data will only be 13.65 million on Monday. By the fall, "Who Will

"Becoming a Millionaire" is also destined to become a popular show with a viewership of 20 million.

Seeing the first-day ratings of "Who Will Be a Millionaire", ABC executives generally began to regret not finalizing all cooperation conditions in advance. Now, although it has a certain amount of initiative, at least Daenerys Pictures can no longer

"Who Will Be a Millionaire" was sold to other television networks, but ABC had to pay a high price to secure the show.

Robert Iger said on the phone that ABC wanted to have a meeting with him immediately to finalize more cooperation details. However, since the show has been successful and may be more successful in the future, Simon will naturally not be as eager as ABC.

Declining Robert Egger's invitation to a meeting, Simon flew back to the West Coast as planned.

In the next few days, as the popularity further spread, the ratings of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" continued to rise.

Following Tuesday's 15.5 million and Wednesday's 16.8 million, the pilot episode's ratings on Thursday also reached a peak, with 17.3 million viewers and a viewership percentage of 18%. The ratings for the core 18 to 49-year-old audience were as high as

8.2 (10.2 million).

If the summer season is equivalent to 65% of the fall season's average audience base, the 17.3 million viewers in June are equal to the fall season's 26.6 million viewers.

Even in this era when cable TV is on the rise and public television networks still dominate, there are only a handful of TV programs that can reach 26.6 million viewers.

Therefore, when "Who Will Be a Millionaire" became popular among the audience, the North American media also immediately noticed this unexpected reality show.

The New York Times unabashedly marveled, "Simon Westeros seems to have suddenly created a miracle again, even a cultural phenomenon that has not been seen for many years. In just a few days, Regis Fell's amazing

The numbing multiple-choice question has become a topic of greatest concern to the entire American public. Some friends around me have even proposed that George Bush and Michael Dukakis give up the boring debates about mutual abuse and accusations and participate in "Who Will

Become a Millionaire" to determine who will be the next President of the United States'.

The operating conditions of the ABC TV network in recent years have actually not been good.

After Warren Buffett and Tom Murphy purchased the television network for $3.5 billion in 1985, ABC Television Network suffered losses of $70 million and $3,000 respectively in 1986 and 1987 due to internal turmoil caused by changes in ownership.

Ten thousand U.S. dollars.

Without the appearance of "Who Will Be a Millionaire", the ABC TV network is destined to continue to lose money this year due to the Hollywood writers' strike.

For a large media group, if it is just a simple loss, the loss of tens of millions of dollars is completely within its tolerance. However, because of the loss, the stock price of ABC Television Network’s parent company Metropolitan-ABC Group continued to fall, but it was not the shareholders.

and what management wants to see.

As the pilot episode becomes more and more successful, ABC is becoming more and more urgent to finalize the cooperation plan as soon as possible. ABC executives also generally hope to make "Who Will Be a Millionaire" a permanent program on the TV network starting in July?

, not just the 69 originally scheduled programs to fill the schedule to cope with the lack of programs this fall.

So, after a few days of hard work, Daniel Burke, president of Metropolis-ABC Group, came to Los Angeles in person on Thursday to discuss specific cooperation matters with Daenerys Pictures for "Who Will Be a Millionaire".

Santa Monica.

In an audition room at Daenerys Film Headquarters, Simon and Terry Semel sat in the middle, with other staff standing or sitting around them.

On the other side of the audition table, a man and a woman were performing.

The woman is Valerie Golino, who has been confirmed to play Catwoman Selina Kyle, and the other tall man is Adam Baldwin. When the name Baldwin is mentioned, it is always easy to think of the famous Baldwin Four in Hollywood.

brother.

However, Adam Baldwin is not a member of the Baldwin family.

Adam Baldwin is 26 years old this year. He debuted in 1980. His most famous role before that was the image of a brutal soldier in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket".

In Simon's memory, this Hollywood actor with the famous "sliver face" also appeared in many films such as "Days Alone", "Firefly", "Serenity", etc. However, these were all supporting roles.

Adam Baldwin was mainly a television actor in the original time and space, and had recurring roles in well-known American dramas such as "The X-Files", "Bones", and "CSI".

Among Daenerys Pictures' last batch of "Batman" male lead candidates, Adam Baldwin has a very obvious advantage. He debuted at the age of 18, has rich acting experience, has no bad habits, and his appearance, image and age are all suitable for Bruce Wayne.

Most of the characteristics of EN.

Therefore, today is the last audition for "Batman". If confirmed, Bruce Wayne will be completely confirmed.

In the performance venue, Adam Baldwin and Valerie Golino had obviously prepared carefully and considered the performance clip given by Simon in every detail.

This audition scene is about Batman having just finished a battle with a villain, and Catwoman comes to help Batman at a critical moment. After spending many times together, Batman has developed feelings for Catwoman, but stubbornly refuses this feeling.

, Catwoman also developed a liking for Batman.

Although they were only wearing ordinary clothes, both of them were already in a very dramatic state.

According to the script, Adam Baldwin carried a staff member who acted as a 'prop' and placed it on a chair in the corner. This was a criminal that Batman had just caught.

Valerie Golino followed step by step, with a bit of exhaustion after the battle in her expression. Seeing that Batman ignored her, she couldn't help but feel some resentment, and in a mocking tone, she changed herself into Batman's identity.

Said: "Thank you, Selena, thank you for helping me at a critical moment. You acted like a hero."

'Batman' still stood there, turned around with some hesitation, and said in a rare defense: "Everything is under control."

'Catwoman' leaned over like a little wild cat, put her hand on 'Batman''s shoulder, and said: "Yes, yes, now, be a good girl and give your fearless hero a kiss."

After saying this, 'Catwoman' leaned forward and was about to kiss 'Batman', but was firmly pushed away by 'Batman'. 'Catwoman', who had been tender and affectionate just now, also instantly turned her face, just like Cat.

With the same fickle character, he stretched out his "claws" and grabbed "Batman" on the face without hesitation, but was easily caught by the wrist.

After subduing 'Catwoman', 'Batman''s tone was still cold. He looked down at the struggling little wildcat in front of him and said, "Well done."

'Catwoman' leaned close to her again, and her tone became charming again: "Then why don't you follow along?"

'Batman' shook off 'Catwoman's' wrist, took a step back to distance herself from her, shook his head slightly and said, "No, I didn't act, and I never will."

'Catwoman' looked at 'Batman' and turned away, took a step forward, but immediately stopped, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone: "Oh, what does this mean?"

"This means, Selina, we're done here," 'Batman' said this with his back to 'Catwoman', then turned around again and said: "This means, we can't, I, can't...

Gotham needs a protector, and I need to protect this city."

'Catwoman' listened to 'Batman''s words, stepped forward again, stretched out her hand and gently put her hand on 'Batman''s shoulder. The little wildcat just now had a little more tenderness and pity in his temperament, and said: "But

I don't need your protection."

'Batman' raised his hand, not knowing whether he wanted to press the back of 'Catwoman''s hand on his shoulder, or to open her up again. After a pause, he put his hand down again and said: "Selena

,I have to go now."

'Catwoman' rubbed Batman's shoulder for a moment, then finally withdrew her hand and said, "Okay, we'll see you next time."

"I don't want to see you again."

"Oh, how is this possible? You are a vigilante in Gotham, and I am a bad guy. The police must come to catch the bad guy, right?" After saying this, without waiting for 'Batman' to reply, 'Catwoman'

He took the initiative to retreat and left. 'Batman' stood there and watched 'Catwoman' disappear, then turned and left.

At the end of the performance, everyone in the audition room applauded gently.

Simon also clapped his hands, and after Adam Baldwin and Valerie Golino nodded to everyone and temporarily left the audition room, he asked Terry Semel next to him: "Terry, what do you think?"

"Excellent," Terry Semel nodded affirmatively, and then continued: "But, Simon, for a big production worth fifty million dollars, is it too hasty to pick the two of them? Valerie Golino also

That's okay, but Adam Baldwin, honestly, if you hadn't put his information in front of me, I wouldn't have known who he was."

"Don't you already know it now?" Simon said with a smile on his face: "And by the end of next year, everyone will know this name, just like Christopher Reeve, the leading actor of "Superman" back then."

Terry Semel knew that Simon had made up his mind and Warner had no decision-making power on this matter. He simply said a few words and stopped trying to persuade him. The two continued to chat about some production matters. Terry Semel

Mel then stood up to say goodbye and left.

Adam Baldwin and Valerie Golino were already waiting in another conference room. Simon sent Terry Semel away and sent away the other staff in the audition room, leaving only Jonathan Friedman and two other people.

Matthew Steele and Elian Borman are the agents of the male and female protagonists of "Batman" respectively.

Although WMA has tried to strengthen the collaborative cooperation mechanism through reforms in the past two years, it is obviously not that easy for a talent agency that has been established longer than the Big Seven to make changes. Adam Baldwin and Valerie Golino each have their own

Although his agent, Jonathan Friedman, is the vice president of WMA, he cannot get a share from this cooperation.

However, in order to expand his influence and win the opportunity to be the next president of WMA, Jonathan Friedman took the initiative after trying to no avail to push his own Matt Dillon to the position of Batman during this casting process.

Stepping in to mediate and coordinate, the other two agents naturally joined Jonathan's faction.

None of the four sat down again. Simon stood at the audition table and said to Adam Baldwin's agent Matthew Stilt: "I heard that Adam is getting married soon?"

Matthew Stilt nodded: "Yes, he has a girlfriend of five years."

Simon didn't beat around the bush and said: "Let him postpone the wedding for two years. I don't want to see Robin Williams divorce his long-time wife right after he became famous. If after the release of "Batman", he

If he is still willing to continue marrying his girlfriend, Daenerys Pictures will give him a generous wedding gift."

Robin Williams, who rose to the top with "Good Morning Vietnam" at the end of last year, divorced his first wife of ten years this year.

Matthew Stilt agreed: "I'll talk to him sometime."

Simon shook his head and said: "Let's talk tonight and give me a result tomorrow. Tell him to treat it as a test of feelings. Of course, if he insists on marrying his girlfriend, Daenerys Films will not object. But,

I just said that I don’t want to see such messy things as divorcing my wife just after becoming popular. So, let him and his girlfriend sign a more generous prenuptial agreement, the kind that makes a man feel so distressed that he can’t divorce.

.”

When Jonathan Friedman and the three of them heard this, they couldn't help showing some wry smiles on their faces.

Simon stopped bargaining with them. They were about to leave the audition room. Amy Pascal opened the door and walked in in a hurry. She just glanced at the other three people and said to Simon: "Simon, just now the Producers Alliance
Chapter completed!