Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 164, Section 162: The Limitations of the Times

Time slipped to Tuesday, December 30, 1997.

As the year draws to a close in Beijing, the cold wind still blows, but the "verbal battles" among film industry figures seem insignificant in the face of the grander tides of the times.

The debates surrounding the authenticity of the box office figures for "30 Days," the pros and cons of the revenue-sharing model, and whether the Suzhou "movie viewing express" constitutes "malicious competition" have gradually faded from the headlines and become occasional topics of conversation among industry insiders, as the official stance remains unclear and the market continues to provide answers with real money.

After all, at the end of the year, all industries are taking stock and summarizing, and new things are constantly emerging. The public's attention is always easily attracted to new things.

Despite strong protests from Shanghai Film Company and subtle silence from Jiangsu Film Company, the "movie-watching shuttle" organized by Suzhou continues to operate as before, even launching a rather provocative slogan: "So close, so beautiful, come to Suzhou this weekend." Nanjing is following suit and has also started spending its own Anhui brothers' money...

Objectively, this has indeed promoted short-distance cultural and tourism exchanges between Suzhou and Shanghai, and boosted consumption in Suzhou's catering and accommodation sectors.

Although the authorities in Shanghai were furious, under the banner of "meeting the cultural needs of the people," and given the difficulty of directly shutting down this market-driven behavior through administrative means, they could only resort to verbal protests and internal frustration.

……

On that very day, a message from the south was transmitted to the Beijing Film Studio and to Wang Sheng's office via telephone.

"Mr. Wang, great news! The top 120 contestants of 'Super Girl' have all been selected!" Wang Changtian's excited voice came from the other end of the phone, with the background noise of the busy Changsha office of Enlight Media.

"The top 20 from each of the six regional competitions are listed here. Cecilia Cheung, yes, the one you brought back from Hong Kong Island, performed consistently in the Central and Southern China region (Guangzhou region) and successfully advanced to the national top 120!"

Wang Sheng held the microphone, his face showing little surprise.

Cecilia Cheung's appearance and Cantonese singing skills were indeed outstanding in her specific region, so it was expected that she would enter the national competition.

"What about other regions? Are there any particularly outstanding prospects?"

"Yes! Although the competition in the Beijing division was fierce, several promising talents from professional schools still managed to stand out. For example, there's a girl named Ye Bei with a great voice. In the Northeast division, there's a girl named Yang Fang who sings folk songs exceptionally well and has a stable stage presence. Most importantly, the deal with Director Ouyang was successful!"

Wang Changtian's tone became increasingly excited: "Hunan TV has decided to pilot the competition to advance from the top 120 to the top 60 in 'Super Girl' on the evening of December 31st!"

"Oh? What are the specific arrangements?" Wang Sheng leaned forward slightly; this was the key question.

"Starting at 8 PM, we'll first broadcast a New Year's TV movie, which will end around 9:30 PM. Then, seamlessly transitioning to the first half of our 'Super Girl' competition, the top 120 contestants narrowing down to 60! It will last about an hour, taking up until 10:30 PM!"

Wang Changtian reported quickly: "All the nationwide advertising slots have been sold, and we also have several local companies offering interstitial advertising slots. The revenue is better than expected!"

Wang Sheng pondered for a moment.

Under his "correction," this version of "Super Girl" was indeed different from the monster of later generations that relied on SMS voting to ignite nationwide participation.

In late 1997, when mobile phones were still the "big brother" type owned by a minority, the civilian internet was just emerging, and social security management was relatively strict, it was simply unrealistic to expect viewers to participate deeply in voting through expensive mobile phone text messages.

Therefore, this version of "Super Girl" focuses more on the television presentation itself.

Interactivity was achieved primarily through two methods: first, multiple telephone hotlines were set up for viewers to inquire about the program; second, the participation and reaction of the on-site audience (including cheerleading teams organized by each competition area and some lucky audience members) were enhanced to create an atmosphere.

The judging power of the program is mainly in the hands of a panel of judges composed of musicians, media representatives, and record company representatives.

The competition emphasizes "grassroots dreams" and "musical performance," creating drama and buzz through contestants' background videos, heartfelt confessions, and judges' distinctive comments.

While this design loses the immense power of viral spread and fan economy in the later stages, it is more in line with the current technological conditions and the production and broadcasting capabilities of TV stations.

It's more like a well-produced, innovative television music program with competitive elements.

“Hunan TV attaches great importance to this,” Wang Changtian continued. “Although Hunan Satellite TV has only recently been launched and its signal coverage is still gradually expanding, it broadcasts for free nationwide! As long as you can receive the signal, you can watch it! Their show ‘Happy Camp’ has seen its ratings rise steadily since it premiered in July, and now they need this kind of creative new program to solidify their evening slot and attract young viewers.”

When Hunan Satellite TV was launched in 1997, it showed a lively atmosphere that was different from the older satellite TV stations. Although the signal coverage and quality were still being improved, its free broadcast model meant that anyone with a satellite antenna or local cable network access could watch it.

This is quite appealing to many viewers who crave more entertainment options.

"..."

...December 31st, Wednesday, New Year's Eve.

Many families across China still maintain the traditional custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve, sitting around the television together and waiting for the New Year's bell to ring.

In the living quarters of the Beijing Film Studio, Wang Sheng's home was particularly lively.

Parents Wang Baoguo and Zhang Xiulan, Chen Liang's parents, as well as factory director Han Sanping and his daughter Han Jianu, all gathered together.

The table was covered with fruits and snacks, and the TV was playing a pre-show program for the gala.

At 8 p.m. sharp, Hunan TV began broadcasting another episode of this year's Lunar New Year TV movie, "Harmony Brings Prosperity".

This film is directed by Wu Yiyi, with Wang Sheng as the main screenwriter, and features some of the original cast members.

The film's fast pace and down-to-earth humor brought laughter to many families.

As the time approached 9:30, "Harmony Brings Prosperity" came to a happy end.

When the end credits rolled, many viewers assumed that commercials or variety shows would follow.

However, the screen flashed, and a dynamic and youthful opening sequence suddenly appeared—a dazzling stage with lights, rapidly edited images of the contestants' faces, an exciting melody, and a huge logo that read "Super Girl"!
"Huh? What program is this?" Han Jianu, who was peeling an orange at Wang Sheng's home in Beijing, looked up curiously.

On the television, the host announced in a vibrant voice: "Welcome, viewers, to the national finals of 'Super Girl,' sponsored by Baihua Leather Shoes! One hundred and twenty girls with musical dreams have emerged from six regional competitions. Tonight, they will compete here for a spot in the top sixty nationwide!"

The scene then cuts to the live broadcast. A spacious studio, brightly lit, is packed with audience members waving glow sticks.

Several unfamiliar faces but professional demeanor musicians sat on the judging panel.

The contestants took to the stage one by one. Although most of them were still a bit green and nervous, their performances, whether pop, folk, or a little rock, all exuded an unpolished authenticity.

The program is fast-paced, with contestant performances, judges' comments, and background video introductions interspersed throughout.

There was no lengthy process; the focus was more on the music itself and the contestants' personalities.

"This girl sings quite well!" Wang Sheng's mother, Zhang Xiulan, said, pointing to a contestant on TV who was singing "Lupin Flower".

"Hey, Uncle Wang Sheng, look at that guy, dressed like a boy, but he's singing really well!" Han Jianu also discovered something new.

Gradually, the chatter in the living room subsided, and more and more people became attracted to the program.

Whether it's the contestants' stories of pursuing their dreams, the judges' occasional sharp and encouraging comments, or the youthful, even somewhat clumsy but incredibly sincere faces on stage, all present a fresh viewing experience that is completely different from the song and dance performances and TV dramas commonly seen today.

Especially in an era of relatively limited entertainment options, a show that focuses entirely on ordinary girls (albeit selected) singing and features competitive suspense is undeniably appealing.

"This show... is quite interesting." Han Sanping knew that it was Wang Sheng's doing, and he had also heard that the show had generated considerable buzz in the six regional competition areas.

Listening to the discussions and watching the faces of Cecilia Cheung and other contestants flash across the television screen, Wang Sheng understood.

He knew that although the lack of key interactive elements due to the limitations of the technology of the time would reduce the explosive power and stickiness of this craze, the core of the "grassroots talent show" model of "Super Girl" was still enough to ignite the first spark on the emerging platform of Hunan TV this winter, with its inherent drama, authenticity and dream-making function.

It may not be as intense as it was a few years later, but it was enough to make countless viewers who stayed in front of their TVs remember this somewhat special night, remember the name "Super Girl," and lay the foundation for it.

At the end of the program, the host announced part of the list of those who advanced to the top 60 nationwide, leaving the suspense for the next episode.

With a program duration of 60 minutes, 60 pairs of contestants definitely cannot complete the entire PK process.

When the end credits song "Sing If You Want" started playing, many viewers who were still enjoying the show realized that it was almost 11 p.m.

"Is that all? I haven't seen enough yet!" Han Jianu muttered.

"..."

(End of this chapter)