Huayu 2011: Starting with Hilarious Men

Popularity brings traffic and topics, but it also brings criticism.

There were criticisms when the first season of "Hilarious Men" aired, but at the time these voices were small and scattered, and were drowned out by the voices of those who liked it.

Now that "Hilarious Men" has gained popularity, the criticism has also increased.

The statement from a well-known figure has brought the criticism of "Hilarious Men" to the forefront.

This well-known person is Gao Xiaosong, who publicly posted a Weibo message on January 1, 2012.

Today, on New Year's Eve, I happened to see a news story about a young man who was so laughing at a web series that he ended up in the hospital.

Taking this news as an opportunity, I'd like to talk to you today about the second season of "Hilarious Men". I'll say a few words calmly and without any hostility, focusing only on culture, aesthetics, and the spirit of the times.

First of all, I don't deny that it has a down-to-earth, relatable feel, and is very internet-savvy. It's full of jokes and has a fast pace, which can hit the self-deprecating and stress-relieving needs of ordinary people in their lives. This is very clever and shows that it understands the emotional outlets of today's young people.

But being smart doesn't equal being sophisticated, and being lively doesn't equal being classy.

Firstly, their aesthetic vision is too narrow, indulging in vulgarity and lowbrow culture.

Secondly, the expression of values ​​is hollow, leaving only meaningless deconstruction.

Third, entertainment has no boundaries and a serious lack of sense of proportion.

The core of comedy is compassion, not unrestrained mockery or bottomless jokes.

Of course, I'm not saying you can't make popular comedies. Popularity is fine, but vulgarity is not; being down-to-earth is fine, but pandering to popular tastes is not.

Our times need entertainment to relieve stress, but we shouldn't condone the decline of aesthetic values.

Gao Xiaosong is considered a top public intellectual/cultural KOL on Weibo.

Sina Weibo alone has nearly four million followers, and a single post can go viral across the entire internet.

With Gao Xiaosong leading the criticism, the comments section below was filled with agreement and echoes.

[Mr. Ai's words really hit the nail on the head. "Hilarious Men" relies purely on vulgar jokes to grab attention, offering no substance whatsoever. After the laughter, all that's left is awkwardness, and it really lowers the bar for aesthetics.]

I've always disliked these nonsensical and vulgar short dramas that rely on parody and slapstick to create laughs, lacking any humanistic depth. I agree with Mr. Ai's point that comedy shouldn't be about shameless pandering to the masses.

True comedy has a core and warmth; it's not just about piling up dirty jokes and awkward farces. Many online dramas these days have no sense of propriety in their pursuit of viewership, and Mr. Ai sees this all too clearly.

Young people today are too easily brainwashed by fast-paced entertainment, gradually losing their aesthetic standards. Mr. Ai's words are not criticism, but a reminder that artistic works should have integrity and a sense of proportion.

This article stayed on Weibo's trending topics for three whole days.

Many people who dislike or oppose "Hilarious Men" seem to have found an outlet for their anger, and they are frantically expressing their opinions under this Weibo post. The opinions they are expressing are becoming more and more extreme, and they are devaluing "Hilarious Men" and the people who like "Hilarious Men" to nothing.

Gao Xiaosong also allowed these extreme remarks to fester.

…………

Such a huge public opinion storm has already begun to affect the popularity and viewership of "Hilarious Men", and Zheng Nan couldn't possibly be unaware of it.

"Have you offended him?" Ding Xiu asked, knowing that such methods wouldn't be used unless the person was an enemy.

"No." Zheng Nan shook his head. He had never crossed paths with Gao Xiaosong in either of his two lifetimes.

"You slept with his wife?" Only Lin Wenruo could ask such a question.

"Get lost! I'm not as desperate as you!" Zheng Nan kicked Lin Wenruo ten meters away.

"There is no hatred without a cause; there must be a reason." As a long-time anime and manga fan, Ren Yi gave a definitive conclusion.

Zheng Nan vaguely guessed why Gao Xiaosong was targeting him, but he didn't tell the people present, as there was no need to worry them.

He immediately pulled out his phone and called Liu Chun. "How many new users has 'Hilarious Men' brought to Sohu? Sohu should step up its game."

"Mr. Liu, is there something unpleasant about our cooperation?"

"Great! Which platform has approached you about the rights to the third season of 'Hilarious Men'? Don't listen to their empty promises! Only Sohu truly supports you!" Liu Chun's first thought was that someone was trying to poach him.

The second season of "Hilarious Men" proved that this IP has been established and is a valuable work.

A valuable series of works is like a hen that lays golden eggs; many people are eyeing it.

Before Zheng Nan could answer, Liu Chun had already started making a list of suspects in his mind. Youku was the most shameless, so it was the most likely culprit!

"Is Sohu the most supportive platform for me? Why is someone's long essay criticizing 'Hilarious Men' trending on Sohu Weibo?" Zheng Nan began to complain, "Do other platforms also support their exclusive works in this way?"

The squeaky wheel gets the grease; sometimes, if you don't complain, others will think you're sensible and easy to bully.

Upon hearing what Zheng Nan said, Liu Chun smiled awkwardly.

He knew about this, and it was true that Sohu had acted unethically, but he couldn't tell the truth, so he could only defend himself by saying:

"Sohu is a large company, and there might be misunderstandings in communication between different project teams. I'll immediately contact my colleagues at Weibo to handle this. Also, I'll get in touch with my colleagues at Sohu Entertainment to arrange an exclusive interview for you..."

"There's no need for an exclusive interview. I've already contacted Sina in Shanghai for an interview, so there's no need to trouble Sohu Entertainment's colleagues to fly over from Beijing," Zheng Nan politely declined, while also indicating that Sohu wasn't his only option.

"I will definitely handle this matter seriously and give you an explanation." Liu Chun's promise this time was much firmer.

…………

The next day, Sina Shanghai.

"We meet again." This is Zheng Nan's second interview with Xu Yuanyuan.

"Director Zheng is really popular lately," Xu Yuanyuan joked.

"High popularity is a double-edged sword; some people like it, and some people hate it." Zheng Nan was already prepared when she decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Half of the money celebrities earn comes from being criticized.

"Director Zheng has a really good attitude; he didn't even retaliate." Xu Yuanyuan admired Zheng Nan's composure at such a young age.

It's common for public figures to engage in online arguments with netizens these days. Not to mention the distant past, just in recent years, Feng Xiaogang and Zhou Libo have both had verbal battles with netizens.

"Being criticized doesn't affect my ability to make money. In fact, the more successful I am, the fewer these voices there will be, and more people will help me fight back." Zheng Nan didn't take Gao Xiaosong seriously at all.

"Shall we begin today's interview?" After a few casual words, Xu Yuanyuan took out her prepared cue cards and got to the topic of today's interview.

"Okay, go ahead and ask."

"Recently, the second season of 'Hilarious Men' has been airing, and there have been many criticisms online, saying that 'Hilarious Men' lacks substance and has no educational value. What is Director Zheng's opinion on this?"

In the first interview, Zheng Nan mentioned the trending topic "26,000". Xu Yuanyuan is looking forward to seeing what new bombshell Zheng Nan will reveal this time.