"David, I'm ready. Let's go fishing for trout on Staten Island. This set is yours."
At the weekend, Ronald and a group of people picked up David Letterman and headed towards the nature reserve in their territory.
"Oh, man, I really like a little time away from the crowd. So many people have been looking for me lately, and I can't even hide..." David Letterman was wearing a sports suit and a pair of sunglasses. If it weren't for
No one who knows him well can tell that this middle-aged man with wild hair and a lot of talk is the host of the second-highest-rated talk show in the United States.
The car drove for more than an hour and finally arrived at the house on Staten Island where "The Godfather" was filmed.
"Is this where the Godfather sits?" David Letterman is a fan of imitation and will not miss this opportunity. "If you had come to me as a friend, your enemies would have suffered. Like you.
Honest person, if someone wants to go against you, he will become my enemy..."
He imitated a line from Marlon Brando, and it must be said that the level of performance was beyond the sky. "How is it? How did I perform?"
"Hahaha, David, you can't play the role of The Godfather, don't worry. The Godfather is a story of Italian descent. For a typical Southern boy like you, you can't be from an Italian family in New York. Why don't you play Red from Gone with the Wind?
Pretty much."
"Hahahaha..." Letterman was very happy to be praised. He and Ronald, as well as a group of bodyguards and drivers, changed into fisherman's clothes and went to the wetland to start throwing poles.
The two spent a lot of time fishing together. In the protected wetland opposite Ronald's house, trout were very easy to take the bait. Letterman was very proud and even argued with Ronald about who caught more.
The two felt a little wet, so they went to rest and have a meal in the nearby fisherman's hut. After finishing the sandwiches they brought and the hot coffee in thermos cups, they both felt that today's fishing was very successful. At this time, Letterman told the truth.
"This is really very happy. I also received a lot of calls from other people. Only you didn't talk to me about Carson's Tonight Show... and there wasn't a bunch of people surrounding me, trying to get rid of me.
What benefits have you gained..."
"Hey, we all have similar identities. I know what troubles you have, so I asked you to come out to relax." Ronald thought that it was indeed good. Ovitz would not miss this rare opportunity. He must also think of various ways.
Come and get on the line with Letterman, and then try to persuade him to hire CAA for a PR counterattack to ensure that Johnny Carson's show is continued.
After discussing with Richard and Ed Bastian for a long time, I still felt that Letterman, after nearly ten years of successful hosting career, no longer had any sense of crisis towards Jay Leno's methods.
If they want to persuade, not only will they not be able to win over David Letterman, they will actually bore him.
Moreover, if Jay Leno succeeds in intercepting the draw in the end, Letterman may not necessarily have any good impressions of those who come up and say, "I told you so..."
This is human nature. Most people are unwilling to admit that their own mistakes have caused irreparable consequences. Those prophets who clearly spell out the future tragedy will not have any good results.
Rather than fighting for this opportunity with Ovitz and other people in several brokerage companies, it is better to change the approach. If it really fails, David Letterman prefers to work with someone who does not see the crisis like him and can
Communicate with people who complain about God’s injustice.
Anyway, according to the news from Ed Bastian, it is difficult to ease the relationship between him and NBC executives. It is better to wait until afterwards and they will come back to help in times of need.
Ronald called the driver, Little Bud, and asked him to bring the car over and prepare to go back.
"I left my agent, assistants, and senior managers in the house. I will have to deal with a lot of trivial matters with them when I go back. It's better for you to be comfortable. There are not so many things to wait for you to make a decision."
"Hahaha, that's what being a host is like. If you concentrate on being a director, it's probably about the same." Letterman felt very happy.
"No, the director still has to deal with the box office pressure from the producer and the company, or the pressure to win awards. Hosting is indeed a good profession, especially for a program of your scale."
"Hahaha..." Letterman thought that he would take over Johnny Carson's show soon, and he would no longer be second, but first.
"By the way, some people from my TV station will also come today. If you don't mind, there is one of your loyal fans who is also the host of a talk show who wants to meet you. She likes your program very much.
, always imitating your style..."
"Who is it?" Letterman was originally not interested in meeting outsiders, but he was in a good fishing mood, and he was about to become the number one host in America. There was a colleague who was actually his fan. At this point in time
, and he is less private.
"Ricky Lake, now host of a teen show on my New York TV station. You may have seen..."
"I definitely haven't watched it. I don't have time to watch other people's talk shows, and I don't really watch Johnny Carson's."
"No, she has acted in a musical before, Hairspray. The director and the Drag Queen who played her mother were on your show..."
"Oh, it's her, I remember, a little chubby girl."
…
"Mr. Letterman, I'm so glad to see you. Can you sign your name for me?"
Fat girl Ricky Lake has also been working as a host for a long time. She tried every means to lose weight before but the effect was not obvious. After working as a host every day, it may be due to the pressure, but she has lost some weight.
It is true that she admires David Letterman. Although she is not as obsessed as a movie fan when meeting a star, professionally, she watches Letterman and Carson's programs after work to try to figure out how to mobilize the audience's emotions.
I still admire these two people for their skills in dealing with emergencies.
"Oh, God. When I was watching the movie, I didn't expect you to be my companion." Letterman was obviously very happy and hugged Ricky Lake. Then the two chatted a few words about daily life.
gossip.
Anyway, the so-called skills can be studied over and over again after recording the usual programs. Ricky Lake did not ask Letterman for any advice.
"She hosts a talk show for teenage audiences, which is different from your rating..." Ronald took the initiative to come over and introduce Ricky Lake's show, the number of viewers, etc.
"Oh, very good. Is there anything you want to ask me?" Letterman raised his eyebrows. This number is actually quite good for a local TV station.
"I mainly want to meet you. It was after watching your show that I came up with the idea of becoming a host." Ricky Lake thought to himself, your show is a late-night adult talk show, and mine is an afternoon youth show.
Those jokes of yours are always "beep" dropped on my show. Is there anything you can ask me?
"Ronald? Where are you? Ed and Richard are here and want to talk to you about work..." Helen Slater's voice came over.
"I'm in the study. Just ask them to wait for a while. I'll start working soon." Seeing that the person who had arranged the arrangement had already arrived, and seeing Letterman chatting happily with Ricky Lake, Ronald put
Richard and Ed Bastian came over.
"Ronald, where are your files?" Helen, who was Ronald's secretary, was very unfamiliar with doing this kind of thing, so she had to call him over.
"Just in time", Ronald thought to himself, and then he said to Letterman, "This is Richard, this is Ed, this one needs no introduction... Just wait for me, I'll go take care of things."
Once it's done, come back and we'll go to Manhattan together."
"Mr. Letterman, how was today's catch?" Richard adjusted his glasses. He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
"Haha, it's not bad. Let's take a look at my photos. I caught more fish than Ronald..." Letterman took out several Polaroid photos of himself and trout.
"Oh, it is indeed a very good trout. This photo is really good." Richard and Bastian both came up, pretending to be fishing enthusiasts.
"I remember you, you are Ronald's agent, right? You are also from CAA? Aren't you going to ask me something? Why did Ovitz come to you to talk to me?" David Letterman is not stupid either.
I suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
"Hahaha, CAA is a partnership company, we each have our own business."
"What, you don't want to sign me as a client?" Letterman was dubious.
"Yes, of course I do. Who doesn't want to be the agent of the number one talk show host in the United States? This is one of every agent's ultimate dreams..." Richard was not polite and admitted that he had the idea to sign a contract.
Get off him.
"However, I don't very much agree with Mr. Ovitz's approach. In my opinion, the Tonight Show already has a suitable successor, and there is only one, and that is you, Mr. Letterman."
"Haha, that's not entirely accurate, but that's what I think, hahaha. Your Ovitz is always bothering me, asking about someone trying to rob me, or doing public relations... You tell me, I really have
Is this a risk?”
"In my opinion, even if there is a risk, their approach is wrong and they have not grasped the key to the problem at all." Ed Bastian interjected and took the question that Richard was not comfortable answering, "I am Bastian.
Steve is the president of the station where Ricky Lake works."
"Oh, what do you think is the crux of the problem?" Letterman was interested in listening.
"The most critical bargaining chip in any negotiation is not how strong your work ability is, nor how much salary you ask for, but the right to leave the negotiation at any time and not talk to the other party. With this, it is better than any public relations
Actions work... Which TV station wouldn't want to have a host like you?"
When David Letterman heard this, he was very proud of himself. Indeed, besides Johnny Carson, who is about to retire, who else in America can have such a large audience and such a big influence now?
"Ah, David. I've finished it over there. You can go." Ronald walked into the room at the right time. He looked at Ed Bastian and Richard and saw the two men nodding slightly, so he smiled.
He said, "We are going back to Manhattan. Where do you want us to take you? Is it the NBC building or your home in North Salem?"
"Oh, let's go to North Salem. Or you can put me in Manhattan. I have a driver provided by NBC and I'll be on standby in Manhattan. How about that, isn't it good?"
"Of course...if you want to go back to Los Angeles, I can take you back. My plane is parked at the airport in New Jersey."
"Oh? Your private plane?" Letterman's financial resources are still under pressure to afford a plane. He has recently been considering buying the land around his house in North Salem and getting a private plot like Ronald.
"Yes, the latest model of Gulfstream can fly across the Atlantic. I also have a retired Navy pilot..." When talking about airplanes, Ronald immediately became interested. No matter how old a man is, he is very interested in this kind of toy.
"It's a pity that it didn't stop here, otherwise I could have borrowed it. JFK is the most convenient way for me to go to the airport." When David Letterman heard that the plane was still in New Jersey, it was further away from his home in upstate New York.
"Uh...", Ronald choked. There is no airport on Staten Island that can accommodate business jets like the Gulfstream. Does it seem like one will be built? Otherwise, it will take several hours to fly to New York and return to his hometown.
…
When he walked out of the door, David Letterman still sat on the chair where The Godfather sat for a while. Americans always have a different kind of emotion towards The Godfather, and they wanted to try it when they went to the filming location of the original film.
Marlon Brando's lines.
"Very good, maybe one day in the future, maybe this day will never come, but when it does come, I hope to get your help!"
"David, I still think you are suitable for playing a Southern gentleman. You know, the best actors play their true colors."
"Hahaha..." David Letterman laughed wildly again.
Ronald and the others sent him out together. He was the last one to close the door. Just as he was about to close the door, the light in the room dimmed. He thought of the opening scene in The Godfather and what Letterman repeated.
A line...
Interesting, maybe just right. Ronald smiled and closed the door.
In the evening, in the high-rise apartment on Fifth Avenue, Ronald smiled and had a French dinner with Helen. The red wine and delicacies, plus the beautiful woman played a jazz song she wrote at the piano, gave Ronald a new life.
It feels like being the owner of a Hollywood studio in the 1920s, letting the company's actresses give you private performances.
"That's great, you should make a record, Helen." Ronald applauded after the song ended.
"Really? Hehe, but I still prefer acting." In Billy Crystal's "City Cowboy", Helen played a city girl who went to the western ranch with him for a ranch trip.
Because he was molested by a cowboy, the biggest supporting role in this movie was introduced, the real cowboy played by the famous villain, Jack Palance. It is not a very important supporting role, but it happens to be in a key position. The audience is likely to
Remember this role.
"Then become an actor..." Ronald held Helen in his arms and raised and lowered his hands.
"Ring ring ring ring..."
The phone rang and Ronald picked it up to listen.
"Ronald, I checked New York State's environmental protection bill. If you want to build a private airport on Staten Island, it does have to go through the review of historical and cultural heritage protection... In total, your cost... is not considered.
Can you rent a helicopter to commute between your home and the airport?" His personal attorney, Lindsay Dole, called.
"This figure is not bad. You don't know, the parking fee of a private jet is also very expensive. I have to pay almost half of the figure every year in Los Angeles. In the future, I can fly directly to Staten Island and save a lot of money."