The Greatest Showman #657 - Rare Sight

Jay's gaze fixed on Renly, scrutinizing the young man before him. Renly wore a navy blue polka-dot shirt, light gray suit pants, and casual light brown sailing shoes. Everything about his outfit was meticulously arranged: each button was perfectly fastened, the belt on his pants was neatly adjusted, and the shirt's collar, sleeves, and shoulder lines were crisp and flawless. There was not a single imperfection—perhaps even a bit too rigid. But his overall look was refreshing, youthful, and energetic. His simple yet formal attire presented a unique mix of vigor and calm sophistication, especially in his demeanor, which left a strong impression.

Hollywood often buzzes with rumors that are hard to believe, and most people wear masks to hide their true selves. Yet, in the brief interaction they had just shared, Jay glimpsed a purity in Renly that had not been tainted by the world of fame and fortune. Whether this innocence was a blessing or a curse was unclear, but Jay found it appealing.

"Seriously, did you just think of me as Oprah Winfrey?" Jay asked, keeping in mind that he was recording The Tonight Show. His playful jab landed well, and the audience erupted in laughter and applause.

Renly, unruffled, smiled and waited for the laughter to subside before responding, "Actually, you were Ellen DeGeneres just now, right?" He fired back with a cheeky grin.

Oprah was known for her probing, provocative questions and deeply emotional stories, while Ellen was all about fun, dancing, and lively entertainment. The nature of The Tonight Show typically avoided in-depth topics like music and personal dreams, which set the stage for their playful exchange.

The audience paused for a moment, then burst into laughter once more at Renly's quick wit.

"You... you..." Jay began, but the noise from the audience drowned out his words. He tried twice, only for his voice to be swallowed up, causing him to chuckle. "You're deliberately trying to dodge me, aren't you? You don't plan to perform on the show, right?"

Renly's eyes momentarily widened, but he didn't hesitate to admit, "I'm here to promote the movie. If we get sidetracked like this, our PR team might be tearing their hair out backstage." His self-deprecating humor got another round of laughter, even drawing some of the crew's attention, who chuckled along.

Renly's team was present, including Roy, Nathan, and Focus Features' publicity team. Compared to last year's Buried Alive, Focus was putting more effort into promoting Love Crazy, including strategic Academy public relations. Renly's quick wit had just made the publicity team the center of attention backstage, prompting more awkward but amused smiles.

"It seems like the first thing I'll do when I get home is buy the album and listen to the whole thing," Jay continued. "If it were Ellen, she'd get you to sing 'Believe it' and promote the movie at the same time. But Jay Leno on The Tonight Show? Not so much. However..." He paused, eyeing Renly with a playful expression. "If there's ever a chance, I'd love to invite you back to talk about your album."

"Bingo!" Renly exclaimed with a wide smile, snapping his fingers.

The audience, as well as Jay, was momentarily thrown off. The reference flew over Jay's head at first, but he quickly recovered. "Wait, so your refusal to perform live was just an excuse to come back on The Tonight Show?" Jay laughed, realizing that Renly had skillfully used humor to navigate the interview.

The crowd responded with applause and cheers, impressed by Renly's ability to think on his feet. Jay was clearly entertained by the banter.

"Let's get back to the movie," Jay said, attempting to steer the conversation back on track. "About that trailer... yes, the one that made me hesitate to watch the film just now..." He shot a playful look at the audience, causing them to chuckle. "There's one last scene that has me very curious. I've always wanted to ask you about it."

"Wait," Renly interjected, interrupting Jay mid-sentence, which was a rare occurrence for a host with 19 years of experience. Jay paused, stunned, as Renly continued, "You're not going to play the clip again now, are you? Alan, take off your mask!"

The audience laughed at the repeated joke, as it was a classic Ellen DeGeneres moment, where clips would be played on her show. The humor landed well again, and Renly wasn't done. "Still... are you Miley Cyrus now?"

The laughter was overwhelming. Miley Cyrus, known for her Disney fame and Hannah Montana series, had her own show but was often criticized for being lackluster as a host. The crowd's response was hysterical, and even the director could be heard laughing.

Jay, now at a disadvantage, was nearly drowned out by the laughter. He tried to argue but couldn't find his voice. After a moment, he gave in and laughed along, acknowledging that this was, indeed, the most entertaining recording since 2011.

"Jimmy-***, your mask can also come off," Jay quipped, shifting gears and poking fun at another rising star in the industry.

The laughter continued as Jay skillfully poked fun at Renly, but it was clear who had the upper hand in this conversation. Renly's charm and quick wit had kept the audience captivated, and Jay's efforts to retake control only added to the humor.

Renly, ever the performer, leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs in satisfaction. To him, it was all in good fun—a playful, comedic performance he had mastered. The audience, however, was still reeling from his unexpected moves, and laughter continued to ripple through the studio.

The tension of the moment finally subsided when Jay managed to regain control of the conversation. "Where were we?" he asked, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

"Ellen? Miley?" Renly's quick response sent the audience into another round of giggles.

Finally, Jay regained his composure. "So, what exactly did Jacob and Anna write in the notebook?" He gestured to the screen, where the clip from Love Crazy began to play, showing the humorous moment where Anna and Jacob teased each other through their notebooks.

Renly fell silent for a moment, clearly taken aback. The audience, too, seemed curious. Jay leaned in, awaiting Renly's response.

"What did it say?" Jay pressed, his voice full of intrigue. "Is there a secret?"

Renly's playful smile gave no answers, only more teasing, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.