The Greatest Showman #925 - Take It Easy
Before tonight, she had seen her fair share of storms—calm, methodical, adaptable. That was her style. It was also why she was the host of the Oscar red carpet. For this event, humor and wit were secondary; what truly mattered was poise and composure.
But tonight, she realized that staying composed was easier said than done.
To her left, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were in the middle of an interview. To her right, an eruption of fan frenzy heralded the arrival of Hollywood's new-generation sensation. One side boasted Hollywood's most famous couple, the other, the industry's most sought-after rising star. How was she supposed to choose?
Under normal circumstances, she would swiftly conclude her current interview with a warm sendoff and pivot to the next guest. But Brad and Angelina's interview had just begun, barely touching on Angelina's gown. Cutting them off now would be not just rude but reckless.
The situation was pure torment. She was trapped in a dilemma, her mind racing for a solution while simultaneously juggling the ongoing interview. Multitasking at its most brutal.
Then, Brad's voice broke through her thoughts. "Hey, look—one of my favorite young actors just arrived. How about we bring him over for a joint interview?"
A lightbulb flicked on in Robin's mind. Perfect. She played along. "Oh? I had no idea you followed the new generation so closely."
Brad chuckled. "Of course. Someone in my house has watched Crazy Love at least a dozen times. Hard to ignore it at this point."
Angelina smirked. "For the record, it's not me."
The two exchanged exaggerated glances, feigning innocence, before Brad surrendered. "Maddox. It must be Maddox."
Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Angelina's eldest, was ten years old. Crazy Love was definitely not his kind of movie.
Their playful exchange eased the tension, but Robin's attention quickly shifted. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted her target. "Renly! Over here, Renly!"
Her excitement was drowned out by the sheer chaos around her. Reporters were shouting, their voices blending into a frenzied roar, each desperate to capture Renly's attention. The atmosphere teetered on the edge of control.
Even witnessing it firsthand, Robin found it unbelievable. Tonight's Oscars were utterly wild.
"Wow," she quipped, "seems like I'm not the only one who likes this actor."
With that, she gestured toward Brad and Angelina, then moved toward Renly with the camera crew in tow. "Renly!"
The camera lens zoomed in, capturing the young actor's face. A faint smile lingered on his lips, his dark brown eyes widening slightly in curiosity as if to say, Who's calling me?
In households across America, only a fraction of viewers were tuned in for the red carpet—Oscar viewership had been declining for years. Most people preferred catching up later via fashion magazine recaps rather than sitting through the unpredictable 90-minute broadcast.
But within that small audience was a group of four young friends watching from Berlin: Marc Lacante, Kristen Schutterer, Katarina Koffler, and Chuck Smith.
"Aaaaah!" Katarina shrieked, unable to contain her excitement. She clutched her cheeks, bouncing in place, pouring every ounce of energy into her ecstatic reaction.
Marc and Kristen weren't far behind. Seeing Renly on TV—just a month after meeting him at the Berlin Film Festival—felt surreal. On screen, his presence exuded a dazzling magnetism that had been less apparent in person.
Chuck hesitated, watching his friends lose control. Then, with a grin, he clenched his fist and joined in. "Woo-hoo!"
"Shut up!" came a grumpy voice from next door.
The four immediately clamped their hands over their mouths, eyes wide. It was midnight in Berlin.
They exchanged glances—then burst into silent laughter, their excitement impossible to suppress.
And they weren't alone. Across North America, millions of viewers shared their enthusiasm. The moment Renly appeared on-screen, ratings spiked, drawing over 13 million viewers. When he joined Brad and Angelina for an interview, that number soared past 15 million—making it the most-watched Oscar red carpet moment since the millennium.
For comparison, red carpet viewership hadn't cracked 10 million in years.
Robin collected herself, turning to Renly with a smile. "Good evening, Renly Hall. Welcome to the Oscars. If I'm not mistaken, this is your first time here, right?"
"Yes," Renly replied easily. "Last year, I had some unforeseen circumstances and had to miss it." He raised an eyebrow playfully. "Almost made the same mistake again this year. Close call."
His self-deprecating humor was subtle yet charming. Robin chuckled. "Trust me, the audience is grateful you made it."
Without missing a beat, she motioned toward Brad and Angelina. "In fact, you have two other admirers here. We were just talking about your work."
Renly's gaze flickered with interest. Brad and Angelina?
Tonight's red carpet had already felt unusual—his scheduled appearance was in the second half, which deviated from his usual preference for arriving earlier. Andy and Lydia had confirmed that the Academy had specifically requested this timing.
Renly had become an Oscar ratings magnet. The Grammy Awards had proven it, and the subsequent media frenzy had reinforced it. The Academy had asked him to appear later in the lineup to help maintain audience engagement. It was a small compromise that Andy and Lydia agreed was worth making.
And judging by the record-breaking viewership, the Academy had been right.
But standing face-to-face with Brad Pitt made things...interesting.
Still, Renly's expression remained composed. He smiled. "No wonder my ears were itching."
Robin blinked, then laughed when she realized what he meant—itchy ears meant someone was talking about you.
"Well then," she said, "welcome to the conversation."
With that, she led Renly and the camera back to Brad and Angelina.
As Robin introduced them to the audience, Renly shook hands with the Hollywood power couple. "We were just discussing Crazy Love," Robin informed him. "Brad and Angelina are big fans."
Renly's brows lifted slightly. "Really? I thought you'd be more into The Cancer-Fighting Me."
Rather than offering traditional flattery, he playfully referenced his own filmography.
Angelina responded smoothly. "That was an excellent film too. Unfortunately, it didn't receive a nomination."
Renly nodded. "Exactly."
His meaning was clear. No nomination, no competition. If it had been nominated? That would have been a different story.
Subtle yet sharp, polite yet mischievous, his remark reminded viewers that he and Brad were competitors tonight. It wasn't hostile, but it wasn't just friendly banter either.
A delicate balance, masterfully played.
Everyone smiled—genuinely, knowingly. The game was on.