The Greatest Showman #1035 - Crowd of People

Sitting in the taxi, Robin-Heizer straightened his back, his eyes scanning the endless line of cars ahead. He glanced at his watch—it was still twenty minutes before seven. A slight frown creased his forehead. "Jesus Christ, I left an hour early. What the hell is going on?"

"This is New York." The taxi driver met his gaze in the rearview mirror with a shrug and a slight smile. "What can I say? It's just how things go around here."

Robin tugged at the collar of his shirt. "I know that, but it's not even seven o'clock yet. What's the deal? Even Monday wasn't this crowded."

A true New Yorker, Robin had spent his childhood on the Upper East Side, his youth in the Lower City District, and moved to Long Island after having children. He'd lived forty-five years knowing every inch of the city. Today was Wednesday. To avoid the rush, he'd left early, yet here he was, stuck on Fifth Avenue.

The driver shrugged again. "I suggested taking a detour to Twelfth Avenue and circling back. It would've been faster. But..." He trailed off, indicating the passenger had refused the idea.

"I thought Fifth Avenue wouldn't be this crowded until after seven," Robin muttered, clearly agitated. He unbuttoned his shirt, trying to cool off.

Looking out again, Robin wondered whether it would be faster to get out and walk the next four blocks. But would he arrive drenched in sweat? That would be disastrous for his important meeting.

Then, out of nowhere, a flash of red caught his eye. A girl in a long red dress darted past, her hair streaming behind her like a wild halo. Robin's gaze lingered on her, his thoughts drifting to his son.

Seventeen. The age of blossoming youth.

"Come on, come on, we're going to be late!" The girl turned back, calling over her shoulder with a laugh, urging her friends to hurry. "What's the rush? You know we're seeing him today!" Her excitement was infectious, and her friends shouted back, "Isn't it nine o'clock? Why are you so anxious?" "We're seeing the young master today, oh yeah!"

"Is there something special happening in Times Square today?" Robin asked aloud, still watching the young group.

The taxi driver met his eyes again, nodding. "It's not Times Square; it's Rockefeller Plaza. The 'Today Show' is live today, and Renly Hall's the guest. You know him, right? He's the one who took the Oscar this year. There's even a movie out this week, supposed to be really good. I'm planning to catch it tomorrow night."

Robin's confusion deepened. "The 'Today Show'? Doesn't that air every day? Why all the excitement today?"

"Ha, you didn't know? The young folks are crazy over it. Someone pitched a tent in Rockefeller Plaza last night just to get a good spot. They had to bring in extra security to manage the crowd. The news said at least 10,000 people are expected today. Looks like that might be an understatement."

Robin frowned. His impatience grew, but his curiosity got the better of him. "Ten thousand people? Any idea why?"

NBC's Today Show has long been a titan in North American morning television, dominating for over 30 years. At its peak, viewership soared to over 10 million, an almost unimaginable feat for a morning program.

In the early 90s, ABC's Good Morning America briefly dethroned the Today Show, but that reign was short-lived. By 1995, NBC regained its crown and has held it ever since.

Renly Hall, star of The Ellen Show, also appeared on morning television, though neither the ratings nor the viewership could compare to the Today Show.

Over the years, the Today Show has set numerous records, including setting up a live broadcast fish tank in Rockefeller Plaza, where passersby could watch the show in real-time. The program has become an institution, covering everything from politics to entertainment to finance, and drawing crowds from all walks of life.

It's not unusual for Times Square and Rockefeller Plaza to host simultaneous live performances, often creating waves of people throughout Manhattan. But today, the crowd at Rockefeller Plaza was unprecedented.

Today's broadcast was special, though—the Today Show had created a massive stage at Rockefeller Plaza for the Edge of Tomorrow movie promotion. The stage, adorned with large posters of the film and life-size cutouts of the cast, featured a live band and a designated interview area.

The crowd had already begun to spill from the plaza, filling the nearby streets. It was clear this event was bigger than anyone anticipated.

Lauren Messler stood amid the surging crowd, unable to move forward or backward, locked in place. She looked over at her friends, all of them equally stunned by the overwhelming scene.

"I told you it would be packed," Lauren laughed, her voice a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "And we're three hours early! There's no way we're getting in."

Lauren, who'd been injured at the Me Against Cancer premiere last year, had finally graduated high school and was about to start college in New York—the city she'd always dreamed of. With Renly living here, it was as though the very air was different.

Today was June 13th—the day Warner Bros. would reveal limited-edition movie peripherals on the Today Show, and Renly was scheduled to appear as the special guest. With all the early buzz online and the excitement over the limited-edition giveaways, the crowd had only grown in size.

Originally, people had expected around 5,000 viewers, a respectable number. But of course, they had underestimated Renly Hall's fanbase.

NBC had announced Renly would appear around 10:30, but by seven, the square was already packed to capacity.

Tessa Britton, standing next to Lauren, was visibly frustrated. "Do they ever sleep?" she grumbled. "I thought the Today Show wasn't that big of a deal!"

Lauren laughed again. "This is a good thing! It shows just how strong the support for Renly is. Plus, our spot here isn't too bad—it's not far from the stage."

As they stood near the stairs, unable to go further, Lauren cheerfully added, "This is like a VIP box in the theater, right? I can't wait to see if Renly performs today!"

A sea of people. When Robin arrived at Rockefeller Plaza, he was greeted by a wave of energy and bodies, a scene so packed it was almost surreal. The air was thick with anticipation, and the sight left him in awe.