Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 924: Strange Territory
"God, Levi, are all your jokes so murderous?" Jost looked up to the sky and asked, swallowing his saliva, feeling dry mouth and tongue.

Levi, "Why, are you worried that my opening remarks today will also be the same?"

Jost choked, "Are you going to go off script?"

Levi shrugged lightly in disbelief——

On "Saturday Night Live," the guest performers are responsible for opening the show, and each opening has a monologue, the equivalent of stand-up comedy.

This monologue is often the highlight of the entire show, and it is all thanks to the guest performers that they can stun the audience.

Ordinary audiences often misunderstand that the opening remarks are made by the performers themselves. In fact, the opening remarks are written by the program's screenwriter team, but they will tailor them according to the performers' situations and characteristics, making them look like the performers' own words.

The most important thing for live streaming is to prepare in advance. It is impossible to rely solely on on-the-spot performance.

Of course, whether it is stand-up comedy or talk show, the talent of the script is crucial, but so is the performer.

Some people say the same jokes are extremely boring, while others say they receive a lot of applause. The performer's rhythm, tone, posture, intonation, etc. all play an important role. Comedy is the form of drama that most tests acting talent.

So, even though the opening credits of "Saturday Night Live" were written by the same talented writers, the final results were very different.

Generally speaking, performers will not perform without a script, and even experienced comedians will not easily put themselves in such a predicament.

But what if it was Levi?
Jost originally wanted to say, "I don't believe it," but looking at Levi, he became a little uncertain. He blinked his eyes and his words were stuck.

To be honest, Jost couldn't imagine it either.

Although many NFL players have hosted "Saturday Night Live", it has basically been quarterbacks over the years. The last time a non-quarterback served as a guest performer on the show was in 1995.

That year, legendary cornerback Deion Sanders appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and achieved impressive ratings.

Twenty-four years later, a running back is about to take the stage on "Saturday Night Live."

The biggest difference between running backs and quarterbacks is that the visual pressure and impact brought by the physical level are more direct.

When they look at Manning or Brady, things seem to be under their control and they will perform according to the "tactical manual"; but looking at Levi at this time, a sense of uncertainty arises.

After hesitating for a moment, Jost exclaimed, "Wow." Then, imagining the scene, he couldn't help but exclaim again, "Wow. That should be an epic disaster. I... can't wait."

Swift couldn't believe her ears, "Colin!"

Jost shrugged, "See, this is the effect we expect. Levi, our ratings depend on you." After saying that, Jost clenched his fist and cheered for Levi.

Something is not right.

……

Standing backstage, taking a deep breath, Levi could feel his heart beating wildly, almost bursting out of his chest——

An unfamiliar emotion, nervousness.

From NCAA to NFL, Levi has experienced many ups and downs, but he is rarely nervous because that is what he is good at and there is no need to be nervous in his professional field; however, the stage before him is completely unfamiliar. Performing, stand-up comedy, and controlling the atmosphere are things Levi has never tried in his life.

Moreover, it is live broadcast with no delay. Everything that happens on stage will be broadcast live without any buffer zone.

A little mistake may turn you into an emoticon on social networks.

"Twenty-five cents for your current idea." A voice came from my ear.

As soon as Levi turned his head, he saw Swift's smiling face, and he also pulled the corner of his mouth, "Nervous."

Then he joked, "To be precise, it's a blank. I think the opening remarks I recited over and over again have been completely wiped out by the eraser." Swift chuckled, "You still have the energy to make jokes. It seems you are not that nervous."

Levi raised the end of his eyebrows but smiled without saying anything.

Swift can now see that Levi is indeed nervous. "Just be yourself. I mean, when you first hosted Saturday Night Live, no one expected you to shock the audience. People expected a different side of you. A little bit of teasing and self-deprecation is enough."

"Although Peyton Manning is now very comfortable in talk shows and even spoofs himself in commercials, he seems to be much more comfortable than Tom Brady; but his opening remarks when he hosted 'Saturday Night Live' for the first time were also bland and could only be considered to have barely completed the task."

“We all need to grow up.”

Levi raised his chin slightly, "What about you?"

Swift was stunned, "What?"

Levi continued to ask, "What about you? You should have hosted 'Saturday Night Live'?"

Swift hesitated for a moment, his shoulders drooping helplessly. "Disaster, complete disaster."

Levi just laughed.

Swift: "I only hosted once in... uh, 2009? God, I have no acting talent or comedic ability, it was a disaster, I wish I could erase the tape of that day."

Then, throwing up his hands, "After that, 'Saturday Night Live' never asked me back to be a guest performer again."

Levi looked at Swift seriously, "So, God has given you the gift of music. You're an excellent singer."

Swift froze, not expecting such a response at all, and involuntarily, uncontrollably, her mood brightened, "Are you serious?"

Levi looked up at the sky. "No, it's just a polite greeting. I've never heard your music. You know, because of someone's prank, I spent all my time on Sara Bareilles, so I didn't have time to concentrate on listening to another singer's album."

"Hahaha." Swift laughed. "It seems that you have regained your confidence. You can come up with humor easily."

"Besides, the bloody example is right in front of you. You should have confidence." Swift spread his hands. "The worst case scenario is..."

Li Wei took the opportunity to continue the conversation, "Come back next time as the musical guest."

Swift couldn't control herself anymore and fell backwards with laughter. Because she laughed so happily, she had to cover her mouth to control the volume to avoid disturbing other staff members who were preparing for the live broadcast. She tried her best to lower her voice, "Just be yourself, Levi."

Just then, a staff member appeared, "Levi, one minute countdown. Hey, Taylor, why are you here? Are you going to enter the live broadcast in the audience or in the waiting room?"

Swift immediately raised her hands in surrender. "Waiting room. Please, please, please, I don't want to appear in the live broadcast of the audience. I have a psychological trauma."

That look was so funny that one could not help but laugh.

Swift trotted away, leaving Levi alone standing backstage waiting.

The space gradually quieted down, with only the continuously amplified heartbeat roaring on the eardrums, and then the countdown from the staff continued to be heard.

Thirty seconds.

ten seconds.

Five seconds.

Closer, closer.

When the countdown lasted from three to two to one, Levi took a deep breath, opened his eyes and looked forward. The roar and noise all disappeared, and there was no trace of tension anymore.

(End of this chapter)