Many viewers were discussing with disdain.
In the self-evaluation stage, only two situations would lead someone to dare claim the first position: either to show off, or because they lacked humility.
Regardless of the reason, neither was well-received by the audience.
After all, their idol should embody humility, not this kind of blind confidence.
Moreover, Cao Jin was not a top-tier celebrity, so his direct claim to this position naturally drew skepticism.
However, Cao Jin remained seated, exuding pride and completely unfazed by the chatter.
He believed he was the most skilled among them, and in the realm of cross-talk, he considered himself the most outstanding young talent in the industry.
Therefore, he felt his occupying the first spot was well-deserved.
Unlike that fellow named Wang Shu, who, being a singer, dared to appear on a comedy stage – clearly an attempt to provoke.
As the audience members settled into their seats, the show officially commenced.
The host then made their grand entrance, explained the show's rules, and officially ushered in the performance segment.
According to the rules, the performance order was determined by the positions the contestants had chosen.
From number one to the last.
Cao Jin, seated in the first position, and his partner Liu Tian, were naturally the first pair to perform.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, Cao Jin and Liu Tian walked onto the stage with confident strides.
They then began their performance, a traditional cross-talk piece.
There was no innovation; they simply recited old lines.
In the audience, many had initially listened with anticipation, but as the performance progressed, they found it increasingly tedious.
While the rhythm and pacing of the cross-talk were sound, the content was simply too outdated. Many seasoned cross-talk enthusiasts could recite it by heart.
Yet, the duo seemed lost in their own small venue, completely oblivious to the fact that they were performing for a television broadcast.
Those who attended this show likely had some understanding of traditional Chinese performing arts.
"Sigh! No progress at all. I thought this kid had good skills before, but he has nothing new to offer! What a waste!"
"Exactly, it's getting more boring by the minute. This is television, not some small club. Repeating the same old routine every day is so uninteresting."
"With this level of skill, they dare to rate themselves first? They're so self-assured. I almost fell asleep."
"Don't just talk about yourself. My girlfriend has been asleep for several minutes. I really regret coming to this show as an audience member!"
Halfway through Cao Jin's cross-talk, about ninety percent of the audience members were already feeling drowsy.
They were not particularly interested in this dry and uninspired traditional cross-talk.
Wang Shu, also seated in the audience, shook his head in dismay.
While the cross-talk performer named Cao Jin had a solid foundation, he was too rigid. His performance was technically correct but utterly devoid of humor.
This was a comedy show, not an examination of cross-talk techniques. The goal was to make the audience laugh, not to demonstrate basic cross-talk skills.
Therefore, from the very beginning, this Cao Jin had misunderstood the objective.
On stage, Cao Jin had expected his cross-talk to have the audience roaring with laughter, but as the performance neared its end, he realized the audience wasn't laughing; they were dozing off.
His brow furrowed.
He deliberately raised his voice and shouted, then forcefully slammed his traditional wooden clapper onto the table.
The loud noise startled many audience members who had been dozing off.
"I'm scaring you all? If you didn't sleep well, go home and sleep!"
Cao Jin shouted at the audience without restraint.
When he performed in smaller venues, he was a significant figure! To think that here, someone would fall asleep.
He felt insulted!
"Is this idiot sick? He startled me!"
"What kind of weirdo is this? He's not skilled himself, so he's throwing a tantrum?"
"I can't believe it. I really shouldn't have come to this show; otherwise, I wouldn't have encountered this idiotic performer!"
Many of the startled audience members frowned and began muttering curses.
Cao Jin then gritted his teeth and finished his cross-talk, bowed, and left the stage.
He returned to his seat with a scowl.
The other contestants observed the situation with helplessness.
Cao Jin had made the worst possible start, alienating the audience right from the beginning.
Consequently, the subsequent performances would only become more challenging.
It would be increasingly difficult to make the audience laugh.
Afterward, several more groups took the stage, but none managed to elicit laughter from the audience.
It wasn't until a cross-talk duo named De Yu She performed that many audience members burst into laughter, alleviating the show's awkward atmosphere.
"Finally, someone worth watching!"
Gong Tao, watching from the central control room, breathed a sigh of relief as he observed the shift in the atmosphere.
During the previous segment, he had genuinely feared the audience would simply get up and leave.
He was also worried that the contestants would fail to engage the audience, resulting in a continuous awkward silence.
He now understood why the previous directors were hesitant to take on this genre; he now truly grasped why producing such variety shows was difficult.
However, thankfully, the performance by De Yu She had provided some temporary relief.
Following them, a group called Kai Xin Rou Juan appeared, and a performer named Shen Teng especially had the audience roaring with laughter.
"He's so strong. Can we handle it later?"
Zhang Ji, observing the stage, expressed his concern.
"Don't worry, trust in our efforts!"
Wang Shu reassured him.
He hadn't expected this Shen Teng to have such talent; with just a few words, he had made the audience laugh.
Therefore, he had to take the group Kai Xin Rou Juan seriously.
After Kai Xin Rou Juan's performance, several other acts, like Ren Ma, took the stage.
Although their humor wasn't as potent as Kai Xin Rou Juan's, they did manage to lighten the atmosphere.
Over an hour later, it was finally Wang Shu's turn to perform.
As Wang Shu and his two companions rose to walk towards the stage, many professional comedians in the contestant seating area were not optimistic.
"Can Wang Shu perform comedy? Won't he just sing? That would be cheating, wouldn't it?"
"Exactly. This is a comedy show, not a music program. And he's brought two singers. It looks more like a concert."
"However, judging by their makeup and attire, it seems like they're performing a skit. I wonder if their skit will be awkward."
Many contestants were murmuring amongst themselves.
On the other hand, many audience members erupted in cheers upon seeing Wang Shu, Zhang Ji, and Zhang Liangying.
"How ridiculous. Are these audience members here for a comedy show? They don't appreciate our excellent cross-talk, but they cheer for a singer."
Seeing the cheering audience, Cao Jin felt a surge of discomfort.
This was clearly a comedy stage; why invite a singer?
Most importantly, his superb cross-talk was ignored, yet this Wang Shu, before even performing, was already being cheered by so many.
He was consumed by jealousy, his teeth almost grinding to dust.
Upon reaching the stage, Wang Shu did not greet the audience. Instead, he quickly entered his performance mode.
He needed to first immerse the audience in the narrative of his skit, making them forget their identities.
"Da Hui You, Da Hui You!"
As soon as they were on stage, Zhang Liangying called out to Wang Shu.
The audience was instantly bewildered, looking on with puzzled expressions.
"Don't call me that, okay?"
Wang Shu produced a cane and said to Zhang Liangying.
"Pfft! His stage name is Da Hui You?"
"That's hilarious. I never would have guessed that stage name."
Many audience members were immediately amused by Wang Shu's remark.
"Dear husband, can you stop selling this cane? There are so many people with good legs all over the street. Will anyone buy your cane?"
Zhang Liangying continued.
The audience was now drawn into the plot, curious to know how Wang Shu would manage to sell this cane.
"Don't you know me? My stage name is Da Hui You. I can persuade the righteous to stray... I can turn a happily married couple into a separated one! Today, I'm selling a pair of good legs, and I can convince them to become crippled!"
Wang Shu replied directly, his rhyming words once again causing the entire audience to erupt in laughter.
"He's so talented! How did he come up with these lines?"
"I'm dying of laughter. I thought it was about how to sell it, but it's about tricking people!"
"I'm curious, how can he make someone crippled?"
Many audience members began to discuss.
Just as everyone was wondering, Zhang Ji appeared on stage, riding a bicycle.
"Stop! This is too serious, it's incredibly dangerous!"
Wang Shu directly addressed Zhang Ji.
Startled, Zhang Ji's face changed dramatically, and he turned to Wang Shu with a look of concern.
"What's wrong with me? What's so serious?"
Zhang Ji asked with confusion.
"It's nothing, I just noticed something. It's difficult to explain. You should leave."
Wang Shu said with a slight smirk.
"Wow, he's already started tricking him, this is brilliant!"
"No wonder his name is Da Hui You; his skill in deception is indeed impressive!"
"Hilarious, this tactic of feigned indifference is executed flawlessly!"
When many audience members saw this segment, they instantly understood.
Zhang Ji was about to ride away.
Wang Shu then deliberately spoke loudly, "By the time the illness strikes, it will be advanced!"
This startled Zhang Ji, who had just climbed onto his bicycle, causing him to jump off and return.
"What exactly do you mean? What will be advanced? Are you deliberately cursing me?"
Zhang Ji frowned and looked at Wang Shu.
"I'm not cursing you, but this illness of yours, alas..."
Wang Shu deliberately made a complex expression and looked at Zhang Ji.