Chapter 925: The Soft Sell Effect
Just by their introductions, you could see a clear difference between them.
Emma Watson was more official and serious, sticking to her talking points. Although she was smiling and seemed very approachable, her content was stiff. Lu Ke, on the other hand, was more relaxed and casual. In his witty and humorous conversation, he was already carrying out the core purpose of the entire campaign without even trying.
To put it in marketing terms, Emma was the hard sell, and Lu Ke was the soft sell.
Fortunately, Lu Ke was the real point of the campaign—he was a football player and a real-life example that broke prejudices and misconceptions. He was the best example that the sport of football wasn't as bad as people thought. He didn't need to shout slogans or give sappy speeches. Everything he had done so far was the best proof.
Jay Leno had many questions in his mind. He could have approached the conversation from Emma's perspective or Lu Ke's. He had thought that Emma, being from Hollywood, would be more accustomed to the talk show format. But now, it seemed like he should change his strategy. So, Leno asked with a smile, "So, Lu Ke, what did you think when you first saw Emma?"
"Hollywood is going to make a movie about my life? And Emma is the female lead? But the problem is... I didn't have a girlfriend back then. Is it going to be a romantic comedy about college life?" Lu Ke's colorful and lively response truly captured what an average person would fantasize about. After all, people have a certain idea of what Hollywood is like, and this made the entire audience laugh.
Leno's mind was made up. He had planned to ask Emma what brought her to a live game, but now, when he asked Lu Ke a similar question, things became much more interesting. He then looked at Emma and said, "I guess you didn't have as many fantasies when you first saw Lu Ke?"
The first time?
Emma immediately remembered their encounter on the plane. But clearly, Lu Ke's answer had completely ignored that meeting and was instead treating their meeting at the stadium as the first one. This was what Emma wanted to warn Lu Ke about: don't let others know they had met before. But now that Lu Ke had done it himself, Emma didn't know why but she suddenly felt a little annoyed.
However, the show was being recorded, so she couldn't get distracted.
With a deep breath, Emma calmed down and said with a beautiful smile, "Of course not. I always thought he was just a recent college graduate. I couldn't tell that he was a professional athlete."
Leno had to go a step further with her standard answer. "If you found out he was a professional athlete, what sport would you have guessed?"
"Tennis?" Emma said hesitantly. "I'm sorry, I'm British. Besides soccer, I only watch tennis, the Wimbledon Championships, and sometimes horse racing. I really don't know much about sports."
"And... now she's watching football!" Her answer was a little too serious because it was so honest. But then Lu Ke suddenly jumped in with an exaggerated tone, with a hint of awe and a hint of pride. The atmosphere immediately became lively again. The unspoken message was:
If even Emma Watson is watching football, what are you waiting for?
This kind of self-promotion was hilarious.
Leno followed along and added another joke. "So, is the celebrity lineup at the Staples Center going to be a lot dimmer now?" Taking advantage of the relaxed atmosphere, Leno threw a question at Lu Ke. "If you were to recommend one reason for people to watch football, what would you choose?"
"Strong and handsome athletes are obviously not it. The helmet puts us at a disadvantage in the battle for fans against soccer. Trust me, even David Beckham would look the same on the field." Lu Ke's response was a string of jokes that made people smile. "I would choose the atmosphere."
"What a strange choice," Leno said, not missing a beat.
Lu Ke chuckled. "I know that watching soccer, basketball, and other sports, the experience is different. I don't need to explain the madness of the World Cup or the Olympics. But the atmosphere of a football game is even more different. Our offense, defense, and special teams are all relatively independent. When a different unit comes onto the field, the audience's focus changes. It's like a game of Go. The changes between offense and defense make the atmosphere on the field very subtle."
"Believe me, when you're there to watch the sport, that atmosphere can easily captivate you. Otherwise, why would I have chosen this sport, especially considering that it requires a helmet?" As he was speaking, Lu Ke's style suddenly changed, and he made another joke, connecting it to his earlier point.
Leno couldn't help but smile.
It was clear that even when he was giving an official statement, Lu Ke could add his own flavor to it, which made the talk show much more enjoyable.
"Emma, what about you?" Leno had to go back to her.
Emma thought for a moment and answered seriously, "I have to say, the intelligence of this sport is remarkable. Even in soccer or tennis, they need a lot of strategy, but they are relatively limited in their dependence on the team's brain. Football truly shows the strategy of a game of Go and combines it with physical contact. It's truly a unique sport."
Another long, formal statement. While Emma was doing her job, the hard-sell approach was very limited.
Lu Ke, sitting next to her, jumped in. "Thank you for the compliment."
Emma and Leno both looked at Lu Ke in confusion.
Lu Ke didn't explain and simply spread his hands, looking humble.
Leno was the first to understand and said with a smile, "I heard you got a perfect score on the Wonderlic Test?"
With Leno's guidance, Lu Ke's meaning became clear: Emma's praise was for the quarterback, and Lu Ke was a quarterback, so he took the compliment and thanked her. In an instant, Emma's hard sell became a soft sell, and the entire audience clapped and laughed.
In response to Leno's question, Lu Ke added, "I think there might be a misunderstanding. I have to clarify that I got into college based on my grades. I didn't have a sports scholarship, and I wasn't a member of the school's football team until my junior year. I wasn't even a walk-on."
What was the hidden message?
"...So, you're bragging that you're smart?" Leno rolled his eyes.
Lu Ke purposely gave a stiff smile. "It's better to stay humble." This was basically admitting it.
Amidst the audience's loud laughter, Leno also chuckled helplessly and said jokingly, "Why do I feel like this show has somehow become all about Lu Ke?" This made the laughter grow even louder. "But I have to admit, you're not what I imagined. I mean, I know Tom, and I know Peyton, but you're different from them."
"I'm pretty sure I'm not their illegitimate child," Lu Ke's unexpected answer made the audience lose it. Everyone was clapping and laughing. The atmosphere in the studio was electric.
Even Leno raised his hands and applauded Lu Ke: self-deprecation, witty jokes, humor, and confidence. In this short show, Lu Ke had already shown so much. Now, Leno was a little reluctant to see it end. He felt that the show had gone by too quickly, and he hadn't had a chance to fully enjoy it.
It had been a long time since he had felt this way.
But Leno still focused and continued to host the show, preparing for the end. "Emma, if Lu Ke were to go to Hollywood, do you think he would be a good fit?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm only in my second year. There's no need to think about my retirement so soon," Lu Ke interrupted, and his polite refusal made the laughter surge again.
Leno didn't give up so easily. "That's not what I mean. Just hypothetically, Emma, for example, in the Harry Potter movies, could you find a role for Lu Ke?"
Harry Potter had already ended, so he emphasized that this was just a hypothetical question and not a curse for Lu Ke to end his career early.
Emma couldn't help but smile, and her tense nerves relaxed a little. "Hmm... I don't think I would say Harry Potter. Clearly, Lu Ke is much braver than Harry. I would think... uh, Professor Snape?"
The moment she said it, Emma regretted it.
Emma had intended to tease Lu Ke by choosing a villain. Professor Snape was the first character that came to mind. But now, Emma realized that Professor Snape was actually the most tragic and loyal character in the entire series. He dedicated his life to a pure and sincere love.
Now, it sounded less like a joke and more like a compliment.
Emma gnashed her teeth in frustration, and then she heard Leno's voice. "That's a very difficult role. That's a very thoughtful choice."
Lu Ke put his hands together. "I think Emma has enough faith in my acting skills. I'm so grateful. I guess I don't have to worry about my life after retirement. Maybe when I'm Alan Rickman's age, I can play Professor Snape."
He killed two birds with one stone. He answered the question and emphasized that he wouldn't be retiring anytime soon.
Leno immediately understood and nodded in approval. The show was a breath of fresh air, but it was time for it to end.
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