I Got the Almighty Tongue - Chapter 142



Only Noblemtl

142 Please save me just once

The meeting with Fox TV took place in Segreto’s office.

I thought it was just a simple pre-meeting, but Fox TV, as if mocking my expectations, rushed in with a large number of people, including cameramen and on-site staff.

“What is all this about?”

I feel resentful when people bring in cameras without asking for my permission in advance.

“Haha. Don’t worry. I brought you here to check if the restaurant appears properly on the screen.”

Jack waves his hand as if it’s no big deal.

“We haven’t agreed on anything yet. Let’s turn off the cameras for now and listen to what they have to say.”

When Paul sent me a sign to show my stubborn attitude, the staff turned off the camera. I buttoned up the first button wrong and everything looked negative.

“Chef Shin Je-hee. Please save me just this once!”

But contrary to my expectations, Jack is begging me with a desperate expression. Paul looks at Jack and touches his eyelids with a tired expression.

“What the hell is going on? You have to explain!”

“What more can we hide now? The ratings are at rock bottom. At first, we thought that might be the case. But the problem is that it’s been almost a month since the first broadcast and there’s no sign of a rebound.”

Jack hands me the data with a gloomy expression. As he said, the graphs were all pointing downward.

“I’ve heard the general news. What exactly is the problem?”

It is not easy for a program that was doing well to fail like this in just one season. What is questionable is that the people we saw while filming together in the previous season were by no means incompetent people.

“There are many problems, but the biggest one is that Chef Shin’s departure caused the fandom to collapse. And for the show to be successful, viewers need to empathize with the contestants, but there is no suitable target.”

Producers of all audition programs try to narrow the gap between the contestants and the viewers. The closer the viewers feel to them, the stronger the fandom is formed, which leads to higher viewer ratings.

“Wasn’t a broadcasting station supposed to create something if it didn’t exist?”

“Of course, we are professionals in such matters. But that is just adding seasoning to existing ingredients. If we try to fabricate something, we will face backlash. I have no intention of resigning after this program.”

“Are the contestants that bad? I watched the two episodes that aired recently before coming to the meeting. They were okay.”

Researching before a meeting is essential in any kind of business. I thoroughly studied articles, tweets, and recent broadcasts related to Master Chef to get a feel for the atmosphere before going to the meeting.

My impression after watching them was that the production team was too obsessed with the previous season’s successful formula. I got the impression that they were trying to force emotions by consistently pushing an unconvincing narrative or to create favorable public opinion by excessively praising ordinary dishes.

“We also embellished that a lot. Basically, the contestants don’t get along well. Whenever the cameras are off, they’re fiercely wary of each other. Because of this, we couldn’t bring out the chemistry between the contestants like we did in the previous season.

Gordon wants to maintain his image as a strict father. Joe is a smart and cool character. In the previous season, Chef Shin Je-hee brought out the best in the contestants, so there were no problems, but Graham still lacks that aspect.”

“I understand what you mean. Is there something you want from me?”

“What we valued most about Chef Shin was not his ability to use his sense of taste to evaluate food, but his ability to give the contestants a narrative. Elana Leon benefited from that, and so did Dominic and Michael.

I couldn’t help but admire his ability to raise Michael, who was particularly unpopular with viewers, to the top of the popularity poll. I’m asking you to please help me just this once. Viewers are not showing favoritism toward the contestants right now.”

I listened to Jack and thought about it. Did I really change the image of the participants? Maybe. But the reason it was possible was because they were that kind of people.

Dominic’s first impression was that he was a tough-looking but gentle friend like a wounded cat, and Michael, at first glance, seemed like an elite with a sense of superiority, but he was actually a warm-hearted person who cared for others more than anyone else.

“Jack. I never created an image. It’s who they are. After hearing their stories, I can see why viewers feel distant from the current contestants. Isn’t it because there’s no authenticity? It doesn’t seem like it, but viewers can tell the difference between real and fake. What are the contestants like off camera?”

From the pre-airing preparation period to now, they must have been with the contestants for a long time. It is a time when the judgment on the contestants has already been made.

“Honestly, it’s a mess. Kelly is neurotic, Isabelle is selfish, and we’ve talked to ourselves about whether Kyle is a serious narcissist. Mia is so jealous.”

Jack sighs as he speaks.

“As we talk about each person, I can see why the ratings are low. I don’t think I would want to root for these contestants either.”

If we had done a team mission in this situation, a disaster would have occurred. However, I found hope here.

“Let’s just show it as it is.”

“yes?”

“Let’s show everything without hiding anything.”

“Then there will be a flood of protests from viewers?”

“That’s also interesting. It’s a hot topic. You just have to pick one or two of them. It shows the changing appearance. And I also want to avoid having my image fixed.”

It’s not good for me to repeat the same thing as the previous season. I’m not a judge now, I’m just a chef. I also wanted to show my true self.

“Then are you allowing me to do a mission here?”

Jack asks me with a smile.

“There are some conditions you must meet.”

“I’m listening.”

“We can’t sell food to customers. We don’t want to destroy the trust we’ve built up by selling dishes made by beginners.”

“Of course.”

“Ella and Dominic will only appear if they want to. And the judges who will vote will be from our restaurant’s guests. It will be completely blind. To become a Master Chef, you have to be a good cook.”

I would like to refrain from developing a strategy to promote an incompetent participant. This is as dangerous as guaranteeing a guarantee to an unqualified person.

“Okay. Instead, the chef should actively participate. I think a tiger chef concept that beats up the rude contestants would be good.”

We drew up a contract based on the agreed terms and stood up to shake hands.

“Please take care of me.”

“Here’s what we have to say. While we’re here, can we shoot a video? Suddenly, an idea is coming to us. We think we can make a great trailer.”

He asked me with a lively expression, unlike when Paul came in. I had no reason to refuse, since it would save me time.

And the commercials created in this way began airing on TV the very next week.

* * *

Naira looks at her watch with an anxious expression.

Today is the premiere of Master Chef. In season 1, she was a passionate supporter of Ella and an active member of the community, but for some reason, she didn’t have the same passion in season 2. However, she was still an avid viewer who rushed home from work on Wednesday nights to watch the original broadcast. And today, there was a reason why she was especially excited.

‘Shin Je-hee appears.’

She didn’t realize that she was a fan of his until he left the show.

Didn’t I say that I know my place even if I don’t know where he is? After he disappeared, she realized that one of the reasons she liked this program was Chef Shin Je-hee. And the charismatic appearance of him in the trailer that came out at the right time raised her expectations.

After preparing potato chips and beer, Naira sat on the sofa and waited for the broadcast to start.

[The participants pack their bags for the next mission, as they will soon have to travel to the other side of the United States.]

“Are you sure?”

[Kelly, 31, California]

“Well, I’m looking forward to it. I also enjoyed watching the previous season. I’m also interested because it’s the restaurant where the winner, Ella, and the finalist, Dominic, work.”

[Aren’t you feeling intimidated?]

“I can assure you that I am better than them. I think Segreto will ask me to work there. Of course, I will decline. I want to have my own restaurant.”

[Kyle, 33, Seattle]

“Chef Shin Je-hee is my role model. He has the same absolute taste as me and has also achieved success. I plan to follow in his footsteps.”

[Aren’t you nervous?]

“Nervousness is something that normal people do. I am confident.”

[This is a team play mission. Who do you want to team up with?]

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter to anyone. Everyone is the same. But I hope they don’t hold me back.”

Naira frowns as she watches the contestants’ interviews on screen.

“What? Were they such arrogant kids?”

The editing of Master Chef, which stopped creating characters, made viewers frown. But at the same time, it gave them a raw freshness that they had never felt before.

An airplane flies across the sky. And a moment later, it lands at the airport. The participants who get off the plane start moving, each holding a suitcase. The screen plays quickly and follows their path.

“It’s much bigger than I thought.”

Isabelle looks up at Segreto and mutters to herself in admiration.

“I want to work here.”

Mia’s expression was no different from Isabelle’s.

“Who ordered you to do this?”

“Is your hair just for decoration? Think about it and live. Everyone knows that your cooking is trash. You’ve just been incredibly lucky up until now.”

“what?

Isabelle’s face contorts at Mia’s words. And just as she’s about to swear, Gordon steps forward.

“There’s something I always emphasize: Every restaurant has its own rules. It’s the same everywhere you go. You have to follow those rules.

Today, you will be cooking here. You will have to personally recreate the recipe of Chef Shin Je-hee, who received Michelin 1 star in the shortest time possible. The evaluation will be done by the regular customers who know the taste of the food well.”

The participants’ expressions harden as they become nervous at Gordon’s words.

“You don’t have to worry too much. We all know that you can’t be perfect. The most important thing we evaluate is teamwork. Don’t forget that.”

Joe steps in and lightens the mood.

“Then let’s go in now.”

With Graham’s words, the heavy wooden door of Segreto opens and the contestants enter. As they pass through the old-fashioned lobby and enter the kitchen, all of Segreto’s chefs are already there. They link arms and look at the contestants.

Step by step.

The door on the other side opens and Jehee slowly walks towards the participants. Then she looks them over.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Je-hee. I don’t think I need to speak for long. Let’s begin the mission.”

It was the prelude to full-scale survival.