No matter what, this was "The Tonight Show," Jay Leno's domain. He always had a fallback. Whatever happened in the studio stayed in the studio; the outside world would never know, and any rumors would only circulate within Hollywood's small circle. No real harm done.
But Jay Leno refused to take the easy way out. He had his pride and stubbornness.
At that moment, being caught off guard by Anson, Jay had to admit—he was a bit annoyed.
In ten years, no guest had ever dared to walk out of his studio without a word.
For that reason alone, Jay Leno could blacklist this guest completely. It didn't matter who they were or how big a star—they'd never appear on "The Tonight Show" again, not even for a visit.
Jay had the connections in Hollywood to make Anson's life difficult, quietly but effectively.
Yet, despite his irritation, Jay felt a strange sense of anticipation.
From their brief exchange today, Jay knew Anson wasn't one to act without reason. If he was bold enough to go off-script, there must be a purpose.
So, though Jay was annoyed, he didn't lose his cool. If he wanted to get angry or blacklist someone, he could do that after the show. For now, he was curious to see what Anson had up his sleeve.
Jay's quick wit kicked in. "Oh God, people always say the bladder gets unpredictable after forty, but it seems it's not much better at eighteen. Maybe we should take a break—any commercials? I could use a bladder break too."
His jesting tone, complete with a roll of the eyes, deftly defused the situation with humor.
There were a few scattered laughs, but the audience's attention remained focused on Anson.
Just then, Anson stopped walking. He maneuvered around the set, disappearing behind the backdrop. As everyone wondered what was happening, they heard a knock on the set door.
Jay Leno: ???
Before Jay could react, the crew opened the door, and Anson reappeared.
Now, he had a pair of glasses perched on his nose and was buttoning up his shirt, hiding the undershirt beneath.
This scene…
Wait a minute, was this… Superman?
Among superheroes, Superman was one of the most iconic figures known worldwide. Even the average person on the street recognized him.
The classic Superman transformation—where a simple pair of glasses magically conceals Clark Kent's identity, combined with the iconic costume change in a phone booth—had been parodied countless times.
Clearly, Anson was reenacting this moment, transitioning from Superman back to Clark Kent.
The entire studio fell silent.
For a moment, no one could find the words to describe what they were feeling. Was "The Tonight Show" suddenly turning into "SNL"?
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
The entire studio—directors, crew, everyone—was stunned. They had planned to ambush Anson with Spider-Man talk, creating a big moment for the show. Instead, Anson caught them off guard, taking control of the narrative with his reentrance.
On closer inspection, the act had a dual meaning—Superman and Clark Kent, band member and actor. Anson had seamlessly switched between his two personas.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Then.
Laughter broke out. Blair let out a long breath, shifting from near-heart-attack mode to uncontrollable laughter.
Blair and Karen were doubled over, laughing hysterically, almost unable to believe their eyes.
The rest of the studio followed suit. First, laughter filled the room, everyone genuinely amused. Then, applause began, growing louder and louder, until it overwhelmed the laughter.
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause erupted like a tidal wave, releasing an overwhelming energy that surged to its peak. The entire studio, visibly moved, rose to its feet in unison, offering the most grandiose and exuberant welcome to Anson's reentrance. It was as if they were honoring a star with the highest formalities, inadvertently turning this moment into a promotion for "Spider-Man."
Even Sony Columbia, the studio behind the film, might have been caught off guard by this unexpected twist.
Jay Leno couldn't hold back any longer. A smile crept onto his face and then fully bloomed. He too stood up with the audience, clapping for Anson. His curiosity was now completely satisfied. Even though his expectations had soared to new heights, this moment had surpassed them once again. Any earlier frustration or annoyance evaporated, replaced by a surge of admiration and a rekindled competitive spirit.
After all, there were few interviewees left in Hollywood who could still challenge Jay Leno like this.
He was now eager to see what other tricks this young man had up his sleeve.
Meanwhile, Miles, Lily, and Connor exchanged bewildered glances, still in shock. They didn't fully grasp what had just happened but followed the crowd's lead, standing up to applaud Anson's return.
The atmosphere reached a new crescendo.
Anson made his way back to his seat, facing the audience with a wave, seamlessly picking up from where Jay Leno had introduced him earlier.
In the previous scene, Jay had introduced actor Anson's appearance. In this next moment, the actor Anson truly made his entrance. Despite the mere thirty-second gap, the transition felt perfectly natural.
Jay Leno smoothly continued, "So, this is…"
Anson put a finger to his lips, signaling silence. "Shh," he said, hinting that he wasn't Superman and that this had nothing to do with the superhero. "I just thought a superhero deserved a super entrance."
The brilliance lay in Anson's subtlety—he didn't mention Superman or Spider-Man, leaving room for the audience's imagination.
Jay Leno, smiling broadly, knew that Anson had seized the initiative, but he wasn't ready to let Anson control the pace. He needed to regain the upper hand. "So, are you planning to talk about this today, or shall we save it for your next visit?"
Anson spread his hands, "Honestly, as a newcomer with a barely recognized superhero role, I doubt you'd be that interested. How about this? Let's keep a bit of mystery. If we say nothing, maybe curiosity will drive the audience to the theaters."
The truth? Anson wasn't about to reveal that Sony Columbia hadn't planned for him to promote on the talk show. Instead, he cleverly shifted the focus.
In doing so, he also subtly responded to the opening joke about his band—
If the band released an album, "The Tonight Show" might not be interested; similarly, if "Spider-Man" came for a serious promotion, the show might also not care.
A clever double entendre.