Actor in Hollywood

From his expression—indulgent, kind, and thoughtful—Paul looks like a "doting brother," someone who has no principles or boundaries when it comes to his sister. He not only smiles warmly but also playfully makes a meme-worthy gesture, completely free from the burdens of maintaining his image as a handsome man.

However, his words leave no room for negotiation.

"Alright, two minutes."

"Start!"

Looking at Paul's matter-of-fact expression, even the audience in the studio has the illusion that Paul has made a huge concession.

Laughter erupts across the set.

David Klein's eyes light up with a hint of surprise that he doesn't bother to conceal. He hadn't expected Anson to be so relaxed, effortlessly embracing the comedic style. Anson's entire performance switches seamlessly between exaggerated and serious, not only fitting the character but also infusing the role and the plot with a unique charm.

Most importantly, it's funny.

If a comedy isn't funny, then no matter how outstanding the performance or how enthusiastic the reception, it's just a castle in the air, lacking a solid foundation. Ultimately, it has to be funny.

And Anson delivers. His chemistry with David Schumann is exceptional.

Of course, when you think about it, it's not that surprising—

During the audition two days ago, it was Anson's charisma and presence that caught David's attention, leading him to take a bold gamble. Now, it seems that Anson's comedy, completely devoid of any vanity as a handsome man, is an additional pleasant surprise.

Just look at David Schumann.

Everything flows naturally and smoothly, without the need for embellishment. The back-and-forth between them sparks, and the laughter follows.

Ross is left dumbfounded, "Ha, ha ha ha, uh, ha..."

He thought Paul was joking and tried to break the awkwardness with laughter, but as he looks at Paul's calm expression, his smile gradually stiffens.

Then Paul raises his right hand and glances at his Rolex.

"One minute and fifty seconds."

"One minute and forty-nine seconds."

Ross instinctively looks at Paul's watch, his smile slowly fading.

Amid the laughter from the entire audience, Ross turns to Elizabeth for help, but Elizabeth, too, looks anxious and unable to assist, forcing Ross to calm down.

"Okay... fine... uh... I can..."

His words don't match his feelings.

The rapid movement of his pupils betrays Ross's confusion and bewilderment. Without even realizing it, he clasps his hands together in prayer.

"Okay, I want you to know, I've never done anything like this before."

"I mean, I've dated before, but I've never done it with a student. Oh, I mean, not..."

Paul, smiling—

**The Smile**

Paul's smile becomes noticeably stiff, and he tilts his head slightly, as if the joints in his neck were moving with the mechanical stiffness of a robot. The dangerous glint in his eyes evokes the menacing T-1000 from *Terminator 2*.

Elizabeth senses it too, blinking rapidly, desperately trying to signal something.

Ross, meanwhile, seems caught in a whirlwind. "It's not what it looks like, we haven't done anything..."

Ross tries to plead for Elizabeth's help.

Elizabeth frantically shakes her head in agreement, forcing a smile to prove her innocence.

Ross forces a smile as well, "Of course, we've done some things..."

Elizabeth wishes she could disappear.

When the attention shifts back to Paul, his face is completely expressionless, like a robot. Even the slight smile that had been playing on his lips has vanished without a trace.

Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha!

Gloria can't control herself, bursting into laughter, one wave after another, until tears stream down her face.

The atmosphere on set is indescribably fantastic.

Ross looks utterly defeated, staring up at the ceiling. "Okay, let's lighten the mood with a joke."

"Two guys walk into a bar, one of them is French..."

Paul, expressionless, slightly lowers his voice, interrupting in a flat, dull, almost siren-like tone, "I am French."

Ross blinks, "And the Frenchman won, oh yeah."

Ha-ha-ha!

The studio erupts in laughter and applause, almost going wild.

Especially when they see Paul narrowing his eyes slightly, scrutinizing Ross. Though expressionless, it's as if Paul is scanning Ross with infrared, creating an instant tension that makes Ross feel like he's sitting on pins and needles.

The entire atmosphere is truly hilarious.

David Klein leans slightly towards Marta and whispers, "Wow, wow, brilliant."

Marta is completely immersed in the atmosphere too—

They wrote the script themselves, so they know every gag and punchline inside out. They were practically over-familiar with it.

Yet Anson and David Schumann's performance exceeded expectations, presenting every gag and punchline with perfect timing.

Amazing!

Originally, Marta had no expectations; she just hoped this pretty face wouldn't mess up, that he'd stick to the script and play his role as eye candy. That alone would have been enough to make her thankful.

But...

Marta can't help but wonder where David Klein found this guy.

His ease in front of the camera, neither too restrained nor too exaggerated, neither too nervous nor too relaxed—everything is just right.

Does this guy really have no acting experience? Is this really his first performance?

Forget about the lines and expressions, even the rhythm of his scenes with other actors, the smoothness of his interactions, and the natural flow of his performance are all on point.

Of course, if you were to shower him with over-the-top praise, calling him a genius actor or an amazing discovery, that would be an exaggeration.

This is a sitcom, after all, and Marta and the team consciously wrote this guest role to be simple, not too demanding in terms of acting difficulty.

But!

For someone who was supposed to be just eye candy, not only did he deliver, but he also added an extra layer of personal charm, giving the character more depth. That's something special.

It's hard to believe, but the filming has gone smoothly without a single NG (no good take).

Marta's heart is slowly rising, unable to contain her excitement, fully immersed in the on-set atmosphere—it's truly enjoyable.

But hearing her partner's smug tone, she can't help but roll her eyes and glare at him.

"Basic stuff."

Just a natural performance, nothing groundbreaking so far, carried mostly by the actor's personal charm. No need to make a big deal out of it.

But up next is the real challenge—

After Ross, the other friends will be joining the scene. The upcoming group scene will require more precise rhythm, focused attention, and balanced performances. The difficulty level for both filming and acting will definitely rise.

It's like the difference between singles and doubles in tennis, or singles and team events; it's a whole different ball game. The same principle applies.

Marta remains skeptical, wanting to see more before making a judgment.

David Klein doesn't mind at all, even chuckling softly, his expression and posture exuding confidence. He glances at Marta meaningfully, showing no concern, and then looks back at the scene.

Whistles, cheers, and applause erupt, shaking the entire studio.

Ross's backup team arrives on set, and it's none other than Phoebe, Monica, and Chandler entering the coffee shop. The studio audience is in high spirits, each one howling with excitement, taking the filming atmosphere to another level.

Ross, too, lights up, seeing his friends as if they're his saviors.

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