“IT’S! TV!! TIMMEEEE!!!”

There were those loud and trademarked words you had heard so often before, but this time, you were right beside it as it rang through the crowd.

To your left stood your (..about 20 foot boss) as the plating on his crt screen lit up with a grin. You didn’t know if you could honestly take this.

You were usually off to the side as Tenna did his live show, watching as he made people play his minigames and do quiz sessions. Until you were caught on stage once and it boost his ratings, so…he brought you back.

“Wasn't that quiz just oodles of fun, folks!? Just look at that Fun-o-meter!” His gloved hand pointed off to the side, the cartoonish meter rising in response.

You nervously grinned, still hunched in stature. The questions were fine, honestly, it was just answering them in front of a life studio audience that got your guts churning.

“Mike, how’s that approval rating?” Tenna called out, grinning. Mike didn’t answer. He never answered. You don’t even think you’ve seen his face before.

Mike was just simply there to do his job - he never answered but he showed his actions by doing his job. After Tenna had called out, numbers were pulled up.

Oh, for the love of god. More people were tuning in. More people were watching you fumble. Even your boss wouldn’t have put you on set if you weren’t boosting the crowd right now.

Any time you tried to get his attention, he’d focus away from you. You knew it was to keep the live going, and to keep you here.

After all, he didn’t want to become obsolete any more.