William White and the Wizard's Stone (6)
After the news broke, it took a full day for all of Korea's drama fans to lose their minds.
The Grammys for popular music.
The Oscars for film.
The Tonys for Broadway—
These were the world's most prestigious awards in America, collectively known as the EGOT for TV shows like the Emmys, each carrying immense authority and history. And now, they had made an unprecedented decision—nominating a non-English-speaking actor.
Of all people, the nominee was Kang Min, the hottest topic right now. The whole country erupted in chaos.
But a day later, reports came out calling it a false alarm.
People were bitterly disappointed.
Then, another day later, reports suggested it might not be fake news after all.
People exploded in frustration, but the original outlet that broke the story wasn't just trolling.
The Emmy judging panel was in that much chaos.
...To be more precise, it was a total shitshow five minutes ago.
"Let's get one thing straight. Our Emmys are at a major crossroads right now. Agreed?"
"Of course! We need to make more progressive decisions!"
"Oh, if your 'progressive' decision means affirmative action for Black actors, I'll resign! We're not here to pander—we're here to select outstanding work!"
"Ha, I'm curious why those 'outstanding' works have been so white-dominated until now."
"Are you talking to me?"
"Calm down! Everyone, calm down!"
Next door, the Oscars had earned the derogatory nickname "White Oscars" after nearly 90 years of excluding non-white actors and non-English works.
Even they had finally surrendered a few years ago to a legendary Korean director, handing over Best Picture. It was that unbelievable a film, and also a resignation that change was inevitable.
The changes in the years since had been as radical as the previous rigidity. Non-white nominees, once rare, now made up nearly half this year.
But the backlash was just as fierce.
"Yes, we're finally doing it right! But does it make sense to force in low-quality works just to fill a Black quota?!"
"Low-quality? Watch your mouth!"
"I'll say it again: this is low-quality! Nominating it alone drags down the Emmys' standards!"
"Agreed. We're too focused on public opinion."
"Oh, an artist speaks! What evaluation do we do if not considering the public's?"
"You see the Golden Globes reaction last year and still say that?!"
"Urk...!"
Another sore spot for the Emmy judges was the Golden Globes.
The Globes combined film and TV awards, making them rivals to the Oscars and Emmys but a step below. Like how Korea's Daejong Awards, once dominant, got overtaken by the Blue Dragon after scandals.
The Globes had been aggressively nominating Black actors lately.
All conditions primed the judges for all-out war.
"We need to balance ethnic representation this year! That's what the public wants!"
"The public wants good work rewarded! Race is secondary!"
"Even White Oscars are scrambling to shake that image—why paint a target on our backs?! Just balance it moderately!"
"If we're moderating, why have awards at all?!"
"You moderated fine for whites—now you can't for Blacks?!"
Typical recent American scenery.
The judges' opinions were all over, no unity in sight.
Brawls ending with a few storming out were common over the years—from Nokia to Microsoft to Peacock Theater. This seemed headed the same way.
Until one judge deployed flawless logic.
He'd been pondering amid the chaos before speaking up.
"May I say something?"
"Go ahead."
"Isn't the issue this? You want non-white actors, but no work measures up. Otherwise, no fight."
"Well..."
"Yeah..."
"Then I don't get why you're arguing."
Judge John Taylor shrugged.
"We have a perfect candidate already. Undeniable acting, massive impact nationwide, and the lead isn't even white."
"Pardon?"
"What? Where?"
"William White."
"?"
"?"
"...?"
"Is there a more unanimously perfect work?"
Silence fell.
Everyone stared blankly at the judge who'd dropped this bombshell.
"—!"
"— —?!"
"— —!!"
"—! — —!!!"
...Unfortunately, the ensuing uproar dwarfed the previous one.
#
No one disputed William White's acting, the scene itself, or its impact. Ask anyone what TV thing last year had the biggest effect, and it'd be William White.
But there was a problem.
Format.
"Sure, it's amazing. It is! But it's an ad, right?!"
The Emmys had an advertising category, but it was token. The industry preferred the Clio Awards, and no Lead Actor there anyway.
Simply no category to award it.
But John Taylor's rebuttal was crystal clear.
"Who says it's an ad?"
"Uh... huh?"
"Did S&W call it an ad? Kang Min? Broadcasters? No product promo, no sponsor."
"......."
"To me, it looked like a pretty short short film."
It was beyond forced—pure nonsense. Jaws dropped.
But while most questioned Taylor's sanity, a few showed odd signs.
They frowned, stroking chins.
"Hm, there's some logic."
"Yeah, we could push it..."
"Are you insane?!"
Ignoring the gasps, they saw merit.
They'd fought for bold moves—why not go absurdly bold?
William White's acting satisfied them too. Better a real talent than some pandering hack—
To normal folks(?), it was maddening, but converts grew.
Minor conflicts persisted.
"Plus, William White is 'us.' Public'll love it."
"William White is an excellent villain. Huge public impact."
"...What?"
"...Pardon?"
"Damn it, take it outside!!"
After days of infighting and fisticuffs, flip-flops on announcements, the Primetime Emmy panel tearfully agreed to nominate William White and The Extraneous Material.
But contrary to judges' fears of backlash, Americans were chill.
Americans shrugged it off or fistfought anew, S&W staff went "That was the title?" "Dunno," but Korea flipped out.
The public was hyped like they'd never griped, but a stunned faction was especially grave.
Precisely, those just finishing awards prep.
They rushed an emergency meeting.
"So... what's the situation?"
"What else? Emmys recognized William White PSA as a short drama!"
"That's forced!"
"Exactly! What kind of bullshit is this?!"
"Fine, it's forced. So what? Ignore it?"
"......."
"......."
Silence.
Baeksang Arts Awards judges eyed each other warily.
Obviously absurd. Ask 100 people, 100 laugh it off.
But if the Emmys said it, targeting a Korean actor? Game-changer.
And if he actually wins? Weirder still.
"...Hypothetically, just suppose. Emmys awards it, we don't. What happens?"
"We look like idiots."
"Senior, language...!"
"Isn't it? Kang Min debuts 9 months in, wins Emmy. Historic monster—we give nothing. Not idiotic, what is?"
"Overreach! Nomination's forced! They went nuts—why follow?!"
"Right! They won't actually award a non-white debutant under a year...!"
"Bullshit! Own that?!"
"Did you just say bullshit?!"
Wary hedging turned to Emmy-level chaos.
Watching seniors/juniors slam tables and yell, director Choi Bong-man stared blankly at the ceiling.
This mess spread to other awards, sparking brawls and disruptions nationwide.
A historic shitshow in Korean awards history, sparked by Kang Min's little shot.
"......."
"......."
"...Can't that madman win awards quietly?"
The biggest victims? Higher-ups who "knew" Kang Min and had sway.
MBS exec sighed, phone glued to ear amid ringing, as debates intensified.
"Nominate it first! Fix rules later!"
"Nonsense! Want 50-sec clips flooding next Baeksang?!"
No conclusions amid endless fierce fights and breakdowns.
And the one to cap this chaotic year-end? None other than in America.
#
As Ohio brimmed with holiday cheer,
Actor Harry Gordon blinked blankly.
"Sorry, Jessie. I heard right? My rival's William White?"
"Y-yeah..."
"My god, ridiculous!"
Emmy categories usually had 5-8 nominees, based on entries. Shorts got tons, so often 8.
But this year? Didn't matter. Train Boxing's Harry Gordon was a lock for Lead Actor.
...Until an invincible swordsman crashed in.
Harry clutched his head.
"Jessie, I did 80 minutes. He did 50 seconds! Fair?!"
"Tons of debate. But they settled it the other day..."
"What're our agents doing?! Protest at least!"
"...Tough, even our UTA's Geisler advocates hard for his acting. Says right call, others follow—"
"My god, that old man's lost it too...!"
German-American Stefan Geisler played opposite Kang Min's Hitler in Unbelievable, hugely impressed. Happy to see Kang Min gaining ground, direction aside.
A blow for Harry, who respected him.
Harry scratched his short blonde hair, sighing irritably.
"Damn. No choice. Most unfair matchup of my life. Guy flipped the country last month—now drops from sky."
"...Sorry, Harry."
"But conceding sucks. Gotta dirty him up."
"Huh?"
"That actor's overhyped. 9-month rookie can't pull that action. Must've cheated."
"Harry! Careful what you say! Your biggest flaw—"
"Relax, manager. I got a perfect plan to pop his bubble."
Manager eyed the smug shrug warily.
Next day.
Harry posted on SNS:
Retweets exploded at the savage post, manager screamed, grabbing his actor's collar and shaking—
King of Death Acting saw it exactly five hours later.
"...........Hm."
Calm face.
But beside him, Kim Ho-jin shuddered for some reason. "Hic."