Accompanying the theme of "Blank Space," titled "Dark Elf," the design palette predominantly featured black tones. This dark theme, combined with the rebellious and flamboyant character of the background music, created a harmonious blend with the show's overall vibe.
Following the third theme, the fourth song, "Human," shifted back to a more soothing style. Seated in the audience, Lisa Collins immediately fell in love with this track. Originally performed by Christina Perri, "Human" tells the story of a robot willing to give everything for its love for a human, contrasting with its use as a background for sports star highlight reels. Simon preferred the song's core meaning.
In sync with the song's content, the fourth theme was named "Steampunk." The fusion of the delicate Victoria's Secret angels with the robust mechanical elements provided a mesmerizing visual spectacle, amplified by the musical backdrop.
The final theme, "Pink Romance," featured a rap-style song, the only one among the five with a male vocalist, titled "Sexy Back" by Justin Timberlake. Originally the opening track for the 2006 Victoria's Secret show, Simon chose it as the closing number this time, with a theme that embraced a variety of vibrant colors.
As the themes "Fantasy Angel," "Heavenly Love," "Dark Elf," "Steampunk," and "Pink Romance" concluded, an hour had passed unnoticed by the audience in Chandler Theater. The Victoria's Secret Angels began their curtain call, prompting the audience to stand and applaud enthusiastically. This spontaneous approval allowed Michael Bay, who was tense in the backstage control room, to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Michael Bay had been on edge throughout the show, fearing any mishap. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and there was no need for the contingency plans they had prepared. However, the crucial task of post-production editing awaited him, and he only had five days for it. This pace, akin to traditional TV production, demanded much higher standards for the Victoria's Secret show.
The curtain call in the hall lasted over five minutes. When some audience members couldn't resist approaching the stage for autographs, and others began to follow, Michael Bay quickly directed the staff to escort the angels backstage, fearing the situation might get out of hand. Unlike traditional fashion shows, which didn't usually receive rock-star treatment, the Victoria's Secret Angels responded warmly and patiently to autograph seekers. It took repeated prompts from the staff before they reluctantly turned and headed backstage.
After the angelic troupe disappeared, the audience gradually left the hall, some making their way to the post-show party at the Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, armed with VIP invitations.
Backstage, as the crew started to wrap up, the angels prepared for a final group photo. Spotting Simon with Janet and two other women in the backstage area, Cindy Crawford hesitated before approaching them. Nodding to Janet, she asked Simon, "Simon, would you like to join us for the photo?"
Her invitation caught the attention of many around. Though the offer sparked envy among the others, they acknowledged that if anyone deserved to join the group of forty stunning angels, it would be Simon Westeros. However, Simon shook his head and declined, saying, "You all go ahead. I'll pass."
Cindy persisted, gently taking his arm and suggesting, "Come on, join us. I'm sure Janet wouldn't mind, right?" She looked at Janet, who smiled and gave Simon a little nudge. But Simon still refused, citing, "Actually, I have OCD."
Confused, Cindy asked, "How does that relate?" Simon explained, "If I stand in the middle, it will look out of place, like an odd figure intruding." Understanding his point, Cindy sighed in resignation, letting go of his arm, and said, "What a pity."
Respecting Simon's decision and his mention of OCD, no one else tried to join the angels. After the group photo, everyone headed off to the Hilton Hotel.
The next day, mainstream fashion media were abuzz with news about the Victoria's Secret show. The Eaglet Portal's news section dedicated extensive coverage to the event, showcasing numerous photos of the forty angels on the runway. Following the show's conclusion, the media exposure for the Victoria's Secret Angels didn't just sustain—it surged.
Information about the show's theme songs also circulated widely, with Rolling Stone magazine predicting that the five tracks would set a new trend in popular music. Victoria's Secret further promoted the show's broadcast on ABC, scheduled for November 12th.
As media hype fueled anticipation, the five days leading up to the broadcast passed swiftly.
November 12th arrived.
ABC reserved its prime 8 PM slot for the show. Typically, NBC's "Law & Order" held the highest viewership at this time. However, as 8 PM approached, Nielsen and other rating agencies observed a noticeable shift in viewership towards ABC.
When the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show's opening sequence began, ABC's real-time viewership soared to approximately 23.6 million, surpassing "Law & Order's" peak audience of around 21 million. And this was just the beginning.
The show opened with aerial shots narrated by Cindy Crawford, zooming in on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles Music Center. The scene transitioned to the bustling backstage of the show, with tense headset communications and close-ups of poised Victoria's Secret Angels.
"Cindy Crawford, in position."
"Here's Linda Evangelista."
"Claudia, where's Claudia?"
"Oh, my shoes."
"And, Nadia."
"Ready, ready, final 30 seconds."
"Music."
The TV screen then cut to the theater's main hall, where everything went silent, only to erupt again as the intro of "Angels" played along with flickering lights. The camera swiftly switched between scenes. At the signal "Go!" Cindy Crawford made her grand entrance to rapturous applause, perfectly showcasing Michael Bay's signature flair within the opening minutes.
The immediate response from the audience was visible in the ratings, which surged from 23.6 million to 26.1 million as Cindy appeared on stage. Even if the viewership had stayed at this level, the broadcast would already be considered iconic.
However, this was the 90s, a time when the internet was in its infancy, and cable TV had yet to peak. With fewer entertainment options, this sensational and glamorous fashion show captivated a massive audience. Many viewers called friends and family to switch channels and tune in.
Simon recalled the 1998 Victoria's Secret Super Bowl webcast that crashed the internet due to overwhelming traffic. Although this ABC broadcast wouldn't crash, it clearly had the nation glued to their screens.
By the end of the first theme, the viewership hit 30 million, as reported from New York. In an era dominated by a few major networks, 20 million viewers were common, but 30 million marked a significant threshold, often reserved for major award shows or sports events.
The inaugural Victoria's Secret Fashion Show crossing the 30 million mark secured its place in television history. It solidified Daenerys Entertainment's vision of making the show the "Super Bowl of fashion."
However, 30 million was not the peak.
Due to the time difference between the coasts, the real-time ratings didn't reflect the exact live audience, as the West Coast had yet to air the show. These ratings were estimates based on historical data and patterns, which were usually accurate.
By 9 PM, as the hour-long broadcast concluded, and while it was still 6 PM on the West Coast, Simon, stationed at Malibu's Daenerys Studios, received real-time updates from ABC. When the show wrapped up, the peak viewership had reached 41.7 million, with an average audience of about 35.2 million.
With such figures, ABC's $5 million investment for broadcast rights turned out to be a lucrative deal. Typically, a show attracting this level of viewership would cost far more.
By the third day, precise ratings data were available. The first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on ABC attracted a peak audience of 42.1 million, with an average of 35.5 million. In the key 18 to 49 demographic, the rating was 23.7, meaning 23.7% of this group watched the show.
Given that the U.S. had about 120 million in this core audience segment, this translated to roughly 28 million viewers in the target demographic, constituting 80% of the total viewership. In contrast, typical shows would capture 50% to 70% of this core audience.
This concentration of key viewers further boosted the show's impact.
The November 7th live event drew mainly fashion media, but the November 12th broadcast sparked widespread discussion across all media types. Prominent outlets like The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The San Francisco Chronicle extensively covered the broadcast, prompting a broader media frenzy.
With major influencers in U.S. media highlighting the event, countless other publications followed suit. Soon, "Victoria's Secret" was a ubiquitous headline, and this fervor spread internationally, elevating the brand's recognition to new heights.
The 40 Victoria's Secret Angels reaped immediate benefits. Previously, models had to cling to fame through various means, often relegated to being accessories to celebrities. This show, however, positioned the Angels as the main attraction. Media coverage now centered on them as independent stars rather than just supporting figures.
Modeling agencies, overwhelmed with offers targeting the Angels, sought to protect their clients' newfound prominence. It became clear that securing a spot as a Victoria's Secret Angel in the next show would be highly competitive. Supermodels who missed out on becoming Angel spokespersons due to salary disputes regretted their decisions. The five official Angels now held firmly established positions, making a change unlikely unless Simon, the man with ultimate control over the show, decided otherwise.
Moreover, the show's soundtrack drew significant interest, with
fans eagerly inquiring about album releases. Daenerys Entertainment announced plans to release the show's recording on video during Thanksgiving week, with the singles available by Easter the following year. This strategy aimed to further boost the brand's visibility through video sales.
Despite the overwhelming enthusiasm, some criticism emerged. Conservative media voices decried the show as overly provocative and potentially harmful to young audiences. In response, ABC announced plans to label next year's broadcast with a TV-14 rating, indicating it wasn't suitable for viewers under 14. Yet, it would be beyond ABC's control if young viewers still managed to watch.
Amidst all the clamor, the ultimate beneficiary was Victoria's Secret. The brand saw a significant sales boost after the live show, which only surged further following the broadcast.
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