He sold top business minds on a TV show that promised to save the world – and make them famous. They handed over thousands. Then reality set in: He and his crew were no longer the people they wanted to meet. The men didn’t change their behaviour, or their personalities, once they were in China. They didn’t even recognise themselves anymore. The show is on PBS in the US – and in the UK. But China is also watching.
The men on the plane were never truly alone. In truth, they were often held only in virtual, in-house isolation, with teams from the US-based production company and from the broadcaster who were in China with their cameras, lights and microphones following on set. So it was the Chinese who were the “real” stars on the show: the Chinese actors, and the Chinese women who were in the cast.
I was on the flight to Guangzhou when one man on the plane said, “I’m a very lonely man. If I could have someone to share this journey with, I’d have no problem.” He was right. On the night of his last show, a woman called me from the plane, and told me the story. She had watched his show, and was so nervous that she went to the toilet and had to go through a few episodes before filming their last scene.
A few hours later, she was in the plane with him. They never had to do the scene. They were alone on that flight.
The men all believed in themselves, but they did not always believe in each other
The men on the flight were never truly alone. In truth, they were often held only in virtual, in-house isolation, with teams from the US-based production company and from the broadcaster who were in China with their cameras, lights and microphones following on set. So it was the Chinese who were the “real” stars on the show: the Chinese actors, and the Chinese women who were in the cast. A few hours later, she was in the plane with him. They never had to do the scene. They were alone on that flight.
The whole thing was filmed in front of the audience. You could
