"Agreed. This agency clearly lacks judgment."

“What kind of taste is that? She's just setting herself up for failure."

“Y'all are missing the point. She's just gathering material for a comedy sketch."

“A small-time company Like that is bound to collapse sooner or later."

Yet, among the flood of disparaging comments, a few outliers floated by.

"Am I the only one who thinks these comedic guys look familiar?"

"Well, I'm afraid you're alone in that."

"Yeah, they do remind me of someone. I can't put my finger on it, but they seem like they've been around."

The live chat buzzed with speculation and chatter about the unexpected turn of events.

Soon enough, it was time for the mid-show break. Ariana stretched and stepped outside to get some fresh air.

When she checked her phone, a flurry of messages from Sonia appeared on the screen.

"Wow, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?"

"If you're having that much trouble, do you want me to sneak in a couple of people for you?"

“But really, why did you pick those guys? Their performance is trending everywhere now."

Ariana smiled and replied, "Well, isn't that great? They've certainly created a buzz."

"You're brilliant!" Sonia promptly responded with a thumbs-up emoji, acknowledging Ariana's strategic move.

As the break concluded, Ariana made her way back to the broadcast studio to commence the second half of the show.

The talent in this segment was notably strong, and Ariana made several selections. Interestingly, most of her choices were contestants who had been overlooked by other teams.

By the time the live broadcast wrapped up, only one spot remained unfilled on Ariana's roster.

To maintain a fair process, Ariana consulted with the production team.