256-258

Chapter 256 – Building a Bond 

The friendship between Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon began as a prank but eventually grew into a genuine, close bond. Nowadays, whenever Matt has a new project out, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is always a guaranteed stop on his promo tour. Meanwhile, Jimmy’s teasing of Matt has become second nature—everyone knows about it, whether they believe it or not. 

Surprisingly, Cliff took it seriously. 

Clearly unfamiliar with talk shows, Cliff had no way of knowing the real story until Jimmy casually revealed the truth. The revelation left Cliff a bit embarrassed. 

But Jimmy wasn’t upset. Instead, he appreciated Cliff’s sincerity. Indie bands often live in their own world, oblivious to the outside noise. Jimmy gave Cliff a comforting pat on the shoulder and said, “If you want to meet Matt, it’s not hard. Next time, let’s visit his place together. Trust me, he’ll be thrilled to have you. He’s a really warm, welcoming guy.” 

Cliff was a little stunned by the offer. “That would be our honor.” 

Jimmy smiled warmly, and under the guidance of the studio staff, left the set alongside the band members. 

The live audience was still clapping and cheering, their faces full of excitement. They had to wait for the guests to leave before they could exit, and the air buzzed with chatter about the show. Their joy was the best kind of feedback. 

As they walked, Jimmy fell a few steps behind and ended up walking alongside Ronan. They exchanged a look, and almost simultaneously said, “Thank you.” 

Jimmy was grateful Ronan had trusted him and agreed to appear on the show. 

Ronan was thankful Jimmy had taken a chance by inviting the band on. 

Gratitude, in this case, flowed both ways. 

Then Ronan added, “Our next concert is in Washington. I’ve reserved a family seat just for you. Want to come join the party in person?” 

An invitation—more than just a courtesy, it was a gesture of camaraderie. And it referenced a shared inside joke from a previous phone call. 

Jimmy chuckled. “Absolutely. It would be an honor. So I get to see more of your performances this time, right?” 

“We’ll do our best to stretch the setlist,” Ronan replied with a smile. “But don’t expect too much—we’re still just getting started.” 

Jimmy shook his head slightly, a look of mock disapproval on his face. “Excuse me, are you really Ronan Cooper? The confident, commanding guy I just saw on the show? What’s with the sudden humility?” 

Jimmy noticed Ronan holding something back, but didn’t read too much into it. He couldn’t have known the full story. Outwardly, Ronan seemed calm and collected—but inside, he still carried uncertainty. Confidence was something he lacked deeply. The emotional and psychological toll of losing his hearing had cut deeper than words could explain. 

So, unaware of all that, Jimmy simply joked about it. 

Ronan, not eager to dive into an emotional heart-to-heart, replied playfully, “The stage is one thing, life is another. I need a few masks to avoid falling into long spells of fear and loneliness. I’m learning, but clearly still not smooth at taking them off.” 

Though Ronan kept his tone light, Jimmy caught the layers beneath his words. 

The stage—bright, loud, electrifying—feels like the center of the world. But when the lights go out and the artist returns to an empty hotel room or apartment, the silence can be deafening. 

That stark contrast breeds loneliness and anxiety. Sometimes, not even the embrace of loved ones can fill the void. The spotlight becomes an addiction, silently eating away at the soul, until a once-vivid spirit starts fading into emptiness. 

It’s hard to say whether this is a blessing or a curse. But one thing is certain: every performer must face it. 

For One Day Kings, this emptiness was probably still in its early stages—just a seed. A stage for 2,000 people is still a stage. And that quiet, post-show loneliness is hard to avoid. It’s part of why so many Hollywood stars get hooked on parties—they need noise to drown out the solitude. 

Though One Day Kings hadn’t reached that point yet, Ronan could already feel the emotional vulnerability and sensitivity. No wonder he could write such soul-stirring melodies like Chasing the Light. 

“Keep practicing. You’ll get used to it,” Jimmy said lightly—but his words carried deeper meaning. He clearly understood that feeling far more than Ronan realized. Behind those simple words was a quiet kind of hardship. 

Still, Jimmy wasn’t about to launch into an Oprah-style confessional. So, changing the subject, he chuckled, “I just told Cliff earlier—next time, we’re bringing you guys over to Matt’s house.” 

“Perfect. I’ll tip off the paparazzi in advance,” Ronan grinned. “Maybe they’ll pay me to plant a spy cam and catch your ‘real’ interactions—see if you two fight behind closed doors, too.” 

Looking at Ronan’s bright eyes, Jimmy couldn’t tell if he was kidding. 

He blinked, then burst out laughing. “What happened to taking off the mask?” 

Ronan shrugged. “Sorry, still not very good at it. Give me a little more time.” 

Jimmy’s grin refused to fade, and his laughter continued to echo down the hallway. 

And just like that, the taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! wrapped up smoothly. Later on, Ronan learned something surprising—there had been a monitor on set during filming. 

Atlantic Records hadn’t fully trusted the situation, so they sent someone to observe the taping. Their job was twofold: check how the band performed and coordinate with the show’s staff. If anything crossed a line, they’d discuss edits. 

But the results were shockingly good. Or rather, unexpectedly great. One Day Kings impressed them so much that it actually shifted Atlantic’s perspective. It laid the groundwork for a new phase. From that moment on, the label adjusted their strategy, and the band started receiving more show invitations. 

At first, Jimmy thought Ronan would be upset about the secret surveillance. After all, indie bands were known for their pride and strong personalities. But Ronan took it in stride. 

Chapter 257: A Gust of Buzz 

“I can say with 100% certainty that they won’t just leave us alone. Even if they’re not supervising on set, they’ll step in during post-production.” 

“That’s the kind of issue you inevitably face when signing with a big company. From a negative standpoint, yes—they tend to meddle a lot, which can rob you of your freedom, individuality, and edge. But from a positive perspective, they’re professional and structured. They know what they’re doing. It just depends on how you choose to accept it.” 

So, how did Ronan choose to handle it? 

“At the very least, they’re not blatantly interfering. They’re maintaining the appearance of peace on the surface, which means they still respect our band’s choices—so far. In that case, there’s no need for us to break that balance. We can find a way to coexist amid the tension.” 

That simple response held a kind of life wisdom that wasn’t immediately obvious, and it made Jimmy reevaluate Ronan once more. 

That’s no small thing—Jimmy was already 45 years old, a full 20 years older than Ronan. Being impressed by One Day King’s stage performance and inviting them onto his show was one thing, but becoming real friends was something else entirely. The age gap alone was a natural barrier. 

And yet, Jimmy genuinely wanted to befriend Ronan—not just on the show, but in private. He even invited Ronan over to his home in New York, and Ronan actually accepted. But that’s a story for another time. 

Back to the issue of the company quietly keeping tabs. For now, Ronan had no intention of disrupting the status quo—especially since One Day King didn’t exactly have the clout to challenge Atlantic Records' decisions anyway. 

Luckily, Atlantic Records seemed to share the same mindset. They hadn’t tried to interfere—for now—thanks to the unexpectedly great results from The Jimmy Feather Show. 

After the show was recorded, there was still editing and post-production work to be done, so it wasn’t aired immediately. In fact, major film promotions often hit talk shows a month or even two ahead of release. Some productions wait until after their premiere to launch a second promotional wave, depending on the PR team’s strategy. 

One Day King’s episode didn’t air right away. It came out three weeks later. 

By that time, the social media buzz around Chasing the Light had cooled down. The initial explosion of attention had faded, but the song was enjoying steady, long-term engagement. Its hashtag had become a space for everyday people to share their feelings and find emotional resonance. As attention on the song slowly picked back up, its position on the Billboard Hot 100 quietly climbed to No. 53—just a step away from cracking the Top 50. To go further, they’d need a bit of a spark—and that’s where The Jimmy Feather Show came in. 

“Witty! Hilarious! Charming! Confident!” 

“Not a trace of nervousness or rookie awkwardness!” 

“Seasoned and sharp—Campbell was clearly feeling the pressure!” 

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen a talk show this entertaining!” 

“I’ve never even heard of that band, but I still couldn’t stop clapping!” 

“Now I’m really curious about their music.” 

“The chemistry was electric—so fun to watch!” 

“Can Ronan Cooper run for president already?” 

“Maxim, you are officially the hottest guy ever!” 

Praise came flooding in like a tidal wave! 

One Day King showed a level of poise and maturity rare for newcomers. The entire episode was laugh-out-loud funny, and the audience loved it. 

Of course, being an unknown indie band comes with pros and cons. On the downside, the audience doesn’t know you. But the upside is that fresh faces can surprise people—and that double-edged sword worked in their favor this time. The performance earned widespread applause. 

Still, controversy was inevitable. 

In the age of the internet, controversy is par for the course. Anonymity only amplifies the clash of opinions. 

From a negative standpoint, this fosters more extreme views and deeper divisions. But positively, it can also open up dialogues and broaden perspectives. The same event might spark hate in some and awareness of diversity in others. 

That’s the tightrope One Day King now had to walk. 

In the episode, Ronan brought up Tom Cruise twice, which rubbed some people the wrong way. The backlash was intense—plenty of angry rants and harsh words. Many viewers couldn’t stand Ronan’s tone, his posture, or the subtext of his jokes. They felt he crossed a line—it wasn’t comedy, it was a personal attack. 

The core of the controversy? That Ronan might be using Tom Cruise as a stepping stone to fame, despite having no personal beef with him. The whole thing came off as shameless, arrogant, and crude. Words like “disrespectful” and “delusional” started circulating. 

But American pop culture plays by different rules. 

If Ronan’s jokes “hurt” Tom Cruise, then Saturday Night Live, The Jimmy Feather Show, and countless other late-night programs must be doing serious damage every single night. These shows thrive on mocking public figures—often to absurd, exaggerated levels for laughs. Ronan’s comments weren’t even close in comparison. Even morning shows like The Ellen Show dish out playful jabs. It’s part of the format. 

That’s the cultural context—if you can’t laugh at yourself, you’ll never understand real humor. People who can’t take a joke just end up becoming the joke. 

So, voices of support began to rise. They argued that internet critics were just nitpicking because One Day King was an easy target. If it had been SNL delivering the jokes, lawyers would’ve already shut the place down. Compared to that, One Day King’s jokes were kindergarten-level. 

“Controversy” itself is a double-edged sword. If the negativity outweighs the positive buzz, it can tank a celebrity’s image. But if the positives win out, it can generate a massive wave of attention—and that’s exactly what happened here. 

The criticism and insults didn’t really hurt Ronan or the band—partly because they weren’t famous enough for the backlash to gain serious traction. Rather than attacks, it felt more like nitpicking. Ironically, the negative comments ended up boosting the popularity of The Jimmy Feather Show, drawing in more viewers. 

People started asking, “What exactly did this new band say about Tom Cruise?!” 

Riding that wave of curiosity—even if it was a bit ironic and frustrating—the show’s rerun ratings almost matched its premiere, which was an unexpected outcome. Not exactly a win, but definitely not a loss either. 

Chapter 258: The East Wind Rises Again 

Looking at how One Day King weathered the storm of controversy, one thing became clear—hype has always been the core currency of the entertainment industry. Even when everyone knows the backlash can be brutal, the potential payoff is just too tempting. That’s why so many people keep trying, fueling endless waves of speculation and drama, where real and fake stories blur together in a never-ending cycle of manipulation. 

When One Day King appeared on Jimmy Chicken Feathers Show as guests, their debut broadcast drew in about 2.2 million viewers—right in line with the show’s average. Not great, not terrible. But compared to their online buzz, the lack of a ratings boost felt like a missed opportunity. 

Then, as the controversy simmered and discussion heated up, the replay of that episode drew in another 2 million viewers. That number was shocking—especially considering reruns rarely break 1.5 million. For Jimmy Chicken Feathers Show, this was nothing short of a major leap. 

From the original airing to the rerun, the show rode a wave of growing interest. As an unknown indie band, One Day King delivered an unexpected hit—and more importantly, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Both the show’s team and Atlantic Records were thrilled. 

Especially within the TV industry, eyes began to turn their way. 

Ever since the internet exploded in popularity and entertainment options diversified, TV ratings have been on a steady decline since 2003. Every corner of television has been affected—dramas, variety shows, you name it—with the only real exception being football. Talk shows, too, haven’t escaped this downward trend. 

According to Nielsen, entertainment talk shows are losing viewers faster than political ones. While both types are shrinking, political shows are holding steady in ratings—which measure engagement among the 18-49 age group, the holy grail for advertisers—indicating they’re still pulling in that key demographic. 

In contrast, entertainment talk shows are struggling to stay profitable, raising questions for networks about whether some of them even deserve to be renewed. In this light, Jimmy Chicken Feathers Show’s viewership wasn’t stellar, but it had stable ratings, thanks largely to host Jimmy’s approachable personality and the show’s signature pranks. That’s what keeps the 18-49 crowd engaged. 

One Day King's appearance matched the season’s best with a 1.4 rating, the highest for the 2012 season—a very promising result. 

That’s when the buzz began to spread quietly across the television industry—after all, when a new act shows they can hook the core consumer demographic, you don’t ignore them. 

One Day King was young, all under thirty. Their look gave them the market appeal of the Jonas Brothers or One Direction. But unlike your typical boy band, they had edge and bite. Whether they were talented or made good music didn’t matter to TV producers—that wasn’t their concern. 

The name “One Day King” began circulating. Not as total unknowns anymore, but as an emerging name worth watching. That alone marked real progress. 

Now, all they needed was a new spark—a second wave after Jimmy Chicken Feathers Show—a new opportunity to break through and hit mainstream visibility. Otherwise, they’d have to keep building slowly and steadily. 

Because success in the entertainment world is never just luck. It’s always a mix of timing, opportunity, and momentum. After years in obscurity, One Day King had finally cracked open a door. But to push it wider, they’d need ten times more effort. 

Where that spark would come from—and when—was anyone’s guess. 

For now, Atlantic Records was satisfied. There was no need to rush. The band should stay the course. The late-night talk show gave them a nice pop of exposure, but ultimately, it would be their music that truly defined them—that’s why the label signed them in the first place. 

So after filming wrapped, One Day King went straight back to touring. It was like their time in the studio had been a dream—those cheers, that spotlight, all fading into the background as their feet touched the stage once again. 

Not that the tour lacked excitement—but TV appearances and live shows are two very different worlds. Each brings its own rhythm, its own kind of high. For the band, being on TV had been new and thrilling, something that naturally drew attention. 

Still, the stage is their true home—the place where their passion burns brightest, and where they feel most alive. 

After leaving New Jersey, One Day King and Shining Band continued their southern tour leg, falling back into the routine of life on the road. 

And for Sophie Vieira, that was good news. 

She didn’t care about the TV show. Truthfully, she wasn’t even a fan. She didn’t follow the band’s schedule or check their social media. She didn’t care about their lives offstage—she just loved their music. 

Ever since she’d randomly heard Chasing the Light at a café, she’d been hoping they’d return to Washington, D.C.. That song had become a lifeline. After a painful breakup, she’d clung to it like a piece of driftwood, desperate for something to help her keep afloat. 

So she poured all her attention into their tour schedule, waiting and hoping they’d come back to D.C. It had become almost an obsession. 

Deep down, she knew that no concert could save her. One Day King wasn’t her salvation. She didn’t even know them that well. She just needed something—anything—to distract her. 

And finally, after waiting what felt like forever, they were coming. 

(End of Chapter) 

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