Chapter Text
You are putting the finishing touches on the opening vignettes for Season 4 of I Kveld med Ylvis. You started with Concorde TV as an intern in your last semester of design school and when you graduated they gave you a full time job. Working with the show gives you such variety in your work. One day you’re designing printed materials for the promotions department, the next you’re updating a web site, and the next you’re creating sets for music videos.
The best thing about your job has been working in a totally creative environment. The business part of Concorde is on the first floor of the building, and the creative team is spread throughout the second floor. You work alongside a few other graphic artists and set designers, but you’re also with the costumers, videographers, editors, and most exciting to you, the writers.
Although you’re a trained graphic designer, you have a host of other talents and here you may have the chance to let them all shine. You got a chance to work with and get more acquainted with the Ylvisåker brothers when they were putting together the Expensive Jackets Tour. It was your idea to model Vegard’s jackets off of Freddie Mercury’s, and you’d shared the Careless Whisper/Fox mashup with them, inspiring the number with Magnus and Calle.
Beloved sidekick Calle is out for Season 4 to go on tour with Raske Menn. Because the ratings suffered in Season 2, the last time Calle was absent, the producers are scheming to make sure fans stay interested in the show. They’ve decided to promote Magnus DeVold to take Calle’s spot in the pre-interview slots. But as you work on your graphics project, you hear some heated discussion about other tactics.
“He doesn’t have enough experience yet, Christian!” shouts Vegard, slamming his hand on the table. “We can’t set him up for failure!” The chief editor of the show calmly responds, “I know you’re concerned, Vegard, but you forget he’s hosted a tv show before, and he held his own during his concert number…” “That show was 11 years ago, and it was NOTHING like what we do here. And that was ONE song at the concert, and we rehearsed for weeks. You know this show requires you to be tip top with no advance notice.”
Bård chimes in, “maybe if we advance tape some bits with him and Magnus, or with you, Vegard.” Christian replies, “I don’t know about that, Bård. Magnus is busy with the new show he’s hosting for our time slot when we don’t air, and Vegard’s time is cut back due to his extra responsibilities at home this season.” The editor thinks for a moment. “Maybe if we find a different sidekick for him, though.” Suddenly there’s a whisper in your ear, "I think they're talking about me, Mino."
You smile and spin your chair around, greeted with a kiss on the cheek from the youngest Ylvisåker brother, Bjarte. You helped him with his video for the concert footage, and ever since he’s latched onto you like a puppy with a favorite squeaky toy. You feel like an older sister to him, although you suspect his feelings for you might run deeper. “So you think they want you to be the new sidekick?” you raise a skeptical eyebrow. “Don’t you still have some helicopter pilot school to get through?”
Bjarte replies, “I’m taking six months off for now, to see what happens here. I can get training hours in to keep up with what I’ve already learned.” He leans in, putting his arm around you, still speaking in hushed tones, “so what have they been saying, Mino?” You notice the trio has now shut the door to continue their conversation, and it seems they did this when Bjarte walked in. You don’t think it is your place to share.
Standing up and moving away slightly to reclaim your personal space, you reply, “I wasn’t really paying attention, but it seems like they are discussing adding another sidekick.” Bjarte’s face beams, “I knew it! Vegard was talking with Mamma about it last weekend. He is afraid I’m gonna bomb and it will be his fault. But Bård wants me to do it so it’s gonna happen!” You walk to the kitchen to get a drink and he follows you. You ask him, “you’re not scared to be on the show?”
“No, I’m not scared! Being on a tv show is way easier than singing to a packed house at Spektrum!” Now he’s raised his voice so anyone within earshot will hear his details. “I’ve been trying to prove how funny I am with all the stuff I put on Twitter and Vine. They have to pick me!” Now you’re concerned because there are so many ways this could go wrong. Some co-workers begin peeking in to the kitchen to see what’s up, and you give the shush sign to Bjarte.
Just then Christian walks into the kitchen, “There you are, Bjarte and Mino. Can you both come over to the conference room? We need to discuss something with you.” You feel a wave of anxiety pass through. You feel like you’re being called into the principal’s office and hope you won’t get blamed for Bjarte’s outburst in the kitchen. You’ve just recently been included in more of the high profile projects, and you don’t want to jeopardize your position.
You walk in and breathe a sigh of relief because everyone around the room is smiling. The brothers especially don’t hide their feelings around the office and angry shouting isn’t uncommon during creative meetings. Magnus has joined the group as well. Bjarte can’t contain his excitement as he struts in, giving bear hugs to each person in the room to greet them.
Although you’ve been working there for a while, your inner fangirl still gets excited when you’re in the room with Vegard and Bård. They are remarkably talented and have actually studied music, the craft of comedy and stage shows, and they have so many years of experience with different forms of entertainment. And of course their looks are total perfection. Your friends can’t believe you work with them, and many days you can’t believe it, either.
Bård gets a serious look on his face and looks firmly on his younger brother. Christian breaks the ice, “Bjarte, we know you are interested in helping out on the show this season, and your concert number was really well-received. We may even release your song on i-tunes.” Vegard says, “we want you to come help on the show for this season.” Bjarte is about to speak when Bård chimes in, “we’ve decided you can be a camera assistant for Jens who operates Camera 1.
Vegard says, “Camera 1 is the most important camera on the show and you will learn how to operate the machines as you go this season. If we do a Season 5, we will probably be able to give you your own camera and a full-time position.” For the first time ever (in your recollection), Bjarte is speechless, and not in a good way.
The whole room is silent and your heart is dropping for Bjarte, because you know he’s dying to follow in his brother’s footsteps. From the look on his face you can tell he’s trying to be tough but you think he might even cry. Then, all at once, Christian, Bård, Vegard, and Magnus put their index finger and thumb up to their foreheads in the shape of an “L” and point at Bjarte with their other hand, shouting “LOOOOSER!” then erupt with laughter.
You’re still a bit confused but can’t help but laugh with them. Bjarte slowly realizes he’s been punked. “We totally fooled you, little brother!” shouts Bård. Christian adds, “We want you to play a ‘sidekick’ role on the show, Bjarte, but we think it will be better if you have a sidekick of your own, at least for a little while until you get your bearings. Mino, that’s why we asked you to meet with us.”
Vegard explains, “Mino, you have done such good work for us in so many different ways, and we think you and Bjarte have a good chemistry that will work well on camera. And since you were our most recent intern, we think it would be fun to have you help break in our newest trainee.” “We aren’t quite sure what it will look like yet,” Magnus says, “but it should be lots of fun to come up with fresh ideas for some sketches and videos that tap both your talents.”
“So, Mino,” Christian asks, “what do you think?” You aren’t quite sure what to make of all of it, but it is clear you don’t have a choice in the matter. Not if Bjarte has anything to do with it. “She loves it!” Bjarte lifts you up in a big spinning hug. You laugh at him and look around the room at the hopeful faces of the show leaders. “It sounds like a great opportunity…how could I say no?”