The contest has long been known for its authority and professionalism by Chinese audiences. It has been held six times from 1988 to 2011, witnessing tides of presenters rising to fame. 

　　比如，“鞠萍姐姐”参加过1988年央视首次举办的主持人大赛。

　　2000年大赛，当时才24岁的小撒还是学生。中文主持、英文对话，已经初见 “芳心纵火犯”的端倪。

　　“央视出品，必属精品”。这档节目也被认为是国内新闻界和广播界最顶级和重要的赛事之一。

　　Thanks to its good reputation, the contest is also recognized as one of the highest and most important competition in the country in the field of journalism and broadcast.

　　不过，俗话说“江山代有人才出”。如今，主持人大赛时隔八年回归，汇集了新一批中国最优秀的主持人，也让比赛愈发激烈了。

　　The TV Presenter Contest returned after an eight-year-absence, only to make the battle more intense than ever. 

　　上千名选手中诞生的全国60强开启首轮对决，他们被分成两个组，新闻类和文艺类，其中只有一半的选手能晋级到下一轮比赛。

　　Sixty contestants were selected from thousands of applicants. They are divided into two groups, the news anchor group, and cultural anchor group, and only half of them will proceed to the next phase.

　　那么比赛怎么个激烈法呢？

　　首先，观众对主持人大赛的第一印象就是：这节目节奏也太快了！

　　一上来，不到5分钟，小撒已经介绍完了17个主持人、两轮比赛晋级规则，之后就直接宣布比赛开始。

　　弹幕里的反应都有点懵：“我饭还没咽下去呢，这就开始了？”

　　选手出场后：自我介绍？过往获奖？通通都没有。

　　接下来，选手只有4分半的时间进行比拼：3分钟自我展示+90秒即兴考核。

　　3分钟自我展示结束，观众还没缓过神来呢，马上开始九十秒即兴评论的选题。选手随机挑选图片，主持人撒贝宁迅速念完了即兴比赛题目。之后，没有任何思考时间，立即开讲。

　　来感受下这刺激的 “3,2,1，开始！”↓↓↓

　　下一秒，选手就开始流利作答了。观众：“开始了？？？我题目还没看完！”

　　Each contestant has only four and a half minutes on stage – three minutes for a self-presentation, and 90 seconds for an impromptu report. 

　　"Three, two, one, go!" For the impromptu report, the participants hardly have a second to prepare after the host reveals the topic.

　　90秒即兴考核：“神仙打架”

　　能驾驭这么快赛程的选手，自然都是高手。

　　为啥大赛被称为“神仙打架”？因为高手们张口就是满分作文！