Nathan for you - Comedy Central

Nathan for you is a thirty minute comedy show currently seen on Comedy Central. It debuted on February 28, 2013. The show was created by Canadian comedienne Nathan Fielder who also directs, writes, and stars in this offbeat fake reality show.

The Setup- Nathan Fielder plays a skewered version of himself as a business school graduate who helps struggling companies with strategies that no sane person would attempt.
Fielder made a splash with a viral video hoax that showed a pig rescuing a goat from a river in an attempt to gain publicity for a petting zoo. The trick being they used a stunt pig.  The video got over 7 million hits on You Tube and was even featured across the country by news outlets before it was revealed as a hoax. This kind of wacky deadpan comedy is Fielders trademark. Think Punk'd hosted by Stephen Wright.
 Fielder suggests that a funeral home hire actors to stage dramatic breakdowns and grieve effusively at viewings. The theory being that people would pay to look cool after they die.
He helps a haunted house by suggesting they tell people they accidentally contracted a deadly disease in the house, he then rushes them by ambulance to a fake hospital that is actually the exit of the horror house. After the terrified victims exit Fielder presents them with a lawyer who suggests they sue the haunted house owner for subjecting them to mental stress. The idea is that people would flock to a haunted house that had been sued for being too scary.
In every episode the business owners watch patiently as Fielder's ideas prove to be ill thought out at best.


What I love about it- Fielder is as deadpan as Andy Kauffman or the under appreciated Super Dave Osborne. If this guy has a standing heart rate over thirty I would be shocked.  The ridiculousness of the gags is what makes this show fun. When Fielder spoofs David Blaine type magic acts his idea is to try and escape from handcuffs before a robot de-pants him and exposes him to a group of children. If he fails to escape he has officers standing by to arrest him as a sex offender. Offensive? Yes. Comic Genius? Most certainly. This concept isn't new but the gags are bold and fresh.
Lenny Bruce dressed in a convict outfit and asked unsuspecting pedestrians for directions back in the 60's kicking off shock humor.  Like Kauffman, Sascha Baron Cohen, and Punk'd before him Fielder is just a progression of that style of comedy. This is the kind of a show that brings a classic type of humor to a new generation.

What I hate about it- I did find myself drifting a bit during every episode I watched. While I loved the idea of each gag Fielder's style is so monotone I often found myself looking at my phone hoping it would ring. Fielder deserves praise for finding the next level but this style seems to grow old fast.

8 out of 10 Couch Potatoes- Fielder holds this show all by himself which is no small task. The creativity is amazing and every episode provides its share of laughs and shake your head moments of disbelief. This is going to be popular in college dorms all across the country but make some room for it in your house. Watch it for no other reason other than to learn not to hire Nathan to help your company.

Rectify- Sundance Channel

Rectify is a one hour mystery/drama currently seen on the Sundance Channel. The series premiered on April 22, 2013 and is the first original series from the Sundance Channel. New episodes appear Monday evenings. Check your local listings.

The Setup- Daniel Holden is released from prison after nineteen years on death row for raping and murdering his girlfriend. Daniel's new lawyer uses DNA evidence to exonerate him and win his release. Daniel must now face the challenge of returning to a world that has long passed him by and may or may not want him back. His family arrives at the prison to rejoice in Daniel's release and bring him home.Not everyone however is happy about it though.
 State Senator Roland Foulkes appears outside the prison the day Daniel is released to remind the press that the DNA evidence was a loophole and that Daniel had previously confessed to the murder. Foulkes was the original prosecutor of the case and wants Daniel retried. The rest of the small town that served as the backdrop for this heinous crime is not very happy to have old wounds reopened.
 Daniel's sister Amantha played by Abigail Spencer is his fiercest supporter and worries about how he will reintegrate back into outside life. His mother is remarried and her new husband Ted and stepson Teddy Jr. run the family tire business that Daniel would have inherited.
The show weaves a checkered quilt of suspicion and intrigue over whether Daniel is the real killer or not.

What I love about it- Alden Young plays Daniel with a rare blend of restraint and depth that really lets you love and fear Daniel simultaneously. He opens up slowly like the first flower of spring and every bit of it is entertaining. Several of the characters have great depth and even if their progress seems slow the growth potential is enormous.
 The show has a creepy vibe to it sort of like a Twin Peaks kind of thing only grittier. There were only two episodes available on demand so it may be to early put too much faith in it but show's foundation is solid and I certainly was left wanting much more.

What I hate about- Teddy Jr. played by Clayne Crawford is to this show what teenage Dana is to Homeland.......a pimple on the Mona Lisa. Teddy like Dana is whiney and annoying and ultimately a distraction from an otherwise great show. I'm not enough of an expert to know whether  Crawford is a rotten actor or Teddy is just a poorly written character. Something clearly stinks here and it doesn't help that most of the characters put Teddy to shame. The pace is a little slow yet it somehow it seemed like each episode was over in a blink. There is a lot to process here but that's what makes it fun.

8 out of 10 Couch Potatoes- This one gets a bit of an incomplete grade. Usually I watch a half dozen episodes minimum before I start spouting off but I think people need to try this show early on and give it a chance. The potential is here is huge and rarely do shows start off as strong. So invite Daniel over for dinner but just don't turn your back on him yet.

American Hoggers - A&E

American Hoggers is a thirty minute reality show currently entering it's third season on A&E. The show debuted on October 19, 2011.

The Setup- The show follows the escapades of the Campbell's and their family business of chasing and trapping feral hogs. Yes this is an actual show. In certain parts of the country these wild hogs do millions in damage to livestock and property. The family patriarch Jerry Dean Campbell has been hunting hogs for forty years and of course is slow to adapt to ummm modern hogging. Robert Hunter Campbell is heir to the hog throne and anxious to run things his own way. Krystal Pistol Campbell wears the girls can do this too chip on her shoulder like a badge of honor. She blends painted nails and pink chaps with bloody hogs and romps in the mud. Lea Penick is a family friend who occasionally joins in on the fun. Pretty much every episode goes like this. Someone calls for help, the Campbell's discuss what a hard job it will be, then they all argue about how to do it, they catch said hogs, and everyone says we were lucky this time but something has to change.

What I love about it- I appreciate being alerted to the growing hog problem in this country. This is a subject my advisers had left out of my daily briefings. The hunt and capture part of the show sucks you in. It's not just good editing that makes this job look like a real chore. They chase the hogs on horseback and by ATV and it feels like a modern day western.
Krystal Pistol is entertaining and puts up with more chauvinism than any woman should have to endure. Lea was in the background more in the earlier episodes until someone realized she was attractive. I am craving a behind the scenes episode so I can watch the thought process of the production team.

What I hate about it- If you have seen one wild hog hunt you've seen em all. The show tries to be Dallas with hogs but it misses the mark. The old man is a first class pain in the ass. Jerry is a little too old and hobbled by time to get out of his jeep let alone wrestle hogs. His beard looks like Don King's hair turned upside down and he needs subtitles for every sentence he utters. Robert Hunter doesn't score so high on the likability meter himself but he does do the lions share of the work. They whole family just needs a sit down with Dr. Phil. They tried to introduce a rival family in the last few shows to liven things up but this just seemed a little forced.

5 out of 10 couch potatoes- Great fun for three or four episodes then the acidic family dynamics start to get old. It's a pretty cool job and the Campbell's are heroes to the farmers they help but that's not enough to keep me watching. This is the one time bringing home the bacon may not be a good thing.

Flea Market Flip - HGTV

Flea Market Flip is a thirty minute reality show currently seen on the Home and Garden channel. The show is hosted by Good Morning America's Lara Spencer. It debuted in August 2012 and has just started its second season. New episodes can be seen Friday nights and times vary.

The Setup- Lara Spencer's hobby of turning flea market junk into hip pieces of art has been turned into a sort of flea market game show. Two pairs of contestants are given a small budget, around $500, to buy stuff at one flea market refurbish it and sell it at another flea market. The team that makes the most money over what they spent wins $5000.  Spencer gives a different to do list each time with tasks like one mix and match pair, one table set,and one seating project. There are usually three to four tasks per show.
There is equal time given to the hunt, the transformation, and the sell.

What I love about- This show should not appeal to me on any level. I have little understanding of art, no concept of design, and no interest in the subject matter. The kicker ofcourse is I love this show. It surprises me everytime how clever these people are. They see things my wildest imagination could never come up with.
This not a simple side gig for Spencer. She is far more serious here than on GMA. She knows what she is talking about and her passion shows.
The creativity here is amazing. One couple took a rusty bicycle and a weathered piece of wood that they turned into a table that sold for big bucks. Another couple covered a working traffic light with plexiglass and turned it into a lit bench. Who cares if you don't know the difference between Mid- American and Victorian age furniture. The pairs compete with just the right amount of animosity. Everyone wants to win and thinks their stuff is better but it never gets ugly.

What I hate about it- For what it is it's pretty close to perfect. The downfall might be getting a broad spectrum of people to embrace it. Truth be told if HGTV wasn't on 24/7 at my mother's house I wouldn't know the channel existed. The show doesn't have enough bells and whistles to be on a major network and it may get lost out in the garden.

8 out of 10 Couch Potatoes-  Interesting and entertaining isn't an easy mark to hit but they do it here brilliantly. It may inspire you to go out and spend your Saturday mornings bargain hunting.

Upload with Shaquille O'Neal - TruTV

Upload with Shaquille O'Neal is a comedy/video show currently on TruTV. The show is seen Thursday nights at 10:30pm. The series premiered on February 21, 2013.

The Setup- Shaq with the help of buddies Godfrey and Gary Owen show funny videos, pranks, and skits. Think Ridiculousness and almost any other lets laugh at videos show. Each show features a guest and usually has Shaq pranking Gary at some point.

What I love about it- I'm a sucker for watching people hurt themselves in stupid videos. I never tire of it. Shaq can be funny when he lets loose. Every time I  see Gary Owen all I can think of is the grosser than gross body shot scene in the movie College. The videos are fresh and funny but there are not enough of them. I feel like with a few tweaks this could be a good show.

What I hate about it- Shaq is in control here and be sure if Gary and Godfrey don't give him enough fake laughs he may use them as seat cushions. Gary and Godfrey often look they are amusing a professor in hopes of a good grade. The pranks are lame. Shaq makes Gary do the cinnamon challenge but surprise it's not the spice it's a 300lb African American woman named Cinnamon. Oh man you got me there Shaq.
The guests are atrocious. Aries Spears? Loni Love? Shaq doesn't have better friends to call in favors on? It feels like they created this show with twenty minutes notice. If Shaq and his buddies lightened up the show would flow more naturally.

3 out of 10 Couch Potatoes- There are a couple of small gems here but overall this is pretty lame. Shaq is funnier on the NBA pre-game show than he is here. If you like this kind of thing flip to Ridiculousness on MTV and see it done right. I'd like to pat myself on the back now for never comparing the show to a Shaq free throw oh wait I just did. Damn.

Nadia G's Bitchin' Kitchen- Cooking Channel

Nadia G's Bitchin' Kitchen is a thirty minute cooking show seen on the Cooking Channel. Nadia Giosia is the creator, writer, and host of this unusual twist on the traditional cooking show.

The Setup- Nadia G is a first generation Italian who grew up in Montreal, Canada. She is a self taught cook and self proclaimed bad ass. A former comedienne covered in tattoos and dressed like an Andy Wharol painting Nadia G believes anything different is good. It takes three seconds to realize this is not a Martha Stewart production. Despite the brashness and over the top set the format is pretty standard.
 There is one major difference here, unlike most cooking shows this one has a cast of characters.
Hans is a shirtless well oiled  expert on all things healthy. It is something like learning about rutabagas from Fabio. The Spice Agent, Yeheskel Mizrahi, played by Ben Shaoulli is you guessed it the spice expert. The show has a running gag that Nadia cannot pronounce his name correctly. Panos the Meat and Fish guy is.....well you get the drift by now. He comes from a large Greek family and is constantly badgered by his make believe wife.
The format is fairly run of the mill. Two minutes on what she plans on cooking based on the days theme and twenty five minutes on how to do it.

What I love about it- When you cut thru all the fluff and over the top presentations there really is a lot of good information here. The guys add tips that actually could help any home cook. The show is designed for a younger generation and it does a good job of making cooking look fairly easy

What I hate about-   Nadia G grates my nerves. Her voice sounds like Fran Drescher doing an impression of Joe Piscopo playing Hamlet in a summer stock performance.  A real bad ass doesn't remind you they are a bad ass every five minutes. I would rather drive cross country in an 84 Honda Accord with Dick Vitale, Kathy Griffen, and Flavor Flav than subject myself to another half hour of Nadia G.
Getting past her is not easy but I really tried to look hard at the food. I know Food Network hosts come up with their own recipes but I noticed an alarming trend here. Nadia frequently takes a well known dish, replaces one or two ingredients and sticks it out there as a modern version of whatever. She replaces regular potatoes with sweet potatoes in her version of the traditional Canadian dish Poutine. She uses curry in chicken pot pie. The changes are so minuscule and contrived that anybody with a cookbook and  a six pack could come up with these recipes.

2 out of 10 Couch Potatoes- There are dozens if not hundreds of cooking shows out there and this might be the worst one of them all. Pretty much everything here is annoying on some level. I am giving it a two instead of a zero because I know this show is not aimed at me. If it gets young people interested in healthy cooking then that's a good thing. Personally I'd rather watch a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.

Comic Book Men - AMC

Comic Book Men is a reality show seen on the AMC network. The show is set in Clerk's director Kevin Smith's comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, in Red Bank, NJ. The show premiered in February 2012 and is currently in it's second season.

The Setup- Smith has ingeniously engineered a a reality show that is a thirty minute commercial for his store. Each episode starts with Smith and his cronies who run the store talking in what appears to be a radio station. The guys talk about what happened at the store each week then the show cuts to filmed bits inside the store.
Walt runs the store and takes the lead when the show is not at the radio station. Picture in your mind a forty year old version of the guy in high school you knew that read comics and played Dungeons and Dragons instead of sneaking liquor out of his parents closet and you get Walt. Walt basically loves all the same things Smith does and vice versa.
Bryan Johnson is a regular who hangs out at the Stash. Bryan is the smart ass of the group and he frequently tortures the ridiculously sweet Ming who works at the counter. Mike Zapcic rounds out the cast as another man child employee.
Every episode has Walt asking his buddies questions like "If you were married to a female superhero who would it be?" and "Could the Enterprise take out the Death Star?". People come in buying and selling comic books in what turns into Pawn Stars for nerds.

What I love about it- If you like Kevin Smith movies this show is for you. It brings you back to the days of your youth before you liked girls. Smith, Walt, and Ming are likable guys and their knowledge of all things geeky is incredible. The show is harmless fun and it requires no thinking whatsoever. In fact I kind of found myself in a trance halfway thru each episode. I like it but then again I once bought an Ali vs. Superman comic book for five bucks.

What I hate about it- If you are a woman, under twenty, over fifty, metrosexual, republican, or sensitive to what others think of you run from this show. Run as fast as you can. The demographics this show appeals to are as thin as The Hulk's patience. Bryan is irritating and Mike is clearly in the show because he worked there a long time and no one had the heart to tell him he has the personality of a packing peanut. If you don't like comics, don't know the name of the place where Lando Calrissian lived, or are a single guy hoping to hook a girlfriend please skip this show.

6 out of 10 Couch Potatoes- It's an easy watch if you can't find anything else on. Most of the cast is cool and it is interesting to see people who will pay $500 for a classic comic book. The truth is if you don't think this is your cup of tea I can assure you you are right. If you can't quote Clerks or name two other Kevin Smith films watch something else but for me I'll visit the Stash again.

Impractical Jokers- TruTV

Impractical Jokers is a hidden camera show on TruTV. The show first aired on December 15, 2011 and it has just wrapped it's second season.

The Setup- Joe, Sal, Murr, and Q are four high school friends from Staten Island who dare each other to do stupid pranks on an unsuspecting public. It's a lot like the old candid camera but often it is the reaction of the guys to what they have to do that is the funniest part.There are rules laid out before each segment in order to complete the task. Whoever fails at completing the most tasks at the end of each episode is punished by being forced to complete a humiliating stunt.

What I love about it- I love this show! It is the best show on TruTV ( I know not a rousing endorsement) and maybe one of the ten funniest shows on TV. If you like men acting like idiots you can't do better than Impractical Jokers.
 Each one of the guys is lovable in their own way. Joe is brash and fearless. Sal trembles and cringes like a schoolchild. Murr starts out strong but usually ends up laughing his way thru each bit. Q is the most reserved of the bunch but can sometimes be the most brazen.
An example of the antics are bits like daring each other to see who can rub their noses on the body of a stranger the most times. They see who can eat the most food off a strangers plate before the person protests. The fact that they know each other so well adds to their glee when watching another joker stumble.
The truth is I can't do this show justice you just have to trust me and tune in.

What I hate about it- The shelf life doesn't seem to long. Either the guys get so famous that they can't surprise people anymore or the bits will start to get old. I hope they can keep it going but for now it's priceless

9 out of 10 Couch Potatoes.-  Get your On Demand channel warmed up, grab a case of beer, six friends, and three pizzas and start your marathon. Impractical Jokers may be the next big thing.

Trip Flip- Travel Channel

Trip Flip is a travel show where host Bert Kreischer enlists unsuspecting folks to join him on a free mystery vacation. The show is thirty minutes long and is currently seen Sundays on the Travel Channel.

The Setup- There isn't much past that first sentence. Basically some lucky schlubs get a free trip just for being impulsive. The first two minutes always feature Kreischer wandering around some random city screaming about how he wants to give away a vacation and being turned away again and again. Luckily ofcourse someone (usually an attractive couple) says yes. He tels them where they are going, they hug each other, and then everyone jumps for joy. The show picks one city and hits the hot spots.
 The rest of the show they are treated to first class accommodations and unusual if not once in a lifetime experiences in said location. The Seattle episode has Bert taking the couple on the roof of the Space Needle, not the observation deck, the actual roof.
There is lots of hugging, crying tears of joy, and wows dished out every week.

What I love about it- Kreischer is a lovable oaf of a guy whose high pitched squeals of glee and playful exuberance carry the show. Once the host of the inspid Bert the Conqueror, also on Travel Channel, he reappears here in a format well suited to his antics. Some of the things these folks get to do are so cool you stir on the couch in a jealous rage. It's only thirty minutes of frivolity and it's a fine diversion while you wait for the pizza.


What I hate about it- The destinations and experiences vary so much that they help and hurt the show. One week someone gets to swim the Great Barrier Reef the next week they get Salsa lessons in a crummy looking LA restaurant. It seems to my conspiracy tuned mind that fat, ugly, and old people say no to Bert and young attractive people say yes. There is a very contrived feeling to the selection process.  Bowling with the guy from Mike and Molly was one of the "Once in a lifetime" perks the couple in the LA episode got. I can think of oh maybe ten thousand things to do in LA that are better than that. Rule of thumb, if the destination sounds lame good chance the episode will be too.

7 out of 10 Couch Potatoes. I'd go to a gas station in Buffalo with Bert. He seems like a fun guy to vacation with. If they hit some cooler cities like London, Rome, or Hong Kong instead of Austin and LA you may want to come along every week too.

Dan LeBatard is Highly Questionable- ESPN

UPDATE BELOW

Dan LeBatard is Highly Questionable is a sports talk show currently seen on ESPN 2. The show features Miami Herald columnist and ESPN contributor Dan Le Batard answering topical sports questions with the help of his father Gonzalo better known as Papi. The show features four segments over thirty minutes.

The Setup- Dan and Papi sit in a colorful set made to look like a kitchen in their Miami hometown where the show is filled. The first segment features Dan answering questions read by Papi. An off screen moderator often chimes in to add facts or to redirect the questions. The second segment is traditionally Dan interviewing a guest via remote. The third segment known as "Do you question" is Dan and Papi watching sports clips and viral videos as in "Do you question whether this skier checked his bindings before making this jump". The final segment is called "Si or No". The off screen producer asks both men if they are interested in watching various TV shows that will be on later that day. The men answer by holding up cards that say Si or No taking advantage of their Cuban heritage.

What I love about it- The LeBatard's are the most engaging a pair of commentators that ESPN has had since Cowherd and Beadle. The draw of the show is it lacks the yelling, backbiting, and animosity of most of ESPN's commentator based shows. 
These men love each other and genuinely crack each other up. Papi exuberantly defends his Miami Heat in his thick Cuban accent while Dan shakes his head at his fathers bombastic sentiments. Both men are likable and Dan is extremely knowledgeable and fearless when his opinions run counter to his ESPN bosses or the general public. 
 The interview segment usually features questions that are not your mainstream sports fare. LeBatard is a journalist first and this segment highlights his skill. Not all of the guests are athletes and coaches. Pat Sajak famously told a story about how he did Wheel of Fortune drunk one time.
 The best segment is "Do you question" which gives both men a chance to laugh hysterically at a collection of bloopers and viral videos. They do a great job of finding videos you probably have never seen.
The show ends with Papi's  signature " Si Si I am very intrigued" retort at every TV offering the producers provide.
Papi is the shows Costello but without Abbot he would be lost. The fun of Papi is that he is a fan first and has no problem giving insulting nicknames to coaches and commentators he doesn't like. 

What I hate about it- Not much. I love the show but I realize this is not everyones cup of tea. Younger fans will have trouble relating to a duo whose mean age is 58. The show bounces from timeslot to timeslot and is often displaced by live sporting events. They bring in Bomani Jones ( Better known as Stephen A Smith light) way too often for my tastes. This signals to me the show may be in a bit of trouble.

8 out of 10 Couch Potatoes. Good solid fun with a likable cast this show makes for a sigh of relief from your usual sports talk show.


UPDATE: 7/12/2013
The Bomani Jones experiment has been extended  making this show a permanent threesome. Jones has moved in full time and they have even changed the name of the show to Highly Questionable with Dan LeBatard and Bomani Jones. Papi is still there but with a reduced role. The only thing missing now is the family dynamic, the charm, and the uniqueness. ESPN has a long history of bold moves that they quickly back away from and you can now add DLHQ to that list. This show has been turned into a carbon copy of everything else the network does. ESPN obviously prefers loud and combative in its commentator shows and for me that is more than a little sad. Thanks for the fun Dan and Papi it was great while it lasted.
4 out of 10 Coach potatoes

Departures- Halogen Network

Departures is a travel-adventure series currently shown in reruns on the Halogen network. Two lifelong friends quit their jobs and travel around the world. It ran for three seasons on Canadian TV from March of 2008 until June 2010.They made a total of 42 sixty minute episodes.

The Setup- Scott Wilson, Justin Lukach, and cameraman Andre Dupruis are childhood friends who join forces in their mid-twenties to create a travel adventure series that basically comes down to them going wherever they want in the world and getting the show to pay for it. 
Scott is the serious film maker who is obviously the engine behind where they go and what they see. Justin is the guy in your frat who whenever someone yelled "Roadtrip!"  grabbed a six pack then jumped in the backseat without ever knowing where he was going. Andre mostly stays behind the camera but is occasionally pulled into the fun usually at the behest of Justin.
The locations are unusual. The boys visit Libya, New Guinea, Ascension Island, and even North Korea among a variety of out of the way places. If your looking for a show about the Effiel Tower and the Great Wall this isn't it. Imagine if Rick Steves was young, fun, and traveling the world in search of girls and booze.

What I like about it-  It may seem like I'm painting these guys as a bunch of clowns but let me tell you this is a pretty good travel show. The photography is beautiful. It's  a credit to Dupruis that you could watch with the sound off and still be entertained. Wilson is knowledgeable, worldly, and at ease in the role of narrator and tour guide.
 Lukach is the star of the show. He gets drunk, plays with every animal and kid he encounters, mangles foreign languages, and tackles life altering challenges (Thai boxing, sky diving, cliff climbing, etc) with the ease of a child taking a dare that he has no idea will put his life in danger.
Justin is the first guy you grab for your road trip and Scott is the guy you make be the designated driver.
It's one of those shows that you avoid until one day you give it a shot and it hooks you in. Give any episode thirty minutes and you will be hooked if even only for a dozen episodes or so.

What I hate about it- Eventually like any great road trip your ready to head home. There are episodes where you can tell these guys are bored and you are right there with them. The Ascension Island episode is the perfect example of the show at it's best and it's worst. I never even heard of the place and had to google where the hell it wasand that's a good thing. The photography was breathtaking but almost half the episode is the guys lamenting about almost running out of gas and being so broke all they can afford to eat is spaghetti. The episode also deals with Lukach being dumped by his girlfriend back home and him realizing the journey means more to him than she ever did. It's the series most poignant moment surrounded by some of it's worst.

Scale- 7 Couch Potatoes. You can certainly do worse on the travel show front. The guys make the trip easy and fun but after a while it all looks the same. Take the journey just head home before you get carsick. 



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