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Difference between revisions of "A Star Is Born Again"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
 
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==Plot==
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{{Icons||FE}}
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{{Tab}}
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{{EpisodePrevNext|I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can|Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington}}
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{{Episode
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|image= Ned sara sloane.png
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|number= 304
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|season=14
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|snumber=13
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|prodcode= EABF08
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|airdate= March 2, [[2003]]
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|couchgag= The Simpsons are marionettes, who fail to reach the couch when they get caught up in each others strings. The camera pans up to reveal {{Ch|Matt Groening}} as the puppet master, who throws down his marionettes in frustration.
 +
|guests= [[Helen Fielding]] as {{Ch|Helen Fielding|herself}}<br>[[James L. Brooks]] as {{Ch|James L. Brooks|himself}}<br>[[Marisa Tomei]] as [[Sara Sloane]]
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
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|writer= [[Brian Kelley]]
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|director= [[Michael Marcantel]]
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|DVD features=yes
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}}
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"'''A Star Is Born Again'''" is the thirteenth episode of [[season 14]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and fourth episode overall. It originally aired on March 2, [[2003]]. The episode was written by [[Brian Kelley]] and directed by [[Michael Marcantel]]. It guest stars [[Helen Fielding]] as {{Ch|Helen Fielding|herself}}, [[James L. Brooks]] as {{Ch|James L. Brooks|himself}} and [[Marisa Tomei]] as [[Sara Sloane]].
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== Synopsis ==
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{{Desc|[[Ned Flanders]] starts dating a famous movie star, [[Sara Sloane]], but Ned has difficulties with the tabloids following them everywhere.}}
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== Plot ==
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The [[Simpson family]] gets ready to go to the [[Springfield Beach]] for the [[Jellyfish Festival]] which is taking place. At the festival, the [[Stinging Red Jellyfish]] wash up on the shore to the delight of most Springfieldians. That night, all the couples attend a dance on the beach front where [[Ned Flanders]] feels left out due to the death of his wife [[Maude]]. Ned decides to go to [[The Leftorium]] to fill out forms rather than feel lonely on the beach.
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At The Leftorium, a young woman comes into the store and asks Ned for some left-handed eyelash curlers. When Ned tells her that they don't have any, she buys a left-handed crimper instead. She then asks Ned out on a date, saying she doesn't know anyone in town. When Ned left the store, he noticed a poster for the movie ''[[My Best Friend's Gay Baby]]'' and recognized the woman as [[Sara Sloane]], a famous actress. Ned went to Homer to ask for his advice before he went on the date. The date ended at the [[Springfield Squidport]] where he and Sara made out.
 +
 
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The next day, Ned introduced Sara to [[Rod]] and [[Todd]] before the tabloids showed up wanting information about their relationship. The tabloids stormed into the house and wrecked it, causing Ned, Sara and the boys to flee. Later, Sara goes to film ''[[The Zookeeper's Wife]]'' at [[Polystar Pictures]]. When she was about to start a nude scene, Ned interrupted and he and Sara convinced {{ap|Sam|A Star Is Born Again}}, the director, to rewrite the scene so she didn't have to be nude in it. She told Ned that whilst the public wouldn't see her naked, he would get to.
 +
 
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Later, Ned and Sara have dinner at the Simpsons, after setting up "[[Cher]]-crow" to distract the tabloids. [[Rainier Wolfcastle]] then comes into the house and asks Sara to take him back, but Sara refuses. That night, Sara and Ned go out for a walk where Sara asks Ned to go to [[Hollywood]] with her. Ned fantasizes about Hollywood then decides that he can't do it. She tells Ned that she will move to Springfield instead.
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Sara and Ned's relationship continues and they become the talk of the town. Marge then decides to invite Sara to her book club, where they were supposed to read ''[[Bridget Jones's Diary]]''. She invited author {{Ch|Helen Fielding}} along to talk about the book, only to learn nobody had read it. That night, Sara, Ned and the boys get ready to attend a concert at the [[Springfield Bowl]]. Sara comes downstairs in a revealing dress, which Ned doesn't like. She refuses to change and they attend the concert anyway. At the concert, Sara's dress turns many heads, including [[Homer]]'s. After the concert, Sara and Ned make love on a hill nearby. The following morning, they are woken up by the Lupus Fun Run. Ned then asks Sara if she would marry him but Sara refused, saying she didn't want to be tied down. They then split up.
 +
 
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Ned was then watching ''[[Publicity Tonight]]'' where they ran a story about Sara Sloane getting married and divorced from {{Ch|Bob Balaban}} after only three hours. Ned said that he thinks that he and Sara would have lasted twice as long as that. Ned was then gardening outside the front of the house when [[Cookie Kwan]] pulled up and flirted with Ned. Helen Fielding then ran along, while still being chased.
 +
 
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== Production ==
 +
[[Al Jean]] suggested that the show does ''{{W2|Notting Hill|film}}'' but with Ned Flanders and the idea then came to [[Brian Kelley]], who wrote the episode. The [[Jellyfish Festival]] was based on something in [[Massachusetts]] where the beach would be swarmed with red jellyfish.<ref>{{Com|Kelley, Brian|A Star Is Born Again|Fourteenth|(2011).}}</ref> Al Jean went to [[New York]] to direct [[Marisa Tomei]]'s lines for the episode. [[Harry Shearer]] also went to the recording session.<ref name="Al Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|A Star Is Born Again|Fourteenth|(2011).}}</ref> The animators based Sara Sloane on actress {{W|Sharon Stone}}. [[Mike B. Anderson]] chose Sharon Stone as the name was similar to Sara Sloane.<ref>{{Com|Anderson, Mike B.|A Star Is Born Again|Fourteenth|(2011).}}</ref> The animators also had to research costumes for Sara as she wasn't wearing the same costume throughout the show. Director [[Michael Marcantel]] had help with character designer [[Eric S. Keyes]] for this.<ref>{{Com|Marcantel, Michael|A Star Is Born Again|Fourteenth|(2011).}}</ref>
  
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Whilst at a cotillion after observing a yearly phenomenon that happens on the third Tuesday of May known as the 'Returning of the Stinging Red Jellyfish,' Ned Flanders realises he can no longer bare his single life and goes for a sad walk around the town to the tune of Debussy's Clair De Lune. Back at the Leftorium a woman enters the store and flatters Ned with an offer of a date using the pseudonym Selma Fitzgerald. Ned ventures out only to learn from a poster she is a sultry movie star called Sarah Sloane, he then proclaims he has a date with a movie star much to the disbelief of an Irish mall guard. Homer then gives advice to Ned followed by the date where she is confronted by Lenny asking for a mould of her breasts. On the pier front the new couple kiss. The following morning a tabloid contacts Homer and swarms of journalists rally at Flander's house questioning the legitimacy of his moustache and the status of their relationship. At the Polystar pictures studio Ned desists she act in topless roles for a romantic film. The two then attend a dinner with the Simpsons only to be confronted by more Paparazzi and Sarah's ex boyfriend Rainier Wolfcastle. Sarah asks Ned to join her in Hollywood but Ned declines the offer as he can only picture a football - teamless town with drug abuse, alcoholism, sleazy adult productions,&nbsp;Jewish actors, and&nbsp;heretic publications. Sarah stays in Springfield only to be constantly bothered by the aspiring male population, namingly Moe, Chief Wiggum & Apu. Sarah then attends an all Girl Book Club with the former members of the Cherry Red Tomato girl group which has author Helen Fielding at their meeting. Ned then becomes angry at Sarah's revealing fashion which is commented on by half the town at a concert; Sarah then pressures Ned for sex but in line with his religious beliefs Ned pressures Sarah for marriage, their instant split is witnessed by participants of a fun run and it makes news within minutes. Whilst gardening Ned receives an offer form West Side property mogul Cookie Kwan. The episode ends with Helen Fielding being chased in a cartoon style frame with jazz music as the titles then roll to the Jellyfish song from the cotillion earlier.
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[[James L. Brooks]] pitched the idea of Ned sleeping with Sara Sloane near the end of the episode. Al Jean also directed James L. Brooks in his voice role. [[Matt Selman]] pitched the joke about [[Rod]] and [[Todd]] becoming Jewish. [[Helen Fielding]] picked her own outfit for the episode.<ref name="Al Jean"/>
  
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{{episode
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<gallery>
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|image          = blank.png
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File:EABF08 Script.jpg
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|Episode Number  = 304
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</gallery>
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|productionCode  = EABF08
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|originalAirdate = March 2, 2003
+
== Reception ==
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|couchGag        = The Simpsons are marionettes, who fail to reach the couch when they get caught up in each other’s strings. The camera pans up to reveal Matt Groening as the puppet master, who throws down his marionettes in frustration.
+
In a [[2008]] article, Entertainment Weekly named Marisa Tomei's role as Sara Sloane as one of the sixteen best guest appearances on ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090220063611/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20049408_15,00.html Entertainment Weekly - "Springfield of Dreams: 16 Great 'Simpsons' Guest Voices" Archived on Wayback Machine]</ref> As of June [[2019]], the episode has a 7.0 rating on {{W|IMDb}}<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701046/ IMDb - "A Star Is Born Again"]</ref> and a 7.6 rating on {{W|TV.com}}.<ref>[A Star Is Born Again TV.com - "A Star Is Born Again"]</ref>
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|Written By      = Brian Kelley
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|Directed By    = Michael Marcantel
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== In other languages ==
 +
{{LanguageBox
 +
|de=yes
 +
|deName=Ein Stern wird neu geboren
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|deTrans=A star is reborn
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|es=yes
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|esName=Ha renacido una estrella
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|esTrans=A star is reborn
 +
|la=yes
 +
|laName=Nace una nueva estrella
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|laTrans=A new star is born
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|fr=yes
 +
|frName=Le Péché de Ned
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|frTrans=Ned's Sin
 +
|qu=yes
 +
|quName=La Conversion d'une star
 +
|quTrans=The Conversion of a Star
 +
|it=yes
 +
|itName=È nata una stella - di nuovo
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|itTrans=A star is born - again
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|jp=yes
 +
|jpName=フランダースの新たな恋
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|jpTrans=New Love in Flanders
 
}}
 
}}
  
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{{stub}}
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== References ==
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{{Reflist}}
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{{Images|ep=yes}}
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{{season 14}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Star Is Born Again, A}}
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[[Category:2003]]
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[[Category:Ned Flanders episodes]]
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[[Category:12-rated episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by Brian Kelley]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Marcantel]]
  
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{{Season 14}}
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[[sv:A Star Is Born Again]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Star Is Born-Again, A}}
 
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[[Category:Episodes]]
 
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[[Category:Season 14]]
 

Latest revision as of 09:30, September 25, 2024

Season 14 Episode
← 303 "I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can"
304
"A Star Is Born Again"
"Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" 305 →
"A Star Is Born Again"
Ned sara sloane.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 304
Season number: S14 E13
Production code: EABF08
Original airdate: March 2, 2003
Couch gag: The Simpsons are marionettes, who fail to reach the couch when they get caught up in each others strings. The camera pans up to reveal Matt Groening as the puppet master, who throws down his marionettes in frustration.
Guest star(s): Helen Fielding as herself
James L. Brooks as himself
Marisa Tomei as Sara Sloane
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: Brian Kelley
Directed by: Michael Marcantel
DVD features


"A Star Is Born Again" is the thirteenth episode of season 14 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and fourth episode overall. It originally aired on March 2, 2003. The episode was written by Brian Kelley and directed by Michael Marcantel. It guest stars Helen Fielding as herself, James L. Brooks as himself and Marisa Tomei as Sara Sloane.

Synopsis[edit]

"Ned Flanders starts dating a famous movie star, Sara Sloane, but Ned has difficulties with the tabloids following them everywhere."


Plot[edit]

The Simpson family gets ready to go to the Springfield Beach for the Jellyfish Festival which is taking place. At the festival, the Stinging Red Jellyfish wash up on the shore to the delight of most Springfieldians. That night, all the couples attend a dance on the beach front where Ned Flanders feels left out due to the death of his wife Maude. Ned decides to go to The Leftorium to fill out forms rather than feel lonely on the beach.

At The Leftorium, a young woman comes into the store and asks Ned for some left-handed eyelash curlers. When Ned tells her that they don't have any, she buys a left-handed crimper instead. She then asks Ned out on a date, saying she doesn't know anyone in town. When Ned left the store, he noticed a poster for the movie My Best Friend's Gay Baby and recognized the woman as Sara Sloane, a famous actress. Ned went to Homer to ask for his advice before he went on the date. The date ended at the Springfield Squidport where he and Sara made out.

The next day, Ned introduced Sara to Rod and Todd before the tabloids showed up wanting information about their relationship. The tabloids stormed into the house and wrecked it, causing Ned, Sara and the boys to flee. Later, Sara goes to film The Zookeeper's Wife at Polystar Pictures. When she was about to start a nude scene, Ned interrupted and he and Sara convinced Sam, the director, to rewrite the scene so she didn't have to be nude in it. She told Ned that whilst the public wouldn't see her naked, he would get to.

Later, Ned and Sara have dinner at the Simpsons, after setting up "Cher-crow" to distract the tabloids. Rainier Wolfcastle then comes into the house and asks Sara to take him back, but Sara refuses. That night, Sara and Ned go out for a walk where Sara asks Ned to go to Hollywood with her. Ned fantasizes about Hollywood then decides that he can't do it. She tells Ned that she will move to Springfield instead.

Sara and Ned's relationship continues and they become the talk of the town. Marge then decides to invite Sara to her book club, where they were supposed to read Bridget Jones's Diary. She invited author Helen Fielding along to talk about the book, only to learn nobody had read it. That night, Sara, Ned and the boys get ready to attend a concert at the Springfield Bowl. Sara comes downstairs in a revealing dress, which Ned doesn't like. She refuses to change and they attend the concert anyway. At the concert, Sara's dress turns many heads, including Homer's. After the concert, Sara and Ned make love on a hill nearby. The following morning, they are woken up by the Lupus Fun Run. Ned then asks Sara if she would marry him but Sara refused, saying she didn't want to be tied down. They then split up.

Ned was then watching Publicity Tonight where they ran a story about Sara Sloane getting married and divorced from Bob Balaban after only three hours. Ned said that he thinks that he and Sara would have lasted twice as long as that. Ned was then gardening outside the front of the house when Cookie Kwan pulled up and flirted with Ned. Helen Fielding then ran along, while still being chased.

Production[edit]

Al Jean suggested that the show does Notting Hill but with Ned Flanders and the idea then came to Brian Kelley, who wrote the episode. The Jellyfish Festival was based on something in Massachusetts where the beach would be swarmed with red jellyfish.[1] Al Jean went to New York to direct Marisa Tomei's lines for the episode. Harry Shearer also went to the recording session.[2] The animators based Sara Sloane on actress Sharon Stone. Mike B. Anderson chose Sharon Stone as the name was similar to Sara Sloane.[3] The animators also had to research costumes for Sara as she wasn't wearing the same costume throughout the show. Director Michael Marcantel had help with character designer Eric S. Keyes for this.[4]

James L. Brooks pitched the idea of Ned sleeping with Sara Sloane near the end of the episode. Al Jean also directed James L. Brooks in his voice role. Matt Selman pitched the joke about Rod and Todd becoming Jewish. Helen Fielding picked her own outfit for the episode.[2]

  • EABF08 Script.jpg

Reception[edit]

In a 2008 article, Entertainment Weekly named Marisa Tomei's role as Sara Sloane as one of the sixteen best guest appearances on The Simpsons.[5] As of June 2019, the episode has a 7.0 rating on IMDb[6] and a 7.6 rating on TV.com.[7]

In other languages[edit]

Language Name Translation
Germany.png Deutsch "Ein Stern wird neu geboren" A star is reborn
Spain flag.png Español "Ha renacido una estrella" A star is reborn
Hispanic America.gif Español "Nace una nueva estrella" A new star is born
France.png Français "Le Péché de Ned" Ned's Sin
Flag of Quebec.svg.png Français "La Conversion d'une star" The Conversion of a Star
Italy Flag.png Italiano "È nata una stella - di nuovo" A star is born - again
Flag of Japan.png 日本語 "フランダースの新たな恋" New Love in Flanders

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Kelley, Brian (2011). Commentary for "A Star Is Born Again", in The Simpsons: The Complete Fourteenth Season.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jean, Al (2011). Commentary for "A Star Is Born Again", in The Simpsons: The Complete Fourteenth Season.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Mike B. (2011). Commentary for "A Star Is Born Again", in The Simpsons: The Complete Fourteenth Season.
  4. ↑ Marcantel, Michael (2011). Commentary for "A Star Is Born Again", in The Simpsons: The Complete Fourteenth Season.
  5. ↑ Entertainment Weekly - "Springfield of Dreams: 16 Great 'Simpsons' Guest Voices" Archived on Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ IMDb - "A Star Is Born Again"
  7. ↑ [A Star Is Born Again TV.com - "A Star Is Born Again"]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "A Star Is Born Again".
Season 14 Episodes
Treehouse of Horror XIII • How I Spent My Strummer Vacation • Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade • Large Marge • Helter Shelter • The Great Louse Detective • Special Edna • The Dad Who Knew Too Little • The Strong Arms of the Ma • Pray Anything • Barting Over • I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can • A Star Is Born Again • Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington • C.E. D'oh • 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky • Three Gays of the Condo • Dude, Where's My Ranch? • Old Yeller-Belly • Brake My Wife, Please • The Bart of War • Moe Baby Blues
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