tv

new and noteworthy tv: 12/21-12/27

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Moving forward ‘next week’ posts are now being titled ‘new and noteworthy tv’ with the full date range. The content will still include things that are technically new -and/or- noteworthy and might not already be in your queue. And although the procrastinator doesn’t endorse everything, procrastinator picks will still be underlined just to give you a heads up on what might be worth a watch, which over the holidays probably won’t be much.

Monday

  • The Sing-Off (NBC, 8pm) – I’ve somehow found myself having watched this enough to know and actually care a little who wins this a cappella challenge.
  • I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Linus and Lucy’s brother rerun hangs with Snoopy and Spike.
  • Little Chocolatiers/World Chocolate Championship (TLC, 9/10pm) – Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate.

Tuesday

  • Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) – Where are the big fat losers now?
  • Carrie Underwood (Fox, 8pm) – We’re visiting her all-star holiday special again.
  • Melrose Place (CW, 9pm) – What I might be more intrigued by is the pilot of the original series but if you missed the first of this remake, and for some reason want to know these new kids from the start here’s your chance.
  • Christmas at the White House (ABC, 10pm) – The Oprah visit, will Obama still give himself a B+ when it airs again.

Wednesday

  • A Home for the Holidays (CBS, 8pm) – Faith Hill and others entertain and raise adoption awareness.
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC, 8pm) – Boris Karloff narrates again, and again.

Thursday

  • Prep & Landing (ABC, 8pm) – In case you missed the first few airings.
  • Raising the Bar (TNT, 8/9/10pm) – They’re running through them ’til they’re done.
  • The Vampire Diaries (CW, 8pm) – Already seen Twilight New Moon and want to see more longing glances from the undead, here’s your chance to return to the pilot and wonder what all the fuss is about.

Friday

  • ‘Til Death (Fox, 8-10pm) – It’s another mini marathon, at least it’s Christmas so you probably have better things to do.
  • SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (NBC, 8pm) – Skits new and old are coming to you one more time.

Saturday/Sunday

  • Plan for a crowded weekend at the theaters.
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tv

next week 12/14

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New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas (ABC, 8pm) – Singing, and, well I guess singing is enough.
  • The Sing-Off (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – Nick Lachey hosts the battle of the a cappella singers, will four nights of this make up for no Glee?
  • Bank of Hollywood (E!, 10pm) Series Premiere – Looking for someone to bankroll their causes.

Tuesday

  • Golden Globe Nominations (NBC, 8am) – Let the competitions begin.
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC, 8pm) – Or just buy the soundtrack.
  • Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live (Fox, 9pm) – Cook along with Gordon, assuming you have the ingredients on hand.
  • Psychic Kids/Paranormal State (A&E, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Psychics and ghosts.

Wednesday

  • Prep & Landing (ABC, 8pm) – Still finding random things to fill the Hank slot.

Thursday

  • SNL: A Very Gilly Christmas (NBC, 8pm) – Hopefully mostly clips and very little Gilly.

Friday

  • Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns (CBS, 8pm) – The first is apparently from 1969 and the second from 1995, progress?

Saturday

  • Alli Winter Dew Tour (NBC, 12pm and Sun 1pm) – Coming to you from Breckenridge Colorado.
  • Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa/WWE Tribute to the Troops (NBC, 9pm) – Muppets again and then fighting to entertain the fighters.

Sunday

  • Kendra (E!, 9pm) Season Premiere – Moving to Indianapolis and preparing for baby.
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tv

next week 12/7

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New and notable for the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special (Fox, 8pm) – It’s a variety show!
  • Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (ABC, 8pm) – He’s making a list…
  • The Closer (TNT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Brenda and Fritz are back, and here’s betting Brenda will get to the bottom of some new dead folks.
  • Men of a Certain Age (TNT, 10pm) Series Premiere – Ray Romano, Scott Bakula, and Andre Braugher star in this new character drama about men in mid-life, it’s getting pretty good buzz.

Tuesday

  • Charlie Brown Christmas/Prep & Landing (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Obama pushed this from last week.
  • Better Off Ted (ABC, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – The stuff they invent is wackier than the people who are involved in inventing it, funny enough just for the fake commercials.
  • Outer Space Astronauts (Syfy, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – It’s a sci fi sitcom, or are they syfy sitcoms now?
  • Teen Mom (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Real stories of four teenagers navigating parenting.

Wednesday

  • Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8pm) – You can share Shrek’s chaotic Christmas.
  • Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009 (ABC, 10pm) – They’re apparently sticking with the word ‘fascinating’.
  • Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… (Sund, 10pm) Season Premiere – The season starts with Bono and the Edge.

Thursday

  • Michael McDonald (PBS, 9pm) – This Christmas: A Soundstage Special Event.

Friday

  • Yes, Virginia (CBS, 8pm) – NPH lends his voice to this animated holiday special though I don’t think that’s enough to make me tune in.
  • Mobsters (Bio, 10pm) Season Premiere – This week is on the Westies Irish mob in NY.

Saturday

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/The Flight Before Christmas (CBS, 8/9pm) – Reindeer, reindeer & squirrels.
  • Video Game Awards (Spike, 8pm) – I’ll unpack my atari for the occasion.
  • Ghost Intervention (TLC, 9pm) Series Premiere – Mediums check into haunted houses.

Sunday

  • The Jacksons (A&E, 9/10pm) Series Premiere – Really?
  • Christmas at the White House (ABC, 10pm) – Perhaps cutting back the decor budget could be put toward healthcare or jobs?
  • Keeping up with the Kardashians (E!, 10pm) Season Premiere – How many of those Kardashians are there anyhow?
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tv

next week 11/30

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New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Green things.
  • Intervention/Hoarders (A&E, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – The latest of the real folks with real issues.
  • Pawn Stars (Hist, 10pm) Season Premiere – What will folks pawn this season?

Tuesday

  • Presidential Address (Various, 8pm) – Getting out of Afghanistan?
  • Charlie Brown Christmas/Disney Prep & Landing (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – More holiday fun.
  • Best Thing I Ever Ate (Food, 9pm) Season Premiere – Let’s start with the best holiday dishes.
  • Scrubs (ABC, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – Though last season felt like the series finale they’re coming back for more, though this season they’re switching to med school and focusing on a new crew, rumor has it there’s still some funny.
  • Britain’s Missing Top Model (BBCA, 9pm) Series Premiere – I’m not sure this title is conveying what they want but it’s women with disabilities competing.
  • I’m Pregnant and… (Health, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – They start with a couple of pregnant ‘recovering’ heroin addicts.
  • Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (CBS, 10pm) – The Black Eyed Peas, Heidi Klum, and lingerie.
  • The Bad Girl’s Club (Oxy, 10pm) Season Premiere – Living together and…?

Wednesday

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (CBS, 8pm) – Will Rudolph save the day?
  • Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC, 8pm) – Jane Krakowski and Zachary Levi host.
  • The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! (CBS, 9pm) – LL Cool J hosts more Black Eyed Peas and others.
  • Dog the Bounty Hunter/Steven Seagal Lawman (A&E, 9/10/10:30pm) Season/Series Premiere – First bounty then the martial artist takes us along on his job as Louisiana deputy sheriff.
  • Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (Tru, 10pm) Series Premiere – I want Jesse to be the one to disprove mind control.
  • Launch My Line (Bravo, 11pm) Series Premiere – This might be kind of like Project Runway.

Thursday

  • Ace of Cakes (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – More cakes!
  • BBQ Pit Masters (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Teams compete for $40k in the Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ Championship in Nevada.
  • Jersey Shore (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – More ‘real’ folks in a house.

Friday

  • Dreams Come True (ABC, 8pm) – A celebration of Disney animation.
  • Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (NBC, 8pm) – The muppets better take care of those letters to Santa.
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 9pm) – You’d think Grandma would learn.
  • Monk (USA, 9pm) Series Finale – Something tells me he’ll wrap up his wife’s death.

Saturday

  • 1000 Ways to Die/Manswers (Spike, midnight/12:30am sun) – More important dude fun.

Sunday

  • I Survived… (Bio, 9pm) Season Premiere – I’m glad they survived but I really don’t want to hear the gruesome.
  • Alice (Syfy, 9pm & Mon 9pm) Miniseries – Gotta look forward to any revisionist of Alice in Wonderland.
  • Shatner’s Raw Nerve (Bio, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – First Rush Limbaugh then Regis Philbin.
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tv

next week 11/23

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So for a slightly delayed look at what’s new and notable for the week

Monday

  • General Hospital (ABC, 3pm) – James Franco starts his guest stint as ‘Franco’…
  • Find My Family (ABC, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – I’m assuming there is some looking for families.
  • Diners, Drive-ins & Dives (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Less stuffy foodies enjoy.

Tuesday

  • Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure (ABCFam, 7pm) – How uplifting.
  • How the Earth Was Made (Hist, 9pm) Season Premiere – Shouldn’t this show run Monday to Saturday and rest on Sunday?
  • Jon Dore Television Show (IFC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Should I know who Jon Dore is?
  • Dinner with the Band (IFC, 11pm) Series Premiere – Shouldn’t this be drinking with the band?

Wednesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) – Where are they now?

Thursday

  • Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (NBC, 9am) – Matt, Meredith, and Al host.
  • The National Dog Show (NBC, 12pm) – Doggies!
  • Road to Punkin Chunkin/Punkin Chunkin (Sci, 8/9pm) – Yes, they huck pumpkins.
  • Beyonce: I Am Yours (ABC, 9pm) – Who doesn’t need to see more of Beyonce and her tour?
  • NBC’s People of the Year (NBC, 9pm) – I’m on pins and needles wondering who they will name.
  • Paul McCartney (ABC, 10pm) – Good Evening New York.

Friday

  • Shameless (Sund, 8pm) Season Premiere – British comedy of the lowbrow variety I understand.

Saturday

  • Build it Bigger (Sci, 8pm) – Can Las Vegas get any bigger?

Sunday

  • 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert (HBO, 8pm) – Folks pair up and perform, US, Mick Jagger, Black Eyed Peas… Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel… you get the picture.
  • Soul Train Awards (BET, 9pm) – Get your groove on.
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tv

next week 11/9 & 11/16

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A special bonus double new and noteworthy in the weeks ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • CSI-crossover (CBS, Mon, Wed, Thurs) – Laurence Fishburne follows a case across the country mixing the skills of Miama, Vegas, and NY.

Tuesday

  • Sesame Street (PBS, check local listings) Season Premiere – Will Big Bird move off of the street, will Elmo and Telly find Bo Pee’s cow, will… oh they’ll all be good.
  • e2 Design (Sund, 8pm) Series Premiere – First week is a look at green buildings in NY.
  • Table for 12 (TLC, 8/8:30pm) Season Premiere – Camping, drama camp and karate for the big family.
  • In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts (ABC, 10pm) – Interviews with country stars including Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood.
  • Full Throttle Saloon (Tru, 10pm) Series Premiere – Watching a biker bar might not be the same without the cocktails, though you can always drink and watch.

Wednesday

  • CMA Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host this year’s awards.
  • Ghost Hunters Academy (Syfy, 10pm) Series Premiere – The ghost hunters take a gang of aspiring hunters.

Thursday

  • Science of the Movies (Sci, 8pm) Season Premiere – How do they do it?

Friday

  • 24/7 (HBO, 9:30pm) Season Finale – A special night and time for Pacquiao and Cotto.

Saturday

  • Super Dave’s Spike-tacular (Spike, 11pm) Series Premiere – Super Dave Osbourne starts off this ‘mockumentary’ in a mini with explosives.

Sunday

  • WWII in HD (Hist, 9pm) Series Premiere – A 10-part series with accounts from 12 people who served.
  • The Prisoner (AMC, 8/9pm) – A remake of the 60s series with Jim Caviezal and Ian McKellen.

Monday

  • Mystery Diagnosis (Health, 10pm) Season Premiere – I guess this is like health life House.
  • Chef Academy (Brav, 11pm) Series Premiere – A Brit, Jean-Christophe Novelli, is launching a new culinary academy in LA.

Tuesday

  • Merry Madagascar (NBC, 8pm) – Santa apparently puts down where the gang from this animated flick are.

Wednesday

  • ANTM (CW, 8/9pm) – America’s Next Tiny Model is revealed and the season finale is followed by a special ‘revealed’ episode.
  • In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts (ABC, 10pm) – Janet Jackson gets the spotlight treatment.

Thursday

  • Terror in Mumbai (HBO, 8pm) – An examination of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai with survivors, law-enforcement, and a gunman.
  • World Magic Awards (MNT, 8pm) – Robert Wagner and Jill St. John host.

Friday

  • Happily Ever Faster (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Series Premiere – Life at a Las Vegas wedding chapel.

Saturday

  • Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox, 11:59pm) Series Finale – For those who are interested in this animated series that never quite caught on.

Sunday

  • Tough Love (VH1, 7:30pm) Season Premiere – Eight new women get the cold hard facts, or at least one guy’s theory, on why their love life isn’t all that.
  • American Music Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Awards, performances, and fancy outfits.
  • The Haunted (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – A look at things like whether an office is being haunted by monkeys.
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next week 11/2

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New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • For the Love of Ray J/I Want to Work for Diddy (VH1, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – Are you really interested in people who be Diddy’s bitch or Ray J’s partner?

Tuesday

  • V (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – We’re kicking off the remake where the visitors arrive, it may start peacefully but something tells me there will be drama to be found.
  • By the People (HBO, 9pm) – A look at the election of Barack Obama from primaries on.
  • Kathy Griffin (Brav, 9pm) – Griffin does her stand-up bit.
  • Tabatha’s Salon Takeover (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere – She’s taking over Chicago’s less than finest.

Wednesday

  • Most Daring (Tru, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – Professionals and amateurs get into terrible situations.
  • Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – Curtis retires, Miranda goes missing…
  • Flowers Uncut with Jeff Leatham (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Floristry fun.

Thursday

  • The Real Housewives of Orange County (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere – I have stayed away from ever watching an episode of the ‘real’ ladies in any local.

Friday

  • Ancients Behaving Badly (Hist, 9pm) Series Premiere – This stop Caligula.
  • Ghost Adventures (Trav, 9pm) Season Premiere – Visiting a former mental asylum always has promise.

Saturday

  • Legend of the Seeker (Synd, 4pm) Season Premiere – I don’t know what this show is but Cordelia Charisma Carpenter is guest starring.
  • Cats 101 (AnPl, 9pm) Season Premiere – Who knew there were so many kinds of cats.
  • Wanda Sykes Show (Fox, 11pm) Series Premiere – She makes me laugh when I’ve seen her elsewhere so curious to see her hang out in late night.

Sunday

  • Brothers/American Dad/Family Guy/Cleveland Show (Fox, 7-10pm) – Fox shakes up their lineup a bit tonight and includes three eps of Family Guy including the 8:30 presentation of Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy show which mixes animation and live action.
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next week 10/26

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New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Cake Boss (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – Who wouldn’t want to propose with a cake ring in a cake shop?

Tuesday

  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – This year the great pumpkin will come, plus some bonus cartoon, it also kicks Hank out of the Wed at 8 spot.
  • Hip Hop Awards (BET, 8pm) – Mike Epps hosts from Atlanta.
  • The Little Couple (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – Will there be a baby?
  • Monica (BET, 10pm) Series Premiere – More reality with R&B singer who is apparently working on her fifth album.
  • Scream 2009 (Spike, 10pm) – Quentin Tarantino is among those attending the sci-fi and fantasy awards show.
  • Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Starting with a look at elimination of sports programs from public schools.

Wednesday

  • World Series Game 1 (Fox, 7:30pm, check local listings for full series) – Best of 7?
  • Monsters vs. Aliens (NBC, 8pm) – Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space follows up on the movie.
  • Friday Night Lights (Dir, 9pm) Season Premiere – The season returns for another shot on DirectTV, the fans demand it, with re-airings on NBC in 2010.

Thursday

  • The League (FX, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Fantasy football brings dudes together for some funny, at least that’s the plan.

Friday

  • Halloween on Ice (Hall, 8pm) – Is it gonna be scary?

Saturday

  • Sports (ABC, NBC, Fox, various) – Catch Game 3 of the World Series or some college ball, and that’s without even hitting cable.

Sunday

  • Sex Rehab with Dr Drew (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – Thank god my cable was cut off and I won’t be tempted to check out just one episode…
  • Styl’d (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Five aspiring stylists compete to style.
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next week 10/19

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New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags (HBO, 9pm) – A doc special on the garment industry in NYC.

Tuesday

  • The Cosby Show (TVL, 3am) – Feeling nostalgic? Maybe it’s time to catch one of your favorite family’s first episodes (aka nothing new or noteworthy on Tuesday).

Wednesday

  • Lock ‘n Load (Show, 8pm) Series Premiere – Welcome to a gun shop near you by way of Colorado.
  • Living with Ed (PlGr, 9pm) Season Premiere – For a moment I thought talking horse, but no it’s Ed Begley Jr.

Thursday

  • American Chopper (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – They’re building a new bike, for Saginaw Chippewa tribe.
  • The Jeff Dunham Show (Com, 9pm) Series Premiere – Ventriloquism with multiple character dummies coming your way.
  • Ultimate Parkour Challenge (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – par·kour (pär-k??r’) n. A sport or athletic activity in which the participant seeks to move quickly and fluidly through an area, often an urban locale, by surmounting obstacles such as walls and railings and leaping across open spaces, as in a stairwell or between buildings.

Friday

  • Supernanny (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Problem children and bossy adults, pass.
  • White Collar (USA, 10pm) Series Premiere – Pretty charismatic Matt Bomer (Bryce Larkin from Chuck) is a con artist sprung from jail to help solve crimes, trouble will ensue.

Saturday

  • 24/7 (HBO, 10:15) Season Premiere – Starting with the behind the scenes of boxers Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

Sunday

  • Nature (PBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – An update on Cloud, a wild horse in Montana.
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next week 10/12

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New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Little People, Big World (TLC, 8/8:30pm) Season Premiere – Back for farm and school whatnot.
  • Gone Too Far (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Well they decided to air this DJ AM series about drug abusers after his passing, I’ll pass.
  • Million Dollar Listing (Brav, 11pm) Season Premiere – Will the recession take this show down?

Tuesday

  • Hip Hop Honors (VH1, 9pm) – Tracy Morgan hosts the awards and celebrates the 25th anniversary of Def Jam Records.
  • Chopped (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Kumquats and croissants and grits oh my.
  • Independent Lens (PBS, 10pm/check local listings) Season Premiere – Starts off with a librarian and postal clerk who collect millions of dollars of art.

Wednesday

  • Mary Queen of Shops (BBCA, 9pm) Series Premiere – Sometimes you just need an expert to turn your retail business around.
  • Nip/Tuck (Fx, 10pm) Season Premiere – The recession is hitting everyone.

Thursday

  • 30 Rock (NBC, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – The gang is back to keep putting on the show.

Friday

  • Lobstermen (Disc, 8/9pm) Season Premiere – The men are getting more lobsters.
  • Ugly Betty (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – The magazine drama continues.

Saturday

  • Action Sports (NBC, Sat 10:30am; Sun 12pm, also on USA) – The Alli Dew Tour brings the Playstation Pro from Orlando.

Sunday

  • Monty Python: Almost the Truth (IFC, 9pm) – A six-part doc about the comedy troupe.
  • Storm Chasers (Disc, 10pm) Season Premiere – I bet there’ll be storms.
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