VH1 is acquiring the full library of The Bachelor in a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. The agreement includes 12 cycles of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” franchises as well all cycles through at least 2008.

VH1 will air the first seven seasons during the first week of June. Airing one season per day in a marathon format, VH1 will premiere the first edition of “The Bachelor” on Sunday, June 1 and conclude the week-long programming event with the seventh on Saturday, June 7.

“‘The Bachelor’ is the granddaddy of the dating reality format. It’s been a water cooler staple from the moment it premiered in 2002, and it’s still on top of its game”, said Ben Zurier, Executive Vice President, Programming Strategy, VH1, VH1 Classic, and MHD. “As we’ve seen with our own record-breaking ‘Rock of Love with Bret Michaels’ and ‘Flavor of Love’ series, dating reality has become the drama for the current generation of young adults, with an engaging mix of intrigue, romance, and surprises. ‘The Bachelor’ and VH1 certainly feels like a good match.”

Following the elimination of Amanda in The Bachelor 12 Episode 7, we’re now down to the final two: Shayne Lamas and Chelsea Wanstrath. I’m still having trouble taking Shayne seriously, and Matt has greater chemistry with a turtle than with Chelsea. It’ll still be interesting to see who The Bachelor 12: London Calling winner is, but I can’t say I’m rooting for anyone with Amanda out of the picture.

The girls head to London to meet Matt’s family. Chelsea is up first. She meets his brother Simon, mom Trish, and dad Tony. The family seems to be sold on Chelsea. She tells them it’s been a hard situation but that he’s more than worth it. Matt’s mom feels she’s very honest and open.

Shayne’s next. One of the first questions Shayne gets is about her age. Despite the first impressions, though, she does manage to impress the family. Matt’s brother finds her surprisingly mature. Shayne says she’s afraid of ending up like her parents, but yet she’s looking forward to getting married right away.

Matt feels the most at ease with Shayne but feels more passion for Chelsea. His parents believe Shayne was more sincere, but his brother could imagine him being with Chelsea more.

Back to Barbados, where the final decision will be made. Matt wants to blindfold Chelsea but insists it’s nothing kinky. He takes her to a helicopter where they’re able to fly over Barbados. The destination is a secluded beach. Chelsea’s got one last night to show Matt how she feels. She’s made a gift basket for him of things he’ll need when he comes to California. He puts her mind at ease and tells her he’s falling in love with her as well.

Matt and Shayne will be going parasailing. When they get back to the hotel, she’s got a present for him as well, which she says will be the most amazing gift ever. She wrote the words “I Love You” in the sand on a beach. He’s falling in love with her, too. He says he’s completely confused now that both dates are over.

It’s the moment of truth. Chelsea goes first. He feels he can’t give her everything she needs. She fights back tears and doesn’t understand how she got this so wrong. After that, she lashes out at Shayne, who she calls the falsest person there. She thinks he’s a fool.

So now it’s Shayne’s turn. What we do know already is that Matt won’t be like that asshat Brad from last season. He knows she’ll always be there for him and hopes she knows the same. With that, he gets down on one knee. A stunned Shayne accepts his proposal of “Monkey, will you marry me?”

I’m still having trouble believing Shayne isn’t on the show at least in part to further her acting career, but despite a horrible start, she’s been a good addition to the show.

DeAnna, who started off last season as the mean girl but ended up being the one a lot of people thought would win, gets a second shot. She will be The Bachelorette in season 4. The season premieres next week on ABC. Stay tuned to dingoRUE for recaps.

The Bachelor 12 Episode 7 brought us down to the final two, but before we find out who the winner of The Bachelor: London Calling is, it’s time for the women to tell all.

After getting drunk and making a fool out of herself up to and including giving Matt her underpants, Stacey says she’s embarrassed and usually doesn’t act like that.

Robin says her actions were a bit of a defense mechanism, and like DeAnna and McCarten last season, she was there just for the guy and wasn’t overly concerned about the other girls, who felt she was just there for the competition.

Oh great. Let’s relive the most uncomfortable fight of the season with the biggest mouth. Marshana continues to defend being a raving lunatic, with no effort to actually listen to anyone. This was pretty much a waste of time.

Amanda says she’s just as confused after having watched the show as she was when she left. Her biggest question for Matt would be why he never voiced any concerns to her. She takes this as a lesson for future relationships to open up more. I don’t think she’ll have any problems. On a season where there’s a soap star trying to further her acting career, Amanda’s still the best looking one there.

Matt’s got a new David Beckham haircut and is in need of a shave. He’s been listening back stage. His concern with Amanda was that she was using the word “like,” whereas the others were using the word “love.” He thought he had more of a chance of finding true love with either Shayne or Chelsea. He’s enjoyed watching the show and seeing Robin’s competitiveness. Stacey’s brought him another pair of underwear for his collection. Matt is indeed engaged. We’ll find out who the girl is next week, though in either case I’m not sure how enthused most people are considering the choices.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 9, where we find out who the winner is, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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Matt decided that, even though he kept around until the final four, he didn’t really know Noelle, and she was sent home in The Bachelor 12 Episode 6. That leaves us with a final three of Shayne (who arguably just wanted to boost her career as an actress), Chelsea (who has been somewhat cold and distant), and Amanda (I think he actually made the right pick with this one, regardless of the weird hometown date).

The girls are all heading to Barbados for overnight dates.

Shayne is up first. They get their own private island and start off with some water sports. He’s still very impressed by how pretty and at times airheaded she is, but he hopes to find out a little more about serious Shayne. They get into a discussion about what her mom had said, about how she became a bitter wife of a movie star. Shayne tells him that kissing someone on screen (this show notwithstanding?) is anything but romantic. She ensures him she doesn’t care for Brad Pitt… any more. Then she tries to convince him she’s intellectual. Upon finding out that he could see himself with her, she lets him know that she’s falling in love with him.

Amanda gets the second date. Since they’re both afraid of heights, they go on a zipline to jump 110 feet. She tells him she knows she has a problem with expressing emotion but that this is the first time she’s felt like this. She could see herself with him forever. Amanda believes they’ve had a breakthrough and reached the next level.

Chelsea is on the last date. Matt believes that they got off to a rocky start but made a lot of ground at the home visit. They go on a catamaran, and he finds it hard and awkward. The romance is gone, and she seems a million miles away. Matt thinks it’s the worst date. They go swimming with sea turtles, where she’s still distant. He’s got better eye contact with the turtle than with Chelsea. Matt hopes she’ll come to dinner in a different frame of mind. At dinner, he brings up the fact that he’s confused and frustrated. Her defense is that she can’t handle other girls being in the picture, but that she really is into being with him.

Roses
Shayne
Chelsea

I must say I didn’t see that one coming. Amanda isn’t given a rose and will be going home. She’s shocked and can’t make sense out of him telling her he’s meant everything he’s ever said to her. She didn’t want to put out there what she said at dinner because she didn’t want to get hurt, like she has now. Amanda’s got a bit of a temper it seems.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 8, where the women tell all, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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Following the elimination of Robin and Marshana in The Bachelor 12 Episode 5, it’s now time for the hometown dates for the final four: Shayne, Noelle, Chelsea, and Amanda.

Matt will be meeting Shayne’s parents in LA. She says he’s still skeptical she’s there to be on TV. Yeah, that’s a stretch. The first trick is to learn how to pronounce Lorenzo Lamas’ last name. He tells Matt that Shayne’s enticed by the idea of being on television. Harsh. Probably true but harsh. Shayne tells them both she’s there for the right reasons, though. Lorenzo ultimately decides that they have genuine feelings for each other.

Next stop is her not so famous mother Michele’s house to meet her and her sister Dakota. Leopard skin everywhere and dogs wearing clothing. After a British dinner, her mom breaks out the home videos. Then she warns him it’s not easy being with an actor, but he’s okay with that. They all like him as well, and he thinks he got Shayne completely wrong at first and now is falling for her.

Next stop is Colorado and Chelsea’s home. She warns him up front she’ll get very emotional since she lives a long way away from her parents. Her father Kerry likes him because he’s honest and comfortable. She tells her father that she didn’t want to like Matt but can’t help it, and he lets her know she needs to express her feelings better.

Matt goes to meet Noelle in Loveland, CO, and he hopes to get to know her better because he knows all the other girls better. She tells him that they’re so different, which is what makes them work, but she warns him they’re conservative. He asks what kind of person does this sort of thing (like his daughter). Matt admits that he’s falling in love with more than one person. Noelle’s terrified that she never lets people in.

The last stop is Amanda’s hometown of Tallahassee, FL. She has decided to hire actors who will play her mom and dad. Fake mom giggles a lot and for no reason, and she wants Matt to show off his body. They ask whether they’ve been physically intimate, and fake dad pushes the issue and says he’s a bit troubled. Fake mom forces fake dad inside so she can be his Mrs. Robinson. She touches his nipple and gets too close for comfort until fake dad comes out and breaks up the party. Amanda eventually feels bad for Matt and decides to tell him they’re not her real parents. He’s impressed she pulled off the prank. After that, he sits down with her real family. It’s unclear what they think about him.

Roses
Shayne
Amanda
Chelsea

Noelle will be going home. They got started too late. She says it’s not the first time something like this has happened to her because she tends to hold back.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 7, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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Three more women were sent home in The Bachelor 12 episode 4: Holly, Ashlee, and Kelly.

This week, there are two one-on-one dates and a group date. They will be heading to Sun Valley, Idaho… in the snow (this is like how Greenland got its name).

When they arrive, a date box is dropped off for them after a bit of playing in the snow. The first one-on-one date is for Chelsea. They start off with a sleigh ride. He wants to find out whether there’s more than just being best friends with her. She tells him she has a phobia of hand holding. That can’t be good, particularly since he’s looking for more affection. She tells him that her romantic side is vulnerable and shy, but it’s there somewhere. She decides to make her own fantasy suite card, even though that doesn’t happen for a couple episodes.

Amanda, Robin, Marshana, and Shayne get the group date, meaning that Robin will be the only one left who has not yet been on a one-on-one date. Marshana’s happy to see Robin not get the date. They’ll be hitting the slopes. Matt loves skiing but typically does it in France. Two of the girls (Amanda and Marshana) have never been skiing before, though, which gives them an excuse to spend some time with him learning, even if it means that Marshana needs to focus more on standing upright and less on talking about their relationship. Shayne makes sure to bring her makeup with her while snowboarding. While they’re on the ground kissing, Robin comes up behind them and interrupts. She wants to know why she didn’t get the one-on-one date. His answer is that they already have a close connection. Amanda’s worried that they haven’t really spent much time together.

Noelle gets the second one-on-one date. Matt doesn’t feel he knows her well, unlike the others. They’re going ice skating. Neither of them know what they’re doing, but they’re still having fun. They get closer discussing their injuries in which reconstructive surgery was needed. She feels more comfortable letting her guard down around him now that she feels he’s giving her signals to do so.

Marshana says she’s seen how Matt lives. Robin comments that Marshana hasn’t actually seen how he lives, once again bringing up that she’s the one who’s spent time in Britain. This leads to Chelsea telling Marshana that she’s got a negative attitude. Then Marshana gets loud and repeats herself again and again and again. Matt should know this chick may well have a screw or two loose. Shayne jumps in to pull Marshana back and hopefully give her a tranquilizer.

Marshana tells Matt she didn’t have a good night the night before. Only she tells it calmly instead of like a raving lunatic. Her defense is that she had the right to defend herself because her character was being attacked. Chelsea barges in but doesn’t feel bad about Marshana not being able to talk about what she wants to, since she wasted too much time complaining about the other girls. His question to Chelsea is whether she’s actually up for this.

Roses
Shayne
Noelle
Chelsea
Amanda

Robin and Marshana will be heading home. Marshana’s over it and ready to go back to Brooklyn, but Robin is upset and shocked.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 6, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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Kristine, Amy, and Erin left the show in The Bachelor 12 Episode 3. Shayne, however, did not.

Kelly, Chelsea, Shayne, Ashlee, Noelle, and Robin are going on the group date. They’ll be playing tennis and then drinking tea. Unable to play tennis, Shayne and Chelsea instead do gymnastics. Ashlee’s still trying to get a record deal. Yeah, I’d suggest this show over Idol as well because she’d get cut in Hollywood at best. Everybody hates Robin still, only more. Shayne confronts her about not letting Noelle have her fair time with Matt, but Robin’s not there to play fair. Chelsea receives the rose.

Amanda gets the one-on-one date. Matt fancies a 50’s dance. She decides she wants to be the hot bad girl. They have fun dancing, even if he turns out to be the worst dancer ever. Matt gives Amanda a rose, followed by a kiss, then they head to an amusement park that’s open just for them.

The two-on-one date is Marshana and Holly. Only one of them will be coming back. Marshana’s feeling like the underdog because Holly already had a one-on-one date. As the date approaches, Marshana starts to lose it, breaking down crying and smashing things. This date quickly turns into an awkward game of one-upsmanship. Marshana tells Matt no guts, no glory, and unlike Holly who has kissed him before, Marshana finally gets her first kiss from Matt.

Shayne thinks it’s obvious that Holly’s coming home, but some of the other girls want to debate that it could be either of them. Matt doesn’t see it that way, though, and offers the rose to Marshana. He doesn’t feel they connected and found conversation difficult.

Matt’s concerned that he and Ashlee don’t have anything more than music together. Noelle’s worried that they haven’t spent much time together. Kelly’s got the same issue. Her response is to show him her breasts. Shayne’s still having difficulty getting over the whole sharing thing.

Roses
Chelsea
Amanda
Marshana
Shayne
Robin
Noelle

Ashlee and Kelly will be heading home. Not surprising. Kelly thinks any dude would want to date her, especially after she ripped off her shirt. Ashlee’s actually upset about leaving, though.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 5, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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Matt eliminated three more women in The Bachelor 12 Episode 2: Erin H, Carri, and Michelle. For some unknown reason (she’s very pretty), he kept Shayne Lamas around, despite the fact that she proved to be self centered and way too young to be on this show.

The first one-on-one date is Holly. They will be going to a private premiere of Maid of Honor, complete with paparazzi. If he doesn’t give her a rose by the end of the date, she’s headed home. The nosey reporters ask how their relationship is going now that they’ve known each other for… days. She cries during the movie, and he’s able to comfort her.

Once the movie is over, they head up on the rooftop to chat in the candlelight. Matt says they’re so comfortable together it’s almost too comfortable, to the point where there may not be electricity between them. They kiss in the hottub, then he gives her the rose guaranteeing her safety.

While the other girls are waiting at home, the concrete that Matt and Holly put their hands in is delivered to them, which makes the other girls jealous.

The group date is a game of rugby for Kristine, Amanda, Chelsea, Erin, Noelle, Marshana, Ashlee, Robin, Kelly, and Amy. Noelle’s main mission is not to die. Ashlee’s not at all happy to be there, but at least she’s got her fake eyelashes with her. Eventually, the girls begin rolling around in the mud. Matt is impressed by how quickly Robin picks up the game. In the middle of a play in which Chelsea’s knocking everybody over, Marshana collapses on the ground after she takes an elbow to the face. The other girls aren’t happy that she’s being a wimp and getting some alone time with Matt.

Matt and the girls head to Matt’s house, where there are two masseuses waiting for them, so of course it’s time for the girls to all get into their bikinis. As captain of the winning rugby team, Kelly is up first. She decides to kick the masseuses to the curb and give Matt a massage herself. Robin tells Matt she wants to do whatever it takes to get his attention, but unlike most of the others, she doesn’t want to do stupid things to do so. Amanda’s concerned that they haven’t spoke much because there are too many other girls around. Once they do start talking, Noelle and Kristine sit down beside them. At the end of the date, he decides to give the rose to Robin.

That leaves the final one-on-one date for Shayne. Her biggest concern is that she hasn’t been tanning, so Holly pulls out her spray tanning machine to help her out. She’s very happy to see the wine in her date box. They’re going wine tasting. Matt says he has some big concerns about her. Yeah, there’s a surprise. Shayne tries to downplay her father. She’s obviously not ready to seriously commit to marriage, but she says that she’s maybe ready to move forward to the next step possibly at some point.

Shayne reluctantly admits that she is high maintenance. Points for being honest, even if they’re negated by what she’s being honest about. He’s not sure whether she’s one sandwich short of a picnic or the best thing since sliced bread. I’d suggest the former… and that you run quickly. He tells her there’s something in her that he absolutely loves (she’s a Hollywood star) then kisses her, which he follows closely by giving her the rose. The longer this chick sticks around, the more difficult it is to take the show seriously.

Robin goes on and on and on about her relationship with Matt. The other girls are slowly starting to hate on her. Robin’s already got a rose, but that doesn’t stop her from breaking up Amy’s one-on-one time. So in retaliation, Shayne, Kelly, and Amy go and interrupt her. They tell her not to do it again, but she doesn’t care. She’s going to fight them all if needed.

Ashlee complains that she’s getting tired of the whole process. She says it’s a matter of time before she gets cut anyway.

Roses
Holly
Robin
Shayne
Amanda
Ashlee
Kelly
Chelsea
Noelle
Marshana

Kristine, Amy, and Erin are headed home. Kristine says she has a hard time opening up, which is a pattern. Amy is happy to have at least made a couple friends.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 4, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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The Bachlor 12 episode 1 kicked off by introducing us to the 12th bachelor, London’s Matt Grant, along with 25 bachelorettes. Of course, this was entirely too many, so 10 of them were lopped off in short order to make them a little bit easier to keep track of.

The first date is for Ashlee, Kristine, Marshana, Noelle, Michelle, Amanda, Erin H, and Holly. They head to a fashion show, but they’re not actually there to see a show. The girls are the show. Some of the girls are already pageant queens/models/actresses, but some are nervous about it. Amanda makes sure to take off her shirt to get some extra attention. Then they go to a more intimate setting at a hotel. Marshana is concerned about interracial dating, a fair concern since every year the one black girl is generally sent home in the first episode or two. Matt responds that it’s not an issue for him and that it’s different in the UK. This year, the girls aren’t just looking for an acting/modelling gig. No, they want to be able to get jobs as singers/songwriters. Michelle has written a song, which she sings to Matt. Ashlee not so subtly tells him she wants a kiss, and then she gets the rose, which she proceeds to dance around with and wave in other people’s faces.

The second group of Chelsea, Shayne, Erin S, Amy, Carri, Robin, and Kelly are going to Vegas on their date. Matt gives them all $1,000 in chips and tells them whoever comes up with the most chips gets to spend half an hour with him. Rather than gamble, Robin walks away with Matt to talk with him. Shayne, on the other hand, puts all her money on red and loses it all at one time. Kelly ends up winning the most chips, which allows her to get a bite to eat and a drink with Matt.

Shayne pulls Matt aside to tell him she’s a drama queen. 22-year-old lifelong actress a drama queen? So pretty much nobody is surprised. She complains to him that she doesn’t like that 14 other girls are vying for his attention. Uh, that’s pretty much the whole point of the show, although let’s be real here: how much of a coincidence could it be that Shayne stars on another ABC show, General Hospital? What, she didn’t want to be on Dancing with the Stars? She tells us she’s too self centered for this whole process to be fun for her.

Chelsea and Matt have a talk that for whatever reason leads to her getting the rose. He doesn’t shed much light on why she got the rose either.

Robin isn’t the first to get a kiss, but she does get the longest one. This makes Marshana even more jealous, so she goes out to dance with him, even if there’s not any music. Matt tells us he’d kiss her if the other girls weren’t staring at them.

There’s another singer in the house, Carri. She says she doesn’t want it to turn it into a talent show, but it’s already too late for that. She sings an opera song for him.

Shayne apologizes to Matt for throwing a tantrum like a spoiled little brat. He brings up the fact that she’s an actress as a concern.

Roses
Chelsea
Ashlee
Robin
Holly
Erin S
Amanda
Kelly
Amy
Kristine
Marshana
Noelle
Shayne

Erin H, Carri, and Michelle get sent home. Shayne not going home certainly has to raise some eyebrows.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 3, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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Following the debacle that was The Bachelor 11, in which Brad Womack was unable to even make enough of a connection with any of the 25 women to even want to pursue dating one of them, let alone proposing, The Bachelor is back for a 12th season. This time, London is calling, as this season’s bachelor is Britain’s Matt Grant. Apparently, Matt has been unable to find a mate in his home country of England, so he’s had to travel halfway across the world to America. He tells us a story of how his father was too old growing up, making him realize he doesn’t want to be that old when he does have kids.

As usual in the first episode of the season, there are more women than Matt can shake a stick at. The 25 bachelorettes are:

Alyssa
Amanda P
Amanda R
Amy
Ashlee
Carri
Chelsea
Denise
Devon
Erin H
Erin S
Holly
Kelly
Kristine
Lesley
Marshana
Michelle P
Michelle R
Noelle
Rebecca
Robin
Shayne
Stacey
Tamara
Tiffany

A very nervous Amanda R lived in England for 4 years, which should give them some common ground to start with. Chelsea wants to arm wrestle with Matt. Erin H has a placeholder ring on her finger until she puts the real thing on. A little bit creepy. Amanda P gives him a pink Vegas souvenir dice. Holly is a little more… enhanced than I would expect a children’s author to be.

It’s time to start partying so that 10 women can be sent home on the basis of a rash first impression decision alone.

Arm wrestling champion Chelsea wants to take on Matt, which certainly should be enough to make her stand out and safe for the night.

Denise is having a political conversation with Matt, as she worked for Bush. Carri’s getting tired of this seriousness, so she bites into an alluminum can and gives him a piece.

Singer/songwriter Ashlee brings out her guitar and sings a song she’s written for him. It’s not a good song, but it does stand out.

Amanda R has chronic hiccups when she’s stressed out. This could be a long season for her.

Michelle P also brought an instrument. She plays the clarinet.

Stacey was probably drunk when she showed up, and it ain’t getting any prettier. I can’t hear half of what she’s saying because it’s being bleeped out, and the snorting isn’t helping any. The other girls hate her already. Unlike the other girls who are not yet jumping his bones, she starts off right away stroking Matt’s knee and playing footsie. He’s uncomfortable with her but just keeps his mouth shut about it. She tells him and Erin H they’re really boring her with their conversation. Erin S comes to steal him away, and not being willing to just let it go, Stacey walks over and puts her underwear in his pocket, except he doesn’t have a pocket, so she’s just feeling around. The other girls begin gossiping about her then go looking for her, when they find out she’s passed out in the other room snoring.

Shayne’s whole family is actors, which is why she’s in the business as well, but she claims that’s irrelevant to why she’s there. Her father is Lorenzo Lamas. Can’t say as I’ve ever heard of him, but he has had some lengthy stints on Falcon Crest, Renegade (whatever that is), and The Bold and the Beautiful.

Noelle’s concerned that she tends to be shy and reserved. She seems like just a nice normal girl, a sharp contrast to a lot of these women.

Robin is another one who has spent some time in England.

Getting back to first impressions, it’s time for the first impression rose. He gives it to Amanda R because she’s really down to earth.

It’s now time for the first rose ceremony, in which 10 women will be sent home and narrow the field down to a more manageable 15.

Roses
Amanda R
Chelsea
Shayne
Michelle P
Marshana
Ashlee
Noelle
Erin S
Amy
Carri
Kristine
Robin
Kelly
Holly
Erin H

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Bachelor 12 episode 2, which airs Monday at 10/9c on ABC.

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