‘Family Guy’ Taking Right Turn?
by Big HollywoodFrom an ABCNews.com article:
ABC News’ Cullen Dirner reports: Two popular Republican figures, Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove, will make an appearance on next season’s “Family Guy.”
Arguably a liberal leaning show, “Family Guy” is reaching out to the other side of the aisle. Karl Rove, the former Bush senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, confirmed Friday on Twitter that he will appear on the show.
“Yes, it’s true. Will be a guest on the Family Guy next season,” Rove tweeted.
Seth MacFarlane, the show’s creator, tells THR.com that it is time to give the other side some face time.
“The Family Guy tends to be very liberal, because it is written by liberals,” MacFarlane said. He then added that the majority of the show’s lifespan has been during the Bush administration and they thought it was time to mix it up.
One of the show’s main characters, Brian the family dog, plays a liberal role. However, since Obama has taken office, Brian has found he has nothing to complain about. According to MacFarlane, in the upcoming season Brian has a change of heart, glomming onto Republican radio host Rush Limbaugh.
Some discussion points on this article:
- This is how “American Dad” (from the people who bring you “Family Guy”) has depicted Karl Rove in the past. Do you think the Boy Genius knew of this satanic portrayal of him before he agreed to do “Family Guy”? He had to have seen it at some point…
- The ABCNews reporter calls Family Guy “arguably a liberal leaning show,” but three paragraphs later, he quotes the show’s creator, Seth MacFarlane, who says, “‘Family Guy’ tends to be very liberal, because it is written by liberals.” Not sure why the reporter felt the need to spin that one…
- Of course, we would give “Family Guy” a lot of credit if they assumed the role of watchdog and got some jabs in at Obama, but given the episodes the “Family Guy” team submitted for Emmy consideration and the show’s history of (sometimes vicious) attacks on Republicans, you’d be dreaming to think “Family Guy” will literally take a “right turn.” But we shall see…
Leave your thoughts below. Another possible prompt: what’s in it for Rove and Limbaugh?






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122 Comments
Pure crap that isn't funny.
Rove is seriously hurting the right with his appearance.
But, would true Conservatives be surprised? I think not.
I won't watch it when it comes out, but if someone can cut the parts where Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove show up, I'd be willing to watch that on youtube, where I don't have to pay for the commercials or give Fox the ratings…
I've never laughed at anything in American Dad. Just a putrid show.
What in the world are Rove and Limbaugh thinking? Liberal writers don't have the capability to write anything but the repetitive propaganda that vomits out of TV nightly.
Rove strikes me as a HUGE nerd, so A.) He's probably aware that "he" appeared on American Dad, and B.) I imagine it more-than-likely that he found being portrayed as an all-powerful dark-wizard at least funny.
Limbaugh already did a vocal cameo on Family Guy for the Star Wars episode ("Blue Harvest") as a pro-Empire radio host, complaining about Lando Calrissian being given control of Cloud City via affirmative action. On the DVD commentary the creators were practically falling all over one another to point out how SHOCKED everyone was when he came in at what a decent guy he was, that he was familiar with the show and that he "totally got" the joke of the bit.
Never watched the show and never will. I like Rove but he’s a Washington insider always in search of comity. Rush is always great and no dummy if he does the show and they don’t handle him properly he’ll bite back.
That's what happens when you view people of differing political views as the vile cartoon characters they, and their buds in the wider media, have created.
Are Rush and Rove the only republicans appearing on the show? I got from the MacFarlane interview with thrfeed.com that there will be more guest appearances. I might be wrong.
I know Glenn Beck is taking a week off, the same time Rush is to record his cameo. Hmmmmm…
I don't watch TV, however I can not see where this will turn out good for Rush or Rove. I'm thinking an affair between Rush and Rove, or maybe with the dog? I'm sure they will have some control over what is portrayed, good luck.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0888817/
Rush already a voice in a 2007 episode.
I don't see the plus in this but Rush and Rove are both very smart, smarter than me, that's for sure, so I dunno… I'll give it a look see.
Glenn Beck is not a Republican, he claims the Libertarian party, last I knew.
Then again I might be wrong and it's a vivious ambush of some kind to make them look like two foolish dolts.
Step 1. Write dialogue that can be placed into two different scenes.
Step 2. Give your targets one script to record from.
Step 3. On air, use the version you didn't show your targets.
Step 4. Laugh your ass off.
I think this says highly on Rush and Rove than it does the Family Guy crew.
This move shows both of them are classy and will probably poke fun at themselves, unlikeliberals who are just jackasses and can't get through anything without getting political.
As for Seth MacFarlane, he seemed like a nice guy in that interview, that said, I'm not a fan of Family Guy, and won't become one just because the writer's are running out of conservative jokes.
If I want a true animated series with guts and humor, I'll choose South Park.
I never watched the show until my 11 year old son got me to start watching it. I am a hard right winger but this is the funniest show of all time. It's a tad risque sometimes but my son doesn't really care or notice.
Reagarding Rush and Rove. This is no big deal. They'll be on the cartoon, there will be a few laughs and that's it. This is not a place for conservatives to be worried about waging war, etc. It's a funny cartoon, just enjoy it.
It was funny the first few years, now it is not even close to funny. But it will go on for years because Fox has sunk tens of millions into it.
You need to compare pre 9-11 Family Guy and post 9-11. The show changed for the worse. War is quite polarizing. They tried too hard to be political. Lately though it's just poor writing and a lack of ideas so they just go for shock.
I don't think it matters. Although I watch Family Guy and think it is very funny, Seth MacFarlane has never struck me as anything other than an overgrown juvenile. All I would say is, don't try to welcome the show or defend it just because it takes a rightward turn (if it does even that). If you're for the show, be for it; if you're against it, be against it still.
I wonder if they get to meet the manatees.
FG has no shortage of fans among my HS and college students… I've never seen much more than it took me to understand that it was not my sort of humor. Actually, South Park, of all shows, did a mighty send up of MacFarlane shows during the Mohammed cartoons kerfuffle… that was funny, imo.
Calling FG "arguably liberal" means one has to label George Soros "arguably liberal." Such descriptions, by alleged journalists, make me laugh. Or cry. I forget which.
Karl, don't trust the Cartoon Czar! You character might end up wearing a SS pin (or a pink tutu).
This actually isn't Limbaugh's first time on Family Guy. He was in "Blue Harvest", the Star Wars episode of FG, but just his voice. 3PO and Luke got in the speeder and 3PO turned on the radio. Rush was on, making fun of people saying that Hoth was melting because of global warming, and Lando Calrissian became the mayor of Bespin because of affirmative action.
That and the fact that they've cancelled it twice (good move) only to replace it with shows that suck (bad move)
A pre 9-11 era Family Guy episode had them all watching an episode of Murder She Wrote. Angela Lansbury mentions that she had an abortion. Peter shouts, "Aha! So, SHE'S the murderer."
I think about the manatees every single time I watch Family Guy.
I believe his new contract is worth over $100 million.
"doesn't mean they're far left whack jobs"?
You really need to watch the episode where the characters go back in time to nazi Germany and they made a point of doing a close up of a nazi wearing a Mcain/Palin button.
As far as Rush goes, yeas ago he made an appearence as himself on a sitcom that was written and produced by people who were big friends of the Clintons. From what I can recall he was treated good, he had only good things to say about the people…..but then again this was before things got as toxic as they are now.
No, Glenn says he leans libertarian, but can't get aboard with the party because he disagrees with it on a few issues that are important to him. He classifies himself as a conservative and not beholden to any party.
Sounds like the humor needs to be separated (segregated) from the personalities. Can't you people take a joke? Those guys will not let jhe drive by's take advantage of them!
What has always puzzled me about Seth MacFarlane is the unreal reaction he has to the fact that he should have died on 9/11. He missed his scheduled flight that morning, American Airlines Flight 11, which was flown into the North Tower of the Twin Towers. Yet from all indications, his near-miss with murder by Islamic terrorists has had no effect on his understanding (or lack thereof) of the reality of being at war with the barbarians of Islamic terror. God put a 2×4 upside his head and he still doesn't get it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_MacFarlane (heavily footnoted)
Sometimes when I'm watching South Park I find them making what seems to be conservative points concerning a wide range of issues from "climate changs" to "stem cell" research…maybe it's just an illusion.
I think tis is a good move on the Conservatives' side,as well as the show. Some "Liberals" are distancing themselves from the Lefties, now that W left the office and dumBO is, well, himself. The Coolnest of being a lib is wearing off.
I think tis is a good move on the Conservatives' side,as well as the show's. Some "Liberals" are distancing themselves from the Lefties, now that W left the office and dumBO is, well, himself. The Coolnest of being a Lib is wearing off.
Jake what can I say. You might be absolutely right. I'm sure Rove and Rush know only to well what magic can be done in a studio for better or for worse. Here's hoping their not targets.It's even money.
Opus I'll probably never watch the show but believe me I know how vile they can get. Like I posted to Jake it's a 50/50 shot.
The South Park guys are libertarian. They did one episode explaining how great corporations are.
I really don't trust this, seeing the way liberals, espcially Hollywood liberals have acted I can't help but think this really going to be a sneak attack on Rush and Rove. However if Mcfarlane does it pull it off and do an episode from a conservatie point of view and taking the same type of shots at Obama and his fellow liberals as he loved doing to Bush then I'll give him credit. I watched Family Guy when it first came on but it's going hard left made me tune out. As has been noted South Parks take on the show was pretty devasting because it was spot on.
The South Park guys once explained their politics like this:
The don't like conservatives, but they really hate liberals.
I'm not sure the South Park guys are conservative but at the very least they realize that it's mostly liberal ideas that are now the sacred cows of the culture unlike liberals who still think they shock us by making fun of christians and Bush
Comedians can't spend the next 3 1/2 years bashing 'W' , any more than Obama can do that and succeed.
Comedians have to be timely, and you can't fling a cat in any direction these days without it landing on a President Obama magazine cover.
It's a logical business move for MacFarlane as
millions more listen to Rush than watch Family Guy, or the Bush bashers at pMSNBC.
I don't expect a 'Damascus Road' change toward the right for the show, but
It makes more sense to turn a character toward conservatism or libertarianism and poke fun at the left
while they are in charge, bloated with power and pompousity, and an easy comedic target;
than to produce some new "Family Values Guy" or "Freedom Guy" show.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ulrichp/1362599/
South Park on corporations:
http://www.popmodal.com/video/1451/Corporations–...
Here's what South Park thinks of Democrats:
http://www.popmodal.com/video/520/Fascism-vs-Demo...
That was SOUTHPARK – *NOT* Family Guy
The McCain/Palin button bit doesn't mean they're whack jobs; it means they're lazy and go for the easy gag. I was offended, but it still beats the way they pad the episodes with bits that go on WAY too long (e.g., Peter hurting his knee and then doing nothing but going "ooh ahh" for a full minute or more).
It was a South Park story ripping on Family Guy. And apparently it struck home, because I've seen interviews that suggest that MacFarlane despises Parker and Stone.
Left-wing politics killed Family Guy a long time ago.
The show hasn't been funny since Blue Harvest.
It's success was rooted in popular culture and things everyone could appreciate.
It's nothing but left-wing garbage now and this mincing isn't going to change a thing.
"Arguably a liberal leaningshow?" What a crock of weasel word cr*p!"
Seth McFarlane is a drooling, delusional Obama cult member obsessed with crassness and bestiality.
My guess is he got afraid of being declared illrelevant due to the fact that he's been still bashing Bush even up until after the election.
It doesn't matter if this is a sneak attack on Rush. Just by putting his name out there in a controversial setting he reminds liberals how much they hate him, and some of those liberals then decide to listen to him just to see how bad he is, then, just like myself and many other conservatives, they find themselves agreeing with one or two things he says and that wow, he's not evil, then they agree with a few more things and then they realize no matter how inflammatory he may be, he still makes more sense than the liberals they've been listening to. And then they end up posting on Big Hollywood years later as a conservative as I am doing now.
Never heard of this "Family Guy". What is it, some kind of cartoon?
Quite frankly, the Peter-hurting-his-leg joke was funnier.
[...] at one point, it had a very good, healthy mind. But it is gone now. I hope, only temporarily. ‘Family Guy’ Taking Right Turn? – bighollywood.breitbart.com 08/16/2009 From an ABCNews.com article : ABC News’ Cullen Dirner [...]
I can live with that!
Can't stand some conservatives too.
If by "arguably a liberal show," one means, "unquestionably a liberal show" and by "taking a right turn" one means "not at all taking a right turn," then sure.
I'm not sure what Rove and Limbaugh stand to gain: any cameo on the show would be either a misguided olive branch or a cashing-in (on their popularity and the liberal hatred of them.) The creators don't want either man on the show, they want parodies of them on the show, and if either condescends to lend his voice, he deserves to be mocked.
That said, were Family Guy to take a massive turn to the right, I wouldn't touch it: it is vulgar, sloppy, and boring. If MacFarlane himself were to shift far to the right, I wouldn't want the likes of him in the party or the movement. A man with no taste, talent, class, or intellect, we can do without.
I've never seen this show so I'm just venturing a guess here .The creator of the show and his writers might be very liberal but that doesn't mean their far left whack jobs. I think they sense a paradigm shift in this country coming and their covering their bases. Two things are very important to the Hollywood folk 1.Money 2. Surviving so they can make more Money. So this might be a smart move on their part to seem fair and balanced. Rove and Limbaugh are big boys they can handle themselves in the land of the liberals they'll give as good as they get.Whats in it for them? Maybe they want to be felt and heard more in the popular culture to show their not such boogie-men. Their not stupid. I think they know what they're doing.Then again I might be wrong and it's a vivious ambush of some kind to make them look like two foolish dolts. Like I said I'm just a guessing.
Liberal head fake.
In other words…the ratings of their stupid little cartoon are waaaaaaay down as they discovered that you can't depend on the libturds for ANYTHING (especially ratings). You know you have a loser when your pathetic staff can't find anything to mock Pres. Opompous about.
Love that open mind Yomi! I hope you are comfortable in that self-imposed box!
The show's creators are "far left whack jobs." This is illustrated by the fact that Seth MacFarlane, in one of the DVD commentaries said that anyone who opposes gay marriage is "just a f*ck*r." When Limbaugh did his earlier cameo and they admitted in the commentary that he seemed to be a nice guy, one of them also added "He must just be pretending to be a Republican."
Nope. They're gonna find a way to make fun of rush and Karl in the shows. I loved the first couple of seasons back in college, but when it came back from being canceled, it was infused with total vitriol and hatred for anything and anyone on the right. Shall we forget the McCain/Palin button on the Nazi uniform? Or more recently, the unaired abortion episode? I will never watch Family Guy again.
The only funny thing I've ever seen Seth McFarlane do is that 'Hulu' commercial.
I think they understood that. Thanks for playing, though.
I have a feeling that McFarlane KNOWS who his audience is and that they aren't too happy with liberals right now. It's all about ratings and money, they could care less about anything else when it comes to conservatives. It's not about "reaching across the aisle.
That sums it up very well. Libertarian fits then.
I also read somewhere that Stewie was coming out as being gay?
That's not surprising. Those on the left have a demonic image of anyone on the right and ARE usually floored when they are confronted with the reality.
Maybe having Rove and Limbaugh on the show is a GOOD thing – for the writers. When they find out that the people they make fun of are actually good people, maybe they'll rethink their attitudes.
Seth MacFarlane sounds like a fairly smart guy. Looks like we'll find out next season.
Also for what it's worth – those horrid episodes submitted for Emmy consideration notwithstanding, I've laughed myself literally SICK at some of the episodes I'd seen. The episode about the Y2K meltdown had me coughing up both lungs from laughing. There are others, but that one was a keeper, and the fact that it wound up being very pro-gun at the end was icing on the cake.
About time to slap the liberals around.
I watched one program during the first season and thought that it was one of the stupidest most disgusting things I had ever seen. Virtually all the characters were despicable and , is as usual with the comedically challenged, all the "humor" centered around cultural taboos. Just because Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove, for whatever dumb reasons, decided to make an appearance on the show doesn't mean that it's not a completely left-wing piece of garbage. Just that they could be considerably more discerning.
I've read that quote–but from what I've seen, the liberals get 80% of the flak. Or maybe it seems that way, because no one else is laying into the Global Warming Alarmists, Scientologists, Hollywood Elitists, etc. I'll watch just about anything Parker & Stone do, because it's good comedy, and it skewers the absurd. I watched Team America again last night with my Girlfriend, and forgot how funny it was. Seeing Janeane Garofalo's head get blown up is good stuff (even if it's just a puppet).
That's old news.
How stupid are some of you people?
FG's ratings have dropped since Seth decided to openly be Mr. Lefty and kiss the ass of people like Uberdork. Fox has made him a 9-figure bank account with three shows so he has to do what's best or he loses everything. If that means playing nicer, he will. He was straight with Rush when he did the SW parody episode, so he's got some capital.
We shall see. If nothing else they'll see ratings shoot up. I am sure when they get the script they'll see whether it was a wise move or not.
I used to watch this show a lot and it seemed to take a hard left turn in the last few years – don't watch it now.
Sooner or later, liberals who actually take the time to seriously contemplate history, politics and reality come around, and anyone who gets the concept of political correctness understands that it's "Censorship Lite" from the Left, packaged in a pseudo standard of civility or decency.
I always thought that qoute would make a great bumper sticker. "I dont like Conseratives, I just really hate liberals." smack that on the back of a 69 GTO and see how long it takes them to become enraged.
My guess is the Famly Guy "Lois Gets An Abortion" episode, which Fox is declining to air, gets posted to the Internet right before the Limbaugh-Rove episode airs, leaving both to try and explain why they agreed to go on a show that everyone knew had a liberal bent and already had the abortion episode kerfuffle just weeks before this story line was announced.
You might want to stop eating bread, too, since practically all of the wheat is grown by people who live in what you liberal types call "flyover country", and they tend to have conservative views and support conservative values and causes. Better make sure you don't eat beef or chicken, too. And pork. And eggs. Or wear anything cotton.
Know what? You better just go live on a dirty hippie commune where you can weave crappy baskets to sell by the roadside and fight with each other over who's turn it is to do dishes and who is using too much toilet paper. Just to be safe.
Why pay for Rush when you could get any number of impersonators? I mean, great for Rush, you know- Cha-ching! But, what's MacFarlane's point?
Well la de da…
being as the country is right of center, it pays to lampoon both sides. SNL used to do that back when it was funny and well written.
We will all go CRAZY, trying to figure out what the intentions of Rush and Rove are for appearing on this show. These are two very wise men. For Rush, I will leave it to the fact that Rush doesn't do ANYTHING, that will put a blemish on his character, or make himself look stupid. So there has to be a reason. Most likely a good one. As far as Rove is concerned, who knows. Besides, he had a lot to do with making " W", seem weak and apologetic to the state run media, With this "new tone" barbara striesand.
Plus, I'm willing to bet the farm that Rush will get the script, WELL… in advance. And that there will be lawyers and contracts involved, juuuuuuust in case someone decides to AMBUSH….anybody.
And finally, I could be way off base and it could be just a good ol barrel of laughs and no one gets hurt????? I'll be waiting nervously.
Heh, the Karl Rove one looks like it will be a hoot, and if you've ever seen any of Frank J's "In My World"s you'd know why.
(If you don't have a true sense of humor or understand the First Amendment, Frank J's stuff might not be for you – you have been warned.)
I've gotten along for all these years without FG. I'll get along without it now. Nothing, not even El Rushbo, could get me to tune into it.
Holy crap people! They are grown men who can take care of themselves. This is why the Right is haveing such a hard time winning over the youth. Is there disgusting humor and crude comments in Family Guy? YES! But the youth are paying attention to this stuff. Right, wrong, or indifferent. There is a reason Family Guy was brought back to Fox. Family Guy and South Park are funny as heck and they attack certain topics with humor. But what would I know? Plus, a few of you are definitely showing your age. LOL! (Laughing Out Loud)
I defy anyone to find South Park episode that has a liberal celebrity cameo or reference that was not an outright insult. Liberals do get hit harder than conservatives on "South Park" and even the conservative hits are done with a wink and a nod. The term "South Park Conservative" has been coined to describe someone who isn't a traditional social conservative but can't tolerate liberal crap.
And from some of the later episodes, I occasionally wonder if it isn't true.
Rush did Family Guy Star Wars episode. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182576/
I loved that line about Family Guy being "Arguably a liberal leaning show." That's like saying CSI is "arguably a crime show," Battlestar Galactica is "arguably a science fiction show." and Michael Moore is "arguably a bit overweight."
The show was funny when it was irreverent.Once it climbed into Obama's rear end its become just another 22 minutes of mindless liberal slop
"I think they sense a paradigm shift in this country coming and their covering their bases." Yeah – we went eight years with Bush giving us conservative rhetoric that put this country in the condition it is in. if anything – I think we're becoming more liberal.
"Their -vs- they're" – please stop using these words until you learn which means what – it makes conservatives look even more idiotic and inflexible.
And look how many conservatives have done things like this and then we find out it's so they can look cool to their more liberal leaning kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc. Plus – remember – they get PAID to do this. SAG scale at the very least.
I'll assume "vivious ambush" meant "vicious ambush." OF COURSE! Taking Rush's example from the Blue Harvest episode of Family Guy — Was anyone in the audience going – wow – he's got a point – and they put it forth in a humorous way—- no – it was pointing out just how idiotic some conservatives have been sounding lately.
And as far as Hollywood making an effort to "seem fair and balanced" — While holywood obviously has its conservatives which see plenty of work — yeah – no – Hollywood had been pretty liberal right down through the time it began.
Keep guessing Pal. And God Bless.
In a related story Mike Judge who does King of the Hill is coming out with a new one :"The Goode Family". Here is a preview: http://vodpod.com/watch/1575725-mike-judges-new-s...
The only thing I see that is missing is the weird holier than thou attitude by some who try to live according to the PC/ECO rules. Not only do they (for example) carry their own bags to the grocery (that they spent $20 bucks a piece on), but look down their noses (literally) at the people who have the nerve to use the plastic bags.
I have those people all around me and I find them extremely amusing. They lecture me about using my dryer, get mad that I do not have a hemp bed, hold vigils for trees felled by loggers… all the while they burn wood in their fireplace for heat and dismantle their heating oil system because there will be no blood for oil running thru their house. They sleep on their couch because the bed is uncomfortable and the cats tore it up because a mouse started nesting in it. They come to our house every year to look out our composting system when they pull apart their composter and find mummified avocado pits and magnolia leaf sludge.
OK this has turned into a rant. I better go mow. Not with my electric mower (that derives energy from coal), but a horrible old gas one.
In a town of nutbag liberals it is we opposites that let OUR freak flag fly.
You are correct Sir, I stand corrected.
“The Family Guy tends to be very liberal, because it is written by liberals."
Whick makes me hate the show even more. "Hey gang, screw the other 50-percent watching TV, lets jerk off to our own politics!"
It's not like this show is airing on MSNBC. To throw so much of your own politics into something mainstream shows disdain for your own audience. But disdain is all the elites on the coasts have left to contribute.
You hit the nail on the head. Certain liberals (like almost all of my college professors) are extremely behind the times!
John please forgive me for expressing my opinion. It was a moment of madness it won't happen again. I'll follow every word you say to the letter. Then maybe I'll be as fexible and as true a Conservative as you. One can only hope and dream Pal and God Bless You Too.
When I meant cut out the parts for Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove, it's so I can watch SPECIFICALLY those two parts.
Why bother giving the Libs anymore cash, when I can just watch those two parts on Youtube?
Read my statement again. I want to watch ONLY the Limbaugh and Rove parts. I want to not watch the rest of it.
By understanding that, I think you'll know that I'm a meat-eating, Sarah Palin-supporting, Hippie-punching, non-liberal TV watcher.
LOLcat!
I love Family Guy. I wonder if they will be able to make fun of themselves and their liberal leaders. I have my doubts. I see an endless pool of things to make fun of, but it is hard when it is your own ideology. We shall see.
I wonder if the liberals who watch the show will be able to endure humor that cuts at them. Sometimes you just have to get over yourself. That group (generally speaking) has ever so much trouble doing that. Over inflated sense of self importance is very limiting.
I quit watching Family Guy this year after the politics simply became insufferable. It wasn't funny, it was petty – and in a cartoonish (irony) way. I like poking fun at political sacred cows, but Family Guy started down the Boston Legal road of peddling straw men and tilting at already fallen windmills. I hope they right the ship, because I find Family Guy uproariously funny when they poke fun at the quirks of all of us…
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