LOL: The Recurring Prop Newspaper | /Film

LOL: The Recurring Prop Newspaper

Posted on Friday, June 4th, 2010 by Peter Sciretta

If you watch enough television shows and movies, then you might even start to notice that a bunch of the same props are used over and over again. I first noticed this with a magazine prop in various television shows including Married With Children, which featured a gum advertisement on the back cover. Someone on Reddit recently put together a compilation of photos from various television shows, commercials and movies, showing how one newspaper prop gets around and is reused, and reused again.

I don’t know the story behind this prop newspaper, but I assume it was created as a royalty free prop for television shows. Somewhere along the line, the prop became a recurring gag between propmasters. Something like how sound designers reuse the Wilhem Scream in every movie. Check out some examples after the jump.

And here is more:

Power Rangers Zeo

A Murder of Crows

A texasi láncf?részes

No Country For Old Men

Angel 3×04

Lucky Louie – 1×06

Everybody hates Chris 2×05

Desperate Housewives – 2×13

Scrubs 6×16

Modern Family 1×16

Travelers Insurance – Prized Possession (Dog Commercial)

more photos via: Katus

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More Information About The Recurring Prop Newspaper

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• 
  The_Man_Called_X NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Holy shit.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 06:02 PM
  • 30 Likes
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  Duncan20903 NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  This comment was flagged for review.

  • A Like
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  • 06/07/2010 10:48 PM
  • in reply to The_Man_Called_X
  • 4 Likes
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  Artasia NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Personally, I think it's more a case of being quite observant. Good catch.

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 06:23 PM
  • in reply to Duncan20903
  • 11 Likes
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  BigWillie NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Indeed. Folks in any sort of business always have their own jargon, tricks, and inside jokes. Stuff like that just isn't shared with everyone else. But for someone to catch something that's been there all along, for quite a long time, right under our noses, when no one else has, is quite observant.

  But to have the intelligence and determination to research it is cool.

  Then some douche tries to dismiss it? What a fucktard.

  Duncan Disorderly.

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  • 06/09/2010 12:21 AM
  • in reply to Artasia
  • 7 Likes
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• 
  Kekkonen NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  I guess your negative comment was useful and relevant then.

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 06:34 PM
  • in reply to Duncan20903
  • 2 Likes
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  Eric Jason Ratcliffe NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Or it could be that people want to learn something cool just like the wilhelm scream. I think this is a cool little thing.

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 07:30 PM
  • in reply to Duncan20903
  • 1 Like
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  Guest NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  rockstar actually used the wilhelm scream in red dead redemption. when i first heard it on there i instantly remembered the article about it.

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  • 06/08/2010 09:37 PM
  • in reply to Eric Jason Ratcliffe
  • 2 Likes
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  Jewie NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  you would think Al Bundy would've noticed if he was reading the same newspaper twice

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  • 06/04/2010 06:05 PM
  • 65 Likes
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• 
  hailstate NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  ...separated by 20 years.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 07:07 PM
  • in reply to Jewie
  • 18 Likes
  • F

• 
  Shootist69 NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Al bundy read it once. Ed O'neal read it twice.

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 11:27 PM
  • in reply to Jewie
  • 8 Likes
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  UomoRagno NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Wonder who the lady in the picture is? Her IMDB filmography must be one long list!

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  • 06/04/2010 06:19 PM
  • 40 Likes
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  Edcedc8 NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  gets around, thats for sure.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 06:32 PM
  • in reply to UomoRagno
  • 3 Likes
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  Scott Lawson NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  No one knows who she is, according to that article, she's still missing... lol

  • A Like
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  • 06/05/2010 09:14 AM
  • in reply to UomoRagno
  • 30 Likes
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  louis vuitton speedy 30, http://www.louisvuitton4love.com/louis-vuitton-speedy-30-n41533-p-404.html NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  goooooooooood

  • A Like
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  • 08/22/2010 02:17 PM
  • in reply to UomoRagno
  • 0 Like
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• 
  [A] NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  haha very nice! I could never notice something like this.. like I never notice that oh-so-famous wilhem scream.. I do recognize an explosion sound they keep using to this day -- you can hear the same sound when the DOOM final boss *spits* new enemies..

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  • 06/04/2010 06:24 PM
  • 2 Likes
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  Captain_Howdy, An independent filmmaker with an opinion... fancy that. NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Holy shit, I hear that all the time, too! Robert Rodriguez even uses it in his Troublemaker Studios title clip.

  • A Like
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  • 06/05/2010 05:09 PM
  • in reply to [A]
  • 0 Like
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  Peter Hardy NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  The Doom door opening sound gets re-used a lot as well.

  I never notice the Wilhelm scream, but always the door.

  • A Like
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  • 06/06/2010 05:29 AM
  • in reply to [A]
  • 1 Like
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  [A] NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  funny -- I never noticed the door sound -- will pay more attention from now on X)

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  • 06/06/2010 09:51 PM
  • in reply to Peter Hardy
  • 0 Like
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  BadMonkey NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  The door sound is from a sound collection called The General made ages ago. ID re-used the sound themselves. Lots of sounds from The General are used all over the place

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 12:27 AM
  • in reply to Peter Hardy
  • 0 Like
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  Edcedc8 NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  "she's 3rd brightest but hard gal to see"

  wtf?

  thats what it looks like.
  wtf.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 06:36 PM
  • 1 Like
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• 
  Ne1nno1 NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  are you talking about the article title under the girl's face? i've been trying to figure it out too: i think it says "Shes Not Religious but Heard 'God' in (something?)"...maybe "in sleep"? i dunno. let's keep at this. it shouldn't be too hard to get a scan of the actual prop paper. i'd like to read it...

  • A Like
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  • 06/05/2010 06:05 AM
  • in reply to Edcedc8
  • 2 Likes
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  Nena NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  It actually says "She's 3rd Brightest but hard 'Gal' to see"

  Probably some kind of 'dig' referring to a person of high intelligence having a sex change operation.

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  • 06/07/2010 06:20 AM
  • in reply to Ne1nno1
  • 0 Like
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  Martinez NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  or it is about Venus,
  the 3rd brightest planet, but hard to see ;)

  • A Like
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  • 06/07/2010 12:00 PM
  • in reply to Nena
  • 2 Likes
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  Ne1nno1 NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  holy smokes. this is like "no wife no horse no mustache". what the hell does it MEAN???

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  • 06/08/2010 06:04 AM
  • in reply to Nena
  • 0 Like
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  Adam S. NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  I'd also love to see this done with my favorite trope, the Grocery Bag With Carrots And Baguettes And Things.

  It is the international movie/tv symbolism for "I definitely just went shopping for groceries!"

  I love it with all my heart.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 06:41 PM
  • 7 Likes
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  James Qualls NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  The baguette is my personal favorite as well. It is definitely necessary for the food to stick OUT of the bag. Otherwise, there could be anything in there. Even smaller bread!

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 08:07 PM
  • in reply to Adam S.
  • 9 Likes
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  lucascott NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  i think it has been. check the site tv tropes.

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  • 06/05/2010 02:07 AM
  • in reply to Adam S.
  • 0 Like
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  Trin NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Meh. I'd say look up the assistant art director (film-speak for 'production graphic designer') for these, see if they're the same. I've done half a dozen features and some television shows and I know I've used the same cigarette boxes, alcohol bottles, newspapers multiple times.

  Most of the time we've got to do a shit-tonne of graphics in far too little time; reusing is the only real option. Don't get me started on playback/screen design (fake computers / televisions / monitors / etc) -- love it as I do, it's probably one of the biggest pains in the ass in the creative world apart from web design.

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  • 06/04/2010 06:49 PM
  • 2 Likes
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  Clayton. NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Yeah, it must be really difficult to find a different paper. It's not like there's a new one created literally every single fucking day.

  • A Like
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  • 06/06/2010 03:15 AM
  • in reply to Trin
  • 9 Likes
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  Weta NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Guess you don't understand that that newspaper would have to be paid - to say nothing of the people whose real lives/problems then get broadcast across the country/world. You have to use fakes.

  • A Like
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  • 06/06/2010 12:03 PM
  • in reply to Clayton.
  • 4 Likes
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  Bowser NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Why is a newspaper any different than any other background object? If they film a parking lot, do they have to make a bunch a fake cars to fill it? Does the studio have to make all of the actors' clothing because they can't wear anything off-the-rack?

  You don't HAVE to use fakes.

  • A Like
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  • 06/07/2010 06:00 PM
  • in reply to Weta
  • 0 Like
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  jon NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Actually, they DO make the actor's clothing.

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 07:42 AM
  • in reply to Weta
  • 2 Likes
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• 
  mantis NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  @jon: so if they DO have to make the actor's clothing, then how does it come that I have several T-Shirts (since years) which I now see ie in episodes of The Big Bang Theory? (Or earlier in Kyle XY etc.?)

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 12:29 PM
  • in reply to Weta
  • 1 Like
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• 
  Guest NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  be kindof funny if a director read this article, and made a scene with a similar newspaper, with updates to all the stories on it.

  • A Like
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  • 06/08/2010 09:42 PM
  • in reply to Weta
  • 4 Likes
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  BigWillie NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  That would be funny, "No longer third brightest gal, now invisible..."

  • A Like
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  • 06/09/2010 12:28 AM
  • in reply to Weta
  • 1 Like
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• 
  Guestie NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  @Bowser A newspaper doesn't have to be fake, it's just better, cheaper, and faster that it is fake.

  @mantis Because sometimes costume designers see a piece off the rack that's perfect for a certain character, but the majority of the costume is either pulled from stock and altered, or made.

  • A Like
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  • 06/09/2010 07:42 AM
  • in reply to Weta
  • 2 Likes
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  L. Ron Haggard NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Right, because there is no such thing as copyright infringement for reprinting articles. Pull your head out of your ass Clayton. If you were to use actual newspapers, you'd have to "every single fucking day" (to use your words) contact the publisher and request permission.

  This is why people like you don't work in the industry. Morons need not apply, common sense is mandatory.

  • A Like
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  • 07/06/2010 11:43 PM
  • in reply to Clayton.
  • 2 Likes
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• 
  Aleciavb NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Actually, newspaper articles can be reprinted and reused indefinitely. Look up copyright laws. Some things like tv programs can be taped and used for only 45 days, but newspaper articles have no limit.

  • A Like
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  • 12/18/2010 02:38 AM
  • in reply to L. Ron Haggard
  • 0 Like
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  kittentit NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Actually, real papers aren't used as props, hence the name "prop".

  • A Like
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  • 07/14/2010 07:07 AM
  • in reply to Clayton.
  • 0 Like
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  Dr. Alex NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  I will add to Trin's comment that, in my limited experience on set, I have seen several paper bags that were actually made of a durable material that actually wasn't paper. It's reusable and, I think more important, doesn't make any noise. So I am imagining this newspaper is a mass produced prop made of suede (I think) that holds up, doesn't tear, and won't make any noise.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 07:22 PM
  • 20 Likes
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  Nueztoy NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  That makes all the sense in the world. It's very interesting too. I like this.

  • A Like
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  • 06/05/2010 02:18 AM
  • in reply to Dr. Alex
  • 2 Likes
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  Captain_Howdy, An independent filmmaker with an opinion... fancy that. NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Also seems to be different sized papers, judging by the one that is torn and bloodied over that girl, is there a chance this is a stock photo/file that is being re-printed over and over?

  • A Like
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  • 06/05/2010 05:16 PM
  • in reply to Dr. Alex
  • 1 Like
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• 
  [A] NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  cool bit of info. makes a lot of sense too

  • A Like
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  • 06/06/2010 09:54 PM
  • in reply to Dr. Alex
  • 0 Like
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• 
  GoingLikeSixty, Boomer writing stuff mostly of interest to other boomers. No politics, few rants, attempted humor. Suitably old, but mysteriously advanced. NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  Nice one - great trivia, and commenters about props are revealing also. Over the years, if this was newsprint, it would have disintegrated and yellowed terribly.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 07:34 PM
  • 6 Likes
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• 
  Corey Marie Parkhill NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  This is awesome!

  It probably also keeps the paper timeless. Nothing like the hint of a political or celebrity scandal to date your movie/TV show for all of eternity.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 07:43 PM
  • 4 Likes
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  Jay Runham NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  ...
  Does anyone else think the lady in the picture looks like Karen Allen?
  Just me?
  ...

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 07:47 PM
  • 3 Likes
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  OhDannyBoy NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  It does. It also looks as though Dr. Jones is on the same page.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 11:07 PM
  • in reply to Jay Runham
  • 0 Like
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  A.J. Meadows NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  This is actually a little creepy. That woman's face is everywhere. Little weird.

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 08:04 PM
  • 3 Likes
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  Bill_C NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  It's like "Oaties" cereal!

  • A Like
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  • 06/04/2010 08:42 PM
  • 1 Like
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  tommyMETROP0LiS NaN comments collapsed Collapse Expand

  That's Awesome. I wanna know who that woman is, bet she never thought she'd get so many guess appearances.

  Does she still get paid every time it's used??

  • A Like
  • Reply

  • 06/04/2010 09:24 PM
  • 1 Like
  • F

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