According to a source on the Back to the Bay Forum, Samara Weaving - who played Kirsten Mulroney on Out of the Blue - has recently signed up for a 5-week guest stint on Home and Away.
She's expected to follow in the footsteps of John Atkinson (Stephen Mulroney), Aidan Gillett (Daniel McManus) and Bernard Curry (Nate Perrett) - who've all popped up in Home and Away recently - when filming for her role begins in the next couple of weeks.
If it's true, congratulations Samara!
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Gyton Grantley gets Logie nods
Congratulations to Gyton Grantley, who's picked up two Logie Award nominations in Australia. His role as Carl Williams in Underbelly has earned him recognition in the Most Popular Actor and Most Outstanding Actor categories.
What has this got to do with Out of the Blue, you might ask? Well, Gyton played Alex, the geeky reunion video guy, in the first few weeks of the show's run.
Prior to Underbelly, Gyton played the role of Dane Pickerstaff in Headland, which also starred Sophie Katinis and Adrienne Pickering - best known to us as Gabby West and Detective Christine Taylor.
In 2007, he appeared alongside Ryan Johnson (Stavva Jones) and Charlotte Gregg (Tracy O'Donnell) in the movie All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane.
If that's not enough, he also used to date Charlotte!
Talk about a small world! Since Gyton appeared to know half the cast and is such a popular actor, it's a shame that he wasn't able to appear in more episodes.
For a full list of Logie Award nominations, click here.
What has this got to do with Out of the Blue, you might ask? Well, Gyton played Alex, the geeky reunion video guy, in the first few weeks of the show's run.
Prior to Underbelly, Gyton played the role of Dane Pickerstaff in Headland, which also starred Sophie Katinis and Adrienne Pickering - best known to us as Gabby West and Detective Christine Taylor.
In 2007, he appeared alongside Ryan Johnson (Stavva Jones) and Charlotte Gregg (Tracy O'Donnell) in the movie All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane.
If that's not enough, he also used to date Charlotte!
Talk about a small world! Since Gyton appeared to know half the cast and is such a popular actor, it's a shame that he wasn't able to appear in more episodes.
For a full list of Logie Award nominations, click here.
Friday 27 March 2009
Poppy & Peta media mention
Out of the Blue's Poppy (Katherine Hicks) and Peta (Daisy Betts) get a mention on the TV Tonight blog today in an article about the current lesbian storyline on Home and Away.
The Seven Network has decided to tone down Joey (Kate Bell) and Charlie's (Esther Anderson) plotline (in particular, a forthcoming kissing scene) following complaints from lobby groups.
The article points out that Out of the Blue has been airing at 5.30pm without getting any complaints about its own lesbian couple.
Read all about it here.
The Seven Network has decided to tone down Joey (Kate Bell) and Charlie's (Esther Anderson) plotline (in particular, a forthcoming kissing scene) following complaints from lobby groups.
The article points out that Out of the Blue has been airing at 5.30pm without getting any complaints about its own lesbian couple.
Read all about it here.
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Aussie scheduling update
Just to confirm, there's definitely no Out of the Blue airing on Ten this week. The Formula 1 coverage is airing instead on Sunday afternoon/evening, and unusually for Ten, they've decided to just skip the week rather than putting the episode on after midnight or something like that.
So, barring any last-minute tomfoolery, Episode 47 will air on Sunday, April 5 at 5.30pm.
So, barring any last-minute tomfoolery, Episode 47 will air on Sunday, April 5 at 5.30pm.
Monday 23 March 2009
Petitions update... again
The Out of the Blue second series petition has reached another milestone and now has 200 signatures. It's slowly catching up to the original Save Out of the Blue petition, which at the moment has 266 signatures.
Obviously, petitions for other shows often have much higher numbers... but, for a soap that only had promotion for about three weeks in an eight-month run and aired in a rubbish slot, it's something. Here's a selection of some of the more recent comments which have been added from viewers:
Stacey: "I have abandoned EastEnders to watch this fantastic soap on Fiver! It's better acted, faster-paced and far more edgy than other soaps on TV, and we need more."
Jane: "This was an excellent, fast-moving soap and I really hope there will be another series."
Kim, Oxon: "Please, please let us have a 2nd series of Out of the Blue - to end on such a superb cliffhanger and never to know the outcome would be awful."
Melanie, Cheshire: "I have watched every episode and love it to bits, please don't leave it on such a cliffhanger!"
Keeley: "Out of the Blue was the best programme and I did not miss an episode, the characters and plot were excellent and I was upset that the show was to be no longer running. Every day I was at the edge of my seat as all the different stories unravelled. Please make another series as it will be sorely missed."
Anonymous: "Out of the Blue never had a chance with BBC - constant shifting of the channel, time slot and transmissions - what a farce! A great show. Bring it back to win over more viewers."
Susan, Kent: "Having watched every episode of Out of the Blue, I feel BBC didn't give it a chance. Kept mucking about with firstly channel then number of episodes each week. It was supposed to be a replacement for Neighbours, but you never knew when it was going to be on til you read the next week's TV guide. They didn't even say when the last episode was on that it had finished!"
Lynda: "I was gutted when the BBC took this off the air and at such a crucial climax."
Hannah: "It's AMAZING!!! It's got to come back for a second series but carry on like Neighbours and Home and Away!"
Margot, Melbourne: "Finally a teen drama with liberal values. Much better than Neighbours and Home and Away."
John, Cheshire: "This is the best new drama series that I have seen for many years. I am disappointed that the BBC decided not to continue with it for a second series, and I hope that the controllers will review this decision."
Hopefully the signatures will keep coming.
Obviously, petitions for other shows often have much higher numbers... but, for a soap that only had promotion for about three weeks in an eight-month run and aired in a rubbish slot, it's something. Here's a selection of some of the more recent comments which have been added from viewers:
Stacey: "I have abandoned EastEnders to watch this fantastic soap on Fiver! It's better acted, faster-paced and far more edgy than other soaps on TV, and we need more."
Jane: "This was an excellent, fast-moving soap and I really hope there will be another series."
Kim, Oxon: "Please, please let us have a 2nd series of Out of the Blue - to end on such a superb cliffhanger and never to know the outcome would be awful."
Melanie, Cheshire: "I have watched every episode and love it to bits, please don't leave it on such a cliffhanger!"
Keeley: "Out of the Blue was the best programme and I did not miss an episode, the characters and plot were excellent and I was upset that the show was to be no longer running. Every day I was at the edge of my seat as all the different stories unravelled. Please make another series as it will be sorely missed."
Anonymous: "Out of the Blue never had a chance with BBC - constant shifting of the channel, time slot and transmissions - what a farce! A great show. Bring it back to win over more viewers."
Susan, Kent: "Having watched every episode of Out of the Blue, I feel BBC didn't give it a chance. Kept mucking about with firstly channel then number of episodes each week. It was supposed to be a replacement for Neighbours, but you never knew when it was going to be on til you read the next week's TV guide. They didn't even say when the last episode was on that it had finished!"
Lynda: "I was gutted when the BBC took this off the air and at such a crucial climax."
Hannah: "It's AMAZING!!! It's got to come back for a second series but carry on like Neighbours and Home and Away!"
Margot, Melbourne: "Finally a teen drama with liberal values. Much better than Neighbours and Home and Away."
John, Cheshire: "This is the best new drama series that I have seen for many years. I am disappointed that the BBC decided not to continue with it for a second series, and I hope that the controllers will review this decision."
Hopefully the signatures will keep coming.
Sunday 22 March 2009
Aussie ratings: March 22
Time for the weekly ratings update...
Episode 46 of Out of the Blue, which featured a shock discovery for Tess, attracted 289,000 viewers to Ten in the usual 5.30pm slot. That's a rise of 24,000 from last week and equal to what it was getting two weeks ago. Put simply, everybody who tuned out last weekend saw their error of their ways this week and started watching again.
The Aussie TV guides are currently suggesting that the show won't be on next week due to Formula 1 coverage. At least it hasn't been taken off for bowls like on the BBC... but if fans have to wait 2 weeks for another episode, that's obviously annoying. We'll keep you posted on any info we find.
Episode 46 of Out of the Blue, which featured a shock discovery for Tess, attracted 289,000 viewers to Ten in the usual 5.30pm slot. That's a rise of 24,000 from last week and equal to what it was getting two weeks ago. Put simply, everybody who tuned out last weekend saw their error of their ways this week and started watching again.
The Aussie TV guides are currently suggesting that the show won't be on next week due to Formula 1 coverage. At least it hasn't been taken off for bowls like on the BBC... but if fans have to wait 2 weeks for another episode, that's obviously annoying. We'll keep you posted on any info we find.
Thursday 19 March 2009
Summer Bay: Refuge for Manly's finest
Hot on the trail of Bernard Curry (Nate) and Aidan Gillett (Daniel), another Out of the Blue cast member is about to pop up in Australia's top soap Home and Away.
This time it's the turn of John Atkinson, who played Stephen on the show. He takes on the role of Summer Bay's new crazed character Derreck. From psychologist to madman eh...
Thanks to Caroline for the info!
This time it's the turn of John Atkinson, who played Stephen on the show. He takes on the role of Summer Bay's new crazed character Derreck. From psychologist to madman eh...
Thanks to Caroline for the info!
Petition update
A link to the Save Out of the Blue Petition has now been added to The Mirror's We Love Telly blog following a fan request. It appears on the same page as their previous update on the show where they promoted the Fiver airings and suggested that there could still be some hope left.
At the moment, the Save Out of the Blue Petition has 263 signatures, while the Out of the Blue Second Series Petition has 195. Please do sign both petitions if you haven't done so already.
At the moment, the Save Out of the Blue Petition has 263 signatures, while the Out of the Blue Second Series Petition has 195. Please do sign both petitions if you haven't done so already.
Sunday 15 March 2009
Aussie ratings: March 15
Another disappointing week for Out of the Blue's ratings on Ten. The latest episode, which saw Bec and Kirsten fighting to escape from crazed Blade, didn't make it into the top 30 programmes for the day and attracted only 265,000 viewers. That's a fall of 24,000 from last week.
Over on Seven at the same time, Fawlty Towers was watched by 625,000, while football on Nine pulled in 513,000.
Next Sunday's episode is the one where Tess makes a shock discovery about Philby's will. The whodunit element of the show gets back into full swing from this point onwards, but with no promotion, it's unlikely that many people will be watching.
Over on Seven at the same time, Fawlty Towers was watched by 625,000, while football on Nine pulled in 513,000.
Next Sunday's episode is the one where Tess makes a shock discovery about Philby's will. The whodunit element of the show gets back into full swing from this point onwards, but with no promotion, it's unlikely that many people will be watching.
Sunday 8 March 2009
Aussie ratings: March 8
Unlike last week, the ratings for the latest Out of the Blue episode on Ten have been released. The bad news is that they were poor.
The latest episode, which featured more from the Blade/Bec saga, attracted just 289,000 viewers at 5.30pm - a fall of 18,000 from what it was getting two weeks ago.
But if it makes anyone feel any better, ratings seemed to be down across the board, partly due to the public holiday in some parts of Australia. Out of the Blue was actually ranked 30th for the day, while last week it didn't feature in the top 30 at all and the show at the bottom of the list had 332,000.
Next week, Bec and Kirsten try to escape from Blade's clutches. Only another 18 weeks until the murderer is revealed............
The latest episode, which featured more from the Blade/Bec saga, attracted just 289,000 viewers at 5.30pm - a fall of 18,000 from what it was getting two weeks ago.
But if it makes anyone feel any better, ratings seemed to be down across the board, partly due to the public holiday in some parts of Australia. Out of the Blue was actually ranked 30th for the day, while last week it didn't feature in the top 30 at all and the show at the bottom of the list had 332,000.
Next week, Bec and Kirsten try to escape from Blade's clutches. Only another 18 weeks until the murderer is revealed............
Why did Ten lose faith in Out of the Blue?
Just a quick follow-up to our post the other day on the frustration felt by Australian fans of Out of the Blue following constant schedule changes and generally ridiculous treatment...
When Ten secured the Australian rights to Out of the Blue last year, a spokesperson said: "We are thrilled... Out of the Blue has a great script, exciting casting and is a fresh and engaging series from the very first minute. The show is a perfect inclusion to Ten's strong stable of shows for 2008."
High praise indeed, but if they believed it was so great, why did they keep the show off air for months, debut it in an unreasonable late-night slot, then try to kill it off altogether by moving it to a once-a-week slot after the show performed inexplicably well at 10.30pm with no promotion?
The next episode on Ten will see Blade taking revenge against Bec. If this storyline, or indeed most of the show's plots, aired on Neighbours or Home and Away, they'd be praised for pushing the boundaries of serial drama with fresh and creative storytelling. Sadly, due to the treatment from Ten, many Aussie soap fans are missing out on these fantastic moments.
When Ten secured the Australian rights to Out of the Blue last year, a spokesperson said: "We are thrilled... Out of the Blue has a great script, exciting casting and is a fresh and engaging series from the very first minute. The show is a perfect inclusion to Ten's strong stable of shows for 2008."
High praise indeed, but if they believed it was so great, why did they keep the show off air for months, debut it in an unreasonable late-night slot, then try to kill it off altogether by moving it to a once-a-week slot after the show performed inexplicably well at 10.30pm with no promotion?
The next episode on Ten will see Blade taking revenge against Bec. If this storyline, or indeed most of the show's plots, aired on Neighbours or Home and Away, they'd be praised for pushing the boundaries of serial drama with fresh and creative storytelling. Sadly, due to the treatment from Ten, many Aussie soap fans are missing out on these fantastic moments.
Saturday 7 March 2009
Fiver scheduling and New Zealand updates
Heads up to any new fans of Out of the Blue in the UK who have discovered the show on Fiver. Yesterday was the final time that the show will air in its 9.25am slot. From next week, there'll be just two showings a day - with a repeat of the previous night's episode airing at 6.45am as usual, and the latest episode airing at 7.30pm. Viewers with Fiver+1 also have two extra opportunities to catch each episode at 7.45am and 8.30pm.
In other news, the show has recently completed its run on TV2 in New Zealand. The show started out in an early evening slot on the network, going up against Home and Away on another channel. In later weeks, it transferred to a 1.30pm slot and had double episodes. We've already seen a couple of comments online from fans in New Zealand who are wondering what will happen next. For example, TV Tonight reader Lottie says:
"I've just finished watching the whole series in New Zealand and loved it, but it has just ended without notice and a big cliffhanger. Are they going to make any more or is it all over? I think there is an audience for it here and everyone I know loved it... the majority being over 25. Please bring another series!!!"
It'll be interesting to see whether Aussie fans become as fanatical as their UK counterparts as the show continues to hot up over the next few weeks.
In other news, the show has recently completed its run on TV2 in New Zealand. The show started out in an early evening slot on the network, going up against Home and Away on another channel. In later weeks, it transferred to a 1.30pm slot and had double episodes. We've already seen a couple of comments online from fans in New Zealand who are wondering what will happen next. For example, TV Tonight reader Lottie says:
"I've just finished watching the whole series in New Zealand and loved it, but it has just ended without notice and a big cliffhanger. Are they going to make any more or is it all over? I think there is an audience for it here and everyone I know loved it... the majority being over 25. Please bring another series!!!"
It'll be interesting to see whether Aussie fans become as fanatical as their UK counterparts as the show continues to hot up over the next few weeks.
Friday 6 March 2009
Aussie Out of the Blue fans are fed up
There's been lots of views posted up from UK fans of Out of the Blue on this blog recently, but until now we haven't heard much about what Aussie viewers think about the way the show has been treated on Ten.
Don't forget that the show started out in a four-nights-a-week 10.30pm slot on Ten in November, which is quite a bizarre decision for a daytime/evening show. Despite the lack of promotion and no network backing whatsoever, the show rose steadily in the ratings across its run as the storylines hotted up - particularly as the Tess diamonds plot was reaching its conclusion.
Sadly, in January Ten made another strange decision - removing the show from its 10.30pm slot and sticking it in a once-a-week 6pm slot, then later 5.30pm, on Sunday nights, thus making it very difficult for it to keep up any kind of momentum or buzz because the storylines are now moving at a snail's pace. And that's even if you don't consider the total lack of promotion or backing given to the show.
Here's what Aussie fans have been saying about the nonsensical scheduling recently.
jillli, Ten Forums: "Out of the Blue reminds me of another Channel 10 show which was aired two nights a week many years ago and had a lot of followers, just as this show will if Ten give it the chance it deserves, anyone remember E Street? Please Channel 10 listen to what we want to watch."
andole, Ten Forums: "It will take forever to resolve the Philby mystery at this rate. I've given up on it. Ten will never bring it back in a reasonable way so I'm just going to read the episode summaries and leave it there."
spunkystack, Ten Forums: "This is BS! How are we expected to follow the show if it's on once a week for half an hour?"
devotedparent, Ten Forums: "I agree with how ridiculous it is of Channel 10 to reduce OOTB to a half hour show each week when they give up so much airtime to run reruns and crap from the US. Come on Channel 10, give us back our OOTB!"
kellymm, Ten Forums: "I was so disappointed when this changed timeslots (twice!) without warning, because I missed a couple of episodes thanks to this. Then I discovered I can watch them online! However, now when I click on "episode 42" etc, it says there is an empty playlist!! Why? I am desperate to know what happens as I missed 42 and 43!"
eilkel, Ten Forums: "I prefer to watch it online too. Sundays at 5.30pm is such a stupid time to have it on the television."
ID10T-AU, Ten Forums: "If they are going to edit the show for 6pm Sunday, why can't they edit it for 6pm Monday to Friday?"
stewie_13, Ten Forums: "One episode a week is not enough, it will take us years to get through it all! We are just over 1/4 of the way through the season."
asianzebra, Ten Forums: "I'm really ticked, I got hooked on that show, as much as some think it's pathetic. It was the show I'd watch to wind down at the end of the day. Half an hour a week isn't going to be adequate at all, hopefully ratings pick up so that it will be reconsidered for a different or longer timeslot."
juls81, Ten Forums: "I am a big fan, I don't think once a week is enough. I love the show and am going crazy not being able to watch it every night."
Sharon200, Ten Forums: "Channel 10, put Out of the Blue back on nightly. I don't care what time as I record it anyway. I love it, it is easy to watch. Bring it back nightly. Surely there is enough crapola on TV to bump something else."
Shannon, TV Tonight: "Can you please just make up your mind if Out of the Blue is going to be on one night then you need to run it for at least an hour. This half an hour business is stupid for one night a week. There are people out there that enjoy this show, let us watch it!!!"
ek9, TV Tonight: "I just watch it online from the Channel 10 website now, a lot easier than trying to keep up with all the ridiculous programming changes."
Lisa, TV Tonight: "Just watch it from the Ten website, no ads and wrapped up in less than 23 mins. I'm loving this show - actually I'm addicted, anyone else out there that feels the same way? Storyline is good - I'm loving to hate certain characters and it generally throws you every ep, so bring on more OOTB!"
bulls_eye, Media Spy: "I actually think Ten gave up on this show about 2 weeks in when they stopped showing the advert about what's coming up in the next episode just as the episode finishes. Either a very lazy or cheap marketing department over at Ten."
Tickford, Media Spy: "This show is so much better than Neighbours and H&A."
southernguy, Media Spy: "Poor show has never stood a chance!"
---
Like in the UK, it seems that the vast majority of those people who have tuned in on a regular basis have nothing but praise for the show. The problem is that there aren't more people willing to do so because of a total lack of faith and promotion from the network. There are probably many people out there who haven't even heard of Out of the Blue!
It's easy to forget that Neighbours debuted to low ratings when it launched in the '80s and is now the longest-running Australian drama, raking in a fortune from international sales. However, unless there's a miracle (ie a total change in attitude from Ten), it seems that Out of the Blue is going to be one fantastic show that passes many people by.
Don't forget that the show started out in a four-nights-a-week 10.30pm slot on Ten in November, which is quite a bizarre decision for a daytime/evening show. Despite the lack of promotion and no network backing whatsoever, the show rose steadily in the ratings across its run as the storylines hotted up - particularly as the Tess diamonds plot was reaching its conclusion.
Sadly, in January Ten made another strange decision - removing the show from its 10.30pm slot and sticking it in a once-a-week 6pm slot, then later 5.30pm, on Sunday nights, thus making it very difficult for it to keep up any kind of momentum or buzz because the storylines are now moving at a snail's pace. And that's even if you don't consider the total lack of promotion or backing given to the show.
Here's what Aussie fans have been saying about the nonsensical scheduling recently.
jillli, Ten Forums: "Out of the Blue reminds me of another Channel 10 show which was aired two nights a week many years ago and had a lot of followers, just as this show will if Ten give it the chance it deserves, anyone remember E Street? Please Channel 10 listen to what we want to watch."
andole, Ten Forums: "It will take forever to resolve the Philby mystery at this rate. I've given up on it. Ten will never bring it back in a reasonable way so I'm just going to read the episode summaries and leave it there."
spunkystack, Ten Forums: "This is BS! How are we expected to follow the show if it's on once a week for half an hour?"
devotedparent, Ten Forums: "I agree with how ridiculous it is of Channel 10 to reduce OOTB to a half hour show each week when they give up so much airtime to run reruns and crap from the US. Come on Channel 10, give us back our OOTB!"
kellymm, Ten Forums: "I was so disappointed when this changed timeslots (twice!) without warning, because I missed a couple of episodes thanks to this. Then I discovered I can watch them online! However, now when I click on "episode 42" etc, it says there is an empty playlist!! Why? I am desperate to know what happens as I missed 42 and 43!"
eilkel, Ten Forums: "I prefer to watch it online too. Sundays at 5.30pm is such a stupid time to have it on the television."
ID10T-AU, Ten Forums: "If they are going to edit the show for 6pm Sunday, why can't they edit it for 6pm Monday to Friday?"
stewie_13, Ten Forums: "One episode a week is not enough, it will take us years to get through it all! We are just over 1/4 of the way through the season."
asianzebra, Ten Forums: "I'm really ticked, I got hooked on that show, as much as some think it's pathetic. It was the show I'd watch to wind down at the end of the day. Half an hour a week isn't going to be adequate at all, hopefully ratings pick up so that it will be reconsidered for a different or longer timeslot."
juls81, Ten Forums: "I am a big fan, I don't think once a week is enough. I love the show and am going crazy not being able to watch it every night."
Sharon200, Ten Forums: "Channel 10, put Out of the Blue back on nightly. I don't care what time as I record it anyway. I love it, it is easy to watch. Bring it back nightly. Surely there is enough crapola on TV to bump something else."
Shannon, TV Tonight: "Can you please just make up your mind if Out of the Blue is going to be on one night then you need to run it for at least an hour. This half an hour business is stupid for one night a week. There are people out there that enjoy this show, let us watch it!!!"
ek9, TV Tonight: "I just watch it online from the Channel 10 website now, a lot easier than trying to keep up with all the ridiculous programming changes."
Lisa, TV Tonight: "Just watch it from the Ten website, no ads and wrapped up in less than 23 mins. I'm loving this show - actually I'm addicted, anyone else out there that feels the same way? Storyline is good - I'm loving to hate certain characters and it generally throws you every ep, so bring on more OOTB!"
bulls_eye, Media Spy: "I actually think Ten gave up on this show about 2 weeks in when they stopped showing the advert about what's coming up in the next episode just as the episode finishes. Either a very lazy or cheap marketing department over at Ten."
Tickford, Media Spy: "This show is so much better than Neighbours and H&A."
southernguy, Media Spy: "Poor show has never stood a chance!"
---
Like in the UK, it seems that the vast majority of those people who have tuned in on a regular basis have nothing but praise for the show. The problem is that there aren't more people willing to do so because of a total lack of faith and promotion from the network. There are probably many people out there who haven't even heard of Out of the Blue!
It's easy to forget that Neighbours debuted to low ratings when it launched in the '80s and is now the longest-running Australian drama, raking in a fortune from international sales. However, unless there's a miracle (ie a total change in attitude from Ten), it seems that Out of the Blue is going to be one fantastic show that passes many people by.
Monday 2 March 2009
A ratings-free week
Ratings fans will be disappointed to hear that no info has been released on how Out of the Blue performed on Ten last night. The show didn't make it into the Top 30 programmes for the day, though, and so since the show at #30 pulled in 332,000, we know it was below that! But that won't be any great surprise for anyone who's been following the ratings since the move to Sunday nights.
Barring any more last-minute timeslot changes, next Sunday's episode will see Blade's promise of revenge against Bec play out - surprisingly it's been deemed suitable for 5.30pm, unlike her first encounter with him!
Barring any more last-minute timeslot changes, next Sunday's episode will see Blade's promise of revenge against Bec play out - surprisingly it's been deemed suitable for 5.30pm, unlike her first encounter with him!
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