Saturday Night Live Korea premieres tomorrow with host Kim Joo-hyuk
by javabeans
Cable channel tvN was one of the first cable channels to really step up its original drama programming to compete with the Big 3 broadcasters, and now it’s bringing the live sketch comedy format to Korea with Saturday Night Live Korea. Hosting the inaugural program tomorrow night (December 3) will be actor Kim Joo-hyuk (Fighting Spirit, Bang-ja Chronicles), featured in these promo stills, along with hip-hop artists Dynamic Duo as the musical guests.
It’s not a mere rip-off of the concept, but an actual extension of the SNL brand. I’m anticipating that it’ll be quite similar to the long-running American fixture, with its fixed cast, live broadcast, and format — celebrity host, opening monologue, sketches, and musical performers. Even the styling of the celebrity guest promos here closely resembles the stills in the American show.
Not gonna lie, I’m actually pretty excited about this. SNL has always been an uneven show, but it holds a special place in my heart. (For how many drunk/bored/insomniac college students does the show stir memories?) Granted, I haven’t seen the show in ages now, and even when I did it seemed like you always had to qualify the episode as, “Well, it used to be much better…” but there was usually one sketch that made it worth it. Like Canteen Boy, or Debbie Downer, or Alec Baldwin’s Scwheddy Balls, or Dick in a Box. And Weekend Update was always the highlight no matter the anchor, although Tina Fey will always be my favorite.
Granted, this show may be a monumental flop. Does the Korean sense of humor translate to the American-style sarcasm and satire? Will the monologues actually be witty? Will people break character and crack up, Jimmy Fallon style? Or will they be rock solid as in the days of Chevy Chase? Who knows? It’s a big question mark, and that makes me excited.
The SNLK crew boasts 16 members, some of them relative newbies and others being much more recognizable to frequent drama-watchers, like:
- Jang Young-nam, the fabulous actress with equal command of comedy and drama (Hello Ghost, Vampire Prosecutor, Man of Honor) who will always be, in my mind, Crazy Wife from Dal Ja’s Spring;
- Jung Woong-in, who was off-the-wall wacky as the persistent ex-fiance in Coffee House (also of Ojakkyo Brothers and Last Scandal of My Life;
- and Lee Han-wi, from dozens of dramas and movies, among them the neurotic _ in Beethoven Virus, neighborhood ajusshi in Coffee Prince, and the plastic surgeon of 200 Pound Beauty (also: Baker King Kim Tak-gu, Chuno, Athena).
The show’s director is movie director Jang Jin of films Good Morning President and Public Enemy Returns. SNL Korea will air on Saturday nights on tvN at 11pm.
In order of the photos below, the SNL crew comprises:
- Lee Han-wi,
- Kim Won-hae (Sunny),
- Jung Woong-in,
- Jang Young-nam,
- Lee Hae-young (Rude Miss Young-ae),
- Lee Chul-min (Mr. Idol, On Air),
- Lee Sang-hoon (Tree With Deep Roots, I Love You),
- and Park Joon-seo (Strongest Chil Woo, theater production of Return To Hamlet).
And below:
- Kim Ji-young (Good Morning President),
- Kim Ji-kyung (Sunny),
- MC/host Kim Bin-woo (Mom Is Pretty Too),
- gag comedienne and host Ahn Young-mi (Comedy Big League, Infinity Girls),
- Min Seo-hyun (On Air, Music Bank),
- Han Seo-jin (Dream High, Queen of Reversals),
- Go Kyung-pyo (Jungle Fish 2),
- and Kim Seul-gi (theater production of Return To Hamlet).
Musical guests Dynamic Duo:
And host Kim Joo-hyuk:
Via Sports Chosun
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Tags: cable programs, Jang Jin, Kim Joo-hyuk
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1 HeadsNo2
December 2, 2011 at 3:14 PM
Wow! I didn't know it was going to be a full-out brand extension. I'm definitely excited to see this!
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sally_b
December 2, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Same here...brand extension means some sort oversight(?) of the style. I wonder because so much of the history of SNL is formed from political parody/characterization.
Koreans, to my western eyes, do NOT allow (or enjoy?) political satire when it pertains to themselves. I'm not picking on them...that's true of many cultures... just saying - don't the major broadcasters already BAN any artist they find to have outspoken political views? (can't find the link at this moment, but I'm certain it's true)
Will they dare have a cast member portray Lee Myung-bak? (current SoKorean president) or will they do a sketch on slave contracts for idols? That is the stock&trade of the American SNL....I find it hard to believe this show will *go there*.
Anyway...I'll be looking forward to watching...let's see what they do with the opportunity to be edgy.
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annie
December 2, 2011 at 4:40 PM
I guess that's why it's on a cable network and not one of the Big Three. I wonder what kind of restrictions, if any, cable channels have.
Definitely will be interesting to see what they do with this.
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Jo
December 2, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Korea has a comedy show called "Gag concert" and hey frequently make fun of politicians, etc.
It's not thaaaat uptight as you would think.
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sugarpunch
December 2, 2011 at 9:17 PM
I was gonna put this in as an example too ;P haha. gag concert is my new love.
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2 qldgal
December 2, 2011 at 3:23 PM
can't wait to get a chance to watch!
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3 Simpli
December 2, 2011 at 3:25 PM
This sounds like it's gonna be awesome! It's just that I find the pictures with Kim Joo Hyuk and him in the white tank top a little random concerning the show.
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Simpli
December 2, 2011 at 3:26 PM
correction: very random.
However, I do like the pictures with the crazy socks.
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Jaeminuf
December 2, 2011 at 5:59 PM
I wonder if the stylist knew that she's evoking Pee Wee Herman with that particular outfit. Totally Pee Wee - the hair, the suit, the sox!
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snow
December 2, 2011 at 7:55 PM
the last poster is win, haha. crazy socks look good on kim joo hyuk.
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4 belleza
December 2, 2011 at 3:26 PM
It would be so awesome if they did a skit where everybody cried to That Man. :D
Wow, I wonder what their Weekend Update would be like.
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5 Revy
December 2, 2011 at 3:27 PM
I am actually excited for this
(For how many drunk/bored/insomniac college students does the show stir memories?)
^
^
^
Put hands up
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Jaeminuf
December 2, 2011 at 6:08 PM
Put your hands up, put your hands up...
Giving away my age a bit, but...
COFFEE TALK!!!
Dieter of Sprockets
Hans and Frans
Sweeney Sisters
Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood
and...
Pat. My introduction to gender ambiguity (vs. androgyny, which I like).
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noozie
December 2, 2011 at 7:59 PM
I am a drunk/bored/insomniac college student. (Well. More like a stressed/semi-hysterical/insomniac college student. What can I say, finals are upon us.)
*both hands up in the air like I just don't care*
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6 leonardswench
December 2, 2011 at 3:39 PM
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Sorry, Jomo, didn't mean to hurt your ears!
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jomo143
December 2, 2011 at 3:59 PM
You must be sshhoooooooo happy!
I have read that CoPrague has been really funny on variety shows.
The CAST is amazing!
SNL never had that much experience with their actors.
They must all have lots of nerve to do a live show.
Are they are other live shows airing?
Too bad my K would never get the equivalent of a Sweddy Balls joke.
HA!
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leonardswench
December 2, 2011 at 4:30 PM
I AM!!! Lookie lookie lookie it's my Joo-hyukie! (Sorry, totaling fangirling).
The only drawback, I may not pick up all the subtle jokes, but the good news, at least I know enough Korean not to wait on subtitles!!!!
SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
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7 Ace
December 2, 2011 at 3:40 PM
The question is: are you gonna recap the first show? ;)
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Ani
December 2, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Do I hear another round of Variety Roulette moment coming up with the picking supposedly being random? Luck of the draw. Luck. Of. The. Draw. ^_~
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8 Kiki
December 2, 2011 at 3:43 PM
Live from Seoul! It's Saturday Night!
That seems so odd writing that!
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9 doublen
December 2, 2011 at 3:49 PM
I am definitively watching it:
1) always wanted to watch Korean TV Show, but don't like watching out of nowhere (running man 121? 1 night 2 days 300?). So it is a good opportunity to start a tradition
2) Cast is amazing!!! My favorite supporting cast ~ it's time for them to shine
3) never seen hosting dude in movies or dramas, but he is HOT!!! and finally I am not a noona-pervert ;)
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jomo143
December 2, 2011 at 4:00 PM
3) what kind of pervert are you, then?
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dancinfff
December 2, 2011 at 4:44 PM
You can start running man from the very beginning. Lol, RM only has 70 episodes so far (: so you wouldn't be able to start from ep 121 anyway. That's why i like it more than i like 1N2D (never watched it cuz i couldn't start from the beginning).
Here's the link, you need to get on the bandwagon (: http://www.kshownow.net/2008/05/running-man-complete-episodes-all-with.html
Once you get passed ep 50 just start searching the remaining episodes. they easily come up on google (:
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10 doublen
December 2, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Out of blue, but javabeans would you be able to post timetable of cable shows together with regular ones? The list that you have on the right side...
Thank you!!!
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11 bluemoon
December 2, 2011 at 4:09 PM
OH MY GOD! So Awesome! I LOVE Kim Joo-hyuk!
Hopefully somebody will English subbed this because I would understand it. SO Exciting, can't wait! I SNL and I hope the Korea version will just be as funny as the America.
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12 Noelle
December 2, 2011 at 4:41 PM
HOLY CRAP! SNL Korea? I love it!!! I wonder what kind of comedy they're gonna do? Is it gonna be messed up like Canteen Boy and dirty like Colonel Langus? I mean there are a crap load of possibilities. Not all korean jokes translate well in english. Well for me anyways. It's always like an Oh! moment. I hope someone is planning to translate this. I would love to see the first episode.
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Noelle
December 2, 2011 at 4:43 PM
I just thought of something! THE KISSING FAMILY. I know it would be improbable but I can dream, right?
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dancinfff
December 2, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Lolol! That would be too much for them! Dramas already portray kissing and hugging as if it's super naughty (in which i respect them for because it makes you embarrass as well and you get back some of your innocence), imagine how people will react to that in Korea!!!!
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Noelle
December 2, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Makes you think right>< Like who would you like to see kissing. MUWAHAHAHAHA
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13 Rena
December 2, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Can't wait! Will be possible to watch it live online?
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14 ninsarama
December 2, 2011 at 5:42 PM
super excited! love snl!i really hope it becomes a big deal!
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15 Cynthia
December 2, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Excuse me as I push Debbie Downer off her soapbox and step onto her spot....
Seriously, Korean and American humor is MILES apart, so having a SNL branch airing in Korea (cable or no) just has me shaking my head in befuddlement.
SNL hasn't changed its format - it's satire, mostly political, and situational, topical humor requiring knife-sharp, fearless writing.
Korea (to me) is a polite, politically and culturally repressed society, cognizant of personal interactions to an uber degree. "Dick-in-a-Box", "Colonel Lingus", "Schweaty Balls" any of the myriad skits that require blatant sexual innuendo or activity, or even the "Evening News" segments, require a huge understanding of humor. I can't for the life of me think how Korean writers will be able to come up with a similar format. They'll be too busy trying not to offend particular groups who might react negatively to a particular sketch's content.
Watching SNL requires a snarky, almost mean, sense of humor. Koreas are too nice, overall. The older teen demographic may get it, but I'll bet it flies right over their heads, too.
I'll step down, now - Debbie Downer needs her spot back.... :)
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Jaeminuf
December 2, 2011 at 6:11 PM
No way. You just wait. The snarkiness that can runs beneath that civility is just brutal. I can't wait!
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sally_b
December 2, 2011 at 6:43 PM
@anais - I hope you're right (truly I do) because satire, innuendo and double-entendre --as SNL has always done it -- is in-your-face.
There is no subltety or *slight* releasing of social convention...it's blatant...and in my opinion that's WHAT makes it funny. ''In Living Color", another American comdey show did the same thing with mostly racial themes.
Politics, Race & Sex satire = SNL
I am shaking my head trying to imagine how that's going to be done for a Korean audience. Please enlighten me. :)
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Jaeminuf
December 2, 2011 at 7:52 PM
The only thing I wonder about is whether the humor would translate from Korean to non-Korean speakers. Even I won't get a lot of the jokes, simply because my grasp of Korean and current Korean (pop) culture isn't strong enough.
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Ani
December 2, 2011 at 8:21 PM
I was wondering if someone was going to bring up In Living Color - which due to late night studies in college I got to watch on syndication via BET. XD
But yes. I find it hard to believe that Korea is willing to take satire to such an extreme level the way SNL does. Does anyone else remember the Rain/Colbert Incident?
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Cynthia
December 2, 2011 at 10:33 PM
I LOVED the Rain/Colbert dust-up! I just rewatched it a few weeks ago. Makes me laugh every time. The dance was totally EPIC TV viewing!! Colbert is such an idiot - he's laugh-out-loud funny. :)
Ani
December 2, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Hahaha. DDR really is the way to bring people together. I may not like Rain, but I can appreciate how he took everything in stride. And Colbert is just way funny. XD
P.S. Here's the link to the finale of this interesting event and makes sense out of what we're talking about.
http://www.dramabeans.com/2008/05/rain-and-colbert-the-dancedance-revolution-off/
Jaeminuf
December 3, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Ha! In Living Color.
16 1061-kun
December 2, 2011 at 6:15 PM
I watched the first episode of the Saturday Night Live Japan which came out this summer. It was just ok but it was interesting to see the Japanese take on SNL.
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Noelle
December 2, 2011 at 7:37 PM
What!? Now I have to check this out. Where else is SNL?
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17 Alvina
December 2, 2011 at 6:17 PM
I understand the appeal of sketch comedy but I feel like this will simply be a darker version of Gag Concert or something.
It'll translate well.
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18 M.J.
December 2, 2011 at 6:32 PM
I wonder if the KCC - Korean Communications Comission have their watch dog eyes set to pounce on tvN and Saturday Night Live Korea on Saturday, 03-DEC-2011 for parodying the nation’s political, cultural, and economic news a large focus of its agenda...that they do not find as funny. What type of punishment will KCC impose?
According to an article @ http://www.hancinema.net/-live-from-seoul-it-s-saturday-night--35701.html a small paragraph talks about the host of the Saturday Night Live Korea:
The hosts
The low recognition of SNL in Korea and the daunting role of the main guest host led many to decline the offer. Actor Kim Joo-hyeok, who has a calm and serious mask, will host the first episode. At the press conference Jang thanked Kim for taking on the challenge to make SNL Korea shine.
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19 Arhazivory
December 2, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Curiousity killed the poor cat and its about to kill me too. I really hope someone will sub this and I hope I can actually get the jokes if it goes the satirical route. But hmmm....I don't even know anything about Koreans who are non-entertainers. -_-' Ok, maybe I won't get the jokes at all. *sniffles*
I'll still watch if its subbed. XD
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20 alice20
December 2, 2011 at 6:39 PM
This is definitely piquing my interest.
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21 Steamy Bun
December 2, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Woah, that's actually pretty cool! Lee Han Wui seems like he was made for a show like this - I've always thought so since the Coffee Prince days.
I have one issue with this though. The ladies... are mostly young... and CUTE. I just can't associate pretty young girls with comedy. I feel like they might not really get "out there" and will kind of just be pretty props for the funnymen. I hope they prove me wrong.
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canxi
December 2, 2011 at 11:09 PM
Really?? But so many women here in the states (sorry, I don't know where you're located) are pretty and funny and some are young too! :D It can happen,lol
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22 DC
December 2, 2011 at 8:44 PM
OMG! I love Go Kyung-pyo! He was a hottie in Jungle Fish and a cutie in KBS' weekend I Believe in Love. Can't wait to see it!
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23 crazedlu
December 2, 2011 at 8:55 PM
oOooohh. let's see how this fends.
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24 mey
December 2, 2011 at 9:33 PM
kjh's photos already have me laughing. i hope someone subs this. can i be totally greedy and request for a recap, too? y/y? haha
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25 canxi
December 2, 2011 at 11:07 PM
Oh seriously?? i wonder if they'll have any rap parodies a la Andy Samberg & the Lonely Island Crew...that would actually make my life...
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26 rilanna
December 2, 2011 at 11:11 PM
I always love Weekend Update. Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon were a dynamic duo (not taking from the group that will be appearing in the 1st episode of SNL: Korea); they had CHEMISTRY and great timing and could easily find the humor in things (I digress).
I just worry if Korean's sense of humor can handle the satire and poking of fun at MANY things.
Like how current SNL skits involve reenacting the Republican Presidential candidates' mistakes in the past weeks, I know a lot can be made fun of the fighting between Korean politicians; like the dog/pitbull-like fist fights broadcasted live. (Youtube it, if you want)
Can the Korean public handle jabs at their favorite idols/groups/celebrities?
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27 songielove
December 3, 2011 at 12:33 AM
I wonder why this didn't come earlier. This is going to be so much fun! Hope it delivers. Can't wait to see its first episode.^^
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28 LadyRi
December 3, 2011 at 1:18 AM
I'm a little annoyed by the comments that imply that the original SNL is a comedy show about political satire only. This is not the case and the political satire only began to dominate the show when the writing for good ORIGINAL sketches became inconsistent. Korea will have no problem with their own version of SNL and I'm expecting it to be hilarious. To those bringing their prejudices/stereotypes about Koreans on here, please do a little research before posting such ignorant comments.
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29 Viki
December 3, 2011 at 4:04 AM
Wow, is this Korea's first time to do SNL? Wonder how that's gonna be...'cuz SNL usually depend on how good the writer is...like Tiny Fey...hehe
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30 olsen
December 3, 2011 at 6:13 AM
Can't wait
But jokes almost always get a little bit lost in translation
Sucks for me
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31 hamsandwich
December 3, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Now I'm curious! I hope us 'english only' folks will get to see it sometime soon, I think it has a lot of potential.
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32 aX
December 3, 2011 at 8:02 PM
No Jung Juri? Ah gee... =/
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33 sally_b
December 4, 2011 at 12:33 AM
Well...they're not exactly the height of journalistic integrity..but AllKpop had a positive review of the new SNL:
http://www.allkpop.com/2011/12/editorial-tv-review-saturday-night-live-korea-airs-its-first-episode
this bodes well. :)
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34 Carinne
December 4, 2011 at 9:14 AM
9 males:8 females, hmm, close enough. I believe it will be a success. Now, how about the musicians/pop idols singing "live" on stage? Will there be another Ashley Simpson incident? I know Kim Sun-ah has got to be on the list of guest starts. She's amazing on comedic timing.
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35 JJ
December 5, 2011 at 2:41 PM
i believe this would just be available to watch if you have a cable in america right? arghhhh unless someone uploads this on youtube! sounds interesting!
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36 RMT
December 6, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Where are the subtitles!!??!?! I want to watch this!!??!!!! So many puch lines I'm missing out on!!!!?!
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