Edgar J. Scherick

Executive / Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Edgar J. Scherick (1924-2002) speaks of his early years and education, getting drafted into the Air Corps as a meteorologist during World War II, and getting a job at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample advertising in New York. He talks about founding Sports Programs, Inc., a sports packaging organization which created ABC's Wide World of Sports. Scherick recalls how the company merged with ABC in 1961 and describes becoming ABC's vice president in charge of television network sales and later, vice president of programming. He talks about how, during his tenure, he spearheaded the airing of Batman, Peyton Place, Bewitched, and The FBI. He recalls later leaving ABC to form his own production company, Palomar Pictures, which produced films for theatrical release, including Take the Money and Run, The Heartbreak Kid, The Stepford Wives, and Rambling Rose, as well as films and miniseries made for television, including Raid on Entebbe, Little Gloria ... Happy At Last, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Evergreen, the ABC Weekend Special TV movie "Tales of the Nunundaga," On Wings of Eagles, and The Kennedys of Massachusetts. He concludes with remarks on the rise of cable television, mentors, and how he'd like to be remembered. Marvin Wolf conducted the interview on July 28, 2000 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I always tell everybody I'm a storyteller, that's what I do for a living. I tell stories. I spin tales."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Edgar Scherick on why ABC's Wide World of Sports was groundbreaking and on some of the technology that helped make the show possible
01:13
Edgar Scherick on the development of Batman
01:09
Edgar Scherick on being the only ABC executive in the office when President John F. Kennedy was shot; on the special ABC programming done at the time
03:05
Edgar Scherick on developing The F.B.I.
00:44
Edgar Scherick on the development of Peyton Place
01:44
Edgar Scherick on producing (and being a writer on) the TV movie Raid on Entebbe (1976)
00:56
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years and education; on getting drafted into the Air Corps as a meteorologist during World War II; on getting a job at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample advertising in New York
On working for CBS as Sports Specialist of the television network and CBS' entry into televising football games; on football being a bigger production for television than baseball; on creating his own company to conceive and negotiate the rights to and sell sports programming for a network; on how he got clients; on how he got the television rights to NCAA games

Chapter 2

On producing sports programming for ABC; on the creation of ABC's Wide World of Sports; on broadcasting the NCAA football games
On broadcasting Fight of the Week on closed-circuit television; on the importance of sports to a network
On sportscasters he recruited and worked with including Jim McKay, Paul Christman, and others; on his experience with the Blacklist; on his company merging with ABC
On becoming head of network sales at ABC; on the ABC sports department; on transitioning to become ABC's head of programming
On developing Ben Casey; on being the only ABC executive in the office when President John F. Kennedy was shot; on his programming philosophy; on the development and promotion of Batman

Chapter 3

On the development of The FBI, The Hollywood Palace, Bewitched, and Peyton Place; on why he left ABC and formed Palomar Productions
On feature films he produced, including Take the Money and Run, The Heartbreak Kid, The Stepford Wives, Rambling Rose, and others
On producing TV series and miniseries, including Raid on Entebbe, Little Gloria ... Happy At Last, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Evergreen, the ABC Weekend Special TV movie "Tales of the Nunundaga," On Wings of Eagles, and The Kennedys of Massachusetts; on then current productions; on advice to someone starting out in the business; on how American TV audiences have changed over the years

Chapter 4

On the impact of cable; on mentors throughout his career and on being a mentor; on how he'd like to be remembered
On B-roll photos from his life and career: a photo during the filming of Raid on Entebbe; a photo of him with Michael Caine during the filming of the movie Sleuth, and a photo of him with Walter Mathau during the filming of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Shows

ABC's Wide World of Sports

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Edgar Scherick on the creation of ABC's Wide World of Sports and the rights negotiations for the show
03:45

Academy Awards, The

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Edgar Scherick on working with ABC founder Leonard Goldenson and Goldenson taking him to the Academy Awards
00:55

Batman

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Edgar Scherick on the development and promotion of Batman
03:24

Ben Casey

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Ben Casey (it was developed and owned by Bing Crosby's company)
01:28

Bewitched

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Edgar Scherick briefly on the development of Bewitched
00:48

FBI, The

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Edgar Scherick on developing The F.B.I.
00:44

Fight of the Week

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Edgar Scherick on producing ABC's Fight of the Week
01:13

Hollywood Palace, The

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Edgar Scherick on developing The Hollywood Palace
01:20

Kennedys of Massachusetts, The

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Edgar Scherick on producing the TV miniseries The Kennedys of Massachusetts
01:35

Little Gloria ... Happy At Last

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Edgar Scherick on producing the TV movie Little Gloria ... Happy At Last
00:09

Medic

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Edgar Scherick on Medic and Ben Casey starting a trend for medical shows on television
00:41

On Wings of Eagles

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Edgar Scherick on producing the TV miniseries On Wings of Eagles
01:20

Peyton Place

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Peyton Place
01:44

Raid on Entebbe

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Edgar Scherick on producing (and being a writer on) the TV movie Raid on Entebbe (1976)
00:56
Edgar Scherick on the response to the TV movie Raid on Entebbe (1976)
01:21
Edgar Scherick on a photo during the filming of Raid on Entebbe
00:09

Uncle Tom's Cabin

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Edgar Scherick on producing the TV movie Uncle Tom's Cabin
01:22
Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

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Edgar Scherick on remembering seeing television at the 1939-40 World's Fair
00:26

Advertising and Sponsorship

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Edgar Scherick on getting a job at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample's advertising in New York; on Dancer Fitzgerald Sample's major clients at the time and on the power advertising agencies had over television content in the 1950s
02:05

Advice

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Edgar Scherick on advice to someone starting out in the business
00:19

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Edgar Scherick on mentors throughout his career
00:45
Edgar Scherick on being a mentor to others (Roone Arledge, Brian Grazier, Scott Rudin, Barry Gordon, Michael Barnathan)
00:38

Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Edgar Scherick on remembering seeing television at the 1939-40 World's Fair
00:26

Historic Events and Social Change

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Edgar Scherick on getting drafted into the Air Corps as a meteorologist during World War II
01:00
Edgar Scherick on remembering seeing television at the 1939-40 World's Fair
00:26
Edgar Scherick on being the only ABC executive in the office when President John F. Kennedy was shot; on the special ABC programming done at the time
03:05
Edgar Scherick on producing the ABC Weekend Special TV movie "Tales of the Nunundaga"
00:55

Hollywood Blacklist

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Edgar Scherick on his experiences with the Blacklist
00:44

Industry Crossroads

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Edgar Scherick on his experiences with the Blacklist
00:44

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Edgar Scherick on being the only ABC executive in the office when President John F. Kennedy was shot; on the special ABC programming done at the time
03:05

John F. Kennedy

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Edgar Scherick on being the only ABC executive in the office when President John F. Kennedy was shot; on the special ABC programming done at the time
03:05

Pivotal Career Moments

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Edgar Scherick on mentors throughout his career
00:45
Edgar Scherick on being a mentor to others (Roone Arledge, Brian Grazier, Scott Rudin, Barry Gordon, Michael Barnathan)
00:38

Representation on Television

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Edgar Scherick on producing the ABC Weekend Special TV movie "Tales of the Nunundaga"
00:55

Technological Innovation

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Edgar Scherick on why ABC's Wide World of Sports was groundbreaking and on some of the technology that helped make the show possible
01:13
Edgar Scherick on the impact of cable on television
00:33

Television Industry

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Edgar Scherick on getting a job at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample's advertising in New York; on Dancer Fitzgerald Sample's major clients at the time and on the power advertising agencies had over television content in the 1950s
02:05
Edgar Scherick on his experiences with the Blacklist
00:44
Edgar Scherick on advice to someone starting out in the business
00:19
Edgar Scherick on the impact of cable on television
00:33
Edgar Scherick on the key to successful network programming
00:29
Edgar Scherick on whether he thinks networks will survive after the rise of cable
00:22

Television and the Presidency

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Edgar Scherick on remembering seeing television at the 1939-40 World's Fair
00:26
Edgar Scherick on being the only ABC executive in the office when President John F. Kennedy was shot; on the special ABC programming done at the time
03:05

Underrepresented Voices

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Edgar Scherick on producing the ABC Weekend Special TV movie "Tales of the Nunundaga"
00:55

War

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Edgar Scherick on getting drafted into the Air Corps as a meteorologist during World War II
01:00

World War II

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Edgar Scherick on getting drafted into the Air Corps as a meteorologist during World War II
01:00
Professions

Executives

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Edgar Scherick on becoming head of network sales at ABC and then moving into head of programming
02:17
Edgar Scherick on his programming philosophy as head of ABC programming
00:32
Edgar Scherick on his most important contributions to ABC when he was a network executive
01:07
Edgar Scherick on advice to someone starting out in the business
00:19

Television Executive

View Profession
Edgar Scherick on becoming head of network sales at ABC and then moving into head of programming
02:17
Edgar Scherick on his programming philosophy as head of ABC programming
00:32
Edgar Scherick on his most important contributions to ABC when he was a network executive
01:07
Edgar Scherick on advice to someone starting out in the business
00:19
Genres

Comedy Series

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Edgar Scherick on the development and promotion of Batman
03:24
Edgar Scherick briefly on the development of Bewitched
00:48

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Peyton Place
01:44

Drama Series

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Edgar Scherick on developing The F.B.I.
00:44

Medical Dramas

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Ben Casey (it was developed and owned by Bing Crosby's company)
01:28

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Edgar Scherick on developing The Hollywood Palace
01:20

Sports

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Edgar Scherick on putting together Baseball Game of the Week and packaging other sports shows while at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample
00:53
Edgar Scherick on his role as Director of Sports and Special Events at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample and making a deal with ABC President Bob Kintner
01:30
Edgar Scherick on working for CBS as Sports Specialist of the television network and CBS' entry into televising football games; on football being a bigger production for television than baseball
01:34
Edgar Scherick on how he got the television rights to NCAA games
02:29
Edgar Scherick on the creation of ABC's Wide World of Sports
04:00
Edgar Scherick on ratings for early televised sports
00:58

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Edgar Scherick on producing (and being a writer on) the TV movie Raid on Entebbe (1976)
00:56
Edgar Scherick on producing the TV movie Uncle Tom's Cabin
01:22
Edgar Scherick on producing the TV miniseries On Wings of Eagles
01:20
Edgar Scherick on producing the TV miniseries The Kennedys of Massachusetts
01:35
Edgar Scherick on the response to the TV movie Raid on Entebbe (1976)
01:21
People

Avery Brooks

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Edgar Scherick on producing the TV movie Uncle Tom's Cabin
01:22

Ben Gazzara

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film When Michael Calls, with Ben Gazarra and Michael Douglas
00:13

Ben Kalmenson

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Edgar Scherick on developing The F.B.I.
00:44

Bill Dozier

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Batman
01:09

Bing Crosby

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Ben Casey (it was developed and owned by Bing Crosby's company)
00:46

Charles Bronson

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Edgar Scherick on the response to the TV movie Raid on Entebbe (1976)
01:21

Charles Grodin

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film The Heartbreak Kid
00:32

Charlton Heston

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Edgar Scherick on ABC's tribute to President Kennedy
00:47

Chet Simmons

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Edgar Scherick on working with Chet Simmons
00:33

Chris Schenkel

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Edgar Scherick on working with Chris Schenkel
00:13

Curt Gowdy

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Edgar Scherick on getting Curt Gowdy and Paul Christman involved with NCAA football for ABC
01:06

Cybill Shepherd

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film The Heartbreak Kid
00:32

Don Ohlmeyer

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Edgar Scherick on working with Don Ohlmeyer
00:05

Douglas S. Cramer

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Edgar Scherick on his team at ABC when he was head of programming
00:24

Eddie Albert

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film The Heartbreak Kid
00:32

Elaine May

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film The Heartbreak Kid
00:32

Elizabeth Montgomery

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Bewitched
00:48

Fred Silverman

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Edgar Scherick on producing the ABC Weekend Special TV movie "Tales of the Nunundaga"
00:55

Harry Ackerman

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Bewitched
00:48

Harve Bennett

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Edgar Scherick on his team at ABC when he was head of programming
00:17

Irving B. Kahn

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Edgar Scherick on producing ABC's Fight of the Week -- teleprompter creator Irving B. Kahn negotiated boxing rights and Scherick produced the matches
01:13

Jack L. Warner

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Edgar Scherick on developing The F.B.I.
00:44

James T. Aubrey

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Edgar Scherick on how started producing sports programming for ABC -- James Aubrey reached out to him
00:46
Edgar Scherick on the development of Bewitched
00:48

Jerry Lewis

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Edgar Scherick on developing The Hollywood Palace
01:20

Jim McKay

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Edgar Scherick on working with Jim McKay
00:33

Jim Spence

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Edgar Scherick on working with Jim Spence
00:32

John F. Kennedy

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Edgar Scherick on being the only ABC executive in the office when President John F. Kennedy was shot; on the special ABC programming done at the time
03:05
Edgar Scherick on producing the TV miniseries The Kennedys of Massachusetts
01:35

John Mitchell

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Bewitched
00:48

Julie Barnathan

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Edgar Scherick on working with Julie Barnathan
00:38

Laura Dern

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film Rambling Rose, which introduced Laura Dern
00:43

Leonard Goldberg

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Edgar Scherick on his team at ABC when he was head of programming
01:01

Leonard H. Goldenson

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Edgar Scherick on working with ABC founder Leonard Goldenson and Goldenson taking him to the Academy Awards
00:55
Edgar Scherick on telling Leonard Goldenson that he wanted to be involved with (non-sports) programming at ABC
01:37

Michael Caine

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Edgar Scherick on a photo of him with Michael Caine during the filming of the movie Sleuth
00:09

Neil Simon

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film The Heartbreak Kid
00:32

Paul Christman

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Edgar Scherick on getting Curt Gowdy and Paul Christman involved with NCAA football for ABC
00:53

Quinn Martin

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Edgar Scherick on developing The F.B.I.
00:44

Robert E. Kintner

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Edgar Scherick on his role as Director of Sports and Special Events at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample and making a deal with ABC President Bob Kintner
01:30

Robert Saudek

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Edgar Scherick on ABC's tribute to President Kennedy
00:47

Roone Arledge

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Edgar Scherick on hiring Roone Arledge to work for his company
01:27
Edgar Scherick on making Roone Arledge the producer of NCAA football
01:20

Ross Perot

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Edgar Scherick on producing the TV miniseries On Wings of Eagles
01:20

Sidney Poitier

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film For Love of Ivy
00:41

Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

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Edgar Scherick on Pat Weaver's name for another show influencing the name ABC's Wide World of Sports
00:25

Vince Edwards

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Ben Casey
00:46

Walter Matthau

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
00:40
Edgar Scherick on a photo of him with Walter Mathau during the filming of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
00:13

William Self

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Batman
01:09

Woody Allen

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Edgar Scherick on developing the film Take the Money and Run
01:26

Yale Udoff

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Edgar Scherick on the development of Batman
01:09

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