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Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

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Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Season 2
Promotional poster
Starring
No. of episodes8
Release
Original networkFX
Original releaseJanuary 31 (2024-01-31) –
March 13, 2024 (2024-03-13)
Season chronology
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Feud: Bette and Joan

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans is the second season of the American anthology television series Feud created by Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, and Michael Zam for FX. Directed by Gus Van Sant, Max Winkler, and Jennifer Lynch, it is written by Jon Robin Baitz. The eight-episode season is based on the book Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era written by Laurence Leamer.[1] Its first two episodes premiered on January 31, 2024, with episodes available on Hulu the day after broadcast on FX.[2]

Premise

[edit]

Acclaimed writer Truman Capote ruins his friendships with the Swans, a socialite group of New York City high society, by writing a thinly veiled fictionalized account of their scandalous and hedonistic lives in his (ultimately unfinished) novel, Answered Prayers. When Esquire publishes the chapter "La Côte Basque 1965", after the restaurant of the same name frequented by the Swans and Capote himself,[3][4] several vow to ruin his life in revenge.[5][6]

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

[edit]

Guest

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [7]Prod.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions) [8]
91"Pilot"Gus Van SantJon Robin BaitzJanuary 31, 2024 (2024-01-31)3WBB010.461

In 1968, Babe Paley tells Truman Capote that her husband Bill is having an affair. In 1955, Truman accompanies the Paleys and film producer David O. Selznick on a trip to Montego Bay, during which he charms them with witticisms and an outrageous story that Ann Woodward murdered her husband. After dinner, Babe tells Truman about her husband's affairs, which he tells her to use to her advantage.

In 1975, Truman meets banker John O'Shea in a bathhouse and takes him to lunch with Babe, Slim Keith, and C. Z. Guest at La Côte Basque. Ann confronts Truman, but he is unmoved. O'Shea suggests Truman use his friends' lives as inspiration for his next novel, Answered Prayers. Despite attempts by Jack Dunphy, Truman's erstwhile partner, an excerpt is published in Esquire, with many recognizing it as a thinly veiled attack. Babe tells Bill she has been diagnosed with cancer. While lunching with Babe, Slim reveals Ann committed suicide before the excerpt's publication and suggests exacting revenge on Truman.
102"Ice Water in Their Veins"Gus Van SantJon Robin BaitzJanuary 31, 2024 (2024-01-31)3WBB020.263
A few months following the scandalous article being published, Truman's downward spiral begins. Following Ann's suicide, the Swans decide to present a unified front as they set in motion a plan of revenge against Truman.
113"Masquerade 1966"Gus Van SantJon Robin BaitzFebruary 7, 2024 (2024-02-07)3WBB030.298
In a documentary of 1966, Capote has cameras filming as he sets up for a Masquerade. Despite various times asking to not have their private issues shown on camera, the camera crew continues filming. In the background, Capote claims to be inviting a special guest, causing the women to guess unsuccessfully the identity. At the party, Ann Woodward and her son party crash with her wanting him to stop his smear campaign. At the end of the evening, Capote hallucinates dancing with his deceased mother.
124"It's Impossible"Gus Van SantJon Robin BaitzFebruary 14, 2024 (2024-02-14)3WBB040.259
Babe continues her radiation therapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, but receives unfortunate news about its progress. As she faces a harsh reality, Babe forgives her husband of his indiscretions and hints at forgiving Truman to the dismay of Slim. Slim tries to slander Truman in the press while the rest of the Swans discourage her efforts. Truman completes his stint at rehab, but quickly relapses and returns to John O'Shea and his old habits.
135"The Secret Inner Lives of Swans"Max WinklerJon Robin BaitzFebruary 21, 2024 (2024-02-21)3WBB050.342
In 1975, Babe reads the Esquire article and argues with Bill about his lack of discretion in choosing his lovers. Despondent from a conversation with Bill Paley, Truman tries to commit suicide. He receives a phone call from James Baldwin, with whom he is acquainted, and James invites him to lunch at La Côte Basque. James offers Truman emotional support and encourages him to get sober. As they discuss behaviors of wild swans and compare them to the negative and hurtful behaviors of Truman's Swans, Truman recalls salacious details he did not include in the article. Truman awakens the next day (from his suicide attempt) in the same clothes he wore before the day with Baldwin, implying that the meeting has been a dream, and continues writing his book. That evening after telling Jack this is his best writing ever, he eats a roasted swan by candlelight.
146"Hats, Gloves and Effete Homosexuals"Gus Van SantJon Robin BaitzFebruary 28, 2024 (2024-02-28)3WBB060.281
Truman advises the professional styling of Kate Harrington, the daughter of John O'Shea who he has taken under his wing as a protégé, and pressures her to mimic the look of Babe for her upcoming photoshoot with Richard Avedon. Both Lee and Dick encourage Kate to not allow Truman to control her image. Kate loves and admires Truman, but grows disillusioned with his irresponsible lifestyle and resumed alcoholism. Meanwhile, both Truman and the Swans struggle with their advancing ages and fading relevance in the social scene as their favorite stores and fashions become outdated. Truman takes a boorish repairman as a brief lover, only to find the affair unfulfilling. Entrenched in the threat of a lawsuit from Gore Vidal, who he had defamed on television, Truman elects to undergo plastic surgery and later resumes writing, wistfully recalling happier times with the Swans.
157"Beautiful Babe"Jennifer LynchJon Robin BaitzMarch 6, 2024 (2024-03-06)3WBB070.297
An increasingly frail Babe learns that she has only six months to live and makes peace with her mortality. She dies in the summer, surrounded by her family, and has a dying vision of reuniting with Truman, whom she praises as being one of the greatest and most important relationships in her life. The Swans attend her funeral, from which Truman has been banned, and begin to go their separate ways. Truman, grieving Babe and regretting their failure to reconcile, slips further into alcoholism and drug abuse, culminating in a disastrous and incoherent appearance on Stanley Siegel's talk show. Jack cuts ties with him and leaves him with Joanne Carson, Truman's only remaining friend. Joanne tries to support Truman's writing efforts, but Truman instead continues to drink heavily as his health declines. He hallucinates Babe comforting him as he dies of organ failure, and Joanne informs Jack that Truman's final words were "Beautiful Babe".
168"Phantasm Forgiveness"Gus Van SantJon Robin BaitzMarch 13, 2024 (2024-03-13)3WBB080.307
In 1984, Truman visits Babe's grave and lies down on top of it, longing to be reunited. He later visits Jack's apartment while pursuing sobriety, and the two reconcile and part ways as Truman vows to finish Answered Prayers as an apology to his former friends. As he writes, he envisions himself reconciling with the Swans by selflessly granting their deepest wishes. Between chapters, he has a vision of his combative mother, which drives him back to drinking and using drugs. During one such episode, he recalls her suicide, and hallucinates Ann, who informs him that Answered Prayers will never restore his friendships, as he wrote it with the intent of destroying high society out of revenge for himself and his shunned mother. He destroys the completed manuscript in secret and departs for his final stay with Joanne. In 2016, Truman's ashes are sold at auction for $45,000 (with Kate Harrington in attendance) as the ghosts of the Swans critique the proceedings.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

FX renewed the Feud series for a second season in February 2017, with Ryan Murphy and Jon Robin Baitz attached as writers, with an initial focus on the relationship between Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales.[9]

By April 2022, the focus had shifted onto Truman Capote and his tempestuous relationship with New York high society with Gus Van Sant on board to direct and Naomi Watts attached to star.[10]

Baitz adapted the bestselling book Capote's Women by Laurence Leamer for the series. Executive producers on the series include Murphy, Alexis Martin Woodall, Baitz, Van Sant, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Watts, Eric Kovtun, and Scott Robertson.[11]

It was the last project of Treat Williams before his death in 2023.[12]

Casting

[edit]

In August 2022, Tom Hollander was cast as Truman Capote with the cast also including Diane Lane and Calista Flockhart.[13] In September 2022, Demi Moore joined the cast.[14]

Filming

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Filming began in New York in the autumn of 2022.[15]

Release

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The first two episodes of the season premiered on January 31, 2024, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.[16] Internationally, the series will be available on Disney+ through Star and on Star+ in Latin America.[17]

Reception

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Streaming viewership

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In February 2024, Ryan Murphy Productions announced Feud: Capote vs. The Swans was the number one television series on Hulu upon its release.[18][19] The streaming aggregator Reelgood, which monitors real-time data from 5 million users in the U.S. for original and acquired streaming programs and movies across subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) services, ranked the series as the eighth most streamed television show in the United States during the week of February 4, 2024,[20] the third most streamed the following week,[21] and the ninth most streamed by February 21, 2024.[22] According to JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 20 million users around the world, estimated that the series was the sixth most streamed series in the U.S. for the week of February 5–11, 2024.[23]

Critical response

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On Rotten Tomatoes, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans holds an approval rating of 77% based on 64 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "While this Feud might lack the abundance of incident that made its predecessor such a nasty delight, Capote vs. the Swans' luxe milieu and dynamite ensemble will keep spectators entertained."[24] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[25]

David Bianculli of NPR praised the season, concluding that Capote vs. the Swans merits attention for its quality. Bianculli described it as a strong drama with a compelling story and a powerhouse cast, noting that the actors deliver particularly powerful performances in this installment of Feud.[26] Alison Herman of Variety commended the show's portrayal of the "complex, enduring, often co-dependent bond between straight women and gay men." Herman described the series as a sincere and moving exploration of this dynamic, a rarity treated with empathy and depth. Herman noted that this unique focus helps make the show's flaws more forgivable, viewing them as part of its ambitious storytelling.[27] Benjamin Lee of The Guardian awarded Capote vs. the Swans four out of five stars and praised it for its thoughtful approach, crediting the shift away from Charles and Diana. Lee commended the performances of Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts, and Chloë Sevigny, as well as the show's exploration of the emotional toll on high society figures. While the expected cattiness is present, Lee found the series more focused on the poignant relationships between Capote and his female friends. Despite some minor flaws in pacing, Lee concluded that the second season surpasses the first by emphasizing melancholy over meanness.[28] Carol Midgley of The Sunday Times awarded Capote vs. the Swans four out of five stars and found it to be a visually stunning and sharply written series that, while too long at nearly eight hours, is elevated by Tom Hollander's mesmerizing portrayal of Truman Capote. Hollander's performance, marked by his convincing physical transformation and voice work, captures Capote's descent into alcoholism, drug abuse, and self-destruction. Midgley also praised Naomi Watts as Babe Paley, highlighting the cast's strong performances. Though the series explores rich people's self-obsession, Midgley found that Hollander's nuanced portrayal brings depth and pathos to Capote’s tragic decline.[29] Emma Fraser of IGN rated Capote vs. The Swans eight out of ten, praising the actors' performances, particularly that of Hollander. Fraser also complimented the show's costumes and production design, describing it as a "delicious cautionary tale of writing.[30]

Jackson McHenry of Vulture noted that Capote vs. the Swans offers plenty of surface-level details about Capote, highlighting his public persona, but struggles to delve into his creative inner life. McHenry observed that while the show delivers on the cattiness, glamour, and intriguing facts—such as Capote serving spaghetti and chicken hash with champagne—it falls short in providing deeper insight into why Capote's social circle was so groundbreaking or how 1960s society was evolving during that time.[31] Melanie McFarland of Salon observed that the female characters in Baitz's script lacked depth, noting that the writing focuses heavily on one layer of the women's interiority, primarily portraying their vindictiveness, prejudice, or selfishness, without suggesting deeper dimensions. She also critiqued comparisons made by FX and the show to The Real Housewives franchise, arguing that this comparison undermines the cast's efforts. McFarland pointed out that while Bravo's housewives may appear as shallow as Capote’s socialites, Andy Cohen excels at turning problematic personalities into captivating spectacles. In contrast, Baitz and the cast overwork the characters, making them appear rigid rather than allowing them the flexibility to be authentically wicked.[32]

Accolades

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2024 Dorian TV Awards Campiest TV Show Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Nominated [33][34]
Best TV Movie or Limited Series Nominated
Best TV Performance - Drama Tom Hollander Nominated
Location Managers Guild Awards Outstanding Locations in a TV Serial Program, Anthology, MOW, or Limited Series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Nominated [35][36]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Nominated [37][38]
Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Hairstyling Nominated
Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated
Outstanding Period Or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) Nominated
Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Won [39][40]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Gus Van Sant Nominated [41][42]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Tom Hollander Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Naomi Watts Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Treat Williams Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Diane Lane Nominated
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Original Score – TV Show/Limited Series Julia Newman Pending [43]
2025
 Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Limited Series Alexa L. Fogel, Kathryn Zamora-Benson Pending [44]

References

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  1. ^ Gallucci, Nicole (January 31, 2024). "When Does 'FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans' Premiere on FX and Hulu? How To Watch Episodes 1 And 2 | Decider". Decider. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  2. ^ Sherlock, Ben (January 31, 2024). "When Feud: Capote Vs. The Swan's Finale Releases & How Many Episodes There Are". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Taylor, Elise (February 1, 2024). "Inside La Côte Basque, the Ultimate See-and-Be-Seen Restaurant for New York City's Ladies Who Lunched". Vogue. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Nash, David (January 27, 2024). "'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' Is Basically a Walking Tour of a Forgotten New York". ELLE. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Petski, Denise (December 5, 2023). "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' Gets FX Premiere Date; Details of Second Installment of Ryan Murphy's Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Mangan, Lucy (April 17, 2024). "Feud: Capote vs the Swans review – the starriest TV show in living memory forgets to be fun". The Guardian. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Shows A-Z - Feud on FX". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
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  9. ^ Patten, Dominic (February 28, 2017). "'Feud' Gets Season 2 Order Ahead Of FX Series Premiere; Charles & Diana In Spotlight". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Anderson, Nellie (April 1, 2022). "Naomi Watts To Star In 'Capote's Women' Season 2 Of FX Series Written By Jon Robin Baitz & Directed By Gus Van Sant". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  11. ^ London, Rob (December 6, 2023). "'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' Sets January Premiere Date". Collider. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (January 3, 2024). "'Feud' trailer glimpses the late Treat Williams in his final role". CNN. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
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  14. ^ Otterson, Joe (September 16, 2022). "Demi Moore Joins 'Feud' Season 2 at FX (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Seth, Radhika (October 12, 2023). "See The Jaw-Dropping First Stills Of Naomi Watts, Chloë Sevigny And Demi Moore In Feud: Capote vs The Swans". Vogue. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Buff, Christina (January 31, 2024). "How to watch 'Feud: Capote vs. the Swans' with or without cable". Mashable. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Cobb, Kayla (December 5, 2023). "Capote vs. the Swans', Starring Tom Hollander and Naomi Watts, to Premiere in January". TheWrap. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  18. ^ Moore, Kasey (February 5, 2024). "Ryan Murphy Confirms 'The Watcher' Season 2 Won't Release on Netflix in 2024". What's on Netflix. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  19. ^ Potter, Jordan (February 6, 2024). "Ryan Murphy says 'The Watcher' won't renew on Netflix in 2024". Best of Netflix. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (February 9, 2024). "Reelgood: 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' Grabs Top Weekly Streaming Spot Through Feb. 7". Media Play News. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  21. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (February 16, 2024). "Reelgood: 'The Holdovers,' 'True Detective' Return Atop Weekly Streaming Charts Through Feb. 14". Media Play News. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  22. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (February 26, 2024). "Reelgood: Oscar-Nominated 'Oppenheimer' Most-Streamed Weekly Content Through Feb. 21". Media Play News. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  23. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (February 12, 2024). "JustWatch: Oscar-Nominated 'Past Lives,' 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' Topped Weekly Streaming Through Feb. 11". Media Play News. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  25. ^ "Feud: Season 2". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  26. ^ Bianculli, David (January 30, 2024). "'Feud: Capote vs. the Swans' review: A compelling story with a powerhouse cast". NPR. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  27. ^ Herman, Alison (January 31, 2024). "Naomi Watts and Chloë Sevigny Lead a Glamorous Flock in the Surprisingly Sad 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans': TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  28. ^ Lee, Benjamin (February 1, 2024). "Feud: Capote vs the Swans review – starry New York catfight stings with sadness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Midgley, Carol (April 17, 2024). "Feud: Capote vs the Swans review — Tom Hollander's portrayal is mesmeric". The Sunday Times. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  30. ^ Fraser, Emma (January 31, 2024). "Feud: Capote vs. the Swans Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  31. ^ McHenry, Jackson (February 1, 2024). "Feud Sees Capote in Black and White". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  32. ^ McFarland, Melanie (January 31, 2024). ""Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" makes us miss Ryan Murphy's facility for writing difficult women". Salon. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  33. ^ Cobb, Kayla (August 12, 2024). "'Hacks,' 'Interview With the Vampire' and 'Fellow Travelers' Win Big at 2024 Dorian TV Awards". TheWrap. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  34. ^ King, John Paul (July 6, 2024). "LGBTQ critics announce Dorian Award nominations for best of TV". Washington Blade. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  35. ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 1, 2024). "Location Managers Guild Awards Nominations Scout 'Baby Reindeer', 'Bridgerton', 'Dune: Part Two' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  36. ^ Pond, Steve (July 1, 2024). "'Ripley,' 'Baby Reindeer,' 'Fallout' Nominated for Location Managers Guild Awards". TheWrap. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  37. ^ Tangcay, Jazz; Giardina, Carolyn (September 8, 2024). "2024 Creative Arts Emmys Night 2: 'Shōgun' Dominates With 14 Wins". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  38. ^ Murphy, Eve Batey,Chris (September 8, 2024). "Creative Arts Emmys 2024: See the Winners Here". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 15, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Zhan, Jennifer; Gularte, Alejandra; Squires, Bethy (September 10, 2024). "All the Winners (and EGOTs) of the Creative Arts Emmys". Vulture. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  40. ^ Coleman, Ryan; Sederholm, Jillian (September 8, 2024). "See all the winners from 2024 Creative Arts Emmys: 'Shōgun,' 'The Bear,' 'SNL,' more". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  41. ^ Henderson, Eric (July 17, 2024). "Here are the full 2024 Emmy nominations, with "Shogun," "The Bear" leading the pack - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  42. ^ McNab, Kaitlyn (September 15, 2024). "Emmy Nominations 2024: Ayo Edebiri, Selena Gomez, and More". Teen Vogue. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  43. ^ Willman, Chris (November 6, 2024). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards Noms Led by 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Blitz,' With Elton John, Hans Zimmer and Scores More Among the Nominees". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  44. ^ Rice, Lynette (November 1, 2024). "Artios Awards Nominees Revealed: Netflix Leads With 17 Nominations, HBO/Max With 6". Deadline. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
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