The '80s Ruled

Featuring the best 80s music videos, TV shows, 80s celebrities and more!

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Archives for 2021

Van Halen – ‘Fools’ Live at the Piper Club in Rome, Italy in 1980

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In 1980, Van Halen played live at The Piper Club in Rome, Italy on May 21, 1980. This video of Fools was recorded and aired live on the sixth episode of the TV show Superstar, which aired on September 4, 1980. They also played You Really Got Me as well. It’s pretty apparent that Dave is lip-synching, which was done quite often back then for live performances on TV. No matter though, because that gave Dave more time for all of us trademark theatrics!

Here’s an interesting tidbit about this show:

“In a subsequent video Dave jumps and hits his nose on a low-hanging mirror ball over the stage. A three foot ball of light was lowered over the stage on the darkened television studio. DLR, unaware of this, made one of his famous leaps, crashing into the light fixture resulting in his nose being broken in two places multiple contusion and a possible concussion. This had them cancel the next two shows until five days later on 5/26 at Pinkpop where Dave’s nose is taped up.”

via Van Halen Italia 2

Enjoy this look back at a rare live performance of Fools from Van Halen in Italy back in 1980 as well as another rare look at Van Halen live at Pinkpop when Dave’s nose was bandaged up!

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The Best of ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ Starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine from 1988

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1988’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starred Steve Martin and Michael Caine as two con artists who wind up in the same town and devise a winner-takes-all competition: whoever swindles their latest mark first gets to stay, while the other has to leave the town.

In this video, YouTube user TV SNEAK PEEK put together all the best scenes from the movie, and it’s hilarious! Enjoy this look back at the best of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from 1988!

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Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin in The Cannonball Run from 1981

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The Cannonball Run was and still is one of the funniest movies of not only the ’80s, but of all time! There were so many famous actors in the movie like Burt Reynolds, Dom Dom DeLuise, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Jackie Chan, Jamie Farr, Mell Tillis, Terry Bradshaw, Adrienne Barbeau, Peter Fonda, and two of the all time greats, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr., who play race car driver Jamie Blake and scam artist Morris Fenderbaum, disguised as Catholic priests.

YouTube’s pettyswildflowerforever put together the incredible video below that features all the famous scenes in the movie featuring Sammy and Dean. Enjoy this look back at the best of Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin in 1981’s The Cannonball Run!

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Flashback to 1987 with Robert Downey Jr.’s Bashful Interview on Entertainment Tonight

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At the time of this interview in 1987, at the age of 22, Robert Downey Jr. had already appeared in memorable ’80s films like Weird Science, Back to School, The Pick-up Artist, and Less Than Zero, but you wouldn’t know it from his bashful appearance on Entertainment Tonight. In 1987’s Less Than Zero, Downey played a drug-addicted rich boy whose life rapidly spirals out of control, and Downey has stated that for him the role was like the ghost of Christmas Future since his own drug habit resulted in him living an exaggerated version of his character in real life.

Enjoy this look back at Robert Downey Jr.’s incredibly bashful interview on Entertainment Tonight from 1987!

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The Ultimate ‘Love Boat’ Guest Star Tribute – Every Guest Star on the Entire Run of the Show

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This is so freaking cool! The Love Boat aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986, and also had four three-hour specials that aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. For those of us who grew up in the ’80ss, the show and it’s introductory song will forever be a part of our lives. One of the coolest features of the show was the beginning when the cast as well as the guest stars were announced.

In this incredible video, Retro Hole compiled together almost every guest star* from every regular season episode of The Love Boat from Seasons 1 – 9. It truly is amazing, and it’s very well done. If you were a fan of the show, you’re going to love this! It’s incredible how many current and future stars were guest stars on The Love Boat.

Enjoy this look back at almost every guest star that appeared on The Love Boat!

*Every guest star from every regular episode from Seasons 1 – 9 (except unique guests from Season 9, Episode 3, and Kristy McNichol), as well as the first 3 specials aired after the series ended.

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Sam Kinison Sings ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ and Sits Down With Johnny on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1989

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On May 24, 1989, Sam Kinison stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and sang the song Are you Lonesome Tonight in true Sam Kinison style. He then sat down and had a chat with Johnny and had Johnny and the audience rolling with laughter!

Enjoy this look back at the late Sam Kinison on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1989!

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Sam Kinison Loses It as Professor Terguson in Back to School from 1986

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In 1986, Sam Kinison made a cameo in Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School as a history professor named Terguson. In this scene, Professor Terguson loses it while discussing the Korean and Vietnam Wars. 1986 was Kinison’s breakthrough year when he released his debut comedy album Louder Than Hell.

Enjoy this look back at Professor Terguson losing it in 1986’s Back to School!

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Conway Twitty – ‘That’s My Job’ from 1987

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In 1987, the late Conway Twitty released one of the greatest songs about dads called That’s My Job. For those of us who have lost our fathers, this song is so special. I lost my dad to lung cancer four years ago, and every time I hear this song, it brings tears to my eyes because that was my dad. His number one priority was taking care of me! I miss you dad…

Enjoy this look back at Conway Twitty singing his top ten hit That’s My Job live!

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Grace Slick on Late Night with David Letterman in 1987

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On August 12, 1987, Grace Slick made her third appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. If you’ve never seen an interview with Grace Slick, you’re in for a treat. She’s sarcastic, sassy, confident, and very entertaining all at the same time.

Enjoy this look back at Grace Slick on with Letterman back in 1987!

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‘Hellraiser’ 30th Anniversary Edition – Official Animated Video featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy from Motorhead

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Every now and then, we feature stories or videos from today that either remind us of the ’80s and/or feature ’80s rock stars, and today is one of those times! After all, it’s Halloween, so what’s more perfect that this new video from Ozzy Osbourne and the late Lemmy from Motorhead. It’s a new animated music video for the song Hellraiser that Lemmy co-wrote with Ozzy for Ozzy’s ’92 No More Tears album before Motorhead recorded their own version of Hellraiser in 1992.

Ozzy released an expanded 30th anniversary reissue of his No More Tears album on September 17th, and this duet version of Hellraiser is featured on the album. The song is a tribute to Lemmy who passed away in 2015 and features Lemmy’s vocals alongside Ozzy’s.

Ozzy just released the animated video below for Hellraiser that features Ozzy and Lemmy going after a winged demon that steals Lemmy’s bass and flees in a giant spaceship. It’s completely ridiculous and utterly perfect at the same time!

Enjoy Ozzy and Lemmy reunited in this animated video for Hellraiser!

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’80s Halloween Specials – ‘The Trouble With Miss Switch’ and ‘Miss Switch To The Rescue’

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The Trouble with Miss Switch was an animated TV special that premiered in 1980. It was based on the 1971 children’s book by the same name by Barbara Brooks Wallace. The TV special originally aired in two parts on ABC Weekend Special series on February 16 and 23, 1980.

Because of the popularity of the movie, a sequel was produced called Miss Switch to the Rescue which aired in 1982.

Enjoy this look back at two memorable ’80s Halloween specials, The Trouble with Miss Switch and Miss Switch to the Rescue!

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‘Spies Like Us’ Test Cheating Scene featuring Chevy Chase and Dan Dan Aykroyd

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Spies Like Us was a 1985 comedy that starred Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd as two bumbling CIA agents who get sent to the Soviet Union as decoys while the real agents spy on the Soviets. One of the funniest scenes in the movie is when Chase and Aykroyd’s characters cheat on their test for the CIA.

Enjoy this look back at the test cheating scene from Spies Like Us from 1985!

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’80s Midnight Metal Videos from L.A. Guns, Lizzy Borden, Bulletboys, Dokken, Keel, Babylon A.D., Keel, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Celtic Frost

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In this week’s episode of ’80s Midnight Metal Videos, our homage to the good ole days of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, we’re featuring music videos from L.A. Guns, Lizzy Borden, Bulletboys, Dokken, Keel, Babylon A.D., Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Celtic Frost!

Enjoy the third edition of ’80s Midnight Metal Videos from some of our favorite ’80s heavy metal bands:

  • L.A. Guns – Never Enough from 1989
  • Lizzy Borden – Me Against the World from 1987
  • Bulletboys – Smooth Up In Ya from 1989
  • Dokken – Breaking the Chains from 1983
  • Keel – The Right To Rock from 1985
  • Babylon A.D. – Hammer Swings Down from 1989
  • Motorhead – Iron Fist from 1982
  • Iron Maiden – Women in Uniform from 1980
  • Celtic Frost – Circle of Tyrants from 1985
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Too Funny! Johnny Carson’s Joke Bombs on The Tonight Show and Producer Fred DeCordova Tries to Leave the Set

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This is too funny!!! On an episode of the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1983, Johnny is doing his opening monologue, and his joke about Brooke Shields bombs, and Carson catches Producer Fred Decordova trying to leave the set. Johnny calls him out and goes after him and brings him back to the delight of the audience.

Enjoy this classic moment from the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson!

Check out more interviews from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the ’80s:

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Clint Eastwood – ‘The Dead Pool’ Prison Scene

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The Dead Pool was the fifth and final movie in the Dirty Harry film series and stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan. The movie centers around a serial killer’s dead pool game and also starred Liam Neeson, Patricia Clarkson, and Jim Carrey in his first dramatic role.

One of our favorite scenes in the movie is this one where Dirty Harry visits Lou Janero in prison and brings along another prisoner named ‘Butcher’ Hicks, played by Diego Chairs, who simply stands by while Harry talks to Janero. It’s classic Dirty Harry!

Enjoy this look back at the prison scene from The Dead Pool from 1988!

More Dirty Harry Videos:

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Thompson Twins – ‘King for a Day’ Music Video from 1985

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During the ’80s, Thompson Twins scored three top ten singles on the Hot 100 charts as well as four number one singles on the US Dance charts. Their three top ten singles on the Hot 100 charts were Hold Me Now, #3 in ’83, Lay Your Hands on Me, #6 in ’85, and this song, King for a Day, which peaked at number eight in 1985. This was their last top ten hit on the Hot 100 charts.

Enjoy this look back at Thompson Twins’ music video for King for a Day from 1985!

More Music Videos from Thompson Twins:

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Cheers – Lilith Makes Her First Appearance

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On season 4, episode 17 titled Second Time Around, Dr. Lilith Sternin makes her first appearance on Cheers. In classic Lilith style, she questions everything Frazier says and does, and both Frazier and Lilith throw out some classic one-liners, but perhaps my favorite line from this clip comes from Woody when Frazier introduces Lilith to the crowd and rattles off all of her doctorate degrees, and Woody says, “Boy, it sure isn’t spelled like it sounds…”

Enjoy this look back at the first time Lilith made an appearance on Cheers on February 6, 1986!

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‘Stir Crazy’ Jail Scene – ‘We Gettin’ Bad’

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Stir Crazy was released to theaters on December 12, 1980, and grossed over $100 million at the box office making it the third highest-grossing film of the year. It starred Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, and the “We gettin’ bad” jail scene is one of the funniest scenes from the movie.

Enjoy this look back at Wilder and Pryor gettin’ bad in jail in Stir Crazy!

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David Foster – The Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire Video

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When it comes to movies that defined the ’80s, The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire are two of the very best. St. Elmo’s Fire starred Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Andie MacDowell and Mare Winningham as a clique of recent graduates of Georgetown University who are adjusting to post-graduate life while still hanging out at their favorite college hangout, St. Elmo’s Bar.

The soundtrack to St. Elmo’s Fire featured two songs that always take us right back to the mid-80s when we first saw the movie in the theater. St. Elmo’s Fire (Main in Motion) from John Parr was a number one hit on the Hot 100 charts in 1985, and David Foster’s Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire was an instrumental song that peaked at number 15 on the Hot 100 charts and number three on the AC charts.

Enjoy this trip back in time to 1985 with The Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire as well as John Parr’s St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion) music video!

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Paul Young – ‘Every Time You Go Away’ Music Video from 1985

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Cover songs were good to Paul Young. In 1985, he scored a number one hit on the Hot 100 charts with his cover version of Hall & Oates’ song Everytime You Go Away, and in 1990, he scored another top ten hit for his cover version of The Chi-Lites’ Oh Girl, which peaked at number eight on the Hot 100 charts.

The music video for Everytime You Go Away won the British Video of the Year at the 1986 Brit Awards.

Enjoy a look back at his award-winning music video for Everytime You Go Away as well as a look back at his music video for Oh Girl, and just for fun, a look at Hall & Oates performing Everytime You Go Away live in 1983!

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Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – ‘Refugee’ Music Video from 1980

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In 1979, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers released their third studio album titled Damn the Torpedoes. They released three singles from the album, Don’t Do Me Like That, Refugee, and Here Comes My Girl. Refugee was released in January 1980, and it peaked at number 15 on the Hot 100 charts. Don’t Do Me Like That and Refugee were their first top 40 singles on the Hot 100 charts peaking at number 10 and 15 respectively.

Enjoy this look back at Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ music video for Refugee as well as a look at a live video for Don’t Do Me Like That as well!

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Halloween III: Season of the Witch Premiered on October 22, 1982 – Ten Things You Didn’t Know About The Film

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Photo via Talk Horror on YouTube

Halloween III: Season of the Witch was released to theaters on October 22, 1982. It was the third movie in the Halloween movie series, and it was the only one that didn’t feature Michael Myers. It was the least successful Halloween movie in the series at the box office, but almost 40 years later, it has established its own reputation as a stand-alone cult film. It’s definitely one of the creepiest movies from the Halloween movie series.

For those who’ve never seen it, here’s a look at the theatrical trailer for the movie as well as 10 things you might not know about Halloween III: Season of the Witch from Talk Horror on YouTube.

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The Classic Kiosk Scene from ‘See No Evil Hear No Evil’ Starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder

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In 1989, the late Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder teamed up in See No Evil, Hear No Evil, one of the funniest movies of the ’80s, in our humble opinion. Richard Pryor’s character is blind and Gene Wilder’s character is deaf, and together they try to thwart a trio of murderous thieves. What ensues is pure comedic genius from two of the greatest comedic actors of the decade.

Enjoy this look back at the classic kiosk scene from See No Evil, Hear No Evil from 1989!

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Robin Williams’ Hilarious Comedy Bit About Alcohol at the Met in 1986

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In 1986, Robin Williams appeared live at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. His appearance was recorded, and the album, A Night at the Met, won the 1988 Grammy for Best Comedy Performance Single or Album, Spoken or Musical.

Robin’s performance that night is considered by many as one of the greatest standup comedy performances of all time. In this segment he talks about alcohol and marijuana, and it’s one of of the funniest comedy bits we’ve ever seen.

You are sorely missed by so many Robin…

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Betty White on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1987

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On February 10, 1987, the late Betty White appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. This interview had it all! It was funny, entertaining, and the respect between the two was awesome. God bless Betty White. Your fans miss you so much…

Enjoy this look back at Betty White on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1987!

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Jonathan Winters on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1988

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There were so many incredible and unique guests who appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson throughout the years. We’ve featured hilarious videos featuring Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Hulk Hogan, Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, and more.

Today, we’re featuring a hilarious episode featuring one of of the funniest and most humble comedians of all time, Jonathan Winters. This one had us laughing the entire time.

Enjoy this look back at Jonathan Winters on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson back in 1988!

Check out more interviews from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the ’80s:

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Deep Purple – ‘Perfect Strangers’ Music Video from 1985

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In 1984, British rock legends Deep Purple released their 11th studio album titled Perfect Strangers. They released three singles from the album, Knocking at Your Back Door, Perfect Strangers, and Nobody’s Home. All three singles were top 20 hits on the Mainstream Rock charts in the U.S. The title track, Perfect Strangers was the second single released, and it peaked at number 12 on the rock charts in 1985. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has called Perfect Strangers his favorite Deep Purple song, and it’s definitely one of our favorites as well.

Enjoy this look back at Deep Purple’s music video for Perfect Strangers from 1985!

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Johnny Carson’s Monologue Goes From Horrendous To Hilarious in 1988

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On December 14, 1988, Johnny Carson’s monologue to kick off the show started off horrendously, but in true Johnny Carson fashion, he keeps on plugging away, and by the end, the audience is loving it! Nobody reacted to a joke bombing better than Johnny Carson.

Enjoy this look back at Johnny Carson weathering the storm of bad joke after bad joke until he hits pay dirt!

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The Indigo Girls – ‘Closer To Fine’ Music Video

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The Indigo Girls released their self-titled second studio album and first major label release on February 28, 1989. The album went Platinum, and the duo were nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys, and they won the Grammy award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording.

Closer to Fine was the first and only single released from the album. While the song wasn’t a huge hit on the charts, peaking at number 52 on the Hot 100 charts and number 26 on the Modern Rock charts, it has become their signature song and is considered one of the best indie rock songs of the late ’80s/early ’90s.

Enjoy this look back at the music video for Closer To Fine from the Indigo Girls!

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Crocodile Dundee – ‘That’s Not A Knife… That’s A Knife!’ Scene

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Crocodile Dundee is one of the highest grossing films of all time. It was released on April 30, 1986 in Australia and September 26, 1986 in the United States. It was the highest grossing film of all-time in Australia, and the second highest-grossing film in the United States in 1986. It was also the highest-grossing non-US film at the US box office ever. Needless to say, Crocodile Dundee was huge in the late ’80s, and this scene is one of our favorite scenes in the movie.

Enjoy a look back at the famous scene in Crocodile Dundee where Dundee says, That’s not a knife… that’s a knife!

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