Top Chef Junior

Top Chef Junior
Genre
Presented byVanessa Lachey
Judges
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes29
Production
Executive producers
  • Dan Cutforth
  • Casey Kriley
Production companyMagical Elves
Original release
NetworkUniversal Kids
ReleaseOctober 13, 2017 (2017-10-13) –
December 1, 2018 (2018-12-01)
Related
Top Chef

Top Chef Junior is an American reality competition television series that serves as a spin-off of the popular Top Chef series. Ordered in 2008 for an eight-episode run on Bravo,[1][2] the show had never aired, nor is it known if any episodes were produced at that time. However, nine years later, Top Chef Junior was mentioned as the marquee program for Universal Kids, an NBCUniversal-owned children's channel launched on September 9, 2017.[3] Season 1 consisted of 14 episodes and feature 12 young chefs, aged 9–14. The winner receives $50,000 and the title of Top Chef Junior.[4] The show is hosted by actress Vanessa Lachey, with Top Chef Masters and Top Chef Duels host Curtis Stone serving as its head judge.[4] Top Chef Junior premiered on October 13, 2017.[5] In November 2017 Top Chef Junior was renewed for a 2nd season, which premiered on September 8, 2018. It consists of 12 finalist chefs aged 9–14.

Season 1

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Season 1 Contestants

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Sources:[6][7][8]

Name Age Hometown
Audrey Brust 11 Zachary, LA
Fernando Valdés Nicholson 11 Elmhurst, IL
Fuller Goldsmith (†) 13 Tuscaloosa, AL
Henry Wieser 13 Naperville, IL
Jasmine Bell 13 Charlotte, NC
Katelyn Rickert 11 New Orleans, LA
Kenzie Mills 12 Midlothian, TX
Max Gerber 11 New York, NY
Maxine Sutton 13 Los Angeles, CA
Milo Fleming 13 St. Paul, MN
Owen Pereira 13 Baltimore, MD
Rahanna Martinez 13 Oakland, CA

Elimination table

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Place Contestant Episode
1 2 3 1 4 5 2 6 3 7 8 4 9 10 5 11 12 13 14
1 Owen HIGH HIGH IN HIGH IN WIN HIGH IN WIN IMM HIGH LOW IN LOW HIGH LOW IN HIGH WIN IN WIN IN HIGH IN HIGH WIN WIN WINNER
2 Rahanna IN WIN IN HIGH HIGH IN IN WIN HIGH HIGH WIN WIN IMM HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH IN HIGH WIN IMM IN LOW IN SAFE IN LOW RUNNER-UP
3 Milo WIN IMM HIGH HIGH HIGH LOW WIN IN HIGH LOW HIGH WIN HIGH WIN WIN WIN WIN HIGH SAFE IN LOW IN WIN WIN WIN IN OUT
4 Henry HIGH HIGH IN LOW IN WIN HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH WIN IN HIGH IN LOW IN HIGH HIGH IN IN WIN IN OUT
5 Jasmine IN IN WIN IMM WIN WIN IN SAFE IN LOW HIGH HIGH IN HIGH IN HIGH IN IN LOW HIGH OUT
6 Kenzie IN LOW HIGH IN IN LOW IN HIGH IN WIN HIGH HIGH IN LOW IN LOW OUT
7 Maxine HIGH IN IN IN IN HIGH IN LOW IN LOW WIN SAFE HIGH OUT
8 Fuller IN IN HIGH WIN IN IN IN LOW HIGH HIGH N/A WDR6
9 Audrey IN HIGH IN LOW IN WIN IN IN IN OUT
10 Max IN IN IN LOW IN OUT
11 Katelyn IN LOW IN OUT
12 Fernando HIGH OUT

^Note 1 : The chefs were divided into two teams, with the challenge winner coming from the winning team, and the losing chef from the losing team.
^Note 2 : For winning the quickfire challenge, Owen did not participate in the elimination challenge.
^Note 3 : No immunity was awarded for this quickfire challenge.
^Note 4 : The top 3 in the quickfire challenge won immunity and participated in a separate challenge.
^Note 5 : This quickfire was the last one to award immunity to the winner.
^Note 6 : Chef was hospitalized and withdrew for health reasons.

  (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned "Top Chef Junior".
  (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.
  (WIN) The chef had the best dish in the Quick Fire Challenge, Team Challenge, or Elimination Challenge.
  (WIN) The cook was on the winning team in the Team Challenge
  (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, Quick Fire Challenge, or Team Challenge but did not Win.
  (IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe.
  (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an elimination challenge, and advanced.
  (IN) The cook was not selected as a top or bottom entry in a Team Challenge.
  (IMM) The chef could not be sent home in the elimination challenge.
  (HIGH) The cook had one of the top dishes in an elimination challenge but did not win.
  (SAFE) Chef was eliminated but drew a safe card and was not eliminated.
  (OUT) The Chef was eliminated from the cooking competition. I

Episodes

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Episode 1: Dishing Up Dreams

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Original airdate: October 13, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Transform your family favorite meal into a restaurant quality masterpiece
    • Winner: Milo
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a dish that showcases your food dream
  • Guest judge: Richard Blais
    • Winner: Rahanna
    • Out: Fernando

Episode 2: Food Truck Frenzy

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Original airdate: October 20, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Highlight your cooking technique in a dished based on a memorable adventure
    • Winner: Jasmine
  • Elimination Challenge: In less than 24 hours, open 3 food trucks to the public
Team Name Team Members
Taco Town Katelyn, Kenzie, Maxine, Milo
Gourmet Sandwich Truck Fuller, Henry, Owen
Oh Crepe! Audrey, Jasmine, Max, Rahanna
  • Guest judge: Dave Danhi
    • Winner: Fuller
    • Out: Katelyn

Episode 3: Battle of the Buds

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Original airdate: October 27, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Create an ice cream dessert
    • Winner: Jasmine
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a dish highlighting one of the five tastes
Taste Battle Orange Team Blue Team
Bitter Owen Fuller
Sour Audrey Kenzie
Salty Maxine Max
Umami Henry Rahanna
Sweet Jasmine Milo

Battle winners in Bold

Episode 4: Chef's Best Friend

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Original airdate: November 3, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Make a gourmet dog treat
    • Winner: Milo
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a cohesive meal using ingredients typically found in your refrigerators at home
Team Team Members
Red Fuller, Jasmine, Maxine
Blue Audrey, Owen, Milo
Yellow Kenzie, Henry, Rahanna

Episode 5: Food Fight!

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Original airdate: November 10, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Impress Bryan Voltaggio and Michael Voltaggio with your culinary skills
    • Winner: Owen
  • Elimination Challenge: Four head-to-head 30 minute food fight rounds coached by Bryan and Michael Voltaggio
Battle Rounds Team Bryan (Red) Team Michael (Blue)
1: Soft-boiled Egg Audrey Fuller
2: Filleted Branzio Kenzie Maxine
3: Medium Rare Steak Henry Milo
4: Plated Dessert Rahanna Jasmine

Battle winners in Bold

  • Guest judge: Tito Ortiz
    • Winner: Kenzie
    • Out: Audrey

Episode 6: It's No Cake Walk

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Original airdate: November 17, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: In pairs, using only one hand each, make a dozen cupcakes
    • Winner: Henry & Maxine
  • Elimination Challenge: Bake a 14-inch extreme cake
Team Team Members
Red Rahanna & Milo
Blue Kenzie & Jasmine
Yellow Owen & Maxine
Teal Henry & Fuller
  • Guest judge: Joshua John Russell
    • Winner: Rahanna & Milo
    • Safe: Maxine
    • Withdraw: Fuller

Episode 7: Glow Big or Go Home

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Original airdate: December 1, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Make a dish using a cut of beef selected from the "Beef or Buzzer" game board
    • Winner: Rahanna
  • Elimination Challenge: Using at least one ingredient that glows, make a late night dish for Maisy Stella's Glow Party
  • Guest judge: Casey Thompson
    • Winner: Milo
    • Out: Maxine

Episode 8: Field Day!

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Original airdate: December 8, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Create an elevated nacho dish
    • Winner: Milo
      • The overall winner won a Buzzfeed Tasty Video prize. The top 3 in the quickfire challenges also won immunity.
  • Elimination Challenge: (Top 3) Create a spin on burger & fries or (Bottom 3) BBQ plate with a side & sauce
  • Guest judge: Nick Lachey
    • Winner: Milo
    • Out: Kenzie

Episode 9: Un-bee-lievable

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Original airdate: December 15, 2017

  • Quickfire Challenge: Make a dish highlighting honey
    • Winner: Henry
  • Elimination Challenge: Create a kids' menu with an elevated entrée, side & dessert
  • Guest judge: Emeril Lagasse
    • Winner: Owen
    • Safe: Milo

Episode 10: Restaurant Wars

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Original airdate: January 5, 2018

  • Quickfire Challenge: Create an amuse-bouche
    • Winner: Rahanna
  • Elimination Challenge: Create and design 2 restaurants to open in 24 hours
Team Team Members
Forage & Create (Blue) Henry & Owen
Summer House (Orange) Jasmine & Milo
  • For winning the quickfire challenge, Rahanna was assigned to both teams
  • Guest judge: Cat Cora
    • Winner: Henry
    • Out: Jasmine

Episode 11: The Claw

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Original airdate: January 12, 2018

  • Quickfire Challenge: Cook a lobster dish using the basic pantry or add ingredients from the claw game
    • Winner: Henry
  • Elimination Challenge: Create an exotic surf & turf dish ( snake and crocodile food )
  • as Henry wins, he is allowed to choose a protein and then no one is allowed to choose that protein
  • Guest judge: Dave Salmoni
    • Winner: Milo
    • Out: Henry

Episode 12: Cooking for Treasure

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Original airdate:

Episode 13: Lemon Aid

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Original airdate:

  • Quickfire Challenge: At the Houdini Estate, chefs must unlock boxes to retrieve proteins.
    • Winner: Owen
  • Elimination Challenge: As part of a fundraiser in connection with Alex's Lemonade Stand, chefs must prepare a dish featuring lemons.
  • Guest judge: Susan Feniger
    • Winner: Owen
    • Out: Milo

Episode 14: You Are Top Chef Junior!

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Original airdate:

  • Quickfire Challenge: None
  • Elimination Challenge: The chefs were asked to create a three-course meal representing their culinary past, present and future.
  • Guest judges: Antonia Lofaso, Tiffany Derry
    • Winner: Owen
    • Runner Up: Rahanna

Season 2

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Season 2 Contestants

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Sources:[6] [7]

Name Age Hometown
Carson Peterson 13 Ventura, CA
Ella Bass 13 Berwyn, PA
Eric Martínez 10 Spring, Texas
Kate Daniel 12 Houston, TX
Londyn Green 11 Atlanta, GA
Nikki Bidun 11 New York, NY
Noah Cryns 11 Evanston, IL
Olivia Acosta 10 Long Valley, NJ
Rogers Mathews 13 Corona, CA
Simon Weisserman 12 Los Angeles, CA
Sophie Frankowski 13 New Orleans, LA
Tyler Cappelluti 13 South River, NJ

Elimination table

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Place Contestant Episode
1 2 3 1 4 5 2 6 1 3 7 4 8 9 1 10 11 1 12 4 13 1 14
1 Nikki IN LOW IN IN HIGH HIGH WIN IMM HIGH WIN WIN5 IN LOW IN WIN IMM IN LOW IN HIGH HIGH HIGH WIN IMM WIN IMM WIN WIN WINNER
2 Londyn IN LOW HIGH LOW IN WIN IN LOW WIN HIGH IMM WIN HIGH WIN IN LOW IN LOW IN WIN WIN LOW IMM WIN IN IMM IN IN RUNNER-UP
3 Rogers HIGH IN IN IN IN LOW IN LOW HIGH HIGH IMM WIN SAFE WIN IN IN WIN LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH LOW LOW IMM IMM LOW IN OUT
4 Noah IN IN HIGH LOW IN WIN HIGH IN LOW LOW IN IN WIN WIN HIGH LOW IN WIN IN SAFE HIGH WIN IMM LOW IMM OUT
5 Eric HIGH WIN IN IN IN HIGH IN HIGH LOW LOW IN IN SAFE IN IN IN HIGH WIN WIN LOW HIGH OUT
6 Carson WIN IMM IN IN HIGH LOW IN IN HIGH HIGH IMM IN HIGH WIN IN WIN HIGH OUT
7 Olivia IN HIGH IN HIGH IN WIN IN WIN WIN HIGH IMM HIGH WIN IN IN OUT
8 Simon IN IN IN HIGH WIN IN HIGH HIGH WIN LOW IN HIGH LOW OUT
9 Ella IN IN IN WIN HIGH IN IN IN LOW LOW OUT
10 Kate IN IN WIN IMM6 IN SAFE HIGH OUT
11 Sophie HIGH HIGH HIGH OUT
12 Tyler IN OUT

^Note 1 : No immunity was awarded for this quickfire challenge.

^Note 2 : Before the quick-fire challenge a team challenge took place for advantages in the quick-fire. The best 5 dishes in the quickfire were awarded immunity while the worst 4 dishes were facing elimination in the next round.
^Note 3 : Two chefs were eliminated in the elimination challenge.

^Note 4 : There was no Quick-Fire in this Episode

^Note 5 : Chef had immunity

^Note 6 : Chef did not cook in this challenge due to strep throat

  (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned "Top Chef Junior".
  (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.
  (WIN) The chef had the best dish in the Quick Fire Challenge, Team Challenge, or Elimination Challenge.
  (WIN) The cook was on the winning team in the Team Challenge
  (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, Quick Fire Challenge, or Team Challenge but did not Win.
  (IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge or Quick Fire Challenge and was safe.
  (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an Elimination challenge, Team challenge or Quick Fire and advanced.
  (IN) The cook was not selected as a top or bottom entry in a Team Challenge.
  (IMM) The chef could not be sent home in the elimination challenge .
  (HIGH) The cook had one of the top dishes in an elimination challenge but did not win.
  (SAFE) The chef was eliminated but drew a safe card and continued on in the competition.
  (OUT) The chef was eliminated from the competition.

Episodes

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Episode 0: Making the Cut

Original airdate: August 4, 2018

At boot camp, 22 talented young chefs compete for their chance to make the cast of the second season of the series.

Episode 1: Stirring Up a Celebration

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Original airdate: September 8, 2018

  • Quickfire Challenge: After making it through boot camp, the 12 junior chefs joined Vanessa and Curtis for a small celebration with a large spread of snacks and hors d'oeuvres. Following the celebration, the junior chefs were told that their first quickfire challenge was to create an amuse-bouche in 30 minutes using the leftover ingredients from the party. The winner received immunity from elimination.
    • Winner: Carson
  • Elimination Challenge: The junior chefs were challenged to create a signature winning dish for the first Top Chef Junior Food Festival.
  • Guest Judge: Richard Blais
    • Winner: Eric
    • Eliminated: Tyler

Episode 2: Sunny Side Up

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Original airdate: September 15, 2018

  • Quickfire Challenge: The junior chefs were challenged to create a unique ramen dish in 20 minutes. The winner received immunity from elimination.
    • Winner: Kate
  • Elimination Challenge: The judges surprised the junior chefs early in the morning at their rooms with the challenge of creating a delicious brunch dish. The junior chefs had a limited pantry of the ingredients brought to them by the judges and were only able to use the equipment found in their rooms.
    • Winner: Ella
    • Eliminated: Sophie

Episode 3: Rolling In Dough

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Original airdate: September 22, 2018

  • Quickfire Challenge: The junior chefs were challenged to create a unique pizza. However, the junior chefs had to play the arcade game Alley Roller in order to get tickets to buy additional ingredients (only simple dough, plain tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese were available by default). Additionally, tickets could be used to purchase kitchen equipment that the junior chefs could take home with them after the Top Chef Junior competition.
    • Winner: Simon
  • Elimination Challenge: The chefs were divided into two teams: the yellow team and the blue team. For their challenge, the junior chefs competed in a series of head-to-head battles where each pair of chefs (one from the yellow team and one from the blue team) had to create a kid-friendly dish highlighting a specific ingredient. In each battle, the panel of judges and kid tasters would vote for their favorite dish; the chef with the most votes scored a point for their team. The team that earned three points first won the overall challenge. The winners of each head-to-head battle are indicated below in bold.
  • Yellow Team: Rogers, Carson, Ella, Simon, Kate
  • Blue Team: Noah, Nikki, Olivia, Eric, Londyn
    • Round 1 (Olives): Kate vs Nikki
    • Round 2 (Broccoli): Rogers vs Eric
    • Round 3 (Brussels Sprouts): Ella vs Noah
    • Round 4 (Salmon): Simon vs Olivia
    • Round 5 (Beets): Carson vs Londyn
      • Winning Team: Blue Team
      • Winner: Londyn
      • Saved: Kate

Episode 4: Sweet Dreams Come True

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Original Airdate: September 29, 2018

  • Quickfire Challenge: Prior to the competition, the junior chefs were all asked what dream ingredient they would love to work with. For this challenge, those dream ingredients were provided for them and each chef had to create a winning dish highlighting their choice. The winner received immunity from elimination.
    • Winner: Nikki
  • Elimination Challenge: The junior chefs were challenged to create a sweet dessert for an event raising awareness for the charity Adopt Together.
  • Guest Judge: Candace Nelson
    • Winner: Olivia
    • Eliminated: Kate

Episode 5: Field Day!

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Original Airdate: October 6, 2018

Guest Judge: Reggie Bush

Chefs participate in teams in three rounds

  • Red Team: Eric, Ella, Noah
  • Yellow Team: Carson, Rogers, Nikki
  • Blue Team: Londyn, Olivia, Simon
  • Round 1: Obstacle Course: The team must wear foam ski's, walk together to three obstacles
    1. Bobbing for Tomatoes, 3 tomatoes per chef per team
    2. Spiralize 6 onions
    3. Fruit Stand Ball Pit, one member at a time per team must find a watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit, green apple, lemon, and orange.
    4. Dunk Tank: Throw a football to dunk Curtis Stone in the Dunk Tank.

The first two teams to finish win a significant advantage in the Gameday Quickfire Challenge.

  • Winners: Blue and Yellow Teams
  • Round 2: Quickfire Challenge: Create the perfect sandwich. Chefs have 25 minutes to cook. This is an individual challenge with the top 5 Chefs receiving immunity in the Elimination Challenge.
    • Blue team received an extra 10 minutes to cook and first choice of the limited pantry ingredients as their advantages
    • Yellow team received an extra 5 minutes to cook and second choice of pantry ingredients.
    • Winners: Rogers, Londyn, Olivia, Carson, and Nikki (overall winner, received a Football autographed by Reggie Bush)
  • Round 3: Elimination Challenge: Wings and Sausage Challenge
    • Top Team: Wings and a Dipping Sauce in 45 minutes
    • Winner: Nikki who received a Top Chef Jr. Football Helmet signed by Reggie Bush
    • Bottom Team: Sausages in 90 minutes
    • Eliminated: Ella

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2019 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Children's Program Top Chef Junior Nominated
2019 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Series Top Chef Junior Nominated [9]
2019 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing Top Chef Junior Nominated [10]

References

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  1. ^ Rocchio, Christopher; Rogers, Steve (June 11, 2008). "Bravo developing 'Top Chef Junior' spinoff for young teenage chefs". Reality TV World. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  2. ^ Levine, Stuart (June 11, 2008). "Bravo order chef shows". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  3. ^ Barnes, Brooke (April 30, 2017). "NBCUniversal Is Building Its Own Children's Channel". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Mizoguchi, Karen (May 12, 2017). "Vanessa Lachey and Curtis Stone Join Top Chef Junior as Host and Head Judge". People. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  5. ^ Kinane, Ruth (September 14, 2017). "Top Chef Jr. competition heats up in kitchen boot camp sneak peek". Entertainment Weekly (with video, 4 mins 24 secs). Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Series: 12 Contestants Here to Chef". Universal Kids (video, app required). Archived from the original on December 17, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Cohn, Paulette (2017-10-04). "Meet the Cute Kid Cooks Competing on Top Chef Jr.". Parade magazine. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  8. ^ katiefw (September 14, 2017). "Meet the 12 Contestants Vying to Be Top Chef Jr.". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "Nominees, Daytime Emmy Awards (Children's/Animated)". The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2019. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "Nominees, Daytime Emmy Awards (Craft – Non-Drama)". The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2019. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019.
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