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The trades bring some unfathomably sad news this morning: producers Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins, whose Tollins/Robbins Productions have recently given the world populist masterworks such as Norbit and Wild Hogs, have announced that they are taking steps to separate themselves from a beautiful partnership that's lasted longer than a decade. The duo insist that they've recently realized that they've grown apart, and that their friendly split will involve joint custody of projects they've developed together, as well as the occasional awkward social interaction stemming from their inextricably enmeshed lives. Reports Var:

The duo will maintain Studio City offices next to each other and continue jointly coaching their children's sports teams.

"It's all very amicable," Tollin said. "We looked at each other recently and agreed we needed to shake things up, in a good way. Professionally and personally, we will continue to be very much in each others' lives."

Of course, the dissolution of such entanglements always begin with the intention of civility, but the undeniable bond between longtime partners inevitably complicate matters. While things might seem friendly enough at first, with the pair sharing a laugh over their shared distaste for critics on the sidelines of their kids' soccer game, a too-enthusiastic word from Robbins about the great time he's having with his new DreamWorks deal could send Tollin into a tailspin of despair in which he flees to Tarzana, shaves his head and tattoos "Brian 4-Ever" on his hip, then abruptly checks into Promises, leaving his soulmate with custody of Smallville while he selfishly works through his complex feelings about the break-up.