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In this issue...

• ESPN sports TV network returning Emmys after admitting it submitted fake names for awards

• CBC Radio's Under the Influence: Bad commercials that have become cult classics

• By the numbers X 10 + 1

• Who's next in line for Saturday Night Live when creator Lorne Michaels eventually retires?

• Singles who are desperate not to be alone on Valentine's Day are resorting to a new trend called "avalanching"

• Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: Monday, January 22

• Valentine's Day is Wednesday, February 14!

• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week!

... and trivia, quotes, community events and more!

ESPN sports TV network returning Emmys after admitting it submitted fake names for awards

Holy cow. This is bad. ESPN made up fake names and submitted them for Emmys over a number of years - and some of them won!

Article excerpt: "ESPN returned dozens of Emmy statues and 'disciplined' employees after an investigation disclosed Thursday found that the sports network had submitted fake names to the awards organization in a bid to secure trophies for on-air personalities who had been ineligible to receive them.

The apparent fraud stretched back to 1997, ESPN said in a statement, acknowledging that members of its team 'were clearly wrong' for concocting the scheme.

'Some members of our team were clearly wrong in submitting certain names that may go back to 1997 in Emmy categories where they were not eligible for recognition or statuettes,' an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement. 'This was a misguided attempt to recognize on-air individuals who were important members of our production team. Once current leadership was made aware, we apologized to NATAS for violating guidelines and worked closely with them to completely overhaul our submission process to safeguard against anything like this happening again.'

The Athletic, which broke the story on the scheme Thursday, reported that over the years when ESPN was given the prestigious awards using the fictitious names, the broadcaster had them re-engraved and then handed them out to the personalities who had been ineligible to receive them.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which administers the Emmys, said it discovered the fraud, prompting an investigation. The Athletic reported that there was no evidence that the staffers who received the awards were aware of the behind-the-scenes fraud."

ESPN should be ineligible for any Emmys for a period of time because of this blatant fraud. They even had the Emmys re-engraved! This was 100% deliberate.

The Emmys also need to vet nominees further - but who have ever thought that a major network would do this? Through no fault of their own, some people have had fraudulently won Emmys proudly displayed in their homes and offices for years. A great honour has now been turned into an embarrassment. A sad situation.

Read: ESPN returns Emmys and disciplines staff after submitting for awards under fake names.

CBC Radio's Under the Influence: Bad commercials that have become cult classics

The latest episode of CBC Radio's Under the Influence with host Terry O'Reilly looked at TV commercials that were considered so bad that they became legendary classics all to themselves!

• January 18, 2024 - Hurts So Good: When Bad Commercials Become Cult Classics. Synopsis: "This week, we celebrate bad ads. Commercials that are so bad, they’re almost good. Like the furniture retailer who dresses in prison uniforms. A jewellery store owner who puts on a cape and tights and calls himself 'The Cash Man.' And a certain product people use when they’ve fallen and they can’t get up." Click here to listen to the episode and here for the website post.

Click here for the show's website and here for the show's podcast archive.

By the numbers X 10 + 1

• 1. 3 ways to hack your winter workday to boost your mood

• 2. 3 tiny habits that will make you more successful than 98% of entrepreneurs

• 3. The most powerful passport in the world? 6 countries tie for top spot.

• 4. The 7 best noise-canceling headphones for flying in 2024

• 5. 10 of the most memorable looks from the Emmys red carpet

• 6. Dry January: 15 mocktails, ingredients and accessories for your alcohol-free month

• 7. 18 cooking, cleaning and organization products that'll make life a little easier in 2024

• 8. 22 inventions that are saving the world

• 9. 25 AI marketing tools to help you win in 2024

• 10. Feds charge eBay over employees who sent live spiders and cockroaches to couple; company to pay $3M

• Bonus: 3 thrilling reads to curl up with this winter

Who's next in line for Saturday Night Live when creator Lorne Michaels eventually retires?

Oh this would be amazing! Longtime Saturday Night Live (SNL) creator Lorne Michaels, who turns 80, is most certainly looking to retire at some point. He certainly has the money to live a comfortable retirement!

But who would replace him? Seth Myers' name has popped up, but he has a successful talk show - and could be in line to replace Jimmy Fallon if he were to retire early. (Fallon is very young, so leaving The Tonight Show is likely not on his radar for a long time yet!)

Michaels, however, is floating the name of Tina Fey to replace him. Yes! Yes! Yes! She would be by far the best choice.

Article excerpt: "Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels said he has thought about what might happen when he leaves the show. He admitted there is a lot of talent to choose from, but when asked about Tina Fey, Michaels said she could be his replacement.

'Of course I've thought about it,' the 79-year-old producer told Entertainment Tonight's Nischelle Turner on the Emmy Awards red carpet on Jan 15. 'We're doing the 50th anniversary show in February '25. So, I will definitely be there for that and definitely be there until then. And then we'll figure out what we're going to do.'

Turner said many people have thought Tina Fey could helm the show. 'It could easily be Tina Fey,' Michaels said. 'But there are a lot of people who are there now who are also, you know.'

'Tina's brilliant and great at everything. She's a very important person in my life,' he said.

The live sketch comedy show has aired since 1975 and Michaels was show runner until 1980 when he took a brief break. He returned in 1985 and has been there ever since - sometimes making brief appearances on the show himself, in sketches that play up his dry sense of humor."

Look no further than Tina Fey, follks. She's it. (I hope!)

Read: Lorne Michaels says Tina Fey could "easily" replace him at Saturday Night Live.

Singles who are desperate not to be alone on Valentine's Day are resorting to a new trend called "avalanching"

If you're one of those people who needs (!!) to be with someone on Valentine's Day, there's a new trend you may want to try out if you're currently single. It's called "avalanching".

Article excerpt: "With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, experts are warning singles to look out for a new dating trend: ‘avalanching’.

Avalanching is the surge in dating app usage over the month of January and early February, where an uptick in messages and ‘likes’ can be expected as many people want to avoid being single on the most romantic holiday of the year.

In fact, a new survey from FindingTheOne.com found that 79% of its 800 respondents said that they are swiping right more in January specifically in search of a Valentine.

A further 45% said they broaden their scope in order to find a prospective partner too at this time of year, as their dating non-negotiables go out the window when in search of a match."

Valentine's Day is not exactly the happiest day of the year for singles, but being with someone JUST to be with someone is a bit much. Being bummed out for a day or two is not fatal.

Read: "Avalanching" is the new dating trend experts are warning singles about.

Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: Monday, January 22

The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, in Moncton on Monday, January 22, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only). Click here for the Facebook event listing.

Participants may play as teams or individuals. The winning team gets 50% of the door receipts as their prize.

It is strongly suggested that participants arrive by 5:15-5:30 p.m. for a seat. Trivia begins at 6:30 p.m. sharp and is usually over by 8 p.m. Everyone welcome!

Please note that restaurant reservations are NOT available for this event. First come, first served. Limited seating of approximately 50 guests.

Participants may bring an optional non-perishable food item (box of granola bars, Kraft Dinner, cereal, etc.) for distribution at Krista Richard's Community Sports Program events, of which the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club is a sponsor. Any donations will be gratefully received and provided to Krista for distribution to her program participants (school-aged children from Moncton-area schools).

Since Rotary Trivia Nights began in 2016, the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club has donated nearly $20,000 to Atlantic Wellness, Karing Kitchen, Ray of Hope Kitchen, Salvus Clinic, The Humanity Project, BGC Moncton (Moncton Boys & Girls Club), Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Project Linus - Moncton Chapter, and Krista Richard's Community Sports Program, among others. During the last Rotary Trivia Nights season (September 2022 to May 2023), more than $6,000 was raised.

The Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club gratefully acknowledges the kind and generous sponsorship of its restaurant partner, St. Louis Bar & Grill.

See you on January 22! Click here for a larger version of the event poster shown above.

Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week

• 1. Emmy Awards 2023: Succession and The Bear tie with 6 wins, Beef follows with 5 (winners list) (see photo)

• 2. The Honeymooners star Joyce Randolph dies at 99

• 3. ID, please: Costco testing scanners at entrances to keep non-members out

• 4. Hackers took over the SEC’s X account and caused millions in losses for Bitcoin investors

• 5. The Good Doctor to end with season 7 on ABC

• 6. "It left us": After historic Methodist rift, feelings of betrayal and hope for future

• 7. Samsung announces new Galaxy S24 lineup with AI-powered photo editing, search features

Trivia: Did you know?

The religious talk show 100 Huntley Street holds the record for most episodes of a Canadian television series with 10,300 episodes aired (and counting) since June 15, 1977.

Quotes of note

• 1. "I don't want to go to heaven. None of my friends are there."

- Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), author (see photo)

• 2. "Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people."

- Roy T. Bennett

• 3. "Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality."

- Carl Sagan

• 4. "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

- Aldous Huxley

• 5. "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

- Aristotle

• 6. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

- George Bernard Shaw

• 7. "Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have 24-hour days."

- Zig Ziglar

• 8. "I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."

- Mae West

• 9. "This life’s hard, but it’s harder if you’re stupid."

- George V. Higgins

• 10. "You're one of those guys who can make a party just by leaving it. It's a great gift."

- P.G. Wodehouse

Winter fitness fun with the Greater Moncton Walking Group

If walking more for exercise is on your New Year's resolutions list, check out the Greater Moncton Walking Group which is walking in Mapleton Park in January. Meet-up is at Rotary Lodge just off Mapleton Road. In February, the group moves to Centennial Park, meeting in the parking lot on St. George Boulevard.

The group meets for walks every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. New participants are always welcome! For more information, please contact Wayne Harrigan at 506-386-2187 or via email.

Acadian mugs with family names - dozens of options!

New from Acadistuff: Acadian flag mugs with family names. Dozens of options available! Shipping is included in all prices. Tax extra.

• 11-oz. mug: Click here

• 15-oz. mug: Click here

Don't see your family name there? Contact me via email to have it added.

These mugs have been shipped all over North America!

About this newsletter

Brian Cormier's Weekly Update is distributed weekly from September to June via email to more than 500 subscribers in addition to many others who access it online. If you're reading this newsletter online and want to subscribe, please email me, fill out the subscription form on my website, or subscribe via the "Join Our Email List" button at the top of the newsletter (if you're viewing this in a browser.) This newsletter is not published in July and August and on holidays.