From Aquaman on 'Shark Week' to a movie pricing fail, here's what's happening in entertainment.
AquaMomoa
Aquaman star Jason Momoa has a huge task at hand (Ed. note: fin) this week as Shark Week gets underway.
He's been tapped to take up hosting duties for Discovery's week-long extravaganza and it really is familiar territory for the actor. Being on screen is no big deal but he also has an affinity for the water that he said made taking the job an easy decision.
"My heart is in the ocean," Momoa told the Associated Press. "Doing 'Shark Week' is a no-brainer."
Momoa also revealed that before he turned to acting, he had a dream to become a marine biologist. Viewers will have tons of time to catch him on the small screen with more than 20 hours of new programming, which is slated to get underway on July 23.
Also, in Aquaman news, ahead of the sequel's release in December, Ben Affleck's scheduled cameo in the project has been axed. Affleck apparently reprised his role as Bruce Wayne and Batman, but an overhaul of the project has seen those scene snipped, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Yesterday, we told you about a newly-served search warrant in Henderson, Nevada related to the investigation into the 1996 shooting death of rapper Tupac Shakur.
Now there is more information about what law enforcement officials were up to during the search. The home was linked to the uncle of a man who police long-suspected had some involvement in the shooting.
The Associated Press revealed that police went to a home linked to Duane "Keffe D" Davis, who apparently is a self-described gangster. His nephew, Orlando Anderson, was a known rival of Shakur and was a person of interest. Anderson died in 1998 in Compton, California in a gang shooting.
Among the items confiscated were cell phones, computers, documents related to a documentary, a Vibe magazine featuring Shakur and several .40 caliber bullets.
All Seats Same Price
Earlier this year AMC Theaters unveiled a plan to implement "Sightline" seating, which would charge customers based on their seat location in a theater. But the chain is walking back that plan.
Premium seats, which were located in the middle of each theater, would cost slightly more than others. "Cheap seats," according to AMC, would have been located at the very front rows. The plan received backlash on social media almost immediately.
The company apparently came to the decision to rollback sightline seating after running pilot program in various locations. "To ensure AMC's ticket prices remain competitive, the Sightline at AMC pilot program will come to an end at participating locations in the coming weeks, and the initiative will not rollout nationwide," AMC said in a press release.
Exercise equipment maker Peloton is attempting to run away from a recent bout of controversy. CEO John Foley published an open letter to employees on Thursday after reports that said Peloton was pausing production of its Bike and Tread products, delaying the opening of a new U.S. factory, and considering job cuts. In the letter, Foley wrote that the information in the reports was 'incomplete,' 'out of context,' and not reflective of Peloton's strategy. Peloton's stock responded on Friday, with shares bouncing back after falling nearly 24% in the regular session on Thursday. CFRA Research's Director of Research Ken Leon joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Home essentials maker Outlines announced its launch at the beginning of 2022, along with $1 million in pre-seed funding led by Social Impact Capital. Outlines says it is re-imagining how we keep our homes clean while also reducing plastic waste. The company's debut product, the Shower Liner System, is made of long-lasting materials, including easy-to-recycle plastic. Outlines co-founder and CEO Luke Young and co-founder and COO Megan Ceryanec joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Simeon Siegel, managing director and senior analyst at BMO Capital Markets joins Cheddar News to discuss CNBC's report that Peloton plans to halt production, despite the company's CEO denying those claims.
Mona Zhang, states cannabis policy reporter at POLITICO Pro joins Cheddar News to discuss major factors that caused Canada's retail marijuana sales to drop last year.
Jackie Rotman, founder and CEO of the Center for Intimacy Justice joins Cheddar News to talk about why Facebook is banning ads by companies targeting women's sexual health but not ads catered to men.
The NCAA has updated its policy on transgender athletes, allowing each sport’s national governing body to make its own decisions for transgender participation. The new rule is in line with recent changes from the U.S. and International Olympic and Paralympic Committees. Joanna Hoffman, communications director of Athlete Ally, joined Cheddar News to discuss the potential impact of the new rule on the transgender community.
"Saturday Night Live" alum Will Forte is hosting the late-night comedy show this weekend alongside musical guest, Måneskin. Forte, who spent a decade working on the iconic NBC show, is currently starring in "MacGruber," the SNL-sketch-turned-movie that is now streaming on Peacock as a tv series.
TikTok recently announced that it is testing a paid subscription model. The news comes days after Instagram publicized a similar service. TikTok has made $2.3 billion from in-app purchases, but mostly through tips, in 2021, showing that its users may be open to spending money on the platform.
The NCAA voted to streamline their constitution at their annual convention on Thursday. Each of the three college divisions can decide how student-athletes can make money from outside sources but still restricts schools from directly paying its players.
