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.
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day fast approaching, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C. 6th District), the House Majority Whip, talked about the importance of honoring the iconic civil rights activist. "As we consider the life and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., let's think about who and what we are as a country, and whether or not we're going to give up on the ideals of this country or continue to press forward," he said. Clyburn also discussed the push for new voting legislation, the For the People Act and the John Lewis Act, as well as the fate of the Senate filibuster.
It was 'game on' for sports bettors in the state of New York, as mobile betting kicked off on four major betting operating platforms Saturday. This comes at an exciting time for sports fans with some of the biggest NFL games of the season right around the corner. Cam Rogers - Host of Lock It In with Cam Rogers, Betting Analyst at the Bleav Podcast Network joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
The United States purchased over 600,000 doses of a monoclonal antibody treatment from Glaxosmithkline and Vir Biotechnology, bringing the total worldwide doses purchased to 1.7 million. This comes as the country attempts to ramp up treatment options as cases of the omicron variant continue to surge. Dr. Asha Shah, Director of Infectious Diseases at Stamford Health joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Former wide receiver for the New York Giants, Victor Cruz has partnered with Krystal Restaurants, a popular burger chain in the South, to bring the franchise to his home state of New Jersey. Cruz and Alice Crowder, CMO of Krystal Restaurants, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the venture. The five new locations will be known as "Victor Cruz's Krystal," decked out with memorabilia from his football career, with the former player explaining how "hands-on" he plans on being. "You never know, OK? You might walk in and Victor Cruz will be flipping a burger back there, and you might be getting it directly from the source," he said.
Max Bichsel, vice president at Gambling.com Group joins Cheddar News to talk about the growing sports betting industry, New York legalizing mobile betting, and 2022 predictions for the sector.
Cody Roark, NFL analyst at Pro Football Network joins Cheddar News to talk about NFL playoff predictions and which teams have a shot at the Super Bowl.
Mario Stefanidis, Vice President of Research at Roundhill Investments, joined Wake Up With Cheddar to break down the implications of the Take-Two deal to purchase Zynga, as the gaming giant looks to become a major player in mobile gaming.
Covid cases have started to spike again across the nation, and this time they seem to be hitting some of our youngest and most vulnerable - school-aged children. School districts across the nation - including the country's largest public school system in New York City- are all grappling with what to do as teachers and students alike continue to miss school in droves.
Katie Honan, reporter for the New York City-based non profit news organization, The City explains how educational leaders across the country are handling covid demands from both teachers and parents alike.
For the first time since September, Bitcoin fell below $40,000 early Monday. The currency's average short-term price has now dipped below its average long-term price, which is known by a rather dramatic term, a death cross. According to analysts, the indicator appears to be a result of mounting concerns of faster liquidity withdrawal by the US Federal Reserve. The crypto slump also follows a week of rough trading for equities overall. CEO Snickerdoodle Labs and Co-Founder of the Stanford Future of Digital Currency Initiative, Jonathan Padilla, joined Cheddar to discuss more.