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.
The popular online gaming platform for kids, Roblox, is reportedly expanding its offerings into the educational space. Ayal Shmilovich, managing partner at Gerber Kawasaki Wealth Investment Management, joined Cheddar to provide some insight into the report from the Wall Street Journal and how Roblox plans to incorporate the metaverse concept into schools. "I definitely think it helps them expand their market to a much broader audience," Shmilovich added. He also noted that Minecraft has 35 million users on its educational platform and was even more optimistic about Roblox's prospects.
Bitcoin hit a new high last week, rising above $68,000. But the coin has tumbled since, and it's not the only coin under pressure. Crypto is down today across the board. Bobby Zagotta, CEO of Bitstamp USA, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the possible reasons why Bitcoin has slumped, how President Joe Biden's new crypto tax clause will impact investors, and more.
President Biden is under some pressure from members of his own party over rising gas prices. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the president to utilize oil reserves to lower gas prices ahead of the holiday season, as gas prices are currently at a seven-year high. Energy Workforce & Technology Council CEO Leslie Beyer joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The Green Bay Packers are selling shares of their stock for just the sixth time in its 102-year history. The Packers are the only major professional sports team in the U.S. that is publicly owned and not-for-profit. Now, it is offering 300,000 shares at $300 apiece; however, fans who become shareholders will not have much power, as the Packers' stock is not technically a stock. Washington Post sports reporter Des Bieler joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Authors Stuart O'Keeffe and Amy Phillips join Cheddar News to discuss their new cookbook, 'COOK IT, SPILL IT, THROW IT: The Not-So-Real Housewives Parody Cookbook.'
The men's brand Harry's is teaming up with Stop Soldier Suicide and Headstrong to help provide mental health support with a $500,000 financial commitment. The withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan triggered a range of mental health responses from veterans and active service members, as well as displaced refugees who are now acclimating to a new way of life. Maggie Hureau, Harry's head of social impact, joined Cheddar News to talk about the partnership and why Harry's chose to get involved in mental health care.
As the U.S. opens its borders to vaccinated international travelers after months of restrictions, the hospitality industry is preparing for a comeback. Radha Arora, President and Co-Chief Development Officer, Rosewood Hotel Group joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss his outlook for the broader travel industry.
John Partilla, Screenvision Media CEO, discusses the biggest changes to the post-pandemic film industry and movie-going experience, what could bounce back, and changes are here to stay; Elaine Low, Senior Entertainment Business Reporter at Insider, breaks down how The Great Resignation is impacting the entertainment business, and what it means for competition among streaming platforms; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Before Hollywood.'
Elaine Low, Senior Entertainment Business Reporter at Insider, joins Cheddar Reveals to break down how The Great Resignation is impacting the entertainment business, and what it means for competition among streaming platforms.
