Kevin Hart attends the 2023 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Biltmore Hotel on February 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
From satellite radio deals to a streaming platform lawsuit, here's what's trending in entertainment today.
Kevin Hart Gets More Sirius
Comedian Kevin Hart and satellite radio company Sirius/XM announced that their partnership would get an extension. Hart, along with his Hartbeat entertainment company, signed a multi-year deal that will keep the comedian's Laugh Out Loud Radio station operating. "You're looking at a relationship that has evolved, that is growing and going in the right direction," Hart said to the Associated Press. " I think this is one where the hard work has been put into the growth of the station and the platform is just paying off."
Award Shows & Hosts
Actor and daytime TV host Drew Barrymore is taking her emceeing skills to a stage over at MTV. She's been tapped to host the MTV Movie & TV Awards 2023 at the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles. Barrymore made the announcement during a segment on The Drew Barrymore Show when she appeared as the menacing M3GAN doll. The awards ceremony is slated for May 7.
Meanwhile, rockstar Lenny Kravitz will host the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2023. The 10th annual show is just weeks away from kicking off at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. "I'm thrilled to host and perform at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards to celebrate the best in music," Kravitz said in a statement. "As always, the show will feature some great surprises and unforgettable performances that music fans across the country won't want to miss." The show will get underway on March 27.
Making a Lawsuit
Remember the hit Netflix documentary Making a Murderer? Streaming in 2015, it told the story of Steven Avery's conviction and life sentence in the death of a 25-year-old online car marketplace photographer. The documentary explores the possibility that Avery was set up by local authorities, accusing them of planting evidence. A now-retired police sergeant who was involved in the case, Andrew Colborn, sued the streaming giant after saying he received "worldwide ridicule" over the series, but a federal judge has tossed the defamation filing stating that Colborn did not prove that the platform acted in malice.
According to a new report from the ECMC Group, only 48% of high schoolers are considering attending a four-year college. That number is 23% points less than it was in May 2020. After being forced to study remotely from home due to the pandemic, a number of Gen Z are thinking of other alternatives to a successful career. CEO and President of the ECMC Group Jeremy Wheaton, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
In an upcoming new series on Fuse, activist and actor Amara La Negra is taking viewers along with her on the streets of Miami to break down some of the hottest issues in America. The new show 'Don't Cancel Me' will follow a round table format and focus on topics including parenting, colorism, sex and relationships, and so much more. She joined Cheddar's None Of The Above to discuss more.
a.k.a Brands, an accelerator for next-gen, direct-to-consumer fashion brands like Princess Polly, released its first earnings report as a publicly-traded company with strong results. CEO Jill Ramsey joined Cheddar's "Opening Bell" to discuss the company's recent quarter and how the company has grown since its IPO in September.
Wood modification technology company Kebony recently raised $34 million in its latest funding round. The company's patented technology transformed sustainable softwood using leftover materials and makes it into a product that behaves like premium hardwood. The process has the potential to transform the global construction industry, as it is cost-effective and eco-friendly. Kebony CEO Norman Willemsen joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Lito MC Cassidy, a nominee for Best Rap/Hip Hop Song for his song 'La Vendedora De Placer,' joins Cheddar News to discuss his Latin Grammy nomination and his return to music.
After a year hiatus due to COVID, the LA Auto Show is back in-person from November 19-28. The event will feature automakers from around the world as they introduce their latest concepts and production vehicles. David Fortin, head of consumer marketing for the LA Auto Show, joins Cheddar News to preview the event.
"Anything Is Possible," a documentary about NBA superstar Kevin Garnett recounting his career from being drafted out of high school to a championship with the Boston Celtics, is set to premiere on Showtime. Executive producer Marc Levin and co-directors Daniel Levin and Eric Newman joined Cheddar to provide some background on the project and discuss Garnett's legacy. With KG considered a pioneer for modern NBA draftees straight out of high school (the fifth pick in 1995), the filmmakers also discussed the possibility of the league reversing course on its current rule that requires a player to be at least 19-years-old and a year removed from high school to play.
