From a taste of Netflix to 'Black Mirror' almost taking it too far, here's what's happening in entertainment.
Netflix Eats
Netflix is set to add cuisine to its menu of offerings.
The streaming giant is launching a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles called Netflix Bites. The experience will only be available for a limited time and will feature dishes and drinks from chefs featured on popular series like Chef's Table, Is It Cake?, and Iron Chef.
"From episode to entrée, with NETFLIX BITES, we are creating an in-person experience where fans can immerse themselves in their favorite food shows. We are excited to collaborate with these incredible chefs who will bring this vision to life and showcase an array of their delicious menus," Josh Simon, vice president of consumer products at Netflix, said in a statement.
NETFLIX BITES will open on June 30 at Short Stories Hotel.
'Rust' Movie Update
Actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are still not in the clear following the accidental shooting death of a cinematographer on the set of the film Rust.
Prosecutors are mulling over the idea of recharging Baldwin after his charges were dismissed in late April. At the time, prosecutors in New Mexico said an investigation remained active.
Meanwhile, charges still stand for Gutierrez-Reed and prosecutors now allege she was likely hungover on the set when she loaded a live round into the weapon that killed Halyna Hutchins. The state's lawyers are looking to establish a pattern of reckless conduct, according to the Associated Press.
Gutierrez-Reed is due in court in August for a preliminary hearing that will decide whether or not the charges levied against her will stand. Meanwhile, prosecutors said they will decide whether or not to recharge Baldwin for his role in the shooting in the next 60 days.
Hayek Talks 'Black Mirror'
With the return of Netflix's Black Mirror just days away, we're learning more about at least one episode from Salma Hayek.
Last month, we told you about Hayek's introduction into the series as she takes up the role of an average, non-celebrity who finds out that a streaming service, which appears to be a spoof of Netflix, has launched a series about her life. Now Hayek has revealed she almost reconsidered the role after reading the script and realizing she'd have to do something that might get her canceled.
"There was one thing that really did make me hesitate about doing it all together. Yeah, it's insane, but I love that Black Mirror is not known for being super funny. I like breaking the mold," she said in an interview with Good Morning America.
According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, Hollywood has been falling short on financial support for transgender-specific organizations despite some improvements in on-screen representation. Actor and producer Scott Turner Schofield, the founder of the consultancy Speaking of Transgender, joined Cheddar to note that rather than focusing on the dearth of donor dollars itself, fixing media representation helps fund those service groups, even if the money isn't yet flowing. "If you ask people, 'are trans people more visible in media,' everybody is going to say yes because it's very clear, but are there commercials for those direct service organizations? No. That's something you'll get from social media — maybe — if you're following people," Schofield said.
Thanksgiving fueled a lucrative weekend at the box office, even during a pandemic. Over the five-day holiday weekend, moviegoers in the U.S. and Canada spent around $142 million on tickets. Sean O'Connell, Managing Director at CinemaBlend, joins Cheddar News to discuss what the numbers mean for the industry.
Guilty verdicts have been handed down to the three men charged with killing 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery on multiple murder counts, as well as other charges. The verdict was delivered last Wednesday by a mostly white jury after more than 11 hours of deliberation spanning two days. It followed eight days of testimony. Jason Nichols, senior lecturer in the African American Studies Department at the University of Maryland, joins Cheddar News to discuss what's next.
The ocean is an important topic when it comes to the climate. It plays a vital role in shaping our environment, with rising sea levels causing a 35% increase in natural disasters around the world, affecting 1.7 billion people. Dr. Sylvia Earle has been called perhaps the greatest advocate our oceans have ever had, with Time magazine dubbing her its first 'hero of the planet' and the Library of Congress naming her a living legend. She is also the founder of Mission Blue, an organization that inspires action to explore and protect the ocean. Dr. Earle joined Cheddar Climate for more on the importance of caring for the ocean and its impact on climate change.
The holidays are here, which means many will raise a glass. In fact, data shows the average American doubles their booze intake between Thanksgiving and New Years, with about 45% of those drinkers choosing vodka as their liquor of choice. Tony Latham, Bacardi's CFO, tells Cheddar what he anticipates will be the most popular spirit or cocktail this holiday season, as well as other trends going into the new year.
This holiday season, e-commerce sales are expected to hit 207 billion dollars, with17 percent of that chunk will occuring between the days of the deals - black friday and cyber monday. Deren Baker, CEO of edge by ascential, joins Cheddar News to give a Cyber Monday preview.
With Black Friday right around the corner, Trae Bodge, Smart Shopping Expert at TrueTrae.com joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss holiday shopping tips ahead of the annual event.
According to recent data, Americans are pulling away from their television screens in a big way. In the last few months, people have returned back to more normal activities, spending time with friends and less time doom scrolling on Instagram, it's a favorite pastime. Licensed Psychotherapist and Author of "Disconnected" Tom Kersting, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
One former employee at Sony Playstation has just filed a lawsuit against the company on allegations of gender discrimination and wrongful termination. According to Emma Majo, the company says she was terminated as a result of the company's decision to phase out a team she was only temporarily working with. Executive Director at International Game Developer's Association Renee Gittins, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
