In the era of social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak, actor Rainn Wilson is trying to help people stay connected with the launch of his new show Hey, Human. The Instagram Live series features Wilson chatting with celebrities and interviewing selected viewers from the livestream.
Wilson, also co-founder of media company SoulPancake that produces the show, discussed with Cheddar on Thursday how he is coping with social distancing through the production.
"The fact that you could select a human being from the viewers and bring them on the show to talk about their experience, I thought what better way to spread joy and connectivity between people," The Office actor said, feeling he had to do something to create community amid stay-at-home orders across the country.
The host also invited some of his former castmates from The Office television series and other special guests to discuss how they are getting by in their new quarantined realities.
"It's really to see what is working for you. What is bringing you solace, what is bringing you joy, what is keeping you connected, so that you can be entertained and you can laugh while watching the show," he said.
People stuck at home, including celebrities, have taken advantage of social media as a way to connect with people during this crisis, and Wilson considers it to be "the new form of broadcast."
"It's its own broadcast network," he said. "I just love how it's so informal and it just feels more just connective like you're talking to friends."
Wilson said Hey, Human is another way he is giving back and uplifting his community. "My philosophy is you do what you can with the life you are given," he said. "I can certainly donate money to causes which I have and continue to do, but the other thing I can do is uplift people, entertain them, make them laugh, and make them feel good."
Spotify has announced its official Songs of the Summer predictions. Lea Palmieri, a Spotify trend expert and podcast host, joined Cheddar News to break down the acts who made the cut and how. “It's a mix of streaming data charts and also our global curation team," she said. "They're keeping an eye on all of the hottest music." While Harry Styles has recently topped the Spotify charts, Palmieri also addressed the "Feral Girl Summer" trend, which she described as going "moderately wild, having fun, enjoying yourself."
Catching you up on today's top entertainment stories with a recap from the 75th Annual Tony Awards, including red carpet interviews and Jennifer Hudson receiving her EGOT, and "Jurassic World: Dominion" topping the box office.
The Tony Awards made its sensational return to Radio City Music Hal for the first time since 2019. 'A Strange Loop' stole the show, winning Best Musical while Adrianna Debose hosted in the most spectacular way possible. Cheddar News was joined by Broadway Reporter Leigh Scheps to break down the 75th Annual Tony Awards.
U.S. stocks closed Thursday at their lowest levels of the trading day, as investors continue to eye inflation ahead of the May CPI report out Friday. Art Hogan, Chief Market Strategist for National Holdings, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
U.S. stocks closed Friday at session lows after May CPI data showed inflation in the U.S. has not peaked and is still rising rapidly. For the week, the S&P fell 5.06%, the Dow lost 4.58%, and the Nasdaq dropped 5.60%, marking the worst week since January for all three major indexes. Mike Zigmont, Head of Trading and Research at Harvest Volatility Management, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Benefits brokerage, Nava Benefits, raised $40 million in a Series B round. Nava says it's on a mission to fix healthcare, one benefits plan at a time. The startup is working to bring benefits to small business that are normally available to only Fortune 500 companies. Brandon Weber, Co-Founder and CEO of Nava Benefits, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Auction house Christie's will be presenting "Legacy of the GOAT," which will include a rare Michael Jordan signed rookie card and sneakers. Caitlin Donovan, the vice president of Christie's handbags and accessories department. joined Cheddar News to discuss the special memorabilia selection for the NBA great. "He's been a global phenomenon, so he's really shaped '90s culture and streetwear culture," she said. "And we see bidders from every pocket in the world."
Kona Brewing Co., pro surfer Anna Gudauskus, and surf photographer Sarah Lee are embarking on an 1,500+ mile beach cleanup down the East Coast. Gudauskus and Lee join Cheddar News to discuss the initiative.
March For Our Lives will be returning this weekend to Washington, DC, in the wake of the recent mass shooting seen throughout the country. Marchers include Yolanda Renee King, the only granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. She joined Cheddar News to discuss the importance of the march and activism in general. "I just think that it's so important to have these rallies because we need to demand to our leaders and politicians that they pass legislation and that and we actually need to see action," she said.
