Charli D'Amelio attends the iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Los Angelles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Here comes the weekend again, so it's time to relax and peruse our what-to-watch list. From TikTok's Charli and Dixie D'Amelio to Pixar's talking Dug to organized crime in minor league hockey and the classic Candyman (1992), Cheddar's digital team might have a few suggestions.
The D'Amelio Show: Season 1 - Hulu
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
I'm not promising I'm going to watch this, but I'm also not promising I'm won't. Do I enjoy reality TV? Heck yeah. Am I a TikTok expert? Nope. But I think I'm down to see what the D'Amelios are all about. Even if I haven't set my own deepest/funniest 30-second thoughts to music and put them out for the world to enjoy, I'm certainly in awe of anyone who can do that as successfully as Charli and Dixie D'Amelio. And if this happens to become the next generation of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, at least I'll be able to say I was in on the ground floor.
Dug Days - Disney+
Picked by Copy Editor Mike Nam
Pixar's Up is widely lauded by the Internet for having a better love story in its opening minutes than most films, and now the talking pooch from the movie, Dug, and his senior citizen Carl Fredericksburg are embarking on a new relationship adventure. The series of shorts, which premiered on Wednesday, delivers a delightful surprise with iconic actor Ed Asner reprising his role as Carl. Asner sadly passed away recently at the age of 91. In the streaming series, Carl and Dug make their way to a new home in the burbs where Dug can get up to all kinds of mischief — including finally chasing a squirrel.
Untold: Crime & Penalties - Netflix
Picked by Producer Lawrence Banton
Netflix is on to something with its Untold series! My latest pick is the installment, Crime & Penalties, which examines the bad boys of the United Hockey League, the Danbury Trashers, and their ties to a convicted mobster James Galante. The story dives into the world of sports, violence, and organized crime with the team’s front office business being run by Galante’s 17-year-old son AJ as the general manager. From duffle bags full of cash to players paid under the table to targeted attacks directed at opponents on the ice, this documentary is sure to have you on the edge of your seat.
Candyman (1992) - Amazon Prime Video rental or free with Hulu
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
Despite the lack of a number or a colon in its title, the Candyman now in theaters is definitely more of a sequel than a remake, so make sure to first check out the 1992 original before buying a ticket. If you ask this lifelong horror fan, it's one of the best of that decade. Coming on the tail-end of the '80s slasher craze, the OG Candyman doesn't hold back when it comes to scares or effects, while at the same time tackling difficult themes such as racial violence, collective trauma, and urban development. It's also well put together, with striking on-location photography of Chicago (including footage of the Cabrini-Green housing development before it was demolished) and an iconic score from Philip Glass that will be stuck in your head long after the credits.
Looking for more to watch? Check out our recommendations from last week and the week before.
Neil Young has come up with an ultimatum for Spotify: his music or Joe Rogan’s podcast. This comes over concerns that the podcast is spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation to its listeners. "The Joe Rogan Experience," which is exclusive to Spotify, is currently the number one streamed podcast on the platform.
The American Federation Teachers Union has announced its latest partnership with NewsGuard in efforts to help educators play a greater role in deciphering facts from fiction that students see online. They say the goal is to help students build critical-thinking skills while also teaching them the importance of media literacy. Executive Vice President of Partnerships at NewsGuard, Sarah Bandt, joined Cheddar to talk more.
Doctor Caroline Leaf has created a 21-day program, consisting of five simple, but mindful, steps designed to rid our minds of toxic thoughts, anxiety, and depression. This brain detox is scientifically proven to impact one's happiness and success. Doctor Caroling Leaf, neuroscientist, author, and speaker at Switch Your Brain, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
The memoir, "COMPROMISED: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump", tells a familiar story from a bit of a different source: Peter Strzok himself, former FBI Counterintelligence Agents and Agency Veteran who spent most of his very long career investigating some of the most controversial inquiries, most notably in recent American history. Those inquiries were Hillary Clinton's email to even Trump Russia investigations. Former FBI Agent and Author of "Compromised" Peter Strzok, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Foodable Labs data shows restaurants that started offering vegan options saw a 13% increase in traffic. According to this 2018 study, 51% of U.S. restaurants now offer vegan options, and we can expect that number to keep rising. This week, one plant-based, fast-casual restaurant celebrates the grand opening of their first brick-and-mortar store in New York City: PLNT Burger. Ben Kaplan, CEO of PLNT Burger, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Commercial and residential buildings account for 13% of carbon emissions in the U.S., according to the EPA, and one company says it has a solution. Runwise says it has updated the boiler and heating systems of thousands of buildings, and that its technology not only lowers carbon output but also saves landlords money. Lee Hoffman, Co-Founder and COO of Runwise, joined Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Kirsten Jordan, real estate broker and star of 'Million Dollar Listing New York,' joins Cheddar News to talk about the state of New York City real estate, tips for homebuyers, and season 9 of the Bravo show.
No. 2 pencils or Scantron bubble sheets are a thing of the past for the SATs. Priscilla Rodriguez, head of college readiness assessment for the College Board, joined Cheddar News Wrap to talk about the modern overhaul of the college entrance exam. On top of the change to an all-digital format and shorter time limit, the latest iteration will feature updates to help with flexibility and security. "As we've built our own digital testing platform, the app the students will do this on, we built this with security at the core," Rodriguez said. "And, in going digital we can do something we can't do today, which is, give every student who's taking the SAT, let's say in a given day, even in a given room in a school, a different version of the SAT."
