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.
M&M's is rebranding its iconic chocolate candy characters with new looks and storylines highlighting the "progressive world" we live in today. Jane Hwang, global vice president of M&M's, joined Cheddar to talk about the company's rebrand. "M&M's is on a mission to create a world where everyone feels they belong," she said. The multi-colored, anthropomorphized candies will be getting an updated look and tone, according to Hwang, such as Green receiving a makeover that reflects more female empowerment and confidence.
The Department of Agriculture has officially unveiled its plan to fight catastrophic wildfires that have devastated parts of the West in the last few years. The department, along with the Forest Service will work to significantly increase fuels and forest health treatments to address the escalating crisis of wildfire danger. Executive Editor of Cipher, a publication by Breakthrough Energy, Amy Harder, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
A new report out on Linkedin says that Crypto-related job postings in the US surged to 395% between 2020 and 2021. Job titles which included titles containing "Bitcoin", "Ethereum", "Blockchain", and cryptocurrency, all outpaced jobs in the wider tech industry which saw a 98% increase in listings during the same time period. LinkedIn also notes that the most common crypto job postings were blockchain developers and engineers. CEO of Radkl, Ryan Sheftel, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
A new study has been causing a lot of buzz in the cannabis industry. Researchers from Oregon State University found that compounds in cannabis could prevent infection with COVID-19, but that doesn't mean smoking marijuana prevents people from getting infected. CV Sciences medical advisor Dr. Michael Lewis joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Software company BigPanda recently raised $190 million in Series D funding, led by Advent International and Insight Partners. The funding round gives the company unicorn status with a $1.2 billion valuation. BigPanda develops A.I. software that detects and analyzes problems in I.T. systems. The company says it aims to be the solution for other companies that do not have enough manpower to manage their data, as more and more industries continue to build a broader digital presence. BigPanda co-founder and CEO Assaf Resnick joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Amazon Prime announced the name of the highly anticipated Middle-Earth prequel streaming series to be called "The Rings of Power," premiering on September 2. The show takes place thousands of years before the stories set in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."
Sebastien Lagree, creator and founder of Lagree Fitness, joins Cheddar News to talk about the growth of Lagree Fitness and industry trends to watch in 2022.
We've all seen the headlines about a record number of Americans quitting their jobs in what's become known as the Great Resignation. However, new data on why people are leaving the workforce in droves suggests the bigger headline is Americans are simply burned out. Stephanie Aston, CEO of Black Girl Group, joined Cheddar News to break down why so many employees have reached their breaking points and what employers can do about it.
Nikhilesh De, managing editor of global regulation and policy at CoinDesk, joins Cheddar News to discuss Bitcoin's slump and corporations' growing interest in NFTs.
Thrive Market is a health-first membership for conscious living, with a mission to make healthy and sustainable living easy and accessible. Nick Green, CEO and co-founder, chatted with Cheddar's Baker Machado about the company's approach and new ventures in 2022. "I grew up outside of Minneapolis, middle class, middle America, and really saw firsthand how hard my mom had to work to put healthy food on the table, on a budget, without a health food store nearby," he said. "Twenty-some years later we looked around and just thought it was crazy that millions of Americans are still struggling with the same thing, and we decided to change it." Recently the brand released a line of organic frozen products and will be introducing new beauty and home brands.
