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.
Chicago schools opened their doors again following a dispute between the teachers union and the city over as the omicron variant continues to surge, but the safety issues they fought over weren't just limited to the Windy City. Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, family medicine and urgent care doctor, joined Cheddar in discussing concerns of parents, teachers, and students as schools try to operate amid COVID and noted what she's been observing as the number of infections among children rises. "I am seeing them contract the illness from so many different aspects," she said. "It could be from a fellow classmate. It could be from a parent. All of those things really play in the effect of transmission as well as contracting the illness."
One startup is working to reverse climate change one seed at a time. Terraformation is a global forest accelerator that provides tools, training, financing, and business support to help scale forest restoration projects worldwide. Forests naturally absorb carbon and Terraformation says that reforestation is a safe, low-cost, and scalable solution to the climate crisis. Yee Lee, VP of growth at Terraformation, joins Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Tony Horton, fitness guru and creator of the famous P90X workout joins Cheddar News to discuss how people can stay focused and maintain fitness in the new year.
Meet Corrine Tan, American Girl’s 2022 Girl of the Year. Corrine is the first doll of Chinese descent from the company, debuting in response to a rise in hate crimes against the Asian American community. Jamie Cygielman, president and general manager of American Girl, spoke to Cheddar about the long development of the character. "As the pandemic began we started to see a lot of anti-Asian sentiment across the country," she said. "We sort of blended all of these stories together to create Corinne, an outline for Corinne, and then partnered with the wonderful author Wendy Shang to help tell that story to our fans." Cygielman also touched on linking up with AAPI Youth Rising, donating $25,000 for education efforts.
Janet Phan, founder of Thriving Elements and author of 'Boldly You,' joins Cheddar News to discuss the importance of being a mentor and how her organization is helping the next generation of STEM leaders.
Daniel Freedman, co-CEO of Burnalong, joins Cheddar News to talk about how Burnalong is helping companies support its staff and prevent workplace burnout.
Dave Epstein, meteorologist and contributor to The Boston Globe, joins Cheddar News to discuss the arctic blast hitting the Midwest and Northeastern area.
Decorated skier Lindsey Vonn did not hold back when touching on mental health in "Rise," her new memoir. "My mental health is definitely part of my story," she said. "Now I'm just thankful that this conversation is so much more talked about — Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, Kevin Love, Michael Phelps, all have been outspoken about it." She noted that she felt happy that readers, particularly kids, get to see a vulnerable side to her in the book. The gold medalist also went on to note what she's most looking forward to watching in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day fast approaching, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C. 6th District), the House Majority Whip, talked about the importance of honoring the iconic civil rights activist. "As we consider the life and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., let's think about who and what we are as a country, and whether or not we're going to give up on the ideals of this country or continue to press forward," he said. Clyburn also discussed the push for new voting legislation, the For the People Act and the John Lewis Act, as well as the fate of the Senate filibuster.
