This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Sebastian Stan in a scene from "Fresh." (Searchlight Pictures via AP)
This weekend, Cheddar recommends sitting down with the birth of Showtime in Los Angeles, a dating horror story, a Cold War tale that seems awfully contemporary, and the rom-com classic that taught us all about what water can do to a fresh perm.
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Picked by Digital Editor Mike Nam
Before Steph, Lebron, Kobe, and Michael, there were Magic and Larry. The 1980s saw the rebirth of the moribund National Basketball Association and, not coincidentally, the return to glory for the Los Angeles Lakers and its rivalry with the Boston Celtics. At the center of "Showtime" versus "Celtic Pride" were a host of sociopolitical, cultural, and racial divisions the entire country was undergoing, and the creators of The Big Short and Don't Look Up fashioned a fictionalized, fourth-wall-breaking limited series in Winning Time to give you the perspectives of Ervin "Magic" Johnson, team owner Jerry Buss, and the other major figures when sexiness and entertainment were married to the game of professional basketball, making the sport what it is today.
Fresh - Hulu
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
Hulu has been churning out original horror flicks for the past few years, but very few have distinguished themselves amid the wash of new streaming content. Director Mimi Cave’s Fresh is one such exception. This is pulpy shock-horror at its finest, so the less said the better. But let’s just say it's a tale of modern dating gone horribly, horribly wrong. The two leads, Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones have real chemistry, which they carry forward into the film’s utterly disturbing second half. The squeamish should turn back now, but horror-heads should get a kick out of this tale of a meet-cute-turned-cat-and-mouse chase.
Without Remorse - Amazon Prime Video
Picked by Producer Lawrence Banton
With Amazon announcing the acquisition of MGM in an $8.5 billion deal, I figured I'd show some love to Prime's original content. Without Remorse, starring Michael B. Jordan, is an action-packed thriller, based on a Tom Clancy novel, that follows an elite Navy SEAL seeking revenge for the murder of his wife. Amid the search for those responsible, the protagonist John Kelly discovers a plot that could tip the scales in favor of an all-out war between the United States and Russia. Kelly becomes tasked with two major responsibilities: avenge his wife's death and get to the bottom of the conspiracy — which might be homegrown, leading to increased tension between the two countries. If you're into action and a good whodunnit flick, I think you'll be pleased.
Legally Blonde - Roku Channel, Tubi, and Pluto
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
While I try to get through a bunch of series that have been recommended by colleagues (hello,The Gilded Age,Ozark, and Insecure!) maybe it's time for something a little longer. As Amazon snaps up MGM, perhaps I'll add something from its archive to my viewing list for the weekend, like, say, Legally Blonde. Who knew it would turn out to be a classic — one of the top-grossing films in MGM history, according to The Numbers. Reese Witherspoon has made a lot of films over her career, but this one, arguably, launched her into movie stardom, playing a rich sorority girl who decides to go to Harvard Law in order to hang onto her beloved beau. It's silly, quirky, and very, very light, but following an Ozark marathon (see above), it may provide a much-needed break.
Looking for more to watch? Check out our recommendations from last week and the week before.
Catching you up on the entertainment headlines of the day with Justin Timberlake selling his entire musical catalog to IP management firm Hipgnosis, Ellen DeGeneres airing the final episode of her show, Alanis Morissette making a guest appearance on Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ tour, and more.
Cheddar recently teamed up with Amazon Bestseller Jamie Hopkins to explore the term 'Rewirement' while highlighting those who didn't let retirement be the end of their journey... Instead, they used it as a new beginning.
Today, Jamie is speaking with Linda Lombri, a former home economist and marketing executive, and Virginia Cornue, a former cultural anthropologist. For them, retirement didn't mean stopping work--it meant re-inventing themselves and living out their dreams of becoming mystery authors, even though neither had written fiction before. Together, Linda and Virginia began an e-book series, the Sandra Troux Mysteries.
Brightseed Co-Founder Sofia Elizondo breaks down what plant bioactives are, and how they're using the latest technology to study human's biological connections with plants.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Brightseed Co-Founder breaks down what plant bioactives are, and how they're using the latest technology to study human's biological connections with plants; Esper Bionics CEO breaks down how they re creating a mind-controlled bionic hand that guest smarter the more you use it; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Capturing A Black Hole In Our Milky Way.'
The number of births in the U.S. increased last year for the first time in seven years. According to a new federal report, about 3.6 million babies were born in 2021, only about a 1% increase from 2020. Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst for creditcards.com, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss why the pandemic baby boom was more like a baby bust, and how to raise kids while on a tight budget.
Following the mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two adults dead, the debate over gun control has been reignited. While studies have shows most Americans agree on some additional regulations, there hasn't been much legislative traction even as gun violence worsens in the country. Brian Lemek, the executive director of Defend The Vote and the former executive director at Brady PAC for gun control, joined Cheddar to discuss reform efforts. "The lawmakers that we have aren't passing these at the federal level," he said. "That's the problem. We have the wrong people in charge."
The crypto industry is still reeling from Terra's recent crash. The company's blockchain was temporarily halted earlier this month after the collapse of its cryptocurrency Luna (LUNA) and its stablecoin TerraUSD (UST), which led to almost $45 billion being wiped from the tokens' market caps within a week. Now, many are left wondering what Terra's struggles mean for the broader crypto market. Reeve Collins, CEO of the NFT platform BLOCKv, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell from Davos 2022 to discuss.
China's largest ride-hailing company will no longer be listed on the world's largest stock exchange. Didi shareholders voted on Monday to delist from the New York Stock Exchange, less than a year after launching a $4.4 billion IPO with the most significant U.S. share offering by a Chinese company since Alibaba debuted in 2014. Since going public in June of last year, around $70 billion has been wiped from Didi's market value and shares of the company have dropped nearly 90%. Now, Didi is expected to begin preparations to list in Hong Kong. Kevin T. Carter, founder and Chief Investment Officer of EMQQ Global, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
