Wondering what to watch this weekend? This week we suggest the secrets to aging gracefully, life after boxing, a serious criminal drama and classic John Steinbeck.
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones - Netflix
Picked by Senior Editor Dina Ross
To live a long and healthy life is a worthy goal and pockets of people throughout the world seem to have found the secret. So-called blue zones are regions where people tend to live longer than the average human. Explorer and best-selling author Dan Buettner, who has long studied these populations, now hosts a beautiful new docuseries that tries to show viewers how living life differently can change their lives for the better.
For someone who has never watched a boxing or MMA fight, it's definitely weird that this is my second documentary pick on a fighter. However, after watching this series, you will see why.
As you can imagine, with my limited background in the sport, I’m embarrassed to say that I didn't know who Tyson Fury was. However, I found myself interested when I realized the show also featured his half-brother Tommy and sister-in-law Molly-Mae Hague, contestants from Love Island U.K. The dynamics in this show are unreal. First, you have Tyson navigating his mental health challenges after retiring from boxing. Then, the journey of Molly-Mae’s pregnancy. And to top it all off, a glimpse into Irish Traveller culture. Needless to say, I'm absolutely sold.
I found this little gem of a show on Hulu and pretty much binged the entire first season. Each episode opens with a courtroom scene focused on a character standing trial for committing an egregious crime. These ordinary, everyday people find themselves in the most improbable predicaments and fighting for their freedom. Morally, many of them are in the right but we all know the law doesn't operate on moral values. No one episode is connected to another so feel free to skip around
The Grapes of Wrath - Rentable on YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu
Picked by Newsletter Writer Graison Dangor
This feels like a timely watch ahead of Labor Day and the start of a new school year, when untold numbers of kids will get the novel as assigned reading. (Maybe watching this could be extra credit?
The Chinese government brought the sitcom "Friends" back to its streaming services. However, it had instances of LGBTQ+ references left out, after the series had been banned on Chinese streaming platforms for years.
Season 13 "Shark Tank" contestant Tania Speaks secured a $400,000 deal for her Speaks Organic Skincare brand with "Shark" Mark Cuban while also being named one of the best pitches in the history of the show — all at 19 years old. Now 20, Speaks joined Cheddar News to talk about the skincare line, the clean beauty industry, and the moment that host Cuban was moved by her pitch. "I couldn't believe that he got emotional. I'm surprised I held back my tears that long," the young entrepreneur revealed. "It's just amazing for someone else to be inspired by your story, especially Mark Cuban himself."
The media giant formerly known as ViacomCBS has officially rebranded itself as Paramount Global with a focus on its streaming service, Paramount Plus. Naveen Chopra, chief financial officer at Paramount, joined Cheddar to discuss the company’s name change and streaming wars. "There are components of content licensing that we continue to do, either historical arrangements or opportunities to license content that don't really impinge on what we're trying to do with our owned and operated services and that continues to be an important ingredient in our broader financial model," he said. "But our number one priority is putting our best assets on Paramount Plus." Chopra also discussed theatrical release windows before feature films hit its service and the platform's subscription goals.
In efforts to help support black-owned brands. Ulta Beauty says it will make a commitment to not only give these brand shelf space but also help them navigate the ins and outs of growing a business. Last week, the beauty retailer announced in order to reach those goals, the company will spend $50 million on diversity and inclusion programs, including an accelerated program to mentor entrepreneurs of color. CEO of Ulta Beauty, Dave Kimbell, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
For black history month, Cheddar is highlighting black business leaders who are driving the need for representation forward. On February 10, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted an event called 'Developing the Black-Owned Business Ecosystem.' The virtual event was organized under the lobbying group's two initiatives -- the Equality of Opportunity Initiative, and the Coalition to Back Black Businesses. The event highlighted the developments needed to develop more black-owned businesses in the U.S. Dr. Anthony Wilbon, Dean of the School of Business at Howard University, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss his experience as a speaker at the event.
While Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans, it's also a time to reflect on how they can be better heard and supported.
Black Americans are still fighting for voting rights, facing more severe impacts from COVID-19, and experiencing gaps in workforce representation and pay. Alexandra Schrecengost, hybrid work expert and CEO of "Virtual With Us" and "Culture With Us,' joined Cheddar News to discuss.
