*By Amanda Weston*
There's something about catching a show at a comedy club that you can't quite get when watching a stand-up routine on TV.
"There's a special connection when you're at the venue, the comedian's on stage and you're in the room. So to recapture that is hard on video," said Cipha Sounds, host of truTV's "Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks."
His show is trying to change that.
"Laff Tracks" [overlays](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZxWJ6CTr63aQuz6C0uPAMPQbBG4jmZ2q) exaggerated video re-enactments on recordings of up-and-coming comics' stand-up routines.
"These re-enactments give it a whole new life. It makes a joke come alive, and also you want to re-watch it because it's not just some just comedian walking back and forth onstage ー which is fine, because I love doing that ー but it gives it a whole new life," he said.
Breathing new life into the genre is especially important in the streaming era ー while Netflix has made a concerted effort to sign on top-tier comedians, from David Letterman to Jerry Seinfeld, younger talent can still find a stage on platforms like YouTube.
"Nowadays, there are so many outlets, so many venues, so many different styles of comedy you can do," Sounds said. "It's literally the best time in comedy."
"Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks" returns for its second season on September 13 on truTV.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/laff-mobbs-laff-tracks-at-forefront-of-comedy).
'Top Gun: Maverick' making an estimated $156 million domestically for its four-day opening weekend. Daniel Loria, SVP of Content Strategy and Editorial Director at Boxoffice Pro, joins Cheddar News to weigh in on the long-awaited sequel and the summer box office.
The holiday weekend saw Disney+ and Netflix competing head-to-head for streaming views as the Disney behemoth kicked off the unofficial start to summer with its release of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and Netflix responded with the first part of "Stranger Things" Season 4. The streaming giants caught the eye of Wall Street, and Seth Schachner, the managing director at consultancy Strat Americas, joined Cheddar News to break down the heavy hitters. "This is a very tough, competitive game, and I don't see it getting any easier," he said. "I think you'll probably see more consolidation."
The founder and president of Cyborg Mobile Kobie Hatcher has been on a strong trajectory to disrupt his industry with a program called The New Technologists. It's not only meant to address the diversity gap within large tech companies but also help pave the way to transform the lives of young BIPOC students. He joined Cheddar News to talk about how he's working to make a difference with the lack of diversity in tech. “There's truly no lack of talent out there. It's just identifying them and letting them know that, hey, I've been in the tech sector for over 20 years. I see you. I know what you can bring, bring it, we need it," Hatcher said.
Catching you up on the entertainment headlines of the day with "Top Gun: Maverick" soaring up to a record opening at $160.5M, Harry Styles also hitting number one on Billboard with "Harry's House," Netflix released images of Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro," and more.
Constituent service platform Indigov recently raised $25 million in a Series B funding round. Indigov bills itself as a constituent relationship management tool that helps elected officials improve the way they organize, respond to, and engage those they serve. The startup's services are being used by federal, state, and local governments across the country, including the U.S. House of Representatives. Alex Kouts, founder & CEO of Indigov, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The 2022 NBA playoffs are intensifying as four teams vie for an NBA finals berth. Tonight, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors can book their finals ticket with a win over the Dallas Mavericks, while Miami will be feeling the 'heat' tomorrow night, facing elimination against the Boston Celtics.
And with the growing popularity of sports betting, the NBA playoffs offers a potential money-making opportunity for fans. Trysta Krick, host of BetMGM Tonight, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
As the holiday weekend arrives, travelers are bracing themselves for higher gas prices amid the inflation surge, but Robert Sinclair, AAA spokesperson, joined Cheddar News to discuss how the higher costs likely won't hold people back this Memorial Day Weekend. “We're near pre-pandemic levels. Nearly 40 million people are traveling. And of that total, about 35 million will be driving to their destinations," he said.