Showtime's Your Honor tells the story of a judge, played by Emmy award winner Bryan Cranston, dedicated to his career — but even more dedicated to his family when he is forced to cover for his son in a hit-and-run accident. Looking even deeper, the limited series draws attention to the American judicial system, where money and privilege often give those accused of crimes another leg to stand on.
Andrene Ward-Hammond, who plays Big Mo on the series, told Cheddar the show is a springboard for jumping into uncomfortable, but necessary, conversations about the court system.
"It's holding a mirror to exactly what's happening right now. It's generating the conversation that we need to have," she said. "People are triggered by it. People are upset by it. It's not just for entertainment but calls into question, 'Why does this happen and why do you feel the way that you do after watching it? Why are you triggered by it?' and I think we don't have enough of that conversation."
Ward-Hammond's character, a strong arm in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, commands attention when she speaks and often makes her presence felt without relying on overbearing tactics, a trait the actress said was easy for her to embody.
"I am Big Mo. Not in the illegal sense, but I'm a mom. I'm a protector of my community. I root for the underdog, and I make sure that those that are not taken care of, that they have a voice," she said. "I'm a huge protector of those that are around me, so it wasn't hard to draw for Big Mo at all."
In the series, New Orleans itself plays a role as the plot is steeped in the city's rich culture. Ward-Hammond explains that The Big Easy is as integral to telling the story as the dialogue between characters.
"The color, the culture, the history in itself is the backdrop of the story. You see what post-[Hurricane] Katrina looks like there. You see the culture from two vantage points, the privileged and the poor, and what that looks like," she said.
Though the limited series has garnered much attention, Showtime currently has no plans to extend the show beyond this season. The finale is slated to air Sunday, February 14.
Sēkr, a mobile app that aims to improve and digitize the outdoor travel experience, announced this week that it raised a $2.25 million seed round. In the Sēkr app, users can get access to more than 50,000 campsites throughout the U.S. including the nation's largest database of free campsites. The company is saying it is on a mission to make every step of the planning experience for outdoor travel easier, safer, and more social. Breanne Acio, co-founder and CEO of Sēkr, and Jess Shisler, co-founder and COO, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
In a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed for a controversial new version of the Alabama congressional map to remain in place. The lower court had previously ordered that the state must redraw that congressional map because it violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the political power of Black voters. Redistricting expert Yurij Rudensky joins Cheddar News to weigh in.
The Winter Olympics are in full swing and athletes from around the globe are showcasing their elite skills at a wide variety of events. There's a lot of excitement but also a lot of pressure for these athletes. Former NFL defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion Dominique Easley joined Cheddar News to weigh in.
American freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf joins Cheddar News to talk about taking home the silver medal in the Women's Moguls Final at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
This episode of ChedHER is all about helping women thrive in their careers and rise up in the ranks. Guests include female leaders from across industries including sports, advertising, and so much more.
Sonja Stills, Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, joins ChedHER to discuss her experience being the first female leader in this role, and how she plans on carrying on the legacy of the MEAC.
Sheri Bachstein, CEO of The Weather Company and GM of IBM Watson Advertising, joins ChedHER to discuss her successes in this role, and how she's helping women thrive in the c-suite.
