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.
After premiering at the 2022 Sundance Festival, Showtime is slated to drop the four-part docuseries "We Need to Talk About Bill Cosby" this Sunday. Director W. Kamau Bell joined Cheddar to discuss the sensitive project and about coming to grips with the reality of who Bill Cosby is following the numerous allegations of sexual assault. Bell said the biggest takeaway from the project is that survivors are not only looking for the 84-year-old comedian to be held accountable, they also want to prevent future assaults. "Maybe the key thing to learn is how do we create a society that is more supportive and accepting particularly women in this case who are survivors of sexual assault," Bell said.
Tax season is now underway, and it's going to be a bit different than in years past. For starters, the deadline is April 18, instead of the typical April 15th, and many Americans will need to account for advance child tax credit payments, the return of the recovery rebate credit, and a special break for charitable contributions, among other things. Brent Weiss, Co-Founder and certified financial planner at Facet Wealth, tells us what we need to know about filing our taxes this year, and when we can expect to receive our returns.
College enrollment has been on a steady decline for years, and the pandemic hasn't helped. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 6.6% — more than 1 million students — drop in undergraduate enrollment, according to a recent report. Douglas Belkin, higher education reporter at the Wall Street Journal, joined Cheddar to discuss the long-term implications of students sitting out of college, and what institutions can do about it.
As the midterm election looms, things aren't looking too promising for President Joe Biden. One year into his term as president, Biden is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president, threatening his party's control of the House in 2022. Brian Bennett, Senior White House Correspondent for TIME, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
A full one year into his term as President of The United States, President Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday, facing questions on everything from inflation to chip shortages and covid-19. As Biden enters his second year in office, he is facing one of the lowest approval ratings of any modern-day president. Kate Davidson, Reporter, POLITICO joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
San Diego has just implemented a new law that could set the stage for how the country deals with food waste. This new law hopes to make a dent in that. Businesses and groceries stores out in San Diego will need to put a plan in place to *donate edible food rather than toss it straight to the trash. Food Rescue Manager at Feeding San Diego, Kate Garret
The streaming giant Netflix posted its latest earnings from its fourth quarter after the close on Thursday. The company's stock plummeted shortly after the company warned that its rate of subscription additions are slowing down. Senior Reporter at MarketWatch Jon Swartz, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Earlier this month, New York City experienced one of the deadliest fires it has seen in decades. 17 people lost their lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx. This was due to a faulty space heater which reportedly began on the lower floor of the 120 unit building. Thanks to the F. D. N. Y. And heroic neighbors, many were able to get out in time. Unfortunately, the toxic smoke surged upwards through a safety door. Now, many advocates say negligence by policymakers and landlords has led to the deaths in black and brown communities from fires that honestly could have been preventable. Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York, Rebecca Garrard, and the Chair of Journalism and New Media Studies at St. Joseph's College Theodore Hamm, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
