"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Box Office Forecasts Are In
The first box office forecasts for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" are in and it's looking like the sequel is the hit Hollywood has been waiting for this year. Bauer Xcel Media's Kate Spies and FHM's Nick Dimengo join Cheddar to discuss the early reviews and more top entertainment headlines. They say that while it might not match the success of 2015's "The Force Awakens," it is sure to be the biggest movie of the year.
Next, we discuss the sexual harassment scandal facing NFL Network. The league's broadcasting arm suspended three of its former players now working as on-air analysts. Dimengo and Spies put the news in the context of the NFL's controversy-riddled year.
We also get the latest on the #MeToo movement's influence in the food industry. Ten women came forward to The New York Times, accusing restaurateur Ken Friedman of sexual harassment.
Finally, we get a preview of the newest season of "The Bachelor," and the ladies vying for leading man Arie's heart.
In the past few years, Betthany Frankel has made a major name for herself as a philanthropist after founding the
BStrong initiative, which has provided relief to people impacted by natural disasters as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, BStrong is shifting its focus to Ukraine, raising millions of dollars in donations for those impacted by Russia's invasion. Bethenny Frankel, the founder of BStrong, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Ari Redbord, Head of Legal and Government Affairs at TRM Labs, discusses how Binance, Coinbase and Kraken's decision to not unilaterally ban all Russian users from their platforms could put a dent in the West's plan to economically punish Russia.
One of Europe's leading micromobility providers, TIER mobility, is expanding into North America after acquiring the micromobility operator, Spin. Ford Motor Company previously owned Spin but is now selling the company to TIER Mobility, which says the deal will make it the largest multimodal micromobility operator in the world in terms of the number of cities it operates in and the number of vehicles in its fleet. Lawrence Leuschner, CEO of TIER Mobility, and Ben Bear, CEO of Spin, join Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
World Central Kitchen is Ukraine helping to feed people remaining in the country or fleeing from the Russian forces. Nate Mook, CEO for the non-profit, joined Cheddar New to discuss the efforts being made to help those in need in a very tenuous situation and how the invasion disrupted the lives of Ukrainian people."We met a young woman from Kyiv who had crossed into Poland, she had a great job, she just moved into a new apartment. She was really excited about decorating her apartment. You know, things that we all do on a day-to-day basis, and she had to just abandon her life," he said.
Digital consulting company Publicis Sapient has its sights set on the Metaverse. The subsidiary of the French advertising giant Publicis Group is announcing a new partnership with NFT auction house Portion in an effor to help brands deliver experiences in the metaverse, including the sales of products. Publicis Sapient CEO Nigel Vaz joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "In the context of our collaboration with Portion, the first experience that we created was with Decentraland, which is a virtual world," he said. "And car manufacturers in this metaverse, in terms of their buyers, can interact with a virtual person, (and) they can view quality NFTs. They can examine a virtual vehicle, be inside the car, rev an engine, open doors, all without leaving their homes."
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is a campaign to educate the public about the harsh realities of eating disorders, but also to provide support and visibility to individuals and families affected by an eating disorder. Sarah Adler, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Vittorio Assaf, co-founder of Serafina, joins Cheddar News to discuss two new concepts from Serafina Restaurants in NYC: Cafe Serafina and Serafina To-Go. Assaf also talks about the company's new cookbook.
Maude Okrah, co-founder of Black Beauty Roster, joins Cheddar News to discuss how her company is working with WarnerMedia to provide diverse makeup and hair stylists for actors of color on set.