Damian Lewis attends Showtime's "Billions" Season 2 premiere at Cipriani on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Here comes the weekend again, so it's time to relax and peruse our what-to-watch list. From the long-awaiting return of Billions to a show about a murder mystery podcast and everything we love (and hate) about New York, Cheddar's digital team might have a few suggestions.
Billions: Season 5 - Showtime
Picked by Producer Lawrence Banton
After more than a year-long mid-season hiatus when the pandemic shut down production, Bobby Axelrod, played by actor Damian Lewis, is back to managing his hedge fund. Showtime’s Billions explores the sometimes erratic behavior of the billionaire and his pursuit to manipulate markets in his favor. The entire series is a tug-of-war between good and bad. And for the not-so-business savvy, you can even use it as an introduction into the world of institutional investing! Of course, the show isn’t strictly business: there’s drama and lots of it! Sex, lies, videotape, and billion-dollar investments is what keeps fans running back to this series.
New York Stories - The Criterion Channel
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
Excuse my local bias here, but The Criterion Channel this month started streaming dozens of classic films based in New York City. The collection, titled "New York Stories," is broken up into multiple categories, from "Downtown" to "New York Romance'' to "New York in the 1970s." Some are likely familiar to film buffs, such as The Naked City, West Side Story, and Do the Right Thing, but there are dozens of fascinating deep-cuts also based in the Big Apple. If you're looking for a seedy crime drama, I recommend Abel Ferrara's King of New York, starring Christopher Walken. If you like documentaries, you can't go wrong with Paris Is Burning, which chronicles drag culture in Harlem. For a thriller, go with the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, which no doubt has some of the best native New York character actors in the history of cinema. And for my personal favorite, check out Martin Scorsese's underrated After Hours. It's the story of a guy who sets off into the night and finds himself in a whirlwind of bizarre characters and absurd situations that might just be familiar to long-time residents and visitors alike.
Only Murders in the Building - Hulu
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
While searching for The D'Amelio Show last week, I saw Only Murders in the Building promoted on Hulu. It's been a while since I enjoyed some of the absurd comedy that Steve Martin and Martin Short are so well known for, but I'm here for it now. Selena Gomez is certainly a surprising addition to the new Three Amigos and I'm excited to see how she mixes with a couple of comedic greats.
Looking for more to watch? Check out our recommendations from last week and the week before.
Tire manufacturer Michelin is partnering with the popular video game "The Sims FreePlay" in order to meet teens where they are to promote driving safety. Michelin North America Chairman and President Alexis Garcin joined Cheddar News to discuss how the #GoldenGauge program integrates with the game. "If you're a gamer yourself or your kids, then while you're driving and moving on the application, you will find a Michelin billboard, and if you engage with that billboard, then you will get some advice about how tires are critical for your safety on the road," Garcin explained. *Updated with the full title of 'The Sims FreePlay' and a typo fix in the name of Alexis Garcin.*
The video game industry has come a long way from the first commercialized 3D video game in 1980, but it still has a long way to go. Video game creators have recently been called out for not having realistic Black hairstyles in their games and graphic artists are now taking matters into their own hands by creating The Open Source Afro Hair Library. Jovan Wilson, 3D artist and resident for The Open Source Afro Hair Library, joined All Hands to discuss.
Neil Young has come up with an ultimatum for Spotify: his music or Joe Rogan’s podcast. This comes over concerns that the podcast is spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation to its listeners. "The Joe Rogan Experience," which is exclusive to Spotify, is currently the number one streamed podcast on the platform.
The American Federation Teachers Union has announced its latest partnership with NewsGuard in efforts to help educators play a greater role in deciphering facts from fiction that students see online. They say the goal is to help students build critical-thinking skills while also teaching them the importance of media literacy. Executive Vice President of Partnerships at NewsGuard, Sarah Bandt, joined Cheddar to talk more.
Doctor Caroline Leaf has created a 21-day program, consisting of five simple, but mindful, steps designed to rid our minds of toxic thoughts, anxiety, and depression. This brain detox is scientifically proven to impact one's happiness and success. Doctor Caroling Leaf, neuroscientist, author, and speaker at Switch Your Brain, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
The memoir, "COMPROMISED: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump", tells a familiar story from a bit of a different source: Peter Strzok himself, former FBI Counterintelligence Agents and Agency Veteran who spent most of his very long career investigating some of the most controversial inquiries, most notably in recent American history. Those inquiries were Hillary Clinton's email to even Trump Russia investigations. Former FBI Agent and Author of "Compromised" Peter Strzok, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Foodable Labs data shows restaurants that started offering vegan options saw a 13% increase in traffic. According to this 2018 study, 51% of U.S. restaurants now offer vegan options, and we can expect that number to keep rising. This week, one plant-based, fast-casual restaurant celebrates the grand opening of their first brick-and-mortar store in New York City: PLNT Burger. Ben Kaplan, CEO of PLNT Burger, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Commercial and residential buildings account for 13% of carbon emissions in the U.S., according to the EPA, and one company says it has a solution. Runwise says it has updated the boiler and heating systems of thousands of buildings, and that its technology not only lowers carbon output but also saves landlords money. Lee Hoffman, Co-Founder and COO of Runwise, joined Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Kirsten Jordan, real estate broker and star of 'Million Dollar Listing New York,' joins Cheddar News to talk about the state of New York City real estate, tips for homebuyers, and season 9 of the Bravo show.
No. 2 pencils or Scantron bubble sheets are a thing of the past for the SATs. Priscilla Rodriguez, head of college readiness assessment for the College Board, joined Cheddar News Wrap to talk about the modern overhaul of the college entrance exam. On top of the change to an all-digital format and shorter time limit, the latest iteration will feature updates to help with flexibility and security. "As we've built our own digital testing platform, the app the students will do this on, we built this with security at the core," Rodriguez said. "And, in going digital we can do something we can't do today, which is, give every student who's taking the SAT, let's say in a given day, even in a given room in a school, a different version of the SAT."
