Latest news with #FritoLay
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
'Creator' of Flamin' Hot Cheetos loses PepsiCo, Frito-Lay lawsuit
May 29 (Reuters) - PepsiCo (PEP.O), opens new tab won the dismissal of a lawsuit by a former executive who said the food and beverage company defrauded and defamed him by denying that he invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos. In a decision on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Holcomb said Richard Montanez, who retired from PepsiCo in 2019 to become a full-time motivational speaker, did not show that PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay unit intentionally reneged on a promise to tell the "true story" of how he created the popular spicy chips. The Santa Ana, California-based judge also said PepsiCo did not defame Montanez by allegedly refusing in 2023 to assist in a documentary about his life unless it debunked his claim. Holcomb said the actual malice standard for defamation, requiring knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth, was appropriate based on Montanez's describing himself as "part of the cultural canon" through two best-selling books and a hit movie directed by Eva Longoria. Lawyers for Montanez did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. Camille Vasquez, a lawyer for Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo, declined to comment. Montanez began in 1976 as a Frito-Lay janitor in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and rose to become PepsiCo's vice president of multicultural marketing and sales. He said he sparked what became Flamin' Hot Cheetos around 1989, when took unflavored Cheetos home to experiment with seasonings and "drew inspiration" from elote, a Mexican grilled corn seasoned with chili powder. PepsiCo introduced Flamin' Hot Cheetos in 1992, and made it a multibillion-dollar brand. Montanez said he once booked 35 speaking engagements annually at $10,000 to $50,000 each but lost most bookings after a Los Angeles Times article in May 2021 in which Frito-Lay rejected the "urban legend" that he invented the snack chips. Frito-Lay later said its comments were misconstrued, and it had no reason to doubt Montanez's efforts to create new Cheetos products. The newspaper defended its reporting. Montanez's story about Flamin' Hot Cheetos was told in Longoria's 2023 film "Flamin' Hot" and in two memoirs. The case is Martinez v PepsiCo Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 24-01792.
Globe and Mail
19-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
2 Monster Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 Years
Consumer staples companies sell things that people tend to buy regardless of the economic environment and stock market dynamics. They are looked at as safe-haven investments for that reason. But two of the industry's best-known companies are struggling today and, if you think long term, that is likely to be a buying opportunity. Here's why these two monster food stocks are buy-and-hold investments for the next decade. 1. PepsiCo is the snack king PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) is named after its famous soda brand. Beverages are a very important business, but the company is the No. 2 player in the beverage industry. It is the No. 1 company in salty snacks, however, with its Frito-Lay brand. It also has a material packaged food business in Quaker Oats. All in, it is one of the most diversified consumer staples food companies you can buy, with strong innovation, distribution, and marketing skills. And still the company's business, like all others, goes through good times and bad. Right now, PepsiCo is facing bad times, with top-line growth cooling after a spurt of inflation-driven growth coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. Frito-Lay is also facing some headwinds as snacking trends appear to be changing. This isn't the first time PepsiCo has dealt with adversity over the last 53 years. That's how long it has increased its dividend, proving that this Dividend King knows how to survive. You have to have a good business model that gets executed well in both good times and bad to achieve a dividend record like that. The key today is that PepsiCo isn't sitting around idle, hoping for things to change. It is focused on cutting costs, improving efficiencies, and adjusting its mix to better appeal to consumers. That last point includes everything from changing the size of its packages to buying entire companies, like Siete, which makes Mexican-American fare, and Poppi, which makes probiotic beverages. Siete and Poppi are on-trend brands that will benefit from being plugged into PepsiCo's powerful distribution system. It may take a few years for PepsiCo to work through to better days. But with a historically high 4.4% dividend yield, investors are being paid very well to wait it out. 2. Hershey is a confectionary giant While Hershey (NYSE: HSY) isn't the largest consumer staples company around, it is the U.S. leader in the confections space. You almost certainly know its namesake brand and its powerful Reese's franchise. While it doesn't have the same Dividend King status as PepsiCo, Hershey's dividend has trended steadily higher over time. The dividend yield is a historically high 3.4% or so today. The big problem facing Hershey right now is an astonishing rise in cocoa prices. Cocoa, a somewhat volatile commodity even during the best of times, is a key input into chocolate. The rising costs for cocoa will be a major headwind to margins in the near term. Investors have dumped the stock because of the high cocoa prices it is facing. There's no quick fix here, given the nature of the cocoa market (cocoa comes from trees, which take time to grow). So the issue could linger. What hasn't changed, however, is Hershey's dominant industry position, or its plans to grow by acquiring non-chocolate confection businesses and salty snack brands. The key to this long-term approach, however, is couched in the fact that The Hershey Trust, a charitable organization, basically has voting control of Hershey the company. This means that Hershey the company can think long term even when Wall Street is thinking short term because The Hershey Trust desires a reliable and growing dividend to support its philanthropic efforts. That's probably what you want, too, but to support your spending needs in retirement. If you don't mind collecting a lofty dividend yield from a confectionary giant, waiting for Hershey to muddle through the current cocoa headwinds could be for you. PepsiCo and Hershey are two monster dividend stocks The average consumer staples stock yields around 2.5% today. Both PepsiCo and Hershey provide way more income. And while they each face specific business headwinds that have left them out of favor with investors, each company remains a giant in the niches where they compete. If you think in decades and not days when you buy dividend stocks, PepsiCo and Hershey should be on your buy list today. Should you invest $1,000 in Hershey right now? Before you buy stock in Hershey, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Hershey wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $642,582!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $829,879!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is975% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to172%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025
Reuters
24-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
PepsiCo cuts annual profit forecast amid trade war turmoil
April 24 (Reuters) - PepsiCo (PEP.O), opens new tab cut its annual core profit forecast on Thursday, as the soda and snacks giant grapples with the uncertainty fueled by President Donald Trump's erratic trade policy and disruptions to its supply chain. The company now expects fiscal 2025 core earnings per share to decline 3%, compared with its previous forecast of a low-single-digit increase. here. "As we look ahead, we expect more volatility and uncertainty, particularly related to global trade developments, which we expect will increase our supply chain costs. At the same time, consumer conditions in many markets remain subdued and similarly have an uncertain outlook," said CEO Ramon Laguarta said in a statement. Laguarta said the company plans mitigation actions to address the higher supply chain costs where possible, without going into the details. Organic volumes declined 3% in the first quarter in its convenient foods segment, the company said, as promotions on snacks take longer to boost demand. Shares of the Frito Lay maker fell 2% in premarket trading.
Buzz Feed
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
21 Amazon Deals Actually Worth Buying This Week
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · With these low prices, you can stock up on snacks for lunch and finally replace those worn-out undies. 1. 27% off a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Tablet for all things streaming, gaming, video chatting, and creative. And it doesn't hurt that it's nearly *half* the price of the ninth-gen iPad! 2. 20% off a Shark FlexStyle air styling system if minimizing heat damage is your top priority. Thanks to its high-speed airflow technology and smart temperature regulation, you can style with confidence knowing your hair is in safe hands. It comes with two barrels that curl your hair in different directions for each side of your head, so you can easily get those perfect symmetrical curls. There's also a cool shot button to make sure your curls last all day! The set for all hair types features six attachments (two 1.25-inch auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush, a paddle brush, a styling concentrator, and a diffuser) that can dry, smooth, curl, *and* volumize your hair at maximum speed. It also comes in two other (slightly cheaper) sets: one specifically for curly/coily hair and one for straight/wavy hair. Promising review: "After extensive research and seeing countless positive reviews, I decided to splurge on the Shark FlexStyle. Drying my hair is a breeze, and curling my entire head takes a mere 15 minutes or less. The best part? The curls hold their shape beautifully for days! I'm amazed at how this versatile tool has transformed my hair routine. It's worth every penny. It's a game changer for anyone looking to simplify their styling routine and achieve professional-looking results from the comfort of their own home." — Estel Tran 3. 20% off a 40-pack Frito Lay variety mix making lunch prep easier so you can keep both tiny tummies and your wallet happy, thanks to the extra savings boost on top of the bulk pricing. Amazon Promising review: " The Frito-Lay Party Mix Variety Pack is a staple in my house! With so many different chips, there's always something for everyone in the family to enjoy. It's perfect for lunches, road trips, or quick grab-and-go snacks. ✅ Great variety – Something for every taste, from cheesy to crunchy to classic flavors. ✅ Convenient subscription – I get it delivered every two weeks, so we never run out. ✅ Good value – The price is comparable or cheaper than buying at other retailers." — Brooke Klingbeil Price: $17.94 (originally $22.43) 4. 45% off an Alexa-compatible Ring video doorbell (the lowest price ever!) to capture crisp, clear head-to-toe video footage, so you can virtually see who's stopping by, whether it's a person dropping off a package or your sister doing a pop-up to see what you cooked for dinner that night. There's also two-way audio feature that lets you chat with whoever's at your door in real time. Promising review: " I'm really impressed with the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus! The head-to-toe video feature is fantastic; it captures my visitors clearly from top to bottom, so I can see everything happening at my door. The night vision works great too, and the two-way talk lets me communicate easily with anyone outside, whether I'm at home or on the go. I also love how easy it was to install, and the battery lasts a decent amount of time. It gives me extra peace of mind knowing I can monitor my home anytime. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a reliable and high-quality video doorbell! 😊🔔" — Magda 5. 47% off a 10-piece cookware set crafted from reinforced die-cast aluminum, that's as lightweight as it is durable, so no more feeling like you're at the gym when you're just lifting a pan. The nonstick granite finish makes cleanup a breeze, meaning you can spend more time catching up on your favorite show and less time scrubbing pots. This set includes: a 9.5-inch fry pan, an 11-inch fry pan, a 2-qt saucepan with lid, a 4.5-qt stockpot with lid, a 4.5-qt sauté pan with lid, a spatula, and a steamer. Promising review:" This is my second set of pots and pans after 3 whole years. So long as you use silicone items and avoid scratching, the non-stick will last far longer than 3 years. The durability is great as well, never dented even after multiple falls. The thickness of the pots are just right! You honestly could not get better value for money, these are just amazing. 5 stars cause they're pretty and they lasted me three years, but probably more if I strictly used silicone or wood utensils." — Onix Roman 6. 20% off easy-to-use retainer cleaner tablets if "funky" isn't a strong enough word to describe what your night guard tastes and/or smells like. Pop one of these in a glass of water to give your retainers, Invisalign, etc. a refreshing soak. Promising review:"I really loved this product. I am currently waiting for a new Invisalign set. My old Invisalign needed to be cleaned. I read the reviews and decided to purchase. OMG, it worked! There was a fresh taste, and they were clean. I wished I had found this product sooner. I did let them soak overnight only because I had been wearing them for the last four months. Nothing happened to Invisalign; there was no weakness or anything. Just very clean and fresh. If I could have given the product 10 stars, I would have." — Lisa R. 7. 49% off *plus* an additional 10% of a super slim bathroom storage cabinet to make good use out of that awkward gap next to the toilet. It comes with a built-in toilet paper dispenser and plenty of room to stash your cleaning supplies so everything stays neat and tidy. Amazon Promising review:"This small cabinet fits perfectly in the space between the toilet and sink. I needed an enclosed bottom shelf space for a toilet bowl cleaner, and I used the top shelf for tissue instead of toilet paper. It was easy and fun to put together as well as sturdy enough for what I required." — scott a sorensen 8. Up to 26% off select irresistibly soft criss-cross fuzzy slippers your tired feet have been dreaming of, with a plush memory foam footbed, anti-slip soles, and a breezy open-toe design so you can enjoy cozy comfort even on warmer days. 9. 20% off a five-pack of high waist cotton underwear (making them a little over $4 each!) so you can finally replace those sad, worn panties that are literally hanging on by a thread. Promising review: " These are my new favorite underwear! I've been using this brand for two months now, and my mind is made up to purchase more of these and replace all of my underwear! Every last pair is going in the trash and being replaced with a pair of these!" — Felicia G 10. 20% off SeoulCeuticals Day Glow Serum infused with vitamin C, plus hyaluronic and ferulic acid, vitamin E, citrus stem cells, and centella asiatica to help with any little face things — think wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, etc. Promising review:"Magic in a freaking bottle. I love this product. I was hesitant to buy and start a new addition to my skincare routine, but I said F it and bought it on a whim. WELL, I AM SO GLAD I DID. Pores, wrinkles, and fine lines are minimized, hydration on point, and it smells AMAZING. Yes, the texture is water-based, and when I woke up the next day — WOW I WAS GLOWING!!! It's been a few weeks on this now, and I have to say I will continue to buy it. I rinse with water and then put a dropper full on each cheek and rub it all over my face, and follow it with sunscreen. FREAKING GLOWWWWWWWINGGGGGG. I am obsessed with this product, and just the scent alone throws me into an amazing start to my day. Heaven in a bottle. YUM!!!!!!!" — Clayt 11. 30% off the Vitamix 5200 Blender that boasts a 64-ounce container and hardened stainless-steel blades perfect for whipping up everything from smoothies, soups, and even ground coffee. The blades are so fast that they can create friction to turn cold ingredients hot and steamy in just six minutes. Cleanup is a breeze too; just a drop of dish soap and some warm water, and it practically cleans itself in under a minute. Promising review: " My only regret is not buying this blender sooner. Yes, it's pricey for a blender (or so I thought), but it's totally worth the money. It's very easy to use and clean, and it makes the smoothest smoothies. I'm still impressed with the texture of the açaí I made. Plus, it even comes with a recipe book. If you love cooking, trying new recipes, and want to be healthier, this product is perfect for you." — AT 12. 30% off a non-aerosol I Dew Care mattifying powder shampoo so you can toss your hair to the side without you (or the person next to you) getting a whiff of dirty hair. Just sprinkle a bit onto your roots, massage it in, and voilà! Your hair will look *and* smell fresh. Promising review: "I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA, and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the puff on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair, so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn't have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I'm not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again." — Teresa 13. 50% off a pair of Bluetooth earbuds ready to rock your world with up to 10 hours of playtime and a case that extends it to a whopping 30 hours. With not one but two mics and a smart AI algorithm, you'll sound as clear as a bell on all your calls. And(!) if you're prone to misplacing things (we've all been there!), the handy "Find My Earbuds" feature in the Soundcore app will have you covered. Promising review:"These wireless headphones are so convenient. I have actually only used iPhone headphones with the cable until now, and it's a game-changer. They hold their charge for a really long time, and I'm happy with the quality of sounds. Also, I love having the button to pause or skip a song by touching the earbud instead of getting out my phone. I mostly use them in the garden where there is a lot of noise from passing traffic, and the shape of the headphones really helps to keep a lot of that noise out." — Hannah M. W 14. 34% off a portable Waterpik water flosser complete with a narrow tip that can rotate 360 degrees to flush out the pieces of food stuck in every nook and cranny of your teeth and four specialty tips to give you that clean just-left-the-dentist feel. It has a removable reservoir (that's dishwasher safe btw), two different pressure settings, and it'll last you up to four weeks on a single charge. Promising review: "We bought this to help our 7-year-old son remove food particles from his palate expander. Regular tooth brushing and rinsing was not getting all the bits of food out and we were going through an incredible amount of non-biodegradable plastic cleaners provided by the orthodontist. The flosser comes with several different attachments, including one specifically made for orthodontics. There was a bit of a learning curve to use it without getting water all over the walls and his face/clothes, but he mastered it within a few days. The water reservoir is also simple to refill, and he does it on his own. The flosser holds a charge for a really long time (we can go up to 2-3 weeks without plugging it in), and cleaning instructions are straightforward and easy. I also believe this will come in extremely handy when he moves on to braces." — Aly M 15. Up to 29% off a Briotech spray with results rivaling that of the pricier Tower 28 spray. Packed with the same key ingredient, hypochlorous acid, this little gem can be your go-to whenever your skin feels like it's on the brink of a meltdown. Just a quick spritz, and it'll get to work soothing inflammation, red patches, and fortifying your skin's barrier. BTW, people also love this for helping heal piercings. Promising review:"This changed my life. I have been struggling with blemishes for a long time, along with facial redness. Let me tell YOU, this product has transformed my face overnight. The right side of my face was riddled with blemishes — within two days, my facial redness was drastically reduced, and all of my blemishes disappeared. I haven't experienced a smooth, soft, non-red face in YEARS. I was very skeptical at first because I have used to many products and this absolutely does the trick. So thankful I found this product, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! If I could give 10 stars, I would!" — Vivianna 16. 44% off Mixsoon Bean Essence that hydrates and exfoliates your skin at the same dang time. 🤯 This thick (but not sticky) essence contains natural ingredients like fermented bean, barley, and pomegranate to remove dead skin cells and revitalize skin tone. Promising reviews: " I saw this all over TikTok/Instagram and decided to buy it because I have a lot of sebaceous filaments on my chin and nose. It's a little expensive but I took a gamble: it works! You can physically see the sebaceous filaments come out of your pores; it is not the product bunching up. My problem areas were so much smoother after using and are left with a moisturized glow. I then proceeded to have my boyfriend use this product to see of it worked this good on everyone on the first try and it worked on his nose as well. Amazing stuff 🩷" — Losa 17. 18% off a three-pack Lume deodorant wipes (the lowest price you can get them for) made for all those moments when you need to freshen up on the go. You can use them under your arms, underboob, behind the knees, and yes, even in more intimate areas. Amazon Promising review:"I use these wipes after long walks in summer heat when I'm not at home to shower. They get rid of the sweat and leave me clean and refreshed without the sticky feeling you get from most wipes." — sherry baker 18. 25% off a 9-in-1 Cosori air fryer that can preheat, roast, air fry, defrost, proof, dehydrate, bake, reheat, and keep food warm. The magic lies within its unique 5-fan speed system that allows you to precisely control the temperature between 90–450 degrees while evenly cooking your food. Promising review: " This thing is incredible. I've had it for almost exactly one year now, and if it broke today, I would still consider it a 100% worth-it purchase. It does exactly what everyone claims air fryers do. Cooks amazing food, typically much quicker and with much less effort than alternative devices/methods like oven or stovetop, with much less oil required. Just can't recommend highly enough." — Al 19. 35% off The Gym People high waist workout shorts designed with soft, breathable fabric, reviewers rave about how they stay put (no awkward tugging or riding up) and that they're long torso friendly! They also sport a secure pocket perfect for stashing your phone while you're conquering that spin class or rocking out a trail run. P romising review: " I have these in multiple colors, they are true to size, comfortable, durable, and my go-to for exercise. The material is soft, and it has pockets to hold keys or a phone. I have been buying this company's products for at least a year now. I throw them in the washer and dryer, they keep their color and don't lose their elasticity easily." — Kacee099 20. 36% off a compact portable charger (it's just half an inch thick) that'll be a lifesaver when you're waiting for your Uber to arrive, but you've just spent an hour trying to get the perfect shot of the Sydney Opera House and now your phone battery is at a mere 10%. This mighty charger is capable of charging smartphones lightning fast when in a pinch. Promising review:"I've had multiple battery banks before, but this one is Amazing! I got this to charge my devices while I'm at work. So it sits in my backpack until needed. After 10+ days, I needed to use it to charge my iPhone at 12%. Every paw print showed up. I thought my phone is gonna drain this. Nope 1 hr while actively using it I was at 83% and 1 little paw print gone. Used again a few days later to charge my JBL GO3 that died. Charged it fully twice. Used it again twice to charge my phone from 25% or less. Now 17 days later I'm placing it on charge! Absolutely Love it!" — Sharon Parker 21. 30% off a mighty convenient and light-weight HD portable monitor (the lowest it goes for) so you can stop squinting at your laptop screen and boost your productivity, whether you're at home or on the go. Simply connect it to your laptop via a USB-C port, and voilà—you've got yourself a spacious second screen to tackle that never-ending to-do list with ease. Promising review:"I bought this as an additional screen for working from home and for traveling. I needed something easy to set up, lightweight, and with a fairly decent screen size. Setup was incredibly easy, just plugged it in and adjusted my monitor settings to find the screen. Screen quality is nice, and the screen size is perfect. I plan to travel and take this with me for working on the go, and from what I can tell so far this will be a great option for me. The cover for the screen allows you to adjust how you want the screen positioned so that's helpful too. Happy with my purchase thus far!" — Tanya Price: $69.99 (typically $99.99) Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Paul Walter Hauser On Keeping It Real As ‘The Luckiest Man In America'
Paul Walter Hauser in Samir Oliveros' 'The Luckiest Man In America.' Emmy-winning actor Paul Walter Hauser, the lead of game show drama The Luckiest Man in America, came close to life imitating art and being a contestant himself. It was just one of the things he did to try to get by before making it in Hollywood. "I did so much stupid stuff for money back in the day," he recalls as we chat over Zoom. "I took a job once in my hometown dressing up as Chester Cheetah, the icon from the Frito Lay snack and walked around a Walmart handing out stickers or tattoos to kids to promote Cheetos. I got an offer to go on a game show at one point, and I was going to do it, but then they found out I didn't live in LA, and they rescinded the offer, even though I was willing to travel to go." "I remember I told my buddy Brian Huskey that I needed a place to crash in LA. He said, 'I wish I could help you out, but I can't have guests right now,' however he said, 'Let me ask some of my friends.' Ed Helms got back to him and said, 'Yeah, your buddy can stay at my place. I'm shooting The Hangover 2,' or whatever it was. It was crazy that Ed Helms didn't even know me but was willing to let me crash at his place because I was friends with Brian, who is very funny, by the way." Set in the 1980s, The Luckiest Man in America, which lands in theaters on Friday, April 4, 2025, is based on the true story of Michael Larson, an unemployed ice cream truck driver who appeared on Press Your Luck after working out how to game the system. Hauser plays Larson and heads an ensemble cast that boasts The White Lotus' Walton Goggins, Sneakers' David Strathairn, and Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams, to name a few. "David is very much slept on by Hollywood," the Black Bird actor says in awe. "The guy is incredible, but I think he gets overlooked because he's selfless. David's not a showy, 'look at me' guy. He's a workhorse actor who's as good as any of them, and when you give them a lead role, like in Good Night and Good Luck, you see him at his highest potential. His greatest powers are unleashed. We were lucky to have those guys drop in and do this. It felt like we got so many wins, with people saying yes to this. Maybe it was because it was during the strike, and we were one of the ones that caught the SAG waiver, but I look at the cast on the poster right now, and I'm like, 'How did we get all these people?' No pun intended; they were game for it, wanted to play, were hungry to act, and knew this was the cool piece to be in. It really elevated the film." David Strathairn in 'The Luckiest Man in America.' Hauser, who will be seen in The Naked Gun reboot with Liam Neeson and The Fantastic Four: First Steps this summer, relished playing quirky con man Larson and made the most of the opportunity to focus his performance on one 48-hour period of the contestant's life. "It was nice because we couldn't distill it to where he was at that exact time without knowing the full chronology of his lifetime. I knew more about the scandal and some of the tactics that went into it, but I didn't know a lot about his personal life," the actor says. "We definitely echo truth in that he had a daughter who had a birthday around that time. He was not totally in the kids' lives, and he eventually wound up with three different children from three different women and was not very accountable to them all. We took some liberties, and added some drama to the story by having it be a little more pressing in the moment and putting him in a predicament while he's trying to pull off this grift, as it were. I clung to the story, but the Game Show Network documentary on the topic was very influential for me and the rest of the cast members to dive in and get the inside track on some of the folks who were there that day." Hauser leans into Larson's almost cartoony persona and physicality, saying it was "less of a choice and more of something I noticed in the actual footage." "There are moments where the hands look wild, and he looks almost unhinged because he's so undignified in his celebrations. I thought that was interesting. How does he sit in the chair? Is he making eye contact with anybody? You try to find the little things, and hopefully, they can be indicative of greater truths." Paul Walter Hauser in 'The Luckiest Man in America.' Hauser, also known for star turns in Cruella and Cobra Kai, considers the film's production team to be "a top two best crew" that he has worked with in his 15 years in the industry. "Their enthusiasm and their artistry was unparalleled," he enthuses. "They all had the same vision as the director. Usually, you see the crew talk about the director behind his back and say, 'He wants to do this, but I want to do this.' This was everybody full bore with our director Samir Oliveros' vision because he really knew what he wanted. When I watch the film, I almost get distracted, and I'm worried less about my performance because I'm just looking at and marveling at the art design and the wardrobe. How did we get the period on the budget? We really stretched the dollar and got creative, and then it feels like a great time capsule piece that people will go back to." Most of the film's action occurs at the legendary CBS Studios lot in Los Angeles. However, the film wasn't shot in Hollywood, which makes the set even more impressive. "Some people really thought it was the CBS Television studio lot, but we recreated all of that on a soundstage in Bogota, Colombia," Hauser reveals. "It's a testament to the brilliant crew and the fact that they made it work on the budget we had. We priced this movie out in Los Angeles, Greece, and looked at a few locations, both typical and non-typical, but we found that our money could go way further there. They had some infrastructure from local Colombian television shows and soap operas. We loved the experience, the food, and the people. I would go back there and shoot in a heartbeat." (Left to right) Brian Geraghty, Paul Walter Hauser, and Patti Harrison in 'The Luckiest Man In ... More America.' The Luckiest Man in America also marks Hauser's first feature credit as a producer. It won't be his last. "I'm attached to several projects that I'm a producer on, like the Chris Farley movie, but this is the first time I've produced in the sense of a greater-sized project, and I've really enjoyed it," he concludes. "I saw Margot Robbie produce, I, Tonya, and her support, spirit, and choices she was making, being a part of the bigger decisions, inspired me. I've always wanted to produce and be a bigger part of it. In this case, it had more to do with casting. I brought in some of my buddies for a few different parts and had to oversee some of that. It was a really great experience."
