Barb Oates, Author at StayTuned Magazine

Interview with “Wrestling With Death” star Big Daddy

January 20, 2015 Barb Oates

What does small-town America do to combat boredom? They start a wrestling league, of course. The producers of Pawn Stars shine the spotlight on Osceola, Ark., and the Latham family, who are morticians by day, wrestlers by night in the WGN America series Wrestling With Death (airing Tuesdays at 10pmET). LaFonce Latham, 55, is the family patriarch known by most people simply as “Big Daddy.” “They know I’m a professional and that I’m very, very picky in the funeral home business,” Latham says. “And they know when the sun goes down, I take my tie off and I’m redneck.” A […]

Team Military on their toughest leg in Ultimate Survival Alaska, Season 3

January 16, 2015 Barb Oates

The grueling terrain and weather conditions in National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Survival Alaska continue to challenge Team Military in the series’ third season. Fans are gunning for Team Military to grab a leg victory; support that’s not lost on teammates Jared Ogden, a former Navy Seal; Daniel Dean, a former Marine Scout sniper; and Grady Powell, a former Green Beret and survival instructor. “We have a lot on our shoulders. We’re representing ourselves, we’re representing the military, but we’re also representing America, as a whole,” Grady told us at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour in Pasadena last week. […]

What happened to Discovery Health? It’s now more about “Life”

January 15, 2015 Barb Oates

Don’t panic as you ask what happened to Discovery Health or Discovery Fit & Health when searching your lineup. The network remains in the same channel number position, it’s just going through a rebranding — something the net has done a few times now since its inception in 1998 going from Discovery Health to Discovery Fit & Health to its newest moniker — Discovery Life Channel. Hyped as a network that offers an unfiltered look at real people in extraordinary situations, Discovery Life Channel will continue to offer its popular medical phenomena-type programming but expand into programming that focuses on […]

Don’t take “50 Ways to Kill Your Mother” literally, series looks to embrace life at any age

January 14, 2015 Barb Oates

As part of an aggressive network launch, Discovery Life Channel – which officially replaces Discovery Fit & Health on Thursday, Jan. 15 — introduces a rich lineup of original programming including the docu/adventure series 50 Ways to Kill Your Mother (Thursdays at 10pmET). The series is an Americanized version of the popular U.K. hit of a similar name — 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy — and is part travel, part endearing relationship, part oddball adventure show featuring Irish daredevil and travel host Baz Ashmawy and his 71-year-old mother Nancy as they grab life by “the scruff of the neck” […]

Creator Clyde Phillips, Edie Falco on “Nurse Jackie” series finale

January 12, 2015 Barb Oates

Jackie Peyton “Nurse Jackie” is getting her final shot to get sober and clean up her life. I know. We’ve heard that before, right?! Well this time it is for good, as the final 12-episodes of the Emmy-winning series are set to begin on Sunday, April 12 at 9pmET/PT on Showtime. Star Edie Falco and creator Clyde Phillips were at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour to talk about the Nurse Jackie series finale. While not a believer in happy endings, Phillips says he is “a believer in authentic endings,” and the final season for Nurse Jackie will be […]

“The Late Late Show” host James Corden charms

January 12, 2015 Barb Oates

The 36-year-old Brit James Corden was nothing short of charming (and funny) as he talked to critics about his new CBS venture — The Late Late Show With James Corden, which begins March 23 on CBS. Corden took the stage at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour in Pasadena in January and said he had no true blueprint for what the show will be yet, however, he’d “love to make a warm show that’s really funny.” Shouldn’t be a problem. Corden was humble in acknowledging the incredible opportunity he’s been presented with, and admitted that we was already feeling […]

CBS renews Madam, Scorpion, NCIS: NO, and talks Late Night

January 12, 2015 Barb Oates

Chairman of CBS Entertainment Nina Tassler took the stage at the Television Critics Association’s (TCA) winter press tour as the reigning queen — her CBS network remains the top dog of all broadcasters with seven of the net’s series in the coveted Top 10 list. Tassler confirmed Season 2 picks ups for Madam Secretary, Scorpion and NCIS: New Orleans. No decision has been made yet for the Dylan McDermott/Maggie Q creeper – Stalker – at this time. As for CSI, Tassler gave props to Ted Dansen and said the series still performs strongly for the network. When asked if a […]

2015 Golden Globe winners

January 12, 2015 Barb Oates

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler went into the Golden Globes knowing this was their last year as hosts, and with that came no fear. That said they gave a big warm welcome to kick off the night: “Welcome, you bunch of despicable, spoiled, minimally talented brats!” And, then followed it up with taking jabs at North Korea, Bill Cosby and a handful of celebrities. “Tonight we celebrate all the great television shows we know and love, as well as all the movies that North Korea was O.K. with,” Fey said. As a presenter this year, Ricky Gervais — drink in […]

Is Arrow’s Oliver Queen really dead? Stephen Amell gives some insights

January 11, 2015 Barb Oates

Is Arrow‘s Oliver Queen really dead? We talk to star Stephen Amell about Oliver Queen’s supposed death, his favorite upcoming episode and more … but let’s take a moment to talk about how we got here. The Season 3 midseason finale of Arrow left fans aghast when the beloved Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) took a throat punch from Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable) that sent him to his knees in a trial by combat. [Major spoilers ahead.] As Ra’s approached Oliver he said in a soft whisper, “Don’t be afraid my son, death comes for us all. You can only […]

TCA: AMC doubles scripted series lineup, announces “Humans,” “Making of Mob”

January 11, 2015 Barb Oates

AMC continues to dominate as one of cable TV’s hottest properties with mega hits like The Walking Dead, Mad Men and the hugely anticipated Vince Gilligan spinoff Better Call Saul. At the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, AMC president and general manager Charlie Collier promised a substantial increase in the number of originals for 2015. Collier said AMC will have “nearly double the number of scripted series between returning shows like The Walking Dead and Mad Men, TURN: Washington Spies, Halt and Catch Fire and Hell on Wheels along with new series, including Better Call Saul, Humans, Badlands and […]