Barb Oates, Author at StayTuned Magazine

TCA: Starz plans for continued growth with “Outlander,” “Black Sails”

January 11, 2014 Barb Oates

Starz CEO Chris Albrecht took the stage at the Television Critics Association 2014 Winter Press Tour sharing the networks ongoing plans for more original content and continued subscriber growth. The network boasts 22 million subs for its flagship Starz network, and 35 million for sister net Encore. “We’ve had eight consecutive quarters of subscriber growth,” Albrecht said. “Combined, the Starz/Encore package is the largest premium offering combo in the U.S.” Bolstering the network for future growth are several new series. For 2014, one of the most anticipated series is Outlander, a romantic drama/sci-fi/adventure series based on the immensely popular book […]

TCA: AMC announces 2014 programming lineup

January 11, 2014 Barb Oates

AMC announced their anticipated 2014 programming premiere dates for Mad Men and Better Call Saul at the Television Critics Association 2014 Winter Press Tour, as well as new series Turn and Halt and Catch Fire. Leading the AMC 2014 programming lineup are several new dramas including Turn, a Revolutionary spy thriller about the untold story of America’s first spy ring. Turn will begin Sunday, April 6 at 9pm with a 90-minute series premiere. The series stars Jamie Bell in the title role as Abraham Woodhull and Seth Numrich as Ben Talmadge (pictured). The seventh and final season of Mad Men […]

“Enlisted” on FOX an irreverent and endearing comedy

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

It’s a family affair in Enlisted, FOX’s new military-based comedy that follows three bumbling brothers who are assigned to what they believe to be one of the lower echelons of their Florida army base — the Rear Detachment unit. Providing the brotherly banter and military mishaps with magnificent chemistry are Geoff Stults (Ben and Kate), Chris Lowell (The Help) and Parker Young (Suburgatory). The creator and executive producer of the series is Cougar Town’s Kevin Biegel, who was looking to do something “intensely personal,” so he tapped into his own relationships. “My relationship with my two younger brothers is the longest, […]

TCA: Sarah Palin talks new series Amazing America With Sarah Palin

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

Sarah Palin kicked off day two of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour discussing her new original series Amazing America With Sarah Palin coming to Sportsman Chanel in April. The series is an anthology of stories that explores some of the most original, interesting and – sometimes eccentric – people, places and pastimes connected to America’s outdoor lifestyle. Palin showed up in black pants and a black sweater, with three-plus-inch, star-spangled stilettos. She told critics that she’s going to “help bust this network out” with her new series. Palin will take viewers coast-to-coast into what Sportsman Channel calls “Red, […]

TCA: John Oliver gets HBO weekly comedy series

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

A John Oliver HBO comedy series — brilliant idea! The comedian will give a fresh satirical look at politics and current events in a Sunday evening comedy series coming to HBO this spring. At the Television Critics Association 2014 Winter Press Tour in Pasadena a sprightly Oliver took the stage and gave credit to The Daily Show and Jon Stewart for landing him his new gig. “I think it was probably the main reason why I’m here now,” Oliver says. “It was a bizarre, exciting, and terrifying experience. … I set myself the achievable goal of just not destroying that […]

TCA 2014: Deion Sanders reality show focuses on parenting

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

Wow, can Deion Sanders talk. Amid that witty sarcasm and banter is a man with a heart of gold when it comes to children. At the Television Critics Association’s 2014 Winter Press Tour Sanders told critics that he grew up never hearing the words “I love you” from his father or his stepfather, so today he showers children with those words. His life is the subject of Deion’s Family Playbook, a new reality series on OWN debuting in Saturday, March 1 at 10pm ET/PT. “I had a biological father that used drugs and another stepfather that was somewhat of an […]

Lindsay Lohan docuseries planned for OWN

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

At the Television Press Association’s 2014 Winter Press Tour today OWN president Sheri Salata announced the network’s plans for 10 new shows this year. Topping the list of new series includes a docu-series that follows the once troubled star Lindsay Lohan in her attempts to rebuild her life. The Lindsay Lohan reality series on OWN is titled Lindsay and debuts March 9 at 10pm ET. “Oprah and Lindsay Lohan met in New York City following her sixth stay in rehab. They had a candid conversation about addiction, alcoholism, Adderall, and Lindsay having become the epitome of child star gone wrong,” […]

TCA: Military Channel renamed to American Heroes Channel

January 9, 2014 Barb Oates

Discovery Communications announced at the Television Critics Association 2014 Winter Press Tour that they will be changing the name of Military Channel to American Heroes Channel or AHC beginning March 3. The network will be dedicated to capturing the spirit of heroism showcasing the people and events that transcend time. “True American heroism isn’t solely on the battlefield,” said Kevin Bennett, General Manager of American Heroes Channel. The network will be dedicated to showcasing “compelling and uplifting stories.” Bennett said there’s a clear void in history-based, narrative-style programming and American Heroes Channel will fill that with 17 new series and […]

“Killer Women”: Tricia Helfer kicks butt as a no-nonsense Texas Ranger

January 6, 2014 Barb Oates

Of all the notorious lawmen who patrol the violent Texas frontier, none are more storied than the Texas Rangers. But being one of the first female rangers in this elite squad isn’t going to stop ballsy, badass Molly Parker (Tricia Helfer). Molly is committed to finding the truth and seeing justice served. Killer Women is from executive producer Sofía Vergara (Modern Family). She’s sore, dirty and tired after days of intense filming, but Tricia Helfer is comfortably at home in the role of Texas Ranger Molly Parker in ABC’s new crime drama Killer Women. The 5’10” self-described tomboy has been […]

Valorie Curry talks Season 2 of being Emma Hill on The Following

January 3, 2014 Barb Oates

Fans have a love hate relationship going with Emma Hill on The Following, Joe Carroll’s (James Purefoy) most devoted follower. Valorie Curry, who plays the infamous Emma Hill, gives us some insight into her character and what to expect when it comes to Season 2 of The Following. Prepare yourself, as Curry says Season 2 of The Following is going to be even more shocking! The series returns on FOX with a special preview immediately after the Jan. 19 NFC championship game, and then it moves to its regular timeslot on Mondays beginning Jan. 27. The Following’s memorable season finale […]