Jeff Pfeiffer, Author at StayTuned Magazine

First footage of live giant squid in its natural habitat airs on Discovery Channel

January 27, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Until now, we’ve had to imagine what a giant squid looked like swimming in its natural habitat, and that imagining has resulted in everything from ancient woodcuts of Krakens to CGI “Sharktopi” in Syfy original movies. We have seen giant squid carcasses washed ashore, but because the mysterious creatures live in such deep waters, their lives have been shrouded in secrecy, odd considering that they are such large creatures, and photographing one live in its natural habitat has been considered by many to be the Holy Grail of natural history filmmaking. But the many efforts to do so have failed. […]

Noted actors explore The Bard in “Shakespeare Uncovered” on PBS

January 25, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

“We have such a disadvantage with Shakespeare,” says actor and one host of the new PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered Jeremy Irons, “because everybody teaches it badly at school, and so you leave school — like the French leave school, and they never want to hear about Proust again. The Americans and the English, if they are lucky, they get taught a bit of Shakespeare. They probably see a bad production, and they think, ‘Right. Fine. School is over. Shakespeare, thank you very much. That’s the end of you for my life.’ And so we — I mean, as an actor, […]

Selena Gomez stars in and executive produces “Wizards of Waverly Place” TV movie

January 24, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Disney Channel announced that The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex will premiere March 15 at 8pm ET/PT on the network. The original movie is a spinoff of Disney Channel’s former series Wizards of Waverly Place, which won multiple Emmy Awards and was TV’s No. 1 series Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 during its 2007-2012 run. Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie, the first TV movie inspired by the series, delivered 13.5 million Total Viewers, and was the No. 1 cable television movie of 2009, and is the No. 2 cable TV movie of all time. Wizards of Waverly […]

Cast for “The Amazing Race 22” announced

January 23, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Twin brothers who are OB/GYNs, father/son cancer survivors, Southern firefighters, roller derby moms and female country singers (one of whom is John Wayne’s granddaughter, and the other of whom is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone) are among the 11 teams that were announced will be competing in The Amazing Race when the hit series embarks upon its 22nd installment Feb. 17 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS, with Phil Keoghan returning as host. The teams will be sprinting around the globe for $1 million, but a new twist will be introduced to The Amazing Race this season. The first team […]

Black History Month 2013 TV schedule

January 23, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Updated Feb. 7, 2013, 2:15pm CT Here are some of the notable new and returning TV specials, documentaries and movies airing in celebration of Black History Month 2013. All times are Eastern. Programming is subject to change; check back regularly for additions and updates. UNCF An Evening of Stars — Jan. 27 at 10pm on BET. Anthony Anderson hosts the 34th annual UNCF An Evening of Stars Educating Our Future. The variety show focuses public attention on America’s need for more African-American college graduates and UNCF’s work getting students to and through college. Features performances and appearances by Usher, Steve […]

Mad Men Season 6 begins April 7

January 23, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

AMC announced today that Mad Men Season 6 will begin Sunday, April 7, at 9pm ET/PT, with a special two-hour premiere written by creator and executive producer Matthew Weiner, and directed by executive producer Scott Hornbacher. Following this premiere, starting on April 14, the critically acclaimed Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series will move into its regular timeslot at 10pm ET/PT on Sundays starting with an episode directed by star Jon Hamm. “To be able to continue exploring the stories of these characters for a sixth season is an amazing opportunity,” said Weiner. “We love mining this world and look forward […]

Katie Couric to interview Manti Te’o and his parents

January 21, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Sorry, Oprah. You may have gotten Lance Armstrong, but Katie Couric has beaten you to the interview with the subject of that other recent sports story that people are simultaneously sick of hearing about, yet can’t seem to get enough of. Couric will conduct the first on-camera interview with Manti Te’o and his parents, Brian and Ottilia Te’o, who are speaking out for the first time on camera. Notre Dame football star and Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Te’o has claimed that he is the victim of a hoax, after it was revealed that his girlfriend never existed, and that her […]

President Obama inauguration TV coverage

January 17, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Updated Jan. 20, 2013, 1:29pm CT On Monday, Jan. 21 (officially on Jan. 20), Barack Obama will be sworn in to begin his second term as president of the United States, along with Joe Biden as vice president. The oath of office will formally be administered at around 11:55am ET on Sunday, and, according to NBC News, this oath-taking fulfills the constitutional requirement that the president take the oath of office prior to the start of his second term at noon on Sunday, Jan. 20. Because the constitutionally mandated date falls on a Sunday, the public inauguration ceremony will take […]

Week of special PBS programming to focus on Newtown tragedy

January 14, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Updated Feb. 18, 2013, 11:24am CT At the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter Press Tour today, PBS announced that in response to the tragic shootings in Newtown, Conn., last month, it will be airing a week of special programming under the banner “After Newtown” that will “continue the public conversation on gun laws, mental illness and school security.” The “After Newtown” programming will air on PBS stations Feb. 18-22 (check local listings) and will range from original documentaries to installments of established PBS programs. In explaining this PBS coverage, network president and CEO Paula Kerger said, “PBS is not the […]

“Pioneers of Television” returns for Season 3 on PBS

January 14, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

PBS’ Pioneers of Television is back for its third season this month (now narrated by one of today’s busiest personalities in that business, Ryan Seacrest), with four new episodes devoted to some of the most memorable moments and people in popular TV genres. This season will memorably feature a reunion of the cast of the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds for the season finale episode about the miniseries genre. Episodes kick off with “Funny Ladies,” which begins with the first standup comediennes to appear on television, including Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller (whose final interview was for this episode). It […]