Jeff Pfeiffer, Author at StayTuned Magazine

“Top Chef” renewed for Season 10, begins nationwide casting calls

February 2, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Bravo’s award-winning and hit series Top Chef will be returning for a tenth season, it was announced today. Open calls for chefs interested in competing in the culinary competition series will be held in cities around the country beginning Feb. 21. Here are the announced casting call cities. All times listed are local. For more casting information and to download an application, visit BravoTV.com/casting. NEW YORK Feb. 21, 10am-1pm Colicchio & Sons DENVER Feb. 22, 10am-1pm Linger ATLANTA Feb. 25, 10am-1pm Empire State South SAN FRANCISCO Feb. 27, 10am-1pm Kitchit WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 29, 10am-1pm Graffiato LOS ANGELES March 2, […]

BET and Centric programming pays homage to Don Cornelius and “Soul Train”

February 1, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

The world was shocked and saddened today to hear of the passing of legendary and influential Soul Train creator, executive producer and host (for 22 of its 35 seasons) Don Cornelius, who was found in his Los Angeles home dead of a gunshot wound in what appears to have been a suicide, though the investigation was said to be ongoing. He was 75. “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Don Cornelius,” said Debra L. Lee, Chairman & CEO of BET Networks. “He was a pioneer in the television and music industries, and his legacy and influence […]

On Groundhog Day, Nat Geo Wild decides to give the beaver its due

February 1, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

This Thursday, Feb. 2, is Groundhog Day, when all eyes will be on a certain rodent in the superstitious hope that it will tell us whether or not we are in for more winter. But over at Nat Geo Wild, they will be celebrating another rodent — the American beaver — with a special aptly titled, American Beaver. And, just like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day, you can relive this special over and over (and over) again, as the network will be running it for 20 hours straight, from 7am-3am ET/PT. American Beaver follows a beaver as she […]

TV stars represent well on AskMen’s annual “Most Desirable Women” poll

January 31, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Today, AskMen released the results of its 11th annual Top 99 Most Desirable Women list, in which over 1 million readers internationally cast their votes for the ladies they would most want as companions, based on intelligence, talent, character and — let’s face it — beauty. For the second year in a row, television actresses dominated the list, with 22 TV stars claiming spots, including Modern Family‘s Sofia Vergara coming in at No. 1. “I am so honored to be AskMen’s most desired woman this year,” said Vergara. “A big thank you to all the men who desire me.” Some […]

“The Simpsons” at 500 — our favorite episodes

January 31, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

The Simpsons airs its 500th episode Feb. 19 at 8pm ET/PT on FOX, as part of its 23rd season (and it will be running through at least Season 25, and Episode No. 559). By now, its longevity, and the numbers and records it keeps racking up year after year, are no longer surprising. It’s become one of those things that is just always there. To an entire generation of viewers, it always has been there; and even to those of us who were around pre-Simpsons, it honestly has become hard to remember that long-ago period, when Homer and his family […]

VOD Spotlight: Ryan Gosling takes an action-packed “Drive”

January 31, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

It’s no exaggeration to say that Ryan Gosling has hit the A-list in Hollywood, not only among fans but with critics — earning a Golden Globe nomination for The Ides of March and dual nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association for Best Acting Ensemble (for Ides) and Best Actor (for Drive). With Drive, he was signed first and picked a director whose work he admired, Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson), who has garnered a number of award nominations for his work on Drive. That an adrenaline-charged thriller like Drive, about a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway […]

Black History Month 2012 TV schedule

January 27, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Here are some notable new and returning television programs profiling memorable people, themes and events in African-American history, in celebration of February’s Black History Month. Programs and times are subject to change; check back throughout the month for updates and additions. Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (encore) — PBS, February (check local listings). Lolis Eric Elie, a New Orleans newspaperman, takes viewers on a tour of the city in what becomes a reflection on the relevance of history folded into a love letter to his storied neighborhood, Faubourg Tremé. Arguably the oldest black neighborhood in America and […]

February is good for dog-watching with Puppy Bowl and Westminster Dog Show

January 25, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Technically, the “dog days” refer to a period in late summer, usually July and August. But in terms of TV viewing, a case could be made for referring to a few days in February as such. Once again this February, two annual favorites for dog lovers will be hitting the airwaves: Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl, and USA Network’s coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. PUPPY BOWL VIII — Animal Planet, Feb. 5, 3-5pm ET/PT (then repeats every two hours until 3am Feb. 6) I hate to sound like an old sports fan who grumbles about how it “used […]

Kiefer Sutherland brings his touch back to TV in FOX’s “Touch”

January 25, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

After eight seasons of kicking terrorist ass as Jack Bauer on FOX’s hit series 24, Kiefer Sutherland is back on the network in a new series, playing a character with a different kind of toughness, and with certainly a different sort of struggle on his hands. “My character’s fight is really with Child Services,” Sutherland told a group of reporters recently at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, “who is trying to take his son away from him.” In Touch, created by Tim Kring (Heroes), which airs in a special preview tonight (Jan. 25) at 9pm ET/PT before making […]

CBS announces cast for “The Amazing Race” Season 20

January 25, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

CBS has announced the cast for Season 20 of its Emmy-winning competition-reality series The Amazing Race, which returns Feb. 19 at 8pm ET/PT, with Phil Keoghan again hosting. This season, the series will, for the first time, visit Paraguay, Azerbaijan and other exotic locations, with teams visiting five continents and 22 cities, and covering nearly 40,000 miles. Challenges included on this year’s course will be skydiving in Argentina, training with Masai warriors in Tanzania, racing through Africa’s “Garden of Eden,” and searching for King Ludwig’s quarters in the German castle that served as the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping […]