Jeff Pfeiffer, Author at StayTuned Magazine

ESPN remembers 10th anniversary of infamous “Tuck Rule” game

January 13, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

On Jan. 19, 2002, during a game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders in the AFC Divisional Playoffs at Foxboro Stadium, a little-known rule was applied that may have altered the course of the NFL for the next decade. With the Patriots trailing the Raiders 13-10 with less than two minutes to play, Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson forced a fumble by sacking Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Oakland recovered the ball on the snow-covered field and thought it had the game won. However, the play was reviewed by referee Walt Coleman, and the fumble was overturned by what has […]

Another sports memorabilia reality series in the works with ABC’s “Ball Boys”

January 13, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

The last week has seen a sudden influx of more niche series spun off from the general antiques/pickers genre of reality programming. You’ve read here about Discovery’s Combat Cash, which premiered this week and focuses on military memorabilia, and also about Discovery’s upcoming All Star Dealers, which will follow sports memorabilia dealers. Now, coming soon, is another reality series based on the sports memorabilia business — Ball Boys, premiering with two half-hour episodes March 24 at 3pm ET on ABC. Ball Boys comes from the producers of Pawn Stars and will follow the action at Robbie’s 1st Base in Baltimore, […]

Oprah talks to the original cast of “Roots” for miniseries’ 35th anniversary

January 12, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

On Monday, Jan. 16 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Oprah Winfrey will be airing a one-hour special in which she welcomes cast members of the landmark 1977 miniseries Roots, 35 years after that production not only captivated the nation and changed television, but also changed the way Americans thought about their history and the sin of slavery. In Oprah and the Legendary Cast of “Roots” 35 Years Later, premiering Jan. 16 at 8pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Oprah welcomes Cicely Tyson, LeVar Burton, John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Louis Gossett Jr. and Ben Vereen to the living […]

“Secrets of the Manor House” looks at real-life homes that inspired “Downton Abbey”

January 11, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Fans of Downton Abbey will be able to get a glimpse inside the real world of the Edwardian homes and English society that inspired the acclaimed drama when the documentary Secrets of the Manor House airs Jan. 22 at 8pm ET on PBS (check local listings). Shot on location at some of Britain’s finest estates and country houses, and featuring interviews with contemporary masters and servants, the special reveals that life in the manor house was a world unchanged for nearly a thousand years, until the 20th century entered its second decade, when mounting financial, political and social pressures altered […]

TCA: Kiefer Sutherland back on TV; J.J. Abrams’ new series; FOX announcements

January 8, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Sunday’s sessions of the Television Critics Association (TCA) 2012 Winter Press Tour are being presented by FOX Broadcasting. After one of its usual outstanding breakfast spreads (and the ever-popular mix of candy at the critics tables), FOX began its morning sessions, which provided a mix of television and even some movie news. The first panel was for Touch, which marks Kiefer Sutherland’s return to television after eight seasons on 24. Naturally, the actor couldn’t escape questions about his signature role as Jack Bauer, as several reporters wondered if his new role in Touch — as a father desperately trying to […]

TCA: Bravo continues to expand original programming slate

January 7, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Hosting its panels today at the Television Critics Association (TCA) 2012 Winter Press Tour, Bravo announced that in the wake of finishing its sixth consecutive best year ever across all platforms, it will again be increasing its commitment to original programming — upping its output this year by 25 percent with new and returning series (marking a 100 percent increase since 2008). On hand were three panels — one new series (with a returning, familar face) and two returning shows. The first panel was for the new series Interior Therapy With Jeff Lewis, which premieres March 14 at 9pm ET/PT. […]

TCA: Betty White is off the hook in “Off Their Rockers” panel

January 7, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

While on Thursday night, PBS ended its Television Critics Association (TCA) 2012 Winter Press Tour presentations with a performance from 85-year-old Tony Bennett, NBC Universal kicked off its two days of panels on Friday with soon-to-be-90-year-old comedy legend Betty White. “He’s a kid,” White joked when told about Bennett. White talked a little about a 90th birthday tribute called Betty White’s 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America’s Golden Girl, that NBC will be taping with her and several guests — including Ellen DeGeneres, Morgan Freeman, Tina Fey, Ray Romano, Seth Meyers and Tracy Morgan, along with several of her costars […]

NBC’s Greenblatt: “Community has not been canceled”

January 6, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

At today’s NBC executive session at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter Press Tour, Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, put to rest the fears of Community fans when he stated that the show “has not been canceled. It will definitely be back later in the spring.” He expressed regret for not explicitly stating that the show would return when the midseason announcement was released. But although the comedy series will “not quietly disappear,” Greenblatt admits that a fourth season of the show is “a really hard question to answer at this point” and that a decision on that would […]

TCA Winter Press Tour Moments: Day 2

January 6, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

My favorite moments from the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2012 Press Tour, Day 2, which featured the concluding presentations for PBS: 1. Tony Bennett — The legendary singer closed PBS’ press tour sessions with a fabulous and energetic half-hour performance that showed the 85-year-old artist has lost none of his amazing voice and performance style. He regaled us with a selection of standards, including, of course, his signature classic, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Bennett has a Jan. 27 Great Performances special on PBS called Tony Bennett: Duets II, which goes behind the scenes of the recording […]

TCA Winter Press Tour: Benedict Cumberbatch talks “Sherlock”; doesn’t talk “Star Trek”

January 5, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

On Day 2 of PBS’ presentations at the Television Critics Association (TCA) 2012 Winter Press Tour, Masterpiece presented the good news that America would be seeing Sherlock, Series II, Sundays May 6-20. Reprising their roles as Holmes and Watson are Benedict Cumberbatch (on fire lately with War Horse and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), with Lara Pulver (pictured left) introduced as the mysterious Irene Adler — who becomes an intriguing mental match for Holmes, and possible emotional interest, as well. The preview we saw looked awesome, and should satisfy fans of the first season (don’t worry; […]