Jeff Pfeiffer, Author at StayTuned Magazine

Ovation airs U.S. premiere of William and Kate documentary

January 19, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

Celebrating the most highly anticipated royal wedding in 30 years, Ovation is presenting a weeklong programming event called “The Royals,” which focuses on the cultural impact that the Windsors have had throughout the years. Highlighting the week is the U.S. premiere of William and Kate: A Modern Royal Romance on Feb. 9 at 8:30pm ET/PT. The doc chronicles the relationship of young Prince William and his commoner girlfriend, Kate Middleton, from courtship to their very public engagement. It’s also a look at their backgrounds, their initial meetings and plans for the pending wedding. Also premiering during “The Royals” programming event […]

VOD Spotlight: Will Ferrell and Adam McKay bring us “The Virginity Hit”

January 18, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, founders of the Funny or Die website, and the creative forces behind hit comedies such as Step Brothers and The Other Guys, are always on the lookout for new talent and now bring us their latest discovery in The Virginity Hit. The Virginity Hit is down-and-dirty filmmaking — four guys, one camera and their experience chronicling the exhilarating and terrifying rite of passage: the loss of one’s virginity. As these guys help their buddy try to find sex, they have to survive friends with benefits, Internet hookups and even porn stars during a wild adventure.

VOD Spotlight: A long, unlikely journey to the screen for “Takers”

January 18, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

In the crime drama Takers, a gang of high-living bank robbers planning a multimillion-dollar heist find their plans complicated by a tough-guy cop closing in on their operation. Matt Dillon, Paul Walker and Idris Elba star. The story of Takers begins with Gabriel Casseus, an actor who had never written a screenplay before. After a night at Hollywood’s fabled Mann’s Chinese Theater, Casseus was struck by an inspiration. “The idea for the movie came to me complete from beginning to end,” he says. “But I didn’t know how to write a script. By chance, I had read a script written […]

New Superhero Swoops Into Primetime: The Cape

January 18, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

“It goes back to the Grecians, the mythology of this. We’ve seen it in so many forms. … There is something incredibly visceral about the concept.” Australian actor David Lyons is thoughtful in our discussion of the idea of a hero who takes a stand against all that he believes is wrong, and why that type of character is so appealing to readers and viewers. As Lyons says, this idea has appeared in many forms throughout the history of human storytelling, but it is perhaps most prevalent and dramatic in comic-book form, appearing in characters such as Batman and The […]

Sarah Shahi Plays A Mediator In USA’s Unconventional New Legal Series

January 8, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

USA Network’s motto in recent years has been “Characters Welcome,” and this mission statement has helped launch a string of high-quality and popular series, such as Burn Notice, Psych and White Collar, all filled with memorable characters. But the network’s new drama Fairly Legal may be the most character-driven of all. Although it can technically be called a legal drama, star Sarah Shahi (The L Word) tells us that it is an “unconventional” one — also describing it as “cheeky” and “flirty” — and the pilot episode bears her out that this is a refreshing take on the tried-and-true law […]

VOD Spotlight: Valuable “Despicable Me” time

January 6, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

By Mike Frey Who says bad guys never win? Pitted against the latest installments from Disney/Pixar’s and DreamWorks Animation’s signature series this summer, Universal’s Despicable Me held its own, finishing between Toy Story 3 and Shrek Forever After in domestic gross. The film performed well enough that a sequel is already in the works. While the movie was a box-office triumph, it was no small victory for parents looking for a decent movie to watch with their kids, either.

VOD Spotlight: Angelina Jolie shakes up “Salt”

January 4, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

By Karl J. Paloucek Ah, the good old days of the Cold War. Back then, we knew who our enemies were. Or did we? And who ever said it was over? Director Phillip Noyce’s Salt plays a shell game with the notions of loyalty, truth and identity against a backdrop of international intrigue.

Remembrances 2010

December 30, 2010 Jeff Pfeiffer

Pernell Roberts (b. 1928) (actor) Although an accomplished stage actor, Roberts is best known to television audiences for his role as Adam Cartwright on Bonanza (1959-65), and as the title character in the series Trapper John, M.D. (1979-86) — a spinoff of the movie MASH — for which Roberts received an Emmy nomination. Zelda Rubinstein (b. 1933) (actress) She acted in many films and TV shows from the ’80s through the 2000s, but Rubenstein will be forever remembered as quirky medium Tangina in Poltergeist (1982) and its 1986 and ’88 sequels. Her unique voice was heard as narrator on another […]

VOD Spotlight: “The Other Guys” a welcome foray into comedy for Wahlberg

December 28, 2010 Jeff Pfeiffer

In The Other Guys, Will Ferrell re-teams with director Adam McKay (Anchorman, Talladega Nights) for an action-packed comedy about a pair of mismatched New York City detectives who seize an opportunity to grab the spotlight — just like the city’s top cops whom they idolize — when a seemingly dull case turns out to be a massive financial conspiracy. Mark Wahlberg and Eva Mendes also star in the hit film. Mark Wahlberg, the Oscar-nominated actor known for his tough-guy action roles, in a comedy opposite Will Ferrell? This is actually the fulfillment of a desire on both their parts.

VOD Spotlight: An Italian job for Clooney’s “American”

December 28, 2010 Jeff Pfeiffer

By Karl J. Paloucek One of the great things about being an A-list movie personality is having the ability to pick your projects. And one of the best things about George Clooney is that he does, with relish. The Ocean’s series; Good Night, and Good Luck; Burn After Reading — the variety says a lot for Clooney’s ability and curiosity. This month, one of his more austere roles comes to the small screen with The American, directed by Anton Corbijn (Control).