Jeff Pfeiffer, Author at StayTuned Magazine

30th Annual TCA Awards winners announced

July 19, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

The Television Critics Association (TCA) gave out its 30th Annual TCA Awards to recognize a distinguished group of people and shows representing what the collection of over 220 professional television critics from the U.S. and Canada voted on as the best over the 2013-14 season. The ceremony took place Saturday at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, with Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) serving as host. Matthew McConaughey continued his big year, on hand to be honored with a TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama for his role as Rust Cohle in HBO’s True Detective. The series itself was recognized […]

TCA: CW’s “The Flash” is “probably the most faithful DC Comics adaptation ever”

July 18, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

At the Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour today, The CW presented its latest DC Comics adaptation, The Flash, and it’s a winner, chronicling the adventures of forensic scientist Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), who, through one of those mysterious sci-fi accidents that can only happen in comic books, is transformed into the fastest human alive. From executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, the men behind the network’s hit Arrow, the new series is, in the words of DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, who was also on the panel: “probably the most faithful DC Comics adaptation ever, as deep […]

FX’s “The Strain” offers unique take on the vampire genre

July 10, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

The catalyst for the beginning of the 13-part FX series The Strain is the arrival of a mysterious airplane, but co-executive producer Carlton Cuse, whose hit series Lost also involved a mystery about a plane, says that this was purely coincidental. “I wasn’t involved in the creation of that idea,” Cuse laughed during a recent interview, “but I think it’s a really good idea.” He’s right about that; the opening sequence of a plane somehow landing in New York City — with all of its passengers and crew seemingly dead — is a gripping, creepily atmospheric scenario, written and directed […]

truTV announces “Impractical Jokers” spinoff “Jokers Wild”

July 10, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

At the Television Critics Association (TCA) Summer Press Tour, truTV announced that it will be following up its hugely successful prank show Impractical Jokers with a new spinoff series called Jokers Wild, slated to premiere Sept. 25 at 10pm ET/PT. In Jokers Wild, Sal, Q, Murr and Joe of Impractical Jokers will, according to truTV, “take viewers on a wild ride, going beyond the pranks for a comical look at their personal lives. Everyone can relate to disastrous dates, embarrassing habits and humiliating childhood memories, but only the Jokers can one-up each other in such colorful, authentic and hilariously awkward […]

“Game of Thrones” leads 2014 Emmy nominations

July 10, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

This morning, the 2014 Emmy nominations for the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced. The ceremony will air live Aug. 25 at 8pm ET on NBC, hosted by Seth Meyers. HBO’s Game of Thrones earned the most nominations of any series, with 19 (HBO as a whole dominated all nominations, with 99 coming to the network). Two FX miniseries were close behind: Fargo has 18 nominations, and American Horror Story: Coven, 17. The non-linear Netflix didn’t do too badly in terms of nominations; it received 31 in only its second year of original programming, thanks to its series House of […]

Fourth of July 2014 TV programming

July 3, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

Fourth of July 2014 is on a Friday, giving TV fans plenty of patriotic programs, and other marathons, to enjoy over the long weekend they may have. Here are some of the notable TV viewing options for Fourth of July 2014 (all times ET): Pawn Stars marathon — July 3 at 10am-July 4 at 3:03am on History. Naked and Afraid marathon — July 3 at 3pm-July 4 at 3am on Discovery Channel. The Revolutionary War marathon — July 3 at 4pm-July 5 at 10am on American Heroes Channel. Marathon of the series chronicling the war that freed America from British […]

Terry Crews to host 30th Annual Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards

July 2, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

In a few weeks, on July 19, the Television Critics Association (TCA) will give out its annual awards to the people and shows that exemplified the best of television in this past year. The untelevised, invite-only event, hosted by Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, pictured) features categories including news and information; youth; drama; reality; and comedy as the top TV critics in North America — who selected the nominees — honor TV’s 2013-14 season. Channel Guide will be at the awards, and we’ll update you when winners are announced. In the meantime, the nominees are: Individual Achievement in Comedy Louis C.K., […]

“Sharknado 2” highlights Syfy’s “Sharknado Week”

July 2, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

Syfy’s original Sharknado was a social-media hit when it debuted last summer (though not necessarily a ratings smash, interestingly enough; more people seemed to snark about the film on Twitter than perhaps watched it). Naturally, then, there is now a sequel, which — after soliciting entries for a subtitle from fans via Twitter — Syfy and production company The Asylum have called, somewhat pedestrianly, Sharknado 2: The Second One. (A Sharknado 3 is also already in the works, set to debut in summer 2015, so Syfy is really going to ride this franchise until it jumps the shark, which may […]

2014 Syfy Twilight Zone July 4 Marathon episode guide

July 1, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

Syfy will once again be airing its annual favorite, the Twilight Zone July 4 Marathon. This year’s is a bit abbreviated (only 16 hours) compared to past marathons that have aired for days around July 4th and New Year’s Eve. The 2014 installment is airing Friday, July 4, from 8am-8pm ET/PT, and concluding Saturday, July 5, from 12am-4am ET/PT. But if you’re a Zone fan, you’ll take whatever you can get. Here is a rundown of the episodes that will be airing during the 2014 Syfy Twilight Zone July 4 Marathon (all times ET/PT): Friday, July 4 8am: “Five Characters […]

Acting icons Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi headline hilarious Britcom “Vicious”

June 26, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

With same-sex partnerships becoming more accepted in real life every day, it only makes sense that that would also be reflected more frequently in art. And the more such couples are seen through the lens of a film, or a TV show, the more it will serve to show that such couples are no different from male-female couples: They live day to day, they love and they bicker. That is certainly the case for Freddie (Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek Jacobi), the protagonists of Vicious, a hilarious British series that makes its U.S. debut June 29 on PBS. Freddie and […]