Jeff Pfeiffer, Author at StayTuned Magazine

Sept. 9: “Katie” begins Season 2; “The View” welcomes new co-host Jenny McCarthy

September 6, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

ABC and its syndicated distribution arm have some notable premieres Monday, Sept. 9, as The View welcomes Jenny McCarthy as new co-host, replacing Joy Behar, and Katie, hosted by Katie Couric, begins its second season. The View‘s decision to hire Jenny McCarthy as co-host alongside Barbara Walters (who begins her final season with Monday’s episode), Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd, was met with some criticism, due to McCarthy having been outspoken on her discredited beliefs that childhood vaccines can lead to autism. Nevertheless, she will be on hand as The View begins Season 17 Sept. 9 at 11am ET/PT on […]

9/11 anniversary TV programming 2013

September 5, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

This Wednesday marks the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that devastated America. Once again, there are several notable new and returning documentaries, specials and movies on TV recalling those events and their impact on our nation. Here are a few, airing on and around the 9/11 anniversary. All times ET; check back for updates and additions. Attack on the Pentagon — Sept. 7 at 8pm & 11pm on Military Channel. This is an account of what happened inside the Pentagon at the moment the building was attacked on September 11. Osama Bin Laden: The Finish — Sept. […]

Ruben Studdard among The Biggest Loser Season 15 contestants

September 4, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Not to be outdone by ABC’s announcement today of the latest Dancing With the Stars cast, NBC has announced the contestants for The Biggest Loser Season 15, which debuts Oct. 15. Alison Sweeney is back as host of The Biggest Loser, along with trainers Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels and Dolvett Quince. According to NBC, new creative elements are being introduced in The Biggest Loser Season 15 that give Bob, Jillian and Dolvett more powerful roles. For the first time, trainers sat in on casting sessions and helped select the new contestants. Also, the trainers will have a “trainer save” this […]

Miley Cyrus breaks silence about VMAs performance

September 3, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

MTV News posted an exclusive clip today, provided by a crew filming a previously announced documentary, in which Miley Cyrus addresses for the first time the reaction to her much-buzzed-about performance on last week’s VMAs. Miley Cyrus’ performance of “We Can’t Stop” had a lot of people talking throughout most of the week, discussing everything from “twerking” to the notion of white performers co-opting black culture to the usual cries of pop music being the end of civilization to just plain astonishment and everything in between. “I don’t pay attention to the negative,” Cyrus says in what appears to be […]

Jennifer Lopez returns to “American Idol”

September 3, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

FOX officially announced today that Jennifer Lopez would be returning to American Idol as a judge when the competition series returns for its 13th installment in January. Also announced was the fact that Lopez would be joined at the judges’ table by Harry Connick Jr. The duo will judge along with the returning Keith Urban, who judged last season with Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. Series veteran Randy Jackson, who had talked about leaving the show, will return, serving as an in-house mentor. Of course, Ryan Seacrest will again host the festivities. Jennifer Lopez had previously served as a judge […]

Animal Planet re-airing “Mermaids” specials

August 29, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Sure, Discovery Communications has likely heard the complaints from some regarding its recent trend toward programming specials that on the outside look like scientific documentaries about incredible discoveries — Mermaids! Megalodons! — but, on closer examination (and following a few seconds of rapid, hard-to-read disclaimers flashed at the end) turn out to be more fanciful “What if?” scenarios than true science. They can take those complaints under advisement and promptly ignore them, since the ratings for these shows are huge, and they will likely continue to make more of them, in addition to re-airing the ones they already created. Animal […]

Labor Day 2013 TV programming

August 28, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Labor Day 2013 in the United States is Monday, Sept. 2. Over the weekend leading up to the holiday, and including the day itself, TV networks are once again giving viewers lucky enough to be able to have some time off to relax the opportunity to enjoy movies, sports and marathons of popular TV shows. Here is some of the notable programming airing around Labor Day 2013. All times ET. U.S. Open Tennis — Aug. 30 from 10:30am-7pm on Tennis Channel; 1pm-11pm on ESPN2. Early round action. American Restoration marathon — Aug. 30 from 1pm-4am on History. Star Trek: The […]

Interview: Scott Lomu and George Wright of “Jungle Gold”

August 25, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

After averaging 2.65 million viewers a week during its first season on Discovery Channel last fall, Jungle Gold is back, having started Season 2 on Aug. 11 (now airing on Sundays). The series chronicles the continuing efforts of former real-estate dealers George Wright and Scott Lomu as they mine for gold in Ghana in an attempt to pay off the over $1 million debt they face in the wake of the real-estate crash. This season, Scott and George have family money on the line — in the form of an investment from Scott’s father-in-law — and a new colleague, Dave […]

TV coverage of the March on Washington 50th anniversary

August 23, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Aug. 28 will be the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, the Aug. 28, 1963, gathering for human rights that saw Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial, an event that proved to be a watershed moment in the American Civil Rights Movement. Leading up to the March on Washington 50th anniversary, and on the day of the commemoration itself, various TV coverage will include documentaries about the original event, movies about Dr. King and other civil rights figures and events, and live coverage of this […]

Huge crowd watches One Direction rock “Today” show

August 23, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

An estimated 18,000 fans crowded New York City’s Rockefeller Center and the surrounding area (about two blocks, according to the Today site this morning to catch a glimpse of music superstars One Direction performing several of their hits on NBC’s Today. “It seems to me this is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had,” Al Roker said of the sea of screaming Directioners. One Direction performed “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Kiss You” and their newest track, “Best Song Ever” (see video below). Between sets, members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik also talked about their upcoming […]