Lori Acken, Author at StayTuned Magazine

The Dresser — Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Ian McKellen shine in Starz original film

May 13, 2016 Lori Acken

The play’s the thing in The Dresser. King Lear, to be exact. And whether — apologies, Hamlet — it is to be or not to be. And a pair of Sirs make Starz’ upcoming film adaptation of the Ronald Harwood play a must-see, whether you’re a Shakespeare lover or not. The Dresser follows Sir (Sir Anthony Hopkins), an embittered, once-famous actor whose star has faded to twilight in a local Shakespeare troupe. As Sir’s anger and despair get the better of him — and World War II rages across England — Sir’s faithful dresser Norman (Sir Ian McKellen) tries to ensure that Lear […]

Host Jai Rodriguez previews the Dance Moms Season 6 reunion specials

May 9, 2016 Lori Acken

After last week’s heated, tear-stained Dance Moms Season 6 finale saw Maddie and Mackenzie Zeigler and their mom Melissa Gisoni bid farewell to the ALDC and the series, the trio and their costars return for the first of a trio of reunion-style specials Tuesday, May 10 at 9/8CT. • RELATED: Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler talks So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation Hello and Goodbye — hosted by former Queer Eye star Jai Rodriguez — will follow the trio’s last days with the team, rehash Season 6 drama and feature a performance by the junior elite team. The moms also get the chance […]

Preacher: Man literally seeks God in AMC’s new comic-based saga

May 9, 2016 Lori Acken

What would happen if God checked out of heaven and went on the lam? That’s exactly what transpires in AMC’s new Preacher. Based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s 1990s comic series, Preacher centers on Rev. Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper, Agent Carter), a world weary, cig smoking, smokin’ hot Texas padre who, in one strange moment at the pulpit, is possessed of a godlike power as God himself goes AWOL — leaving Jesse the only one who can track the big guy down and hold him responsible for what ensues. Along for the ride: Jesse’s ballsy ex Tulip (just try to take your eyes off […]

Meet the Dads of Single Dad Seeking on TLC

May 7, 2016 Lori Acken

TLC is celebrating Mother’s Day with dads — a quintet of single fathers looking for ladies who will love their kids as much as they do. And love them, too. The net’s new series Single Dad Seeking features the diverse dads taking a shot at love with women who want to be moms but haven’t found the right man to make it so. Getting to know one another via months of phone calls, video chats, text and email, the matchmaker-paired couples finally agree to take the next step, moving in together for a trial run at their happily ever after. Meet the seekers: Jason […]

OutDaughtered on TLC: Danielle Busby on bringing up five babies and a big girl!

May 6, 2016 Lori Acken

OutDaughtered stars Danielle and Adam Busby always knew they were meant to be parents. Both adored children, kids loved them right back, and Danielle dreamed of being a stay-at-home mom with her own large and loving brood. So the Louisiana-born couple were stunned to discover they had problems conceiving. A year of fertility treatments resulted in a beautiful daughter they called Blayke, and, three years later, Danielle and Adam decided to take one more shot at expanding their family. Embarking on the same fertility regiment that brought her little Blayke, Danielle became pregnant just two months later. And so began an adventure even the baby-loving Busbys could […]

When to watch Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler’s final Dance Moms episodes

May 3, 2016 Lori Acken

It’s the end of an era, Dance Moms fans. Tonight’s Season 6 finale (possibly the series finale, as well) marks the final regular-episode appearance of the series’ breakout star Maddie Ziegler, her little sister Mackenzie and their oft put-upon mother Melissa Gisoni. • RELATED: We talk So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation with new judge Maddie Ziegler! The finale, aptly titled One Last Dance, sees the Ziegler sisters taking part in their final competition as members of the Abby Lee Dance Company. But Abby’s hardly feeling sentimental toward her longtime favorites. Or at least one of them. She […]

“Dance Moms” star Maddie Ziegler talks “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation”

May 3, 2016 Lori Acken

When So You Think You Can Dance returns on Memorial Day, look for a SYTYCD superfan next to Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo at the judges’ table. Thirteen-year-old Dance Moms standout Maddie Ziegler joins the long-running FOX hit as it welcomes its first season of ultra-talented child dancers. • RELATED: When to catch Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler’s final Dance Moms appearances Dubbed “The Next Generation,” Season 13 features kids between the ages of 8-13 displaying their chops in a variety of dance styles while hoping to score a spot at “The Academy.” There, the field will narrow to […]

All The Way: Bryan Cranston on playing a purposeful LBJ as the “accidental” president’s achievements are jeopardized today

April 30, 2016 Lori Acken

All the Way premieres Sunday, May 21 at 8/7CT on HBO. Forty-seven years after he left the White House, Lyndon Baines Johnson is having something of a renaissance. Most of us know “LBJ” as the droning, jowly Texan who became president when Lee Harvey Oswald trained his gun on John F. Kennedy and quashed America’s Camelot dreams. What you recall from there (if you recall a single thing) depends on your age, your race, your geography … maybe your family ties. But not a day goes by that you aren’t affected by Johnson’s policies, the social-minded core of which is ground zero […]

Nat Geo’s first scripted series is Genius

April 28, 2016 Lori Acken

Today, National Geographic Channel announced plans for Genius, the network’s first ever scripted series. The ambitious anthology series is a partnership between the network, Fox 21 Television Studios (Homeland, The People v. O.J. Simpson), Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Television (24, Empire), OddLot Entertainment (Rosewater; The Way, Way Back) and EUE/Sokolow. Howard will direct the series premiere, with each season spotlighting one of the world’s most brilliant minds. Season 1 will focus on the guy whose name is synonymous with the idea of genius — Albert Einstein — and will be adapted from Walter Isaacson’s critically-acclaimed book Einstein: His Life and Universe by writer Noah […]

Remembering Chyna: Channel Guide’s 2001 Joanie Laurer interview

April 21, 2016 Lori Acken

Shocked wrestling fans around the globe are mourning the loss of former WWE superstar Joanie “Chyna” Laurer, who passed away yesterday at the age of 46. And though I no longer know my WWE from my TNA, and couldn’t tell you when Raw stopped being War, you can count me among them. • RELATED: Remembering Chyna: Joanie Laurer Was the WWE’s Troubled Pioneer Back in early 2001, I was a fledgling wrestling fan — mostly because I was hopelessly in love with a major wrestling aficionado (who would become my husband years later) and if I had to spend a couple of hours […]