Lori Acken, Author at StayTuned Magazine

Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta features its first transgender bride Friday on TLC

January 13, 2016 Lori Acken

Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta will feature the series’ first transgender bride-to-be this Friday at 9/8CT on TLC. Precious Davis, an award-winning diversity expert, social justice facilitator and performance artist who currently serves as the assistant director of diversity recruitment initiatives for Columbia College in Chicago — the first woman of color to hold the position — arrives at Bridals by Lori with a challenge for Robin, Lori and Monte. In the episode, the classically beautiful Precious seeks the perfect gown for her 1,000-guest, royalty-themed wedding at the University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Chapel. With her “chosen family” members Kenneth and Chadwick in tow, Precious hopes […]

Supergirl news: The Black Mercy! Indigo! Cast and creators talk what — and who — is on the horizon

January 12, 2016 Lori Acken

The cast and crew of the freshman superhero hit Supergirl took questions from Television Critics Association reporters yesterday on the CBS soundstage that housed the series’ D.E.O. headquarters. The first query pertained to the series’ powerful Red Tornado episode which showed Supergirl unleashing a torrent of emotions in the face of a formidable opponent — and the realization that General Lane sought her help and then sabotaged her. Supergirl herself, Melissa Benoist (dressed in Kara-appropriate prep wear and ponytail) took first comments. “That is one of my favorite episodes that we’ve done to date, just because of what I got to explore in that theme […]

Amazon Studios talks Mad Dogs, Bosch, Catastrophe, The New Yorker Presents at Television Critics Association Press Tour

January 11, 2016 Lori Acken

Amazon Studios presented its upcoming slate of original series premieres and returns today at the Television Critics Association Press Tour. Amazon chief Roy Price started the session by touting the previous night’s Golden Globe successes for Mozart in the Jungle and its star Gael Garcia Bernal plus Transparent’s Globe nominations and Amazon’s 60 other award nominations and 20 wins. Noting that Hand of God, Red Oaks, Mozart in the Jungle, The Man in the High Castle (the service’s most successful launch yet) and Transparent all received new seasons, Price said the streaming service constantly seeks “visionary creators with voices that will stand out […]

John Ridley and cast talk American Crime Season 2: Who’s back? Who’s new?

January 10, 2016 Lori Acken

When American Crime executive producers John Ridley and Michael McDonald joined the Season 2 cast of their brilliant ABC anthology series at the Television Critics Association winter press tour yesterday, they shared a common message. All were fully intent on honoring the remarkable merits of Season 1 and its characters — three Golden Globe nominations, an Emmy win (Regina King’s supporting actress nod) and nine other Emmy noms among them — while embracing a new story, new characters and a fresh opportunity to send another powerful social message. Season 2, which premiered Wednesday, examines the fallout of a possible sexual assault (captured, of course, […]

Outlander Season 2 photos, video — here’s your first look!

January 8, 2016 Lori Acken

Outlander Season 2 is currently in production for an April debut on Starz. We’ll have more details on Season 2 from today’s Television Critics Association press tour. In the meantime, here’s your first look at the new season — and Caitriona Balfe’s Claire Randall and Sam Heughan’s Jamie Fraser. CLAIRE FRASER (Caitriona Balfe) After the harrowing events of Season One, a pregnant Claire Fraser arrives in France with her husband Jamie. Her new mission — infiltrate the Jacobite movement and prevent the infamous battle of Culloden. The strong-minded Claire is determined to alter the course of history and save not only […]

M. Night Shyamalan brings Tales From the Crypt to TNT

January 7, 2016 Lori Acken

Tales from the Crypt will rise again, this time as an M. Night Shyamalan-helmed programming block on TNT. Kevin Reilly, President of TBS and TNT and Chief Creative Officer of Turner Entertainment, made the announcement at today’s Television Critics Association winter press tour. The format of the two-hour block is, for now, a bit of a puzzlement. TNT’s press release says it will be “led by Tales from the Crypt, based on the original EC Comics and new stories, all executive-produced by Shyamalan and his partner at Binding Edge Pictures, Ashwin Rajan.” But Reilly described a more fluid set-up: “Not a show — an […]

What you should know about UnREAL Season 2 on Lifetime

January 7, 2016 Lori Acken

If you missed the first season of Lifetime’s breakout hit UnREAL last summer, Feb. 3 is your day. Hulu will begin streaming the critically acclaimed dramedy — about the brutal behind-the-scenes of reality dating programs — which stars Constance Zimmer, Shiri Appleby and Craig Bierko. And if you’re already a fan, here are some things to know about the show’s Season 2, which premieres summer 2016: • Everlasting is back, this time with an African-American prince charming (take THAT, The Bachelor). The new suitor is a football star named Darius Beck — no casting announcements thus far — who arrives on set with […]

Shades of Blue: Ray Liotta, Jennifer Lopez play complex cops in NBC drama

December 29, 2015 Lori Acken

Ray Liotta was already contemplating a return to series television when he got a script for NBC’s gritty cop drama Shades of Blue. The veteran movie tough guy was intrigued. The material was good. His character, police Lt. Matt “Woz” Wozniak, was a complicated guy. Oscar winner Barry Levinson (Oz, Donnie Brasco) was aboard to co-executive produce and direct. And pop culture superstar Jennifer Lopez would be making her return to scripted TV — a guaranteed ratings boon. But. “The one thing I didn’t want was to be in ‘the J.Lo show,’” Liotta admits. “That’s nothing against Jennifer at all. […]

The Affair Season 2 finale recap: One for all …

December 21, 2015 Lori Acken

WARNING: If you have not watched The Affair Season 2 finale and do not want to know who killed Scott Lockhart, do not ready any further. I’m serious. Not … another … word. That said, no matter which of the likely suspects you had your cash on (unless it was Whitney. Whitney doesn’t drive, people!), odds are good you’re, at least in part, correct. Depending, I guess, on whose version of events you believe. Only one, however, exonerates Noah. We open in the present, where Detective Jeffries has returned to the scene of the crime — the roadside spot with […]

The Affair Season 2 episode 11 recap: This much is true…

December 13, 2015 Lori Acken

With just one episode left in The Affair Season 2 (and a third season newly confirmed by Showtime), Montauk returns to the forefront of the story. Cole and Luisa seek Cherry’s approval and a place to marry. Alison realizes there is no place like home. And Noah realizes she doesn’t mean a New York City high-rise. But we begin in the courtroom, where Cole is on the stand. The prosecution asks him to recount the night Noah threatened to kill Scotty for knocking Whitney up, and Gottlief does his best to admit get the guy to admit he hates his former […]