Lori Acken, Author at StayTuned Magazine

Leah Remini talks Scientology, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes on tonight’s 20/20

October 30, 2015 Lori Acken

Actress turned memoirist Leah Remini will talk about her new book, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology — and the dramatic end to her 30-year association with the Church of Scientology — tonight on ABC’s 20/20. Remini’s hourlong interview with ABC News anchor Dan Harris premieres at 10/9CT on ABC. In a promo clip released by the network, she is candid about the personal impact of turning her back on the Church she joined with her family when she was young. “The decision to leave is you are giving up everything you have worked for your whole life; I feel that people need to understand that this has […]

Sharon Osbourne as Sia?! The Talk hosts channel pop stars for Halloween!

October 29, 2015 Lori Acken

If you’ve ever wondered what Julie Chen would look like in Madonna’s bullet-bra bustier, or maybe Aisha Tyler in Beyonce’s iconic, single-sleeved black leotard (and if you haven’t, well, you probably are now) this will be a very Happy Halloween, indeed. In honor of the costume-centric holiday, the CBS afternoon gabfest The Talk will morph into The Sing, as the hosts transform themselves into their favorite pop stars and throw down in a lip sync battle hosted by Joey Fatone. • RELATED: Halloween Programming 2015 The special episode airs Friday, Oct. 30 at 2pm ET and 1pm CT and PT on the CBS […]

Breakthrough — Famous folks celebrate scientific minds in NGC’s inspiring new series (video)

October 29, 2015 Lori Acken

The six-episode, science-meets-storytelling series Breakthrough airs Sundays beginning Nov. 1 on National Geographic Channel. With multitasking cellphones in our pockets, artificial knees and hips a normal part of the aging process, and instant access to lifesaving vaccines, Americans are easily inured to the daily wonders of science. Breakthrough, a stirring, six-episode series from National Geographic Channel — in partnership with GE, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment, Asylum Entertainment and eager celebrity guest directors — aims to change that, one awe-inspiring innovator at a time. Each hour of Breakthrough takes viewers into the workspaces of today’s most diverse and […]

The Affair Season 2 Episode 4 recap — Parental advisories

October 25, 2015 Lori Acken

I’ll admit, this week’s episode of Showtime’s The Affair — told from the perspectives of imploding marrieds Noah and Helen — was a head-scratcher for me. Would Helen really unravel in such borderline slapstick fashion after 45 years of being the very model of enviable cool? Would Noah — no matter how much of a lovestruck egomaniac he may be — really watch his son writhing in agony on the bathroom floor of a cheap hotel room and not make a beeline for the hospital? But maybe that is the point. The depths to which this situation is dragging everyone involved seems bottomless. And […]

Great Performances brings ‘Billy Elliot the Musical Live’ to PBS

October 21, 2015 Lori Acken

That’s me musical! Billy Elliot fans, get out your dresses — or your jammies, if you’re so inclined — and prepare to enjoy the rollicking, inspiring tale of a boy who wants to boogie instead of box from the comfort of your sofa. • Purchase Billy Elliot the Musical Live! at the PBS online store here! On Friday, Oct. 23, the ten-time Tony winner Billy Elliot the Musical comes to the PBS staple Great Performances as Billy Elliot the Musical Live, part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival. (Check local listings to confirm channel number and air time in your area.) Based on […]

The Bastard Executioner recap episode 7: Behold the Lamb (… or what I did for Love)

October 20, 2015 Lori Acken

Everyone remember where we left off last week, The Bastard Executioner fans? The Wolf made himself known — as Lady Love’s equally introspective and peace-minded half-brother. Annora revealed herself to Father Wilkin as much more than just a peddler of potions, but a predictor of fates. Milus revealed that he’s pretty much going to set Wilkin up for some unplanned killing every single episode. And Jessamy reveals, well, nothing new. She’s been a nutter from the start. • The Bastard Executioner Season 1 recaps: Episode 1 and 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 |Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Episode […]

Supergirl on CBS — Melissa Benoist soars as Greg Berlanti’s latest TV superhero

October 17, 2015 Lori Acken

Arguably, I’m too old and much too fond of PBS to even notice the new CBS dramedy Supergirl. I like Supergirl anyway. I like it a lot. Much of the credit goes to series star Melissa Benoist, who calls upon the same sweet-meets-steely spunk she displayed as Glee’s cheerleader target Marley Rose to play Superman’s equally gifted cousin Kara Zor-El. Yeah, I was probably too old for Glee, too, but I love a good tale about “odd women out” who find their own power — be it in a high-school auditorium or on another planet. And I love that co-executive producer Greg Berlanti (also the […]

Abby Lee Miller of Dance Moms indicted for bankruptcy fraud

October 14, 2015 Lori Acken

Careful what you wish for, Abby Lee Miller. You might just get it — and more. Or less. According to the Pittburgh Post Gazette, The Dance Moms hellion parlayed income from her growing notoriety on the Lifetime reality trainwreck into a healthy windfall she then tried to hide from bankruptcy court, following the reorganization plan she filed on behalf of her Pennsylvania-based Abby Lee Dance Co. in December 2010. And it wasn’t an oopsie. Miller, 50, allegedly created back accounts specifically to keep the money a secret and ordered others to do the same. (You can read the Department of Justice release about the case here.) […]

The Bastard Executioner episode 6 recap: Game of thorns …

October 13, 2015 Lori Acken

Did everyone come into this week’s episode of The Bastard Executioner expecting the punisher’s “wife” to dole out some serious punishment after the way we left off last week? Well, our helium-voiced little Mrs. Maddox is not about to let us down. • The Bastard Executioner Season 1 recaps: Episode 1 and 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 |Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Episode 9 We open in the Maddox bedchamber, where Jessamy gazes at a just-waking-up Wilkin. She tells her faux spouse that he is lovely when he sleeps. He tells her that she’s been awfully … vigilant … lately. It’s […]

The Affair Season 2 episode 2 recap: Meanwhile, in the Hudson Valley …

October 11, 2015 Lori Acken

Call this episode of Showtime’s The Affair — in which we get Alison’s and Cole’s take events of last week’s episode, and a disturbingly better idea of what may have happened to Scotty — for Joshua Jackson. By turns chilling and heartrendingly sympathetic as the beaten-down Cole, he is as mesmerizing as Maura Tierney was as the resolute Helen last week. No worries about a sophomore slump for Sarah Treem’s stunning psychological study with these two at the forefront, and Dominic West and Ruth Wilson as good as ever. We begin at Noah’s damn-near-cliché writers retreat by the Hudson, where he is late for that […]