Lori Acken, Author at StayTuned Magazine

Adam Richman series Man Finds Food postponed by Travel Channel

July 2, 2014 Lori Acken

In the wake of perennial Travel Channel favorite Adam Richman’s controversial online exchanges with a few detractors, the network has pulled his newest series Man Finds Food — which was to premiere tonight — from its schedule. Though the announcement did not specifically state the reason for its decision, Richman’s recent, shockingly vitriolic adventures in social media with several people who challenged his use of the term “thinspiration” in interviews and Instagram posts about his recent 70-plus pound weight loss are presumed to be to blame. Richman has since apologized for his comments and made his personal Instragram account private. The network has not said […]

Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars episode 5 recap: Daters and traitors

June 27, 2014 Lori Acken

Welcome back, Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars all-stars. Everyone ready for Date (Someone Else) Night? Because we’re in for a magical time! We start by revisiting the conversation at the end of last week’s episode in which Roger laid bare his frustrations with Jenni and then went upstairs and started mildly wrecking the joint. Roger admits that he did take his anger out on the production crew, unplugging all of the cameras and mics in the couple’s room, while downstairs, Jenni — whose continued penchant for aging herself by 30 years by dressing like Joan Crawford during the iffy years […]

Dog Chapman talks business, family and CMT’s Dog and Beth On the Hunt

June 26, 2014 Lori Acken

TV’s top bounty hunters Dog and Beth Chapman, their heartthrob son Leland and his heartthrob-in-the-making son Dakota are back with all-new episodes of their hit CMT reality series, Dog and Beth: On The Hunt. In the series — a grittier, cross-country version of their long-running A&E series Dog The Bounty Hunter — the three generations of Chapmans travel throughout America, helping local bail bondsmen sharpen their know-how, update their equipment and catch some serious bad guys (and girls) in the process. Dog recently called me from his Hawaii home to talk about his show, his craft, the politics of bounty […]

We talk Devious Maids with the show’s own Evelyn Powell, Rebecca Wisocky

June 25, 2014 Lori Acken

When Marc Cherry was penning the first season of his Lifetime hit, Devious Maids, he knew he was creating a twisty storyline and complex characters that would leave viewers and the network often wondering what exactly he was up to. The one thing he never doubted? The appeal of Evelyn and Adrian Powell, the wickedly funny, super-secretive society couple whose lives were long ago shattered by tragedy. “One of the things I did foresee was how much everyone would come to love the character of Evelyn Powell because I knew she and Adrian had this twisted household, but they are […]

Lifetime’s Raising Asia to star Asia Monet Ray of Dance Moms

June 25, 2014 Lori Acken

Dance Moms fans know Asia Monet Ray as the wriggling little firebrand who parlayed her Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition notoriety into a couple-season stint on Abby Lee Miller’s original Lifetime hit. Now Ray and her no-nonsense mom Kristie — who also made a splash on both series — have landed a 14-episode gig of their own. Raising Asia will premiere July 29 on Lifetime, at the oddly kid-unfriendly hour of 10/9CT. Each half-hour episode will feature the eight year old, California-based singer/dancer and her glamorous momager chasing Asia’s dreams of international fame, with bodybuilder dad Shawn, and baby sister, Bella […]

Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars Episode 4 recap: It’s A Gas Gas Gas (Mask)!

June 20, 2014 Lori Acken

Welcome back Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars campers. Anyone else besides me have a few humdinger nightmares after last week’s creepy little dance with death? Tonight’s outing begins with a couple of our couples discovering new faux tabloid covers plastered on their doors and featuring headlines relating to what went down in the mock morgue. Kevin and Traci get a load of theirs first: “From Walking Out to Making Out.” They agree the night’s, well, happy ending was worth the day’s drama. Gretchen and Slade’s reads “Gretchen Dies, Slade Cries: but his disconnect might be their demise.” Though neither has seen the […]

We talk Next Great Baker Season 4 with new judge Jacques Torres

June 20, 2014 Lori Acken

When Next Great Baker returns for its fourth season Tuesday night on TLC, Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro will have an additional pair of professional perspectives to help him choose a winner. World-renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres and Magnolia Bakery chief Bobbie Lloyd have signed on as the series’ first permanent judges. “Jacques and Bobbie are the definitions of business skill and culinary creativity,” said Valastro in a TLC press release announcing the additions. “I’m thrilled to have their unique perspectives and expertise help me monitor the teams’ progress and ensure they have what it takes to successfully run a baking business, […]

The Little Couple season finale preview: Photos from tonight’s vow renewal!

June 17, 2014 Lori Acken

There’s no better way to end a season that celebrated triumph over tragedy — and a family brimming with love — than with a party. On tonight’s emotional season finale of The Little Couple on TLC, Bill honors Jen’s 40th birthday, her brave and successful battle with cancer and the happy family they’ve created by making her his bride all over again. And there’s no better addition to a Klein-Arnold family celebration than Will’s most beloved dessert — cake cake cake! Last week, viewers saw Bill commission a sky blue frock for Jen from Project Runway’s Season 2 winner Chloe […]

Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars Episode 3 recap: Yer killin’ me!

June 13, 2014 Lori Acken

Sorry I’m late, Boot campers — I promise it won’t be an ongoing problem in our Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars relationship. I swear. When we check in on Day 3 — hence, episode 3 — we learn that Slade does not know the difference between green and beige, Tanisha and Gretchen are having outfit issues, Trista and Ryan like to start the day with a workout and Traci likes to start the day with vodka. Which Roger thinks falls somewhere between weird and admirable. Meanwhile, Jim, Elizabeth, Bobby and Ilsa review some of what we learned in last episode’s […]

Don Wildman talks a new season of Monumental Mysteries on Travel Channel

June 13, 2014 Lori Acken

Before I can even ask him a single question, Travel Channel’s intrepid Monumental Mysteries host Don Wildman quizzes me about my current location. When I tell him Milwaukee, he offers up a fascinating story about the underground caverns throughout the Midwest that German immigrants used to age and cool the first icy, refreshing pilsner beer Americans had ever quaffed. A fast trip to Google afterward reveals he’s spot-on. The Miller Brewing Co. in my hometown sports 160-year-old, man-made caves some 60 feet below ground. That’s just the kind of guy Wildman — the son of a history teacher dad and […]