liz.raftery

A native of Clearwater, Florida and alum of Boston's Emerson College, Liz has been working at TV Guide since 2012. Prior to that, she was a freelance writer for outlets including People and The Boston Globe.

Box Office: Captain America Sets an April Record

Captain America: The Winter Soldier dominated the box office this weekend, earning $96.2 million, surpassing Fast Five as the highest-grossing April debut, Box Office Mojo reports. Meanwhile, last weekend's No. 1 film, the Biblical epic Noah, plunged 61 percent to finish in second place with $17 million. Divergent also dropped a spot to No. 3 with $13 million.

Sun, Apr 6, 2014

Box Office: Captain America Sets an April Record

SNL: How Did Anna Kendrick Do as Host?

Anna Kendrick handled hosting duties at Saturday Night Live for the first time this weekend, in an episode that offered a few memorable moments among mostly mediocre sketches. Highlights included the sure-to-go-viral music video "Dongs All Over the World," starring Kendrick, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Sasheer Zamata and Cecily Strong, as well as George R.R. Martin (Bobby Moynihan) stopping by "Weekend Update" to discuss the new Game of Thrones book he's working on.

Sun, Apr 6, 2014

AMC's Turn Showcases an Untold Story of the American Revolution

AMC is banking big on Turn, its new spy series set during the Revolutionary War. With Breaking Bad over and Mad Men entering its final season, not to mention last year's non-starter Low Winter Sun, the network is in desperate need of a drama besides The Walking Dead on which to hang its storytelling hat. 

Sat, Apr 5, 2014

AMC's Turn Showcases an Untold Story of the American Revolution

Survivor's Sarah Says Her Elimination Was "A Complete Shock"

Tribal Council on Wednesday's Survivor: Cagayan will likely go down as one of the craziest in the show's history (two immunity idols and a blindside!) But was Kass McQuillen's jaw-dropping decision to flip on her six-person alliance during Wednesday's Survivor a brilliant move that will bring her to the end of the game, or one that will end up coming back to haunt her? According to Sarah Lacina, who found herself the casualty of Kass' bold decision, it's the latter. "We all had discussed that you ruin all your chances at winning the game if you flip," Sarah tells TVGuide.com. "My honest opinion on why she flipped is [that] she just wanted to create controversy. That was almost number one in her book, and then winning the game was number two." Check out our full interview with Sarah to find out just how shocked she was about getting voted out, as well as her thoughts on the Blue Bloods alliance she formed with Tony. Plus: Why was Woo allowed to wear shoes during the challenge?

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

Survivor's Sarah Says Her Elimination Was "A Complete Shock"

HBO Sets Premiere Dates for True Blood, Damon Lindelof's The Leftovers

HBO is filling out its summer lineup. The cable network has announced June premiere dates for True Blood, as well as the debut of Damon Lindelof's new series The Leftovers.

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

HBO Sets Premiere Dates for True Blood, Damon Lindelof's The Leftovers

OWN Announces Darlene Love Movie Starring Toni Braxton, Octavia Spencer Miniseries

Toni Braxton will star as Darlene Love in My Name Is Love: The Darlene Love Story, an upcoming TV movie about the singer that will air on OWN in December, the network announced Thursday. In addition, Octavia Spencer will star in a two-night event miniseries tentatively titled Tulsa, about the largest race riot in U.S. history, in Tulsa, Okla. Spencer will play journalist Mattie Clay.

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

OWN Announces Darlene Love Movie Starring Toni Braxton, Octavia Spencer Miniseries

Connie Britton Named U.N. Goodwill Ambassador

Nashville star Connie Britton has been named a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Program. The actress posted photos of her induction on Instagram (which she recently joined, along with Twitter), and captioned them "Making it official!"

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

Connie Britton Named U.N. Goodwill Ambassador

Jennette McCurdy Says Money, Not Nude Photos, Is Behind Sam & Cat Hiatus

Nickelodeon has halted production on Sam & Cat, its most popular show, after scantily-clad selfies of star Jennette McCurdy, 21, were leaked online last month. But according to McCurdy, the hiatus is due to a compensation dispute and not her racy pics.

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

Jennette McCurdy Says Money, Not Nude Photos, Is Behind Sam & Cat Hiatus

ABC Pushes Astronaut Wives Club to Midseason

ABC's period drama Astronaut Wives Club is getting bumped to midseason, TVGuide.com has confirmed. As first reported by Deadline, the show was scheduled to premiere in July, but ABC is delaying it until midway through the 2014-2015 season.

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

ABC Pushes Astronaut Wives Club to Midseason

American Idol's Top 8 Go "Back to the Start": Who Will Finish on Top?

American Idol went "Back to the Start" Wednesday, tasking the Top 8 finalists with performing the song that they auditioned with — as well as pairing them up to perform duets. (Eesh, hold on to your hats.) Let's follow Ryan Seacrest's lead and get right into the songs!

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

American Idol's Top 8 Go "Back to the Start": Who Will Finish on Top?

Exclusive: Go Behind the Scenes of AMC's New Revolutionary War Series Turn

Even for viewers who think they know all there is to know about the American Revolution, AMC's new spy series Turn has a few surprises in store. "This isn't the Revolutionary War that we learned in school," star Jamie Bell tells TVGuide.com.

Wed, Apr 2, 2014

Exclusive: Go Behind the Scenes of AMC's New Revolutionary War Series Turn

Lifetime Sets Premiere Date for Flowers in the Attic Sequel

Haven't decided what you're going to do for Memorial Day weekend? Here's one option. Petals on the Wind, the sequel to Lifetime's recent Flowers in the Attic adaptation, will premiere on Monday, May 26, the network announced Tuesday.

Tue, Apr 1, 2014

Lifetime Sets Premiere Date for Flowers in the Attic Sequel

Scoop: George Wendt, Kurt Fuller Heading to Franklin & Bash

Cheers alum George Wendt and character actor Kurt Fuller have signed on to guest-star on an upcoming episode of TNT's Franklin & Bash, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively.

Tue, Apr 1, 2014

Scoop: George Wendt, Kurt Fuller Heading to Franklin & Bash

Idol's Majesty Rose: "I Think My Performance Was Save-Worthy"

In recent weeks, the American Idol judges told contestant Majesty Rose that they felt she was right on the cusp of a breakout performance. Unfortunately, viewers won't find out if that was the case, as the judges neglected to use their save on Majesty after she received the least votes on last Thursday's spisode. But there's no hard feelings from the 22-year-old. "I think my performance was save-worthy," Majesty tells TVGuide.com. "But I know it's a tough decision for them to make, because there's so many great contestants. I can't say that I deserved it more than anyone else, because we all worked really hard to get where we are."

Tue, Apr 1, 2014

Idol's Majesty Rose: "I Think My Performance Was Save-Worthy"

How I Met Your Mother Boss Addresses Polarizing Finale on Twitter

[Warning: This article contains spoilers about the series finale of How I Met Your Mother. Read at your own risk!] Twitter turned into a Rage Convention Monday night, as longtime How I Met Your Mother fans reacted to the series finale, in which — one final spoiler warning! — we learn ...

Tue, Apr 1, 2014

How I Met Your Mother Boss Addresses Polarizing Finale on Twitter

VIDEO: Check Out the Game of Thrones Parody "Lannista's Paradise"

Well, this happened. Tuesday (April Fool's Day) marked the release of Shame of Thrones, a Game of Thrones-themed parody album by Sons of Mim.

Tue, Apr 1, 2014

VIDEO: Check Out the Game of Thrones Parody "Lannista's Paradise"

Stephen Colbert Addresses #CancelColbert Controversy: "I'm Not a Racist"

Stephen Colbert addressed the recent "#CancelColbert" Twitter controversy on The Colbert Report Monday, assuring viewers that he's not a racist, in spite of an ill-advised tweet that was sent out last week. "Who would have thought a means of communication limited to 140 characters would ever create misunderstandings?" Colbert pondered Monday. "I just want to say that I'm not a racist. I don't even see race. Not even my own. People tell me I'm white and I believe them, because I just devoted six minutes to explaining how I'm not a racist!"

Tue, Apr 1, 2014

Stephen Colbert Addresses #CancelColbert Controversy: "I'm Not a Racist"

NCIS: LA's Daniela Ruah: Kensi Needs "Stability" After Afghanistan Ordeal

Does what happens in Afghanistan stay in Afghanistan? For NCIS: LA's Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah), the answer is probably not. On Tuesday's episode (9/8c, CBS), Callen (Chris O'Donnell), Sam (LL Cool J) and Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) are sent to Afghanistan to rescue Kensi, who's being held captive by the Taliban after a botched anti-terrorism mission in which she discovered that the alleged traitor she was sent to assassinate is none other than her former fiancé, Jack (Matthew Del Negro). "I think this is probably my favorite episode that we've shot," Ruah tells TVGuide.com. "It's sort of like a movie. The action's incredible. I think everybody was on their game, when it came to performances. There's some really intense scenes. ... It's the team fighting for one of their own, which always makes for a good episode. There's a lot at stake."

Mon, Mar 31, 2014

NCIS: LA's Daniela Ruah: Kensi Needs "Stability" After Afghanistan Ordeal

Survivor's Alexis: "I Did So Many Things Wrong"

There isn't one misstep in particular that Alexis Maxwell can point to as the deciding factor that led to her torch being snuffed on Wednesday's Survivor. But there are several things she would have done differently. " I did so many things wrong," Maxwell told TVGuide.com this week. "When we were at different reward challenges, Jeff [Probst] would ask questions and I would say the ...

Fri, Mar 28, 2014

Survivor's Alexis: "I Did So Many Things Wrong"

Mentalist Exclusive Sneak Peek: Jane Coaches Lisbon on Dressing to Impress

On Sunday's The Mentalist, Jane (Simon Baker) and Lisbon (Robin Tunney) dress to impress as they go undercover to try to trap a team of art thieves. But Lisbon — who cleans up pretty nicely, we might add — has a more difficult time adjusting to black tie attire than Jane does.

Fri, Mar 28, 2014

Mentalist Exclusive Sneak Peek: Jane Coaches Lisbon on Dressing to Impress

Exclusive Crisis First Look: What's Gibson's Endgame?

We now know that Francis Gibson (Dermot Mulroney) — the schlubby, seemingly non-threatening parent chaperone on NBC's Crisis — is actually the mastermind behind the titular situation, in which a busload of schoolchildren are kidnapped and held hostage in Washington, D.C. But the question remains: Why?

Fri, Mar 28, 2014

Exclusive Crisis First Look: What's Gibson's Endgame?

Survivor's Lindsey: "It Would Not Have Been Safe" for Trish If I Hadn't Quit

Survivor: Cagayan contestant Lindsey Ogle shocked producers, viewers and her tribe mates on Wednesday's episode, when she pulled herself from the game because tensions between her and Trish had reached a boiling point. "It just was not something that would have been safe for her if I would have continued," a still-fired-up Lindsey tells TVGuide.com. "She took a little too far and she almost lost her front [teeth]. But I made the right decision, so we're good."

Fri, Mar 28, 2014

Survivor's Lindsey: "It Would Not Have Been Safe" for Trish If I Hadn't Quit