'Treme,' 'Breaking Bad' Star Found Dead in Mississippi River

Michael Showers, who had roles in Treme and Breaking Bad, was discovered dead within the Mississippi River on Wednesday morning. He was 45.our editor recommendsHow 'Treme' Found Greatness In Regular People And Counterproductive StorytellingEmmys Failure Analysis: Lead Actor Inside A Drama PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths A steam boat captain discovered his body near New Orleans' French Quarter around 11:15 a.m. Harbor Police drawn his body out about half an hour later, according local newspaper The Occasions-Picayune. The main investigator for that Orleans Parish coroner's office believed his body have been floating for 2 days. An autopsy is going to be completed. Showers also made an appearance in CW's The Vampire Journals as well as in movies Traffic, The Tree of Existence and that i Adore You, Phillip Morris. Showers resided in nearby Chalmette, the Occasions-Picayune reviews. Treme tapes in New Orleans and documents the town's find it difficult to survive after 2005's Hurricane Katrina. Showers performed police Capt. John Guidry. Related Subjects Obituaries Breaking Bad Treme

ABC Buys 'Jekyll & Hyde'-Inspired Drama Project From Sheldon Turner

EXCLUSIVE: Robert Louis Stevenson's classic split-personality tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is getting a contemporary interpretation with Hyde, a drama series project from Up In the Air co-writer Sheldon Turner and ABC Studios that has been set up at ABC. This marks the first sale for Sheldon and Jennifer Klein's recently launched company Vendetta, which has a first-look deal at ABC Studios. Turner will write Hyde, which centers on Grant Hyde, a thirtysomething ER doctor with a degenerative eye condition who is conflict-averse and hesitant to be captain of his own destiny. After attempting an experimental treatment to improve his eyesight, he begins to experience a strange side effect -- when he goes to sleep, his id manifests itself as Hyde, a fearless, gregarious personality who takes control where Grant cannot. Turner and Klein will executive produce the project, described as an odd buddy show where the buddies happen to be the same person. Going into this development season, the Jekyll & Hyde lore was one of the areas ABC was looking to mine. On TV, it last was tackled on NBC's short-lived drama My Own Worst Enemy. ABC has been actively exploiting popular public domain concepts over the past year. The network has the Brothers Grimm fairytale-themed series Once Upon a Time coming up, along with Revenge, a contemporary female-centered take on The Count of Monte Cristo.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Sees Stock Jump in Thursday Trading

NEW YORK - Shares of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. jumped 18.1 percent on Thursday as analysts said they were content with the conglomerate outlook for its latest fiscal year and promise of potential additional rewards for shareholders. Amid a broad market rebound that boosted the S&P 500 stock index by 4.6 percent, News Corp.'s stock closed at $16.19, pushing it back above its 2010 close of $14.56. But it is still below its 52-week high of $18.35, set in early June before the phone hacking scandal erupted again. News Corp. president, COO and deputy chairman Chase Carey and CFO David DeVoe said on the firm's quarterly earnings conference call Wednesday afternoon that after a current $5 billion stock buyback program ends in a year more buybacks are possible. Chairman and CEO Murdoch said while he didn't like the idea of buybacks in the past, that was before the stock's recent decline amid phone hacking scandal and more recently market turmoil. The conglomerate also raised its dividend by 27 percent and forecast operating profit growth for its new fiscal year in the low to mid teen percentage range. Evercore Partners analyst Alan Gould summarized the earnings report and call this way: "Good quarter and outlook; larger buyback likely." Wunderlich Securities analyst Matthew Harrigan in a report spoke of "a new growth Avatar" as he raised his stock price target on News Corp. by $2 to $20, citing what he predicted would be an "aggressive implementation of of [the] $5 billion share program" and "best of class" quarterly results. "Healthy guidance, aggressive buyback should reignite interest" in News Corp.'s stock, Davenport & Co. analyst Michael Morris said in a similarly themed report on Thursday. "Suggested aggressive buybacks could continue for two to three years," echoed Cowen analyst Doug Creutz. And Thomas Eagan of Collins Stuart said that if the company added $3 billion to its $5 billion stock repurchase authorization, his earnings per share estimate would increase from $1.40 to $1.48. Lazard Capital Markets analyst Barton Crockett said that if News Corp. makes good on using more money for stock buybacks, it will provide the "best cash return in media." He added: "News Corp. made the best answer we can imagine" amid concerns due to the recently reignited phone hacking scandal. If it indeed uses the bulk of its cash of around $12 billion plus free cash flow of $3 billion-$4 billion annually on buying back stock, "that's nearly 50 percent equity shrinkage at current prices, a total reversal of the bear retort that News is less open to share repurchases than peers," Crockett said. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics Rupert Murdoch News Corp.

Politics play major role in competitive category

William Hurt in 'Too Big to Fail'Barry Pepper in 'The Kennedys'Idris Elba in 'Luther'Laurence Fishburne in 'Thurgood'Edgar Ramirez in 'Carlos'True-life personas dominate this year's noms in the lead actor in a miniseries or movie category, with only British thesp Idris Elba's "Luther" a wholly fictional creation.Two Kennedys, a famous criminal, the Supreme Court's first African-American justice and a Secretary of the Treasury round out the rest of the cast of characters.Venezuelan-born Edgar Ramirez, who was also nommed for a Golden Globe, made a major impression on critics with his charismatic portrayal of the enigmatic fugitive Carlos the Jackal in Olivier Assayas' epic yet intimate "Carlos."HBO is a mainstay here, as always, having seen its actors come away with this award seven of the past 10 years. "Thurgood" thesp Laurence Fishburne is no Emmy newcomer himself; he's been nommed in this category twice before and won for guest actor for "Tribeca" back in 1993. In the exemplary one-person play, Fishburne re-created the role he played on Broadway for a filmed performance from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The pay cabler's investment in current events paid off for Hurt, who played Hank Paulson -- a pivotal figure in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis that was retold in the adaptation of Andrew Ross Sorkin's tome "Too Big to Fail."Elba, previously known to U.S. auds in the central role of ambitious drug lieutenant Stringer Bell on HBO's "The Wire," moved to the other side of the law as the titular, volatile police detective in BBC America's "Luther."Noms are rounded out by a pair from the series that was controversial before it even aired, "The Kennedys." After being dumped by History and passed by others, the mini gave the ReelzChannel its first taste of Emmy recognition. Greg Kinnear and Barry Pepper were tabbed as John F. Kennedy and brother Bobby, respectively.Idris Elba"Luther"(BBC America)Best scene: Any scene where Elba's John Luther cat-and-mouses with Ruth Wilson's clever killer, Alice Morgan. Bad-tempered cop vs. unpredictable lunatic equals compelling telly.Why he might win: His Luther is a terrific blend of detail-oriented detective and emotionally challenged husband, with the two often overlapping with one another. And for fans of "The Wire," this could be a way to rectify the wrongs when the series never got any Emmy love.Maybe not: He shouldn't be punished for this, but as "Luther" is more of a series than a miniseries -- season two recently debuted in Britain -- that could confuse some voters. Laurence Fishburne"Thurgood"(HBO)Best scene: Fishburne as Marshall passionately arguing the watershed "Brown vs. the Board of Education" case, as well as later telling story of his swearing in to the Supreme Court.Why he might win: As a one-man vehicle, Fishburne holds aud's attention throughout, conveying the essence of an important, complex man who had a sense of humor, too. It's his show and absolutely nails it.Maybe not: Essentially a filmed play, it might be too stagey for voters' taste. William Hurt"Too Big to Fail" (HBO)Best scene: Hurt, as Secretary of the Treasury Hank Paulson, nailing the titular line in a scene with Topher Grace's Jim Wilkinson: "You want too big to fail? Here it is!" Why he might win: Flanked by an all-star ensemble, Hurt's Paulson arguably comes closest to the hero here, and the thesp was rewarded with a surplus of good reviews. Maybe not: A guy discussing the meltdown of an economy means he may not have the showiest of roles or the sexiest material to deal with. Yea, money talks but not sure it can win Emmys.Greg Kinnear"The Kennedys" (ReelzChannel)Best scene: A confident President Kennedy says to one of his generals, "My intention is to have you fight the battles and I'll set the policy. Does that work for you?"Why he might win: Kinnear captured JFK's much-imitated speech patterns believably, with a hint of melancholy. The actor has always been likeable and that could make a difference.Maybe not: Could be harmed by the controversy of the mini -- some critics and historians felt it fudged reality -- and reviews overall were less than kind. Reelz's relatively low profile not a plus, either. Barry Pepper"The Kennedys" (ReelzChannel)Best scene: Quieter moments with Kristin Booth as Bobby's wife, Ethel, as when Bobby suggested that she take over for Jackie in an interview.Why he might win: Despite having to wear a prosthetic nose, Pepper held his own with an earnest portrayal of Bobby. Most critics who said unkind things of the mini praise his perf, saying he was one of the highlights of the project. Maybe not: He may be overshadowed by Kinnear's JFK, or possibly the two nominees could also cancel each other out.Edgar Ramirez"Carlos"(Sundance)Best scene: A memorable moment sans dialogue in which Ramirez stands naked in front of a tall mirror admiring and infatuated with his own image. There's also the riveting OPEC raid sequence, with Carlos at his most charismatic and dangerous. Why he might win: Ramirez was also nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award (the series itself won the Globe), and he received rave notices. Voters would look very international in scope selecting him here.Maybe not: Originally produced for French TV and then reaired on Sundance (an edited version had a brief theatrical run in U.S.), the question remains: Did enough people see it? And the film's complicated portrayal of a terrorist is fairly dark stuff that could turn more conservative voters off. ROAD TO THE EMMYS: THE ACTORActors look to play characters unlike themselvesComedy | Drama | Miniseries & Movies Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Glam Slam: The Friday Five: Best Fashion Tips Of All Time

By Ryan PattersonLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Starting to think about your fall wardrobe? If youre looking for classic style over trendy fashion make sure you check out the new issue of InStyles Makeover, which gives you a whopping 50 tips on what to buy, what to skip and how to pull anything off effortlessly. Here are five of our favorites: Round up a Posse of White Cotton Button-DownsThey elevate jeans and keep ball skirts from drifting into fantasy-land. (see Sharon Stone for inspiration!) But all that mileage comes at a cost: a short shelf life. So buy three, dont over bleach (which can cause yellowing), and refresh regularly. Show Skin StrategicallyLooking truly sexy involves knowing what to bare and what to keep under wraps. (Check out Angelina Jolie, who nails it!) Otherwise, wheres the mystery? Try to show off only one body part at a time. If you are wearing a short skirt or shorts, stay covered on top and vice versa. Wearing White? Seek Out LightKeep in mind: White clothes always look more see-through in daylight. Check yourself out in a bright setting to be safe. Jazz Up Your LBDSimpler shapes cry out for styling. Try dressy jackets or a slip-on shrug, colored shoes and bags, or tinted sheers plus booties. Dress for Your Body, Not Your AgeArms svelte enough for a sleeves sheath? Legs toned enough for shorts? Show off what youve got while youve still got it. But watch out for the matronly tipping point. The pleated silk skirt or little pastel jacket that looked so cute on you at 25 can start turning frumpy at 40. For the complete list of the 50 Best Fashion Tips of All Time, pick up the InStyle Makeover Issue on newsstands today. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Zachary Eller Joins Fox's Marketing Team

Studio veteran Zachary Eller has joined 20th Century Fox's marketing unit as senior vice president of partnership marketing and promotions.our editor recommendsOren Aviv Named Chief Marketing Officer for Fox Eller, who arrives on the Fox lot from Sony Pictures Entertainment, will oversee all of the studio's domestic activities in this area. "As we continue to build an shape our doemstic marketing team for the future, Zac is an essential part of that evolution. We are lucky to have such a proven and strategic executive overseeing our promotions team," said Fox chief marketing officer Oren Aviv and chief creative officer Tony Sella in announcing the hire. Eller will report to Aviv and Sella, who togther run the studio's domestic marketing operation. Eller spent a decade at Sony, most recetnly serving as vice president for international promotions and licensing. Under his leaderhip, Sony struck integral partnerships with major brands inlcuding Coke, Ford, 7-Eleven, Carrefour, Visa and McDonalds. Prior to that, he was executive director of media and promotions for Sony Pictures Digital. Before Sony, Eller was director of international promotions at Warner Bros. Related Topics Oren Aviv 20th Century Fox Film Tony Sella

Are All My Children and One Life to Live Moving to Cable?

Susan Lucci In the latest chapter of daytime drama surrounding the future of All My Children and One Life to Live, both canceled soaps are now being pitched to cable networks, Deadline reports. The two shows are getting interest from cable networks to air new episodes after they premiere online. After both series were axed by ABC in April, the network sold their online rights to Prospect Park, which plans to air new episodes online. Prospect Park is led by Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz, executive producers behind the cable breakout hit Royal Pains. VIDEO: Josh Duhamel returns to All My Children Despite hesitations about how All My Children and One Life to Live would be changed for the web, Prospect Park promised that both series will "be delivered with the same cast and in the same format and length." It is unclear how much earlier episodes would premiere online before they air on cable. Both shows currently air repeat episodes on SOAPnet, which will switch to a new Disney Junior channel next year. However, All My Children's move online - which was set to happen in late September - has hit a snag, due to contract negotiations and the formation of new budgets. (One Life to Live's Internet launch is not expected to be delayed). Contract negotiations may delay All My Children's online launch All My Children will air its last episode on ABC on Sept. 23. One Life to Live will leave the network in January. Do you want to see All My Children and One Life to Live on cable?

Zemeckis' ImageMovers inks deal with Universal

ZemeckisRobert Zemeckis has signed a two-year first look deal to bring his ImageMovers Digital shingle over to Universal, where he'll get back into creating live-action pics in addition to the motion-capture animation he's been focused on in recent years.IMD, which Zemeckis founded in 1997 and Walt Disney Studios acquired in 2007, was without a home since the the Mouse House decided last March not to reup their deal.Run by Zemeckis and his business partners Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey, Imagemovers had been producing mocap pics such as "The Polar Express" and "A Christmas Carol" -- but was also behind box-office dissapointment "Mars Needs Moms," which grossed only $40 million worldwide.Sources say that the deal would have Zemeckis developing both live-action and motion-capture pics for Universal. IMD would not move to the Universal lot, however.Even with Imagemovers being shut down, Zemeckis has stayed busy circling several projects, including "Flight" at Paramount starring Denzel Washington. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com