Watercooler: What Did We Miss at the MTV Video Music Awards?

Lil Wayne Power? We don't need no stinking power... we have you! True story: About halfway into last night's VMAs - thanks to a certain city's top-notch post-Hurricane Irene repair work - Watercooler Central actually lost power. One minute, Adele is reminding us what singing sounds like without autotune, the next minute, total darkness. If only we'd been blessed with the absence of cable during Lady Gaga's drag-king opening performance. That pompadoured greaser mess looked like something out of RuPaul's The Outsiders. So today, this is your column. Tell us what rocked or what rotted during the show, who needs to never win another award, and all that other fun stuff. We hear the so-called Britney tribute was really just a weak lead-in to a much bigger salute to newly preggo Beyonce. And according to our @TVGuideMagazine Twitter feed, Lil Wayne was a big letdown. Fill us in down in the comments below and make us feel better about having to miss the always out-there night of a thousand bleeped-out rappers. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Treme Actor Found Dead in Mississippi River

Michael Showers Michael Showers, an actress who recurred on HBO's Treme, was discovered accurate Wednesday. He was 45. Showers was drawn in the Mississippi River in New Orleans following a steamboat captain spotted his body, a police spokesperson told The Occasions-Picayune. An autopsy is going to be carried out to look for the reason for dying, but Showers have been within the water about 2 days, a coroner determined. See other stars we lost this season Showers performed New Orleans Police Capt. John Guidry about the Cinemax series. His other credits incorporated roles on Breaking Bad and also the Vampire Journals.

Alexandra Maria Lara to star in 'Rush'

German thesp Alexandra Maria Lara ("Downfall") has landed the female lead in Ron Howard's Formula One pic "Rush.""Thor" star Chris Hemsworth plays Brit speedster James Hunt, while Daniel Bruhl ("Inglourious Basterds") plays Austrian racer Niki Lauda.Peter Morgan-scripted drama follows Lauda and Hunt's 1970s rivalry on the Formula One circuit. Lauda nearly died in a fiery crash in 1976 but returned to the track just six weeks later to race Hunt.Cross Creek Pictures is financing the pic, which Imagine's Brian Grazer and Howard are producing alongside Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner and Cross Creek's Brian Oliver.Pic does not yet have a distributor but Imagine and Working Title are based at Universal, where the film is expected to land.Lara recently played Sam Riley's love interest in the Ian Curtis biopic "Control." In addition to starring in "The Baader Meinhof Complex," thesp has appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's "Youth Without Youth," Spike Lee's "Miracle at St. Anna" and Stephen Daldry's "The Reader."Lara is repped by CAA and Tavistock Wood Management. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Ryan O'Neal Defamation Suit Challenged in New Court Filing (Exclusive)

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images The film/TV producer prosecuted for defamation by Ryan O'Neal has fired back in the actor, declaring inside a strongly phrased court filing the suit according to comments concerning a fight over artwork once possessed by O'Neal ex Farrah Fawcett ought to be ignored. Craig Nevius, who created a Television show concerning the late actress (Chasing after Farrah) and done a documentary about her combat cancer, claims inside a motion filed Thursday that O'Neal wrongly prosecuted him for excercizing his free speech with an problem of public concern. For individuals late towards the story, O'Neal was prosecuted in This summer through the College of Texas, which claims that Fawcett bequeathed everything of her artwork when she died last year. The Fawcett artwork includes an Andy Warhol portrait that O'Neal claims is his. When Nevius, who had been friendly with Fawcett before she died, spoke out about his understanding of Fawcett's artwork and assisted the college using its situation, O'Neal prosecuted him for $a million for defamation. O'Neal, who the motion states is "now also known for his womanizing, substance abuse, various criminal busts and savage beatings of his children," contended that Nevius's claims in Star magazine as well as on Hello America defamed him. Now Nevius is fighting back, filing a motion under California's anti-SLAPP statute, which enables for several legal cases concerning public speech to become ignored in an initial phase. Nevius claims O'Neal's suit is wrong while he never told the college or even the researchers that O'Neal had "stolen" anything. "Nevius never mentioned to the reporter that O'Neal had 'stolen' or 'concealed' the Warhol portrait and not stated that there is any 'police' analysis of O'Neal," based on the motion. Nevius states the actual reason behind the suit is obvious: "to obtain Nevius to prevent supplying information he has which seems to evidence the truth that O'Neal wasn't prepared to cope with Ms. Fawcett's passing with no $$ 30 million souvenir." O'Neal lately requested additional time to reply to the College of Texas suit. The brand new filing includes three terms, from Nevius (who describes a lot of crazy behavior on O'Neal's part) in addition to Fawcett's former personal assistant Mike Pingel and her longtime friend Gregg Lott. In the declaration, Lott states O'Neal's contention that Warhol made among the portraits for him isn't true. "Farrah always had having both Warhol portraits in the day these were produced plus they were unquestionably possessed by her and her alone," Lott's declaration states. We've include a call to O'Neal attorney Marty Singer and can update having a response. UPDATE: "We don't believe this can be a situation that subjects itself to anti-SLAPP," Singer informs us. "We feel we'll prevail." Nevius's motion was filed by Lincoln subsequently Bandlow at L.A.'s Lathrop and Gage firm. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni Ryan O'Neal Farrah Fawcett

New Red Tails Trailer Soars In

And the poster's online too.... If it seems like less than a month since the first trailer for World War Two air combat drama Red Tails premiered, that's because, er, it was less than a month ago. But undeterred at a possible promo blitz, producer George Lucas has shoved another chunk of footage online and you can watch it below. Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies BlogRed Tails tells the heroic true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American pilots to make it through training during the war. Battling racist attitudes from their superior officers at the same time they were trying to fight enemy aircraft, the squad flourished despite being given second-hand planes and some of the more dangerous missions of the conflict. Anthony Hemingway directed the film from John Ridley's script and if we have a concern, it's that some of the moments still come across as a little cheesy. But there are no such worries about the fighting scenes, which are loaded with superb set pieces (train go boom!) and some awesome aerial action. The cast includes Terrence Howard, Michael B Jordan, Ne-Yo, Andre Royo, Method Man, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr and Bryan Cranston. In support of the latest promo, MTV has also brought the poster online, which you can see right here...To see the poster full size at MTV, click on the image above. This one flies into American cinemas on January 20 next year, but we're still waiting to hear over the wires when we can expect it to land on these shores.

Josh Berman, Peter Tolan team for ABC drama

"Drop Dead Diva" creator Josh Berman and Peter Tolan are teaming on a drama project for ABC and Sony Pictures Television. In addition, the Alphabet picked up a script from its ABC Studios from "Detroit 1-8-7" executive producers David Zabel and Jason Richman. Both script orders were confirmed by ABC. Berman's project, which was sold with a penalty attached, is about a female FBI profiler who teams up with a homicide detective for the first time since he left her at the altar after coming out of the closet. Berman is writing the script and will exec produce with Tolan; both are under overall deals with Sony. In addition to creating "Diva" for Lifetime, Berman is a former executive producer at CBS' "CSI" and a writer/consulting producer for Fox's "Bones." Tolan already has another script in play at Fox, an ensemble comedy with producing partner Michael Wimer and DJ Nash ("Til Death") Richman's drama script is a "Sliding Doors"-style examination of a woman on her wedding day struggling with doubts as to whether she's making the right decision. Viewers will see two different versions of how her life would play out. Zabel already has another script with ABC Studios set up at the Alphabet, a Western called "Gunslinger." He was previously an exec producer on NBC's "ER" from 2005-09. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Warner Bros. Rumored To Adapt The Stand With David Yates, and 5 Other Stories You'll Be Talking About Today

Also in this Thursday edition of The Broadsheet: Mark Wahlberg could pick up Two Guns… there’s actually a congressman who thinks Kathryn Bigelow got classified information for her Osama bin Laden film… Morgan Freeman, outcast magician… and more ahead. · Since before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was even released, it was rumored that David Yates might direct the Warner Bros. big screen adaptation of The Stand. And he still might — but with the help of an old friend. HitFix’s Drew McWeeny reports that Yates and Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves are “finalizing deals” to adapt Stephen King’s biggest novel over the course of three films. Obviously, nothing is official — and it might not even happen; Variety reporter Jeff Sneider tweeted that people should not “go doing cartwheels” about the news just yet — but don’t act shocked when some big press release about Yates, Kloves and The Stand goes out in the coming weeks. [HitFix] · Because Mark Wahlberg doesn’t have enough things on his plate, he’s in negotiations with Universal to star in the graphic novel adaptation Two Guns. The Departed-like film — it’s about a DEA agent and undercover naval intelligence officer who “investigate each other while each steals the mobs money” — was originally eyed for director David O. Russell and star Vince Vaughn, but they both appear out now; Blake Masters wrote the script. [Deadline] · Republican New York congressman and House Committee on Homeland Security chairman Peter King has it in his head that the Obama administration released classified information to Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal and Sony Pictures to help with their upcoming and untitled Osama bin Laden film. Bigelow and Boal released a statement about their film that didn’t actually address King’s complaints, but White House press secretary Jay Carney did offer one retort: “I would hope that as we face the continued threat from terrorism, the House Committee on Homeland Security would have more important topics to discuss than a movie.” [Deadline] · Morgan Freeman is in talks to join Jesse Eisenberg, Melanie Laurent and the also in-talks Mark Ruffalo and Amanda Seyfried in Now You See Me. The Louis Leterrier-directed film is about magicans who rob banks, and the FBI agent tasked to stopping them. Freeman would play “Thaddeus, an ex-magician who has made a career out of exposing other magicians’ illusions, making him a despised figure within the magic community.” GOB would be very displeased. [Variety] · From the world of science, it turns out that spoilers are actually good for you. Bruce Willis was dead the entire time in The Sixth Sense. Feel better? [Science Daily] · Dermot Mulroney has been added to the cast of Stoker. The Shadow of a Doubt-y film from Wentworth Miller and director Chan-wook Park follows a young girl (Mia Wasikowska) who must contend with her evil uncle (Matthew Goode) after the death of her father (Mulroney). (Spoilers make you feel good, remember?) Nicole Kidman and Jacki Weaver (Team Jacki!) also star. [THR]

Double Feature 1

Trystan Gravelle and Kirsty Bushell live a double existence in Edgar and Annabel.A National Theater presentation of the double-bill of "Edgar and Annabel" by Mike Holcroft directed by Lyndsey Turner and "The Swan" by D.C. Moore directed by Polly Findlay.Nick - Trytstan Gravelle Marianne - Kirsty Bushell Burns - Damian O'Hare Tara - Karina Fernandez Marc - Tom Basden Anthony - Richard Goulding Claire - Phoebe Fox Jim - Trevor Cooper Denise - Pippa Bennett-Warner Russell - Richard Hope Sophistication/Amy - Claire-Louise Cordwell Bradwell - Nitin Kundra Charistine - Sharon Duncan-BrewsterLyricist Hal David isn't reported like a dramaturgical authority, however when it involves one-act plays it's worth clocking his lyric: "Knowing when you should leave might be the wisest factor that anybody can learn." Because the to begin two National Theater double-bills by emerging dramatists proves, knowing the scope and length for any short play is difficult. D.C. Moore's punchy "The Swan" drains itself of one's prior to the finish, but Mike Holcroft's shaped and auspicious "Edgar and Annabel" develops more powerful through the minute leaving auds wanting more. Smooth professional twentysomething Marianne (Kirsty Bushell) is planning dinner in her own anodyne kitchen but in the second her partner Nick (Trystan Gravelle) arrives, it's obvious something's amiss. When he produces scripts from his brief-case to allow them to continue their publish-work banter, puzzlement develops. In the beginning it appears as though Holcroft is merely re-playing the absurdist "we are only stars" game, however it quickly becomes obvious her utilization of play-acting has serious narrative intent.Marianne and Nick are purposely carrying out for any reason. Inside a identifiable very close to future, not unlike Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," their property is wired for seem by unseen government bodies. While pretending to become bride and groom Edgar and Annabel, Nick and Marianne are really political freedom martial artists interacting with one another by looks and signs while speaking words the government bodies be prepared to hear. Holcroft exploits the space between what's spoken and what's happening beneath with real zest. Couple of authors might have the comic audacity to produce a scene by which figures privately and seriously make tanks underneath the cover of everybody taking turns to sing pumped-up cheesy energy-ballads home based karaoke. She also resists overstatement. The only real depiction around the globe outdoors comes via moments using their controller Burns (Damian O'Hare). But Holcroft ratchets up tension via slips-up triggered by the stress of keeping everything secret. The large surprise, however, is the fact that underneath the sci-fi-meets-politics surface, there's real emotional resonance not only in Bushell's progressively frightened performance, but throughout Lyndsey Turner's crisply performed production. Moore also explores undercurrents in "The Swan," that takes its title in the seriously run-lower local pub that's to host a wake. That is similar to most "following the funeral" dramas, secrets come collapsing out via mouthy figures whose capability to swear (frequently highly inventively) makes David Mamet seem just like a maiden aunt. Moore is intent upon creating figures totally on a lasting roll of bitterness and anger, but who often engage brain only after speaking, their loudness pointing up their inarticulacy. But although there's trouble brewing for Pippa Bennett-Warner's sweet but thoughtful Denise about her recently departed stepfather, the facts don't add resonance. That's partially simply because they come through the discharge of information withheld through the author in excessively convenient fashion using a discovered cell phone. Polly Findlay's production within the National's Paintframe workshop space has authenticity, most famously due to Soutra Gilmour's fantastically versatile design, which changes from an finish-on staging for Holcroft's play into Moore's perfectly grungy pub throughout the intermission. Yet regardless of the setting and acting, the 2nd hour-lengthy drama drags because its shape is thematic instead of dramatic.Sets and costumes, Soutra Gilmour lighting, James Farncombe seem, Carolyn Downing music, Ben Castle and Matthew Herbert production stage manager, David Marsland. Opened up, examined August. 3, 2011. Running time: 2 Hrs, 30 MIN. "Edgar and Annabel" "The Swan" Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

Producers Say Cheryl Coles Accent, Stateside Profile Not Really A Motive In X Factor Exit

By Jolie LashBEVERLY Hillsides, Calif. -- Producers at FOX say Cheryl Coles strong, regional British accent, and insufficient profile stateside had no relationship towards the British singer departing The X Factor like a judge and mentor after just two audition models. Everyone else was great together with her, Leader of Alternative Entertainment for FOX, Mike Darnell, told Access Hollywood following the X Factor panel in the Television Experts Association Session in Beverly Hillsides on Friday. I believe that Simon and also the producers just felt it was, right now that they was doing the work, they believed like maybe, she'd become more comfortable doing [the show in] England. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, a professional Producer from the X Factor, stated Cole was well accepted through the American crowds with no participants asked whether she was experienced enough within the stateside entertainment world to evaluate. I believe people understood her because she was about the British show. There is nobody who stated, Well, who're you? Frot-Coutaz told Access. People understood who Cheryl was so when she walked in to the arena, people understood who Cheryl was plus they understood her [accent]. It was much more of a downside when it comes to the franchise. Frot-Coutaz recommended that Simon Cowells own departure in the X Factors United kingdom branch towards the U.S. edition was accountable for producers thinking it may be better to keep Cole about the British show. The British, these were searching for their panel in England, she stated. After Simons departure, they needed to recast the British show. Darnell confirmed that Coles exit is going to be featured included in the X Factor if this starts this September. Well need to, he stated. Would air the shows because they happened, Frot-Coutaz added. Effectively, Cheryl was around for 2 metropolitan areas so when we air individuals two metropolitan areas, spend maintain the moments, Frot-Coutaz added. Theres not really a large explanation. Sometimes you've guest idol judges and theyre there for a few metropolitan areas and also you dont obsess with the idol judges Its concerning the talent its concerning the auditions its concerning the participants. The X Factor premiers on FOX on September 21. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Showtime's Fogge to head NBC marketing

FoggeAnother Showtime exec is on the move to NBC. Len Fogge, a 15-year vet of the pay cabler, has been tapped prexy of marketing for the Peacock.Fogge's move to reunite with his former Showtime boss, NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt, came a few hours after Showtime announced an exec shuffle in its marketing department.Fogge will lead all strategy, branding, creative, paid media, digital and social media and partnership marketing initiatives for NBC's primetime, daytime and latenight dayparts. Current NBC marketing topper Adam Stotsky will be leaving the company after a transition period."I enjoyed a close working relationship with Len during my seven years at Showtime and I don't believe anyone deserves more credit than him for building the subscription base (at Showtime) to record levels or rebranding the company as one of the leading forces in cable television," Greenblatt said. At Showtime, Fogge oversaw creative, marketing, research and digital media, supervising all of the company's creative as well as its inhouse agency, Red Group.Stotsky moved to NBC in 2008 from Sci Fi Channel. His marketing team was instrumental in the success of reality series "The Voice," which is NBC top nonsports program this year. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

'The Change-Up': What Critics Say

The Change-Up, starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds as two friends who, in a freak accident, switch bodies, and therefore lives, opens in theaters, Friday, August 5. The early reviews from critics have been critical of the film, while often pointing out that even the high caliber comedic skills of Bateman, Reynold and co-star Leslie Mann could not help the film. Here are what some critics had to say about The Change-Up: The Hollywood Reporter's Kirk Honeycutt wrote that the Change-Up "bravely attempts to revive the dormant subgenre but it's a lame effort that grows increasingly frantic and foul-mouthed as the realization sets in that the gimmick isn't working." "What entertainment the film offers is that of the familiar and inevitable. Audiences can anticipate every plot turn well in advance and the outcome is never in doubt," Honeycutt added. VIDEO: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman's Raunchy 'The Change-Up' Promo The AP's Christy Lemire called David Dobkin's film "overlong" and wrote that it "is all over the place in tone, veering awkwardly from some daring comic moments to feel-good sappiness and back again in hopes of redeeming some semblance of edginess." Of the actor's work, she writes, "As an actor, Bateman gets the better end of the deal here: He's got Reynolds' wild child trapped inside of him, so he gets the showier part. Reynolds has a fearlessness when it comes to physical comedy but he's got Bateman's rigid, conservative character stuck in his body." Karina Longworth of The Village Voice calls it "hit-or-miss stuff," and writes: "A rare R-rated entry in a genre usually geared to teens, The Change-Up pivots on the discrepancy in life experience and hipness between an adult and an adolescent, and, uh, distinguishes itself by maintaining an extreme, puerile worldview while finding a way to wedge 'adult language' into virtually every sentence." "Throughout The Change-Up, one senses the filmmakers revived this hoary chestnut of a tale so they could deliver the crudest version possible -- a bawdy-swap comedy, if you will -- more to satisfy presumed market demands than to maximize the story's potential," wrote Variety's Justin Chang. Related Topics Jason Bateman Leslie Mann Olivia Wilde Ryan Reynolds The Change-Up

Like Teachers, Matt Damon Doesn't Work Harder Because of Job Insecurity Fears

· Matt Damon is an outspoken political activist, and at the Save Our Schools march in Washington, DC last weekend, he did some outspeaking. When asked a silly question about whether a lack of job security makes him work harder as an actor — a roundabout way of saying that teachers should have less job security themselves — Damon replied, “You think job insecurity is what makes me work hard? It’s not an incentive, I want to be an actor.” Things unravel from there, though — unfortunately — Damon did not regurgitate Gordon Wood in his dress-down. Click through to watch. Your Tuesday Buzz Break is here. [via Raw Story] · Nurse 3D — the most surprising non-porn title since Bad Teacher — has added 30 Rock co-star Katrina Bowden to the cast opposite Paz de la Huerta. Bowden will play a killer nurse, obvs. [Deadline] · The highest-earning actor in Hollywood just did some more earning. Leonardo DiCaprio film a series of Inception-y ads for Chinese cell phone company Oppo. Make money, money, money, money. [AdWeek] · Michael Ross will rewrite the futuristic Robin Hood project that Warner Bros. is planning. To answer your question: yes, there is a futuristic Robin Hood project in development. [Deadline] · The awesome Elizabeth Banks wrote a female comedy script called What About Barb?, about a bride who winds up with a crazy relative as her bridesmaid. Sounds sorta like Bridesmaids, right? It even included a bathroom scene. “[T]he studio execs were like, ‘People don’t want to see girls doing that.’ And I was like, ‘I’m writing from experience! You go to a club and you have to wait in a huge line, so people double up. And, yes, you think you’re only going to take a little pee, but sometimes some poops come out.’” Not that Banks has any hard feelings. “We never got the pooping scene as right as they got it in Bridesmaids.” [New York]

Nova Science Now: What's the Next Big Thing

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson will tackle one of science s major challenges in each episode, framed as a simple question that ordinary people wonder and worry about. Neil will guide us as he explores dramatic discoveries and the frontiers of research that connect each central, provocative mystery. Episode includes: 1) Social Robots - Would you want a robotic friend who could chitchat, do chores, even take care of you? Such bots may be here soon. 2) Robotic Cars - Tiny, battery-powered cars called EN-Vs, now in R&D, can talk to each other, come when called, even drive themselves. 3) Detecting Earthquakes - Can we predict earthquakes? NOVA scienceNOW visits Haiti and California in search of answers.