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Michael Showers from 'Treme' found dead

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Authorities say a body found in the Mississippi River has been identified as Michael Showers, who played police Capt. John Guidry in "Treme."

Police say they pulled the body from the river near the French Quarter of New Orleans Wednesday, The Times-Picayune reported.

The body, which had been in the water two days, was discovered by a local steamboat captain about 11:15 a.m. and was retrieved by harbor authorities a half hour later.

An autopsy is pending to determine cause of death.

David Simon, creator of "Treme," lauded Showers as "a fine actor."

"We enjoyed his work -- and working with him. Going forward, we're going to miss having him as part of our production. All of which seems of little import in light of the loss of a man's whole life, and what that loss truly means to him, his family, his friends. Our respect and condolences go to them, especially," Simon said in a statement on behalf of the show, CNN reported.

Showers, who was 45 at the time of his death, left behind a body of work including his Emmy-nominated role in "Treme," "Breaking Bad" and the recent Terrence Malick film, "Tree of Life."

Cowell wants to be frozen when dead

LONDON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- British producer Simon Cowell says when he dies he wants his body frozen to be thawed when medicine can treat whatever ended his life.

"It's an insurance policy," Cowell said. "If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. If it does work, I'll be happy. If it's possible, and I think it will be, why not have a second crack? Does that sound crazy? I think it's a good idea."

Cowell, 51, is rigorous about his dietary routine and he's had the same breakfast prepared by his housekeeper, Rainer, every day for about five years, GQ magazine said. It's a seven-step process: Hot water with lemon followed by papaya juice with lime, oatmeal, tea and then three multi-ingredient smoothies.

Tony Bennett celebrates 85th birthday with album, Ravinia show ...

Ask Tony Bennett what it’s like to be 85 and you can almost hear the smile in his voice.

“I just love it,” he says beaming. “I have very good health and everybody keeps saying I’m in top shape and that they’ve never heard me singing better. I’ll take that.”

At an age when most octogenarians would be taking life just a wee bit easier, Bennett, who celebrated the milestone birthday on Aug. 3, is moving forward at breakneck speed. In addition to his regular tour schedule — including a “birthday celebration concert” at Ravinia on Aug. 26 — he’ll be feted at the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Open on Aug. 29 (Bennett’s an avid tennis fan), making his concert debut at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House on Sept. 18, and headlining a benefit concert to end hunger on Sept. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Along with Carrie Underwood, Bennett guest stars on the second-season premiere of the CBS television series “Blue Bloods,” where the pair will perform “It Had to Be You.” And then there’s the Sept. 20 release of “Duets II” (Columbia Records), his second collaborative album effort in five years, with a who’s-who of singers. A behind-the-scenes “making of” documentary for the new album, filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe, is due out this fall.

None of it is work to Bennett, who looks at his career as a singer and museum-caliber painter as a labor of love.

“My whole life is a study of painting and singing,” says the Grammy-winning singer, “about finding truth and beauty in both, and learning, always learning.”

What’s the greatest thing he’s learned about making music after all these years?

“Less is more,” Bennett says without hesitation. “I’ve had such great collaborations with great musicians. They’re all there on my records. The greatest was probably my album with Bill Evans [1975] because it was just piano and voice. It was the most amazing experience of my life on an album, I think. He was just a genius on piano. Just the two of us. Less is more.

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