Kutcher: Better at keeping personal life private

NEW YORK (AP) — After embodying Steve Jobs in his new movie, Ashton Kutcher came to admire how the Apple Computer founder was able to balance his public and personal lives.

"He was better at it than I am," the 35-year old actor said Wednesday at the New York premiere of his new film, "JOBS."

"This business has a propensity to force you to be more public than you probably want to be," Kutcher said of show business.

He should know. Kutcher has seen his share of tabloid headlines after his very public breakup with actress Demi Moore. His current relationship with former "That '70s Show" co-star Mila Kunis has also been widely publicized.

But Kutcher says he's getting better at it.

"I think I've learned how to restrict that public image, and over the years I'm starting to understand the value of privacy," he said.

In the film, Kutcher plays the techno prophet who, along with Steve "Woz" Wozniak, ignited the personal computer revolution.

Jobs died two years ago after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56.

Kutcher said that while researching the role, he found there was a "Steve that Steve didn't always want to show."

He also said the most important aspect of playing such a public figure was to understand that the version of Jobs known by the public came much later.

"The guy with the glasses and the jeans and black turtleneck and the New Balance shoes giving a keynote speech to present some new, great, next, amazing product ... he wasn't always that guy. He actually evolved into that person in the same way that I'm not the same today at 35 as I was at 25, and I was at 15," Kutcher said.

"JOBS" opens Aug. 16.

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Follow John Carucci at www.twitter.com/jacarucci

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Amazon launches site for purchase of fine art

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon.com is getting into the fine art arena.

Customers can buy original and limited edition works of art from more than 150 prominent galleries and dealers via Amazon Art.

The announcement came Tuesday, a day after Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. announced that its CEO, Jeff Bezos (BAY'-zohs), had purchased The Washington Post.

Amazon Art features 40,000 works from more than 4,500 artists. The wide range of works includes folk art, impressionism and modern art.

Prices range widely, too.

There's a photograph by Clifford Ross for $200 and a painting by Norman Rockwell for $4.85 million.

The online marketplace offers detailed information about the artist, work, provenance and exhibition history.

Amazon worked with Sotheby's for a short-lived experiment selling art online in 1999.

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LeAnn Rimes, Eddie Cibrian get VH1 series

NEW YORK (AP) — Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes already get a lot of tabloid attention.

Now the 40-year-old actor and his singer-actress wife are parlaying their notoriety into a new VH1 series tentatively titled, "LeAnn & Eddie."

The six-episode series is scheduled to debut later this year or in early 2014.

A statement released Wednesday said the show will "bring the truth and make fun of all the gossip" about the couple, but doesn't say specifically whether it will be scripted or a reality series.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the 30-year-old Rimes said she and Cibrian were interested in doing "a show based in reality. ... A scripted show based around our lives." She said they had been approached numerous times to do an actual reality series, but "that kind of typical model doesn't work for us."

The couple wed in 2011. They met while filming the Lifetime movie "Northern Lights." Cibrian's ex-wife, Brandi Glanville, is a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

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AMC's 'Low Winter Sun' looks deep into Detroit

DETROIT (AP) — "Low Winter Sun" isn't a reality show about police in Detroit, the city in which it's set and filmed. Nor is it a "ripped-from-the-headlines" crime-solving drama like others that have come before.

Yet it aims to be truer, at least on a human level, to the place that in real life is struggling through some of its darkest times and recently became the largest city in the U.S. to file for bankruptcy after decades of decline.

"Everyone is looking for a second chance — and it's sort of this idea: 'What are you willing to do in order to get that in some way?'" said Chris Mundy, executive producer, showrunner and writer for the drama that debuts Sunday on AMC. "I wanted to set it in a city that reflected that in some way. Detroit made a lot of sense to me."

"Low Winter Sun" revives a two-part U.K. miniseries from 2006 and returns actor Mark Strong to the lead role as homicide detective Frank Agnew. It also marks Hollywood's return to the Motor City as a place to explore crime, following the short-lived ABC drama, "Detroit 1-8-7," from the 2010-11 season.

The principal actors and creators of "Low Winter Sun" say after the original version, it owes a greater debt to HBO's "The Wire" and its AMC lead-in, "Breaking Bad," since "Low Winter Sun" focuses its lens on one unraveling story that takes its detectives into the city's criminal underworld.

The show, which has been confirmed for an initial run of 10 episodes, begins with Strong's Agnew and Lennie James' Detective Joe Geddes killing a fellow cop in what appears to be an act of retribution. The story unspools from there, peeling back the consequences from that act.

"This is not a cop show — the police element is the framework, but what you're actually dealing with are people trying to cope against all odds," said Strong, a British actor whose film credits include "Zero Dark Thirty," ''Sherlock Holmes," ''Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "John Carter."

He spoke recently from the desk of his character on the Detroit set in a secure warehouse near the massive, deteriorating Packard automobile plant built more than a century ago that's increasingly become the target of thieves, metal scrappers, urban explorers and graffiti artists. One scene shot that day features Strong and James, another veteran British actor who plays Geddes, interviewing a witness to their crime. The dialogue is peppered with references to jobs being outsourced and Detroit's distant fur-trading past.

Setting and filming the show in Detroit, which at once tries to live up to its promise and live down its problems, makes all the difference, Strong said.

"What it has is a fantastic backdrop because you have a cityscape that is as need as repair as all of the characters are in this show ... but we're not suggesting for a second that everything that goes on in Detroit is dark and down and dirty," he said. "What we found here is this amazing place to be able to play out all the psychology of all the characters that have been created. ... It wouldn't work in New York or L.A. or anywhere else, to be honest, other than here."

James said "Low Winter Sun" was "by far the best script that came my way last year."

"It's the kind of part I like to play. I like people who have got a kind of internal monologue going on and what they're putting on the outside isn't necessarily what's going on in the inside," said James, who has appeared in AMC's "The Walking Dead," HBO's "Hung" and the film "Colombiana." ''It's a really brilliant, simple premise that's easy to tell and can take you in a million different directions."

To ensure authenticity even within the fictional realm of "Low Winter Sun," the producers hired Ira Todd, a Detroit police detective and consultant who also worked on "Detroit 1-8-7." Todd said the creators of the earlier show wanted to approach it more like "Low Winter Sun," but ABC executives "had a different vision."

Todd said his discussions with Mundy, the actors and others have helped develop plotlines and deepen characters. Still, he knows that depicting realism — particularly instances of police and government corruption — could be difficult for some of the city's staunchest defenders.

"There's an underground economy that's crazy — drugs, sex, the whole nine yards," Todd said. "I think you're going to hear, 'That crap don't go on,' but it does go on, and we need to do something about it. I think the show will actually bring that to the forefront."

For Mundy, a former Rolling Stone journalist who became a screenwriter and producer, being freed from the "whodunit" angle allows the show to "illuminate the humanity of the characters." That clearly puts it in the universe of "The Wire," though he's careful to keep the former series as a source of inspiration and not imitation.

"I don't mean to presume that we're doing things as well as them," Mundy said. "You can draw parallels between Detroit and Baltimore, and Baltimore was a character in that, in such a good way. Let's try to be that good, but let's make sure we're not doing something simply because it's familiar and somebody ... already did it."

He said AMC is the only network he's worked with that has told him to "slow down and take more time with the characters."

"It's kind of the beauty: You're allowed to be on your own thing," he said. "They're pushing us to fulfill everything we told them we thought it could be."

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Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffkaroub

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Billie Jean King talks life ahead of PBS profile

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Billie Jean King said Tuesday that she couldn't have revealed herself as being gay in the 1970s because it would have damaged the fledgling women's professional tennis tour.

King became the first prominent female athlete to come out as gay in 1981 after her partner filed a palimony lawsuit against her.

"I don't think it would have helped the situation. I think it would have hurt us more because we were just getting started," she told a Television Critics Association session.

The 69-year-old King will be the first sports figure to be profiled on PBS' "American Masters." Her episode airs Sept. 10 in commemoration of the 40th anniversaries of the Riggs match and the founding of the Women's Tennis Association.

King told the assembled TV critics that the women's pro tour was just in its third year of existence in 1973 when she beat Bobby Riggs in their landmark "Battle of the Sexes" match.

"It was such a tenuous position," she said. "We were labeled all the time 'women's libbers.' We were just always under the gun from the media. When I played Bobby Riggs, there wasn't one woman sports reporter (covering the match)."

King said she fought for 48 consecutive hours with her attorney and publicist about holding a news conference to announce her sexuality after she was sued by partner, Marilyn Barnett.

"The essence was I was outed, and at that time, I was still trying to find myself," she said. "My poor parents are homophobic. I grew up homophobic, so you can imagine this challenge. I didn't get comfortable in my own skin until I was 51 about being gay."

King also recalled her reaction when promoter Gladys Heldman told her she had signed Virginia Slims as a sponsor for the startup WTA Tour.

"I, personally, never smoked. I didn't like it, but I dealt with it. It was difficult," King said.

She was playing a full schedule of matches at the same time she was helping launch the women's pro tour, which lacked infrastructure in its early days.

"When people say, 'What do you remember about the '70s?' I go, 'I was tired,' " King said. "I was exhausted every moment. But God gave me extra energy, so I'm very fortunate."

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PBS doc looks at Journey's lead singer search

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The resurgence of Journey through the band's discovery of a new lead singer via the Internet gets a close-up look on a new PBS documentary.

"Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" airs on Sept. 30 as part of the network's Independent Lens series.

It's the story of how Journey guitarist Neal Schon found a replacement for front man Steve Perry by searching YouTube videos, and the band's eventual integration of Arnel Pineda into its lineup.

It wasn't easy.

Some longtime Journey fans were initially reluctant to accept the presence of Pineda, a 45-year-old Filipino singer, into an American band that had been dominated by Perry's presence and soaring vocals.

"We still have fans of our music showing up in the last year that don't know Steve Perry isn't in the band," keyboardist Jonathan Cain told the Television Critics Association on Tuesday.

Perry was replaced for the first time in 1998.

Cain recalled doing a concert in a U.S. city that he declined to name after Pineda joined Journey in December 2007.

"It took them 30 minutes to finally wrap their heads around the fact that this guy could sing his butt off," he said. "At the end of the show, they were all applauding Arnel's efforts."

Pineda perfected his English by reading English-language newspapers and using a dictionary to look up words he didn't understand. He wasn't troubled by hardcore Perry fans that compared the two singers.

"I never had a slight feeling of intimidation," he said. "I'm not even trying to compete with Mr. Perry. I'm just trying to help out. It didn't affect me at all."

Pineda was initially found by Schon singing Journey covers in YouTube videos. The band brought him to San Francisco to audition.

"I found some good guys, but I didn't feel they had the strength and the power in their pipes to carry themselves over the power of our music," Schon said. "Arnel, I said, 'This guy is the real deal.'"

Cain credited Pineda for stoking new interest in the group famous for such hits as "Don't Stop Believin'," ''Faithfully" and "Open Arms."

"He has his own style that he's developed," he said. "I watched this guy come from Manila as a club singer and become a rock star. We have a whole new fan base. Filipino nation is showing up at our shows."

Journey's older music continues to find new life on Broadway, television, movies and at sporting events.

"We're finding young school kids singing these songs and they weren't raised with these songs," Schon said. "We still obviously love doing it. To rebuild this band from nothing 10 years ago was quite a feat."

Schon and Pineda teamed to perform "Stay Awhile" as bassist Ross Valory and manager John Baruck looked on during the TCA session. Drummer Deen Castronovo didn't attend because of a scheduling conflict.

The band resumes its current tour on Aug. 15 in Kinder, La., and will play two sold-out dates in Chicago later this month.

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Fox Sports gets US Open in 12-year deal

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Fox Sports is in as the next broadcast partner for the U.S. Open starting in 2015. Johnny Miller appears to be out.

In a surprising announcement Wednesday night, the U.S. Golf Association said it has signed a 12-year multimedia deal with Fox network and Fox Sports 1 to be the domestic broadcast partner for the U.S. Open and other USGA championships.

Though financial terms weren't disclosed, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said the Fox bid was in the neighborhood of $100 million a year, more than double the previous contract. The person wasn't authorized to release details and spoke on condition of anonymity.

NBC Sports had been televising the U.S. Open since 1995 at Shinnecock Hills, with Miller as its shoot-from-the-hip analyst who became as much of the show as the golf itself.

"It was a big bummer," Miller told The Associated Press from his home in Utah. "For some reason, I told Dan Hicks at the U.S. Open this year, 'I don't think we're going to keep the U.S. Open.' I just had a hunch it would be ESPN or Fox that stepped in and made a high bid. I know we tried.

"I feel bad for the USGA in a way that money was more important than basically a good golf crew."

The deal runs through 2026. The first U.S. Open for Fox will be from Chambers Bay outside Seattle.

NBC's last U.S. Open will be next year at Pinehurst No. 2 — the U.S. Women's Open will be played on the same course the following week.

"This is an exciting and remarkable day for the USGA, as our partnership with the Fox Sports is a game-changer for our organization and for the game of golf," USGA President Glen Nager said. "The game is evolving and requires bold and unique approaches on many levels, and Fox shares our vision to seek fresh thinking and innovative ideas to deliver championship golf. This partnership will help us to better lead and serve the game in new and exciting ways."

Along with NBC Sports televising the final two rounds — and two-hour segments on Thursday and Friday — ESPN showed the two opening rounds. NBC is owned by Comcast, which also owns Golf Channel.

"The combination of NBC and Golf Channel will continue to be the dominant voice in golf coverage going forward. We've enjoyed our 19-year relationship with the USGA, and will continue to serve the golf fan every day," NBC Sports Group said in a statement.

ESPN also released a statement, saying: "We've had a rewarding relationship with the USGA. We look forward to televising the U.S. Open and other USGA championships in 2014 and wish them the best in the future."

USGA spokesman Joe Goode said in an email that signing with Fox was not a reflection on NBC or "simply the financials."

"Rather the decision is consistent with our strategy for delivering golf in new and innovative ways, which can be achieved with a partner that has a completely fresh perspective on the game," he said.

Under the deal, Fox Sports will deliver 146 hours of USGA golf. That includes at least 70 hours of its three biggest events — the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open. The other hours will be spent on amateur competitions, such as the U.S. Amateur and the new U.S. National Fourball Championship.

Fox Sports 1, the company's new cable channel, launches Aug. 17. Fox has been aggressively chasing rights to bolster its content, but there weren't a lot of options in the immediate future because of the increasing length of sports deals.

Randy Freer, the co-president and chief operating officer of Fox Sports, said the amateur events give Fox extensive content for its national and regional sports networks and that the deal could bring new viewers to Fox Sports 1.

Freer said it was too early to determine how Fox will cover the events or which announcers it will use.

Miller said it was unlikely he would go to Fox even if offered a chance. He said his contract with NBC runs through 2015.

"It was the highlight of my year of work for me," Miller said. "The U.S. Open has always been the tournament. It's a big bummer for me and Dan Hicks."

Hicks, the NBC's golf anchor, said on Twitter: "Will always love the U.S. Open. It becomes a part of you after so many yrs. Our national championship. What a privilege it has been."

NBC has three FedEx Cup playoff events, the Ryder Cup, the Florida swing and Houston Open leading up to the Masters, and The Players Championship.

"I don't know what they're going to do," Miller said about Fox. "You can't just fall out of a tree and do the U.S. Open. I guess the money was more important than the performance. No way they can step in and do the job we were doing. It's impossible. There's just no way. I wish Fox the very best."

Freer said Fox was "committed to elevating coverage of USGA events on every level, infusing them with a new energy and innovation that will make every championship the best golf event on television."

Freer said Fox would tap into the expertise of David Neal, a former NBC Sports executive hired to lead Fox's World Cup coverage, and that Fox also offers the USGA the opportunity to better differentiate the U.S. Open from the other majors.

"We don't have the past to hold onto," Freer said. "We'll work with the USGA to develop the best possible presentation of golf that we can do."

The PGA Tour has TV contracts with NBC, CBS and Golf Channel locked up through 2021.

The USGA's deal with Fox includes:

— Integrating the network's multiplatform assets, including its upcoming mobile app "Fox Sports Go."

— Elevating the visibility of the USGA's amateur events.

— Transforming U.S. Open week into a "powerful showcase and entertaining celebration" of golf.

— Supporting and highlighting the USGA programs such as the Rules of Golf, equipment standards, handicapping, the USGA Museum and the USGA Green Section.

"This partnership represents a promising new future for both organizations that will be marked by broadcast innovation, new approaches and fresh thinking," USGA executive director Mike Davis said. "We could not be more energized by what we will be able to accomplish together to make golf better, both now and for future generations of players and fans who love the game."

The decision to go with Fox is the latest development for the USGA, which this year has adopted a new rule that bans the anchored stroke used with long putters starting in 2016. It also eliminated the U.S. Amateur Public Links starting in 2015, and it launched a campaign against slow play called, "While We're Young."

The timing was peculiar. It was the second time in five years that the USGA made a major announcement during the PGA Championship — it announced a change in the size and shape of grooves in golf clubs at the 2008 PGA Championship.

The PGA of America was the most outspoken against the USGA's ban on anchored strokes.

"Given the very nature of major media and broadcast deals, they have a way of taking on a life of their own," Goode said in an email. "Rest assured, it was not our intent and it is not our style to disrupt a partner's event."

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AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen contributed to this report.

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