Longer than Mark's AND I wrote it myself
10:04 PM February 27, 2008
I am trying an experiment here, in an effort to drive our webmaster crazy. I am actually writing this on my own Microsoft word document; and then I intend to ‘cut and paste’ it onto the blog itself. If this works, that means I am will be able to actually spell-check my dispatch to you; and at some point add pictures and links and all sorts of cool unauthorized things.
I am one of those semi technically savvy people; I suppose I could become much better in terms of my knowledge and operation of all this technical stuff but then I risk becoming another cyber-guy and that is a very dangerous place to be. So, in my semi-technically savvy place; I now have a cell phone and a blackberry…because I can’t quite figure out how to make calls off of the blackberry; and besides who can possibly transfer all those phone numbers. And that is the way I am with a variety of “systems” in my house, and in my life as well. At KTLA we have very fancy high-end computer systems. I know just enough so I can write my stories each morning, and make sure the words that I write are the same words that appear in the teleprompter. I can’t do anything else. Some of our reporters can edit the tape of a story; add music, and bake a cake, all from the very same computer that I am using; but that would have required some sort of training session; and really, who has the time.
I don’t know about you, but every single morning as I am getting ready for work and trying to lay out my day; I quickly come to the conclusion that in one single day I never have enough time to accomplish all the things that I want to get done. Compared to the genuine problems that many people face, this certainly doesn’t really qualify…but still…my huge moral dilemma on Wednesday is that my watch battery had died. I could go to the Century City store where I got the watch years ago and get a free battery replacement; or I could go to a different store and pay for the battery. But, by not going to the mall I would save at least 15 minutes or so; and that seemed a fair trade off to pay for a watch battery instead of getting one for free.
This afternoon, I was just about to walk my middle daughter Rory over to a friend’s house, when a repairman from the gas company came over to look at my gas meter. Of course my daughter wanted to dash and I wanted to talk to the repairman. “We have got to go,” she bellowed; and I thought to myself with the adult logic that makes no sense to a six year old; “this gas repair guy is going to fix something that will help make the pool heater work, so even though we have to delay going to visit your friend; the delay is worth it, because the pool which you may actually like more than your friend will finally be working.” Long story short; we were late to the friend’s house AND the pool heater still isn’t working.
I have an interesting story that is running on the 24 cable channel devoted to movies; The Reelz Channel www.reelzchannel.com involving leap-year and the movies. The Oscars in 1939 was held on February 29th; and instead of being placed in television, the ceremony was filmed, like a movie, and shown in theaters around the country. It was held at the Coconut Grove; which was at the old Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire; (site by the way of my own University High School Prom),. Anyway, 1939 was a banner year for movies from “Gone with the Wind,” to “The Wizard of Oz.” and at that time the Oscars generated considerably more interest than they probably do now. The main reason I suppose, is that so many more people actually saw the movies. Now that the Oscars are over, there is considerable Monday morning quarterbacking over why the ceremony had such rotten ratings. The main reasons are obvious; not that many people saw this year’s crop of movies; and in this day and age; when no one has any time….I don’t think people can sit through a nearly 4 hour ceremony; and I know technical people work very hard and bring their mad skills to the movies; but people really don’t care about the technical awards.
That’s about it from my end…..this may not have been as incredibly verbally eloquent as my colleague Mark Kriski….but I know also know for a fact that I wrote it.
Posted by Sam Rubin | Permalink | Comments (36) | TrackBack (0)
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Sam...
I have to be honest and say that I would flip between KTLA and Fox morning shows. Trying to decide which one. Well after a week...I picked KTLA. Comparing the two Fox is what outsiders view as a sterotypical S. Californian! I like the way you present celebrity news. You don't show and tell from all the tabloids...Thank You!
Posted by: Shannon | March 01, 2008 at 04:21 PM
I have watched since telecast and enjoy all of the people on the show especially you, Sam Rubin, and I tape your segments so that I can show them to my daughter on Sunday and I have been doing it for years. She enjoyed the show but work got in the way and she had to chose work over watching KTLA and you. Frank Buckley is a welcome addition but I did enjoy Friday when Carlos Amezcua called. Cheers
Posted by: Juliette | March 01, 2008 at 04:52 PM
What is this POOR FRANK crap? Frank are your relatives writing in on these blogs or somethin'? Frank, just chill out and relax and you'll do just fine. Just by the title of your blog "Longer than Mark's and Sam's" shows your insecurities with your co-workers. I personally feel that your not on the same team as them. Are you trying to compete with your own team? Don't spend the energy or your time. These are veterans of the NEWS world. Always remember that Sam, Carlos, Mark, Barbara Beck, Jennifer York, Hal and Stan are the people who created this type of NEWS. All the other stations are copycats and have never been able to live up to what KTLA has done. I've been a fan for years. Why? Because of the anchors! I need to connect with all of you. I invite you into my home every morning which is a very personal thing. My children have grown up watching the KTLA crew. It seems to me that you want to play the victim here and you really don't have to do that. Just relax and be grateful that you have the opportunity to work with some of the best MORNING NEWS broadcasters period! Again, you will do fine, but don't bite the hand that feeds you. If your on their team, then act like it and respect them. I'm not happy about a few changes that your management has made the past few years, and when Carlos was gone, I was shocked, but I haven't switched the channel yet in the mornings! I do have to admit that since Hal has left this world for a better place, I do watch Carlos in the evenings. Kudos to you and your management on putting Carlos on the air last week. That was #1 class act. It looks like things are looking up at KTLA.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to write me back.
Linda Marie
Fontana, CA
Posted by: Linda Marie Thatcher | March 02, 2008 at 07:19 PM
Your story this morning about the Actors trying to decide who should or shouldn't get a chance to vote creates an interesting problem. If you have to log in 'x' amount of hours (or dollars) before you can vote then that very well might preclude their president from voting (when was his last acting job? Cybill?), but on the other hand those that are calling for this restriction won't be affected by any negotiations since most of them are so far above union minimums anyway.
Posted by: Steve | March 03, 2008 at 07:35 AM
i can't believe i read the whole thing. jk sam at least i can tell you wrote that yourself. yes i read mark's aka bloggo too. you are the real bloggo lol anyways i love the morning show. its funny how you guys have michaela inform everyone about the american politics because she is canadian and all. im also canadian. (ok last time i mention that i promise) digital cable rocks without it i would never know how great you guys are. btw ben stein is so smart. he should definatly run for president.
Posted by: newktlafan | March 03, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Sam,
I didn't know about another child either, fill us in. I have a question about a movie maybe you can help with. Is "The Bruges" going to open in more theaters later? It is only in one theater in Oregon and that is in Portland, I don't live there.Thanks your fans in Oregon.
Posted by: Martha Grimes | March 03, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Since we are all family through good bad and indifferent...is there no longer a Mrs. Rubin? No wedding ring and no talking about her. Just tell us, we all understand...I mean we have gone through injuries, vasectomies, new anchors and how many Mark Kriski women???
Posted by: Constance | March 03, 2008 at 10:34 PM
not only do u studder on t.v. sounds like u studder when u write your blog
Posted by: Dee | March 04, 2008 at 07:54 AM
At least you wrote your own blog! So what gives, you have a third child??? When?? Who is the baby mama??? Why do you get to give some long and in depth entertainment reports and Ross barely gives two minutes?? Also, his are mostly commerical oriented.
Here is a pet peeve, why are there so many product placements on the news, what happened to being impartial??
Spill the beans!!
Posted by: ljr--yl | March 04, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Dear Sam:
Always remember, the technologies are just tools. If they don't make your life EASIER, they're wasting your time. Adding photos and videos to a blog is nice. Let the webmaster do it for you. That's why they're paying him or her. Otherwise, Sam Zell's wasting his money. You have other talents that should be allowed to shine.
Great blog entry.
Posted by: Michael F. Hollander | March 04, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! "This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here. Keep it up!"
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