Dear Kelly,

    I am on an airplane flying back from New York to Los Angeles and they are about to play "Stupid, Crazy Love," (I believe the flight attendant announced the movie title backwards, but I digress.) Earlier today I was in your New York studio watching you host "Live With Kelly," and while I have always been impressed with your on-camera skills; your off-camera work ethic was amazing and inspiring to me. You took every picture, you shook every hand, you had a smile and a quip for every single fan. It was really something to watch. You "worked it," and it didn't appear to be work at all.

    But I know that it is. Even though I continued to be flattered by viewers who want to take a picture together or sign something, I am also a touch embarrassed about the whole thing. There is no distinction between the fan asking to take the picture and myself; except for a few hours a day, for several years; the TV camera has been pointed in my direction, which is why I guess they want the picture or the autograph in the first place.

   For the last several weeks I have not so secretly been campaigning  to have another TV camera pointing at me; the one in your studio...I envision a two-shot, the two of us sitting side-by-side. And watching the show in person today made me want it more, if only because you are so incredibly encouraging of whoever is beside you. I think the guy today was among your least suited possible co-hosts, but you did everything you could to make him feel comfortable, show your support to the audience of him; to make him the best that he could be.

   My immersion in this quest started innocently enough. After Regis announced his departure, my own boss, the general manager of the TV station where I work in Los Angeles, (and have worked for 20 years), told me that I would be "perfect" for the job, and his opinion keeps getting repeated by colleagues, friends and family. Many of whom are probably just being nice; but a significant portion of whom I think actually mean it.

   So then, all these strange coincidences start to take place. I run into the boss of all bosses, Bob Iger, twice....and the second time I suck up the nerve to tell him that my own boss wants to send me to New York to sit next to you. He suggests I have "my people" call this person and that person. They do, and they are politely told that this person and that person don't really know who in the world I am.

  A few weeks later, I actually speak to Regis himself on the air. He announces that I would be "perfect" for the job; and we replay his remarks on the air as many times as possible. Somehow the phone from New York still doesn't ring.

   This weekend, I travel to New York for a series of movie press junkets. In the elevator on Saturday I run into Josh Groban, who recognizes me and says he is a fan of our KTLA Morning News in Los Angeles. I tell him how much I enjoyed him on your show; and he said that the staff was so nice and so welcoming; you especially, and that I would be good on that show.

   My wife and mother-in-law took the trip with me, and on Sunday my mother-in-law says she would really like to see the show while we are in town. I send an email to a friend who works for the parent company, and presto three tickets for Tuesday morning.

  I really came to watch and observe and learn more about what you do; which to a remarkably large degree is what I have been doing on KTLA since 1991. Not to dwell, but I was so impressed not just with the on-camera stuff I saw; but the off-camera, that is what blew me away. And I thought that would be the end of it, but one of your staff who I had worked with before was gracious enough to take me back stage to meet you, and Gelman and Art Moore.

    Gelman couldn't have been nicer. We talked at length, and he explained the process involved in finding someone to sit next to you was long and complicated and there were many, many different opinions being bandied about and many different hands being raised. Gently, but clearly I hope, I raised mine.

    As far as Art Moore was concerned, he hadn't the faintest idea of any of my work. (As my wife said, "he thinks you fix TV's, not that you are on TV."),.

    You and I had the brief 'kiss-hello' I think you remembered that we had met a few times before, you were warm and kind either way. 

    So there we have it. I have raised my hand with Bob Iger in Hawaii, with Regis himself in Los Angeles, and now in New York with Mr. Moore and Gelman.  And here, here in the netherworld of cyber-space, I raise my hand with you.

    I would love to do that show with you, just once would be my only remote expectation. The thing I learned in person today....is that show, your show, will be just fine with no matter is selected to sit with you.

       I am flying back from a very quick trip in Washington D.C. where I spent considerable time with Chris Matthews.  I was interviewing Matthews about his new book on John F. Kennedy ‘Elusive Hero,’ and several times during our conversation Matthews spoke of certain qualities that Kennedy possessed, and how these same qualities are not evident in the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

      “Kennedy had the most remarkable quality to make everyone feel included. People believed in him and his dreams; and his plans for inclusion, like the Peace Corps, motivated millions of young Americans to follow Kennedy and his dreams.

      “Obama hasn’t done that. There is the feeling that Obama has discarded the very people who elected him, and there is nothing worse than the feeling of being discarded,” Matthews told me.

       I was so struck by this ideal of being discarded, after the cameras stopped rolling, I brought it up again. “What do you mean, by discarded?” I asked. With his customary passion, Matthews went off.

       “You know woman, they can take a break up. If you are up front with someone, and explain the reason a relationship is going to end, they get that. What they don’t get is the idea of being discarded. Simply thrown over for something else.  Or even worse, ignored. Voters are the same way. You can communicate with people, but you can’t discard them, you can’t ignore them.”

       “What Kennedy did, he had this great great ability to make everyone feel included. We were all part of the same movement. We all had a shared ideal. And Obama hasn’t done that, and he has given the impression to many that the people who voted him into office are now being ignored.”

       The 2012 election is a year away, and I have long felt that Obama will be reelected, not based on any particular merit, but because there seems to be no formidable competition. Matthews disagrees.

       “Romney looks the part,” he said. “He seems Presidential.”

       Another surprisingly smart political voice was talk show host Jerry Springer. When Springer guested on the KTLA Morning News recently, all I wanted to do was talk about politics with him, and he more than obliged. “If Obama runs against anyone other than Romney, than the election is about that opponent, and for the most part they all seem pretty crazy. You are always better off if the election is about the other guy and not about you.  If Romney is the nominee, the election is all about Obama, and that is not a good place to be.”

You can watch the Spinger interview here:  http://www.ktla.com/videogallery/65365267/Entertainment/Celebrity-Interview:-Jerry-Springer-gets-politcal#pl-62889993

     The undeniably liberal actor, comic, and commentator Hal Sparks has another view. “Republicans en masse will never elect Romney, for the simple reason of his religion. Even if he is the nominee, there is a huge percentage of the so-called base that will never vote for him; and everyone else is far too extreme. Obama wins no matter what.”

      The year ahead seems both very uncertain and very interesting. Is one possibility that voters will discard the available choices and just stay home, voting with their feet instead of a ballot?

      When talking about politics with people who have both a passion and expertise, I come to realize that at the very least there is so much I don’t know.  But no one at the moment seems to inspire the same sense of inclusion that John F. Kennedy did.

Hi Friends..Today's passwords are "Fearless" and "Picture." You need to go to www.gocountry105.com to enter. The rest of the details are below. Good luck and please take me with you if you win.SamTaylor Swift is coming to town and Go Country 105 and KTLA want to send you there… up close! It's the Taylor Swift 5-4-3-2-1 promotion and each day gets you closer to the front row! First watch the KTLA morning news during the 7am hour for Sam Rubin to give the first Taylor Swift keyword, then listen to Ryan and Ashley on Go Country 105 during the 8am hour and Sam will give the second keyword. Enter them both right here for your chance to win. Listen to Go Country 105 and watch the KTLA morning news every day this week for your chance to win! Each day's winner will also receive a $100 Trader Vics gift card for dinner at their LA Live location for their Tiki cocktails and exotic dishes, all in a tropical ambiance.

     In celebrating the success of this weekend's non-event known as Carmageddon, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said he wanted to give everyone in the city "A big hug." I will politely decline the political embrace, because instead of a big hug, all of us who drive the streets and freeway here want the big help. 

    This weekend, most especially Friday afternoon and evening proved something that I hope transportation planners, city leaders, and local citizens will keep in mind. It is as simple as it is true. Fewer cars on the road equal less traffic. Less traffic means better quality of life. So what is the real way to put fewer cars on the road, wider freeways and more HOV lanes? Of course not. We keep trying that solution and it fails again and again. 

    The best solution was the one we all learned on Friday with the only real expense being an over abundance of media attention. People stayed home. People worked from home. Employers staggered work schedules, enabling employees to take the day off, work from home, or leave early. And you know what.

   It worked. It worked better than a multi-billion dollar subway, worked better than wider and wider freeways. People all over the Southland were given a crystal clear message and they responded. So, how do we repeat the sheer joy of Carmageddon. We do the same thing, all over again.

  The future of modern transportation is right there on your shampoo bottle. Wash, rinse, repeat. With the key word being REPEAT.

  We should select one weekend a month, maybe the third weekend of every month, or whatever, it doesn't matter. Isolate a particular weekend, and isolate a particular Friday and give people the exact same message. Stay home. Work from home. Don't take long trips unless absolutely necessary. Ask people to remember the pure pleasure of this past weekend. The chance to reconnect with family and friends at home, the chance to save some serious time and money and aggravation. 

  I was almost a little upset to hear that the freeway was opening early. I was hoping that the spell of this weekend wouldn't break so soon. 

  Maybe, with bold and courageous leadership from the same folks who got us into the marvelous mess this weekend, can get us into another mess sometime real soon.

  These last three days; quieter, less frenetic, better; is like the Los Angeles I grew up in. So many of my friends this weekend said the exact same thing. We want this version of Carmageddon to return as soon as possible.

  Find Sam Rubin on twitter @samontv    For Facebook   www.facebook.com/samktla

  Check out Sam's new show on Reelz Channel   www.reelz.com/hollywooduncensored

Hello Comrads, an update from a very busy day in Moscow. Saw the new "Transformers 3" movie at a state of the art, IMAX 3D theater here in Moscow. Quick power nap; and then to the green carpet world premiere. Everyone in a great mood; Shia Labeouf in a fantastic suit, and all the cast I think happy to see an American reporter that they knew. Then off to Red Square and a full free concert for about 25,000 in historic Red Square. This was a 15 walk from the movie premiere venue, but they put us all on a bus; and the drive with the insane traffic here, close to a full hour; and then we bailed on the bus and walked the rest of the way. At the concert all the movie cast was brought in to see Linkin Park rock the Kremlin and I had a really amazing conversation with Patrick Dempsey, who, like me, is old enough to remember when we thought something like this could never, ever happen. I will remember that talk, which you will see tomorrow on the KTLA Morning News as much as I remember anything about this visit. It doesn't get dark until about 11 p.m. here, so had a great walk with other reporters back to the hotel. Other highlights, a guy coming up to me at the premiere and saying, "hey aren't you the coach of the burgundy baristas?" My 10 year old daughters AYSO soccer team. We played against his daughter and their team. It is a VERY small world. Last great thing, Paramount head Brad Grey came up to say hello, and then the woman who runs 'Entertainment Tonight,' and I said to her, "See Brad Grey loves me and you should hire me for Entertainment Tonight, and about 10 minutes later she came back to me and said, "you are absolutely right, I'll try and get Nancy O'Dell as a guest for your show as soon as possible." I had to travel all the way to Moscow  for the typical 'Hollywood' blow-off. This has been an amazing trip, and you'll see a ton of footage on the air Friday on KTLA Morning News and Reelz Channel's "Hollywood Dailies." Tune in, and I am always so happy to hear back from you.

    Quick, name your very favorite Ashton Kutcher movie? 

     If that task is tough, this might even be more difficult. When was the last time you watched anything on television because a particular actor had a certain number of twitter followers?

     The supposed logic of the reported hiring of Kutcher to replace Charlie Sheen on "Two And A Half Men," is that like the original and far better replacement choice, Hugh Grant, Kutcher has solid feature film romantic comedy credentials. In that he has made some feature films, I supposed that logic is true. But Kutcher's filmography is filled with one horrible performance after another. Hugh Grant starred in "Love Actually," and "About A Boy," Kutcher starred in "Killers" and "Valentine's Day." 

     Another supposed "plus" for Kutcher is that he has over 6 million followers on twitter. More followers in fact than "Two And A Half Men," had viewers last week. How many tweeters are watching CBS right this minute? Not many. Will that change with Kutcher, somehow I don't think so.

     Charlie Sheen has his demons to be sure. But he conveyed a certain charm on screen, and as one of his co-stars told me just yesterday, on the set of "Men," he was always perfectly professional. 

     Hugh Grant has an obvious charm and I think would have been an inspired choice to replace Sheen.

     Now CBS and Warner Bros have gone from inspired to insipid. Besides a physical appeal, Kutcher is devoid of any on-screen charm. He has considerable off-camera business savvy; but in addition to a slew of reality shows, Kutcher's Kataylist productions last great prime time effort, a dreary CW soap called "The Beautiful Life," lasted less than 4 episodes. 

     Here is my prediction. CBS gets a huge tune-in for the fall premiere of the 'New' "Two And A Half Men," and the ratings start to slump from there. 

     Hugh Grant could have reinvigorated this show, and made many forget about original series star Sheen. The hiring of Kutcher, frankly, paves the way for Sheen to return to the series before the end of this year.

     What a shockingly bad choice.

    It is among the most cliche of phrases, but one that is especially applicable in this case. "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished." When you work as a TV entertainment reporter, one of the joys and burdens of the gig, is the movie press junket. The vast majority of these junkets take place in Los Angeles. But every now and again, the movie studios extend an invitation to another location. Over the years I have "junketed" in Egypt, England, Italy, Spain, Tahiti, and several major cities in the U.S.  But the junket world has never journeyed deeply south of the border.

     Imagine my delight when an invitation for a junket for the animated movie "Rio," was set in Rio De Janerio, all the way on the Atlantic coast of Brazil. I had never been there, and neither had my very well traveled wife. We made all the pre-travel plans. Shots, check. Kid coverage, check. Vacation stop for the L.A. Times (I still subscribe), check.  The best part, the studio taking care of the junket was taking care of all the paper work. Travel to Brazil requires a specific visa, which requires it's own application, photo and proof of travel; I just had to provide the material, and the studio would waltz through all the visas. Not just for the misses and me, but for the 100+ folks also taking the trip.

    All I had to do was pay for my wife's plane ticket and off we go. So I bought her a ticket and this past weekend we were getting ready for our Sunday departure. Until we weren't. Some snafu at the Brazilian visa office in New York produced my passport with a complete visa. But, and this is far bigger backside than even Kim Kardashian has, my wife's passport wasn't ready, nor were several dozen others.

   So I could go, and she couldn't. That's a dilemma, what's a fella to do?  I really, really wrestled with this. After all this was a "work" trip. I found out on Saturday about 12 noon, that she couldn't go, and our, I mean, my flight, left Sunday morning at 11 a.m. . So for about 6 hours or so, I was truly betwixt and between. I really didn't know the best course of action to take. My wife encouraged me. "I know you, you want to go, just go." I sought the counsel of friends and colleagues. My KTLA producer Grace texted, "I don't care what you do, why are you texting me on a Saturday." Late Saturday afternoon we were attending a Purim party with another family. "The boys" walked to the party, while "the girls" drove the few blocks away.

     I laid out this endless and not particularly interesting story to the married guy I was talking with, and before I could even pose the question, he blurted out, quickly and surely; "Don't go. You absolutely should not go, and years from now when you are still happily married, you will thank me for this advice."

    We'll see. In the meantime, that's why I am not in Rio, and our "Rio" coverage is being provided by one of my colleagues from Reelz Channel.

    My wife and I did steal away for a quickie vacation, a few hundred miles away instead of several thousand, and she is fast asleep right now next to me as I write this.

    Looking at her face, I can tell that, at least this once, I did in fact do the right thing.

    On Board The Amtrak Acela Express #2167 from New York to Washington D.C. --- Before I get started, in what may or may not be a preview of our California Bullet Train future, I am writing this to you while I glide on our nation's most successful rail line, the northeaster corridor high speed service from Boston to New York To Washington D.C. If i could travel and/or commute this way in Southern California, I would do it every time. "More peanuts, sir?" "Yes, please." "Do you prefer half and half with you tea?" "I most certainly do."

     From high speed rail to 'The Little Train That Could,' just a quick note about our "Hollywood Uncensored With Sam Rubin" talk show. 

    One sec -- "Chilled bottle of water sir?" "Yes, that would be great."

    We have just finished our 23rd episode and now our pals at Reelz Channel have made the wise decision to carry the show every single weekday. TWICE a day. The new schedule begins today. So set your DVR, or make plans to join us daily at 2:30 p.m. pacific and again at 11:30 p.m. pacific.

    Hang on -- This tea is really great, and the view is even better. 

    Now you will have the opportunity to see brand new episodes and catch up on some shows you may have missed. Kinda like NCIS on the USA network. So if you haven't yet seen Golden Globe Winner Paul Giamatti talking with Oscar Nominee John Hawkes and Oscar Nominee Danny Boyle about what "being in the moment" means, or if you want to know why Halle Berry will never wear freebie jewelry again, or why 'Luke' from "Modern Family," actor Nolan Gould wants to "Take over the entire world," you will have to tune in.

    The thing about the show of which I am most proud, is finally there is place where actors and others you know can freely speak their minds. It's not scripted, there are no pre-interviews, it is truly "Uncensored." Just watch any of the episodes with Jamie Kennedy and you'll see what I mean. 

    We have a very small staff, who work incredibly hard and, (how often does this happen), we have had incredible support from the  management both at KTLA and Reelz Channel. Every time we finish a show, and that means a long all-nighter for several of our staff, just before I leave I remind them, "This is what it was like to work at Facebook at the beginning." That may be a slight stretch, but we all genuinely feel that we are building something. Something we are happy and proud to be associated with.

    Also, we have some very cool sponsors. All our guests get a certificate to Gold Class Cinema in Pasadena, Best Movie Going Experience Ever !  And among the guests who have written thank you notes to us, many of them included details reviews of Gold Class, which they love.  We mustn't forget beauty either, so each guest receives a lovely gift box from Caudalie. This is the #1 skin and beauty products brand from France. I am wearing some of their moisturizer right now, and I look fantastic. Speaking of which, Caudalie has a spa in New York City. I went on Sunday. Best NYC Spa Ever! I am still glowing and my fingers and toes have never been happier. Budgets are such, that we, like most shows on cable, do not pay our guests for their time and trouble. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that these gifts are really priceless.

    I am sure I have written more compelling and heartfelt blog posts in the past. But after seeing a CBS 'Sunday Morning Story" on this book, Blame This Guy For This Book I wanted to share my gratitude to all the people who make "Hollywood Uncensored With Sam Rubin" possible. And now, with at least 10 opportunities a week to watch it, I hope you will. All the details, with clips, where to find Reelz Channel, etc. Can be found here. I have 4 kids to send to college

    Thanks.

    On Board The Amtrak Acela Express #2167 from New York to Washington D.C. --- Before I get started, in what may or may not be a preview of our California Bullet Train future, I am writing this to you while I glide on our nation's most successful rail line, the northeaster corridor high speed service from Boston to New York To Washington D.C. If i could travel and/or commute this way in Southern California, I would do it every time. "More peanuts, sir?" "Yes, please." "Do you prefer half and half with you tea?" "I most certainly do."

     From high speed rail to 'The Little Train That Could,' just a quick note about our "Hollywood Uncensored With Sam Rubin" talk show. 

    One sec -- "Chilled bottle of water sir?" "Yes, that would be great."

    We have just finished our 23rd episode and now our pals at Reelz Channel have made the wise decision to carry the show every single weekday. TWICE a day. The new schedule begins today. So set your DVR, or make plans to join us daily at 2:30 p.m. pacific and again at 11:30 p.m. pacific.

    Hang on -- This tea is really great, and the view is even better. 

    Now you will have the opportunity to see brand new episodes and catch up on some shows you may have missed. Kinda like NCIS on the USA network. So if you haven't yet seen Golden Globe Winner Paul Giamatti talking with Oscar Nominee John Hawkes and Oscar Nominee Danny Boyle about what "being in the moment" means, or if you want to know why Halle Berry will never wear freebie jewelry again, or why 'Luke' from "Modern Family," actor Nolan Gould wants to "Take over the entire world," you will have to tune in.

    The thing about the show of which I am most proud, is finally there is place where actors and others you know can freely speak their minds. It's not scripted, there are no pre-interviews, it is truly "Uncensored." Just watch any of the episodes with Jamie Kennedy and you'll see what I mean. 

    We have a very small staff, who work incredibly hard and, (how often does this happen), we have had incredible support from the  management both at KTLA and Reelz Channel. Every time we finish a show, and that means a long all-nighter for several of our staff, just before I leave I remind them, "This is what it was like to work at Facebook at the beginning." That may be a slight stretch, but we all genuinely feel that we are building something. Something we are happy and proud to be associated with.

    Also, we have some very cool sponsors. All our guests get a certificate to Gold Class Cinema in Pasadena, Best Movie Going Experience Ever !  And among the guests who have written thank you notes to us, many of them included details reviews of Gold Class, which they love.  We mustn't forget beauty either, so each guest receives a lovely gift box from Caudalie. This is the #1 skin and beauty products brand from France. I am wearing some of their moisturizer right now, and I look fantastic. Speaking of which, Caudalie has a spa in New York City. I went on Sunday. Best NYC Spa Ever! I am still glowing and my fingers and toes have never been happier. Budgets are such, that we, like most shows on cable, do not pay our guests for their time and trouble. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that these gifts are really priceless.

    I am sure I have written more compelling and heartfelt blog posts in the past. But after seeing a CBS 'Sunday Morning Story" on this book, Blame This Guy For This Book I wanted to share my gratitude to all the people who make "Hollywood Uncensored With Sam Rubin" possible. And now, with at least 10 opportunities a week to watch it, I hope you will. All the details, with clips, where to find Reelz Channel, etc. Can be found here. I have 4 kids to send to college

    Thanks.