Among the many joys of parenthood is the non-stop education provided to me by my four kids. This holiday’s best lesson comes courtesy of my nine-year-old daughter Rory. For the last several months, with increasingly intensity as Christmas drew closer; Rory has professed  has desire for a cell phone. The hints have been coming fast and furious for weeks.  Recently I opened my laptop and the screen saver was a photo of the Samsung ‘Reality.’  I had no doubt who had put it there.

     “It would be so much easier for me to clear the dinner table, if I had a Samsung Reality,” Rory would say, and provide a similar response when asked basically to do anything.  But, and isn’t this typical of the somewhat indulgent parent; Rory is a very good kid, genuinely happy and helpful, and I really felt she ‘deserved’ the single gift she continually talked about.

     However I was very uncomfortable about the idea of a nine year old actually receiving a cell phone; and isn’t this typical of life in Southern California; Rory was among a very few of her fellow forth graders who didn’t already have a cell phone. 

      Her interest in this particular phone was so intense; I actually went to the Verizon store to check it out for myself.  I am not really a techie type, so when the folks at the store had told me that particular model has been discontinued, I asked what was most like that particular phone, and was told the next best thing was the LG Cosmos Touch.

   I passed along this bit of information to Rory, suggesting that one of my colleagues from work told me the better phone was in fact the LG Cosmos Touch. Just a few hours later, Rory had conducted her own investigation and deemed that yes in fact the LG Cosmos Touch was a fantastic phone and would be appropriate to making all her communication dreams come true.

   Armed now with her approval, I actually went and purchased the phone. Both Rory’s mother and I still were not entirely convinced getting her a cell phone was such a good idea; but we agreed this would be her main “big” gift under the tree.

   I think there is a time when parents relax, knowing that the big gift is actually wrapped and purchased, and now just a few other items were needed to make for a very Merry Christmas.

   Fast-forward to just a few hours ago; presents being unwrapped; and happy reactions all the way around. Finally, after several family members opened several gifts, I directed Rory to the rather small package that remained on the floor in front of the tree.

    She tore off the paper, and stared at the box holding the precious LG Cosmos Touch cell phone.  And she screamed…. really loud and long. A great reaction, she was thrilled. While she screamed looking at the box, several minutes went by and I noticed she never, never opened the box.  It’s nearly 12 hours now since she took the wrapping off, and she still hasn’t opened the box. She hasn’t touched the cell phone.

    What gives?

     “I never actually thought you would get me the cell phone,” she told me a few hours after getting it.

    “Dad, she’s realizing that she doesn’t want the responsibility of having a cell phone,” her sister, who didn’t want nor get a phone until she was in 9^th grade pointed out.

    And so on this Christmas night, my holiday miracle is the happy sight of the prematurely purchased cell phone still sitting in its box. Unopened.

    It really is the best Christmas ever; when your nine year old teaches you that there is a distinction between actual want and actual readiness. I hope it is a lesson that I learn not just for my children, but for myself as well.

     It is the debatable dilemma for many working folks. How much do you extend yourself for your job, versus how much do you extend yourself for your kids. I am always reminded of that old adage, "No one ever went to their deathbed wishing they had spent more time at the office.' And this weekend I was faced with the classic conflict. A 9:10 a.m. kick-off for my daughter's soccer team, or a 10 a.m. start time for interviews with Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams to talk about the new movie "Morning Glory." So in addition to the time conflict, there was also one of distance. The soccer game was in Brentwood, the press junket was in New York City.

      As my mother always said, "You can't be in two places with one tushy." She was the only person who could use the word 'tushy' and not make me cringe. So, and this is the working parent dilemma, how to make all these particular puzzle pieces fit. Movie press junkets, as loathsome as most of them are; are precisely planned. Heaven forbid if Diane Keaton has to wait one minute for anything. Also, the folks running AYSO soccer games are a pretty serious bunch. I don't think they would want to reschedule my daughter's game because it was a touch inconvenient for me.

        So what to do? Call in the 'Hail Mary' favor. I know that if I am supposed to talk to Harrison Ford on Saturday, that means "the big shows" like 'Entertainment Tonight' and 'Extra' are going to interview him on Sunday, and if one of those shows would somehow let me borrow their interview room, and 28 different schedules could all be worked out, I can coach the game AND interview the big star.

       My email to Lisa Gregorisch, the woman who has successful steered 'Extra' for years was very simple, this was a BIG favor. I laid out the honest truth. The bosses wanted an interview with Harrison Ford, and I wanted to coach my 9 year old's soccer game. Incredibly, and without the requisite, what are you going to do for me in return. Lisa said "yes."  Her staff, the great gals who work with me, (thanks Grace and Heidi and Lorraine), and even the junket people at Paramount, made at least 3 dozen calls between them, and the whole thing got figured out.

      Our Burgundy Baristas were down 3-0; and came back to a 3-2 score and were thisclose to an actual tie. The game was GREAT, and while frankly my daughter Rory and her teammates may well benefit from a slightly more knowledgeable soccer coach, they couldn't have one who is prouder. 

     From the game, I went home, took off the Burgundy jersey, (which I will wear on the air one day before the end of the season), kissed my wife and all the kids good-bye, and off to the airport.

    The Sunday junkets were all great. The 'Extra' crew super cool and helpful. Mario Lopez was as magnanimous as could be. The one 'know your place highlight' a very zealous and very New York City-esque producer for 'Extra' literally had her hand on my back as she was pushing me out of the interview room. "When Harrison walks in to greet Mario, that shot is VERY IMPORTANT and YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY BE IN IT."

     The whole Soccer/Junket episode made me feel very lucky to have so many colleagues who understood my desire to be a good employee AND a good parent, and helped me to do both. With everyone so nose-to-the-grindstone these days, it was especially gratifying to have so many folks help me actually compromise without, really, having to compromise at all.

     They began their concert in very simple point-proving fashion. The three members of Lady Antebellum started on stage at a nearly sold-out Nokia Theater at L.A. Live, and just began to sing "I Run To You"     a capella. Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood demonstrated an important concert rule that is true in music and in life as well, sometime 1 plus 1 plus 1 equals 10, or in this case 110. 

      The harmonies were great, and as the band kicked in I knew this would be a really good show, and what struck me so much about the concert is how the three front people would, candidly, never enjoy the same success as solo artists. They each have their own talents and appeal; but the trio together is far better than the sum of its individual parts. And that made me think about the pure power of collaboration, that the ability to work together can often generate far better results than the desire of so many of us to go it alone.

    The goose-bump moments for me were the two most recent hits, which generated incredible reaction from the crowd. "American Honey," is such a great song and while a variety of country music's leading ladies could sing the song I am sure, when Hillary began the song in especially heartfelt way; and the rest of the group joins in on the chorus, it's a fantastic moment.

     The very best and most stirring example of this rare power of collaboration was the initial closing number, "Need You Now."  The most musically gifted of the trio, Dave Haywood started playing the piano alone and ultimately worked his way into the signature four note beginning of "Need You Now."

Listen to "Need You Now" Here

    My guess is that Lady Antebellum has performed that song, now, thousands of times; but they dug deep and brought a renewed emotion to the song. After performing the complete song, Hilary turned her mic out to the audience, the house lights went on, and the 5,000+ people in the crowd sang the song again. Another goose-bump moment, and yet another example of the power of collaboration.

        Welcome to this episode of 'Dumb and Dumber.' I am your host, Sam Rubin.  We begin with dope of the day Rick Sanchez, one of a series of TV anchor people, who despite their troubled personal lives, somehow continue to find work, or found work, until today, when CNN, understandably showed him the door.

       Want to hear the words that got Rick in trouble? Could this guy be any dumber

       Rick was talking with Pete Dominick on XM/Sirius and could not have stepped in it more. His remarks showed both a stupidity and a hubris that is almost unbelievable. It was so interesting to hear Dominick more or less absorb the remarks and know that Rick was just digging himself in deeper and deeper. Rick's basic contention is that Jon Stewart makes fun of him on the air, because, in part, Rick is Cuban and Jon belongs to the liberal east coast media elite, (not so subtle code for Jewish), and that since Jon and his other cohorts in the Jewish media refuse to see Rick as a top-tier anchorman, they can continue to belittle and make fun of him, since they view him merely as a minority anchorman. 

       Not exactly. Jon Stewart makes fun of Rick Sanchez, because often on the air, he is a complete buffoon. If Rick were 100% white, or black, or Jewish, or Mormon, or Agnostic; and remained a buffoon on the air, Jon Stewart would also make fun of him.

      But the focus of my ire is not on Rick Sanchez, all dopes ultimately do themselves in. I am really angry at CNN. Here is CNN's official statement about Rick departure. “Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company. We thank Rick for his years of service and we wish him well.“

      NO! NO! NO!   This is a classic example as to why CNN is failing and other media outlets are doing so much better. CNN, let me be crystal clear; Grab a sack, and take a stand. Here is what your statement should have said.

      "In light of Rick Sanchez's radio interview, we have fired him. Sanchez's views, which in our view, are clearly anti-Semitic, demand an immediate response, and our response is this, we have asked him to leave CNN immediately. We object strongly to Sanchez's statement that Jon Stewart is a bigot. We also object to Sanchez's statement that the Jewish management at CNN would not advance his career. CNN's management is not characterized by race nor religion. The company that Rick Sanchez described is not our company. We believe in freedom of expression, and we do not care if opinions expressed on our airwaves are not politically correct. We do object when our own employees simply misstate the facts, and allow their own egos to cloud their thinking."

           Additionally, CNN should air their own dirty laundry on CNN. This is the perfect topic for Larry King and Joy Behar and all the other talk show hosts. My guess, however, is that, huge mistake number two, CNN probably won't talk about this on the air at all.

        Sometimes giant mistakes provide giant opportunities. CNN completely blew that chance here.

         The trials and tribulations of parenting are many, and so too the joys; and prior to being a dad I never thought that much of athletic accomplishments, because, quite frankly, I myself never had any really to speak of. (I am leaving out my stunning performance in 8^th grade as a proud member of the ‘Emerson Trio,’ 4^th place all-city bowling champion shop),.

         Flash forward a few decades later, and while I enjoy the occasional long charity bike-ride, and coaching my kids at soccer; I am much more the non-jock than anything. Happily my kids are the products of a somewhat better and more diverse gene pool; and thus all four are well coordinated and can easily out run their dear old dad. But my nine year old daughter Rory, she of scooting fame as an baby, for a variety of cosmic reasons never learned to ride a bike.

         Until this weekend.

To blame this somewhat late start to the world of two-wheeling on Rory is both unfair and untrue. Somewhat half-hearted attempts were made by both her parents, sister, friends and neighbors….but and this is the real truth. No one ever devoted the concentrated time required to give her a real fighting chance at mastering the bike. For several weeks, (well, months really), I have been reading a book I really enjoy called “The Talent Code.” I have always been fascinated by the idea of talent, and is it true that “some people have it, and some people don’t.” This book dispels that notion and says that talent, true talent, has many origins. There are the obvious genetic gifts, but that alone won’t do the trick. Coaching, practice, (something the book calls ‘deep practice’), and inner motivations are also very important keys to having true talent emerge.

        Now that I was finally able to give the concentrated time required, which was about two solid hours non-stop; Rory quickly elevated to a level where she was able to start and stop on her own, and thus she could practice and improve all by herself.  We were in Lake Tahoe for the holiday weekend, and after the big lesson and success on Saturday morning, we went biking again Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening; Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon, and Monday morning. Now, and at last, I really think she has it. And that fills me with an enormous sense of pride, and I think Rory feels it too.

      We had a great weekend, and nothing could spoil the happy memory of this biking lesson, but I also noticed two labor-day related problems that I think are worth mentioning.

     On Saturday afternoon we went to Squaw Valley and took the high-speed gondola up to an area that is called “High Camp.” At high camp, some 8000 feet up in the air, is an ice-skating rink, an endless series of hike and bike trails, and a restaurant. Again, this is a holiday weekend, and after shelling out about $70 for three tickets up and down on the gondola, I thought it would be nice to have lunch with such an amazing view. A few other people had the same idea, and while there was no wait for a table; from the time our order was taken until we actually had our hot dog, cheeseburger and kids pasta dish in hand was one solid hour. A full hour. The hot dog was cold, the food decidedly mediocre, which is pretty lame when you are charging $14.00 for a cheeseburger. And when the waiter brought the bill, I said, “I can’t imagine this is your fault, but you have to know the wait time is simply unacceptable, is there a manager here I can talk to?”  And the waiter said, “There is no manager here today, they just didn’t scheduled enough people in the kitchen. There are a few of us to serve the food but hardly anyone to make the food.”  And my daughters both said, “Dad, don’t complain, you are going to get people in trouble.” I tried to explain that someone should be in trouble. Because the management of Squaw Valley doesn’t care about the time and the money its’ customers are spending at its’ facility. And until people complain and tell Squaw Valley that the way they run their High Camp restaurant to me is an indication of how they must run their whole resort, and that makes me not want to spend my time nor my money there. They need to know.

     On the way home today at the Reno airport, picking up a copy of ‘Entertainment Weekly’ at the airport magazine and sundry story, there were two cash registers, but only one poor clerk, an older man, and I was the 20^th person in line. This guy was doing the very best that he could, but just like the restaurant at Squaw Valley, the clerk and all the customers were done a disservice; because management hadn’t scheduled enough workers. I know there are serious employment problems in our economy, and being a cook or airport clerk are certainly not easy jobs; but I tend to believe there are plenty of talented and hard working people who work take either of those gigs. Maybe these are two micro-examples of what is happening in the macro-economy. Managers are afraid or unwilling to properly staff places. I don’t know about you, but next time I will leave my money in my wallet rather than wait an hour for a hot dog, or 10 minutes to buy a magazine, and then the cycle only gets worse.  I think when there is an obvious customer demand, it is imparative for businesses to step-up and put employees on the front lines.

       It is the goal of every broadcaster to actually broadcast, to have the opportunity to communicate with as large an audience as possible. When all is said and done, very few people really get that opportunity. Sure, everyone and their mother has a blog or a website; but those words just go out there. There is no real indication or proof that people are actually reading what you post.

     But traditional media still works. It may not be as cool as the internet, but a huge number of people watch television; and an extraordinary number of people listen to the radio. Even old-fashioned AM radio. Rush Limbaugh makes more than $50 million dollars a year. Somebody must be listening to him on all those AM radio stations.

    And somebody must be listening to Dr. Laura. She has had considerable success on the radio for years. But people who run radio and television stations also look at trends. And for years and years, Dr. Laura's numbers have been trending downward. She still has a lot of listeners, a huge number of devoted fans, but not as many as she used to have.

    Many, many years ago, KFI radio called me in for an interview. They were thinking about replacing Dr. Laura from her 12 to 3 p.m. slot and they wanted to talk with me about it. When I interviewed for that time-slot, and this is probably more than 10 years ago; KFI wasn't ready to pull the trigger yet on Dr. Laura, but they finally did. She migrated from a huge radio station in Los Angeles, to a much less powerful and important one, KFWB. Her ratings on KFWB are decent; but the whole thing is a fairly significant demotion.

    So on Larry King Live tonight. Here's what happened; this is from the ABC News web report;

Schlessinger said on "Larry King Live" tonight that she has decided "not to do radio anymore" so she can say the things she wants to say.

"The reason is, I want to regain my First Amendment rights," she said. "I want to be able to say what's on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry, some special interest group deciding this is the time to silence a voice of dissent and attack affiliates, attack sponsors. I'm sort of done with that."

    And I am sort of done with her. I don't believe any of this, not for one second. Dr. Laura got going while the getting was good. I am sure she could have remained on the radio for a longer period of time if she wanted to. But prior to this controversy, she saw what was happening with her radio ratings, and she decided it was best to take a powder herself; then to get sent to the showers later by some radio executives. This pseudo controversy provided Dr. Laura something she probably had been looking for, a "cover story" to leave radio, before radio left her.

REELZCHANNEL TO LAUNCH WEEKLY SHOW FOR FRESH, LIVELY DISCUSSION OF MOVIES, ENTERTAINMENT AND WHAT’S HAPPENING IN HOLLYWOOD

“HOLLYWOOD UNCENSORED WITH SAM RUBIN” TO PREMIERE SEPTEMBER 4th

The Biggest Stories in Entertainment Will Hit the Air on Saturdays at 10am/7am ET/PT and Sundays at 6pm/3pm ET/PT and 2:30am/11:30pm ET/PT

(Albuquerque, NM) August 16, 2010 – REELZCHANNEL—TV About Movies® today announced a lively and no-holds barred look at the week in show business and tapped veteran entertainment reporter Sam Rubin to host the weekly half-hour show Hollywood Uncensored with Sam Rubin. Think The McLaughlin Group meets Real Time with Bill Maher with a Hollywood spin. Los Angeles-based Rubin is a familiar face on REELZCHANNEL as a longtime contributor and correspondent on Hollywood Dailies, the network’s daily show that focuses on the world of movies, celebrities and entertainment. 

“This is a lively, funny and irreverent show that digs into what’s happening in Hollywood and the world of entertainment,” said Mike Smith SVP of Programming at REELZCHANNEL. “As one of the best entertainment reporters in the entertainment capital of the world, Sam Rubin has a unique approach and unprecedented access to all things Hollywood, making him the perfect choice to share and discuss his insights with a celebrity roundtable and our viewers. This show is a natural addition to the network’s growing lineup of entertainment programming.”

Each week, Sam and four celebrity guests—famous faces from entertainment, politics, sports as well as newsmakers—tackle the hottest topics of the week. Who are the actors earning $20 million per movie and how’d they do it?  Does 3D enhance the movie-going experience or is it a gimmick to raise ticket prices? Celebrity scandals—do fans forgive or forget? Sam and the panel will shed a unique light on all things Hollywood that's sure to be captivating and maybe a bit controversial.

“I have always wanted to do a show all about entertainment that is as smart as the audience,” said Rubin. “We are getting the best minds in Los Angeles, not necessarily an easy task and having big stars, major journalists and true movers and shakers join in for a roundtable talk show that will tackle the biggest stories in entertainment.”

Hollywood Uncensored with Sam Rubin will be taped weekly in Los Angeles with Sam Rubin and Grace Mendoza as executive producers and Heidi Schultz as talent coordinator.


About REELZCHANNEL
REELZCHANNEL—TV About Movies® is the only cable and satellite network devoted to delivering entertaining and informative programming that is all about movies, including the celebrities, fashion, music and stories behind the stories. With shows featuring movie and entertainment experts including Leonard Maltin, Richard Roeper and Sam Rubin, fans get trusted insight into movies and entertainment, whether in theaters or at home. Find REELZCHANNEL in your area at www.reelz.com/watch. ;

REELZCHANNEL reaches more than 50 million homes on satellite and cable nationwide. In 2009, Nielsen recognized REELZCHANNEL as the eighth fastest growing network among all 95 cable networks measured in terms of number of homes.  Owned by Hubbard Media Group, REELZCHANNEL is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM with an entertainment bureau in Los Angeles.

About Sam Rubin
Since 1991, Los Angeles has awakened to the unique entertainment reports of Sam Rubin. The multi Emmy Award-winning reporter is one of the anchors of the KTLA Morning News, the single most emulated morning show in television history. Recently given the 2010 Career Achievement Award in Entertainment Reporting from the Los Angeles Press Club, Rubin has interviewed virtually every major star in film and television.

Rubin hosts the Emmy-nominated Live From The Academy Awards, syndicated nationally by Tribune Entertainment, and Sneaks, a series of movie preview shows produced in conjunction with the Los Angeles Times. Rubin is a recipient of a Golden Mike Award for Best Entertainment Reporter from the Radio & Television News Association and, as part of the KTLA Morning News, team earned an Associated Press Television-Radio Award for Best News Broadcast. Internationally, Rubin's reports are seen in movie theaters throughout Australia and on radio and television in Great Britain and Canada

For more information, please contact the REELZCHANNEL Media Line
877- REELZTV (733-5988) / pr@reelz.com

Show contact:  Executive Producer- Grace Mendoza / grace.samrubinent@gmail.com  Talent Coordinator / heidi.samrubinent@gmail.com  Producer- Lorraine Viruez /lorraine.samrubinent@gmail.com

Advertising:
Director of Sales, Western Region- Rosalie Drake / 505-212-8791 / rdrake@reelz.com

          Summer is in full swing, and for those lucky enough to be able to score increasingly elusive opportunities, it's time for the summer internships. KTLA, like many companies, has a slew of interns running around. Quite candidly I think this is done less to be a good corporate citizen and more to get additional labor in the building without additional costs.

          So we know what's in it for the companies, what is in it for the interns. For whatever happy cosmic reason this summer the KTLA Entertainment Department has our best crop of interns ever. Smart, capable, and for the most part, extraordinarily willing to go the extra mile. I should point out that while KTLA is benefiting from the "free" labor, the interns benefit too. I would say at least half of our paid staff started at KTLA as unpaid interns. It certainly is a foot in the door.

      But once you are in the door, what can you do to the make the most of your opportunities; and this presents the real demarcation in the intern experience. I have had interns, polite and well meaning, never really do anything during their weeks and months at the station. They will watch, observe the rushed and complicated process of actually putting the show on the air, and, and, just sit there.

      Not so with our current group. One intern is thinking of taking a "hosting" class taught by the E! channels' Giuliana Ranic. "If she can teach a class Sam, you definitely could teach a class," said the intern. "I'll think about it," I told her. One day later, a complete business plan about how I could teach and profit from teaching such a class was in my top drawer at work. For our most recent emmy coverage, we had great video tape of all the nominees because one of our interns stayed far past the typical hours to pull all tapes. It's thankless but important work.

       On today's show, we had a fashion segment with high end and high priced jeans being delivered to the station in an ice cream truck. Jessica Holmes was enjoying a small scoop in a dish and I said to one of our interns, "Hey could you please run out to that truck and get me a dish of ice cream too."  Five minutes later she can back. "Sam, I have bad news. The truck has already left. But do you want something else? Seriously, I can go and get you a McFlurry." I will never forget that line, and while a McFlurry is not something that usually pops up in a letter of recommendation, I won't forget her willingness to extend herself just a little bit extra to try and fix a problem. Admittedly, me not having a bowl of ice cream is not really a very big problem.

       I have always believed that the secret to career longevity is simply that. Try and be the solution to any and all problems that pop up at your place of business. The way I got my job at KTLA some 19 years ago reflects that principle. I watched the show at home, and I could tell, the producers were having troubling filling all the air time. I phoned up, at 2 a.m. when I knew the producers putting the Morning News together would be struggling with that problem of how to fill up all the time, and when the producer answered the phone I simply said, "I can help you fill up some of the airtime with entertainment reports, and I can do the whole thing by myself." To be a self-contained problem-solver I think is the best thing an employee can offer to a business.

     This summer, our KTLA Entertainment Department interns are offering a lot more that just McFlurry's. They are learning the ropes, working hard, and going that extra mile. They are taking advantage of the opportunity they have been given, and that in turn will create more opportunities. Good for them.

      San Francisco ---  Mine is not the type of job where you really get your fingernails dirty. And the last thing anyone wants to hear us overstuffed entertainment reporters talk about is how crowded the airplanes are during our free trips, and how the alloted per-diem isn't quite enough to get the room service breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Four Seasons.

      But that is not to say the whole thing is a complete walk in the park, especially when you find yourself unable to walk and in genuine need to medical attention. This has been a long week of business travel for yours truly, cooking up some exciting new plans with my pals at the Reelz Channel in New Mexico, and then jetting off to the Bay Area to see the new "Toy Story 3." Most of my press colleagues are seeing the movie right now, but I saw it on Friday night, and once again, Pixar has done it again. A very emotional movie that I think audiences will love. I spoke with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen today, (you'll see those interviews first on the KTLA Morning News Monday Morning Live from Pixar Studios), and the pair is in a great mood; as they should be, what with another major hit movie on the way.

         So Friday night, I go to bed happy. I've seen a really good movie; I look forward to my interviews...all is well; and then it isn't. I am not especially self-aware when it comes to my health, nor particularly knowledgeable. I know the difference between my left side and my right side; but where are my kidneys, my gallbladder, all those other pesky parts....I haven't the faintest idea. All I do know, is that basically, I am unable to sleep almost the entire night; and as night rolls into day, I realize, I am really really sick. Retching and much worse....and as I lie in bed, at about 5:30 in the morning, I am seriously considering putting out a Facebook or Twitter blast; "Does anyone know a great doctor in San Francisco, who will come to my hotel room...stat."

     An hour rolls by, and then two, and I don't know if it is timidity or politeness, but I am reluctant to call my own physican in Los Angeles, or my wife for that matter, because I don't want to wake any body. Finally I call my doctor, we discuss my symptoms and she calls in a prescription at the Walgreen's just down Market Street from the hotel. Ah, sweet relief; except whom am I kidding? I can't possibly get out of bed to go to the drugstore. 

     Ever the professional, I also realize that unless Tom Hanks and Tim Allen want to move our scheduled interview from Pixar Studios to my hotel room, I need to call "their people" and tell them I am ill. I am supposed to meet the pair in 3 hours, I explain my circumstances, and  get myself an extra 2 hours to return to some semblance of health.

   Finally I completely give-in to both my symptoms and my circumstances. I call the hotel concierge. In no time, a doctor is in my room; a bellman is getting my meds....and Tom Hanks and Tim Allen here I come.

   As I am taking a giant shot in the backside, I realize I am lucky to be obtain and afford a standard of care that is genuinely world class. I also realize that while my hands and fingernails are unsoiled; sometimes there are certain sacrifices even reporters make; just to land a particular interview. Hours later as I sit and tell Tom and Tim of my recently eradicated medical woes, I clearly and quickly realize it is a more of a "had to be there" story. 

      Still, I am glad I got to talk to them; and especially glad I'll be able to bring you the interview....really just glad to be on the air at all....(just on the planet even).....come Monday Morning.