KTLA entertainment journalist Sam Rubin said: He died on Friday at the age of 64.. Rubin has been a regular on television since joining the Los Angeles television station in 1991 as a reporter for “KTLA Morning News.”he worked with Carlos Amezca, co-anchor of the innovative morning show. In his own words, Amezcua remembers his friend and longtime colleague.
Sam Rubin sparked the success of KTLA Morning News. His death left a huge void not only in our hearts, but also in the Hollywood entertainment community.
He was loved and even respected in some circles. Anyone who needs attention for movies, music, TV shows, or comedy can count on Sam to be by their side. A big personality with a soft touch, he was both a prankster and a solid journalist.
To those who saw him and interacted with him, he was like that, but to me he was my friend Sammy. As much as I loved him calling me Chuck, he really hated being called that, but that was our relationship. Throughout the broadcast, we continued the show with laughter, sarcasm, and eye-opening enthusiasm. He understood what our audience wanted and delivered it every time. He never failed.
When he came to us, Barbara Beck and I were told to cut back on this new guy they brought in. They wanted him to be a Hollywood reporter. I don't know what his bosses were afraid of, but they welcomed and treated this brash young man full of cocky and eccentric attitude. He sat down and told his story and struck up a conversation with us. This surprised us. That was the beginning of the magic Sam Rubin brought to KTLA Morning News. I loved his wit, smarts, and bold approach to entertainment reporting. He was not to be denied!
I started learning which buttons to push and what made him angry. I disagreed with his movie reviews and sometimes let him whine. It was a sport for Barbara, Mark Kliski, and me, and we loved every moment of it. The show was a news/entertainment hybrid unlike anything Los Angeles or America had seen before.
What I often say about Sam is that he connected us to Los Angeles. He knew LA better than any of us. He knew the people and the showbiz players and spoke their language. Sam and I had many heated discussions about what he was doing. And I told him that if his bosses ever get in his way, we'll all support him. To their credit, the bosses never did that, and our show became one of the most successful programs in LA history. For over 30 years, he gave everything he had. He was steadfast, cheerful, generous, and driven. At 64 years old, he could outwork reporters half his age.
The last time we had drinks together, we were both a little depressed. Time passed quickly and we talked about what we still wanted to do in retirement. He was excited about his family, especially his children, and we shared stories about our children. He was a very loving person who made everyone around him better. He loved his entertainment team, who worked tirelessly to bring his creative and sometimes outlandish ideas to life.
Personally, I will always be grateful that they listened to my proposal to promote Latinx talent. Sam invited a young George Lopez and a parade of Latino actors, writers, and musicians not seen on any other morning show in the country. My Latino community loved him and I respected his efforts and thanked him for making it all happen.
The whole morning news team experience in the early days was like lightning in a bottle. When the show started, there was a daily roll call to declare who would be on the show. “Carlos Amezcua, Barbara Beck, Mark Kliski – Weather Forecast, Sam Rubin – Entertainment, Eric Spielman, Michelle Lewis, and Jennifer York of Skycam 5!” What a line-up, what bravery! It took a large and dedicated team to make it all work, and Sam is shyly willing to take most of the credit.
There's no denying that he was a central catalyst in making KTLA Morning News the dominant force it is today. His accomplishments in broadcasting are undeniable and indisputable. He was an original, a genius, my colleague, but most of all he was my dear friend. I'll miss you, Sammy. rest in peace. I love you, Chuck.