From Showtime to Service: Blain Skinner Reflects on 37 Years with the Lakers

On this episode of The GoldenComm Podcast, Jason Lavin sits down with longtime Los Angeles Lakers executive Blain Skinner for a wide-ranging conversation that spans nearly four decades of professional sports, Orange County history, the breakdown of the Lakers dynasties, and the role sports can play in building community.

Skinner’s story begins far from the purple and gold lights of the Lakers. Surprisingly, he was born in Mexico City before his family eventually relocated to Southern California. After living briefly in Huntington Beach, the family settled in Newport Beach, where Skinner attended grade school, junior high and high school (Newport Harbor High School). Throughout the conversation, Skinner repeatedly reflects on how fortunate he feels to still call Newport Beach home today. Referring to the location of Sunset 17 TV & Podcast, “I could have walked here… you know, I had to go through that one signal.” Newport Beach neighbors make the best guests.

Rather than taking the traditional four-year college path immediately after high school, Skinner attended Orange Coast College for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California. Jason relates closely to that journey, noting that he too attended junior college before USC. Skinner describes OCC as “a nice bridge from Newport Harbor to USC.”
A worthwhile note is a quick discussion of how community college is often overlooked despite being financially smart and academically valuable.

At USC, Skinner discovered a sports information curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in sports journalism, broadcasting, and public relations. While Skinner originally dreamed of playing professional sports himself, he realized his future was more likely to be in the business side of athletics. That USC program — particularly its mandatory internship requirement — would completely shape his future career.

His first internship placed him at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, but the breakthrough came when USC offered him an internship at The Forum. Skinner describes nearly falling out of his chair when he heard the news. At the time, the Forum was the epicenter of Los Angeles sports and entertainment — home to the Lakers, concerts, boxing matches, ice skating events, and of course the Los Angeles Kings.

Working at the Forum placed Skinner inside one of the most iconic eras in sports history: the Showtime Lakers. Owned by Jerry Buss, the Lakers became much more than a basketball team during the 1980s. They became a cultural phenomenon led by stars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy under coach Pat Riley. Skinner describes the era as “magical,” noting that championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988 made it feel like the Lakers were competing for titles almost every season.

Jason… who grew up as a Lakers fan delivering newspapers during the Showtime years, recalls idolizing Magic Johnson while also deeply connecting with fan favorite Kurt Rambis. That sparks one of the episode’s most entertaining discussions: the legendary “Rambis Youth Club.” Skinner explains that Rambis resonated with fans because he embodied hustle, toughness, and determination rather than elite athleticism. He recalls how Rambis mastered the seemingly simple skill of quickly inbounding the ball after made baskets — a critical but underappreciated component of the Lakers’ devastating fast-break offense led by Magic Johnson.

Skinner also reminisces about other unforgettable Forum-era personalities, including “Dancing Barry,” the famous fan who became a staple of Lakers timeout entertainment. These organic moments, Skinner explains, were part of what made the Forum atmosphere feel alive and authentic during the Showtime years.

The conversation then shifts toward broadcasting legend Chick Hearn, whom Jason describes as perhaps the holder of the most unbreakable record in Laker history after calling games for 41 consecutive years. Skinner shares personal stories about working alongside Chick during boxing broadcasts at the Forum. As part of his public relations responsibilities, Skinner would brief Hearn on fighters and matchups before televised events. One particularly meaningful moment came when Skinner complimented Chick on his boxing commentary rather than his basketball announcing. Hearn reportedly told him that almost nobody ever acknowledged his boxing work, making the compliment especially memorable.

Skinner’s Lakers career eventually evolved from public relations into corporate partnerships, where he worked more directly on business initiatives surrounding the team. He explains that he preferred the collaborative nature of sponsorship relationships compared to the often adversarial dynamic between public relations professionals and journalists. That transition also positioned him well for the Lakers’ eventual move from the Forum to Staples Center, now known as Crypto.com Arena.

Throughout the interview, Skinner thoughtfully reflects on the different eras of Lakers basketball. Beyond Showtime, he discusses the often-overlooked “Lakeshow” era featuring players like Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones. While those teams never reached championship heights, Skinner says there was something deeply rewarding about watching young teams grow and develop together.

The next major chapter, of course, was the dominant era led by Shaq & Kobe, which coincided with the opening of Staples Center. Skinner reflects on the Lakers’ three consecutive championships during that run and later the back-to-back titles won by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. For Skinner, defeating the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals represented one of the most gratifying moments imaginable for a Lakers fan and executive.

Toward the end of the episode, the focus shifts from professional basketball to community leadership. Now retired from the Lakers, Skinner serves on several boards and devotes much of his time to Orange County nonprofit and sports organizations. He discusses his work with the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation, which raises money to support underserved youth athletes, as well as the Orange County Sports Commission, which works to attract major sporting events to the region.

Skinner explains that Orange County often lives in the shadow of Los Angeles despite offering world-class beaches, hotels, weather, venues, and safety. The Sports Commission’s goal is to help Orange County stand independently as a premier destination for sports tourism and economic development.

The episode closes on a deeply personal note as Skinner discusses his son’s role with the UCLA women’s basketball program. Despite being a lifelong USC supporter, Skinner admits he found himself proudly cheering for UCLA because of his son’s involvement. He emotionally reflects on the Bruins’ championship run, which featured stars who would eventually dominate the WNBA Draft. For Skinner, experiencing a national championship alongside his son became one of the most meaningful sports moments of his life.

Before wrapping up, Skinner teases a future Part Two conversation with Jason, promising even more stories involving Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, and legendary Lakers coach Bill Sharman — ensuring there are still many incredible Lakers stories left to tell.

Thank you, Blain, for coming on the show.