Floating in to See The Rose Parade’s Aftermath

Above, one of my faves — and definitely a crowd favorite — the State of New Mexico’s float, featuring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner on Route 66.

Every year the Tournament of Roses showcases its parade floats at the end of the parade route on Sierra Madre Blvd. Having watched a chunk of the parade with Evan this year, we decided to head over to Pasadena on Saturday (the last day of the showcase) to see the floats up close.

To avoid the traffic and parking woes, we took the Gold Line from South Pasadena to the end of the line, at Sierra Madre Villa station. MTA had shuttle buses waiting there to take transit riders to the float showcase site.

We knew the float viewing was popular, but not this popular. Not even the $7 fee per person prevented thousands from showing up to see the intricately-constructed floats. As you know, the parade requires that the floats be completely covered in flowers and other vegetation — and you can’t fully appreciate it until you see it in person. The Tournament’s “White Suiters” were there to answer questions, and a documentary on the making of a float was shown at the Pasadena High School auditorium.

It’s not something I think we’d do every year — but since I don’t think we’ll ever be interested in spending the night on the street to see the actual parade, it’s the closest we’ll get to seeing the floats in person.

Some highlights:

Honda’s famed Asimo robot

City Hall, via the City of Los Angeles float

Safari-themed float, by Rain Bird Corp.

City of Huntington Beach float

The Wizard of Oz, by Bayer

Oscar the Grouch, part of the float by NAMM (International Music Products Assoc.)

Part of the Trader Joe’s float

After years of cheesy entries, Glendale finally got it right last year, with a float tribute to the old Grand Central airport. This year, Glendale stuck with the historic theme — but with the Alex Theatre.

Most ill-timed float: “Celebrating the Dream of Home Ownership.” Yeah, nothing like being reminded of our nation’s housing woes during the parade!

The Return of Stephanie Edwards: A Tournament of Roses Parade Recap

Yup, she’s back: Longtime TV host Stephanie Edwards, who had handled the Tournament of Roses Parade alongside Bob Eubanks for years, was shoved aside a few years ago in favor of KTLA morning host Michaela Pereira. After two years of viewer complaints, Stephanie was back on the KTLA show beside Bob this year, while Pereira was the one stuck in the stands.

The telecast began with Edwards addressing talk that the two actually hate each other: “People write in all the time and ask if we like each other,” he said. “The answer is no… we love each other!”

Oh, gag. I’m not buyin’ it.

As for the return of Stephanie… well, two years out of the booth, and she was a bit rusty.

Honda’s “Asimo” robot kicked off the show. Sitting in our Glendale HQ, I waited and waited for the fighter jets that normally kick off the parade. I got Evan all excited — in years past, the jets have buzzed right over our home on the way to Pasadena. But this year, nothing. The 4-year-old figured I was full of crap.

This year’s theme: “Hats Off To Entertainment.” There’s something strangely pure and wholesome about the Tournament of Roses Parade; in this cynical age, it’s almost hard to accept its sunny ethos. But what the hell, it’s the start of a new year.

There’s Michaela, who tried to put the best face on her demotion. “I got the best seats in the house,” she kept telling us. Sorry, we didn’t believe Stephanie when she tried to tell viewers the same thing two years ago.

Stephanie Edwards Accepts KTLA’s Rose

Good news for Stephanie Edwards fans: According to the L.A. Times, the host will be back alongside Bob Eubanks on next year’s coverage of the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Edwards, of course, was demoted in 2006 and replaced by “KTLA Morning News” anchor Michaela Pereira. The paper writes:

“The people at the station thought it was a great idea, and Stephanie thought it was a great idea,” said station spokesman Paul Nichols.

She will be reunited with co-host Bob Eubanks for the parade.

KTLA was heavily criticized in 2006 when the then-63-year-old Edwards was replaced in the broadcast booth by KTLA Morning News co-anchor Michaela Pereira, who was much younger. Edwards was confined to a sideline role interviewing crowd members.

The controversy increased when she was soaked by rain during the parade. Edwards has not appeared on the broadcast since 2006.

Check out past Stephanie Edwards posts here.

The Tournament of Roses Parade Roundup: Your Annual Bob Eubanks Fix

As I write this, KTLA is in the middle of its all-day broadcast, re-broadcast, re-broadcast, and re-broadcast again of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Watching on KTLA still beats sleeping on Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Eve in order to catch “Up With People” live in person. (Although, I’ve never done it — any of you past or present parade spectators beg to differ?)

Some highlights from this morning’s telecast:

Sorry, Stephanie Edwards fans, she was nowhere to be seen again this year. Once again, Bob Eubanks was joined by “KTLA Morning Show” anchor Michaela Periera in the parade announcing booth.

Chef Emeril Lagasse was grand marshal of this year’s parade. Seriously. He kicked off the festivites by screaming, “WE’RE GONNA KICK THINGS UP A NOTCH! BAM!” Seriously. Here he is in mid “BAM.”

When we hear the roar of the Marine F/A-18 Hornets overhead here in Glendale, we know the Tournament of Roses Parade is about to begin. Here they are over the 134.

The televised start of the parade, in front of the Norton Simon Museum on Colorado

My fave (and Blogger Toddler’s, too) float of the parade: Honda’s cool transformer-style car, which flipped into a futuristic space ship, complete with belching flames in the back. (Another view below.)

After years of embarrassing floats, Glendale finally gets it right. Our fair city came up with a replica of the Grand Central Terminal, which once upon a time was the region’s main airport (pre-WWII). Yep, when people flew into Los Angeles back in the day, they flew into Glendale. The old terminal building still exists, and is now on Disney property. (We wrote about it here in 2005.)

Some quality TV time for the Impeach Bush/Impeach Cheney crowd. (Also saw a big Kucinich banner, next to someone holding an “Impeach” sign. The result: It looked like someone was pushing to “IMPEACH KUCINICH.” Huh?)

The Rose Bowl court

The Tournament of Roses Parade Roundup: Your Annual Bob Eubanks Fix

As I write this, KTLA is in the middle of its all-day broadcast, re-broadcast, re-broadcast, and re-broadcast again of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Watching on KTLA still beats sleeping on Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Eve in order to catch “Up With People” live in person. (Although, I’ve never done it — any of you past or present parade spectators beg to differ?)

Some highlights from this morning’s telecast:

Sorry, Stephanie Edwards fans, she was nowhere to be seen again this year. Once again, Bob Eubanks was joined by “KTLA Morning Show” anchor Michaela Periera in the parade announcing booth.

Chef Emeril Lagasse was grand marshal of this year’s parade. Seriously. He kicked off the festivites by screaming, “WE’RE GONNA KICK THINGS UP A NOTCH! BAM!” Seriously. Here he is in mid “BAM.”

When we hear the roar of the Marine F/A-18 Hornets overhead here in Glendale, we know the Tournament of Roses Parade is about to begin. Here they are over the 134.

The televised start of the parade, in front of the Norton Simon Museum on Colorado

My fave (and Blogger Toddler’s, too) float of the parade: Honda’s cool transformer-style car, which flipped into a futuristic space ship, complete with belching flames in the back. (Another view below.)

After years of embarrassing floats, Glendale finally gets it right. Our fair city came up with a replica of the Grand Central Terminal, which once upon a time was the region’s main airport (pre-WWII). Yep, when people flew into Los Angeles back in the day, they flew into Glendale. The old terminal building still exists, and is now on Disney property. (We wrote about it here in 2005.)

Some quality TV time for the Impeach Bush/Impeach Cheney crowd. (Also saw a big Kucinich banner, next to someone holding an “Impeach” sign. The result: It looked like someone was pushing to “IMPEACH KUCINICH.” Huh?)

The Rose Bowl court

USC Move to the Rose Bowl?

(Flickr pic by Steve Eggleston.)

It’s possible, as the school’s deal is up with the Coliseum. But, as the L.A. Times writes, it also could be a negotiation ploy:

Frustrated by lack of progress on a lease agreement with the Coliseum Commission — one that would allow the school to run and renovate the venerable Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — USC is negotiating with the Rose Bowl to begin playing home games in Pasadena next fall.

While a deal with the Pasadena stadium is not complete, a potential USC lease agreement is on the agenda for a Dec. 6 meeting of the Rose Bowl Operating Co. The school’s two-year lease with the Coliseum expires after Saturday’s game.

Some insiders have dismissed USC’s talks with the Rose Bowl as a negotiating ploy, saying it’s highly unlikely the school would ever leave a stadium that’s practically part of its campus. But others point to the number of teams that have left the Coliseum over the years and say USC is likely to uproot if there’s no significant progress with the commission.

“We’ve been a loyal, faithful tenant of the Coliseum for 80 years, and our goal is to continue playing in the Coliseum for another 80 years,” said Todd R. Dickey, USC’s senior vice president for administration. “But in order to do that, the Coliseum has to be improved. It needs to be repaired and restored. And we’ve offered to make those improvements, not just to hand the money over to the Coliseum Commission, but for the university to actually operate the facility.”

Timing of the news is interesting, of course, with the big USC/UCLA faceoff this Saturday at… yes, the Rose Bowl Coliseum.

USC Move to the Rose Bowl?

(Flickr pic by Steve Eggleston.)

It’s possible, as the school’s deal is up with the Coliseum. But, as the L.A. Times writes, it also could be a negotiation ploy:

Frustrated by lack of progress on a lease agreement with the Coliseum Commission — one that would allow the school to run and renovate the venerable Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — USC is negotiating with the Rose Bowl to begin playing home games in Pasadena next fall.

While a deal with the Pasadena stadium is not complete, a potential USC lease agreement is on the agenda for a Dec. 6 meeting of the Rose Bowl Operating Co. The school’s two-year lease with the Coliseum expires after Saturday’s game.

Some insiders have dismissed USC’s talks with the Rose Bowl as a negotiating ploy, saying it’s highly unlikely the school would ever leave a stadium that’s practically part of its campus. But others point to the number of teams that have left the Coliseum over the years and say USC is likely to uproot if there’s no significant progress with the commission.

“We’ve been a loyal, faithful tenant of the Coliseum for 80 years, and our goal is to continue playing in the Coliseum for another 80 years,” said Todd R. Dickey, USC’s senior vice president for administration. “But in order to do that, the Coliseum has to be improved. It needs to be repaired and restored. And we’ve offered to make those improvements, not just to hand the money over to the Coliseum Commission, but for the university to actually operate the facility.”

Timing of the news is interesting, of course, with the big USC/UCLA faceoff this Saturday at… yes, the Rose Bowl Coliseum.