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Stephanie Edwards - A Fine Wine
Last year a wrote a little recap of the 2006 Rose Parade. In it I complained a lot, which I so often do, about problems with the coverage and the demoting of legendary Stephanie Edwards to the bleachers to cover to parade. Because of this article, I have been receiving dozens of hits to my site from people searching for what will become of Stephanie at the 2007 Rose Parade. Since people are looking for it, I might as well give it to them straight:
Stephanie Edwards will not be covering the 2007 Rose Parade on KTLA. Oddly enough, reports are coming out that she decided it best to take this year off, indicating it was not a decision of KTLA executives, but solely Stephanie’s decision. Buffalo spit.
In my recap of the 2006 Rose Parade I wrote:
“I understand [moving Stephanie Edwards out of the broadcasting booth and onto the street] was probably an attempt to slowly wean Stephanie Edwards off the Rose Parade broadcast, but they should at least give her the benefit of going out with style and class, rather than sitting on cold bleachers in the rain alone.”
I see it as Stephanie Edwards was removed from the Rose Parade coverage on KTLA, and not by her own choice but as a move to phase in a new generation of parade commentators. It is a pity they phased in a cholita. Maybe this is to help draw a wider audience via an old man and a younger female (Regis and Kelly formula) rather than two older people which leaves it difficult for a younger audience to relate to. However, I refute anyone calling Stephanie Edwards old - she is indeed a fine wine which I only enjoyed once a year. And that wine will indeed be missed. You can’t replace a fine wine with some dirty tequila which rolled around on the bottom of the dumpster for a few years only to be found by a bum looking for his left leg who then threw the half empty bottle of tequila into broadcasting which put on a front with terrible jokes and too much eye make-up to appear to be half-full just to be some whore-tequila bottle who is not nearly as hot as Kelly Ripa but is supposed to be like a brown Kelly Ripa to sit with Bob Eubanks and compliment him on his sweaters (which I look forward to every year). But I digress. Remember to tune in and laugh at Bob Eubanks and Michaela Pereira this January 1, 2007 when watching the Rose Parade on KTLA/CW in high definition. And don’t forget to come back after the Rose Parade for my full analysis.
“Michaela Pereira, co-host of the KTLA Morning Show joins Bob again this year for the Rose Parade. As one of five adopted girls, Michaela believes passionately in giving back. She is extremely active in the LA community — whether it’s serving Thanksgiving meals at the LA Mission, working with The Boys & Girls Club, Friends of Child Advocates or LA’s BEST — Michaela is out and about working with our community.”
Remember that half-empty bottle of tequila who wants to look half-full? This is what I am talking about.
Discussion
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All I have to say is I miss Stephane very much. She always had so much enthusiasm and brought so much to the parade. I also loved the trivia she would talk about. She made us smile.
Nothing against Michaela, I watch and enjoy her on Channel 5 every week day morning, it’s just at this point, she can’t fill Stephane’s shoes.
I believe Channel 5 made a mistake big time with removing her as long time comentator.
Joan Warr
Joan: I agree with you. I think Michaela and Bob simply don’t have the chemistry needed to drive the entire parade coverage.
“Rose” and “Parade” are no longer, in my mind, the title of this event since Stephanie Edwards’ departure. Her quick wit; daring to be cute with humor in this ever cynical and crude society, her twinkling eyes and smile reflected directly from her heart, her unmatched articulation of the sights and sounds of the then parade, and her youthful exuberance are incomparable; the likes of which L.A. and the world will always miss. No matter the number of countless roses displayed, The “Rose” “Parade” is no longer official. I dare say, her intelligence was just too much for most. Love and Happy New Year to you Ms. Edwards. We all eagerly await your return to ANY venue; televised or otherwise. Meanwhile, we’ll search other lesser ways of ringing in the New Year…
For the past several years it has been difficult to listen to the commentary coverage of Bob and Stephanie not because of what they were saying necessarily, but rather what was not being said. There seemed to be a great deal of tension between them and the smiley attitude appeared forced. They actually reminded me of a bitter married couple that were staying together for the sake of the kids or in this case the audience. Putting someone of Stephanie’s caliber and experience on the rain soaked streets last year was a tremendous insult. BRAVO to her if indeed she decided to forgo the coverage this year.
However, Mr. Shoemaker referring to Michaela in the manner in which you did was terribly wrong. She has wit, charm, intelligence, and class, which is more than I can say for you.
I don’t think chemistry will be much of an issue this year between Bob and Michaela. Last year there were special circumstances that would have made it difficult for any newbie; stepping into a position formerly occupied by a much beloved Stephanie Edwards and then having her reporting from the street; then throw in the horrible weather conditions.
Well this year is touted to be one of the most spectacular in Rose Parade history and having George Lucas as Grand Marshall is just icing on the cake.
Parade Watcher: it is that tension that I loved - I remember a few years back when Bob was introducing a float with a large counter-weight in the rear to account for it’s height and Bob asked Stephanie if she needed a large counter-weight in her rear - that is what I watched for. It was like watching the parade with grandparents.
And unless your name is Michaela, you should not be so easily offended. There is a literary device writers often use called “hyperbole.” It is extreme exaggeration to illustrate a point. Do I really think Michaela is a half empty bottle of tequila? Well, maybe not literally, and maybe she is, I can’t say for sure, just realize that my writing is so profound that you often have to dig deep beneath the surface to reach true enlightenment.
Stephanie Edwards is indeed a Fine Wine - and without her, Eubanks is like a flat day old room temperature RC cola.
Bring her back.
We missed Stephanie Edwards this year! She starts the New Year off with her wonderful personality and sense of humor! We didn’t watch ktla this year because she wasn’t there! Please bring her back where she belongs!
Yes, Bob and Stephanie were just like watching my parents, who could have divorced, but for their children’s sake selflessly honored their obligations. I miss that gentle teasing masking the unresolved issues of ancient battles. I can’t find words enough to express how reassuring and funny that tension, cloaked in civility, made us feel when compared to our friends’ divorced parents who no longer bothered with civility and expressed their hatred in all its wretched nakedness. I can’t imagine my father tossing his old wife to rain-drenched bleachers while he cavorted publicly with his new squeeze in a warm booth. No, my parents were better role models than KTLA.
Just a quick comment I’ve been wanting to make for 2 years now - ‘why is it necessary to fix something that isn’t broken’! Bob and Stephanie’s banter is what truly made me watch the parade - just compare their coverage and chemistry to any other channel ‘trying’ to comment on the parade! And I promise, if Bob leaves next year, there is NO reason to tune in to Channel 5 to watch the coverage any longer - any station can compete with any newcomers! What a shame - truly missed Stephanie as Bob was not his usual humorous, fun & relaxed self. It was like any other coverage - except for the one joke about kissing Texas girls! We miss you, Stephanie, and will miss Bob if he does not return. What a shame!
I too missed Stephanie again this year. I know she was there last year, but not in her usual seat with Bob. I can’t believe KTLA felt the need to replace such a wonderful lady! It is definately not the same without her and next year if she and Bob don’t return together I will be watching the Rose Parade on another station. Hope KTLA gets a clue how much she is missed and bring her back!
I decided not to bother watching KTLA this year. With no Stephanie Edwards, and Bob Eubanks as an aging humorless guy, I just couldn’t be bothered. I must admit I did tune in a couple of times and at the exact moment that Michaela misread her copy of the commentary. So I assume it happened at other times too. Channel 7 had commercials, but I’d rather watch a commercial than listen to Bob and Michaela. Sad situation!! Get rid of BOB, he’s useless not funny anymore!!!
Hey - lets face it - the Rose Parade is just a big joke now. It jumped the shark the year it allowed the float of the new “Tower of Terror” attraction at Disney’s California Adventure. It has become one big Disney commercial. The 2007 broadcast started with this Disney-esque huge production number What the f___?. Maybe KTLA has done Stephanie a favor. I see a Lifetime MOTW in her future. Something along the lines of the movie Miss Congeniallity - but Stephahie plays the “Phantom of the Parade” sabotaging floats - causing havoc and all you see is a trenchcoat and wisp of flaming red hair. Her final triumph will be making the float honoring the 40th anniversery of the Newlywed Game crash into the announcers booth taking out Bob and his token hispanic cohost…
bwa ha ha ha
Stephanie Edwards not being on KTLA’s Rose Parade coverage leaves us with Bob “I am so tedious even my proud horses find me boring” Eubanks and some mastadon female wrestler woman who cannot pronounce half the words in the English language any better than a six year old Panda. They have as much charisma and talent as the stuff that comes out of Bob Eubanks’ “proud” horses’ backsides. Not content to have to be satisfied with Bob Eubanks gushing annually over the magnificent record and deeds of the “buffalo soldiers,” they hauled one of the buffalo soldiers up into the booth with him. In fact they accomplished a double virtue, she is also the size of one of Eubanks’ “proud” horses. She is alMOST as big as the “beautiful Santa Inez Valley” that we have to hear about over and over and over again during Bob’s annual gift to himself, his Rose Parade appearance. Both of these two muttonheads, Eubanks and Mikaylabaylahaylaconseuela, reek enough to drive ten hyenas off a kill. I want Stephie back. Either alone or with another woman. Because she is ‘way too smart for most men.
Phantom, love the way you think! That was hilarious, especially that “trenchcoat” and “wisp of flaming red hair” part. Maybe, before Stephanie takes out Bob, et al, by way of float into the booth, you could have her dispatching the manager of KTLA, the Grand Marshall and other officials by way of poisoned thorns and petals, glue guns, and such, with only small pools of rain water and tiny high-heeled footprints left as clues. Maybe she would inadvertanly leave behind an empty box of hair dye, #4 Pennypacker Red, behind in one of the portapotties.
Then, there could be a slow-motioned close-up of Bob’s face just before the float hits the booth, wherein all his many plastic surgury sutures pop, and in that last second before the float finishes him off, we see his real face while hearing Stepanie’s light, girlish peal of laughter. The horror, the horror.
The above is for entertainment purposes only and not intented for real life.
Living well is the best revenge - Stephanie for Grand Marshall 2009 !
Maggie, You beat me to it, so I will have to 2nd. the motion to make Stephanie for Grand Marshall in 2009! Happy New Year Stephanie.