Stephanie Edwards Sitting Out Rose Parade
Last year my comments on a local news story, the demotion of KTLA's longtime Rose Parade co-anchor Stephanie Edwards, brought some of this blog's biggest-ever traffic. Stephanie must have a lot of fans out there, as those posts have continued to draw regular hits over the course of 2006.
As reported by the L.A. Times (subject link), Frank Mickadeit of the Orange County Register, and L.A. Observed, this year Stephanie won't be "singin' in the rain" or anywhere else in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
As Stephanie half-jestingly told the Times, this year "I'll watch the parade with my family, in my jammies, weeping softly into my hot cocoa."
We'll miss you, Stephanie. I think I may give up my longtime loyalty to commercial-free KTLA and opt for the coverage on HGTV instead.
New Year's Day Update: This has been a record-setting traffic day here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings, and I welcome all new readers stopping by for news of Stephanie Edwards. Be sure to check out today's post linking to an interview with Stephanie published in today's Orange County Register.
Please visit again! Best Wishes and Happy New Year to all. :)
January 1, 2008 Update: Welcome to new readers seeking information on Stephanie Edwards. My January 1, 2008 post on Stephanie is here.
posted by Laura @ 10:36 AM
21 Comments:
Last year after the parade I wrote an email to the station berating them for the treatment of Stephanie Edwards (no reply). Then I read everything that was going on behind the scenes on LA Observed (this was before I was aware of your blog).
I have been keeping up with the latest information about this on LA Observed and read their link to the Pasadena Star News and the OC Register.
In the past there were several local outlets to choose from in watching the parade, but I think the reason most people choose KTLA was because of Stephanie and Bob. The other hosts over the years were pretty inane but Stephanie and Bob had class and were fun but not stupid. Now the other local stations no longer cover the parade (I don't count network coverage which is absurd)and unless one has cable we are pretty much stuck with KTLA.
Based on the remarks Stephanie has made about this, that lady has class and then some. I met her once at a Lucky supermarket opening and she was more beautiful in person than on TV!
I will miss her but I think Stephanie has taken the high road on this one.
Enjoyed and agreed with your comments. :) The network coverage certainly is useless is you want to see all of the actual parade.
A couple friends and family members have met Stephanie when she's given talks at local churches, and it sounds like "what you see is what you get" with Stephanie -- a genuinely nice, humorous lady.
Best wishes, Laura
while watching the 2007 version of the Rose Parade (sans Stephanie), Bob Eubanks mistakenly said "Stephanie" instead of Michaela. It was nice to hear him make that mistake. It shows she is still in his heart and on his mind.
I cannot believe KTLA is trying to change the direction of the Rose Parade by kicking Stephanie Edwards to the curb. And to make it all worse, Bob Eubanks cracks a joke about it during the first hour of the show!
~”Yeah… just like old commentators are replaced” (he laughs)
This new direction the station is taking is disgusting. I refuse to ever watch the Rose Parade on KTLA again, I called CEO of the Tribune Co. to voice my opinion, I emailed KTLA, and I will be mailing Vinnie, the Gen. Manager of KTLA as soon as USPS opens up again.
I won’t stand for this ‘throw out the old and cherished classic for the new, young, uninformed and pitiful imitation’ mentality. And I’m going to let KTLA know that.
Bob called Michaela "Stephanie"? That's priceless.
So glad others are letting KTLA know what they think.
Happy New Year!
Laura
I don't know how I missed Stephnie not being there last year. I was shocked not to see her this morning. Ruined the whole parade for me while I wondered what happened to her. I will never watch KTLA again. AS
I, too, heard Eubanks' slip of calling Michaela "Stephanie". Later, when describing the St. Louis float entry, Michaela mentioned "... and let's not forget St. Louis is the start of Route 66 that leads all the way to LA." Sorry, Michaela, someone gave you bad info -- Route 66 starts in Chicago. Stephanie would never have made this gaff.
On another blog someone speculated that Stephanie was "fired" because she made offensive faux Chinese remarks about a rose looking like a bound foot, was that true or did someone make it up because of the Rosie O. flap?
Why does everyone keep commenting that they'll stop watching KTLA as a protest. Someone had written elsewhere was glad she was gone, said that they wrote complaining about a comment Stephanie Edwards and said many other did also. Unless a patently offensive remark was made, maybe like the Chinese comment, a station doesn't retain or fire someone because of mail. It's based on a contract, they can choose to renew or not. This is a freewill society where an employee or employer both can decide whether one can stay or leave. The only society that has lifetime employment is a Communist one (and I hope everyone knows how inept that society is!)
Although I know that advertising rates are based on viewership, I doubt that because of their programs they're on the top of the Nielson ratings (if they're even on that!) Unlike a commodity or something like a magazine subscription, not watching (especially if you have a show you like on there) will hurt you more than the station!! On the scheme of things, this is a puny thing to protest about, if you want to spend the time and energy protesting, how about this stupid war we're in.
I agree - this year was boring...bob and stephanie's banter and wit back and forth is what made the parade commentary interesting...no reason to watch KTLA anymore
"Why does everyone keep commenting that they'll stop watching KTLA as a protest... a station doesn't retain or fire someone because of mail. It's based on a contract, they can choose to renew or not. This is a freewill society where an employee or employer both can decide whether one can stay or leave."
Of course. And a contract is made based on what is best for the station...ratings. Viewers have the free will to watch or avoid KTLA, which affects the ratings, which affects who KTLA gives contracts. The free market works in more ways than one.
"On the scheme of things, this is a puny thing to protest about."
Life is made up of matters large and small...we can care about the relatively small and the big issues simultaneously. Protesting about a "puny thing" doesn't mean that we don't also care about the big issues. That's just...life. Which is why my blog covers "miscellaneous" topics ranging from politics to cooking to education to Disney theme parks...reflecting the varied things that make up life, and make life interesting.
Thank you all for your comments today! It has been a record-setting day for this blog's traffic and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to look in and/or comment.
Best Wishes and Happy New Year, Laura
would have been nice if ktla had at least given a reason for the change. not stating that it was a mutual decision tends to make people think there were bad motivations for the change. sd if there were reasons that would give ktla bad publicity were they to reveal the reason. I am not happy with the change, and especially for not giving the people, who for years have seen stephanie and bob, announce the parade, the reason for the change. It has been a beloved tradition having those 2 do the announcing. Too bad ktla does not have the gumption to fess up the reasons for the change.
good point laura. peole, for the most point, don't like change. For that reason alone, ktla should have at least put people at ease by announcing the change and the reason for it. I won't watch a different station for the change, just would have been nice to know.
I agree, Robert, transparency and being up front with one's clientele (whether viewers, readers, etc.) is always a Good Thing. I think viewers feel manipulated by how Stephanie was treated last year and by this year's absence in favor of giving "publicity" to someone who works on other KTLA programming. Last year KTLA denied Stephanie had been demoted, and that dishonesty didn't sit well with a lot of people. (See:
http://laurasmiscmusings.blogspot.com/2006/01/ktla-denies-stephanie-edwards-demoted.html)
Best wishes, Laura
Laura,
Since you seem to be reading your blog and responding, this was of another blog-do you remember if it really happened last year?
"I heard the reason Stephanie Edwards isn’t hosting the Rose Parade is because she did a horribly offensive faux-Chinese accent during the last one. She said something about a certain rose resembling a bound foot, then she was all, “I believe it’s called the ching-chong-chang float, which is Chinese for ‘what a great time I’m having in the rain’. Back to you Bob”.
A postscript re my comment above ("Which is why my blog covers 'miscellaneous' topics ranging from politics to cooking to education to Disney theme parks...reflecting the varied things that make up life, and make life interesting."): How could I have left movies off that list? :)
If you enjoy movies, particularly older films, you'll find they're discussed here a great deal.
Best wishes, Laura
Anyone notice that Bob Eubanks said, at the end of the telecast, that his contract was up and that he thanked everyone. he said he wasn't sure if he'd be back. Wow, a public plee to be brought back?
Michaela is nice enough but the parade isn't the same without Stephanie. Perhaps, if HGTV or other networks are smart, they'll pick Stephanie up. Maybe we'll see Stephanie back next year on another station.
I'm surprised by KTLA, they remain pretty loyal to the guys (Stan, Hal, and Larry-RIP) who have been in the news FOREVER. Stephanie was as much a part of the station as those news dullards at that buffoon Eubanks.
"I heard the reason Stephanie Edwards isn’t hosting the Rose Parade is because she did a horribly offensive faux-Chinese accent during the last one."
Hi Evangeline,
I don't remember that happening personally, and I also read a great deal about Stephanie over the last year and never once came across that in print or on a blog.
Last year when Stephanie was "demoted" from the booth to curbside coverage, KTLA in fact insisted it was not a demotion and also said they wanted to give Michaela Pereira exposure as she is in other KTLA shows. From what I have read this year, Stephanie was offered pre-parade coverage for today but instead she and KTLA decide to part ways. I'm certain KTLA would not have offered her anything over the last two years if she had made offensive comments as you apparently heard rumored.
Best wishes, Laura
"I'm surprised by KTLA, they remain pretty loyal to the guys (Stan, Hal, and Larry-RIP) who have been in the news FOREVER."
What a great point. I believe I read that Stan Chambers has now been covering the parade (i.e., pre-parade coverage) for 60 years. You read that right. 60 years!
Best wishes, Laura
Stephanie should be put back! She and Bob were quite a team with just the right bantor back and forth!
I worked with Stephanie on Good Morning AM show (KABC) in the late 60's - early 70's. She is as nice inside as she put across the TV air-waives and certainly was well 'groomed' for all she has done by learning from one of the greats, Ralph Story.
Stephanie was Ralph's secretary first on a TV program he had before he took the 'chair' on the 2 hour live - M-F TV show...and he brought Stephanie along. They were as perfect on air every day (though total opposites in real life), as she ever has been along side Bob Eubanks.
Stephanie...let us know where and how you are doing! So many of us miss you!
Susan (I was Jill's fill in as Production Assistant and when Jill moved up - I came back and took over Jill's front desk job - never tiring of saying on the phone 'Hi, It's AM' - despite it was 4PM in the afternoon busy trying to get scripts typed up for the next day's program!
I miss Stephanie Edwards!
I just turned on the Rose Parade (after cleaning up!), and flipped over to KTLA to watch, but only found Bob Eubanks!
A quick Google search led me here. Some combinations of personalities become institutionalized; Edwards/Eubanks was one of them.
Thanks for the information.
Well, I will not get us to far off track, but mentioning Ralph Story and Stephanie--*sigh*--that was where I got hooked on her. But I always liked the banter between Stephanie and Bob, too--though I always had the impression that Stephanie did the whole thing tongue in cheek (her faux seriousness about the flower botanical names for instance—normally with her starting it with “Bob, did you know...?”) but I always felt that maybe Bob took the whole thing just a tad more seriously. I've always thought the parade was a bore, but I lived for the Bob and Stephanie thing, and especially the gaffes live TV brings you...
Post a Comment
<< Home