Rose Parade

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

The attraction is that the floats are all organic and yet that doesn't show up well on TV. Many of the floats they could just be painted and you'd hardly know the difference.

I beg and plead to differ.

Perhaps it's because I've seen the floats up-close and personal many times, I can easily spot the use of vegetation and flora. The creative use of vegetation, in particular, really pleases me. That's why the turtle float and the reptile float were such clear winners. Not only were they beautiful, the cameras clearly displayed the detail of veggie matter used to convincingly recreate animal matter.

The hummingbird float (No. 1) and butterfly float (No. 6) were also very well designed, but - to my eye - used mostly floral elements to represent the avian and insect creatures.

Perhaps in the long shots, paint would do. But the advantage of TV is the close-ups offered. And I missed hearing (due to the crap sound mix or maybe Stephanie's absence) the descriptions of what materials were used on each float.

I've seen the parade twice live. The floats go whizzing by, but the veggie and floral nature is unmistakable. Still, the details are better presented by camera close-ups, and even better observed in the static displays of the floats for the ensuing 2 days.


The bands and equestrian units are much better live than on TV, but I'm with CP ... I love the Rose Parade and think it makes for fine television entertainment. I guess other people think so, too. What other event - besides being watched by millions around the world - is entirely replayed 8 times on the day it happens?