Rose Parade

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

This used to be a parade, and now it's a television show.

Which is ironic since parades make for awful television.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

The first section of the parade is a huge set of bleachers, offering an aereal view of sorts, which perhaps can be seen to act as a sort of reviewing stand where certain things are done that are never again seen as part of the parade further along the route. I believe this is legitimate parade performance.

I wonder if they're doing these stops along the route. I had assumed as much but could be wrong.

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Certainly the vast majority of people who enjoy the parade do so via a television set, so yes there are some elements of a TV show present. However I can't agree that the entire parade is a TV show. When they change the name to the Viagra Tournament of Roses parade or reroute the parade to exclude that pesky bridge (which limits float size) then I'll be on board with you.

Good point, though I'm worried those advances are not too far away now.

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Which is ironic since parades make for awful television.

In your humble opinion. I have been watching the parade since I was very young and have always loved it, "boring" or not. I'm not going to chime in with all those above that say that most of the parade is boring. I love every bit of it, including the equestrian units. It may be that it's a comfort thing for me but I still say that the parade was entertaining in the early 80's and there's no reason it should have these lame changes.

Speaking of comfort - it's going to be hard to not watch KTLA next year, but I think I'll have to push through it. NA & € get HGTV, right?

[innerSpaceman]

The first section of the parade is a huge set of bleachers, offering an aereal view of sorts, which perhaps can be seen to act as a sort of reviewing stand where certain things are done that are never again seen as part of the parade further along the route. I believe this is legitimate parade performance.

[Not Afraid]

If parades were not television shows, I'd never see them. Macy's, Rose, all of the large events are primarialy television events to me. I've never seen the Macy's Parade in person.

[blueerica]

I've been lucky to see the 'big' parades in person. That said, it's nothing I have to see in person. For me, going to these types of things (a.k.a. things that are early in the morning and/or require discomfort of any sort) is not so much about the parade, but the company and everything else associated with going.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Stephanie Edwards speaks.

Although she had been under contract to participate in KTLA's pre-parade coverage today, it was quietly decided months ago she would have no role whatsoever. She had wanted to do the pre-parade and the field reporting again this year, she said, and when management couldn't guarantee the latter, she asked to be let out of any obligation.

So apparently she didn't want to be anywhere near Bob Eubanks.

A bit of fallout:

The highlights, according to numerous sources: Bob Eubanks mistakenly referred to Michaela Pereira as "Stephanie" at least once; he compared the replacement of old parade horses to what happens to old parade commentators; and he referred to the end of his own upcoming contract, expressing his gratitude to viewers.

[mousepod]

Growing up, the only parade that we attended with any regularity was the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. We still have 35-year-old home movies that feature such highlights as the the conductor of the McDonald's marching band getting stuck on the straps on the giant drum float.... ah memories.

Once I got older (and moved to Manhattan from NJ), I realized that the parade looked just fine on television, and the truly fun "New Yawker" thing to do was to go up to the area around the Museum of Natural History, grab a cup of hot cocoa from a local deli, and stroll among the crowds while they blow up the giant balloons.

So far, I've only seen the Rose Parade on TV, and unless someone has a darn good reason to get me out to the parade route, that's how it'll probably stay.

[JWBear]

When I was a kid my family camped out on Colorado Blvd almost every year for the Rose Parade. Last time we did was in the late 70's (I was in high school). The last time I saw the parade in person was 1988, but I was in the bleachers.

[Ghoulish Delight]

he compared the replacement of old parade horses to what happens to old parade commentators

I heard about that line. I wonder if he was thinking more of his own pending replacement or about Stephanie.

[BarTopDancer]

They had FIRE BREATHING DRAGONS and JET PACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!