Rose Parade "Lite"

I actually like seeing parades on TV.

Well, not all parades. The Macys Thanksgiving day parade is rather bad. What you get nowadays, is a few balloons, a very few floats that are mostly traveling commercials, about 1000 marching bands, and mostly, excerpts from various Broadway plays.

The only saving grace of these long, vocal prerecorded plays, is seeing the original performers freezing their asses off outdoors. I got a kick out of seeing the near hypodermic Christina Applegate trying to mime her Sweet Chastity act with a bloodless shivering face and exposed legs. The only play during these spots I like seeing was back in 1976, Beatlemania. And, that, was with the awful New York cast.

And mostly above all that...They always cut to the anchor desk or a commercial when a float goes by. You'll see Katie Curic talking about something vapid, and behind her is a huge balloon that you're missing to hear about Katies amazing life. Yell, "Down in front!!" all ya like, she wont shut up.

Anyway...The Tounament of Roses Parade! This one I like the most. Not because of the flowers. But, because the floats are innovative and imaginative, and they usually are animated really cool like! I Know that all parade are only some commercial preshow to some football game. But I like the majesty.

I made the mistake, like I do almost every year in not watching it on Los Angeles's KTLA with Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards. I watched it on CBS (I was still smarting from NBCs Turkey parade broadcast). I forgot what network channels do now: Less parade, more commercials!

They typical CBS broadcast was talking about a football marching band with looooong shots of the horn section, then you see the tip of a float...BLAM! COMMERCIAL! About 7 commercials later, you see the tip of the end of another entirely different float, and here comes the bruins marching band! Suffer that and see the front half of another interesting float...And you must brace for the whiplash when you are all of a sudden, transported to the archor desk to discuss the upcoming TV season on...CBS!

the capper? They ended the parade an hour and a half early as not to intrude on the posted time for the Rose bowl! But first, lets see Leeann Rimes again to block out any chance of seeing any parade! Although I did love the moment when Leeann was almost caterpulted into space from the covered stage she rose up on. You saw her hanging on for dear life in a mini skirt, shot up into the hard sideways rain, from a hole in the floral stage. Just to lipsync a song with about 20 drenched faux cowboy/dancers.

But, salvation! Although I like in Washington, the Travel Channel (knowing what is the BEST broadcast of the parade) Was showing the live and re-play of the KTLA rose Parade with Bob and Steph! Minimal commercials that don't miss anything, and uncut time. My heart soared!

Bob and Steph are amazing, never trying to outshone the parade, and being interesting instead of stupid...A fine line to balance on. This year, Shephanie decided to be down with the common folk on the parade route...Not knowing that today was the worst rain day in California. Seeing the frozen Steph clinging onto a child's vinyl umbrella and teeth chattering, and being hilariously bitter about the whole idea, was delightful!

Did you know Polar Bears don't drink?

Did you know who supplies the roses and how they remain fresh until the day?

Did you want to hear bathroom and Scottish kilt jokes?

Did you want to see Steph look directly into the camera and bitch about her balls freezing off?

I got that all! Thx, Bob and Steph!