Tension? I don't recall any tension. None at all.

I saw the entire Edwards-Eubanks broadcast -- shown here in the SF Bay Area commercial-free -- and there was no hint of tension. They displayed the usual chemistry of an old married couple, and maybe that's what your emailer was picking up on. But no hatred whatsoever.

Mighta been Bob feeling crotchety about his face lift. I saw him on a tour of the floats before the parade and the dude had massive keloid scars all along his ears, under the lobes and back behind. His face looked like it was saranwrapped on. It can be a nasty business, can TV.

Give the guy credit for sticking around. Eubanks presented the Beatles' first performance in L.A. in 1964, at the Hollywood Bowl. He was the hot DJ on KRLA then, and also ran a chain of underage dance clubs called the Cinnamon Cinder that briefly inspired a TV show, ala American Bandstand. The main club was on Ventura in Studio City. Only later did he go through his TV game show host phase.

While I'm familiar enough with Stephanie Edwards and Bob Eubanks -- who both do a truly wonderful job for their excited parade watching audience -- this was the first time I've watched any parade since I was an excited little kid myself. I was surprised and disappointed to have to attend to the dreadful feeling that Stephanie Edwards was going to provoke Bob Eubanks into a fight. (!) I can't give you any direct quotes or incidents either, but that they finished the show (with one of the judges) without overt incident was actually a relief -- IMHO, only because of Bob Eubanks' grace and generosity, whatever the actual situation. Of course, who knows, but the bizarre combination of cheery, slick and genuinely interested professionalism and very uncomfortable hostility is part of how I will remember that Rose Parade.