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KTLA's press release tries to make the upcoming coverage of the Rose Parade sound special: "Bob Eubanks and Michaela Pereira will be back as co-hosts of the Rose Parade....Grand Marshal of Rose Parade will be George Lucas. Additional celebrities include Katherine McPhee, the Oakridge Boys, Marie Osmond, James Garner, Tony Award winner Kristen Chenoweth and the reigning Miss America, Jennifer Berry."
OK, but for LA Observed readers there's only question that matters: what about Stephanie Edwards?
After last year's PR debacle for Channel 5 — and nice traffic boost for LA Observed, thank you — would the veteran of many January 1's (and some Jan. 2's) return to the bleachers to be humiliated anew? Uhhh, no. "Hi Kevin," wrote back PR rep Kathleen Flaherty. "Stephanie has chosen not to participate in the Rose Parade this year. Both Bob & Michaela will be back in full force!"
For readers not in L.A., Edwards' and Eubanks' homey (some say corny) commentary made KTLA's Rose Parade coverage the go-to telecast for many Angelenos. Some viewers detected a little tension in 2004. Then this year, Edwards was relegated to the bleachers while the younger and perkier Pereira sat next to Eubanks. He sounded annoyed at her but let it go when Pereira called parade grand marshal Sandra Day O'Connor a justice of the Superior Court. When Edwards popped in one of her sideline reports while drenched by a cold rain, Eubanks quipped to her, "There is no end to your limitations." Given that Bob is about five years older than Stephanie, KPCC's Patt Morrison suggested the equitable divvy of duties would put her in the warm booth with Heath Ledger and Eubanks shivering in the bleachers. Let's just say, the mail to LA Observed ran heavily in Edwards' favor — all month.
Previously:
Stephanie gets wet
Stephanie clears the air (some)
Stephanie just wants a better umbrella