(photo by Fescue)
Los Angeles doesn’t have too many big civic events, like other big cities back East. That’s why the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade is such a big deal here in town. I’ve been to it a couple of times, and the floats, created with flowers, seeds, and other natural items, are really amazing. This year the parade was a blow-out, with torrential rains for the first time in fifty years.
However, the big story in town was not the rain, but what happened in the anchor booth of local television station KTLA. Although KTLA is only the local WB network affiliate, they easily get the most viewers during the parade every year because the hosts, B-celebrities Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards, have been doing it together since 1978. When you say the Rose Parade to most Angelenos, they think of these two, sort of like Dick Clark is forever associated with New Year’s Eve.
Stephanie Edwards, who is 62, hasn’t been very lucky lately, due to her advancing age. She was the long time spokesperson for the Albertson’s Supermarket chain (which ironically used to be called Lucky Supermarket before a big supermarket merger), until she was replaced by Patricia Heaton of "Everybody Loves Raymond." In an interview she gave a few years ago, she said that before she was let go, she was told that her crows feet were getting too noticeable.
Today, I turned into KTLA to watch the parade and there in the booth was Bob Eubanks, 68, along a new co-host – the much younger Michaela Pereira, the sexy co-anchor of KTLA’s jokey "Morning News," showing off some really nice cleavage that wasn’t matched by her knowledge (she said that "Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the Superior Court" and referred to floats as self-built).
And where was Stephanie Edwards?
(photo by Fescue)
She was standing on the street in the pouring rain and had about five minutes of air time over the entire telecast.
Kevin Roderick of L.A. Observed reports that:
Pasadena Star-News editor Larry Wilson saw it coming, writing in a column last week that Edwards has been hinting around town at Channel 5′s plans to exile her. Wilson received calls from Edwards supporters saying it was unfair that she got moved out for a younger woman while Eubanks, who is six years older, remains. Wilson then got a message from KTLA denying that Edwards was demoted, but rather had shifted into the new role of "roving co-host."
Some say that Edwards was temperamental and there was tension between her and Eubanks. But Eubanks is also known as temperamental. In fact, in Michael Moore’s "Roger & Me," the former host of The Newlywed Game said: "Why don’t Jewish women get AIDS? Because they don’t fuck assholes; they marry them."
Nice guy.
Why was he the one kept in the booth? And how many times did he have to mention his two year old son? We get it Bob, you don’t need Viagra. Translation: Old men can still marry and procreate with hot young women. Old women get sent out to stand in the rain.
I have so many female readers. Does this putting an older woman out to pasture bother you or do you accept it as the way of the world? I overheard two young women at a coffee shop today, and they liked the new female host since she was "prettier and friendlier." I’d like to hear what these two have to say in 40 years.
Today on Blogebrity: Communicatrix Gets to Empty
A little off topic, but… For what it’s worth, I don’t give ten craps about a man’s bank account, but I would NEVER EVER date an overweight man. I’m healthy, and I’m certainly not interested in dating someone who isn’t.
Guys who still think they can let themselves go are quickly learning the world is changing.
As for the parade, I caught a little bit of it during a rebroadcast, and I did actually think that Michaela Pereira was a little off. And I happened to catch the cut to Stephanie Edwards, and I thought in passing, why is that poor woman standing in the rain? It just seemed bad choices. But then, any talking heads just isn’t my thing, be it parades, or news.
Maybe I should throw myself an “I’m not 30 yet party” this year. I take comfort in the warped fantasy that someday successful hot older women (like Demi Moore) will start dumping their loser husbands and start dating young boy toys.
A parade host was replaced by a younger woman? God I love parades but I hate parade hosts.
Because its Los Angeles I’m not surprised. As long as we continue to live our lives through Cosmopolitan magazine and Vanity Fair advertising then we will continue to replace older women with younger, silicon friendly ones.
You guys are missing the bigger issue… the “younger,cuter” woman is MEXICAN and the media is hungry for their dollars.
Lynn, I would buy that if local Spanish station KMEX didn’t already broadcast the parade in Spanish.
Not all Hispanics watch KMEX. I was referring to the English speaking Mexican market base in LA.
Those wanting to see themselves represented in something other than Sabado Gigante. The “new/younger” commentator does not align herself with the Spanish stations, she works for a main stream, English broadcasting, news channel. Obviously she was the station’s “token” Rose Parade commentator. Bob and Stephanie have had that gig for the last 25 years, it’s just a matter of time before one, if not both of them, retire. At that time the “token” will step in, along with another Mexican commentator, and they too will have the job for many years to come. Look around LA, the tide has changed. When people transfer jobs, retire, etc they’re frequently replaced by Mexicans. It’s just a fact of life in LA. Hence the corporate world’s whoring themselves for Mexican dollars.
Neil,
My comment was only based on what I hear from women. They are always commenting on how so and so actor still looks good in his 50s or 60s or even 70s but that the same does not hold for women. Othewise why do they all still think Sean Connery is hot?
Lynn — good point. You’re right.
TWM — We all know how much you love and respect women! As you said, women don’t have as much of a problem with older men, as men (and women) do with middle-aged women. I find it a little odd that the Hollywod solution is for women to “fight back” by dating young men, like I see in some films. Why is the simple solution for women to act as dumb as men? I was actually suggesting that there be more respect for the sensuality of women who are over 35 years old, just like there is for men like Sean Connery.
I am all for respecting the sensuality of women who are over 35 years old. Heck, most of em don’t even become spankable until they are in their 30s.
Hmm, will that get me in trouble too?
One thought that has been in the back of my head when I revisit this post is the fact that Stephanie ALLOWED herself to be demoted!!!
I wonder what the conversation was like when they told her she’d be out in the rain, on the street? And why did she accept it, instead of leaving completely? If they told me they were gonna put me out on the street with an umbrella and a mic after 25 years, I’d have tell them to go f**k themselves.
Or, is it possible that she REQUESTED a demotion?
Neil, why not try to contact Stephanie for an interview to be featured on C of the M? It might be kinda cool.
Older women can be attractive if they make an effort and DO NOT wear tracksuits, sweats and sneakers as everyday garb. Or tight permanents. Or beehives left over from the seventies. Harlequin glasses studded with rhinestones.
Sophia Loren, for instance,is dynamite. Whatever she does, plastic surgery or just clean living, it works for her.
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By the current ads on tv, it looks like Edwards is going to be in the booth this year. Thanks to more plastic surgery.