About
"It was kind of like hearing my eulogy without having to die. When I was absent from the (Tournament of Roses) parade, viewers had written and called in and said, 'you know Bob and Stephanie are meat and potatoes; they are also a part of the tradition. If you'd fired both of them, we'd understand, they're both getting on in years. We understand that things have to move, but you fired one of them, and you fired the girl, what's up with that?' Management recognized that the audience had a stake in this, and to their credit and my amazement they called and said, 'We've decided you've got a few good miles left in you. We'd like you to come back.'"
In her nearly three-hour interview, Stephanie Edwards discusses her childhood in Minnesota and her intermittent success with acting upon moving west to Los Angeles. She recounts how journalist Ralph Story changed her life by advising her to "talk for a living" and appointing her co-host of his local L.A. talk show, Ralph Story's A.M. Edwards tells of her short-lived role as co-host of the ABC daytime morning show A.M. America in New York City, and comments on her dissatisfaction with the program and her subsequent return to Los Angeles to co-host Everyday with John Bennett Perry. She recalls her 18-year reign as spokesperson for Lucky Supermarkets and details her nearly 30 years as co-host of the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. Edwards explains behind-the-scenes details about the parade, touches on co-host Bob Eubanks' love of practical jokes, and shares tales of her favorite Grand Marshalls: Sully Sullenberger and Kermit the Frog. Joetta Di Bella conducted the interview on July 20, 2010 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Stephanie Edwards on mentor and television journalist/host, Ralph Story - "you should talk for a living"
Stephanie Edwards on her favorite memory of The Tournament of Roses parade - people get to start over each January 1st and are full of hope
Stephanie Edwards on her on-air chemistry with Ralph Story
Stephanie Edwards on newsman Peter Jennings telling her to save A.M. America
Stephanie Edwards on her interview style on Everyday
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on moving to Los Angeles
On her first acting jobs in Los Angeles; on being mentored by reporter Ralph Story; on the end of her first marriage and the beginning of her second
On interviewing; on her start as morning show co-host with Ralph Story; on hosting the ill-fated A.M. America in New York
On her next morning show in L.A. and becoming spokeswoman for Lucky Supermarkets
On being unhappy in New York and her disastrous experience on A.M. America
Chapter 2
On A.M. America's replacement by Good Morning America; on managing her migraines; on how much she enjoyed doing the program Everyday; on the death of her sister
On her acting roles in Love, American Style and Marcus Welby, M.D.; on her role as spokesperson for Lucky supermarkets
On becoming co-host of The Tournament of Roses parade on KTLA; on being fired and re-hired from hosting the parade; on the 2002 parade - the first after 9/11; on Sully Sullenberger serving as Grand Marshall of the 2009 parade
Chapter 3
On her favorite memories of The Tournament of Roses Parade; on the best career advice she ever received -- from Chuck Barris; on her current career goals and interests
On age and gender discrimination; on her proudest achievement; on advice to aspiring hosts and how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
A.M. America
Stephanie Edwards on hosting the ill-fated A.M. America in New York
AM Los Angeles
Stephanie Edwards on co-hosting AM Los Angeles
Everyday
Stephanie Edwards on doing Everyday in 1978 and learning how to handle her migraines
Stephanie Edwards on how much she enjoyed working on Everyday
Girl With Something Extra, The
Stephanie Edwards on her regular role on Girl With Something Extra
Good Morning America
Stephanie Edwards on A.M. America's replacement, Good Morning America
Love, American Style
Stephanie Edwards on her acting role on Love, American Style
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Stephanie Edwards on her acting role on Marcus Welby, M.D.
Saturday Night Live
Stephanie Edwards on Betty White's 2010 performance on Saturday Night Live
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Stephanie Edwards on her appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tournament of Roses Parade
Stephanie Edwards on becoming host of The Tournament of Roses Parade
Stephanie Edwards on her favorite memories of The Tournament of Roses Parade
Topics
9/11
Stephanie Edwards on the 2002 Tournament of Roses Parade - the first after 9/11
Emmy Awards
Stephanie Edwards on being nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Everyday with John Bennett Perry
Representation on Television
Stephanie Edwards on gender discrimination she see's in the business
Women
Stephanie Edwards on gender discrimination she see's in the business
Professions
Actress
Stephanie Edwards on wanting to be an actress, but having trouble with competition
Hosts
Stephanie Edwards on her strengths as a host
Stephanie Edwards on interviewing and hosting
Stephanie Edwards on her interview style on Everyday
Interviewer
Stephanie Edwards on her strengths as a host
Stephanie Edwards on interviewing and hosting
Stephanie Edwards on her interview style on Everyday
Performers
Stephanie Edwards on wanting to be an actress, but having trouble with competition
Genres
Talk Shows
Stephanie Edwards on hosting the ill-fated A.M. America in New York
Stephanie Edwards on Everyday
People
Chuck Barris
Stephanie Edwards on the best career advice she ever received -- from Chuck Barris
Johnny Carson
Stephanie Edwards on her appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Bob Eubanks
Stephanie Edwards on auditioning for The Tournament of Roses Parade with Bob Eubanks
Stephanie Edwards on Bob Eubanks notes to her and his practical jokes
Mary Hart
Stephanie Edwards on Mary Hart as co-host of The Tournament of Roses Parade
Peter Jennings
Stephanie Edwards on newsman Peter Jennings telling her to save A.M. America - use your power as a woman
Stephanie Edwards on the ego of newsman Peter Jennings
Joan Lunden
Stephanie Edwards on Joan Lunden's reign on Good Morning America
Matthew Perry
Stephanie Edwards on co-host John Bennett Perry's precocious son, Matthew
John Bennett Perry
Stephanie Edwards on co-hosting Everyday with John Bennett Perry
George C. Scott
Stephanie Edwards on meeting George C. Scott on The Fortune
Suzanne Somers
Stephanie Edwards on how Suzanne Somers taught her to take makeup off
Ralph Story
Stephanie Edwards on mentor and television journalist/host, Ralph Story
Stephanie Edwards on mentor and television journalist/host, Ralph Story
Stephanie Edwards on Ralph Story not being asked to be a part of A.M. America - a national show based on Story's local program
Stephanie Edwards on keeping in touch with mentor Ralph Story
John Wayne
Stephanie Edwards on interviewing John Wayne
Betty White
Stephanie Edwards on Betty White's 2010 performance on Saturday Night Live
Tennessee Williams
Stephanie Edwards on interviewing Tennessee Williams