Stephanie Edwards

Host / Journalist


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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.'"

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Stephanie Edwards on mentor and television journalist/host, Ralph Story - "you should talk for a living"
02:20
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
01:49
Stephanie Edwards on her on-air chemistry with Ralph Story
01:02
Stephanie Edwards on newsman Peter Jennings telling her to save A.M. America
01:02
Stephanie Edwards on her interview style on Everyday
00:56
Full Interview

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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

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Stephanie Edwards on hosting the ill-fated A.M. America in New York
17:18

AM Los Angeles

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Stephanie Edwards on co-hosting AM Los Angeles
18:14

Everyday

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Stephanie Edwards on doing Everyday in 1978 and learning how to handle her migraines
02:20
Stephanie Edwards on how much she enjoyed working on Everyday
09:29

Girl With Something Extra, The

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Stephanie Edwards on her regular role on Girl With Something Extra
01:01

Good Morning America

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Stephanie Edwards on A.M. America's replacement, Good Morning America
02:21

Love, American Style

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Stephanie Edwards on her acting role on Love, American Style
00:53

Marcus Welby, M.D.

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Stephanie Edwards on her acting role on Marcus Welby, M.D.
00:53

Saturday Night Live

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Stephanie Edwards on Betty White's 2010 performance on Saturday Night Live
00:47

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The

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Stephanie Edwards on her appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
02:27

Tournament of Roses Parade

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Stephanie Edwards on becoming host of The Tournament of Roses Parade
33:09
Stephanie Edwards on her favorite memories of The Tournament of Roses Parade
01:54
Topics

9/11

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Stephanie Edwards on the 2002 Tournament of Roses Parade  - the first after 9/11
01:11

Emmy Awards

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Stephanie Edwards on being nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Everyday with John Bennett Perry 
02:30

Representation on Television

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Stephanie Edwards on gender discrimination she see's in the business
00:53

Women

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Stephanie Edwards on gender discrimination she see's in the business
00:53
Professions

Actress

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Stephanie Edwards on wanting to be an actress, but having trouble with competition
00:35

Hosts

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Stephanie Edwards on her strengths as a host 
01:58
Stephanie Edwards on interviewing and hosting
02:08
Stephanie Edwards on her interview style on Everyday
00:56

Interviewer

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Stephanie Edwards on her strengths as a host 
01:58
Stephanie Edwards on interviewing and hosting
02:08
Stephanie Edwards on her interview style on Everyday
00:56

Performers

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Stephanie Edwards on wanting to be an actress, but having trouble with competition
00:35
Genres

Talk Shows

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Stephanie Edwards on hosting the ill-fated A.M. America in New York
17:18
Stephanie Edwards on Everyday
09:29
People

Betty White

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Stephanie Edwards on Betty White's 2010 performance on Saturday Night Live
00:47

Bob Eubanks

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Stephanie Edwards on auditioning for The Tournament of Roses Parade with Bob Eubanks
13:18
Stephanie Edwards on Bob Eubanks notes to her and his practical jokes
02:39

Chuck Barris

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Stephanie Edwards on the best career advice she ever received -- from Chuck Barris
02:14

George C. Scott

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Stephanie Edwards on meeting George C. Scott on The Fortune
01:00

Joan Lunden

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Stephanie Edwards on Joan Lunden's reign on Good Morning America
00:43

John Bennett Perry

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Stephanie Edwards on co-hosting Everyday with John Bennett Perry
09:29

John Wayne

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Stephanie Edwards on interviewing John Wayne
00:35

Johnny Carson

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Stephanie Edwards on her appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
02:27

Mary Hart

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Stephanie Edwards on Mary Hart as co-host of The Tournament of Roses Parade
00:35

Matthew Perry

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Stephanie Edwards on co-host John Bennett Perry's precocious son, Matthew
00:40

Peter Jennings

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Stephanie Edwards on newsman Peter Jennings telling her to save A.M. America - use your power as a woman
02:28
Stephanie Edwards on the ego of newsman Peter Jennings 
01:31

Ralph Story

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Stephanie Edwards on mentor and television journalist/host, Ralph Story
02:20
Stephanie Edwards on mentor and television journalist/host, Ralph Story
15:03
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
02:46
Stephanie Edwards on keeping in touch with mentor Ralph Story
00:48

Suzanne Somers

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Stephanie Edwards on how Suzanne Somers taught her to take makeup off
00:09

Tennessee Williams

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Stephanie Edwards on interviewing Tennessee Williams
01:12

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