JUST ANOTHER DAY IN LA LA LAND WITH THE ROSE QUEEN AND COURT

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, LOS ANGELES IS A VERY YOUNG CITY. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TRADITIONS. WE HAVE HOLLYWOOD, BUT THAT'S A REPUTATION, NOT A TRADITION. THERE IS NO RUNNING OF THE BULLS, NO BOXING DAY...NOTHING. BUT EVERY YEAR, ON JANUARY 1ST I REALIZE THAT THE PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE IS OUR GREATEST (IF NOT ONLY) TRADITION. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY WITH A GORGEOUS SKY AND A BALMY TEMPERATURE. MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WATCH IT ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND MORE WANT TO COME HERE. I LOVE THE TOURNAMENT AND ALL THAT IT REPRESENTS. I ALSO LOVE WHEN USC IS IN THE ROSE BOWL, BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

AN  ANNUAL TOURNAMENT OF ROSES LUNCHEON WAS HELD AT A PRIVATE CLUB TODAY honoring the Rose Queen and Court. It is the 125th anniversary of the Rose Parade and the 100th anniversary of Tournament House in Pasadena, AND the Rose Bowl. It is a pleasure getting to know the queen and princesses. Each year we meet bright, industrious high-school age girls who want to make the world better. This year was simply the Best Court Ever. They are known as the BCE. Each young lady is truly joyous and funny and very individual. The Queen, Ana Acosta, is going to be a neurosurgeon--and, no, that is not a joke like the Miss America Pageant. She will be.

Queen Ana Acosta

No matter how beautiful the weather is, when those girls get to the parade at 5 am, it is freezing. All along the parade route they are on their float with exposed arms and necklines. Last year the dresses were short. "I'm so glad they're going to be long this year," said Queen Ana. "I am wearing two sets of long johns underneath and UGG boots, and so is everyone else."    

Stephanie Edwards, the Queen of KTLA, is synonymous with the Rose Parade. If I don't see her smiling face on Jan. 1, all is not right with the world. She is a masterful host.

KTLA'S Stephanie Edwards (in white) with Queen, Curt and me.

Tournament President Scott Jenkins has been a volunteer for 32 years and he finally made it to the top. "I had the privilege of picking the theme and the grand marshall," said Scott. "Dreams Come True with Grand Marshall Vin Scully is just perfect."

Scott Jenkins