Bob Eubanks

Television viewers who find themselves touched with the holiday spirit of giving will find several opportunities to dip into their pockets this weekend. Public television station KCET Channel 28 kicks off a nine-day pledge drive today with a wealth of programs fitting this year's theme, "Your Home for the Holidays." This evening's lineup includes the work and music of Lawrence Welk (6:30 p.m.), Bing Crosby (8 p.m.) and Irving Berlin (9:30 p.m.).

It was with great sadness and disappointment that I read "900-Services Sales Pitch Jilts Some Investors" (March 9). This article is a perfect example of the media taking the truth and bending it to fit its particular point of view regardless of how it affects those involved. The article stated the truth about my lack of involvement other than being a hired announcer to explain a product. Unfortunately, however, it then tainted the fact and actually made me out to be guilty by inference.

Hollywood's annual Christmas Parade tops a weekend best-suited for leftovers and football. Tony Danza, who recently notched a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is the grand marshal of the 57th parade, which will be covered live by Channel 5 at 6 p.m. Sunday. Bob Eubanks and Lee Meriwether will call the action. Two cable programs of note also hit the small screen Sunday.

There'll be no rain on the upcoming Tournament of Roses Parade for former KTLA-TV Channel 5 host Stephanie Edwards -- at least not figuratively. Edwards, the veteran broadcaster who was removed from the station's coverage of the New Year's Day event two years ago after co-hosting for more than 25 years, will return to her familiar role on Jan. 1, station executives said Tuesday. "The people at the station thought it was a great idea, and Stephanie thought it was a great idea," said station spokesman Paul Nichols.

Pacific Sports Holdings in Westlake Village announced that its subsidiary, SouthBay Golf Inc., has named Jamie Farr and Bob Eubanks as spokesmen for Head Golf equipment. SouthBay Golf is the exclusive distributor of Head Golf equipment and accessories. Farr, best known for his 11-year run on the "M*A*S*H" television series, was one of the founders of the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic LPGA Golf Tournament, which concluded Sunday at the Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.

Today's an especially big day for football bowl games, but what about those who love a parade? At 8 a.m., the TV networks and local stations both will serve up live coverage of the 100th "Tournament of Roses Parade" from Pasadena. The grand marshal is Shirley Temple Black, who also presided over the event 50 years ago in 1939 when she was a child star.

1995 has begun with a whimper: Chasen's is closing; the Rams moved to St. Louis; Orange County is going bust; the Dodgers are in limbo; Hollywood Boulevard is sinking; Los Angeles lost out on federal funds for empowerment zones; the city remains dusted with the psychic ash of recent floods, fires, quakes and civil disturbances, and the O.J. Simpson trial is a viscous fog that enervates even as it entices. Los Angeles needs a lift. But what--or who--will provide it? Bill Clinton? Richard Riordan?

The bloom is back on the Tournament of Roses Parade for veteran television host Stephanie Edwards. The red-haired personality said she is thrilled to be back in the KTLA-TV broadcast booth for this year's New Year's Day parade, especially after being demoted in 2005, then later dropped from the coverage team altogether, after more than 25 years. Edwards will be reunited with co-host Bob Eubanks at the annual Pasadena event, KTLA executives announced Tuesday.