Thanks to Paramount's centennial float in the parade with 50+ million TV viewers, much of planet Sol III got to see once again the Big E in all its JJ-verse incarnation glory, atop a bevy of other studio icons.
It's a tradition that all Rose Parade floats are parked nearby for another full day after the parade so that locals and tourists alike can give them another once-over in a carnival-like atmosphere. In 17 years I'd never gone over to see, so what better time than now?
Kudos to Paramount's team for the design choices: between Bumblebee from Transformers, the Greased Lightning car from Grease, the iconic old Bronson Gate, and even the Hollywood sign, much less the Enterprise), this parked float a day later was even hotter than most for posed pics and camera hounds of all ages. Even though Paramount didn't win a formal prize trophy, I heard more than one passer-by mutter, "Oh—this was my favorite!" And then patinetly waitd for a spot to get their picture snapped.
So here's a little more sights, sounds and info for you guys living a tad too far from Pasadena to make the drive:
Thanks also to the kind mom who snapped my pic for posterity and sent me the best chat of the day my way, courtesy her son. Her 3-three-year old was already thrilled to see the 20-foot Bumblebee:
HIM: "I have all the Bumblebee toys."
ME: "Cool. See the Enterprise? I have all the *Enterprise* toys."
HIM: (Eyeballs me a second) I want to come to YOUR house."
Note that this was not the first Enterprise to grace the Rose Parade: in 1992, Paramount had a giant solo 1701 all by itself (via crane) and honor Star Trek's 25th anniversary season—and only a couple months after Gene's death, too.
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