Palisades Co-Honorary Mayors Rice and McGinley Ride in Rose Parade

Co-honorary Palisades Mayors Ted McGinley and Gigi Rice will ride in the Rose Parade on the Shrinking float.

The Rose Parade, perhaps one of the most iconic parades in California, if not the United States, will wind its way through Pasadena on January 1. This year Palisades co-honorary mayors Gigi Rice and Ted McGinley will be aboard the “Shrinking” float.

McGinley is one of the stars of Apple TV’s Emmy-nominated comedy, “Shrinking,” which is filmed in Pasadena, starring Jason Segel as a grieving therapist and Harrison Ford as a fellow therapist diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

CTN reached out to McGinley to ask if he or Rice had ever been in this parade before. Neither had, and McGinley said that Gigi, an Ohio native and who graduated from Ohio State University, was debating whether to wear her Ohio State gear. (Ohio is the #2 seed and will play the #10 seed Miami in a college football playoff on New Year’s Eve at AT&T Stadium.)

“Gigi’s mom woke up early New Year’s Day and watched that parade as long as she can remember,” McGinley said. Those of us who grew up in the Midwest remember the snowy and cold New Year’s Days and the joy watching the beautiful floats filled with flowers on television.

McGinley’s mom, Emily Martin, an Altadena resident, who passed away on her 75^th Wedding Anniversary a few weeks ago on December 15, was supposed to be in the parade in 1948.

A college student, she had been selected as the queen of the Altadena Rose Float but was injured in a serious car accident on New Year’s Eve and instead spent weeks recovering in a hospital..

“We are both honoring our mothers by being in the parade and we’re very excited about it,” McGinley said.

Emily Martin was supposed to be a Rose Queen, but was injured in a car accident on New Year’s Eve.

Asked if the couple had a New Year’s message for Palisades residents who are either already back or waiting for their homes to be remediated or are in construction, the couple said “We must do this together, we need to stay strong, share information, and above all be kind to each other, support each other, look out for each other and make room for each other.

“At the end of this journey, we know we will all be different, but perhaps we will be better. Like the Phoenix, we will rise from the ashes…together,” Rice and McGinley said.  “Our family, can’t wait to once again have a gathering place for our family and friends during the holidays, and frankly, every day.

“We are hopeful, that we will joyfully walk the streets of our neighborhood, passing new markets, churches, and schools – where we can see children and old folks side by side at the library and parks or sitting in front of a cafe or restaurant.

“We will do this…let’s try to do it together, reimagined, shaped by understanding, respect and kindness,” they said.

The Shrinking float, which is number 48 in the lineup is described in the program. “Pasadena residents and visitors may recognize the Colorado Street Bridge, the Civic Center fountain, Craftsman-style bungalow, vintage streetlights and other scenes featured on this float, which celebrates Apple TV’s Emmy-nominated comedy, “Shrinking.” This is the first Rose Parade entry from Apple TV and is 16 feet, 6 inches high, 18 feet wide and 55 feet in length, covered by 17,505 flowers.