You woulda had to be a real Grinch not to get caught up in the holiday spirit at Hollywood's Santa Parade Sunday night, being held for the 76th time along the streets of Tinseltown.

Bob Barker, recently retired host of "The Price Is Right," brought some much-needed star power to the event which had been canceled the Chamber of Commerce then revived three months ago by the city of Los Angeles.

"I was delighted when the city of Los Angeles stepped in and saved the parade," Barker said before the start of the event. "The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce did all they could but they couldn't handle it financially. This gives us an opportunity to continue a true tradition. It gives us an opportunity to invite people from every community, all colors...to join together, to have fun together and together, with one voice, acknowledge that Hollywood is indeed, the entertainment capital of the world."

Barker was joined on the parade route by "Ugly Betty" star Tony Plana, Fred Willard, Dick Van Patten, a number of soap stars, and young performers from various Disney Channel and Nickelodeon shows and a float with firefighters from various Southern California companies.
B efore the celebs took their places in the parade, I chatted with a number of them - whether I'd heard of them or not!

"This is my first time in the parade," said Daniel Curtis Lee, one of the stars of "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide." "A couple of my castmates had done if before but I was busy in Mississipi for the holidays. It's a great atmosphere."

Rip Taylor, who I have heard of, was telling jokes left and right: "On behalf of Bob, I had my hair neutered today," said the famously wigged comedian who came armed with his trademark confetti in his pocket.

I wanted to know what brings Rip back year after year to this parade: "Cash!" he said, without skipping a beat. "No, no. We don';t get paid for it. We love to do it for the fans, for the city. The kids scream at me and I yell back the little [expletives]. They know me from 'Zach and Cody' and from 'Jackass.' I'm still there, I'm still workin'."

"When I first moved her, I would being my daughter up to Hollywood Boulevard, she would sit on my shoulders and watch the parade. She's grown up now and today my grandson will be in the car with me. Everyone was so upset when we thought there wasn't going to be a Christmas parade....It's so festive and so much fun. Now it's back and it should go on forever."

Plana had previously participated in the parade when he was a member of the cast of Showtime's "Rescurrection Blvd." and said "I love it because it's a local parade, it's a community parade and most of the people who come to this parade to watch it are Latinos because they live in this area som it's a great connect for me to be able to represent Latinos on television and Latinos in the audience. They love our show."

He said the cast of "Ugly Betty" will be filming episodes until Dec. 6 bringing the season's total to 13 which could be it unless the writers strike is resolved soon. Negotiations are expected to resume today.
"We're hoping that it will be resolved soon so we can go back and finish this wonderful season that we have planned," the actor said.

Kevin Chapman of Showtime's "Brotherhood" had been to the parade the last few years with his wife and kids as a spectator.
"I was just in the crowd, enjoying the parade," he said. "When I was asked to participate this year, it was a slam dunk. It's a really great thing for the community to get everyone together and gets you in the holiday spirit."

Melody Thomas Scott, Nikki Newman on the daytime soap "The Young and the Restless" for 28 years, was riding in the parade for the first time but as a child, she was a regular along the parade route.
"When I was 4,5,6,7,8,9,10, I was at the corner of Chuenga and Hollywood every year," she said. "If someone had told me that I'd grow up and be famous enough to be asked to be to be in the parade, I would not have believed it. It's very exciting to be here."

Scott's co-star, Don Diamont, was among those from the soap riding together. He has played Brad Carlton on the show for 20 years and in 2000, was one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.

"I grew up watching the Hollywood Christmas Parade, I never missed it," he said. "Melody called and asked me if I would join her in her car and I jumped at the chance."