Huell Howser

Huell Howser
Huell Howser
	Huell Howser at the Nisei Week Grand Parade in 2007
Born	Huell Burnley Howser; October 18, 1945 (age 78); Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Travel show host
Website	www.calgold.com

Huell Burnley Howser (born October 18, 1945) is an American television personality best known for California's Gold, his travel show for the Los Angeles based KCET.

Early career

Howser was born in Gallatin, Tennessee. He received a B.A. in history from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he also served as student body president. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and on the staff of Sen. Howard Baker, Howser's television career began at WSM-TV in Nashville. He began a series of "human interest" stories for WSM. Howser became extremely popular as the host of a popular segment on what was at that time still a market-dominant station, especially with regard to local news. ^{[citation needed]}

After working in New York, he moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to work as a reporter for KCBS-TV. During 1982-83, he also served as weekend host and correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. In 1987 he joined Los Angeles television station KCET, then a PBS affiliate, as a producer of "Videolog", covering short topics including lint.^[1]

California's Gold

California's Gold highlights small towns, landmarks, events or places of interest throughout California which are not well known to the general public, with Howser conducting informal interviews with the locals. Howser received his first name from a portmanteau of his parents' names, Harold and Jewell, as revealed in the California's Gold episode "Smartsville". He also produces derived shows including California's Golden Parks, California's Water, Visiting... with Huell Howser, Our Neighborhoods, The Bench, Road Trip, "California's Golden Fairs," and various specials.

His distinctive style as host of his various travel shows has led to him being impersonated by many different comedians and radio personalities, such as Adam Carolla,^[2] Dana Gould and James Adomian.

Other work

Articles written by Howser have appeared in Westways, the magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California.^[3]

Howser spearheaded a failed effort to save buildings at the Long Beach Naval Station by African-American architect Paul Williams from being demolished.^[4]

Matt Groening has stated he is a fan of Howser,^[5] and has featured him in two episodes of The Simpsons: "There's Something About Marrying", where a character named Howell Huser fell off a turnip truck, and "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?", where the real Howser is presenting a program similar to Marc Summers's Unwrapped television program. Howser received a voice credit for the episode.

In 2011, Howser voiced The Backson in the post-credits scene of Walt Disney Animation Studios's 2011 feature film, "Winnie the Pooh."

Howser was mentioned on Weeds episode 3 season 4 10:57

Political views

Huell rides in a tandem IndyCar racecar at the 2009 Long Beach Gran Prix

Howser revealed his disgust with both major American political parties, as well as his empathy for illegal immigrants, in a 1999 interview with a Riverside County newspaper.^[6]

Howser appeared in the film Who Killed the Electric Car? as he saw a Honda EV+ get shredded.^[7]

Personal life

Howser lives in the historic El Royale Apartments in Los Angeles.^[8] Howser put his unusual three bedroom, three bathroom, Newberry Springs, California, residence (dubbed "The Volcano House") on the market for $750,000.^[9]

Howser mentioned that he is a Methodist during his episode covering the Nevada County Fair on California's Golden Fairs.

References

^ KPCC Offramp 7/6/2011
^ "April 2, 2008 - Mark Walberg and Artie Lange call into the studio; Dana Gould is in the studio". Adam Carolla. April 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
^ Road Trip with Huell Howser articles in Westways Magazine (outside Southern California: enter zip code 90210 to access articles)
^ "Long Beach Naval Station Falls: Court throws-out celebrity appeal"
^ Lloyd, Robert (26 July 2009). "The wonder and awe that make up Huell Howser". Los Angeles Times.
^ 1999 Interview from The Press-Enterprise
^ Chris Paine (2006). "Who Killed the Electric Car?". Plinyminor / Sony Pictures Classics.
^ "This is Amazing!". Los Angeles Magazine. 2003-11. Retrieved 22 November 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "The Volcano House - 50451 Silver Valley Rd., Newberry Springs, CA 92365 - Listing # 09-401249". 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2011-12-20.

External links

Huell Howser at IMDb
Huell Howser Productions
Huell's Interactive L.A. from the KCET website
Huell Howser - California's Dreamer, from the KVIE website
PBS host Huell Howser on life, death and an unscheduled visit with ‘The Simpsons’
Lunch With Huell Q&A with Huell Howser by Aaron Proctor in the Pasadena Weekly August 20, 2008.

Template:Persondata

This article about an American actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] KPCC Offramp 7/6/2011

[2] "April 2, 2008 - Mark Walberg and Artie Lange call into the studio; Dana Gould is in the studio". Adam Carolla. April 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.

[3] Road Trip with Huell Howser articles in Westways Magazine (outside Southern California: enter zip code 90210 to access articles)

[4] "Long Beach Naval Station Falls: Court throws-out celebrity appeal"

[latimes-howser-5] Lloyd, Robert (26 July 2009). "The wonder and awe that make up Huell Howser". Los Angeles Times.

[6] 1999 Interview from The Press-Enterprise

[WKTEC-7] Chris Paine (2006). "Who Killed the Electric Car?". Plinyminor / Sony Pictures Classics.

[8] "This is Amazing!". Los Angeles Magazine. 2003-11. Retrieved 22 November 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[9] "The Volcano House - 50451 Silver Valley Rd., Newberry Springs, CA 92365 - Listing # 09-401249". 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2011-12-20.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]