BajaNomad

Huell Howser

tripledigitken - 2-10-2009 at 05:30 PM

What do you think of ole Huell?

DianaT - 2-10-2009 at 05:45 PM

Decided to move this post from the other thread to here.

To me, Huell Howser is of the Lawrence Welk of adventure shows.

Lawrence, during the 5 minutes I stall when surfing, does bring back good memories of Sundays at Grandmas--and it is consistent---always mediorce, but obviously has a following.

Sometimes I will watch some of Huell with some interest in where he is, but again, it is consistent and mediorce, and does have a following.

Then again, sometimes I will watch some of Rick Steves to see where he is, and he gives a new meaning to monotone and boring.

So while I pledge to PBS for other shows, I am sure some pledge for these three----maybe the variety is what keeps it going----just speculating.

Diane

woody with a view - 2-10-2009 at 05:49 PM

he's a goof ball. but he sure has a cool gig.

Natalie Ann - 2-10-2009 at 05:58 PM

Ooooohhhh, I hope Ferna see's this.... good ol' Huell is a favorite of his.

I find Huell ok so long as I listen with the sound off and subtitles on. Ever notice how someone sez.... so it's a warm day.... and then Huell sez.... you're saying this is a warm day here?;D

Nena

Timo1 - 2-10-2009 at 06:05 PM

never heard of the guy

Ditto.

BMG - 2-10-2009 at 06:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Timo1
never heard of the guy

ditto

desertcpl - 2-10-2009 at 06:26 PM

DanO - 2-10-2009 at 06:31 PM

I think he's a comedian doing a very elaborate, completely immersed character that hosts a documentary show, like Andy Kaufman did with his lounge singer character Tony Clifton or like Sasha Baron Cohen did with his talk show host character Ali G. The actual content he's presenting is irrelevant, really. The total doofus act (there's a hilarious one where he is completely blown away by the fact that the water in a river comes from the upstream tributaries) and the dorky phrases like "isn't that aMAZing" in the Tennessee drawl just crack me up. Of course, my wife thinks I'm a lunatic and just walks out of the room shaking her head whenever I put Howser's show on.

BajaWarrior - 2-10-2009 at 06:36 PM

DanO,

Andy Kaufman? Yea, turned Andy Griffith!

I still want his job though, he gets to see some cool attractions.

BW

Timo1 - 2-10-2009 at 06:42 PM

I want my brother's job....he wrote a book and was on Good Morning America today
got to meet annie lennox

BMG - 2-10-2009 at 06:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DanO
Of course, my wife thinks I'm a lunatic and just walks out of the room shaking her head whenever I put Howser's show on.
Kinda like the 3 Stooges?

oladulce - 2-10-2009 at 06:45 PM

"WAOOOW" !. I wonder how many times he says that per episode?

It cracked me up when he talked to his camera man Louie as they walked along-

"Oh Louie, you gotta see this."
"Louie loves menudo, don't you Louie?"
"Watch out for that hunerd foot drop down the abandonded mine shaft Louie"

...yet we never saw Louie??? Hmmm....

But I loved the show where he reunited the frail, elderly man with the elephant he hadn't seen for 20 years after they both retired from the circus. The former trainer called her name and she raised her trunk up towards him and nearly knocked him down as she ran over to him. Very heartwarming, and not much talking by Huell on that one.

David K - 2-10-2009 at 06:49 PM

One of Huell's guest stars for an entire episode was Max Kurillo who is the authority on the El Camino Real bells... has quite the collection at his home, too!

Here is Max talking with AwfulArt and Alice:





[Edited on 2-11-2009 by David K]

BajaWarrior - 2-10-2009 at 06:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
One of Huell's guest stars for an entire episode was Max Kurillo who is the authority on the El Camino Real bells... has quite the collection at his home, too!

Here is Max talking with Aweful Art and Alice:



[Edited on 2-11-2009 by David K]


I saw that episode David, then noticed I have a bell near my home on MissionBay Drive at the entrance to Fiesta Island.

Alan - 2-10-2009 at 06:55 PM

Probably could be a pretty good show if you turn off the volume. I can't understand why he has the need to repeat every single thing someone says. You'd think he must have been a translator in an earlier life. It got so irritating I just had to quit watching which was really a shame since road trips are my favorite pastime.

David K - 2-10-2009 at 06:59 PM

Where else will you get this kind of information (except in an episode of Cheers with Cliff)?:

>>>Next is a stop at the Livermore Fire Department to see the 107 (and counting) year old lightbulb. Learn how and why this bulb has been burning nonstop for over 100 years. You can even see it yourself on the webcam: http://www.centennialbulb.org/cam.htm <<<

Come on folks... it's good clean fun... lighten up and smile!:light:

Mexitron - 2-10-2009 at 07:37 PM

You're right DK--I actually kinda miss seeing one of his shows every now and then.....

Paulina - 2-10-2009 at 07:47 PM

We're fans. We even bought his dvd on his visit to San Ignacio.

BajaNomad - 2-10-2009 at 08:01 PM

I heard scuttlebutt this week that there's contact with Huell to return to Ensenada to do a follow-up on the SS Catalina. He'd come down to do a show on it about 6-8 (?) years ago.

CaboRon - 2-10-2009 at 08:15 PM

I think he is a jerk/jock however he has turned me on to many interesting places that I have subsequently visited.

CaboRon

Hook - 2-10-2009 at 08:50 PM

I just knew he was "strange". wink-wink

BornFisher - 2-10-2009 at 09:55 PM

Huell (wink) is great!
I love travel shows and have been watching his (California`s Gold) for years. Hey remember that rendition of "Calif Here I Come" played on the fiddle? His show has taught me a lot. I remember finding a motel in Paso Robbles and flashed on a scene from Huell. I asked the bar maid "has anyone rode a horse up that staircase?" She said yes and pointed to a newspaper article hanging on the wall. Thanks Huell.
His show on the whales in San Ignacio was great as was his show about the Okies who migrated to Bakersfield during the dust bowl years.
One measure of Huells` success is how, after years doing the show, he is recognized everywhere he goes, and how people greet him with the same humor and energy he has.
BTW I`m straight!!

Skipjack Joe - 2-10-2009 at 10:09 PM

He's mediocre at what he does. Ralph Story did it before Howser and did it better. And neither of them was as good as Charles Kuralt.

Stickers - 2-10-2009 at 10:11 PM

"golleeeeee look over there Louie"

You guys have got him pegged. The only show on T.V. that can get ratings looking at a pine tree.

Truly a mamas boy but he always flashed those big biceps at the camera trying to impress someone who likes big biceps.;):yes:

vacaenbaja - 2-10-2009 at 11:00 PM

A friend of mine was at a bar when he walks in introducing himself to anyone that would listen. When he came up to my friend who happens to be a gym rat ol Huell grabs his bicep
and exclaims " My those are biguns!" "Y' all come here often?" He held on to them wayyy too long.....
Ever after we make fun of our friend and his encounter.
All that aside I really enjoy his presentations on the ineresting parts of our state. I believe he makes the same or more money than most news anchors. I also think that he is an ex marine. Siemper fi

I always get a kick...

Mexray - 2-10-2009 at 11:05 PM

...out of the way Huell sticks his microphone in front of some unsuspecting passer by to ask one of his silly questions..."Is that one of Mama's Buritos, you're eating?" - while they are standing inside Mamas cafe...!

Some of the off-beat places he finds are part of the 'charm' of his outings...even with his 'Amazing' proclamations. I guess we'd never know about some of these places without Huell's corn-ball like presentations...Hey, let's admit it, there's a bit of 'corn-ball' in all of us, right?

David, we lived in Livermore for almost 20 years...it's always been a joke amongst my old neighborhood buddies, to tie one on and wander down to see if 'the Light bulb' was still burning!...Not much to do in Livermore, in those days! :lol:

Huell came to Stockton a few years ago to do his 'thing'...did a bit about the river, etc., and must have found the right 'guide', as they steered him into our favorite breakfast place in town, 'Chucks', where they serve you more artery clogging food than you can handle!

Huell does what we like to do when visiting a new place...stop and ask the locals where the best places are to eat and places to see, etc...Guide books be damned, strike up a conversation with a local, and they will usually give you the best info!

Bob H - 2-11-2009 at 12:10 AM

I totally agree with Mexray! He takes you to places you never would have ever thought about. And he will ask questions you would never think of... sticking that microphone in someones face that is just a nobody, or a somebody in town. I like his style and it's different. How many of you would love to have the same JOB, huh?
Bob H

Bajahowodd - 2-11-2009 at 12:17 AM

Tennessee's gain was our loss. Can't argue with the idea that he has brought many of us to people and places of interest. But, if only he wasn't so obnoxious. To the previous posters using the "wink"- why do you think he left Nashville for New York and then LA? Twenty some-odd years ago, it was the right decision. And Huell was in the Navy. Sorry Marines.

BajaGuera - 2-11-2009 at 07:56 AM

I was one of those folks he stuck his microphone at when he did the Camp-Tecate Railroad show. We were in the same car with him riding down and got to watch him do his stuff. Later in the plaza I was buying some trinket and all of the sudden here's the big mike and big video camera in my face - "that sure is pretty" he started "How did you know to buy that?" I froze so obviously ended up on the cutting room floor.

Bob H - 2-11-2009 at 08:53 AM

His 'cornyness' is appealing - a harmless interviewer with questions you would never expect to hear. It's what has made him famous along with the subject matter all over California. His candid approach is another factor.
Bob H

Bob H - 2-11-2009 at 09:07 AM

More on Heuell....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huell_Howser

tripledigitken - 2-11-2009 at 09:18 AM

It's interesting even his biggest detractors here obviously have watched more than a few shows.:lol:

No getting around it he provides usefull information, in spite of his unusual delivery.:smug:

My two favorite shows.

The whale trip to San Ignacio

The Bakersfield show all about the Basque restaurants in that city. (A must stop for us when traveling through Bakersfield)

Ken

Bob H - 2-11-2009 at 09:18 AM

Classic Heuell Howser clip... on the Golden Gate Bridge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x32g5GOjU8

Bob H

HH is ok

XRPhlang - 2-11-2009 at 09:27 AM

I spent almost an hour talking to him one night at the counter of my cafe. He was staying at the motel adjacent and came in for a late meal. He was in town (San Luis Obispo) shooting the story about the butterfly trees in Grover Beach. He struck me as a very regular guy, nothing like the guy you see on TV that tries to make the smallest things interesting. I agree with Woody in Ob in that he has a great gig.

My claim to fame here is that night I gave him the idea to do the story about the old Helms Bakery and their cool vending trucks that we would buy cream puffs from in LA . Huell, if you read this I'm still waiting for my check for that. :lol:

wilderone - 2-11-2009 at 09:29 AM

"Huell Howser is of the Lawrence Welk of adventure shows." LOL !!

I think the content of the programs are great, but he needs to speed it up somehow. You suffer through inane conversation to eventually learn a nugget of information.
You mean to tell me ....

David K - 2-11-2009 at 09:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob H
Classic Heuell Howser clip... on the Golden Gate Bridge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x32g5GOjU8

Bob H


Great Bob! There's a ton more... For the Nomads... here is Huell at the border making repeated illegal crossings after the officer told him it was a violation!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBb2p8GHlnE&NR=1

and this Huell impersonator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaNpfYlLA4A&NR=1

[Edited on 2-11-2009 by David K]

DianaT - 2-11-2009 at 09:46 AM

OK, I still think Huell is the Lawrence Welk of adventure shows, but he does go to some interesting places, but now after XRPhlang's post I am having a serious problem---

I am craving a butterfly shaped cinnamon crisp and can't find the Helm's Bakery Truck! Loved that truck.

Diane

[Edited on 2-11-2009 by jdtrotter]

Love the Shows, BUT.....................

MrBillM - 2-11-2009 at 11:00 AM

I love the format, but I don't really care for HH. His loud and goofy style suffers from comparison with the originator of the genre, Ralph Story.

I doubt that ANYONE who had the pleasure of watching Ralph Story's Los Angeles on CBS-Los Angeles (KNXT) or seeing him later on PBS would compare Huell favorably.

For those who have never seen Ralph Story and enjoy seeing a PRO at work, I would recommend his two-part PBS series "Things that aren't here anymore" and "More Things that aren't here anymore" devoted to iconic L.A. area places and people from the past. It is available for purchase from PBS OR do what I did and copy it when it's on a PBS station. Unfortunately, they only seem to show it during Pledge Breaks so there are a LOT of interruptions.

The Sculpin - 2-11-2009 at 11:37 AM

HH is one of a kind. That show will always bring a smile to my face. Don't remember where he was, but he grabbed a moose hair, and was summarily scolded by the park ranger - it was a running gag the whole show.
Now if he could get together with Ken Kramer (About San Diego)....

Bajahowodd - 2-11-2009 at 11:50 AM

sure, huell's detractors watch alot of his shows. That's mainly because we have a hunger for travel and culture. Sometimes, the messenger not so much.

DanO - 2-11-2009 at 12:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BMG
Quote:
Originally posted by DanO
Of course, my wife thinks I'm a lunatic and just walks out of the room shaking her head whenever I put Howser's show on.
Kinda like the 3 Stooges?


Oh no, she has respect for the Stooges (except Curly Joe, a poor substitute for Curly). I hear they're making a Stooges movie. I'll be lining up for that one.

tripledigitken - 2-11-2009 at 12:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
sure, huell's detractors watch alot of his shows. That's mainly because we have a hunger for travel and culture. Sometimes, the messenger not so much.


Couldn't agree more! This is a case where the message is more important than the messenger.

Ken

BajaGringo - 2-11-2009 at 12:41 PM

I always figured that there was a producer somewhere involved with the show that chose the destination and highlights to give the show broad appeal. As far as Huell Howser, let's just say that is an "acquired" taste...

:tumble:

lizard lips - 2-11-2009 at 12:54 PM

Huell was having a bad day at the fair in San Bernardino about 20 years ago when I saw a small boy with a calf at the livestock exhibit run right into him. Hit him right in the jewels. With one hand holding the mic and the other cupping his scralls he screamed at that 10 year old and I thought the boy was going to cry. I like the guy but I can't watch him for any more than 5 minutes at a time.

That reminds me of when Vice President Richard Nixon arrived at the Long Beach airport one afternoon many years ago and I heard him get really peeed saying "Get those G-D DAMN kids away from me". Maybe that's the reason I never voted in my LIFE for him or any other politician!

Skipjack Joe - 2-11-2009 at 01:04 PM

Ms. Lips. Perhaps if you were a man you would be more sympathetic to Mr. Howser's condition.

Of course if Mr. Howser were a man .... Let's not go there.

vacaenbaja - 2-11-2009 at 01:13 PM

I suppose being in the Marine reserves does not count. Tell that to all the reservist serving combat duty.

"Howser, a Marine Corps reservist in the 1970s, opposed the Vietnam War. His appearances on local talk shows in protest of the war were partially responsible for his initial employment at WSM-TV. [1] The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) (also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR)), a part of the United States Marine Corps, is the largest command in the Marine Corps. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... "

bajacowboy - 2-11-2009 at 01:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vacaenbaja
I suppose being in the Marine reserves does not count. Tell that to all the reservist serving combat duty.

"Howser, a Marine Corps reservist in the 1970s, opposed the Vietnam War. His appearances on local talk shows in protest of the war were partially responsible for his initial employment at WSM-TV. [1] The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) (also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR)), a part of the United States Marine Corps, is the largest command in the Marine Corps. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... "
:?::?:

lizard lips - 2-11-2009 at 02:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Ms. Lips. Perhaps if you were a man you would be more sympathetic to Mr. Howser's condition.

Last time I looked---- My orbs are hanging just fine there Skipjack and I know first hand what it feels like :o

fdt - 2-11-2009 at 02:23 PM

I think his show is great, I would love to have a show like his here that would highlight Baja California. Wow, what a great job, going to all these places and getting paid to do it. I am a fanatic about Huel Howser, I am lucky that KPBS San Diego has him on almost every day. Not only is it the Californias Gold series but also Californias Green, Californias Water, Californias Golden Parks, Road Trip, Visiting and Downtown.
He doesn't have a California accent, he has a southern accent and that makes it kind of funny. There was an episode on The Simpsos were he falls off the back of a turnip truck.
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
I always figured that there was a producer somewhere involved with the show that chose the destination and highlights to give the show broad appeal.

He produces his shows and usualy doesn't call ahead to let people know he's comming, he doesn't want people to dress up or have theire relatives over. He started by asking a PBS station that if he would travel the state and produced a show if they would air it, so he did and they did.
Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce

It cracked me up when he talked to his camera man Louie as they walked along-

"Oh Louie, you gotta see this."
"Louie loves menudo, don't you Louie?"
"Watch out for that hunerd foot drop down the abandonded mine shaft Louie"

...yet we never saw Louie??? Hmmm....



Indeed, His name is Luis Fuerte and was his camera man during the 90's. Now he as another, that he also refers to on the shows, Cameron Tucker.
On the 2 Tijuana videos wev'e produced I make the effort to emulate or do the same by calling out to Fernando or Danielle (my kids, who are also my camera people). I go a little further and include them on the shots were we stop and eat or something.
Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
He's mediocre at what he does. Ralph Story did it before Howser and did it better. And neither of them was as good as Charles Kuralt.

He does it on purpose, he is a very inteligent man. The show is based on the premise that "Television is not rocket sience, all you need is a microphone a camera and an open heart". And FYI his inspiration came from Charles Kuralt.
Quote:
Originally posted by Stickers

Truly a mamas boy

BTW Did you know his name was made up by his parents? I believe his dad's name was Howard ad his mom's name was Jewell so they named him Huel.

Well, as you can see I love the show and have researched it and Huel a lot, there is so much to learn from him.

fishbuck - 2-11-2009 at 05:08 PM

Hey FDT you are sort of the Baja California version of Huel.:tumble:

David K - 2-11-2009 at 05:14 PM

Go Ferna, go!!!

Huel Hauser

dean miller - 2-11-2009 at 05:41 PM

Mrs. Miller and I attended a reception for Huel Hauser about six months ago.

In a conversation we discovered we both attended Castle Heights Military academy in Lebanon, Tennessee, but about 15 years apart. ( No need to research it --it has subsequently closed)

He graduated from Vanderbilt University in an area totally unrelated to broadcasting. He was the president of the Vanderbilt student body

During the last year at the university he had an assignment to interview the manager of a local TV station. The station was short of personnel, the station manager saw potential in him and hired him with no experience to read the news while he was still in the university. This was his intro TV...No aspirations and no training

He is considered a "News reporter."

He won a number of broad casting awards.

Luis Fuerte has retired--and has been retired for some years

He never mentioned it in our conversation, but several years previous it was reported in an LA paper he was considered to have the top income of all California newsmen--some thing like eleven million dollars. He considers himself very very fortunate

Later he sent me a personally inscribed 8-1/2 picture which I have framed

One of my favorite of Huell's shows was...

Mexray - 2-11-2009 at 07:01 PM

...his visit to Frank Sinatra's 'retreat' in Palm Springs.

It wasn't all that 'fancy' but it looked like a place where Sinatra could unwind with his best buddies, away from the public.

The guy that purported to be a 'friend' of Sinatra's on the show, didn't seem to be all that convincing to me, but he had a few antidotes from the era to relate.

The people that now own the place have kept most of the buildings as they were when Sinatra was around, which is neat.

It was a fun look at a place in California's entertainment history we'd never get to see if Huell hadn't gotten access for his series...

Corny style or not, there's lots of good info for us all in his various shows...

Keep it up, Huell, we're still going to watch...

I

Von - 2-11-2009 at 07:21 PM

One of my favorites shows he is really cool funny. Hes been to Baja and probably all the missions in Cali.

oladulce - 2-12-2009 at 10:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
...On the 2 Tijuana videos wev'e produced I make the effort to emulate or do the same by calling out to Fernando or Danielle (my kids, who are also my camera people). I go a little further and include them on the shots were we stop and eat or something.


I like when your family participates in your radio shows and there's something endearing about including the cameraman on this type of tv show so I bet it translates well Fernando.

But be careful if you're leading your camera person along a perilous cliff covered with prickly pear cactus, or some of the other stuff that Huell used to do to Louie!

freediverbrian - 2-12-2009 at 05:07 PM

I ran into Huell Howser in the Loreto airport about 7-8 years ago . He was doing a story on the missions . Had a beer with him and i can say he is the same on the show as off , It is not an act or stick he is a nice guy that loves to talk to people . I like the show and watch it often