Huell Howser
Encyclopedia
Huell Burnley Howser is an American television personality best known for California's Gold
, his travel show for the Los Angeles
based KCET
.
. 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.
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
.
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
, Dana Gould
and James Adomian
.
.
Howser spearheaded a failed effort to save buildings at the Long Beach Naval Station by African-American architect Paul Williams
from being demolished.
Matt Groening
has stated he is a fan of Howser, 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
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.
Howser appeared in the film Who Killed the Electric Car?
as he saw a Honda EV+ get shredded.
Huell mentioned that he's a Methodist, during his episode covering the Nevada County Fair on California's Golden Fairs.
California's Gold
California's Gold is a public television travel program that explores the numerous natural, cultural and historical wonders of the Golden State. The show, now in its 17th year, is produced and hosted by Huell Howser...
, his travel show for the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based KCET
KCET
KCET, channel 28, is an independent, non-commercial public television station licensed to Los Angeles, California, USA. KCET's studio is located on West Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is atop Mount Wilson. Al Jerome is the current CEO and President, serving since 1996.KCET was...
.
Early career
Howser was born in Gallatin, TennesseeGallatin, Tennessee
Gallatin is a city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Tennessee, United States, along a navigable tributary of the Cumberland River. The population was 23,230 at the 2000 census. Named for U.S...
. 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
Howard Baker
Howard Henry Baker, Jr. is a former Senate Majority Leader, Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee, White House Chief of Staff, and a former United States Ambassador to Japan.Known in Washington, D.C...
, Howser's television career began at WSM-TV in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. 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.
After working in New York, he moved to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1981 to work as a reporter for KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV, channel 2, is an owned-and-operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles, California. KCBS-TV shares its offices and studio facilities with sister station KCAL-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter...
. During 1982-83, he also served as weekend host and correspondent for Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
. In 1987 he joined Los Angeles television station KCET, then a PBS affiliate, as a producer of "Videolog", covering short topics including lint
Lint
Lint may mean:* Fibrous coat of thick hairs covering the seeds of the cotton plant* Lint , an accumulation of fluffy fibers that collect on fabric** Navel lint, an accumulation of fluffy fibres in one's navelLint may also refer to:...
.
California's Gold
California's Gold
California's Gold is a public television travel program that explores the numerous natural, cultural and historical wonders of the Golden State. The show, now in its 17th year, is produced and hosted by Huell Howser...
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
Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast on the ACE Broadcasting Network...
, Dana Gould
Dana Gould
Dana John Gould is an American comedian and comedy writer born and raised in Hopedale, Massachusetts. His upbringing and his extended family lent themselves to his stand-up routine, which has been seen on HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central, among other places.-Career:After high school, he studied...
and James Adomian
James Adomian
James Adomian is an Armenian-American actor and stand-up comedian. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska and currently lives in New York City...
.
Other work
Articles written by Howser have appeared in Westways, the magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern CaliforniaAutomobile Club of Southern California
The Automobile Club of Southern California is the Southern California affiliate of the American Automobile Association federation of motor clubs...
.
Howser spearheaded a failed effort to save buildings at the Long Beach Naval Station by African-American architect Paul Williams
Paul Williams (architect)
Paul Revere Williams, FAIA was a Los Angeles-based, American architect. He practiced largely in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous stars including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, and Charles Correll...
from being demolished.
Matt Groening
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell as well as two successful television series, The Simpsons and Futurama....
has stated he is a fan of Howser, and has featured him in two episodes of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
: "There's Something About Marrying
There's Something About Marrying
"There's Something About Marrying" is the tenth episode of the sixteenth season of The Simpsons. In the episode, Springfield legalizes same-sex marriage to increase tourism. After becoming a minister, Homer starts to wed people to make money. Meanwhile, Marge's sister Patty comes out as gay and...
", where a character named Howell Huser fell off a turnip truck, and "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?
O Brother, Where Bart Thou?
"O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons 21st season. It first aired on December 13, 2009. In this episode, Bart goes on a quest to get a baby brother out of jealousy of the sisterly bond Lisa has with Maggie....
", where the real Howser is presenting a program similar to Marc Summers's
Marc Summers
Marc Summers is an American television personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and a two-time talk show host. He is best known for hosting the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and currently hosts Unwrapped on The Food Network.- Early career :Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in...
Unwrapped
Unwrapped
Unwrapped is an American television program on Food Network that reveals the origins of foods. It first aired in June 2001 and is hosted by Marc Summers. The show leads viewers on tours of factories and other food-related locations. Popular subjects include candy, breakfast cereal, snacks, and TV...
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
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
newspaper.
Howser appeared in the film Who Killed the Electric Car?
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Who Killed the Electric Car? is a 2006 documentary film that explores the creation, limited commercialization, and subsequent destruction of the battery electric vehicle in the United States, specifically the General Motors EV1 of the mid 1990s...
as he saw a Honda EV+ get shredded.
Personal life
Howser lives in the historic El Royale Apartments in Los Angeles.Huell mentioned that he's a Methodist, during his episode covering the Nevada County Fair on California's Golden Fairs.
External links
- Huell Howser Productions
- Huell's Interactive L.A. from the KCETKCETKCET, channel 28, is an independent, non-commercial public television station licensed to Los Angeles, California, USA. KCET's studio is located on West Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is atop Mount Wilson. Al Jerome is the current CEO and President, serving since 1996.KCET was...
website - Huell Howser - California's Dreamer, from the KVIEKVIEKVIE is the local PBS Public television station in Sacramento, California, USA. Its transmitter is located near Walnut Grove, California. The station broadcasts from a 2000 foot tall tower owned by KTXL...
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.