R.I.P. Huell Howser; Watch Him Anchor 'Entertainment Tonight'

R.I.P. Huell Howser, who helped feed my love of Los Angeles soon after I moved here years ago. Yes, his shows were quite corny, but that was his (and the shows') charm. California owes him much respect for spotlighting the state's treasures.

But fewer people remember that before Huell picked up a microphone and started traveling around the state, he was an entertainment reporter. Above, check out a clip from a 1982 episode of "Entertainment This Week," in which he anchors (subbing for Ron Hendren).

Read some of my old Huell Howser posts -- including the time I spotted him at a Starbucks, as well as the best photo ever -- of him and rocker Eddie Money in the 1970s -- here.

Say It Ain't So! Huell Howser Retires?

Who isn't amused but ultimately charmed by Huell Howser's unusual brand of folksy TV? His no-frills exploration of California via shows like "California's Gold" has made him a bit of a pop culture icon -- and along the way, he's highlighted some great, underappreciated locations and people of our great state. But now it looks like Huell is hanging up his microphone. The public TV fixture hasn't made an official announcement, but media reports yesterday suggested that he's winding things down. From the L.A. Times:

Howser, the white-maned public TV host with the Southern accent who's famed for blurting out "That's amazing!" during interviews, has retired from making original episodes of his program "California's Gold," which travels around the state tracking down interesting people and places. The shows air on numerous statewide public TV stations, including KCET-TV Channel 28.

Speculation that the 67-year-old Howser is seriously ill has been circulating among local TV industry veterans in recent weeks, and insiders reported that he has not been seen for months at his Los Angeles office. On Tuesday the Sacramento Bee reported that Howser was retiring but added that he doesn't wish to make an official announcement.

"Huell is retiring from filming new shows or making appearances (or interviews) but the show will continue to air in reruns for awhile," Ryan Morris, Howser's assistant, wrote in an email to The Times. "We have been gradually winding down all year but Huell has decided to stop, come December 31st."

As for the talk about Howser's ill health, Morris added: "I have heard the rumors and while Huell does not always tell me everything, he seems to be doing fine. He is just trying to get away from television and enjoy some free time."

Howser arrived at his unique local celebrity through fate and his own industriousness. A Tennessee native, he worked as a features reporter for the station now known as KCBS-Channel 2. During the 1980s he switched to making documentaries and interview programs about California, punctuated by his homespun enthusiasms ("Oh my gosh!" is one frequently heard interjection).

Huell has been heard on the radio recently in commercials for the Ford Edge and has been parodied by the likes of "The Simpsons." Here's Homer congratulating Huell on his 25th anniversary at KCET:



Here's just one example of Huell's work: A visit inside the world of In-N-Out Burger:



By the way, I nominate either Chris Nichols or Charles Phoenix to carry the Huell legacy on. (But hey, if they're not available, you know how to find me!)

How Huell Howser Became a Radio Pitchman

Man about L.A. Chris Nichols ran into Huell Howser the other day at a 7-11 and wound up getting the details on Howser's new radio commercial for Galpin Ford. He writes about the encounter here at his Los Angeles magazine blog. An excerpt:

Huell says he was sitting at home watching TV and saw an ad for the Ford Edge. “I said ‘That’s an interesting car’ and walked in to Galpin Ford.” Owner Bert Boeckmann spotted the very spottable TV host and came down to meet him. “I told him I was looking for a new agency to underwrite California’s Gold and he helped do that.”

The brother of Super Dave Osborne and comedian Albert Brooks, Cliff Einstein has been running West Hollywood ad firm Dailey and Associates for more than 40 years and Ford is a longtime customer. The automaker sponsored Howser’s show, but Einstein says “You can’t run commercials on public broadcasting so we made an opening and closing about the betterment of America and so forth.” The ad men had been working on a series of testimonial commercials from regular folks and contacted Howser. “We called him and he said ‘I love my car! I’ll do it!’ and we just paid him the SAG/AFTRA minimum.” “He’s a great symbol.” Says Einstein. “He’s the core of America, a small town guy who’s interested in everything. He’s the only celebrity in this whole campaign.”

Above, my favorite photo of Huell Howser ever -- a shot of him in the 1970s with Eddie Money.

Huell Howser Sings "California, Here I Come"

Huell Howser sings! Well, kind of. Add Huell to the list -- along side Shatner, of course -- of kitschy spoken-word/sing-song performers.

Here's the backstory:

Aafter his visit to the Musicians Institute (Visiting episode #1805), Huell was so inspired that he grabbed the mic and recorded his own version of "California, Here I Come" accompanied by the students who also produced the rock video.

What's In Store for KCET Once It Dumps PBS?

From my Monday piece for Variety on what's in store for a PBS-free KCET:

L.A. pubcaster KCET is crafting an extreme programming makeover.

Once the station drops its longtime PBS affiliation at the end of the year, gone will be staples like "News Hour," "Sesame Street" and "Charlie Rose."

But KCET plans to fill some of that void with more fare from American Public Television, which syndicates programs such as "Rick Steves' Europe," "Globe Trekker" and music specials like "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" to pubcasters.

"We will become a much bigger customer of theirs," said KCET prexy/CEO Al Jerome. Conveniently, APT is holding its next programming marketplace next month in La Quinta, Calif.

KCET will also continue its relationship with Huell Howser, whose folksy California-based travelogues already make up a chunk of the station's sked.

And according to Jerome, KCET is in discussions with L.A. public radio stations KCRW and KPCC about collaborating on TV projects. That could mean televising KCRW music concerts or KPCC interview shows on KCET.

"Combining talents with public radio makes a lot of sense," said Jerome.

KCET is likely to start airing more BBC World News fare; it already has a deal in place with the BBC to distribute news programming to public TV stations across the country.

Jerome also hinted at working on fare with the L.A. Times, expanding its weekly "SoCal Connected" newsmag and perhaps even bringing back elements from the station's old "Life and Times" nightly program. And KCET said it would also look to acquire more international programming, from the UK, Canada, Japan and elsewhere.

KCET is already moving toward more non-PBS fare, having added a package of old movies to its Sunday night sked.

Nonetheless, KCET remains mum on specific programming plans post-Jan. 1, when its PBS connection ends. Jerome was vague on specifics, but said he also plans to reach out to L.A.'s arts community to partner on some original fare.

"Our plan is to become the media partner for the many diverse, creative voices in our community with stories to tell, art to exhibit, music or dance to perform and news to report. We will partner with other public service organizations so that our viewers can learn about the good work being done, but not often reported in the commercial media," he said.

If the reaction on KCET's website is any indication, however, those auds will not be happy with the programming switch -- and that could come in a hefty blow to the station's fundraising efforts.

"Being a loyal viewer for many years this comes as a shock and shows a complete disregard for your audience," one viewer wrote on KCET's site. "In no way will I be renewing my membership with you again, and I will encourage others to do the same. All you've done is left one of the largest TV markets in the country without what is arguably the best source for quality news and science reporting. Your reasons listed are spurious, as it is ostensibly your goal to serve the public interest. This does not serve the public interest, and almost certainly will hasten the network's ruin."

Jerome admitted that the change won't sit well with many KCET supporters.

"In the beginning a lot of people who watch us will be disrupted," Jerome said. "We're cognizant of the fact that our viewership is comfortable with programs from certain genres. They want to see nature and science and documentary and children's programming, and national and international news. In our acquisitions strategy we're looking for programs we know will be comfortable to our bread and butter audience."

KCET announced Friday that it would become an independent public broadcaster effective Jan. 1.

Read more here.

A 1970s-Era Huell Howser, Toasting Eddie Money

Could this be the picture of the day? The week? The year?

Huell Howser is currently sharing this pic over at his California's Gold site.

He describes the origin of the pic:

During my feature reporter days at WSM (NBC) in Nashville 1972-1979 I covered a lot of music stories and fortunately got to know quite a few of the artists as they came into Nashville either to perform on stage or to record. Here I am hanging out with Eddie Money -- Party time!

The Secrets Behind In-N-Out: Huell Gets The Skinny

Wow, is Huell Howser really excited about this one. Of course, Huell usually gets excited about, well, anything. But this one may be worth the enthusiasm:

I get an up close and behind the scenes look at the history of In-N-Out Burger - a California icon since 1948. This is the first time television cameras have ever been allowed to shoot inside a store. We'll also visit In-N-Out University and take a look in the safe that holds the original secrets typed out by Harry Snyder himself!

OK, sold.

"The Simpsons" Helps Huell Howser Celebrate His 25th Anniversary on PBS

The folks at "The Simpsons" are quite fascinated by KCET host Huell Howser and his "aw, shucks" TV brand -- so much so that Howser has been parodied on the show in the past as "Howell Heuser."

Now, to mark Howser's 25th anniversary with KCET, "The Simpsons" has produced a special greeting from Homer -- and Howser will even be featured in the Dec. 13 episode of "The Simpsons."

"Yes, everyone at 'The Simpsons' does a Huell Howser impression," Matt Groening recently told the L.A. Times. "We all love him. I have on my permanent do-not-delete TiVo Huell's visit to the Bunny Museum. I hear, but haven't seen, that Huell's climb up a wind turbine tower is a classic. At the show we all love HH so much that after first sending him up, we had HH play himself in an upcoming episode."

Los Angeles Magazine Hunts for "Mister L.A."

Which showman mosts personifies L.A.? Los Angeles magazine, which last year made waves for its 64 Greatest Things in L.A. poll, is this time looking to crown Mr. LA.

The candidates include Bob Baker, Eli Broad, Huell Howser, Magic Johnson, Jay Leno, Steve Lopez, Chris Nichols, Charles Phoenix, Wolfgang Puck, Kevin Roderick, Vin Scully and Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo.

Of course, there are plenty of names that didn't make the list -- what about Stan Chambers? (Of course, that would add one more old-white-guy to a list chock full of 'em.) But that's the point -- getting the conversation going.

Over at LA Observed, Roderick admits to being a bit embarrassed by the attention, and throws his lot behind Vin Scully. And Metblogs LA writers and readers toss a few more names out there: Ray Bradbury, Beck, Eric Garcetti and Jonathan Gold.

I'd also toss out Tom LaBonge -- but it appears that he was left off the list because the magazine actually crowned him "Mister LA" in their April issue. The mag said it was that designation that sparked this new poll. (Now, is "Ms. LA" to come?)