We were saddened to hear of his passing, as his trevelogue and educational programs have always been a favorite in our house.
Huell Howser was a real "original" and no other TV host will likely have that same folksy style and enthusiasm that he brought to every project.
Folks on the East Coast may have no idea who he was, but to summarize him - he was a Texan who moved out to California and found the true "California's Gold" was the abundance of interesting things about our state, and started a long-running TV show about it on public access.
Like Bob Ross and Fred Rogers, he was a PBS staple and often joked about, but always loved and respected for his genuine enthusiasm for seemingly mundane sights and locations.
I loved watching his show. He made every place in California and the people there seem interesting. His trip to In&Out Burger and the abandoned original LA subway system were two faves that come to mind. He was originally from Tennessee.
For people who have never seen HH in action, here's a short sample of some clips of his shows. The guy could find something 'amazing' in almost anything. Whoever put the clips together apparently found some unintended comedic value in Huell's shows. My family will miss him.
