See this: Huell Howser's California Gold

If you live in California, as I've been known to, you may have heard of Huell Howser.
Huell has shows on PBS called California's Gold and California's Golden Parks. As the titles suggest, they feature various points of interest in the Golden State. I've always liked programs that encourage people to experience their surroundings, and to visit Huell's landmarks you don't need shots or a passport. I also appreciate the effort, having worked on a few regional travel-type programs.

The host has a style that is very different. Huell is from Oklahoma and has an accent that is definitely not Californian. Of course, WE know that Californians don't have accents! Huell is also an extremely positive person. I can imagine him on the Titanic: WOW! Will we have something to tell the neighbors!

The programs have very little editing and really make you feel as if you are tagging along. It is not uncommon to hear Huell give directions to the cameraman (get a shot of this, Luis!) or for the camera work to be, occasionally, shaky. But I know how hard his photographers work, carrying a camera while walking isn't as easy as it looks. Certainly it's a different style: sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn't. It took me awhile to get used to it, too. I should note that less editing gives you a more accurate representation of the experience. Cinema verite and the rest of those Latin video production terms come to mind.

The program is not as slick at some (like Bay Area Backroads or Eye on the Bay) , but they don't make me feel as if I've been suckered into watching a half hour infomercial for Nissan, Toyota or some other deep-pocketed sponsor. This is PBS.

Some of the programs are more interesting than others, depending on the subject matter and people interviewed.

Huell's unique style has also inspired a drinking game (which I would NEVER condone, because you could be drunk during a pledge break. ) The times to take a drink illustrate his style:

• Huell gives directions to his photographer.
• Huell shakes hands with someone and the grip lasts uncomfortably long. (can we let go now, Huell?)
• Huell goes overboard in his enthusiasm: "So ALL of the churches were on Church Street? That's fanTAStic!"
• Huell states/asks the obvious: So if someone wanted to hitch up their horse, they'd use this hitching post.

Some of the best shows featured trips to the 5 corners of California, which I though was a very unique idea. These shows were an hour, rather than the usual 30 minutes. At each corner (or as close as possible), Huell temporarily planted a California flag. Take that, Oregon! Get a load of this, Nevada! I've got your flag right here, Arizona! Don't tread on this, Mexico.
Places where the flag was planted include:

• Northwest corner, where it was pointed out the some businesses in Oregon were really in California. Apparently the early surveyors had their own drinking games.

• Lake Tahoe (the so-called 5th corner). The California flag was floated in the water on this program, which also visited nearby natural areas. No casinos, fortunately.
  

• Southeast corner, where most of the time was actually spent in Yuma, ARIZONA. Yes, that corner of California (which is technically at the bottom of the Colorado River) is desolate. It was interesting to note the border fence that separates the US and Mexico: Huell pointed out a hole under the fence through which a person could easily climb. And since the fence doesn't quite go to the river, a person could merely walk around the fence! It was at this point a group of people walked up to the fence from the Mexico side. Bueno Huell Howser!
  

• Northeast corner, where Alturas was featured. While the "magnificent" historic hotel and "very" friendly people were nice, what stands out to me was that Huell got lost in the search for the exact corner! He and his crew were hiking with a local resident and a geography (or was it geology?) expert. I can't remember why they got lost -- it may have been due to (another) early surveyor's error. They ended up hiking several miles out of their way- over and around huge lava rocks and through rattlesnake territory where no trail existed and no signs pointed the way. Having hiked out of my way at least once, I know getting "off trail" is miserable when the trail is decent and your backpack is light. It must have been awful for this group -- which included a person carrying a video camera. Huell got mildly annoyed (at least from what was shown) and, while they obviously made it back to put the show together, the experience shown made me better appreciate this, and the other efforts.

Hats off to Huell Howser (and crew!)