Huell Howser, Man of Many Enthusiasms, Passes On

By Brandon R. Reynolds Mon., Jan. 7 2013 at 5:38 PM

Categories: History, TV

Flickr/Joits

The last sincere man on television

Huell Howser, wide-eyed explorer of California culture, has died at 67.

Howser, creator and host of the public television series "California's Gold," quietly ended his show in November amid rumors of illness. His assistant, Ryan Morris, announced that Howser had passed early Monday morning at his home in Los Angeles.

His death has inspired a remembrances and condolences from colleagues and fans of the show, which ran nearly two decades. Among them is comedian James Adomian, whose spot-on impressions of Howser in his stand-up introduced new audiences to the man.

Howser's great appeal lay in the genuine enthusiasm with which he addressed such things as hops and ladybugs.

The Los Angeles Times passes along a message from Al Jerome, president and CEO of KCET, Howser's home station in LA:

"We are deeply saddened to hear of Huell's passing. This is a tremendous personal and professional loss to his friends and colleagues as well as his legions of fans. ... Throughout his more than two decades with KCET, Huell inspired everyone at the station with his enthusiasm and storytelling about this great state in which we live.

Huell was able to brilliantly capture the wonder in obscurity. From pastrami sandwiches and scarves loomed from lint to the exoticism of cactus gardens and the splendor of Yosemite, he brought us the magic, the humor and poignancy of our region. We will miss him very much."

In honor of the last sincere man on television, the next time you find something amazing, announce it as he did ("That's amazing!") and really mean it, as he did.