HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND GET READY FOR WHAT I THINK IS GONNA BE A FUN AFTERNOON.

I KNOW THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE GET OUR STORIES, OF ALL THE DEEP RESEARCH WE DO BEFORE WE GO TO DO OUR STORIES, BECAUSE HERE'S THE STORY BEHIND HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY: THE OTHER DAY I WAS HAVING CUBAN FOOD at MY FAVORITE CUBAN RESTAURANT IN ALL OF L.A.--PORTO'S OVER IN GLENDALE--AND AS WE WERE LEAVING PORTO'S, WE RAN INTO YOU.

YOUR NAME IS NEIL RIVERON.

Neil Riveron: RIGHT.

Huell: AND WHAT DID YOU DO?

YOU HANDED ME YOUR BUSINESS CARD.

Neil: RIGHT.

AND I TOLD YOU YOU GOT TO GO TO MY HOUSE.

I GOT SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING FOR YOU.

I GOT SOME RED CANARIES.

Huell: RED CANARIES.

AND YOUR BUSINESS CARD HAS RED CANARIES ON IT ALONG WITH YELLOW CANARIES AND A WHITE CANARY OVER THERE.

BUT THIS KINDA PIQUED MY INTEREST, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HEARD OF RED CANARIES BEFORE.

THEY'RE KIND OF RARE, AREN'T THEY?

UNUSUAL?

Neil: THEY ARE RARE.

MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT CANARIES ARE YELLOW, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY VARIETIES OF COLORS THAT IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

Huell: SO WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY IN NEIL'S BACKYARD LOOKING AT CANARIES, RED CANARIES.

AND YOU WERE AT PORTO'S FOR THE SAME REASON I WAS AT PORTO'S.

Neil: YES, I LOVE PORTO'S.

I LOVE THEIR PASTRIES AND THEIR COFFEE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I GOT SOME CUBAN COFFEE FOR YOU, SOME CUBAN PASTRIES, AND SOME WINE.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

THIS IS GONNA BE A FUN AFTERNOON.

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE GETTIN' INTO, BUT AS LONG AS THE INGREDIENTS INCLUDE RED CANARIES, PASTRIES, COFFEE, AND WINE...WE CAN'T GO WRONG.

ALL RIGHT, WHERE DO WE GO, RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD?

WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

WE'RE IN THE TOWN OF... Neil: BELL GARDENS.

Huell: WE'RE IN BELL GARDENS GETTING READY TO INVESTIGATE WHAT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD.

WE'RE IN YOUR BACKYARD, AND THIS IS KINDA INTERESTING, TOO, BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF YOUR STORY, PART OF YOUR HERITAGE.

Neil: YES, ACTUALLY, THIS IS A CUBAN-STYLE KITCHEN HERE THAT MY FAMILY ENJOYS A LOT BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE, EVERYTHING'S HOMEY.

THINGS HANGING, ALL THE COFFEE MACHINES AND ALL THESE THINGS-- Huell: AND IT'S OUTSIDE.

Neil: IT'S OUTSIDE.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE HAVE A BLAST IN HERE...BECAUSE IT'S COOL, IT'S NICE, IT'S HOMEY, IT'S CUBAN.

Huell: IS THIS YOUR DAD?

Neil: YEAH, THIS IS MY FATHER.

Huell: HI.

HUELL HOWSER.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Father: OK. Huell: HE'S FROM CUBA.

YOU'RE FROM CUBA.

Neil: RIGHT.

Huell: THIS YOUR WIFE?

Neil: THAT'S MY WIFE ANNIE.

Huell: HI, ANNIE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

SHE'S STANDING OVER HERE BY THE BAR.

THAT'S PART OF IT, TOO, ISN'T IT?

Neil: EXACTLY.

YEAH.

THAT'S OUR BAR RIGHT THERE.

Huell: HERE COMES YOUR MOM.

HI.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Mom: ME, TOO.

Huell: YOUR FIRST NAME?

America: AMERICA.

Neil: AMERICA.

Huell: AMERICA!

WHAT AN INTERESTING FIRST NAME!

Neil: YES, IT IS.

YES.

Huell: SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A COMBINATION KITCHEN/DEN/LIVING AREA/OUTSIDE BAR AREA... IS THIS WHERE WE'RE GONNA COME BACK LATER TO HAVE OUR COFFEE AND OUR PASTRIES AND OUR WINE?

Neil: THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: RIGHT.

OH, HERE'S THE STOVE OVER HERE!

IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN OUTDOOR GRILL.

Neil: YES, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

ACTUALLY, THAT GRILL ELEVATES UP AND DOWN, AND IT'S REALLY NEAT HOW IT OPERATES.

Huell: IS THERE A NAME FOR A PLACE LIKE THIS?

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THIS?

Neil: MY DAD WANTED TO NAME IT RANCHO LAS CARENAS.

Huell: UH-HUH.

BUT I MEAN, IS THERE A NAME FOR JUST THIS TYPE OF OUTSIDE LIVING AREA?

Neil: WELL, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY A NAME.

WE JUST CALL IT EL RANCHITO.

Huell: HA HA HA HA HA!

ALL RIGHT, NOW, THERE'S SOME BIRDS OVER THERE.

ARE THOSE CANARIES?

Neil: NO.

THEY'RE PARAKEETS.

Huell: OK. WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THE PARAKEETS, ARE WE?

WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE CANARIES.

Neil: RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

Huell: SO WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THIS OUTSIDE RANCHITO HERE... Neil: RIGHT, RIGHT.

Huell: AND GO IN TO--WHERE ARE THE CANARIES?

Neil: THEY'RE RIGHT IN THE AVIARY BACK HERE.

Huell: OK.

SO WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MINUTE FOR SOME PASTRIES, SOME COFFEE... Neil: AND WINE.

Huell: AND SOME WINE.

HA HA HA!

WE'RE HEADING FOR THE AVIARY THROUGH THIS BEAUTIFUL...

I FEEL LIKE--[BIRDS CHIRPING] OH, BOY, YOU CAN REALLY HEAR THE...NOW, ARE THOSE CANARIES?

Neil: THOSE ARE CANARIES, YES.

Huell: THE SOUND THAT WE'RE HEARING.

[BIRDS CHIRPING] OH, WOW!

NOW, WHERE ARE THEY?

Neil: RIGHT HERE.

COME ON IN.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH!

HA HA!

OH, MY GOSH!

HOW MANY CANARIES DO YOU HAVE IN HERE?

Neil: OVER 500.

Huell: OHH... ALL RIGHT, LET'S START OVER HERE, 'CAUSE HERE'S A BEAUTIFUL...IS THIS A RED CANARY?

Neil: YES.

THAT IS A INTENSIVE RED MALE CANARY.

YES.

AND IF YOU NOTICE THE HEN, IT'S A FROSTED HEN.

THAT MEANS THAT THE COLOR HAS TO BE LESS INTENSIVE THAN THE MALE.

SO YOU GOT A INTENSIVE RED AND A FROSTED FEMALE SITTING ON EGGS RIGHT NOW.

Huell: AH!

SO SHE'S HATCHING EGGS!

AND HERE, THESE ARE ALL FEMALES.

Neil: NO, ACTUALLY, THESE ARE THE BABIES OF THIS COUPLE RIGHT HERE THAT HAS BEGUN ALREADY TO BUILD A NEST.

Huell: WOW.

HOW MANY BABIES DO THEY HAVE IN A YEAR?

Neil: THEY HAVE AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 5 TO 8 BABIES PER HEN PER YEAR.

PER SEASON, ACTUALLY.

THE SEASON IS ABOUT 6 MONTHS.

Huell: I'VE GOT A MILLION QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU ABOUT RED CANARIES.

WHAT IS SO UNUSUAL ABOUT RED CANARIES?

WHY ARE THEY SO RARE?

BECAUSE THEY ARE RARE, AREN'T THEY?

Neil: THEY ARE VERY RARE AND WHAT IT IS THAT MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT THE CANARIES ARE YELLOW, BUT ACTUALLY THERE ARE SO MANY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, I GOT BROWNS, I GOT REDS, INTENSIVE AND FROSTED.

AND WHAT IT IS IS THAT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 20th CENTURY, A GUY IN GERMANY WAS THE FIRST ONE TO DEVELOP THE RED CANARY.

Huell: WHAT DID HE DO, CROSS-BREED AND... Neil: RIGHT.

WHAT THEY DID, THEY WENT TO VENEZUELA AND THEY BROUGHT A VENEZUELAN RED SISKIN CARDINAL.

IT'S A SMALL LITTLE BIRD THAT IS RED.

AND THEY CROSSED IT WITH A YELLOW HEN, AND WHAT THEY GOT WAS LIKE A APRICOT COLOR, VERY DILUTED RED.

SO THEY STARTED WORKING WITH THAT BREED UNTIL THEY GOT THE INTENSIVE RED CANARY.

Huell: SO THEY CREATED THE COLOR RED CANARY.

Neil: RIGHT.

THEY CREATED IT BACK IN THE 20th CENTURY.

Huell: AND HOW RARE ARE THEY TODAY?

ARE YOU ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO BREEDS AND HAS RED CANARIES?

I'VE NEVER SEEN A RED CANARY.

Neil: WELL, THEY'RE KIND OF RARE.

IT'S HARD TO FIND THIS KIND OF RED BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE, THEY GOT MORE LIKE THE APRICOT COLOR.

THEY'RE NOT AS RED.

Huell: THAT'S KIND OF ORANGEY- PINKY-APRICOTY... THAT'S NOT A RED RED.

Neil: WELL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND THEM LIKE INTENSIVE RED RED.

THEY'RE LIKE A FIRE ENGINE RED.

I GOT SOME OTHER ONES IN HERE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT RARER THAN THAT ONE.

IN FACT, I WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW THE NEST LOOKS LIKE-- Huell: CAN YOU DO THAT?

IT'S OK?

Neil: YES, IT'S FINE.

Huell: THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET UPSET?

Neil: NO, NO.

Huell: OH, LOOK!

NOW, SOME OF THOSE EGGS-- 3 ARE ONE COLOR AND 3 ARE ANOTHER COLOR.

Neil: ACTUALLY, THE LIGHTER COLOR EGG IS THE LAST ONE THEY LAID.

IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE MORE OF A BLUISH COLOR.

Huell: UH-HUH.

YOU BETTER PUT THAT BACK IN THERE.

YOU'VE GOT AN UNHAPPY MAMA CANARY IN THERE AND A MAD DADDY CANARY IN THERE.

NOW, ARE CANARIES FOUND BASICALLY OUT IN THE WILD OR ARE MOST OF 'EM DOMESTICATED LIKE THIS IN CAGES?

Neil: WELL, ACTUALLY, CANARIES ARE ORIGINALLY FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS IN SPAIN.

AND THERE ARE WILD CANARIES OVER THERE.

NOW, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, IT'S NOT VERY COMMON TO SEE CANARIES FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT'S MORE LIKE A DOMESTICATED BREED OF BIRD.

Huell: WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WITH CANARIES, PUT 'EM IN THEIR HOUSES AND HAVE THEM LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE ANY OTHER KIND OF BIRD...BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE SOUND THAT THEY MAKE?

Neil: ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE CANARIES BECAUSE THEY SING REALLY NICE.

AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF CANARIES.

THERE ARE THE COLOR CANARY, WHICH IS THE ONE I HAVE, THERE'S THE TYPE CANARY, AND THE SONG CANARY.

Huell: THE SONG CANARY.

Neil: SO THEY ONLY BREED THEM FOR THE SONG, LIKE THE SPANISH TIMBRADO, THE WATERSLAGERS-- THOSE BREEDS ARE ONLY FOR THEIR SONG.

[CANARIES TRILLING] Huell: THEY DO HAVE REALLY KIND OF AN INTERESTING SOUND, DON'T THEY?

Neil: YES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU PUT A MALE IN A CAGE OF A FEMALE--THAT'S WHEN THEY REALLY GO CRAZY.

Huell: REALLY?

Neil: OH, YEAH.

ACTUALLY, THEY GET THE FEMALE EXCITED BY THEIR SONG.

Huell: CAN WE JUST WALK AROUND HERE?

THIS IS SO... OH!

LOOK AT THESE RIGHT HERE, CAMERON.

THESE ARE A BEAUTIFUL COLOR.

Neil: YES.

THAT'S A INTENSIVE RED WITH A FROSTED FEMALE.

Huell: HERE'S ANOTHER ONE RIGHT OVER HERE.

Neil: RIGHT.

Huell: WOW!

THEY'RE KIND OF INQUISITIVE... Neil: RIGHT.

EACH OF THEM HAS TO BE IN THEIR CAGES.

THESE ARE CALLED BREEDING CAGES.

Huell: LOOK AT THE COLOR ON THIS ONE!

OH, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL COLOR!

Neil: YEAH, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL BIRD.

YES.

Huell: LOOK AT THAT.

4 BABIES.

Neil: 4 BABIES, YES.

THOSE ARE RED-BROWN HENS.

Huell: ARE THEY GONNA GET REDDER AS THEY GET OLDER?

Neil: YES.

YOU CAN SEE THESE OVER HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU NOTICE, THEY ARE MORE MATURE, SO THEIR INTENSIVE COLOR IS MORE.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS...WELL, NOW, THESE LOOK BIGGER.

Neil: WELL, ACTUALLY, THESE ARE MALES RIGHT HERE.

SO THE MALES ARE ALWAYS GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THE REGULAR HEN.

Huell: AND WHAT HAVE YOU GOT BACK IN HERE?

Neil: THESE OVER HERE ARE MY RED ISABELLES.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, RED ISABELLES?

Neil: YOU NOTICE THE COLOR IS A COMBINATION OF RED AND BROWN.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

SO THEY'RE NOT AS RED INTENSIVE AS THE OTHER ONES OVER THERE.

THEY'RE CALLED RED ISABELLES.

Huell: WHAT IS THIS?

Neil: THIS IS THE MATERIAL THAT THEY USE FOR BUILDING THEIR NEST.

IT'S LIKE SHREDDED BURLAP.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT IS.

Huell: SO YOU PUT THIS UP HERE, THEN THEY MAKE THEIR OWN NEST.

Neil: RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

YES.

Huell: WOW.

IT'S SO CLEAN AND NICE IN HERE... AND THERE'S A REAL NICE FEEL TO THE PLACE.

Neil: YEAH, WE SPEND HOURS AND HOURS HERE.

IN FACT, MY DAD IS RETIRED, SO HE'S ON MY PAYROLL, YOU KNOW?

HE'S HERE EVERY DAY, FEEDING MY BIRDS, CLEANING THE AVIARY.

AND WE GOT A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY THAT COMES OVER ONCE A WEEK, AND HE'S THE ONE IN CHARGE OF DOING THE DIRTYWORK.

HE'S CLEANING ALL THE CAGES AND, YOU KNOW, PICKING THINGS UP.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS PLACE NEAT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA DICTATE THE HEALTH OF MY CANARIES.

NOW REMEMBER THAT I SHOW MY CANARIES IN SHOWS, SO THEY HAVE TO BE IN TIP-TOP SHAPE.

Huell: OH, THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE TALKING TO ME ABOUT WHEN WE FIRST MET WAS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE PRIZE-WINNING RED CANARIES, NOT JUST RUN-OF-THE-MILL RED CANARIES.

Neil: EXACTLY.

YES.

Huell: SO IS THERE A WHOLE...

HIERARCHY OF CANARIES AND CANARY SHOWS AND BLUE RIBBON WINNERS AND GRAND CHAMPIONS?

Neil: EXACTLY.

YES.

WE HAVE...

I BELONG TO A CANARY CLUB HERE IN DOWNEY.

AND WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A BABY SHOW IN OCTOBER, AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE BIGGER SHOW IN NOVEMBER.

AND EVERY DECEMBER, THERE'S A NATIONAL--IT WAS IN LANCING, MICHIGAN THIS YEAR.

Huell: JUST FOR RED CANARIES OR FOR ANY KIND OF CANARY?

Neil: ALL KINDS OF CANARIES.

Huell: AND ARE YOU THE CANARY KING?

Neil: WELL, ACTUALLY, I WILL BE A CANARY KING SOON, YOU KNOW.

I BEGAN BREEDING BIRDS 3 YEARS AGO, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL THIS IN ONLY 3 YEARS.

SO I'M WORKING THERE.

Huell: SO ARE YOUR CANARIES COMING IN SECOND AND THIRD AND HONORABLE MENTION NOW, SHOOTING FOR NUMBER ONE?

Neil: ACTUALLY, I HAVE CANARIES THAT HAVE COME IN FIRST PLACE.

Huell: YOU HAVE ONE YOU CAN SHOW US?

Neil: YEAH.

I HAVE SOME RIBBONS HERE, TOO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

WHERE'S A FIRST PLACE... Neil: OK, THIS ONE OVER HERE, THIS CANARY GOT FIRST PLACE... Huell: RIGHT HERE, CAMERON.

THIS ONE IN THE BACK BACK HERE.

Neil: IN NOVEMBER, SO, UM...

THIS CANARY HERE'S ONE OF MY WINNERS.

Huell: I HATE TO ASK, BUT HOW EXPENSIVE ARE CANARIES?

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CANARIES.

Neil: A CANARY CAN GO FROM $50 TO $75 TO $150 TO $250.

IT ALL DEPENDS IF THEY'RE A WINNER AND YOU BUY 'EM AT A SHOW... YOU CAN EXPECT TO PAY OVER $200 FOR THE CANARY.

Huell: AND IS THAT WHAT YOU DO, YOU SELL THESE?

PEOPLE COME HERE AND BUY THEM FROM YOU?

Neil: ACTUALLY, I SHIP A LOT OF BIRDS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE UNITED STATES, AND THEY GET ME THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

I GOT A WEBSITE, AND THEY GO THERE-- Huell: RED CANARY?

Neil: YEAH.

WWW.HOUSEOFREDCANARY.COM.

Huell: AH!

Neil: THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

Huell: IS IT SAFE TO SEND THESE THROUGH THE MAIL?

THEY DON'T GET SICK OR GET HURT GOING... Neil: NO, ACTUALLY, WE SEND THEM OVERNIGHT.

SO THEY GET THERE THE NEXT DAY, THEY'RE ALL FINE.

NO PROBLEMS.

Huell: LISTEN, LISTEN.

LET'S JUST LISTEN FOR A MINUTE... [BIRDS TRILLING] THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF CANARIES.

YOU COULD SIT AND LISTEN... TO THIS SOUND... Neil: RIGHT.

WE SPEND HOURS IN HERE LISTENING TO THE SOUNDS.

[TRILLING] Huell: BEAUTIFUL!

Neil: YEAH.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

SOMETHING INTERESTING IS THAT THEY NEVER REPEAT THEIR SONG.

THAT SOUND THAT YOU JUST HEARD-- THEY'RE NOT GONNA REPEAT IT AGAIN.

Huell: EVER.

Neil: EVER.

SO THEY'RE ALWAYS COMING UP WITH A NEW SONG.

Huell: ARE THEY SINGING?

ARE THEY COMMUNICATING?

ARE THEY... Neil: THE MALE CANARIES ARE VERY TERRITORIAL.

THEY ARE SINGING TO...TO SHOW OTHERS THAT THEY'RE PRESENT HERE.

AND THEY SEE-- AS YOU ARE WALKING AROUND, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THIS IS THEIR HOME.

Huell: SO THIS IS THEIR TERRITORY.

AND DO THEY DO THIS ALSO TO ATTRACT FEMALES?

Neil: RIGHT.

YEAH.

WHENEVER YOU GET THE...THE MALE CANARY AND YOU PUT IT IN THE CAGE WITH A FEMALE, THAT'S WHEN THEY REALLY SING.

Huell: LISTEN TO THIS.

[CANARIES TRILLING, CHIRPING] WOW!

IT'S ADDICTIVE, LISTENING TO IT.

Neil: YES.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Huell: I'M JUST HAPPY JUST STANDING HERE LISTENING NOW.

THIS IS WONDERFUL!

Neil: IT'S WONDERFUL, YES.

Huell: SO DO PEOPLE BUY CANARIES--MOST PEOPLE LIKE CANARIES FOR THAT SOUND, DON'T THEY?

THAT'S THE PAYOFF FOR A CANARY.

Neil: THAT'S THE MAIN THING OF CANARY, THEIR SONG.

YES.

Huell: ARE THEY FRIENDLY?

COULD YOU HAVE A PET CANARY IN THE SENSE THAT YOU COULD COME HOME AND ONE WOULD SIT ON YOUR SHOULDER AND SING IN YOUR EAR?

Neil: WELL, IF YOU GET A BABY CANARY, YOU CAN TAME THEM SO THEY CAN DO BASICALLY WHATEVER YOU WANT.

THEY CAN EAT OUT OF YOUR HAND.

THEY CAN STAND ON YOUR SHOULDER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WITH THEM.

A ADULT CANARY--IT'S KINDA HARD TO DO THAT.

BUT WITH A BABY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TAME IT.

Huell: AND HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE?

Neil: IF YOU'RE NOT BREEDING THEM, YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY TO 12, 13 YEARS.

IF YOU'RE BREEDING THEM, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MORE TEAR AND WEAR THERE, SO THEY LAST ABOUT MAYBE 5, 6, 7, 8 YEARS.

Huell: NOW YOU'VE GOT ME HOOKED.

AND ANYBODY HOOKED.

Neil: YES, THIS IS FASCINATING.

WE GOT FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY THAT COME HERE AND THEY HAVE THE SAME REACTION THAT YOU HAVE.

THEY JUST STAND HERE AND LOOK AROUND AND GO, "OH, LISTEN TO THAT," OR "LISTEN TO THIS ONE," BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, THE SONG.

YEAH.

Huell: WHAT'S BACK HERE IN THE BACK?

Neil: BACK HERE WHAT I HAVE ARE MY FLIGHTS.

Huell: ARE YOUR WHAT?

Neil: MY BIG FLIGHTS.

Huell: OH!

OH!

LOOK!

BIG CAGES!

Neil: OVER HERE ARE--THESE ARE ALL BABIES ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD.

Huell: LOOK UP HERE.

THEY'RE ALL UP...CAN WE GO IN THERE?

Neil: YEAH, YOU CAN GO IN THERE.

Huell: ARE YOU SURE?

Neil: OF COURSE!

Huell: WELL, YOU GO IN FIRST.

IT'S NOT GONNA SCARE 'EM.

Neil: NO.

Huell: OH...WHOA!

OH!

OH, MY GOSH!

LOOK AT THIS!

Neil: YEAH, THEY'RE ALL BABIES.

THEY'RE ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS OLD.

ACTUALLY, THE ONE THAT I'M HOLDING HERE IN MY HAND--IT'S ONLY ABOUT 6 WEEKS.

Huell: OH, YOU'VE GOT ONE IN YOUR-- Neil: YES.

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A BRONZE CANARY.

IF YOU CAN SEE ON THE CAMERA HOW THIS BIRD HAS LIKE STRIPES...IT'S CALLED A MELANIN.

IT HAS STRIPES.

IF YOU SEE ANOTHER ONE THAT I'M GETTING READY TO GRAB OVER HERE...LIKE THIS ONE OVER HERE... Huell: OH, BOY.

THEY JUST ARE EVERYWHERE.

LOOK, IF I GO OVER HERE...OH, LOOK!

THIS IS SUCH A NEAT FEELING TO BE AROUND THESE BIRDS!

Neil: IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THIS BIRD HERE DOES NOT HAVE ANY STRIPES.

THERE'S NO STRIPES ON THIS BIRD.

SO THEY CALL IT A LIPOCHROME BIRD.

Huell: TURN THAT UP SO WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL BIRD!

Neil: YES, IT IS.

Huell: THERE'S A WAY YOU'RE HOLDING IT SO YOU'RE NOT HURTING IT.

Neil: RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

RIGHT.

AND YOU CAN SEE I ALSO BAND THESE BIRDS SO I KNOW THE YEAR THEY WERE HATCHED AND ALL THAT STUFF.

Huell: THIS IS SO COOL.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY I CAN PUT 'EM UP ON MY FINGER.

THEY'RE NOT TAME ENOUGH TO DO THAT.

Neil: ACTUALLY, YOU CAN GRAB THEM IN YOUR HAND... Huell: HA HA HA!

THIS IS--OH, WOW!

THIS IS SO NEAT.

Neil: YES.

YES.

AND THEY FLY AROUND AND THEY DO EXERCISE, AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THEY LIKE TO DO ALL DAY LONG.

Huell: WELL, THEY'RE HAPPY CANARIES.

Neil: THEY ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY, YES.

[TRILLING] Huell: NOW WE'VE COME BACK OUTSIDE, AND THE PLOT THICKENS.

Neil: RIGHT.

HERE'S MY 93-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER, AND HIS JOB IS TO SHRED THE BURLAP FOR THE NESTS OF THE BIRDS.

Huell: WOW!

NOW, WAS HE BORN IN CUBA?

Neil: YES, HE WAS BORN IN CUBA.

HE CAME HERE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.

Huell: AND YOU'VE GOT HIM WORKING NOW AS PART OF THIS CANARY ENTERPRISE YOU'VE GOT GOING.

Neil: RIGHT.

IT'S A FAMILY BUSINESS.

Huell: WOW, THIS IS GREAT.

HIS NAME IS... Neil: LUIS.

Huell: LUIS, NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Luis: BUENO.

Huell: HA HA HA!

YOU HAVE GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY WORKING.

Neil: THE WHOLE FAMILY, YES.

Huell: NOW YOUR MOM'S IN THE ACT.

Neil: YES.

ACTUALLY, SHE'S GONNA SHOW US HOW TO MAKE CUBAN-STYLE COFFEE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

Huell: SO WHAT'S SHE DOING HERE?

Neil: SHE'S POURING THE COFFEE IN THAT THING RIGHT THERE... AND THEN SHE'S GONNA PUT HOT WATER ON TOP.

AND YOU'LL SEE HOW IT'S DONE.

Huell: BOY, THIS IS ALL VERY TRADITIONAL, ISN'T IT?

Neil: VERY, VERY TRADITIONAL.

Huell: OH, LOOK, SHE'S JUST... POURING THIS... OH, BOY!

OH, I LIKE THIS!

I LIKE THIS!

AND SHE JUST WORKS IT THROUGH THERE...

BOY, THAT IS... OH, SHE'S PUTTING IT THROUGH A SECOND TIME!

America: NECTAR.

Huell: NECTAR.

America: YEAH!

Huell: OH, WOW!

THIS IS VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE.

DO YOU STILL MAKE YOUR COFFEE THIS WAY?

Neil: NOT REALLY.

THIS IS JUST TO SHOW YOU GUYS.

Huell: HA HA HA HA!

OK, GOOD.

WELL, IT'S GIVING US A GOOD... AND THEN OVER HERE--WAIT A MINUTE.

WE'VE GOT--HERE'S YOUR GRANDFATHER AGAIN.

WHO'S THIS, YOUR GRANDMOTHER?

Neil: MY GRANDMOTHER.

YES.

Huell: HELLO!

NICE TO MEET YOU.

HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN MARRIED?

[NEIL ASKS QUESTION IN SPANISH] Neil's father: SETENTA Y CINCO ANOS.

Neil: 75 YEARS.

Huell: 75 YEARS!

CONGRATULATIONS!

THEY'RE STILL SMILING AT EACH OTHER.

Neil: YES.

THEY ARE IN LOVE STILL.

Huell: THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

AND WHO IS THIS LADY OVER HERE?

Neil: THIS IS MY AUNT.

MY COUSIN.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOUR NAME IS... Emile: EMILE.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

THE CUBAN FAMILY IS VERY CLOSE TOGETHER, AREN'T YOU?

Neil: THAT'S WHY WE LIKE TO GATHER HERE, YOU KNOW?

AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK, WE'RE HERE TOGETHER DRINKING COFFEE AND PASTRIES AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

Huell: SO WE GOT THE COFFEE OVER HERE.

WE GOT THE PASTRIES HERE.

THE QUESTION IS WHERE'S THE WINE?

Neil: THE WINE'S COMING NOW.

MY DAD'S GONNA GET THE WINE RIGHT NOW.

Huell: WHERE DOES HE GET IT, OUT OF THE BASEMENT, OR... Neil: WE GOT A LITTLE BAR BACK HERE.

Huell: OK. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET THE WINE!

WHAT HAVE WE GOT OVER HERE?

THIS ISN'T REALLY WINE.

THIS IS... OH, THIS IS CUBAN RUM!

FROM CUBA!

Neil: THAT'S HAVANA CLUB.

THAT'S THE ORIGINAL RUM FROM CUBA.

Huell: OH, WOW!

Neil: WE GOT THE WHITE AND THE YELLOW HERE.

Huell: IS THIS FROM CUBA?

HOW DID YOU GET THAT OVER HERE?

Neil: WE HAVE SOME FAMILY THAT CAME FROM CUBA, AND THEY PUT IT INSIDE A BAG AND BROUGHT IT OVER HERE.

Huell: OH!

I GUESS IT'S LEGAL, ISN'T IT?

Neil: I DON'T KNOW!

Huell: WELL, WE'LL DRINK IT TO HIDE THE EVIDENCE.

SO YOU'VE GOT CUBAN HAVANA CLUB, UH, RUM... AND I LOVE THIS WHOLE LITTLE SETUP HERE.

IS THIS THE KIND OF SETUP THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN YOUR BACKYARD IN CUBA?

Neil: IT'S VERY ORIGINAL, YEAH.

ALL THIS HERE WITH ALL THE CHAINS AND ROPES AND ALL THESE THINGS... Huell: OH, PULL THOSE OUT.

THOSE AREN'T CIGARS, ARE THEY?

Neil: THEY'RE COHIBAS.

Huell: UH-OH!

OH!

BOY!

Neil: NOW WE'RE TALKING, EH?

Huell: NOW WE HIT THE JACKPOT!

Neil: HA HA HA!

Huell: SO THAT'S THE END OF TODAY'S ADVENTURE.

AND AS WITH SO MANY OF OUR ADVENTURES, IT HAS TAKEN SOME INTERESTING TWISTS AND TURNS.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED WAS YOU GAVE ME THAT BUSINESS CARD AND SAID COME SEE YOUR RED CANARIES.

WE CAME TO SEE YOUR RED CANARIES AND LOVED 'EM!

BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, WE MET YOUR FAMILY, YOUR GRANDPARENTS, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR AUNT AND LEARNED A LOT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND ITS TRADITIONS AND ITS HERITAGE.

IT'S JUST BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Neil: THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER.

Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

America: THANK YOU FOR COMING.

Huell: THANK YOU...THANK YOU...

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY.

THE NAME OF THE FAMILY AGAIN... Neil: THE RIVERONS.

Huell: THE RIVERONS HERE IN BELL GARDENS.

NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL RED CANARIES, BUT THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY AS WELL... NOT TO MENTION... Neil: WINE.

Huell: THE CUBAN RUM THAT I'M DRINKING RIGHT NOW.

THE CIGAR WILL COME IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

GOOD-BYE, EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY WAVE.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY.

THIS IS AS AUTHENTIC AS IT GETS!

I'M FEELING CUBAN ALREADY.

[LAUGHTER] [CANARIES TRILLING] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Huell: YOU KNOW, I SHOULDN'T HAVE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT CUBAN RUM.

THIS COFFEE...

YOUR COFFEE IS VERY GOOD!

THIS IS...WHAT?

Neil: IT'S CALLED CAFE CON LECHE.

IT'S LIKE A CAFE LATTE AT STARBUCKS.

Huell: AHA!

[GRANDMOTHER SPEAKS SPANISH] WHAT DID SHE SAY?

Neil: AND THE SUGAR.

STIR THE SUGAR INSIDE THE COFFEE.

Huell: AH!

'CAUSE IT'S VERY...

HERE, LET'S HAVE SOME.

HAVE HER DRINK UP.

[GRANDFATHER SPEAKS SPANISH] WHAT'D HE SAY?

Neil: THAT YOU CAN MAKE THAT WITH CHOCOLATE, TOO.

Mother: SUGAR.

Huell: SUGAR.

OH!

Grandmother: CON AZUCAR.

Huell: BOY, IT IS SO...

VERY GOOD!

I LIKE THIS BETTER THAN THE RUM!

[LAUGHTER] Announcer: VISITING...WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...