>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

AND LET ME SET THE STAGE FOR YOU.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'RE IN SEAL BEACH.

AND WE CAME DOWN HERE TO DO A STORY ON, OF ALL THINGS, THE DESALINIZATION OF WATER.

AND WE FINISHED DOING THE OPENING OF THE SHOW DOWN THERE ON THE BEACH, RIGHT HERE BY THE PIER AT SEAL BEACH.

AND WE WERE WALKING BACK TO THE CAR, AND WE SAW SOMETHING OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET THAT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION.

WE STOPPED AND STARTED INTERVIEWING THIS GUY.

YOU'LL SEE THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.

AND THE MOMENT THAT WE STOPPED AND STARTED TALKING WITH HIM STARTED A WHOLE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHERE WE ENDED UP MEETING SOME AMAZING PEOPLE AND TALKING WITH THEM AND HEARING THEIR STORIES.

AND HERE IN JUST A MATTER OF LESS THAN 30 MINUTES, WE HAVE REALLY, I THINK, TAPPED INTO THE FLAVOR AND THE ENERGY OF WHAT SEAL BEACH IS ALL ABOUT.

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

I THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT FROM THE PEOPLE WE TALK WITH AND THE STORIES THAT THEY TELL.

[CHIRPING] Huell: LOOK AT THAT LITTLE BIRD.

DOES THAT LITTLE BIRD HAVE A NAME?

>> THE NAME'S CUDDLES.

Huell: CUDDLES.

WHAT A GREAT NAME FOR THIS BIRD.

HERE'S THE DEAL.

WE WERE WALKING DOWN THE PIER HERE AT SEAL BEACH, AND WE RAN INTO YOU.

YOUR NAME IS... >> KEVIN.

Huell: WE HAVEN'T REALLY OFFICIALLY MET, HAVE WE?

WE JUST GOT HERE AND WE SAW YOU SITTING HERE ON THE BENCH WITH THIS LITTLE BIRD, AND THERE'S A WONDERFUL STORY HERE.

TELL US THE STORY.

WHAT'S THE DEAL ON CUDDLES?

>> WELL, I GOT HER ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO.

Huell: WHAT KIND OF A BIRD IS SHE?

>> SHE'S A PEACHFACE LOVEBIRD.

Huell: A LOVEBIRD.

>> YEAH.

AND THEY MATE FOR LIFE, SO I ONLY GOT ONE, SO IT WOULD BOND TO ME.

Huell: SO, SHE BONDED WITH YOU INSTEAD OF ANOTHER BIRD.

>> RIGHT.

Huell: AND, DOES SHE COME OUT HERE WITH YOU AND JUST SIT ON THE GLASS BEHIND YOU AT THE BENCH?

>> SHE RUNS UP AND DOWN HERE AND TALKS TO EVERYBODY--JUST HAS A BALL DOWN HERE.

IT'S HER FAVORITE PLACE.

Huell: YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HER FLYING AWAY.

>> NO, SHE WON'T FLY AWAY.

Huell: HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN 7 YEARS.

SHE DOESN'T GO VERY FAR AWAY FROM ME.

Huell: AND WHAT IS THE NOISE SHE'S MAKING NOW?

IS SHE UPSET THAT I'M HERE?

IS SHE-- IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I SIT DOWN?

>> YEAH.

OH, YEAH.

SHE MIGHT EVEN JUMP OVER ON YOUR SHOULDER ON HER OWN, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE HER IDEA.

Huell: WOW.

>> YEAH.

Huell: AND THIS HAS GOT TO CATCH A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

>> YEAH, THEY TALK ABOUT HER A LOT.

Huell: HA!

WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS DO PEOPLE ASK YOU?

>> MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, IS SHE-- WILL SHE FLY AWAY, AND IS IT YOUR BIRD?

A LOT OF TIMES THEY THINK IT'S A WILD BIRD.

Huell: WOW, THIS IS AN AMAZING THING.

A LOVEBIRD.

SO, IT'S NOT LIKE I COULD PUT MY HAND OUT.

>> NO, IT WON'T GO TO YOU.

IT'LL JUST WALK AWAY.

IT WON'T BITE YOU OR ANYTHING.

IT'LL JUST WALK AWAY.

Huell: SHE REALLY KNOWS YOU.

THIS IS LIKE--LIKE ANY KIND OF A PET.

THIS BIRD KNOWS YOU RIGHT ON.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

SHE'LL ONLY GO ON MY FINGER.

Huell: AND HOW LONG IS SHE GONNA LIVE?

>> 15-20 YEARS.

Huell: SO, SHE'S GONNA BECOME-- I GUESS SHE'S ALREADY A HUGE PART OF YOUR LIFE.

>> OH, YES, SHE IS.

YEAH.

THEY'RE NO DIFFERENT THAN MY LAB FROM 20 YEARS AGO, REALLY.

UM, THEY'RE SOCIAL AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE DOGS, REALLY.

THEY WANNA BE WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.

Huell: SO-- >> INSTEAD OF TAKING HER FOR A WALK, I PUT HER ON MY SHOULDER.

BUT, UH-- Huell: SO, DO YOU TAKE HER AROUND ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERYWHERE YOU GO?

>> EVERYWHERE.

OH, YEAH-- THE BANK AND SAV-ON.

Huell: YOU TAKE HER IN THE BANK?

>> YEAH, THEY LOVE HER.

YEAH, EVERYBODY SEEMS TO LOVE HER.

[CHIRPING] Huell: THIS IS AMAZING.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WITH PARROTS ON THEIR SHOULDER-- >> THAT IS A PARROT.

THAT'S-- THE SECOND-SMALLEST PARROT IS A LOVEBIRD.

SO, IT IS A PARROT.

Huell: WHERE ARE THEY FROM?

WHERE ARE THEY-- >> I THINK THEY'RE FROM SOUTH AMERICA, AND SOMEBODY SAYS AUSTRALIA.

Huell: WOW.

THEY'RE JUST SPECTACULAR BIRDS.

>> OH, YEAH.

SHE'S-- [CHIRPING] Huell: WHERE DOES SHE SLEEP AT NIGHT?

IN A CAGE?

I'M TRYING TO THINK OF LOVEBIRD QUESTIONS HERE.

>> SHE ACTUALLY DOES SLEEP AND EAT IN A CAGE.

BUT AT NIGHT, SHE'LL JUST CRAWL ON MY TANK TOP AND GO TO SLEEP RIGHT HERE.

Huell: IN THE BED?

>> YEAH--NO, I'LL BE IN MY RECLINER.

AND SHE'LL JUST CRAWL IN AND GO TO SLEEP.

Huell: RIGHT IN--JUST SLEEP RIGHT THERE?

>> YEAH, UNTIL I GO TO BED.

SHE'LL JUST KIND OF HANG THERE AND-- Huell: SO, DO YOU ALL HAVE A SCHEDULE?

>> UH, NO.

IT'S JUST WHENEVER I'M AROUND.

IF I GO ANYWHERE, I JUST TAKE HER.

Huell: DID YOU EVER THINK THAT YOU WOULD GET THIS ATTACHED-- ALTHOUGH, I GOTTA TELL YOU, JUST SITTING HERE LOOKING AT CUDDLES, IT'S EASY TO SEE HOW YOU COULD GET DRAWN IN BY THIS LOVEBIRD.

>> OH, THEY'RE GREAT.

THEY'RE REALLY GREAT.

I SAW MY WIFE GET ATTACHED TO A COCKATIEL.

AND THEY BECOME BEST FRIENDS AND...

IT BONDED TO HER.

AND WHEN I SAW THAT--2 YEARS LATER, I JUST GOT MY OWN BIRD, BECAUSE THE COCKATIEL WOULDN'T EVEN COME NEAR ME.

Huell: REALLY?

>> YEAH.

THEY PICK OUT WHO THEY WANNA BE CLOSE TO, AND SHE WAS HOME ALL THE TIME, NOT WORKING, AND I WAS.

SO, I WASN'T THERE VERY OFTEN.

SO, THAT'S HOW I KNEW THAT YOU JUST GET ONE.

Huell: WAS THERE A PERIOD WHEN YOU ALL HAD TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND BUILD UP YOUR CONFIDENCE AND COMFORT LEVEL?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

I GOT IT FROM A BREEDER AT 8 WEEKS OLD-- HAND-FED FOR 8 WEEKS, SO IT WAS USED TO BEING TOUCHED.

SO, IT JUST CRAWLED UP MY SHIRT, AND IT JUST LOVED ME RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

Huell: IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

>> YEAH, AND SHE JUST STUCK RIGHT WITH ME.

I TOOK HER OUT RIGHT AWAY.

Huell: SHE'S A VOCAL LITTLE THING, ISN'T SHE?

>> SHE'S GETTING EXCITED.

[CHIRPING] >> BUT SHE'S A MUTE WHEN I GO INTO SAV-ONS OR THE CHURCH.

UH, CHURCH, OR ANYWHERE.

UH, NOT CHURCH.

Huell: YOU DON'T TAKE HER TO CHURCH.

>> NO, I DON'T.

I MEANT, UH, THE BANK.

YEAH, AND...BUT SHE WON'T SAY ANYTHING.

BUT WHEN SHE'S OUT, SHE DOES.

Huell: WOW.

AND WHY DOES SHE LIKE IT HERE?

'CAUSE THERE'S TRAFFIC GOING BY, AND PEOPLE GOING BY-- >> I THINK SHE CAN HEAR THE OTHER BIRDS AND THINGS.

AND SHE JUST LOVES IT HERE.

SHE CAN'T WAIT TO GET HERE.

[CHIRPING] Huell: OH, LOOK!

SHE CAME ON YOUR HEAD!

>> WATCH THIS.

SHE'S LIKE A TRACK STAR.

Huell: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

>> OH, I JUST PUT HER HERE, AND SHE JUST RUNS BACK.

SHE'S LIKE A LITTLE TRACK STAR.

[CHIRPING] Huell: HA HA HA!

AND SHE COMES RIGHT TO YOU.

>> OH, YEAH.

WHEN I GET UP TO THROW AWAY THE PAPER, SHE THINKS I'M LEAVING AND SHE SCREAMS, AND, WHATEVER.

LIKE, IN 7 YEARS, I'VE NEVER...I'VE NEVER REALLY WENT AWAY FROM HER, BUT SHE SCREAMS EVERY TIME I GO JUST 10 FEET AWAY.

Huell: CAN YOU DO THAT AGAIN?

CAN YOU GET HER DOWN THERE AT THE OTHER END?

>> WHERE YOU GOING?

WHERE YOU GOING?

Huell: SO, HE'S GONNA DO A LITTLE TRACK-STAR THING.

HERE SHE COMES.

COME ON, CUDDLES.

[BOTH CHUCKLE] I THINK THE CAMERA MAY BE INTIMIDATING HER A LITTLE BIT NOW.

>> SHE'S NEVER SEEN A CAMERA.

WHEN SHE SEES THINGS SHE'S NEVER SEEN BEFORE, THAT FREAKS HER OUT A LITTLE BIT.

Huell: HERE SHE COMES.

I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO DOWN AND-- >> NO, SHE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

Huell: SHE'LL COME ALL THE WAY TO YOU?

>> OH, YEAH.

Huell: BECAUSE, WE'RE KIND OF, UH... >> SHE MIGHT WANT TO JUST STAY THERE AND RUN UP AND DOWN.

Huell: HERE SHE COMES.

>> SHE DOES THAT.

AND SHE REALLY THINKS SHE'S THE MAN UP HERE.

YEAH, 6 INCHES REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

[CHIRPING] Huell: HA HA HA!

>> AND THE LITTLE SPARROWS COME AND SIT HERE.

AND SHE'LL GO TO WARD THEM AND THEY'LL FLY AWAY, 'CAUSE THEY'RE SCARED OF HER.

Huell: YOU THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE COLOR, HER COLOR?

>> I THINK IT'S--SHE'S AGGRESSIVE, AND THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE, YOU KNOW-- THE SOUND.

THEY'VE NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE.

Huell: NOW, IS SHE GETTING READY TO JUMP UP ON YOU?

>> OH, SHE MIGHT.

[AGITATED CHIRPING] >> WHEN SHE SEES KIDS RUN TOWARD HER, SHE'S--LITTLE PEOPLE SCARE HER.

SHE'LL JUMP UP ON ME THEN, TO GET AWAY FROM THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE UNPREDICTABLE.

SHE'S UNDERSTOOD THAT.

Huell: I'M GONNA STEP BACK AND SEE--YEAH, I BET SHE--OH, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!

SEE, PEOPLE WANT TO--THE KIDS WANT TO GET TO HER, DON'T THEY?

>> YEAH.

OH, YEAH.

Huell: YOU WANT TO TOUCH THE BIRD?

I DON'T THINK YOU--OH!

>> YOU CAN DO IT THIS WAY.

I GOTTA HOLD IT.

Huell: OH, LOOK.

[CHIRPING] >> I GOTTA HOLD IT, BUT SHE WON'T LET IT DO IT ON ITS OWN.

Huell: COME ON, KIDS.

YOU CAN COME OVER AND...OH, MY GOSH.

>> HE'S TALK!

Huell: OH, WOW.

CAN I TOUCH IT, TOO?

>> SURE.

Huell: OH, WOW.

AND SHE DOESN'T MIND THAT AT ALL.

>> WELL, SHE PUTS UP WITH IT.

I MEAN, I DON'T, YOU KNOW-- I DO IT ALL THE TIME 'CAUSE KIDS ALWAYS-- [CHILDREN SCREAM AND LAUGH] Huell: HEH HEH HEH!

OH, WHERE IS THE BIRD NOW?

>> IT'S RIGHT ON MY SHOULDER.

Huell: OH, OK. [CHIRPING] Huell: YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST STAY HERE--I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON HERE.

YOU COULD MAKE A WHOLE AFTERNOON--WE COULD JUST STAY HERE ALL DAY.

>> UH, SHE'S MY WHOLE SOCIAL LIFE, BELIEVE ME.

[HUELL LAUGHS] SHE'S MY WHOLE SOCIAL LIFE.

HA HA HA!

Huell: HEY, CUDDLES!

[CHIRPING] Huell: HEY, CUDDLES.

[WHISTLING] >> COME ON, GET OVER HERE.

[WHISTLING] >> [CHIRPING] Huell: FROM LOVEBIRDS... TO DOGS.

WHAT'S THE DEAL ON YOUR 2 LITTLE DOGS HERE?

>> UH...JUST, LITTLE CHIHUAHUA AND A CORGI.

Huell: AND LOOK AT 'EM OUT HERE.

DO THEY GET ALONG WELL TOGETHER, ARE THEY-- >> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY PLAY ALL THE TIME.

THEY LOVE IT.

Huell: WHY DID YOU GET THIS COMBINATION?

>> UM, WELL, WE HAD THE CORGI FIRST, AND HE'S 10 YEARS OLD.

AND WE JUST GOT THE CHIHUAHUA RECENTLY.

MY DAUGHTER HAD A CHIHUAHUA, AND HE FELL IN LOVE WITH PLAYING WITH HER, SO WE GOT ONE, TOO.

Huell: SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING, JUST STANDING OUT HERE TALKING DOGS?

>> UH, NO, WE'VE BEEN OUT ON THE PIER WATCHING THE SEAGULLS AND THE FISH AND THE... PEOPLE FISHING.

Huell: DID YOU JUST SEE THESE LITTLE DOGS COME BY AND YOU WANTED TO... >> WE WANTED TO PET THEM.

[LAUGHTER] Huell: WELL, COME ON, LET'S PET 'EM.

COME ON.

CAN WE PET THE DOG?

COME ON.

WELL, SHE PROBABLY LOVES BEING PETTED.

YEAH, AND WHAT ABOUT THE CHIHUAHUA?

>> UH, SOMETIMES SHE'S A LITTLE BIT AFRAID, BECAUSE SHE'S JUST A PUPPY.

Huell: OH, SHE'S A LITTLE PUPPY.

LOOK AT THAT-- >> JAKE IS JUST ABSOLUTELY REGAL-LOOKING TO ME.

ISN'T HE GORGEOUS?

Huell: OH, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT JAKE'S NAME.

>> OH, I'VE GOT JAKE'S NAME.

YEAH, YEAH... Huell: SO, JAKE IS THE BIG DOG, AND THE LITTLE DOG IS-- >> LUCY.

Huell: LUCY.

[LAUGHTER] THOSE ARE GOOD NAMES.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> IT TOOK US 2 MONTHS TO NAME HER.

Huell: WHAT?

>> I SAID THANK YOU, IT TOOK US 2 MONTHS TO NAME HER.

Huell: WHAT, IT WAS A BIG DECISION?

>> OH, YEAH... Huell: CAN WE PICK THIS LITTLE DOG UP?

I WANNA GET A LOOK AT THIS LITTLE...AND THE NAME OF THIS LITTLE DOG IS-- >> LUCY.

Huell: LUCY.

LOOK AT THIS LITTLE DOG.

HOWDY!

LOOK AT THIS LITTLE DOG OVER HERE.

AW!

>> SHE LOVES YOU.

SHE LOVES EVERYBODY.

HEH HEH HEH!

Huell: OH, SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL DOG.

>> YEAH, SHE'S A SWEETIE.

Huell: YOU KNOW, I THINK SEAL BEACH HAS A NICE...THERE'S A NICE FEEL AROUND HERE.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL.

I'VE BEEN HERE 2 YEARS, AND I WOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE ELSE.

Huell: WE JUST TALKED TO A GUY ACROSS THE STREET ABOUT HIS LITTLE LOVEBIRD THAT HE HAS ON HIS SHOULDER, AND NOW WE'VE GOT YOU WITH YOUR 2 DOGS, JAKE AND LUCY.

>> YUP.

THERE'S LOTS OF DOGS IN SEAL BEACH.

EVERYBODY'S ANIMAL LOVERS HERE.

Huell: REALLY?

>> IT'S GREAT.

I MEAN, THE DOGS GET FAT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GIVING 'EM TREATS.

YOU GO IN THE HARDWARE STORE, THEY GIVE 'EM TREATS.

YOU GO ANYWHERE, THEY GIVE 'EM TREATS.

THE MAILMAN--TREATS.

HA HA HA!

Huell: WELL, THAT'S GOOD.

LET'S GET A GOOD SHOT AT JAKE, 'CAUSE WE'VE KIND OF NEGLECTED JAKE.

THERE HE GOES.

>> GIVE HIM YOUR BEST SIDE-- Huell: GIVE US--YEAH, GIVE US YOUR BEST SIDE, JAKE.

THERE YOU GO.

OH, BOY.

HE IS A REGAL-LOOKING DOG, ISN'T HE?

>> WELL, HE'S THE QUEEN'S DOG.

THE QUEEN HAS CORGIS.

Huell: OH, I-- >> HA HA HA!

Huell: HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT?

THERE ARE DOGS EVERYWHERE IN SEAL BEACH.

>> HE WANTED TO COME SEE YOU.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS-- >> JERRI CHAFFIN.

THIS IS TAY-GRAY.

Huell: TAY-GRAY.

SO, THIS REALLY IS A DOG TOWN.

>> YEAH, VERY MUCH SO.

EVERYBODY'S OUT WALKING THEIR DOGS ALL THE TIME-- Huell: SO, IT'S KIND OF A SOCIAL THING.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

IT'S A GREAT TOWN.

Huell: SO, HOW DOES YOUR DOG STACK UP AGAINST, THE 2--DID YOU SEE THE 2 WE WERE INTERVIEWING?

>> NO.

NO, WHAT WERE THEY?

Huell: THERE WAS A-- >> THE BIG DOGS?

Huell: WHAT WAS THAT?

UH...

THE QUEEN'S DOG.

WHAT'S THAT?

A CORGI.

>> OH, A CORGI.

Huell: AND A CHIHUAHUA.

>> OH.

IT'S RIGHT IN THERE.

Huell: THIS IS A WHAT?

>> RIGHT IN THERE.

THAT'S A YORKIE.

Huell: I CAN'T TELL.

THERE'S SO MUCH HAIR.

>> I KNOW IT!

HA HA HA!

Huell: SO, IS THE DEAL, YOU JUST WALK THE DOG?

>> WELL, YOU WALK THE DOGS.

YOU WALK THE DOGS.

I'M BABYSITTING.

Huell: OH, THIS ISN'T YOUR DOG?

>> NO, I'M BABYSITTING.

Huell: WHOSE DOG IS THIS?

>> THIS IS THE DUNNS' DOG.

Huell: THE DUNNS' DOG.

>> YEAH, THE DUNNS' DOG.

Huell: YOUR NEIGHBORS.

>> SO, I'M BABYSITTING FOR THE NIGHT SO THEY COULD GET AWAY.

[HUELL LAUGHS] THEY WON'T LEAVE THE DOG BY ITSELF.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

HA HA HA!

Huell: WELL, THIS IS FUN.

WE'RE SURE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

>> WELL, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU!

Huell: WE'VE SEEN A LOVEBIRD AND 3 DOGS, AND MET A LOT OF NICE PEOPLE ON TOP OF THAT.

>> IT'S GREAT.

HA HA HA!

Huell: WE GOT TWINS HERE!

WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE?

>> WE GOT DOUBLE TROUBLE.

HA HA HA!

Huell: TWINS IN SEAL BEACH.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY] Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY] >> AND AUSTIN.

>> THEY SAY EVERYTHING THE SAME.

>> DANE AND AUSTIN.

Huell: OH, DANE AND AUSTIN.

>> THIS IS DANE, AND THIS IS AUSTIN.

Huell: THIS IS DANE, AND THIS IS AUSTIN.

BOY, THEY ARE REALLY-- THEY'RE IDENTICAL TWINS, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY SURE ARE.

CAN YOU TELL HIM HOW OLD YOU ARE?

>> WE'RE 3!

Huell: WE'RE 3.

3 HERE AND 3 HERE, RIGHT?

>> THEY ANSWER THE SAME FOR BOTH PEOPLE.

Huell: REALLY?

>> OK. CAN YOU SAY, "HI, HUELL HOWSER?"

>> [SIMULTANEOUSLY] HI, HUELL HOWSER.

[LAUGHTER] Huell: NOW, ARE YOU A LOCAL SEAL BEACHEAN?

>> YES, I AM!

Huell: AND, WHAT--BOY, YOU SAY THAT WITH SUCH PRIDE.

>> ENTHUSIASM, YES!

IT'S THE KEY TO SEAL BEACH.

Huell: MY GOSH!

SO, TELL ME.

GET ME EXCITED ABOUT SEAL BEACH.

>> WELL, SEAL BEACH IS A PLACE FOR FUN AND EXCITEMENT.

IT'S A SMALL TOWN WITH LOTS OF, UH-- >> BIG PEOPLE.

>> [GIGGLES] BIG, EXCITING EVENTS GOING ON HERE.

Huell: SO, 4 LOCALS JUST PULLED UP.

WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE, FELLAS?

>> NOTHING.

JUST HANGING OUT, THINKING ABOUT EATING AT TACO SURF RIGHT OVER HERE.

Huell: TACO SURF--THAT'S THE LOCAL PLACE IN TOWN?

>> IT'S GREAT.

YOU GOTTA ENJOY TACOS.

Huell: NOW, LISTEN.

WE JUST PULLED INTO TOWN AND STARTED MEETING ALL THESE PEOPLE.

WE GOT PEOPLE WITH PETS.

WE GOT PEOPLE WITH KIDS.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A REALLY FRIENDLY, NICE PLACE TO LIVE.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY IS.

IT'S REALLY LIKE A FAMILY-ORIENTED COMMUNITY.

AND I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, AND IT'S A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO GROW UP.

Huell: SO, ARE YOU A BEACH GUY?

>> KIND OF-- Huell: ARE YOU A SURFER?

ARE YOU A... >> NOT AS MUCH, BUT YOU COULD SAY THAT, KIND OF.

Huell: SO, DO YOU EVER GO INTO TOWN?

DO YOU EVER GO INTO L.A.?

OR DO YOU JUST--DO BEACH PEOPLE JUST STAY HERE?

>> YEAH.

>> STAY HERE.

>> YEAH, WE STAY.

Huell: YOU JUST STAY HERE.

>> NICE, SMALL-TOWN VIBE.

Huell: REALLY?

>> IT'S NICE.

YEAH, I GO TO SCHOOL IN LOS AL, AND JUST HANG OUT AROUND HERE.

Huell: SO, DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO STAY HERE WHEN YOU-- >> THERE'S NO WAY.

'CAUSE THEY'RE SO EXPENSIVE-- Huell: WHAT?

>> THE APARTMENTS AROUND HERE ARE SO EXPENSIVE.

THERE'S NO WAY.

Huell: SO, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

WHERE ARE YOU GONNA GO?

>> GO TO COLLEGE--PROBABLY MOVE UP NORTH.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE YET--HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT STAGE YET.

>> WE GOT 2 OPTIONS.

WE CAN EITHER SPLIT A HOUSE WITH 6 DIFFERENT GUYS, OR WE COULD LIVE WITH OUR PARENTS.

>> TILL I'M 34!

REMEMBER THAT, DAD!

Huell: IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.

LOOK AT ALL THESE FISHERMEN COMING UP HERE.

>> HA HA HA!

HOW YOU DOIN'?

Huell: COME ON, COME ON.

HAVE YOU ALL SPENT THE-- >> ONE MORE STRAGGLER COMING UP.

Huell: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN TODAY?

RIGHT HERE ON THE PIER?

>> NO, WE JUST GOT HERE.

Huell: OH, SO YOU'RE COMING TO FISH.

>> YES, WE ARE.

Huell: SO, THIS IS YOUR FISHING HANGOUT.

>> YES, BASICALLY IT IS.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU CATCH HERE?

>> WE CATCH MACKEREL, TOMCODS, UH... Huell: SINGLE MEN THAT ARE RICH.

>> YES.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS IS YOUR FAMILY HERE.

DON'T BE SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS GREAT.

SO, THIS IS A REGULAR--A REGULAR THING THAT YOU DO.

THERE SHE GOES.

>> WE BRING THE FAMILY AND WE HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Huell: GREAT.

WELL, YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

I HOPE YOU CATCH SOMETHING.

>> OH, WE WILL, DEFINITELY.

Huell: YOU DON'T GO HOME EMPTY-HANDED, DO YOU?

>> NO, I'M HERE.

I'M THE STAR FISHERMAN.

Huell: YOU ARE?

>> THE VERY FIRST THING I EVER CATCH IS THE STARFISH.

THAT TELLS YOU RIGHT THERE--I'M THE STAR FISHERMAN.

>> HA HA HA!

Huell: WOW.

WELL, GOOD LUCK.

THE NAME OF THIS FAMILY IS THE-- >> THE BALDERAMA FAMILY.

IT'S BALDERAMA.

THIS IS EDWARD LAWRENCE, CERISSE LAWRENCE, SARAH LYNN, AND CHRISTINA.

Huell: WOW.

THAT'S A--AND, YOU KNOW WHAT, A FAMILY THAT FISHES TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.

>> THERE YOU GO.

Huell: HAVE A GREAT DAY ON THE SEAL BEACH PIER.

NICE TO MEET YOU ALL.

>> THIS IS MY SON RONEY.

Huell: SO, THIS IS JUST AN AFTERNOON THING TO DO, JUST-- >> ACTUALLY, I'VE GOT MY BROTHERS OUT HERE.

WE'RE FISHING.

THE MACKEREL ARE GOING NUTS OUT THERE.

GUYS ARE COMING OUT OF THERE WITH BUCKETS OF FISH.

Huell: YEAH.

AND YOU LIVE IN THIS TOWN.

>> UH, ACTUALLY, NO, I DON'T.

I CAME HERE, I LIVE IN SAN BERNARDINO.

AND WE DON'T HAVE REALLY GOOD FISHING SPOTS, SO WE COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE TO FISH.

Huell: HOW DID YOU FIND SEAL BEACH?

WHY HERE?

>> I USED TO LIVE JUST UP THE WAY HERE, NOT TOO FAR--USED TO.

SO, THIS HAS JUST ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT LITTLE SPOT FOR ME TO COME.

Huell: AND WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE IN SAN BERNARDINO, YOU MUST BE THINKING OF THIS PLACE A LOT.

>> I LOVE THIS PLACE.

IT'S JUST...THE PEOPLE HERE ARE SO NICE.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU FEEL WELCOME NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT--OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU KNOW?

Huell: YEAH, WE'VE BEEN MADE TO FEEL WELCOME HERE.

>> HAVE YOU BEEN UP AND DOWN MAIN STREET HERE?

Huell: YEAH.

>> OH, THIS IS AWESOME!

YOU CAN'T--I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE PLACES.

I MEAN, ALL THE NEAT, NEAT LITTLE TRINKETS PEOPLE HAVE.

Huell: SO, THIS IS LITERALLY MAIN STREET.

THIS IS THE MAIN DRAG.

>> THIS IS IT, RIGHT HERE.

Huell: AND IT RUNS STRAIGHT, MAIN STREET, STRAIGHT ONTO THE PIER.

>> YES, SIR.

YES, SIR.

AND THIS IS THE BEST FISHING SPOT IN THE WHOLE COUNTY, RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS IT.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

YOUR NAME IS-- >> MY NAME IS RON.

RON BICKEL.

Huell: AND YOUR SON'S NAME-- >> RONNY BICKEL III.

Huell: CAN WE SHAKE HANDS?

[RON LAUGHS] >> I'M EATING.

Huell: YOU'RE WHAT?

>> I'M EATING.

Huell: OH.

>> THIS IS HUELL HOWSER.

Huell: COME ON, LET'S GET HIS PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

HE'S EATING.

>> HE IS.

I'M TELLING YOU-- THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT.

WE'VE BEEN OUT HERE FISHING, SO HE'S READY TO GO HOME AND EAT SOME FISH.

[LAUGHS] Huell: NOW, DO YOU ALL LIVE HERE?

>> NO, WE LIVE IN WHITTIER.

Huell: SO, YOU'VE JUST, WHAT-- DRIVEN TO THE BEACH FOR THE DAY, TO-- >> MM-HMM.

EXACTLY.

Huell: AND HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THIS DAY HAS FELT LIKE TO YOU?

'CAUSE, BOY, IT SURE FEELS GOOD TO ME.

>> JUST RELAXING.

AFTER A HARD WEEK, IT'S REALLY RELAXING JUST TO COME DOWN HERE AND SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER.

Huell: YEAH.

AND DID YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT SEAL BEACH BEFORE YOU GOT HERE?

>> OH, ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

YEAH, WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR ABOUT A NUMBER OF YEARS.

Huell: TO THIS SPECIFIC PLACE?

>> TO THIS SPECIFIC PLACE, YES.

Huell: AND WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS PLACE THAT KEPT YOU COMING BACK?

>> WELL, FOR THE MOST PART, OVER HERE AT SEAL BEACH IN PARTICULAR, IT'S NOT AS CROWDED AS MOST OF THE OTHER BEACHES.

AND SO, WE CAN COME HERE AND WE CAN ACTUALLY RECUPERATE AND RELAX, YOU KNOW.

Huell: RECUPERATE?

FROM WHAT?

>> FROM A HARD WEEK OF WORK.

Huell: HA HA HA!

SO, YOU ALL DON'T HAVE ANY AGENDA AT ALL HERE TODAY, EXCEPT JUST TO RELAX.

>> JUST TO RELAX, PRETTY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, TAKE A NICE WALK ON THE PIER AND LAY OUT OVER HERE IN THE GRASS.

FOR THE MOST PART.

Huell: WELL, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOUR NAME IS-- >> CHRIS.

Huell: AND-- >> RUTH ANN.

Huell: ENJOYING THE DAY HERE IN SEAL BEACH.

MORE KIDS HERE.

>> OH, YEAH.

Huell: THIS IS A KID-FRIENDLY TOWN, ISN'T IT?

>> DEFINITELY.

THAT'S ALL YOU SEE--KIDS UP AND DOWN.

Huell: WELL, I'M IMPRESSED BY THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET TODAY.

AND IT STARTED OFF--WE STOPPED BECAUSE WE SAW A GUY WITH A LOVEBIRD ON HIS SHOULDER.

AND WE STARTED TALKING WITH HIM, AND IT'S TURNED INTO THIS AMAZING PLACE THAT WE'VE JUST KIND OF CAPTURED.

THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY--A GOOD, POSITIVE FEEL HERE.

>> THIS IS IT.

IT'S LIKE THIS EVERY DAY AND NIGHT, NOT JUST ON THE WEEKENDS.

Huell: IS THAT WHY PEOPLE LIVE HERE?

>> UH, THAT'S WHY I LIVE HERE, AND PROBABLY EVERYBODY ELSE.

Huell: DID YOU KNOW THAT BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, OR WAS IT JUST A PLEASANT SURPRISE?

>> NO, I HAD NO IDEA.

Huell: YOU JUST FELL INTO THIS.

>> GOT LUCKY.

Huell: WOW, WHAT A WONDERFUL-- >> BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO HARD TO LEAVE HERE, TOO.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND THAT IT'S GREAT FOR KIDS LIKE SEAMUS.

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOUR NAME IS-- >> JAY.

Huell: AND THIS IS SEAMUS?

HI, SEAMUS.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND HERE WE GO, OVER HERE.

YOU JUST STANDING HERE WITH YOUR U.S.C.

TROJANS SHIRT ON-- >> YOU KNOW, SEAMUS IS FAMOUS IN THIS TOWN.

HA HA HA!

I'M SERIOUS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS SEAMUS.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

>> NO, THEY'RE LOCALS.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER.

WELL, SEAMU'' WHOLE LIFE.

Huell: HA HA HA!

SO, PEOPLE REALLY DO KNOW EACH OTHER HERE.

>> THIS IS MAYBERRY BY THE SEA.

Huell: IT REALLY IS.

>> THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY CALLS IT.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THEIR NEIGHBORS, EVERYBODY'S FRIENDLY, EVERYBODY SAYS "HI" TO EACH OTHER.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

Huell: HOW DID THIS PLACE-- >> HEY, HOWSER, YOU ROCK!

Huell: ESCAPE THE GENTRIFICATION AND THE DEPERSONALIZATION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SO MANY PLACES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY 'CAUSE WE'RE KIND OF HIDDEN HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE OFF P.C.H.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, YOU DON'T EVEN TURN THIS WAY.

YOU HAVE LONG BEACH AND HUNTINGTON BEACH, AND IF YOU BLINK YOUR EYE... YOU PASSED US.

SO, WE'RE KIND OF OFF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT, IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

I'VE LIVED HERE NOW--I'VE LIVED HERE ABOUT 11 YEARS NOW, BUT I GREW UP IN L.A. AND MY DAD USED TO BRING ME FISHING HERE ON THE PIER ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND-- MY MOM AND DAD, AND...I SAID, "WHEN I GROW UP, I'M GONNA MOVE OUT HERE."

AND HERE I AM.

Huell: A LOCAL JUST KIND OF STANDING HERE, TAKING ALL OF THIS BEAUTY AND THIS FEELING OF--HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE?

>> IT IS JUST A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1971.

AND I WAS BORN ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HERE, SO I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

Huell: WHY IS IT THAT SEAL BEACH HAS BEEN OFF MY RADAR ALL THESE YEARS?

MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> WELL, NO.

SEAL BEACH IS A VERY UNIQUE LITTLE TOWN.

IT'S KIND OF CUT OFF FROM THE MEGAL-- I CAN'T PRONOUNCE THE WORD.

MEGALOPOLIS-- Huell: YEAH.

>> AROUND US.

AND WE HAVE A VERY VIBRANT, LOCAL POLITICAL SCENE HERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GET INVOLVED.

AND SO, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

Huell: THEY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

>> THEY CARE ABOUT SEAL BEACH.

THEY REALLY DO.

Huell: AND THEY MUST CARE ABOUT KEEPING THE COMMUNITY THE WAY IT IS, AND NOT INTRODUCING TOO MUCH RADICAL CHANGE HERE.

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE.

AND, IN FACT, WE HAVE FORESTALLED SOME HUGE DEVELOPMENTS RIGHT NEXT TO US, 2 TIMES, IN FACT.

AND YOU PROBABLY ARE FAMILIAR-- THERE'S A WETLANDS THAT'S JUST BEHIND SEAL BEACH HERE.

AND WE HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP IT A WETLANDS.

IT'S NOT IN VERY GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW, BUT EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE RESTORED, I HOPE.

Huell: YEAH.

SO, YOU'VE GOT YOUR ACT TOGETHER HERE.

>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

Huell: THE COMMUNITY MUST FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT.

>> VERY GOOD INDEED.

Huell: A THIRD- AND FOURTH-GENERATION SEAL BEACHEAN HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: YOU'VE BEEN HERE THAT LONG?

>> I HAVE.

MY DAD MOVED HERE IN '39.

GRANDPARENTS...SO, I'VE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE HERE.

Huell: SO, PEOPLE TEND TO STAY HERE.

YOU KIND OF FIGURE OUT EARLY ON, THIS IS A GOOD PLACE.

>> YOU MOVE BACK.

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WASN'T TOO FUN.

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE MAYBERRY.

BUT, UH, I MOVED BACK.

AND I LOVE IT.

Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE THERE ARE WORSE THINGS THAN TO BE LIKE MAYBERRY.

>> UH, YEAH.

Huell: IN FACT, THAT'S THE SECOND TIME WE'VE HEARD THIS PLACE CALLED "MAYBERRY BY THE SEA" TODAY.

>> IT IS, IT IS.

Huell: IS THAT WHAT THE LOCALS SAY?

>> YEAH-- Huell: WITH AFFECTION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

Huell: IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY.

>> THAT'S WHY I'M BACK.

Huell: INTRODUCE US TO YOUR CHILDREN HERE.

BOY, AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

NOW, IS THIS THE AVERAGE AFTERNOON THING TO DO--WALK DOWN THE PIER?

AND-- >> WE DID IT--UH, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE ARE DOING IT.

Huell: ARE YOU NEW TO SEAL BEACH?

>> NO, NO.

WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

Huell: AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS PLACE?

THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE.

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

WE LOVE COMING HERE VERY OFTEN.

Huell: YEAH.

OH, SO YOU DON'T LIVE HERE.

>> WE LIVE IN SEAL BEACH, YES.

Huell: OH, OK.

SO YOU JUST COME DOWN AT NIGHT AND WALK DOWN THE PIER, AND THE KIDS LIKE TO DO THAT.

>> TODAY WE JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT OF DINNER AND WE'RE GONNA SIT DOWN HERE AND EAT SOME FOOD AND WATCH THE SUNSET.

Huell: YOU'RE GONNA EAT HERE RIGHT ON THE PIER--OH, YOU'VE GOT THE FOOD RIGHT WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHILDREN'S NAMES?

>> YOU CAN ASK THEM.

Huell: OK, I WILL.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

>> AHU.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

AND YOUR NAME?

DO YOU HAVE A NAME?

WHAT IS IT?

WHAT IS YOUR SISTER'S NAME?

>> MIRA.

Huell: MIRA.

OH, THAT'S A-- AND HOW OLD IS YOUR SISTER?

>> 2.

Huell: WOW.

BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

>> AND MY BROTHER-- MY BROTHER IS-- AND MY BROTHER IS-- AND MY BROTHER IS...2.

>> NO.

Huell: HA HA HA!

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

Huell: YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: ENJOY YOUR DINNER TOGETHER.

BYE-BYE.

WAVE GOOD-BYE TO THE CAMERA.

CAN YOU WAVE GOOD-BYE TO US?

BYE.

[CHUCKLES] >> BYE.

SO, THAT'S IT.

WE CAME TO SEAL BEACH.

WE WERE DOING A STORY DOWN HERE ON DESALTING OF WATER.

>> YEAH.

Huell: AND WE ENDED UP MEETING A LOT OF NICE PEOPLE.

WE SAW A GUY WITH A LOVEBIRD...WE MET SOME PEOPLE WITH DOGS...BABIES...

FISHING POLES.

WHAT A PLACE!

>> IT IS A NICE PLACE.

WE ENJOY IT.

Huell: ALL'S RIGHT WITH THE WORLD.

>> YEAH.

Huell: YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA FIND YOUR STORIES.

AND WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

LET'S LOOK DOWN THE PIER, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED...RIGHT HERE IN SEAL BEACH.

WE'RE SURROUNDED WITH WONDERFUL STORIES AND GREAT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WE GO HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.