Find out what classic episodes of "Visiting" are airing on KCET this week! Read more about KCET's Huell-centric programming here, and share your memories of Huell with other fans here.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Diorama"

Huell visits the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to discover the history of its famous animal dioramas. There, he visits with Robert Reid, who has been the resident artist for 20 years at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and the man responsible for creating all of the beautiful dioramas. From deserts to beaches, Reid captures the natural beauty with his paint brushes. Robert works closely with Tim Bovard, the taxidermist responsible for making the animals look so lifelike. Together, they make a unique team.

Watch a preview:

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Bug Fair"

Huell visits the Los Angeles Natural History Museum as it crawls with bugs at the 22nd Annual Bug Fair, the largest event of its kind in North America! We explore the world of insects and their arthropod relatives. There are live spiders and scorpions, and collections of butterflies and even bats. Over 60 vendors were on hand with books, entomological equipment and supplies, artwork, toys, clothing and more. It's a creepy, crawly day!

Watch a preview:

So here's an interesting package of old Huell Howser clips. First, it's a late-70s Huell touring the "party plane" that The Eagles flew on their concert tour. Immediately following is a May 1994 episode of "Visiting With Huell Howser" in which Huell attends The Eagles' inaugural performance of the Hell Freezes Over tour, at Irvine's Meadows Amphitheater.

Given the clips' focus on a major rock band, you'd think it would mostly focus on The Eagles themselves. Nope. The first clip doesn't actually feature The Eagles at all but rather the woman who works as the flight attendant/den mother on the party plane. At the 1994 concert, Huell does get to have a few words with The Eagles, but the rockers are basically given equal footing with everyone else -- crew members, behind-the-scenes folks and fans. Because it's Huell, and to him everyone's a celebrity.

See for yourself:

Watch for the 5:25 mark when Huell, refers to a group of firefighters, nearly says "You're all Farrah Fawcetts," before catching himself, correcting himself and continuing the interview without missing a beat. And then at 21:03, Glenn Frey grips Huell's biceps and asks, "When did you go out and buy the guns?"

Read previous "Retro Huell" posts:

• Dolly Parton
• George Burns
• Zelda Rubinstein
• Luciano Pavarotti
• Richard Simmons
• John Ritter
• Tony Danza
• a leopard
• Hulk Hogan & Mr. T

Find out what classic episodes of "Visiting" are airing on KCET this week! Read more about KCET's Huell-centric programming here, and share your memories of Huell with other fans here.

Vegetarians beware: Monday through Friday this week, KCET is showcasing Huell's best meat-centric episodes. So if you have a philosophical objection to the carnivore lifestyle, these may not be the Huell episodes for you. For the rest of us, however...

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Russak's Meat"

Join Huell for another downtown hidden gem: Russak's Cured and Smoked Products. the Russak family has been producing the most delicious and succulent meats and cold cuts for over 50 years. Now run by the second generation, the company produces everything from corned beef, pastrami and roast beef to jerky and chili con carne.

Watch a preview:

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Cow Tongue"

This Huell adventure started as a result of some disparaging on-air remarks about what he quickly discovered is a culinary delicacy for many people: cow tongue. This episode features a visit to Langer's Deli and a taco stand near USC for some first-hand tongue tasting. This episode also features an appearance by the show's editor, Michael Garber, who is quite the tongue aficionado!

Watch a preview:

The month of May gives us a chance to celebrate Asian Pacific-American heritage and Jewish heritage. Look below to see what special programming KCET will be airing in celebration and commemoration of these cultures.

Saturday, May 11 @ 11:30PM -- "West Encounters East"

The Brazilian capital of Sao Paulo hosts the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. Within this little-known niche - the result of a century-old diaspora - lies a thriving arts community. WEST ENCOUNTERS EAST explores the unique fusion of Eastern and Western artistic traditions in the works of well-known and emerging Japanese-Brazilian artists. The documentary examines their lifestyles, traditions, culture and art while exploring the themes of immigration, dual identity, alienation and assimilation in their work.Art historian and collector Stella M. Holmes guides viewers through Brazil's art world, introducing the artists and discussing their modes of expression and creative processes.

Monday, May 13 @ 10PM -- "Hula: The Language of the Heart"

The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, a four-day competition and exhibition often referred to as the "Olympics of Hula," showcases the elegance, power and storytelling richness of this ancient art form. The program, which highlights the 2012 festival winners, presents an entertaining yet thought-provoking look at hula's role in the past, present and future of the Hawaiian people.

Find out what classic episodes of "Visiting" are airing on KCET this week! Read more about KCET's Huell-centric programming here, and share your memories of Huell with other fans here.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Aerial L.A"

Have you ever wondered how news crews get such good shots from a helicopter? How they can zoom in on a backyard while flying in a machine that rattles your teeth? Well, Huell goes in the air with Helinet to see the latest in cutting edge helicopter mounted cameras. You'll be amazed at how close they really can get and you may never walk around in your underwear in your backyard again!

Watch a preview:

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Ferguson's Shells"

Huell's off to Wilmington to visit Ferguson's Marine Specialties, which is owned and operated by Ralph Ferguson and his daughter, Lupe. Once inside, Huell is literally surrounded by beautiful seashells from all over the world. Ferguson's has a wonderful, authentic, old-time feel to it.

Watch a preview:

Find out what classic episodes of "Visiting" are airing on KCET this week! Read more about KCET's Huell-centric programming here, and share your memories of Huell with other fans here.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Getty Villa"

In 1945, J. Paul Getty acquired a Malibu retreat. Today, this spot includes a Romanesque gallery full of priceless art. Huell also tours the property's historically accurate ancient Roman crop garden.

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Stan's Donuts"

For almost 40 years, Stan's Corner Donut Shop of Westwood, California, has baked the world's most gourmet donuts. From a Cinnamon Chocolate Cheese Danish to an Apple Fritter to a Reese's Peanut Butter Pocket with fresh banana. Stan's offers donuts you will find nowhere else in the world.

Watch a preview:

So what happens when you ask Hulk Hogan and Mr. T which one of them is meaner? Well, it gets physical, as Huell Howser learned one night in 1985. Hulk and T were partners at the time, so Huell's question is rather loaded. Watch the below video to see Hulk's reaction.

The funny part of that 1985-era Huell was in pretty good shape, yet Hulk still shakes him around like a rag doll and calls him a "little skinny reporter." Based on that, it was probably in everyone's best interest that Huell didn't press on and as whether pro-wrestling is real or fake.

Read previous "Retro Huell" posts:

• Dolly Parton
• George Burns
• Zelda Rubinstein
• Luciano Pavarotti
• Richard Simmons
• John Ritter
• Tony Danza
• a leopard

Find out what classic episodes of "Visiting" are airing on KCET this week! Read more about KCET's Huell-centric programming here, and share your memories of Huell with other fans here.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Governor's Mansion"

Huell gets a behind-the-scenes look at the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento. We'll get a special tour from Kathleen Brown, who lived in the house as a teenager.

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Ackermansion"

Huell takes a special tour of Forrest Ackerman's home, which is a shrine to and museum of sci-fi and horror memorabilia. The self-described inventor of the term "sci-fi," Dr. Ackula (as he liked to be called), boasted over 300,000 items from genre films, books and TV shows. He was also a literary agent, and editor of numerous fanzines. Best of all, he opened his house to the public. (Note: Ackerman passed away in 2008 and the museum is no longer operational.)

This Tuesday at 7 p.m., KCET Cinema Series screens the 1973 whodunit romp "The Last of Sheila." Co-stars Dyan Cannon and Richard Benjamin will be in attendance and will be giving a Q&A about the film afterward. The screening -- presented by the James and Paula Coburn Foundation -- will mark the first time Cannon has seen the film since its original release. In an interview with KCET, Cannon recalled filming "Sheila," looked back on her friendship with James Coburn, and also weighed in on the Lakers season as only an expert superfan can.

Why does "The Last of Sheila" still have a following forty years later?

First of all, you must be making a mistake. It can't be forty years later. Maybe it's four? Five? It can't be forty. [Laughs] I think it has a universal appeal because it's a whodunit shot in the south of France with an amazing cast. And I think that there's something for everyone in the film. There's someone that everyone can identify with. It's a romp. It's an adventure. It's a mystery. ... I have people stop me in the street all the time about it. And by the way, I haven't seen it since it was released, so [Tuesday's screening] is going to be a big treat.

Just watching the movie, it seems like it was a great deal of fun to make. Was it? Do you have any stories about what it like on the set?

First of all, the film's location was set in the south of France. Now do you want to go to the south of France for a month or two? [Laughs] As it turned out, we were filming on Sol Siegel's yacht, and I'm not quite sure why they didn't think that through a little more, because the sea we were shooting on was unpredictable from day to day. So we had to wait in the south of France while they built a set at the Victorine Studios for us. We had to spend our days lying on the beach and going to lunch and shopping. It was a hard job!

Tune in tonight at 7:30PM PST for a panel discussion about the upcoming KCET Link documentary "Shadows of Liberty" and media reform, broadcast live from the National Conference for Media Reform in Denver, CO.

The discussion will feature "Shadows of Liberty" director Jean-Philippe Tremblay, "Democracy Now"'s Amy Goodman, Free Press co-founder Robert McChesney, FAIR's Janine Jackson, author Norman Solomon, and more.

Click here to watch the livestream. And watch the U.S. television premiere of "Shadows of Liberty" tomorrow, April 5, on both KCET and LinkTV. Get more info here.