If you have walked along Palm Canyon, you have seen plenty of names on The Palm Springs Walk of Stars that you have never heard of (I believe I saw a “car dealer to the stars” last time I was there). Shockingly (or should I say, “amazingly”), one name you will not see is that of legendary “California’s Gold” host Huell Howser. Seriously, how the hell is that possible?
Answer: money.
You see, the Palm Springs Walk of Stars is not really about honoring famous people – it is about raising a “donation” of $10,000 per star (which is not enough, apparently, for the organization to update their terrible website). This is why the street is flooded with a bunch of “stars” you have never heard of (a.k.a. people who could afford to part with ten grand) or (worse) people with very little connection to The Coachella Valley – instead of someone who actually deserves it like Huell Howser. (note: the “honoree” also has to pay expenses for their ceremony)
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise cash for Huell Howser to get a star – and so far, it has raised over $4,000 towards its $15,000 goal for a star and ceremony.
How it is that no one from The Coachella Valley’s elite country club set hasn’t stepped up to pay the whole tab is beyond me (seeing as how soon they can spend that much on a 1 night stay in Rancho Mirage), so it looks like it is up to the rest of us to get Huell Howser the recognition he deserves.