Tim Williams, the rumply, crumply, stubbly "Trivago Guy" in TV commercials for the hotel site, has started recording an album paying tribute to the country singers he loved growing up in Houston.

"I want to give back what I heard when I was a kid. Country music is storytelling. Merle Haggard, who we lost this year, has always been an inspiration to me," Williams said. "Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, plus John Conlee, George Strait and Mickey Gilley … I remember them all. I also remember singing a lot of Eddie Rabbit when I was a kid in Houston.

"My mom got involved with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year. We eventually made our way to the rodeo in Simonton, where I saw all kinds of country bands. I two-stepped with Mom, we did the 'Cotton Eyed Joe.' You name it, we danced it. It's where I learned to love country music. I even rode a steer in the 'Little Britches Rodeo' they held for kids each year."

Williams, who graduated from Lee High School in 1985, became an actor and went to Germany in 2001 for a movie role. He stayed. A few more film and TV parts led to him being cast as the spokesman for Trivago, which is based in Dusseldorf.

He's made more than 40 Trivago commercials, which air only in North America. There are other "Trivago Guys" and "Trivago Women" who do spots for other parts of the world.

He lives in Berlin now, but visits Houston regularly. He was here last month for two special occasions.

"My grandmother, Pauline Leonhart, turned 100, and I turned 50 this year, so this has been a milestone year," williams said. "I'd like to get back more often. I guess my ideal future would include an apartment in Berlin, an apartment in New York and a nice place down there in Houston town."

Williams said he recently shot a new series of Trivago commercials that will begin airing later this year.

"I can't go into much detail about them, some of it was strenuous but fun! It's the things you get to do as an actor that you wouldn't normally do in life that make this business so great."

Oh, the thing the "Trivago Guy" misses most about Houston?

"James Coney Island hot dogs! I wish they'd hire me to do commercials for them so I could get hot dogs shipped to me no matter where I am!"

What a night for a "Daydream"

John Sebastian, former Lovin' Spoonful singer and Rock 'n' and Roll Hall of Famer, will be at Dosey Doe in The Woodlands on Sept. 24. I saw him last time he played Houston. He's terrific and funny. Let's go.

Your choice, buddy

Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy, and others, are very clear: They don't want their precious Big 12 Conference to admit the University of Houston because it may hurt their chances of recruiting Houston high school players.

Here's the deal, Gundy. Your team lost last week to the Central Michigan Chippewas. UH is one of the most exciting, entertaining and successful programs in college football.

You may be facing a decision, Gundy: Either the Big 12 Conference welcomes UH coach Tom Herman and the Coogs … or you may lose your job to Herman, who's a hot property and deserves to coach in a Power 5 conference. There!

Whiffing at Wiffle Ball

Even more disappointing than Oklahoma State losing to Central Michigan … the sad, uninspired performance of the "602 Tigers" in last week's Arizona Wiffle Ball World Series. I predicted they would win the championship. Instead, despite a lineup loaded with superstar college ringers, the 602 Tigers were bounced in the first round.

I don't like to stir controversy, it's not my nature, but I lay this stunning failure at the feet of team owner and general manager Pat Jewett, who had his top players out of position and emotionally unprepared for the event. He's lost the clubhouse.

If Jerry Jones is a flop wearing multiple hats for the Dallas Cowboys, what makes Jewett think he can run a Wiffle Ball team like a side hobby?

Pethouse Pet of the Week

Name: Max, as in baseball stars Scherzer and Melcher, and actor von Sydow

Birthdate: Jan. 1, 2016 - Happy New Year! Technically, I was the first baby born in Houston this year, but the TV stations refused to acknowledge me, choosing to do a story about some human baby. Where's the justice? This is deplorable! (I just wanted to use the word "deplorable," since every other news story is using it.)

Ethnicity: I'm a mixed up border collie and retriever boyfriend.

Max's musings: H-E-B supermarkets have announced a new line of products called "H-E-B Selects." They're guaranteed free of:

Two hundred different synthetic ingredients, high-fructose syrup, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, Red Dye 40, Yellow Dye 5, bleached flour, partially hydrogenated oils, ADA and potassium bromate dough conditioners and other fake stuff.

Hey, what's left? My Twinkies will be the size of a Raisinet. I love potassium bromate - it's delicious!

Some "H-E-B Selects" items already have hit shelves. There will be 400 different products by the end of the year, including yogurt, cereals, milk, ice cream, bread, hummus, nuts and snack chips. Each "H-E-B Selects" item will have a big green check mark on the package.

I'm warning H-E-B: They better not be messing with my Creamy Creations "Intense Chocolate" ice cream.