VH-1 Backyard BBQ:
featuring Jon Bon Jovi and Robin Leach in Myrtle Beach
by Tim Bullard, part 2

As emcee, Robin Leach's vibrant personality livened up the show as he cut up live on camera trying to improvise a shoddy version of the shag, South Carolina's state dance, with VH-1 Kristen Eykel, asking her, "Are you shagging me, or am I shagging you?" When a female magician mysteriously unveiled a bottle of champagne from a display of colorful scarfs, Leach quipped, "Not exactly my brand, but I always bring my own." He then, proudly without pause, whipped out a bottle of Dom Perignon. Leach later exited the makeshift backstage area behind a shed and talked with me. This was a curious locale for him to slip into melancholy reminiscence; but it was, after all, the day after Americans awoke to learn that Princess Diana had died in a tragic traffic accident.

"Tragic, sad, totally unnecessary," said the British host of "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous." Leach said he has many friends who are professional photographers, stressing that the paparazzi are in another category all together. He described the paparazzi as a word the dictionary defines as "a grave robber," "an evil spirit or demon in Moslem folklore believed to plunder graves and feed on corpses" or "one who delights in the revolting, morbid, or loathsome." His polysyllabic pronunciation of the word, ("ga'hoo-wee-le-zz," or "ghouls"), was a production of communication that gracefully tripped off his lips. "She was a wonderful woman," the witty and loquacious Leach said. "I've met her a number of times."

As young as age 10, Leach wanted to be a journalist. By 15 he was a reporter for The Harrow Observer; and by 18 he was the youngest, page one reporter at the Daily Mail. In 1963, at age 23, he emigrated to America where he finally became show business editor of The Star. He started his TV career with KABC-TV in Los Angeles and WABC-TV in New York. He joined CNN's "People Tonight" in 1980 and reported for "Entertainment Tonight" its first three years. In 1983 he began "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" now watched in more than 30 countries worldwide. Princess Diana was a guest on the show twice, once shortly before her marriage to Prince Charles and once shortly after their marriage. In 1986 Leach was on "Fame, Fortune and Romance" for ABC-TV, in 1987 on "Runaway with the Rich and Famous," and in 1993 on "Home Video of the Stars."

Leach's popularity has led to a variety of other projects. His series for the Food Network "Gourmet Getaways" kicked off in September 1996 with one-hour episodes in North Africa, Hawaii, Europe and Asia. He has been working with IBM, America On-Line and the Rouse Company on a Worldwide Web Interactive Shopping Mall. In addition the work as a consultant to the new Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas with plans for a N.Y. and Las Vegas restaurant.

He resides in Antigua in the West Indies while maintaining a second home in Connecticut. He travels 300 days a year, logging more than 250,000 miles annually.

Leach congratulated Stitt on this party to which she had invited all of her friends, including her sisters Dawn and Darcy, a nephew and other folks from Cincinnati, Ohio. "All my friends are here," said Stitt. "At first I couldn't believe it." Then Stitt began receiving faxes proving that this concert was going to become an international event the likes of which Horry County had not experienced since the House of Blues opening at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman and Jim Belushi appeared with James Brown for the grand opening of Stitt's place of employment. Myrtle Beach draws stars like Father Guido Sarducci, Cheech Marin, Elke Sommer, Peter Weller, Robert Loggia, Alan Thicke, Edwin Moses, The Gatlin Brothers, Fred Williamson, Gil Gerard and a golfball swattin' Alice Cooper. Every week there's a celebrity in town. The other week it was Kreskin finding a hidden key at Broadway At The Beach. Recently Robert Wagner and Jill St. John performed in "Love Letters." Myrtle Beach hosts its share of celebrities, but this VH-1 Backyard Bar-B-Q was a big event even for Myrtle Beach.

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