No more champagne dreams, nor any caviar wishes

August 24, 2018 10:12 PM

Robin Leach, famed host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", has died just before his 77th birthday.
posted by hanov3r (15 comments total)

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posted by luckynerd at 12:03 AM on August 25, 2018

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posted by Sphinx at 1:21 AM on August 25, 2018

“Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” is what launched Donald Trump from the former camp into the latter. Not to besmirch Robin Leach, who could never have anticipated the end result; only to say, maybe this is something Trump should tweet about?
posted by Sys Rq at 1:22 AM on August 25, 2018 [12 favorites]

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I would imagine 99.99% of kids wouldn't know who he is, but my daughter does. He's Zoltran.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 4:31 AM on August 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

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I hate caviar and champagne causes projectile vomiting, but that's not Robin's fault. I loved that show so much! So tacky and so over the top! I just watched a couple of the shows on YT and they haven't lost their gaudy charm!
posted by james33 at 4:52 AM on August 25, 2018

I actually met him a bunch of times back in the 90s (after the show ended, and usually with Ivana (after the divorce) in tow). He used to come to the drag queen restaurant I worked at, usually for promotional events we would do, possibly as a 'rental celebrity' (Ivana never spoke to anyone, and would sit in the corner all night, sipping champagne)
He was, simply put, the gauchest person I ever met. Forget his on-screen persona, the man was a pig. I literally once said to him "honey, if you put your hand up my skirt one more time you'll be pulling back a bloody stump" ...at which he laughed so loud people were staring, then shoved a chocolate high heel full of mousse into his mouth.
If you want an accurate picture of him, think less 'Jeeves' and more 'Caligula'.
Nevertheless, he will be missed.
posted by sexyrobot at 5:21 AM on August 25, 2018 [13 favorites]

“Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” is what launched Donald Trump

On which Trump speculated on the eventual breast size of his newly born daughter.
posted by dobbs at 5:52 AM on August 25, 2018 [9 favorites]

Isn’t it weird he was only 76? In my memory he was already ancient during that show’s heyday. I told my husband he’d died and asked him to guess how old he’d been and my husband said, “106?” So I guess I’m not alone with this impression.
posted by something something at 5:56 AM on August 25, 2018 [28 favorites]

Something something, I had the exact same thought.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 7:39 AM on August 25, 2018

I was never sure; was Leach in on the joke with Lifestyles? Like did he understand how absurd what he was presenting was? Maybe it was a kidding-on-the-square thing.
posted by Nelson at 8:11 AM on August 25, 2018

I only watched the show a few times, but I liked it. It made me feel so superior to the shallow, ostentatious people featured with their abysmal taste. That was likely part of the appeal of the show for many.
posted by haiku warrior at 8:27 AM on August 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yeah, surely he’s been at least 65 for 40 years!
posted by amanda at 8:42 AM on August 25, 2018 [3 favorites]

Whenever I'm describing something totally, inconceivably over the top and I run out of words, I may switch in to Leach-mode and intone "And a BANISTER made out of GOLD".

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posted by missmobtown at 9:31 AM on August 25, 2018

Funny, bashed the show but not Robin other then "I'm Robin leach and here are some things that you will never have."

Champer wishes sir.
posted by clavdivs at 10:24 AM on August 25, 2018

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posted by riruro at 6:59 AM on August 26, 2018