MULTITALENTED TESH DEFLECTS RELENTLESS VIEWER SCORN.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth

This we know about John Tesh, NBC's choice to narrate its most popular Olympic sport, gymnastics:

1) Writes elevator music.

2) Hosted ``Entertainment Tonight'' for 10 years but recently quit so he'd have more time to write elevator music.

3) Extremely happily married to actress Connie Sellecca (we've seen the infomercial).

4) He has this problem with the general public . . . ummm . . . how do we put this . . .

``Everyone hates me,'' Tesh said.

Pardon?

``Reviewers hate my guts,'' he continued. ``I've been vilified by everyone. My albums get ripped. My concerts are ripped.

``People do love to hate me.''

Hey, Teshmeister, take it easy.

We didn't even get to the fact that some have actually picketed your concerts because they fear you're a visiting alien. (True story.)

Nonetheless, it is composer/ entertainer/celebrity/moving target Tesh who might be both the surprise plum of NBC's Olympic pudding thus far and a fruitcake everyone loves to toss aside.

Except, of course, to those who work with him, know his work ethic and adore his melodic baritone.

NBC gymnastics producer David Michaels says Tesh is the hardest-working and smoothest play-by-play man he's ever worked with. Coming from someone who's older brother, Al Michaels, is no slouch himself, Tesh has a qualified stamp.

``The so-called `sports guys' have a job to get information,'' Michaels said. ``For the kind of stuff we do - which is really melodrama - it's so worthwhile when we kill ourselves to put a feature piece together and all of the sudden, John puts his voice on it.

``He's spent so much time getting to know everyone. When you're at an event and see him walking along with an athlete like a regular person with no pen and paper, he's got such a good perspective of these people and their lives. That's what he brings.''

Tesh meshed with sports long ago. His career sort of parallels that of the sportscaster/nonsportscaster he's probably most often compared to, Pat O'Brien.

Both joined CBS Sports in the early '80s - almost the same day. You may remember Tesh as the fellow who actually helped make the Tour de France watchable, although he became more of a story because he also wrote the music that accompanied the event.

Even with his co-host spot on ``Entertainment Tonight,'' he's been with NBC Sports since '89 doing Wimbledon tennis, cycling, gymnastics and triathlons.

And for those with short-term memory - yes, he did the gymnastics and cycling in '92 at Barcelona.

Like it or not, Tesh is a sports guy.

Tuesday night's Olympic coverage may bring in NBC's greatest ratings haul of the entire two-plus weeks - mainly because of the women's gymnastics coverage and building drama toward their gold medal. Credit Tim Daggett and Elfi Schlegel for their expertise. But if you don't acknowledge Tesh's contribution, you've missed something.

``I might not know a double-twist back from full-twist somersault, but my job is to give someone a reason to watch,'' he said. ``I feel I do much better live. If I know I can't take it back, it's easier to concentrate and find the right words.''

And also to find the right time to not use words. A person like Tesh who has this music in his soul knows the importance of pace and resonance for his voice. Even how to pronounce the name of all the Chinese gymnasts.

Tesh, who has won two Emmys for the original music he produced for the Tour de France and Pan American Games telecasts at CBS and NBC, works it all out at a Santa Monica studio not too far from his Benedict Canyon home.

``(Broadcasting) is every bit as exact as music,'' said Tesh, who compiled two CDs of music for NBC's Olympic telecast and estimates the network used his compositions in about 30-to-40 percent of the Barcelona show.

``There are words in music - ligature (rhythm) and forte (loud) and mezzo forte (moderately loud) - that's the way to think about it, when not to speak, when to stop.

``The whole performance is very musical. We use hand signals with the two analysts. If I feel or (producer) David (Michaels) feels there's a time to shut up, I can put up my hands. I don't think you can ever be faulted for quiet.''

Or for enlightening.

``In this sport, it's tough to be quiet because it can't play on its own. You try not to over-explain. You won't hear the broadcaster give Michael Jordan's bio in the middle of a fastbreak. He's on every night. But most have never seen Vitaly Scherbo or Li Xiaoshuang.''

But they've heard of Tesh, of course. How can you not? Pick up a local tabloid and there's something in there about him and his wife's glamorous lifestyle.

``I don't read the reviews any more,'' Tesh said. ``Who cares? They say this Schwarzenegger guy sucks. Great. He just made 75-mil on his latest movie. I've sold 300,000 concert tickets this summer, about 20,000 records a week.

``I think the criticism bothers my wife more than me.''

It's tough to be bothered when you can laugh all the way to fame.

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