The Richard Simmons Show (NATPE Presentation Reel, 1982)
Published 2019-03-03
Includes:
Title card reading: 'The Richard Simmons Show --------- N.A.T.P.E Presentation Reel, March 1982' (punctuation as shown on screen)
Richard opens this presentation by speaking of various phobias as a large spider climbs over his left arm and onto his shoulder, followed by a snake hovering over him, all to audience laughter; followed by a skeleton with a hat, shirt collar and necktie complaining about no mention of bones in 189 shows (up to that point) being produced
Followed by excerpts including: Richard leading a heel-toe demonstration with a shopping cart (and ladies assembled following him); a cooking demonstration with Betty White; running-in-place exercises with all participants wearing Groucho glasses, nose and moustache, to the tune of John Fred and His Playboy Band's "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)"; cooking with Phyllis Diller; hula-hoop exercises to Chubby Checker's "Let's Twist Again"; a "Gone With the Wind" spoof with Richard as Scarlett; a formerly fat woman who spoke in great detail about her weight loss; an exercise demonstration inside a boxing ring to Barbra Streisand's "The Main Event/Fight"; spoof sketch "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Wide"; another exercise to The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction"; Richard in a restaurant with a waiter and chef seen through fish-eye lens; Richard and Robert Conrad leading exercises to Linda Ronstadt's "Hurt So Bad"; spoofs of "The Godfather" and Humpty Dumpty; fan exercises to David Rose's "The Stripper"; sketch with two women (one Richard in drag) speaking of diets; Richard and Betty White leading an exercise routine; a "Wizard of Oz" spoof; arm exercises with books being held in each hand; spoof of "The Exorcist" (is that the real Linda Blair?); cheerleading exercises to "School Days"; Richard telling tale about becoming an honorary Cub Scout, followed by him leading exercises with a troop of same; Richard as waitress serving Barbara Eden; tap dance exercises to "One" from "A Chorus Line"; basketball match between Richard and Billy Barty; another exercise moving back and forth while holding onto cardboard box from its top; Richard getting a pie in the face, followed by "Rocky" spoof; Richard as traffic cop interacting with lady on street; and for the end, a slow-motion montage of other exercise routines, to Juice Newton's "Angel of the Morning."
This did not air anywhere in this form, but was produced for showing at the 1982 NATPE conference in Las Vegas.
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All Comments (21)
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If The Richard Simmons Show was currently in syndication, I would never miss an episode. I love 1980's camp & Richard clearly had a blast making this show
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Richard has been a favorite celebrity of mine for longer than I want to admit. Welcome back Sweetheart! You were missed!
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Richard, you have helped me for so many years, you are wonderful!! YOUR ENERGY is so contagious and no matter what you ALWAYS lift me up!!! thank you thank you :)
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You're still inspiring people today! Amazing, Richard!
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I totally loved that show! I was eight years old and totally loved him. My mom would tape the shows for me and I would act them out at school. Yes, I was the crazy kid on the playground!
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I wish reruns of the Richard simmons show would come back on tv😊
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My wife and I met Richard in the Philadelphia airport a few years ago. Was super friendly and approachable.
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Omg! I want to binge watch all of these episodes! I love Richard!
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Oh to be able to see all the shows in full!!!
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Heels toe heels toes heels toes oh come on girls you can be miss supermarket of 1980. 😆
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This show looked SO much fun! Those cold openings though. I loved the Jekyll and Wide one.
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We love you Richard!!!!
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There are so many funny things in this wonderful video! Loved the Beelzebub, "the power of exercise is with-in you! HA HA so funny! The Lady who asked for the recipe, and you said she could have it for $1 rofl lol Rocky! You were sooo multi-talented, I loved the Sonny/Cher, Carol Burnet vibe! Too many things to make me laugh!!!
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God I love that disco version of Yankee Doodle. I can't find it anywhere and it's not the Paul Jabara version.
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This is so much fun to watch😀!!
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Fabulous.
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This was so much fun to watch!
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I definitely remember that stage and studio although I couldn’t watch the show regularly cause I was in high school when it was on air and we didn’t have DVR then and it was even before we recorded shows with the VCR tapes
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What episode was the exorcist sketch from? 7:22
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Robert Conrad at 5:00.
