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'HI . . . THIS IS RICHARD SIMMONS!'
By COLLEEN JENKINS
© St. Petersburg Times, The questions came from radio call-in shows in Dallas, Cleveland, Portland and Orlando. Why, people kept asking fitness guru Richard Simmons, had he stood up an overweight woman from Pasco County on Monday's Sally Jessy Raphael Show? Simmons had no idea what they were talking about. But he called a Times reporter from his Beverly Hills "Slimmons" studio on Wednesday morning to find out. He sounded exactly like he does on television: "HI, COLLEEN. THIS IS RICHARD SIMMONS!" He said the wire services had picked up Tuesday's Times story about Marie Wheeler of Holiday, who had appeared on the talk show hoping to get some weight loss advice. Simmons had not seen the story. So, he asked, what was going on? When he heard that Wheeler's feelings were hurt by Raphael's lack of tact and warmth, and how Wheeler had thought she was going to meet Simmons but didn't, he gasped: "HOW HORRIBLE!" "I'll call her right away," he promised. "I'll send her stuff." Then the conversation strayed. Simmons was in a celebratory mood, happy to share that he was turning 53 on Thursday. Plus, this year he celebrates his 28th anniversary in the fitness business. What was the secret to his staying power? "I'm able to talk to people, and they're receptive to it." He said he makes calls to fans all over the world. "I don't know too many people who do this." Not too many people speak of obesity the way Simmons was about to, either. It's a big problem in society, he said. He knows because he's been there. "I was 268 pounds in high school," he said. "And then. . . ." Without missing a beat, he broke into an old Leslie Gore song. "I SAW THE LIGHT, I SEE THE PARTY LIGHTS, THEY'RE RED AND BLUE AND GREEEENNNN." Simmons said he loves to sing to people on the phone. He imitated a call he once made to a woman in the hospital, singing, "YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE!" Okay, okay, but what would he say to Wheeler when he called her? "I talk and I listen," he said. "Mostly listen." He said he'd ask her how her life had been lately, where her head was, if she was past the anger caused by the talk show host. "Then we get down to the nitty-gritty," he said. "She'll send me a food sheet every week. Some people read tea leaves; I read food sheets. I also read sweat stains." As for Raphael, Simmons said she's a personal friend. In 25 years of doing her show, he has never known her to be cruel, he said. "I don't know if she was trying a different tactic, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT DIDN'T WORK!" he shouted. He again pitched his idea of calling Wheeler, but only after the reporter made sure it was okay with her. Before hanging up, the 150-pound exercise addict offered yet another impromptu Broadway-style tune, "I GOT YOUR NUMBER." Moments later, 30-year-old Wheeler giggled unceasingly over the news. "I love him! I love him!" she squealed. Her tone hadn't changed much immediately after her dream-come-true talk with her longtime idol who, she said, began their conversation with: "HI, MARIE. THIS IS RICHARD SIMMONS!" "I feel like a giddy schoolgirl," she said. "It's always been my dream, my goal, to meet him. I'm so happy. This is so awesome." Wheeler said she stumbled on words and wept through most of their 15- to 20-minute conversation, not knowing what to say. Simmons promised to send her his various workout, walking and inspirational tapes and other weight-loss products. He also vowed to write once a week and call once a month. "He said he's seen miracles happen," said Wheeler, who weighs about 370 pounds but would like to get down to 140. Hearing his voice was miracle enough for Wheeler on Wednesday. She's been a fan of Simmons since the 1970s, when he began his fitness work and had a four-year stint on the soap opera General Hospital, but "he became real" through the phone call. Wheeler said producers of the talk show had led her to believe Simmons would appear with her on the "Sally, Can You Help Me?" segment. In fact, Simmons said he was not booked for the show. By Wednesday afternoon, Simmons had healed her wounds. "He was just very warm and honest," Wheeler said. "I want to say thank you to those people who called him because they have no idea how this is going to bless my life. If anyone could motivate someone to lose weight, it's Richard Simmons." -- Colleen Jenkins can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6232, or toll-free at (800) 333-7505, ext. 6232.
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From today's Pasco Times |
