From ABC News:
FITNESS GURU RICHARD SIMMONS DEAD AT 76He just celebrated his birthday on Friday.
By Mark Osborne and Alex Stone
July 13, 2024, 5:52 PM
Eccentric fitness guru Richard Simmons, known for his unrelenting positivity, has died, according to his representative.
Simmons just celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to his home after a 911 call from his housekeeper and found Simmons dead, according to police sources. He appears to have died of natural causes, and no foul play is suspected, the sources said.
Simmons had more than enough credits which qualified him to be a member of the Television Crossover Hall of Fame as a member of the League of Themselves in Toobworld. Plus he was a multidimensional with counterparts in Skitlandia and The Tooniverse. I just didn’t think I’d have to do so this quickly….
From Wikipedia:
Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons (July 12, 1948 – July 13, 2024) was an American fitness personality and public figure. He was a promoter of weight-loss programs, most prominently through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos.
Simmons began his weight-loss career by opening his gym Slimmons in Beverly Hills, California, catering to the overweight, and he became widely known through exposure on television and through the popularity of his consumer products. He was often parodied and was a frequent guest of late-night television and radio talk shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show.
He continued to promote health and exercise through a decades-long career, and later broadened his activities to include political activism, such as in 2008 in support of a bill mandating noncompetitive physical education in public schools as a part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
From sheknows.com:
10 EPISODES (1981-1986)
O'Bservation:
CHiPs
Ponch has to break in a new rookie partner, while searching for a runaway girl and her newborn baby.
O’Bservation:
FAME
Lydia takes a part time job teaching aerobics at Richard Simmons club.
From a ‘Fame’ site:
Ms. Grant runs afoul of Richard Simmons when she takes a second job as an exercise instructor in his health club and verbally abuses the women taking her class."In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have put Ms. Grant in charge of the suburban moms' Flabby to Fit exercise group."
Richard Simmons hears Ms. Grant's barking from his nearby office and steps into the exercise room and watches with dismay as she humiliates the aerobicizers. Ms. Grant spots the 'fro sporting exercise guru watching her and snaps, "What do you want? I'm very busy right now" then realizes she just stepped in it, 'cause not only is he Richard Simmons, he's also the owner of the health club. She gets over her sheepishness pretty quick, though, and tells him that being an exercise instructor isn't her life's dream...and he says it's pretty clear she doesn't take this seriously, which is a shame 'cause getting into shape is a serious thing for these women. Ms. Grant shrugs indifferently and says she's not going to be around long enough to worry about the morale of a bunch of flabby, middle aged housewives. Richard Simmons scrunches his face concernedly and sounds hopeful as he says, "Deep down you're probably a nice person" then scampers back to the safety of his office.
AMAZING STORIES
REMOTE CONTROL MAN (1985)
A meek, unhappy and frustrated husband with a nagging wife and incorrigible sons finally finds solace in his new TV set that "comes alive" with the use of a magic remote control and gives him the chance to replace his family with various TV characters. But then reality hits.
Walter's remote control accidentally brings Richard Simmons to life.
O'Bservation:
The Richard Simmons who showed up in Walter's living room was a cathode phantom, a manifestation of the Richard Simmons on the TV screen. That is the main Toobworld's televersion who is going into the TVXOHOF.
THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW
THE WARMTH EPISODE (1992)
After market research shows that audience members don't find him likable, Larry goes out of his way to be nice to everyone and asks Artie to run the show by focus groups. Simmons was Larry’s guest on the show.
EVENING SHADE
HARLAN DEALS A MEAL (1992)
Harlon goes on a diet, whilst Nub goes on a date
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO
24 EPISODES
O'Bservation:
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
S19 E10 (1994)
Jason Patric & Blind Melon
Simmons was in the Cofee Talk sketch, which means he has a presence in Skitlandia
From the “One SNL A Day” website:
— (*sigh*) Fourth appearance of this sketch in just ten episodes so far this season…— Hmm, a Richard Simmons appearance. At least he’s providing a distraction from the typical Coffee Talk dullness.
— Simmons is adding a fairly fun vibe to this. His energy is welcome, considering the lethargic atmosphere throughout tonight’s episode.
— Another positive thing about this Coffee Talk sketch is that it has thankfully cut down on the use of Linda Richman’s catchphrases that never make me laugh.
STARS: **½
Speaking of Skitlandia….
In the sketch comedy TV dimension, it’s not unusual for various characters, mostly celebrities or historical figures, to look like different people while still being themselves… in a manner of speaking.
The same holds true for Richard Simmons in Skitlandia. While he did portray himself on ‘Saturday Night Live’, he also looked like talk show host Jimmy Fallon as well. And then, thanks to ‘In Living Color’, Simmons looked more like Jim Carrey.
O’Bservation:
So a guy who owns a couple of gyms was played by a couple of Jims.
Hey… it’s late at night and I have no shame.
ALL MY CHILDREN
June 21, 1995 episode
HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
O’Bservation:
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
BRINGING UP BUSTER (2003)
Simmons appeared as himself in a commercial with George Bluth for the Cornballer. George burns himself and attacks Richard out of anger.
THE ONE WHERE THEY BUILD A HOUSE (2004)
87th MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE 2013
O'Bservation:
And as for the final version of Richard Simmons in the greater TV Universe….
THE TOONIVERSE
JOHNNY BRAVO
T IS FOR TROUBLE (2004)
Mr. T helps Johnny confront his childhood tormentor.
For all of the silliness in the way he presented himself, he really did help a lot of people. But I've always felt there had to be some sadness behind the facade; it could be just something that I'm imagining. Still, it is sad that he died the day right after his birthday... not that there's any good day to die.
I'm sorry I didn't take care of this sooner while he was alive, on the slim chance he might have seen it; I'm always thinking there's plenty of prime-time....
But he's here now in the Hall and he'll find a lot of people there he knows already....
Welcome to the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, Richard Simmons.
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