Richard Simmons

Web posted on:
Thursday, September 30, 1999 11:20:57 AM EST

By Jamie Allen
CNN Interactive Senior Writer

(CNN) -- You have a dream. It's not an outrageous dream. You don't want to go to Mars, or spawn a century of world peace with your kind words.

Your dream is simple, if a little unaffordable -- an elegant wedding, say, or a new wardrobe. And you want your dream to come true.

Get in line, because everybody has a dream like you. And the line starts here, at www.richardsimmons.com. It seems Simmons, who has built a career as an eccentric fitness advocate and motivational speaker, wants to play Santa Claus now.

On his Web site, he's taking dream requests from anyone and everyone -- and then he's making chosen dreams come true on his new TV show, the aptly titled "Dream Maker" from Tribune Entertainment Company.

Among the dreams to be aired, Simmons says -- "women who've had cancer and giving them a makeover ... a group of Girl Scouts that have no uniforms -- we give them all uniforms."

There also are to be shows on dream weddings and vacations, friends and family reunited, medical troubles cured with the help of financial support, and trips to the spa.

Simmons says he's found a niche in the crowded daytime television market.

"Everything is, 'This death ... this accident ... this rape,'" he says. "But there's no help there. They tell you about it but there's no help. This 'Dream Maker' show, there's no competition. People write in and if we love their dream, their dream comes true.

"I'm getting 3,000 dreams a day," he says.

Simmons making dreams come true on his new show "Dream Maker"

'Everyone should write their own autobiography'

It's an interesting time for Simmons. Now 51, he has this new show -- it premiered in syndication this month -- and a new autobiography on bookshelves. "Still Hungry -- After All These Years" (GT Publishing Corporation) is Simmons' recollection of how he became the dream-making Richard Simmons, and his answer to midlife.

"I think at the age of 50, everyone should write their own autobiography," says Simmons. "There's just something about being half-a-century (old). And there are things I learned about myself that helped me a great deal when I wrote this book."

Simmons was born and raised in New Orleans before moving to Los Angeles in 1974. A self-described "fat" child, he struggled with identity issues until finally discovering a fitness program that changed his life.

After founding a health club for overweight people, Simmons helped spark the fitness craze that swept the country beginning in the early 1980s. "The Richard Simmons Show," a power vibe of aerobics and positive wisdom, and his "Sweatin' to the Oldies" videos, made him a health-culture icon with a trademark image -- light brown Afro, short-shorts and calf-high white socks.

Since then, Simmons has chosen to do infomercials and fitness tours across the country. He also has maintained a presence on the talk-show circuit, including numerous appearances on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" -- the host of which routinely jokes about Simmons' sexuality.

Although it's clear that Simmons capitalizes on Letterman's gay-ribbing for its publicity value, he avoids all press questions on the subject, even in his book.

"I gave 90 percent of my heart and guts in this book," he says, "and I kept 10 percent for me. And the 10 percent is my personal life and death."

"What do I enjoy the most?" he asks. "When I read my letters and I get a letter that says 'Dear Richard, My husband left me for a younger woman. I have 80 pounds to lose, I have two kids. I'd kill myself, but the two kids are the world to me.' And then I pick up the phone and call that woman. I go, 'Hello, Sally?' She goes, 'Yes?' I go, 'Hi, it's Richard Simmons.' And then it starts."

'Never, never!'

"Dream Maker," then, seems to be the perfect vehicle for Simmons. He says he tested the idea for the show on his Web site, and the response was overwhelming.

"I went on my Web page and said, 'I'm doing this show and it's all about granting wishes, making dreams come true -- tell me what you think,'" he says. "I waited two hours and I got 15,000 emails. I went, 'I think I have something here.'"

Simmons squeezes in tapings of the show between a packed schedule that includes public appearances (including seven-day fitness cruises with overweight folks), running his Web site, reading scripts, and -- who can forget? -- exercise.

Does he ever get tired?

"Never, never!" Simmons proclaims. "I get tired of negativity in our country. I get tired of people who only want to know dirt. I get tired of people who don't believe in themselves. That's why I'm here."