The Richard Simmons Show (NATPE Presentation Reel, 1982)

Here's a presentation reel with excerpts from the nationally syndicated Richard Simmons Show, as compiled for showing at the 1982 convention of the National Association of Television Production Executives (NATPE) as held in Las Vegas, NV. Mr. Simmons himself handles the opening presentation.

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.

About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:

The Museum of Classic Chicago Television's primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s and early 80s, primarily) recorded off of any and all Chicago TV channels; footage which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical purposes. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to DVD, and to view more of the 4,700+ (and counting) video clips available for viewing in our online archive, please visit us at:
http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/index.php...