Yes. Of course. It's Richard Simmons.
Who else could it be?
I've chatted with Richard a bunch of times on the phone,
and a couple times he came into the studio.
The first time he appeared in person, he burst through the
studio door, mouth on "full auto" and tried to hijack the show.
"Richard! Whoa!", said I.
He looked at me and asked, "Were you in the Marines? You
are so stern..." (Imagine how he would say this...)
He was a blast to have on the air, however we got him.
Larger than life. Wearing his little shorts and tank top.
I'll let you in on something I discovered about him.
Once you get past the "act" and get to the real guy,
you'll uncover one of the greatest "people persons"
you'll ever meet. The second time he came through town
he asked about my wife and daughter by name, and commented
that I was wearing new glasses.
He held a big "Sweatin' To The Oldies" program at the old
South Square Mall in Durham. Hundreds of women stood in line
to meet him. I watched him sit on the side of the stage and speak
quietly to each one. He laughed with them. He cried with them.
No act. Nothin' phony.
Oh, and don't try to eat a doughnut in front of him.
He'll perform the Heimlich Maneuver on you whether you're
choking or not...
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