Does what it says on the fabulous, glitter-bedecked tin.
August 23, 2013 12:21 PM Subscribe
Subscribing to the Richard Simmons page on Facebook has made every goddamn day a little bit better for me and I recommend that absolutely everybody do it.
posted by Shepherd at 12:25 PM on August 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by Shepherd at 12:25 PM on August 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
Do!
Do hair!
Do hair, Rich!
Do!
Do hair!
Do hair, Rich!
(that's not what it is, but that's what I was hoping for.)
posted by mhoye at 12:25 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Do hair!
Do hair, Rich!
Do!
Do hair!
Do hair, Rich!
(that's not what it is, but that's what I was hoping for.)
posted by mhoye at 12:25 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Does he respond to the Kendrick thing?
posted by neuromodulator at 12:32 PM on August 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by neuromodulator at 12:32 PM on August 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
You can't stop Richard Simmons, you can only hope to contain him.
posted by tittergrrl at 12:32 PM on August 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by tittergrrl at 12:32 PM on August 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Man, Richard Simmons always seems like a good time. He's a one-man party.
Imagine how good you could feel if you just added even just 10% of his awesome attitude to your life?
I'm off to get something cute, something girly.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:33 PM on August 23, 2013 [14 favorites]
Imagine how good you could feel if you just added even just 10% of his awesome attitude to your life?
I'm off to get something cute, something girly.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:33 PM on August 23, 2013 [14 favorites]
I have no sound on my work computer and it doesn't even matter because this is glorious to behold.
Actually, from the fragment I heard, I don't think you're missing much. Sorry, Richard.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:34 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Actually, from the fragment I heard, I don't think you're missing much. Sorry, Richard.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:34 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
If I say that I truly hope to grow older gracefully as Richard Simmons has, please realize I'm totally serious.
The song is either horrible or wonderful; I can't decide which.
But the question it really raises is - if Richard Simmons can put together a music video with this level of production values for basically a joke song, why was that John Travolta/Olivia Newton John Christmas monstrosity so poorly made. I can't help but think it's all about allowing yourself to be associated with the professional gays.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:42 PM on August 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
The song is either horrible or wonderful; I can't decide which.
But the question it really raises is - if Richard Simmons can put together a music video with this level of production values for basically a joke song, why was that John Travolta/Olivia Newton John Christmas monstrosity so poorly made. I can't help but think it's all about allowing yourself to be associated with the professional gays.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:42 PM on August 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
AOTY, GOAT, Classic, none of these can begin to describe this.
WE got something new to argue about, who's the best MC, Biggy,Pac,Nas,Hov,K Dot, or R Sizzle.
posted by Ad hominem at 12:46 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
WE got something new to argue about, who's the best MC, Biggy,Pac,Nas,Hov,K Dot, or R Sizzle.
posted by Ad hominem at 12:46 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wonderful! Something I can never unsee nor unhear! I'll be sleeping with the light on for a while.
posted by Skot at 12:51 PM on August 23, 2013
posted by Skot at 12:51 PM on August 23, 2013
That is the biggest waste of Pandora Boxx since RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars.
posted by xingcat at 12:56 PM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by xingcat at 12:56 PM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh, that was... hilariously weird.
His Whose Line Living Scenery scene still reduces me to tears of laughter every time I see it.
posted by zarq at 12:56 PM on August 23, 2013 [19 favorites]
His Whose Line Living Scenery scene still reduces me to tears of laughter every time I see it.
posted by zarq at 12:56 PM on August 23, 2013 [19 favorites]
Pro tip: The song works really well as music for a GIF DANCE PARTY.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:56 PM on August 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:56 PM on August 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
It appears that one of the dancers to the left of him is Gina Young, which makes this eve more queer(tastic).
posted by c'mon sea legs at 1:10 PM on August 23, 2013
posted by c'mon sea legs at 1:10 PM on August 23, 2013
What else is on the list?
posted by zarq at 1:10 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by zarq at 1:10 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think the list is like.... Illmatic, Ready To Die, Step in the Arena, Hair Do.
posted by Ad hominem at 1:13 PM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 1:13 PM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Has Richard Simmons ever embraced the gay / drag thing so publicly before? I still remember him as the 80s sort of closety gay clown. I like this more fierce version.
Pandora Boxx was at Gaymercon last month and she was working it. Seriously pro entertainer. Here's some video; the performance looks a bit thin on Youtube, but it brought some much-needed energy at the time.
posted by Nelson at 1:15 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Pandora Boxx was at Gaymercon last month and she was working it. Seriously pro entertainer. Here's some video; the performance looks a bit thin on Youtube, but it brought some much-needed energy at the time.
posted by Nelson at 1:15 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I had to look it up. He is 65 years old. You go, Richard!
posted by readery at 1:26 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by readery at 1:26 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
That is a lot of fierce right there. GO GO RICHARD!
I saw this earlier today via a tweet that explained: And then we realized that what we had been seeing up to this point was "Richard Simmons reining it in."
posted by rmd1023 at 1:38 PM on August 23, 2013 [11 favorites]
I saw this earlier today via a tweet that explained: And then we realized that what we had been seeing up to this point was "Richard Simmons reining it in."
posted by rmd1023 at 1:38 PM on August 23, 2013 [11 favorites]
Has Richard Simmons ever embraced the gay / drag thing so publicly before?
to my knowledge, he's never officially come out. i don't think he's ever denied it, just never discussed it.
posted by nadawi at 1:48 PM on August 23, 2013
to my knowledge, he's never officially come out. i don't think he's ever denied it, just never discussed it.
posted by nadawi at 1:48 PM on August 23, 2013
which is to say - i'm with you, i think this is the furthest down the gay/camp/drag continuum he's gone publicly.
posted by nadawi at 1:49 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 1:49 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
you know, its camp and its funny, but the thing is that simmons seems to be both in on the joke, and terribly receiptive to all bodies, races, and genders--its weirdly gender inclusive and terribly democratic.
posted by PinkMoose at 1:57 PM on August 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by PinkMoose at 1:57 PM on August 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
I've said it before, I'll say it again, but I believe Simmons is an American treasure. This just reaffirms that belief.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:00 PM on August 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:00 PM on August 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
and terribly receiptive to all bodies, races, and genders
absolutely - the biggest compliment i can give richard simmons (who i love) is that he's inclusive to the max. he helps everyone he can who asks him and never offers his opinion to or about people who haven't asked. he's always been very focused and welcoming of people who were marginalized by the various diet/health crazes for whatever reason.
posted by nadawi at 2:03 PM on August 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
absolutely - the biggest compliment i can give richard simmons (who i love) is that he's inclusive to the max. he helps everyone he can who asks him and never offers his opinion to or about people who haven't asked. he's always been very focused and welcoming of people who were marginalized by the various diet/health crazes for whatever reason.
posted by nadawi at 2:03 PM on August 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
I enjoy his unabashed bounciness so much. He's like a fabulous gay Tigger [if Tigger were straight].
And I am old enough to remember all of the visits he would do to people who were down or struggling with their size - no charge, no big publicity thing. He seems to genuinely hurt for people and want them to be kind to themselves.
The only thing that bothers me is when he lets someone make borderline revulsion/homophobic jokes at his expense, which happens when he visits "Letterman" and with some of the "Whose Line" skits. He seems so genuine about promoting love and self acceptance to people, I would love for him to not take any sort of crap from others.
If you friend him on Facebook, you will see him in a different, almost always outrageous outfit (NEVER THE SAME ONE TWICE), every single day, with some corny caption or affirmation. I have no idea where he finds the time. And he responds to people's comments all the time, too. It is really something.
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 2:07 PM on August 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
And I am old enough to remember all of the visits he would do to people who were down or struggling with their size - no charge, no big publicity thing. He seems to genuinely hurt for people and want them to be kind to themselves.
The only thing that bothers me is when he lets someone make borderline revulsion/homophobic jokes at his expense, which happens when he visits "Letterman" and with some of the "Whose Line" skits. He seems so genuine about promoting love and self acceptance to people, I would love for him to not take any sort of crap from others.
If you friend him on Facebook, you will see him in a different, almost always outrageous outfit (NEVER THE SAME ONE TWICE), every single day, with some corny caption or affirmation. I have no idea where he finds the time. And he responds to people's comments all the time, too. It is really something.
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 2:07 PM on August 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
Imagine how good you could feel if you just added even just 10% of his awesome attitude to your life?
Now I am considering the theory that this process is reversible, and I feel the way I do because Richard Simmons is siphoning off my life force to sustain himself.
It makes as much sense as anything else.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:25 PM on August 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Now I am considering the theory that this process is reversible, and I feel the way I do because Richard Simmons is siphoning off my life force to sustain himself.
It makes as much sense as anything else.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:25 PM on August 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Okay, we can shut the Internet down now. We've reached the end of it.
posted by desjardins at 3:48 PM on August 23, 2013
posted by desjardins at 3:48 PM on August 23, 2013
I don't love, or even like, the song, but I love him.
posted by Scram at 4:44 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Scram at 4:44 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
The only thing that bothers me is when he lets someone make borderline revulsion/homophobic jokes at his expense, which happens when he visits "Letterman" and with some of the "Whose Line" skits. He seems so genuine about promoting love and self acceptance to people, I would love for him to not take any sort of crap from others.
I agree there's been times I've wanted to smack Letterman, but often I think Simmons' response, whether it was a look, or just accepting Letterman's crap, made Letterman look like a total jackass.
to my knowledge, he's never officially come out. i don't think he's ever denied it, just never discussed it.
Some people are very much in your face gay, as if that's the strongest part of their persona. Which is fine, that's who they are. But for all his camp, sequins, shorts, hip swinging and hand waving, the strongest part of Richard's persona for me is his delight in people, his gentleness, and his ability to laugh at himself and with others. And he's funnier than all get out.
you know, its camp and its funny, but the thing is that simmons seems to be both in on the joke, and terribly receiptive to all bodies, races, and genders--its weirdly gender inclusive and terribly democratic.
Exactly! Well said.
posted by BlueHorse at 5:51 PM on August 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
I agree there's been times I've wanted to smack Letterman, but often I think Simmons' response, whether it was a look, or just accepting Letterman's crap, made Letterman look like a total jackass.
to my knowledge, he's never officially come out. i don't think he's ever denied it, just never discussed it.
Some people are very much in your face gay, as if that's the strongest part of their persona. Which is fine, that's who they are. But for all his camp, sequins, shorts, hip swinging and hand waving, the strongest part of Richard's persona for me is his delight in people, his gentleness, and his ability to laugh at himself and with others. And he's funnier than all get out.
you know, its camp and its funny, but the thing is that simmons seems to be both in on the joke, and terribly receiptive to all bodies, races, and genders--its weirdly gender inclusive and terribly democratic.
Exactly! Well said.
posted by BlueHorse at 5:51 PM on August 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
to my knowledge, he's never officially come out. i don't think he's ever denied it, just never discussed it.
In a way, Richard Simmons is a bit of an old-school throwback in that way, similar to Paul Lynde or Alan Sues. Heck, even Charles Nelson Reilly was out of the closet before he died.
posted by jonp72 at 9:04 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
In a way, Richard Simmons is a bit of an old-school throwback in that way, similar to Paul Lynde or Alan Sues. Heck, even Charles Nelson Reilly was out of the closet before he died.
posted by jonp72 at 9:04 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I posted the list to Projects, yesterday. Technically, this is going onto part two, part one reached the YouTube playlist limit.
posted by JHarris at 9:13 PM on August 23, 2013
posted by JHarris at 9:13 PM on August 23, 2013
I happen to be good friends with the husband-and-wife team (he produces, she sings along with Richard on the hook, neither appear in the video) who produced the song. If this thing goes viral, I'll be ecstatic for them, no jokes.
posted by tantrumthecat at 5:33 AM on August 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by tantrumthecat at 5:33 AM on August 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
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