Was the MISSING RICHARD SIMMONS Podcast a Publicity Stunt?
Eccentric celebrity fitness guru Richard Simmons has been spotted outside of his house! No I didn’t run into him at Jamba Juice, though that would definitely make an interesting story, wouldn’t it? Richard Simmons went to the hospital and then posted a message on his Facebook page. So has Richard Simmons returned?
Normally this wouldn’t be something I’d write about. This site is dedicated to telling and sharing good stories. While the potential reemergence of Richard Simmons may be a good story, especially to his numerous fans and friends who have missed him, publishing celebrity gossip isn’t the point of my website.
But sharing stories that have entertained, captivated, or moved me is exactly what this site is about. A few weeks back I shared with you a podcast called Missing Richard Simmons. The storytelling of the podcast totally hooked me.
As I wrote then:
I decided to listen to the first episode of Missing Richard Simmons. Needless to say I was hooked and listened to all three available episodes. Episode 4 is available today.
Dan Taberski’s storytelling in Missing Richard Simmons is superb. I found myself feeling great empathy for Richard Simmons, as well as concern for his well being.
Could Simmons be physically or mentally ill? Might his longtime maid be holding him captive in his own mansion? A longtime friend of Simmons’ goes so far to allege that she’s holding him captive through witchcraft.
You can’t make this stuff up. It’s absolutely fascinating.
Despite how enthralled I became with the Missing Richard Simmons podcast, I had a nagging feeling that maybe I and other listeners were being conned.
I’d found this Entertainment Tonight story featuring Richard Simmons from a year ago on YouTube.
Regarding this I wrote:
Dan Taberski seems legitimately interested in finding out what happened to Richard Simmons and if the wild, frizzy haired fitness guru is all right. I hope that’s his motive and that this isn’t some cheap publicity stunt.
This telephone interview that Entertainment Tonight did with Simmons last year seems to indicate that he’s fine.
After finding this interview I went ahead and emailed the podcast directly on March 7th.
The next day I received this response from the show.
After two decades working in politics I can tell you when someone give you an unresponsive response.
I never received a follow up to this. In the next episode of the podcast, Taberski admitted such interviews with Simmons existed, but wondered why Simmons only participated via phone call.
That was a legitimate question and for the most part felt my inquiry had been addressed. Still I carried a bit more suspicion about his motives than when I had started binging his podcast.
Then Dan Taberski abruptly ended his podcast after only 6 episodes. The way he closed it out when he easily could have kept going made me believe his motives were sincere and this wasn’t a publicity stunt.
In the end Taberski respected Simmons’ desire for privacy. The show left me I feeling comfortable Simmons wasn’t being held hostage. Perhaps the emotional stress that can accompany celebrityhood had finally gotten to Simmons.
How could I begrudge him for wanting to escape the public eye? Especially since I didn’t personally know him?
I must admit though, that a part of me really wanted Richard Simmons to reappear, tell everyone he’s fine, and maybe even come back into the world being the wacky lovable guy I enjoyed for so many years. Still I understood if he didn’t.
Last week though, Simmons came out of his house and a few days later spoke to his fans via Facebook.
This was reported widely in the media. Two of my friends even sent me stories about it as they knew I had a real curiosity and concern for Simmons after listening to the podcast.
The fitness guru went to Cedars Sinai Medical Center with a case of “severe indigestion” last Monday, according to People, and returned home Thursday with help from LAPD detective Kevin Becker and his housekeeper to avoid the paparazzi.
Then on Sunday Richard Simmons posted this on his Facebook page:
Who woulda thunk that I’d be nearly giddy that Richard Simmons is in some capacity back? If the me of today had made a wager with the me of last year, last year me would owe today me some mad phat cash.
Still, the skeptical side of my brain does wonder if this has all been a publicity stunt. And maybe it was bigger than Dan Taberski wanting to make a bigger name for himself and some money.
What if this has all been orchestrated by Richard Simmons or someone else like his manager Michael Catalano?
Now before you think I’m crazy, here’s what got me thinking that could possibly be the case.
Fox News reported on April 7th:
Richard Simmons may be ready to emerge from hiding, his manager hinted as news broke that the star recently inked a deal to license new merchandise.
License Global reports Prominent Brand + Talent is looking to create a new line of Simmons products. The company is co-founded by Simmons’ longtime manager Michael Catalano.
Catalano told The New York Times it’s “possible” that Simmons would be willing to appear in public in order to promote the products, but adds that any decision “is yet to be determined.”
Catalano elaborated on the new product line in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.
“With the enormous outpouring of love and well wishes for Richard, we felt creating a thoughtful, inspiration-based line of products would be welcome,” the statement read. “Richard has always created products that helped people take better care of themselves and any new products will certainly be in keeping with Richard’s consistent message and mission.”
The timing of that announcement coinciding with the hype of the Missing Richard Simmons podcast and the subsequent reappearance of Richard Simmons makes me very suspicious of everything that’s happening.
It always seemed odd to me that Catalano and others appeared on Missing Richard Simmons as under California law both parties must consent to be recorded. This is well known in Hollywood after the Anthony Pellicano and John McTiernan criminal convictions that stemmed from illegal wiretaps.
In addition to Catalano, both Simmons’ agent and his older brother Lenny were recorded and appeared on the show.
If all of these individuals were really upset at what Taberski was doing and wanted to protect Simmons’ privacy, why did they allow him to record then broadcast their telephone conversations? Why haven’t any of the people recorded in California filed a criminal complaint against Dan Taberski?
Was it because they actually gave their consent and only acted to be upset?
Was it to raise a demand for Simmons, then bring him back into the public eye and successfully launch his new products?
And if that’s the case, was Richard Simmons involved in it or could it instead be a scheme by Michael Catalano who is a partner in this new venture?
I’m not sure and we may never know. That does not diminish the storytelling power of the Missing Richard Simmons podcast, but it does bring into question the true motives of Dan Taberski, Michael Catalano, and even Richard Simmons.
I’m glad Simmons is well and I’m glad he hasn’t been held hostage. But I do hope his self-imposed exile hasn’t been manipulated by Dan Taberski, Michael Catalano, or anyone else so they can make money.
And if that’s the case, I really hope that Richard Simmons wasn’t a part of it at all.
What do you think? Is this all a giant coincidence or did I fall for a well-orchestrated publicity stunt?