Illustration: Rob Kelly

Two decades ago, Richard Simmons transformed the fitness scene with Sweatin’ to the Oldies, one of the first exercise videos to use “real” people (read: you could see their rolls, not their rib cages) who shook, shimmied and stepped to a live band. The video became a hit (there are five volumes in all) and Simmons cemented his icon status. The pore-opening series is celebrating its 20th anniversary, stepping into the 21st century with a release on DVD. We called the weight-loss guru at his Hollywood home, where he lives with his two housekeepers and two dogs, to discuss his battle with the bulge, talk-show bullies—and those damned shorts.

I can’t believe it’s been 20 years. You don’t look like you’ve aged.
I’m going to be 60! And you know, these tapes meant a lot to me. They’ve never been on DVD, so I hooked up with some nice people from Time Life, who said, “We think people are ready to sweat again!”

Let’s get to the question everyone wants to ask: How many pairs of those shorts do you own?
It’s so strange. People e-mail me: “Dear Richard, I found an old pair of Dolfin shorts from 1981. I’m going to send them.” “Dear Richard, I went through an old package of stuff in the garage, and guess what I found? Two pairs of Dolfin shorts. I’m gonna send them.” “Dear Richard, I was just on eBay, and somebody had a pair of original Dolfin shorts…” So, I have like 300 pairs.

Why do you think they’re sending them? Don’t they know you can afford them?
Because they love me! And they see me in my videos and think, That poor boy. Those shorts must be ready to be torn apart—let me send him some. You know—there’s Superman, Spider-Man—I’m Richard-Man. This is what I wear to joyously shine and sparkle for people!

They’re so short; have any body parts ever slipped out?
No. That’s why I have to stay between 148 and 153 pounds. More than that, and those shorts don’t fit as well.

Do people recognize you in pants?
[Laughs] First of all, I’m pretty reclusive, so I don’t go out. And if you don’t go out, people don’t recognize you. I didn’t learn social skills as an obese kid. I can go and teach 10,000 people, but I have a hard time socially.

I would have never guessed that.
Yeah. I didn’t have much of a childhood. I’ve worked since I was eight years old to make extra money for my parents. So I’ve always been a workhorse, because work makes me feel incredible! I can’t wait for God to give me another day to get people to start caring for themselves.

You’re always so positive. Do you ever have a bad day where you just say, “Fuck it!,” and hit the pralines?
When it gets to be too much for me, I find a quiet place in the house and meditate. I try to clear my mind and think about positive things I’m doing, which will help me continue to do those things. You know, I am the court jester, but it is very serious work. When the king gets upset, he doesn’t call for his wife or the cook, he calls for the little man with the funny hat who comes out and makes him laugh.

Speaking of which, why do you take so much crap from David Letterman and Howard Stern?
When I go on those shows, I’m going for a purpose. When I went on Letterman and Stern and asked people to go to my website and support my No Child Left Behind act, hundreds of thousands of people went. They took the time to look past my silliness and see that I was serious about the crusade. And they went and they wrote letters and helped me out. I’ll put up with anything as long as I get my point across. And to tell you the truth, both Howard and Dave really love me in their own very sick way.

For your last meal, would you chose something healthy? Or would you go out with a high-caloric bang?
I’d want a buffet! There’d be New Orleans food, French food, Italian food, Chinese food, BBQ. The list goes on.…

Sweatin’ to the Oldies: 20th-Anniversary Edition is out Tue 8.