STILL HUNGRY--AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

The diet/exercise media guru, autobiographically speaking, is sweatin” to the oldies. Millions of overweight Americans (especially older women), adore Simmons for his empathy and for inspiring them on TV, videos (like “Sweatin” to the Oldies”) and mall appearances to eat right and exercise their way to better health. Others, however, can see Simmons as a bit too driven and fawning. This candid book helps nonfans understand, if not like, the author. This “court jester of health” dons his droll, upbeat persona. There are many food jokes, like wishing he were born in Italy, where so many people were “little plum tomatoes and little provolone cheeses,” but he often resembles the clown crying in his makeup trailer. Raised as Milton in New Orleans, Simmons was very attached to his mother, a fan dancer turned cosmetic saleslady, and bitterly feuded with his stay-at-home dad, who had failed in show business. Food “was a religious experience,” and the rotund boy blamed his brother when he raided the refrigerator and even put the family’s house up for sale. Even more troubling traits for this inspirational icon are revealed when he quits Weight Watchers for earning too many pig pins as a weight gainer, refuses to attend his father’s funeral, and calls his housekeeper and six dogs the woman and children in his life. Getting the best revenge on dad, whom he reconciles with to the point of embarrassing him with public kisses, Simmons recounts how (after beating obesity and bulimia) he went from a bit part on General Hospital to his own successful TV show, cook- and diet books, exercise videos, promos of fat-free popcorn at K-mart and buying mansions in Beverly Hills. There are many examples of heroic work to rescue 1,000-pounders and other victims of disease, but many readers will only conclude that Simmons is still crazy and that his love handles are protruding from his tank top. (First printing of 200,000; $400,000 ad/promo; author tour)