It's a brand new year, and Richard Simmons wants to get the country up and running, or walking, or moving some other kind of way. "America is not exercising!" points out the fitness guru, who expects to be all over the tube very soon as he steps up his effort to lobby Congress on behalf of getting physical education back into schools. He's also celebrating the Time Life DVD release of his megahit "Sweatin' to the Oldies" series of 20 years ago.

"I've been working hard to get P.E. back. I've been to Washington. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone to my Web site and sent e-mails to Congress, to Ted Kennedy and George Miller, who are looking at putting P.E. into the No Child Left Behind revisions," says Richard, who insists he is undaunted by delays in the process.

"I'm going on the road. I'm going to be out the whole month, doing satellite radio and TV," he reports of his planned "Fitness Media Tour." There'll be a Super Bowl commercial, and "I'm taking some of the people who were in the videos 20 years ago out with me. We're going to do the 'Today' show," he adds.

Simmons recalls when producer Stuart Karl "approached me and Jane Fonda" to make fitness videos back in the '80s. "It was, like, $99 to buy the originals," he says with a laugh. He's had 54 videos in the marketplace since then — but he continues at a relentless 16-hour-a-day pace despite the facts that 1. he doesn't need to, and 2. he turns 60 this year.

"I get up very early, count my blessings, do my workout, get into my office at 5:30 or quarter to 6. … This is my life. I only wish people could feel how I feel by keeping off the 123 pounds I lost." Simmons also continues operating his Beverly Hills Slimmons fitness center and often quietly visits hospitals, clinics and homes to give pep talks to obese people trying to lose weight. He also e-mails back and forth with struggling followers. "Oh, my God, I have to do something. If people have fallen off the program, I'm their cheerleader. If I'm not hearing from Tracey in Pittsburgh, I get depressed. I take it all personal, and it's hard, hard work. But we need more focus on fitness than ever. You see what's happening with health care in this country. I hope people write down their resolutions. Everyone is so afraid of the word 'start.' Well, you have to start," he advises. "Go in the kitchen, clean it out, and replace the junk with healthy food!"

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: "So You Think You Can Dance" hostess Cat Deeley makes it clear that she doesn't hold with the notion that the writers' strike could be reality TV's gain. "People presume that (is true) because there will be more unscripted shows. But it doesn't do anyone any good for people to be out of work. It's affecting the entire infrastructure of the city, from dry cleaners to coffee shops to the heads of networks. It's terrible, that feeling of unrest," she says.

Deeley, who, as you read this, might just be sleeping in after the rigors of hosting Fox's New Year's Eve show last night, knows she might be asked to take on more shows. However, she says she can't imagine adding to her already-crammed schedule of activities both here and in her native United Kingdom. She's used to her trans-continental commute, though. "It makes it a little bit easier if you have a glass of wine, take off your shoes and get a blanket out."

THE INDUSTRY EYE: "The Closer" regular Corey Reynolds says he's working on a couple of projects to spotlight his musical background. "There's a musical based on the music of Donny Hathaway," says Reynolds of the late R&B singer responsible for such '70s hits as "The Ghetto," "Where is the Love?" and "This Christmas." "And I'd also love to do a biopic of Marvin Gaye's life." The actor, who earned a 2002 Tony nomination for his portrayal of Seaweed J. Stubbs in "Hairspray the Musical," says, "Those are some avenues I'm trying to cultivate to get back into the music, but it's about having the right time to put it together with the schedule of the show."

Reynolds says he also "just finished a screenplay for a superhero I'm working on. I'd love to be able to portray the Green Lantern, so hopefully that'll be something that manifests itself. The key to longevity is diversity. You have to do many things if you want to stay in the game for a while. I'd never been to L.A. before 2003, and now I have a lead role in the biggest hit in cable television."

FAMILY FIRST: "Wizards of Waverly Place" actress Maria Canals Barrera says her No. 1 desire is "to be the best and healthiest person and mother I can be for my daughters and the best wife I can be for my husband because everything else is so out of my control." Canals-Barrera, who has two daughters with actor David Barrera, adds, "Especially now because I feel how fast time goes by. They're 4 and 2, and everybody goes, 'Don't blink, it's going to go so fast,' and I believe them. So my focus is to be present as much as I can be and take advantage of every moment. That's the most important thing right now."

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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