Richard Simmon's Exploding Steamer.

ROTFLMAO! :D

nother canidate for http://stiffs.com

This was all a setup, a prank pulled by Letterman's show on Simmons. Letterman pulls pranks on Simmons every time he visits (last time, six years ago, Letterman doused Simmons from a fire extinguisher, which caused Simmons to have a sever asthma attack).

The tray placed under the steamer, which Simmons didn't want there (see how he's saying "I don't know what this is for"), contained a firecracker in it. When Letterman gave a nod to the pyrotechnics backstage, they set off a firecracker (when it started smoking, Simmons realizes he's being pranked and says "Oh, that's why" - i.e. "That's why you put the tray there."

Simmons was a good sport about it, but don't blame his steamer. Blame Letterman for being, in Cher's words, "an asshole."

Yeah, I find that Letterman's humor often has a mean edge to it.

I agree with everything Nadia said. But, still made me laugh out loud, FWIW. I don't know why Simmons even agrees to appear. Guess he wants to sell some steamers; the poor wash-up. As he ages, he just looks sillier and sillier.

Poor Richard, everyone always gives him a hard time. Sure he drives me nuts but hey, at least he's not a malicious prankster like Letterme(a)n...

--TwoDragons

I saw somewhere on TV that Simmons actually call and encourage extremely overweight people to go on diets, exercise, and improve their lives. Sometimes, he would call them daily to give them encouragements.

Simmons never seem to publicize this (the show was about the people who lost weight and credited Simmons for help), so kudos to him.

To me, Simmons seems like he's on coke or something similar. Or maybe he has some neurological disorder? I've no idea really but he doesn't seem to be all "there". Wtf am I talking about here,this is Richard Simmons ffs! Nevermind, you crazy bastard you.