For the first time in over 40 years, Jerry Lewis will not be hosting the Labor Day telethon for MDA. I remember back in the day before cable when this telethon was actually something people watched on a pretty regular basis. I don't know what the ratings were for it back in the day, but I know most people tuned in for at least a couple of hours. I don't even know where it airs anymore. It gets lost in a sea of channels. Anyway, Jerry had planned on making this Labor Day his last on the air hosting the telethon but planned on remaining as the national chairman for MDA. Turns out he will not get to do either. After devoting himself for 45 years to the cause, the organization is not letting him say goodbye and is also removing him as national chairman. That seems like a cold hearted move considering he helped raise like a billion dollars for MDA. Lewis is 85 and has had really bad health problems for awhile. This would have been a nice way for everyone to say goodbye to him.
Didn't he say some asinine things during last year's telethon?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think there's more to the story, and that there has to be a very, very good reason for the MDA to make what appears on the surface to be a dick move.
ReplyDeleteThinking Lewis isn't in any condition to be in front of a camera, representing the organization.
Agree, there's more to this story then meets the eye.
ReplyDeleteJust googled "jerry lewis racist" and the news articles show that he said a gay slur and has dropped the F bomb during the telecasts in the last few years. That was just a cursory search.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding that for this year Jerry was going to come out do a little bit then at the end sing 'You'll never walk alone" and that was pretty much it. The man made them what they are- he really did and no matter if he was not the most politically correct he still should have been given a chance to say good bye. Someone on the radio this morning said he will be dead in 18 months - how terrible to treat him like that.
ReplyDeleteI hope MDA gets a good PR person to turn this story around for them. Jerry's known for being a giant dick isn't he?
ReplyDeleteWow..I agree there's more to this story than we know right now..and yes he has a rep as a hot head and a few other unattractive things...I want to say that's harsh that they're doing this but I have a really strong feeling that there's a real good reason they're doing it and I'll bet the reasons will come to light
ReplyDeleteHe's 85. It's entirely possible he has dementia or something and the kindest thing to do for him would be to keep him off the air and not tarnish the charitable reputation he has with this organization.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I never liked the guy - he always came across in his humor as mean-sprited to me.
And isn't he the reveal for some really nasty blind involving a shag rug?
ReplyDeleteAlso agree that there must be something we don't know about this story. If it's something that is unfavourable to Lewis, then it's actually classy that the org isn't mentioning it. Thanks for all those years raising money for MDA, Jerry!
ReplyDelete@Patty: I was thinking of that as I read this piece.
ReplyDeleteWatching him doing the MDA telethon now is like watching Dick Clark doing the NYE broadcast from Times Square now. However, he's done so much for so many for so long I hope they figure out a way to let him bow out with some dignity.
What about the blind item about the actor who is doing less and less because of dementia? Could this be him?
ReplyDeletewhen I was a kid, we used to have a giant slumber party on that night. we would pop corn, eat icecream, play Life or Monopoly and try to be the one who stayed up for the whole telethon. used to be one of the ways you got to see your favorite music star. (seriously showing my age here)
ReplyDeleteI never liked the bits with Jerry, sorry but I didn't. He always came across like a jerk to everyone except the kids.
Sounds like the producers couldn't be sure he'd behave responsibly backstage or on-camera, even for brief periods over the length of the show. They'll probably do a taped tribute at the end. If he can't manage that, they'll just do a clip assembly from years past.
ReplyDelete@BigMama: I was thinking the same thing--how many Labor Day weekends have been spent with Jerry droning on in the background? It was exhausting just knowing it was on for that long!
ReplyDeleteHe always gave me the MAJOR creeps. As a teenager, I belonged to a group (Job's Daughters) that answered phones for the telethon. They'd have the tv on while we were working, and I couldn't even stand to look at it, he just made me queasy.
ReplyDeleteI guess I never liked him either for whatever reason I cannot pin point exactly. Because everyone else seemed to love him and think he was such a saint for hosting the telethons. I never watched the telethons because of him. When I heard years later what a jerk he was I somehow felt vindicated.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I find it painful to see him or Dick Clark on TV. They both had their day, and a ton of success, but all things end.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, there must be more to this story than just unceremoniously kicking an old guy out on his ear.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet he was a Class-A Jerkoff for a lot of that 45 years, regardless of how much dough he helped drum up for the kids.
Yeah, it makes me recall how painful it is/has been watching Dick Clark recently on New Year's Eve and I must say--I am NOT being mean here, I mean this in the gentlest way--but that was a MAJOR buzzkill, sorry!
ReplyDeleteNow...NYE and MDA Telethon are two totally diff things, MDA being a buzzkill already! But this is obviously for the better.
I've never liked him. He always ooked me out as a kid. And I always HATED the telethon back when I was a kid. We had cable but way back then that only meant we got a few more stations. That stupid telethon played on almost every single damn TV station. I'll probably be more likely to donate now that he's not a part of it. He's always been a giant ass from what I've heard.
ReplyDeleteAnd his movies sucked! That voice was soooooo annoying!!!!
I suspect the story is the simplest. He's getting too old to do it, and the PR machine wasn't on top of controling the announcement. Poor Jerry, sounds like he's next in the celebrity death parade.
ReplyDeleteselenakyle, I know what you mean about Dick Clark on NYE. Right at the moment you're looking toward a new year & fresh future, they bring him in, and it makes me suddenly wistful for a past that can never again be had. Sniffle.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking what happened is the MDA said he couldn't do the telethon (his health), and Jerry blew up and he or they cut ties because of that. If it hadn't been ugly, Jerry Lewis would have been named 'Chairman for Life' or some such empty title.
Will someone PLEASE tweet Robin Williams or Billy Crystal or Jim Carrey to pick up this torch please? This is an American tradition---how FUN would it be to get younger artist, and make it hip again?
I meant 'younger artists'---like modern pop stars to come out for charity.
ReplyDeleteI remember being a kid and trying to stay awake too. It seemed amazing how he could stay awake the whole time. We always ventured he must be taking naps backstage. I would always call in a pledge but never mail it in because I was a kid and had no money. I meant well. Sorry, Jerry.
ReplyDeleteJerry gets Paid to host the telethon
ReplyDeletehe doesnt do it for the kids he does it for the CA$H.
When I was a teenager, I loved watching the telethon and I'd stock up on Fritos and Sugar-Free Dr Pepper (it wasn't called Diet back then) so I could stay up all night and watch! And I always cried when he sang at the end.
ReplyDeleteLike some of the folks above, I think there's a lot more to this story than we know. And I'm sure that Jerry Lewis knew this was coming. The people I know who know him say he isn't an easy person to get along with. And I guess we'll never know why he started the telethon.
Ray-Ray is right. Jerry takes about 20% of the money raised to pay for his 'expenses.' Which is a polite way of saying he skims from the top so he can live in luxury. Combine that him being an all-around jerk, and it was time for ol' Jerry to go. HEY LADIES indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe French are going to be pissed about this!
ReplyDeleteWhat, what, what??? He got 20%???
ReplyDeleteI and I'm sure many others thought he did it for free. Some people are going to be miffed when that becomes common knowledge.
A couple of years ago Jerry Lewis guest starred on an ep of Law & Order: SVU, playing a homeless man who just happens to be Munch's uncle. His performance was incredible and Emmy worthy imo. I didn't even recognize him at first. Seek out the episode if you care to. SVU is on a couple of times a day in syndication so it shouldn't be hard.
ReplyDeleteMDA's fund raising/administrative expenses hover around 23%. Some of that cost is legit--advertising, salary, etc. But Jerry is getting a hefty share of that 23% as chairman. Really, where else is going to get his money? Jerry's been mooching off the kids for years.
ReplyDeleteHoward Stern was going on about the MDA telethon and all the money they have raised and he said something like, "Find a cure already." Made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI always thought I was the ONLY PERSON squicked out by Jerry Lewis. Now I know I was not alone.
I didn't even know the telethon was still on. I can't find it in the SF Bay Area. I haven't seen it in years. I remember Howard Stern's joke about it, and I did laugh.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I thought the guy was a saint! and I love the story that he wears a new pair of socks every day. It was quite a downer to find out hes a total turd in real life.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be b/c of what Ms. Cool mentioned...too much of a liability to be on TV?
ReplyDeleteI also thought of the shag rug story. :-/
Some articles I read said he helped raise billions for MDA, so seems like he should at least have an honorary mention or something.