Jerry Lewis Is Leaving The MDA Telethon

I heard it was because he has Muscular Distrophy

hehe just kidding ...

My understanding of Lewis' departure is that the MDA considers him too old to be an effective fundraiser any longer. Oh, I KNOW he's raised a gazillion bucks in the past 45 years... but it HAS been 45 years!

The primary reason Lewis was able to parlay his telethon into such a media monster in the first place was his strong Vegas/Hollywood connections and he exploited his friends/business acquaintances into appearing LIVE on the air. In primetime TV of 1966, that "LIVE!" part was the hook. His telethon quickly became an annual Circus of the Stars and THAT'S why people tuned-in and dialed those phones. Toll-free Star-fucking is still star-fucking. And, by extension, local affiliates could jump on the bandwagon and promote themselves [and any area civic groups hungry for a little camera facetime]. Naturally, the success of the MDA telethons spawned their own greedy progeny of similar phonefests nationwide. But, notice how FEW there are still around today?

Trouble is: Lewis' megastar guests are largely DEAD. You could almost hear the deathknell [or was it a GONG?] in the 80's when dog acts, jugglers, and assorted crappy Reno magicians would start to appear for hour after hour with a "headliner" like Trini Lopez picking up the slack between station breaks. I remember well that for several years people would tune in just to see if Dean Martin would ever show up. And, when he warily did... that toteboard damned-near exploded! Then: when that old professional chortler Ed McMahon chuckled his last breath it was obviously a matter of time before old Jerry packed up his schtick as well.

So, MDA told Jerry he could still be the posterboy [literally, with his caricatured mug on every envelope they'd send out], and be a visible spokesperson... he could even show up and "sing" that abominable tearjerker... and the telethon could still bear his name, but NO MORE HOSTING [and, contrary to what it would mean in donations... they did NOT want Jerry collapsing and dying on the air!]. No, they want someone with SERIOUS CLOUT -like a George Clooney [who won't do it]- or for a younger appeal, even the Jonas Brothers [who lack the talent to do it or the connections to drag in any genuine "names"] to offer up the patter in between acts. HEY! Maybe Oprah's available now that her show is toast. Hell: she could just cut them a check for the entire amount and stay home, saving TONS of hassle for everyone concerned! You listening, girl?

Okay. Lewis HAS raised ALOT of cash. But: there also seems to be a bit of tarnish on that image, as well. MDA insiders and recipients alike have been coming forward for years now criticising how the MDA spends that boatload of bucks on administrative costs, keeping that elusive cure just out of reach so they can rake in even more revenue year after year. Notice how they slipped ALS into their programs several years ago? In advertising, that's called expanding your consumer-base.

And, then, there's Lewis himself. The personal anecdotes of his abrasive, all-encompassing ego have been around since BEFORE he donned his tux that labor Day 45 years ago in a dingy casino showroom. And, they haven't slowed down one single bit ever since. Arguably, it could be said that Lewis offended as many contributors as he hauled in... but that's fodder for another debate.

No, the days of star-studded telethons are virtually at an end. With people struggling to figure out where their next meal is coming from or how to keep their families from ending up on the streets... there are just more important priorities for those generous souls who used to be willing to dialup for a brief chat with Molly Ringwald, and then pledge $50 to hear their name on the air, and to help nameless, faceless children.

Sorry, Kids... you may soon find yourself walking alone, in spite of what Jerry Lewis will warble [tears guaranteed!] this September.

Last Edited by GSB/LTD on 05/18/2011 10:35 AM

Jerry lewis comedic genius

All things aside, a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man.

I'm surprised that he's still alive, let alone doing his telethon schtick.

So let me get this straight. The Man (Mr. Lewis) makes MDA the centerpiece of his life for the past 45 years and has raised untold Millions for this organization, and now because his health is failing they kick him out of the organization and off the air (just to sing one more song).

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the kids, but this is egregious, ungrateful, and counter-productive. This move will hurt this organization badly.

What ever happened to respect for elders?

Just one more thing; here's the contact info for the a-hole who sent out the press release from MDA about firing Jerry:

Contact: Jim Brown
Muscular Dystrophy Association
(520) 529-5320
[email protected]

And here's a link to the story. It's like Coke fired Santa Claus.

[link to www.mda.org]

I didn't even realize this telethon was still going on. As a kid, I always hated the MD telethon, because it meant that school was going to be starting anytime.

Don't you think after 50-some years, they could have at least become close to finding a cure? It's just a scam!!!

We can honor his comedic genius from ages ago but he has become an irritable old fart all drugged up. Is that what makes a good host? I suspect there is more going on.

there is a cure, but we arent allowed to use it. stem-cell...

i have MD, trust me... i am frustrated

Muscular Dystrophy is caused by enterovirus.

Astragalus prevents enterovirus from reproducing.

lol........ um, no

lol........ um, yes

linky?

Didn't he recently pass away? I am sure I heard it on some news report.

i have Miyoshi myopathy (limb girdle type 2b) muscular dystrophy. it is an auto-recessive genetic anomaly that affects the dysferlin gene.

no virus responsible...

if somebody knows something different, send data my way, please!

Didn't Lewis start the whole organization, he was the Chairman - so HOW does he get fired?

Was it a board vote that got him out?

Probably more to this story than they're letting on.

He was supposed to make the final appearance on this year's telethon, but is now fired - did this occur somewhere around the time he made the remarks about American Idol?

Lewis may be a jerk in some ways, egomaniacal, but he tells the truth about the filth and trash on tv today.

Back in his day, those entertainers had to earn their "stardom" and even then, they didn't make today's money.

Now, kids and young people who haven't earned ANYTHING are instant celebrities and millionaires. It's digusting.

I totally lost all respect for MDA when I found out they count ALL donations they get all year in that telethon. I'm not sure it actually affects the giving, it just seems sneaky to me.

On the same subject, there is a book that may be out of print now. I had my nursing students read it in the long ago. Called THE CANCER SYNDROME. In a nutshell, it pointed a blaming finger at all the "great charity" clubs incl. Cancer Society and Red Cross that pocket the millions, that have a hierarchy of Presidents etc. who get paid VERY well and only a pittance to throw at research bc the truth is, Cancer will never be cured. They have that wrapped up. The Cancers I know about that went into remission was because alternative therapies were used and people went back to healing their own body with their mind and soul. I saw it happen many times.

Same reason TPTB will never allow alternative approaches paid by insurance, or recognize the validity of certain supplements and herbs. They fight at every turn. One Doctor said Cancer is a fungus. Well, Cancer is alot of things, fungus, virus, nanobacterias within viruses that mutate, toxins galore affecting our integral systems. I have come to believe other labeled diseases are really cancer. What a crock of mismanaged and illiterate thinkers who have duped us all into believing the cure is in a lab from some other chemical that will do us harm. Like Chemo. Kill the rest of the body off while you target one aspect of the disease. Is that a smart thinker at the helm?

When comedian Jerry Lewis was asked which female comics he liked, he said he didn't find women funny. He considers them "producing machines that brings babies into the world."

This ^ ^ ^ ^ is so very true ! It is all a Money Grab / Scam