By Joe Brown

Published Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 | 2:35 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.

And we don't mean the caffeine or whatever that keeps Jerry Lewis up all night through 43rd annual 22-hour variety show for charity.

A new feature of this year’s live-from-Las Vegas broadcast is the Jerry Lewis Telethon Online Auction at www.mda.org/auctions. It's already up online, featuring items donated by celebrities, MDA sponsors and other friends of the Association. Items are up for bid in such categories as travel, unique experiences, electronics, golf, excursions, sports memorabilia and items from Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration.

The auction ends September 4; among the top 10 most popular items at the moment are a tickets to see "American Idol" heartthrob Ace Young in the musical "Grease" on Broadway, plus dinner with Young (airfare and hotel not included, BTW -- current bid was at $1,400) and gas for a year from Citgo (currently up to $2,625).

The telecast is staged in the Equestrian Center of the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa, and free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The maudlin marathon will be aired locally on Channel 13. Last year's Telethon, carried by 180 TV stations nationwide, brough in a record $63.8 million to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association's service and research programs.