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Jerry Lewis listens as he is presented with the Nevada Broadcasters Association Lifetime Achievement Award at Red Rock Resort on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011.
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011 | 7:25 p.m.
Robin Leach's Vegas DeLuxe
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Few TV traditions in America are as popular as the annual MDA Labor Day Telethon, but this year’s is still shrouded in mystery as to what happened between entertainment legend and longtime host Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Not one mention of his name in the two latest MDA press releases about the telethon. That’s not only downright rude and disgraceful, but also a tragedy.
This year’s show, broadcast live again from South Point on Sunday, has been cut to 6 hours from the long-standing 21-hour marathon. MDA says the new look will be more fast-paced and hopefully double donations that hit nearly $60 million last year in a flagging economy.
MDA also says the compressed show is attracting new superstar entertainers: Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Martina McBride, Steven Tyler, Jon Secada, Randy Jackson and Richie Sambora are scheduled to make appearances during the telethon. Nigel Lythgoe, Nancy O’Dell, Jann Carl and Alison Sweeney are this year’s hosts.
It won’t be the same without Jerry at the helm. His dedication and devotion to MDA and Jerry’s Kids have raised more than $2 billion, making him the solo star with the biggest gift to charity. Jerry’s legacy will last forever even in his absence.
Broadcast over Labor Day weekend in 1966 by just one TV station in New York City, the first event raised more than $1 million in pledges. This Sunday, more than 40 years later, the show will be broadcast by more than 150 MDA “Love Network” stations and assisted by approximately 250,000 volunteers across the country. Nearly 40 million people are expected to watch.
In 1998, it made history as the first telethon seen around the world via Internet simulcast. It’s momentum came from Jerry revealing the ever-increasing fundraising total posted on the tote board -- operated by hand in 1966 and now electronically.
We might never know what caused the split after so many years. We might never know why rumors swirled even after he was mysteriously axed as to why plans began for him to close the show with his trademark song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” -- and then suddenly scrapped again in recent days, as reported extensively by Senior Editor John Katsilometes.
Jerry has said he’ll only speak about the situation after the broadcast -- maybe a day later, maybe toward the end of the month, and I’m told, “Maybe never.”
Whatever the real story, it’s all a terrible shame.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
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Why does everyone get it wrong? Jerry Lewis hosted his first Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America (MDAA back then) in the mid 1950s, not in 1966. I was present at the 1956 Telethon starring Martin & Lewis, and again with Jerry alone in 1957 and 1959.
Maybe it's in Mr. Lewis' favor that the MDA has not disclosed their reasons for his dismissal. Those of us who have known him and worked with him over the decades could easily figure it might not be too pretty. But anyone who would refrain from donating to the MDA because of this unfortunate situation is doing a great injustice to the victims of Muscular Dystrophy.
Hopefully after a cooling down period, the MDA and Jerry Lewis will come to terms. That's between them. In the meantime, people who care about what is really important will honor Jerry Lewis by continuing to help his "kids."
It is not only an insult to Mr. Lewis, but to all of the people like myself who have watched, donated and grew up with this telethon.
you are right, Robin Leach, it is a terrible shame.
The sun lights the world and gives it light. Because of Jerry Lewis's exceptional humanity and rare compassion, he set to motion the irresistible winning course of phenomenal breakthrough discoveries and treatments eradicating muscular dystrophy and other gene related disorders renewing mankind to health and active participation in life of G-d's Original Design and Effect! Jerry Lewis is the present and future host of the MD telethon that by his extraordinary efforts realizes the cure! G-d bless Jerry Lewis for his exemplary magnificence as a person as well as for his uniquely superb versatile entertainment artistry.
MDA is in fantasy land if they think they're going to raise the kind of money they've raised every year without Jerry Lewis and in only 6 hours.
some of you old folks may agree with this, but back in the day it was really fun to watch jerry on tv, i recall having only 3 network channels, black & white tv and he was entertaining, not to mention a funny guy in movies & shows...shame he is gone, thank you jerry for all the good times and the wonderful gift of time for our children in the world...
I am saddened to see Jerry Lewis dropped from these telethons, he's helped accomplish SO MUCH over the years, (but his temper is pretty infamous)...hopefully it'll blow over & he'll be back next year. Of course I wish the MDA great success, but without Jerry & shortened to 6 hours, you gotta wonder what they're thinking. (And OK, I've never heard of ANY of the hosts, I assume they are young & pretty, but are they the demographic the telethon REALLY wants to reach? Youngsters whip out their wallets & donate, do they? Or will they just enjoy the free show & channel surf once they're bored?)
Anybody seen my my Nutty Professor tape laying around?
I've never really cared much for the Jerry Lewis style of comedy but nobody can doubt his fantastic efforts on behalf of the MDA.
Recent events do seem disrespectful to Mr. Lewis.
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