Mystery surrounds Jerry Lewis’ absence from Sunday’s Muscular Dystrophy Telethon

Las Vegas Sun ^ | 09/01/2011 | Robin Leach

[SeekAndFind]

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

[Jennikins]

Your reply is right on. Jerry was the one who started the whole thing, and now he is “not welcome.”
They should have shown him at least doing the introduction.
No class!

[Strk321]

Yeah, that’s why Michael Savage thought there was something fishy about his departure. The fact that it happened really abruptly and no cause was given when a simple “My health/age won’t let me do this anymore” would have sufficed.

Also his not being allowed to do a final show/sendoff.

[Figment]

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.

Not to take anything away from Jerry Lewis dedication to MDA, but, Danny Thomas has got to at least be at that level with St. Judes

[Figment]

Lewis ouster has me puzzled. I thought he had stepped down because of age and health. Now it seems he was ousted. What gives?

[Hot Tabasco]

If so, why are there so many reports saying that he won’t even make one final bow?

Because people are too inclined to believe what they want to believe, especially a controversy such as this where one probably doesn't exist.

Jerry Lewis is not well and hasn't been for quite some time so I'm of the belief that he wishes to maintain the privacy of his illness and allow the MD telethon to continue without them using him as a poster boy.

Jerry Lewis Sydney show canceled because of illness

Guess we won't know for sure until after the telethon, right?

[Brandonmark]

From the MDA website:

Welcome to MDA

BIOGRAPHY OF JERRY LEWIS

Jerry Lewis announced May 16, 2011 that he is retiring as host of the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon. He has hosted the Telethon since 1966 and will make his final appearance on the Sept. 4, 2011, show by performing his signature song, "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Jerry Lewis will continue to serve MDA as its National Chairman, as he’s done since the early 1950s.

A consummate entertainer and world-renowned humanitarian, Jerry Lewis is not just a cultural icon in the United States — he’s one of the most easily recognized personalities on the planet. Widely hailed as a comic genius, regarded as one of the true giants of the motion picture industry, and internationally celebrated for his vast contributions to humanity, Jerry personifies the term "living legend."

[skeeter]

I feel the same way about Dick Clarke. But I think this has more to do with Jerry making some not so PC jokes over the past several years.

[calex59]

Mystery? Didn’t Jerry announce about a month ago he couldn’t do them any more because of health reasons? Article was run right here on FR. Don’t have a link but I remember it well.

[Strk321]

Bingo.

[Sawdring]

Maybe it was because of this joke last year: Jesse the illiterate faggot.

[Kartographer]

Maybe they should just take him out and put him on an iceberg.

[SuziQ]

Where’s the mystery? I thought I’d read earlier this year that he was ‘retiring’ as the front man of the fundraiser. I never expected him to be there, this year.

[Raycpa]

They waited 4 years to can him?

[Leto]

Lewis started doing this about 55 years ago, initially in NYC, there would be no telethon without him.

MDA OWED it to him to let him go out with some dignity, thay should have made this into a big deal and let him hand this off to others.

Their behavior is disgraceful IMO.

I am not French so I never cared for his movies/comedy.

[cva66snipe]

I heard him say many years ago the telethons took almost an entire year to organize. He’s 85 and very deserving of a retirement from a job which likely took a considerable portion of his time.

[Lockbar]

“HEY, LADY!”

[isom35]

Mrs Lady person with the THINGS!

[John W]

The bloating due to medication was some years back.

Earlier this year he indicated he would be making one last appearance this year but would remain as national Chairman of MDA.

Then a few weeks ago MDA announced tersely that he had “completed his run” as Chairman and would not be appearing on the telethon.

[Patriot Babe]

Exactly!!!

I recall news that Mr. Lewis made some joke about Gays. Also I remember seeing an interview of him on Entertainment Tonight where he criticized Obama. He was disgusted with this administration. (I think we are all =)

[OldPossum]

You don’t know Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Country Superstar Martina McBride? These singers are probably as “old” or “older” then Celine and Jennifer.

No, I have never heard of either. I grew up in the 1950s and was there when rock 'n roll first appeared. In the mid-1960s I was a radio disk jockey and appreciative of singers of songs that had what we quaintly used to call "melody." That aspect of songs seemed to have died out somewhere in the late 1970s, so I quit listening.

As to country and western music, that too changed and not for the better. The disappeance of such instruments as the fiddle and the steel guitar, to be replaced by multiple drums and electric guitars, did the music no favor, so I quit listening to that, too.

The rock 'n roll music and C&W music that you grew up with bear little resemblance to the real thing. Or at least, what I consider to be the real thing.

Best regards,

OldPossum