Jerry Rigged: A Jerry Lewis hoax fools French President Chirac.

Entertainment Weekly ^ | 03/19/03 | Liane Bonin

[aculeus]

President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac may not be phone pals anymore, but that didn't stop Chirac from discussing Saddam Hussein, the war in Iraq, and other serious issues with another famous American: Jerry Lewis.

Except it turns out that the man who had a five-minute phone conversation with Chirac last week wasn't Lewis, but rather a Los Angeles DJ impersonating the comedian. A source at KROQ 106.7 confirms that ''Kevin and Bean Show'' entertainment reporter Ralph Garman got through to Chirac by claiming to be France's most loved American funnyman -- a prank that has the real Lewis considering legal action. ''Jerry is outraged that this impersonation occurred, especially at this critical time in the conduct of foreign policy,'' Alan Isaacman, Lewis' attorney, tells EW.com. ''These are life and death matters, and the last thing that's needed is someone getting involved in this situation in a false manner. It's reprehensible and irresponsible, and we intend to pursue the appropriate remedies.'' (KROQ declined to comment on the hoax.)

EW.com procured a tape of the phone call, during which Chirac assured Garman, ''I recognize your voice, no doubt about that'' and talked freely about why he isn't supporting an attack on Iraq, noting, ''The resolution [Bush] wanted to send [to the United Nations] a few days ago says [Iraq] has one week before the attack, and that is not reasonable, you know... In fact, the United States has already won the war, because Saddam now accepts [sic] to be disarmed from the inspectors. They've won.''

Chirac also expressed appreciation for at least one of Bush's prewar tactics: ''Without the boys [the military] sent over there, we would not have had the result of Saddam accepting to disarm. But now that we've achieved that, we can avoid war. The United States has to be very careful, because if people hold this against them, it's not good for the equilibrium of the world.''

Chirac then invited the faux Lewis to visit him in Paris, noting, ''Understand one thing: France and I will always be friends with America, even if we have two different views of this problem.''

Although the phone call got Lewis an invite to the French presidential palace, it violates FCC regulations, which mandate that the caller must notify the other party if a phone conversation is to be broadcast. ''We can't speak about a case directly, but the violation of this rule has caused us to take action against other radio stations in the past,'' an FCC spokesman tells EW.com.

This isn't the first time ''The Kevin and Bean Show'' has pulled off a prank, according to the Los Angeles Times. On June 13, 1990, Ryder and Baxter asked Arizona DJ Doug Roberts to call the station with a phony murder confession. The hoax attracted national media attention when the producers of ''Unsolved Mysteries'' broadcast the call on the show and local authorities were inundated with leads. After 10 months, the call was revealed to be a hoax. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department presented the DJs with a bill for $12,170 for wasted man hours, and they were ordered to serve 149 hours of community service by their employer.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

"Let me speak to Jack Chiraq."

[oyez]

Probably explains the French of humor, like a seven year old's. I thought Jerry was the greatest when I was in grammar school.

Whats up with Jerry these days. I saw a picture of him a while back and he is as big as a house.

[meema]

ChIraq may think they will always be friends with us, but I will always feel like I always have. Trying to be friends with france is like nursing a viper in your chest.

[Ligeia]

I picked up a family member last Saturday night at the airport and the first thing she told me about was this Jerry Lewis hoax she and her friend had listened to play out on KROC. I wondered if it would ever make the national news. She said it was a riot...the DJ's never expected to actually get Chirac and they were stunned when he picked up the phone. She said the Jerry Lewis impersonation was excellent, but can you imagine!

[ErnBatavia]

Good work! You're gonna be an asset here!

[chs68]

"Why would any national leader, even from France, take a call from Jerry Lewis?"

Because it is France.

[aculeus]

I wondered if it would ever make the national news.

I got this from InstaPundit which I should haved credited.

If the war news doesn't dominate tonight's news it may get some coverage.

[fight_truth_decay]

..sure Chirac picked up the phone..anyone can just call right thru to Chirac..ummmm ok...think maybe there were impersonations all around?

I have an oil well in Alaska I'll sell ya..all set to go!

[veronica]

Hilarious....!

A faux Jerry Lewis?...

[jpl]

ROTFLMAO! And this guy calls Bush stupid. Yeah, you're a real paragon of intelligence, sophistication, and good taste, President Superliar.

[Nachum]

Ah yes, another impressive intelligent socialist...

[weegee]

...entertainment reporter Ralph Garman got through to Chirac by claiming to be France's most loved American funnyman -- a prank that has the real Lewis considering legal action. ''Jerry is outraged that this impersonation occurred, especially at this critical time in the conduct of foreign policy,'' Alan Isaacman, Lewis' attorney, tells EW.com.

Actually Jerry's upset that someone is ripping off his act and POing his largest fan base.

The best Jerry Lewis impersonator is Sammy Petrilio who worked in the 1950s with a Dean Martin impersonator (they even made a movie with Bela Lugosi):

[weegee]

And no, that is not Chirac in the middle. He's not eating cheese.

[jiggyboy]

It's a nasty side-effect of a relatively recent medicine he had to take for a circulatory system disease (I believe). I could rummage around a bit and find out exactly, but the point is that it's not Fritos.

[weegee]

...a prank that has the real Lewis considering legal action. ''Jerry is outraged that this impersonation occurred, especially at this critical time in the conduct of foreign policy,''

"Oh for crying out flayven! With the stealing and the lawsuit - oh! Nice judge, don't hurt a person... [trails off]"

[jiggyboy]

Well I couldn't resist:

"According to USA Today, in recent years, pulmonary fibrosis, an increase of fibrous tissue in the lungs, has forced the comic to take steroid prednisone. The hormone has caused weight gain and facial bloating."

http://www.dailycelebrations.com/031699.htm

[oyez]

That sounds serious. I hope he pulls through.

[metalboy]

The French consider him like the greatest comedian who ever lived, a genius. Don`t ask me. I guess going WAAA-AHH must kill them over there

WAAAAA-AAAAAH!