2009 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon

[Team America]

Anyone know who will be taking over for Ed? Doing the live reads etc?

 

[WMC2006]

Andy Richter.


I'm kidding.


I think.

 

[cspotrun]

Anyone know who will be taking over for Ed? Doing the live reads etc?

well, Ryan Seacrest, of course.

 

[azumanga]

Apparently, Tom Bergeron, who was previously the morning co-host of the telethon (playing "Ed McMahon" while Larry King does "Jerry Lewis"), will take over as Jerry's second banana -- the MDA telethon site ( http://www.mda.org/telethon/2009telethon/ ) now mentions Tom as one of the major stars of the telethon.

 

[Al Timiter]

In that case, I won't be tuning in, even out of curiosity's sake.

 

[WMC2006]

Apparently, Tom Bergeron, who was previously the morning co-host of the telethon (playing "Ed McMahon" while Larry King does "Jerry Lewis"), will take over as Jerry's second banana -- the MDA telethon site ( http://www.mda.org/telethon/2009telethon/ ) now mentions Tom as one of the major stars of the telethon.

He'll be playing that cat-falling-off-a-tv video until everyone in America donates that extra dollar. And if that doesn't work, he'll take Whoopie Goldberg to block.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I think the more important question would be what happens to the MDA Labor Day Telethon once Jerry Lewis kicks the bucket? Not to be mean, but the guy is in his 80s and has had serious health issues in the past.

Who would replace Lewis?

 

[Mainedude2007]

Who would replace Lewis?

Ryan Seacrest

 

[Al Timiter]

Reruns of when the show mattered. When Frank and Sammy et al were guests. I think when old Jerr kicks the bucket, that's what they ought to do. Reruns. New phone number.

 

[azumanga]

How about make it like those PBS pledge breaks -- show a compilation of old material, with all-new corporate segments and local breaks. And just for kicks, put it on PBS and kill two birds with one stone. ("If you care about Jerry's kids, call the number on your screen or 1-800-FIGHT-MD. And if you like to see more programming like this on your PBS station, call the other number on the screen. But Jerry's kids come first.")

 

[WMC2006]

Or, kill three birds with one stone: put it on PBS and move it to New Years Eve. Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon starring Ryan Seacrest with taped Hollywood segments hosted by Fergie. Roving Reporter Kellie Pickler mans the Tote Board.


It could work.

 

[mleach]

Reruns of when the show mattered. When Frank and Sammy et al were guests. I think when old Jerr kicks the bucket, that's what they ought to do. Reruns. New phone number.

Good Idea !! But then again just how much of those old MDA telethons are still with us? Several years ago the TV Party website had posted an old audio clip Dennis James taken from the MDA saying that very few video clips remain from past telethons since most of the video has since been destroyed and/or erased.

Then again the same site had said the exact same thing about The Hollywood Squares with Peter Marshall and Paul Lynde. Ah TV Party was wrong about that one.

 

[taylorjsdad]

Who would replace Lewis?

Ryan Seacrest

Funny thing is Ryan Seacrest has never appeared on the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

 

[azumanga]

Funny thing is Ryan Seacrest has never appeared on the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

He also never appeared on New Year's Rockin' Eve or American Top 40 either, until he stepped in as host for both.

 

[DToTheJ]

How about make it like those PBS pledge breaks -- show a compilation of old material, with all-new corporate segments and local breaks. And just for kicks, put it on PBS and kill two birds with one stone.

How about moving it exclusively to one cable network? The question is, which would be the best fit? WGN already airs it each year (breaking for baseball when applicable) but would it make sense to place it on one commercial cable network?

 

[KML0224]

I doubt it. The local news anchors and personalities love to get that extra time on the screen, right? Here in Hartford/New Haven, it airs on WTIC-DT (FOX) channel 31 (old 61) of Hartford, with local inserts done from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville (village of Uncasville).

 

[azumanga]

Here in Hartford/New Haven, it airs on WTIC-DT (FOX) channel 31 (old 61) of Hartford, with local inserts done from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville (village of Uncasville).

I recall last year's telethon where they had a pre-recorded musical performance taped at the Mohegan Sun -- preceded by a commercial for the place. Funny thing is that the ad said nothing about Jerry's kids or how great the place is, nor did they segue into the performance -- it was just a commercial.

 

[Markxxx]

It should be pretty easy to throw the telethon on a subchannel. It doesn't need high def and if I'm not mistaken can't you carry a high def and standard def with no (or very few) isssues, CBS's rule not-with-standing

 

[1069_KIFR]

No one will replace him. As Jerry Lewis has said on numerous occasions, "I have been assured that there will be a cure in my lifetime!"

So therefore, they will not need a replacement for Jerry Lewis.

 

[Ultimajock]

But then again just how much of those old MDA telethons are still with us? Several years ago the TV Party website had posted an old audio clip Dennis James taken from the MDA saying that very few video clips remain from past telethons since most of the video has since been destroyed and/or erased.

...depends on the period. I have a mutual friend with Jerry, and asked him to check on that question a couple of years ago; if you're looking for a kinescope of the time Charlie Parker showed up and played his alto sax for a half an hour, you're (and I'm) outta luck. From '74 or '75 onwards (the time John Lennon showed up and played a few tunes), is when the stuff that survives really begins...