Defunct Annual Telethons

[nomadcowatbk]

Children's Miracle Network
Easter Seals

The MDA telethon might join this list after this year

 

[mjlarochelle]

We had a localized version of the Childrens Miracle Network Telethon in London, Ontario for many years. After that telethon ended CFPL continued with a telethon to support the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario for several years. That telethon ended at the same time noon news was canceled and the station was re-branded as A-Channel.

There are still a lot of telethons in Canada, but they are usually local or regional in scope. One such longtime institution is the Christmas Daddies Telethon in the Maritimes.

 

[Bluenoser]

There are still a lot of telethons in Canada, but they are usually local or regional in scope. One such longtime institution is the Christmas Daddies Telethon in the Maritimes.

Which up til a few years ago, there were 3 versions of: produced in Moncton, Halifax and Sydney. In recent years, the Moncton and Halifax shows have merged, with both areas carrying the Halifax edition. Sydney still continues with their version, which is also partially carried nationally on A Atlantic (which is on many digital cable systems nationally, as well as on Bell TV and Shaw Direct). Another program is the annual Christmas Telethons on CTV Northeastern Ontario (ex-MCTV). Each of the stations still produces a local version, with Bell TV freeing up 2 channels so viewers can get all versions of the telethon (Sudbury, Timmins, and North Bay-not sure what they do in the Soo).

 

[blackgold]

Let's not forget the United Cerebral Palsy Weekend with the Stars telethon.

"Look at us! We're walking!
Look at us! We're talking!
We don't need these telethons no more!"

 

[blackgold]

No offense intended from that last post. Still, telethons with all their long hours and constant pledge breaks got on everyone's brain. Who knows what will happen with this year's MDA telethon?

 

[azumanga]

We had a localized version of the Childrens Miracle Network Telethon in London, Ontario for many years. After that telethon ended CFPL continued with a telethon to support the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario for several years. That telethon ended at the same time noon news was canceled and the station was re-branded as A-Channel.

There are still a lot of telethons in Canada, but they are usually local or regional in scope. One such longtime institution is the Christmas Daddies Telethon in the Maritimes.

The TVA network still has the annual Operation Enfant Soleil, which supported children's hospitals in Quebec -- the telethon is held the same weekend as the Children's Miracle Network telethons.

Other Canadian stations also had their own CMN telethon for their local children's hospital -- I know CBNT in Newfoundland has theirs for Janeway Hospital. The ATV network also had a telethon for a hospital in Halifax; don't know if that's still going on. Others included CJOH, for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario; CFTO and MCTV, for the Hospital for Sick Children (which the telethon is no longer running); and BCTV / Global BC for the children's hospital in Vancouver, in addition to their February "Show of Hearts" for the Variety Club that's still going on.

On the subject of other defunct telethons in general, I think the March of Dimes also had one for a few years in the 1980s, which were hosted by Hal Linden (of "Barney Miller" fame).

 

[Bluenoser]

We had a localized version of the Childrens Miracle Network Telethon in London, Ontario for many years. After that telethon ended CFPL continued with a telethon to support the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario for several years. That telethon ended at the same time noon news was canceled and the station was re-branded as A-Channel.

There are still a lot of telethons in Canada, but they are usually local or regional in scope. One such longtime institution is the Christmas Daddies Telethon in the Maritimes.

The TVA network still has the annual Operation Enfant Soleil, which supported children's hospitals in Quebec -- the telethon is held the same weekend as the Children's Miracle Network telethons.

Other Canadian stations also had their own CMN telethon for their local children's hospital -- I know CBNT in Newfoundland has theirs for Janeway Hospital. The ATV network also had a telethon for a hospital in Halifax; don't know if that's still going on. Others included CJOH, for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario; CFTO and MCTV, for the Hospital for Sick Children (which the telethon is no longer running); and BCTV / Global BC for the children's hospital in Vancouver, in addition to their February "Show of Hearts" for the Variety Club that's still going on.

On the subject of other defunct telethons in general, I think the March of Dimes also had one for a few years in the 1980s, which were hosted by Hal Linden (of "Barney Miller" fame).

ATV's CMN telethon is still on the air...when it began in the early 80s, CBC Maritimes/CHSJ aired it; ATV picked it up after a CBC strike, and the rest as they say is history...

 

[radioman148]

Children's Miracle Network
Easter Seals

The MDA telethon might join this list after this year

Looks very possible.

 

[azumanga]

Children's Miracle Network
Easter Seals

The MDA telethon might join this list after this year

Looks very possible.

With no big stars headlining the telethon, its co-hosts now sharing host duties, viewer and station apathy and now Jerry out of the picture, I tend to believe it.

I won't be surprised if they cancel this year's telethon, and if it goes on, I won't be surprised if they act like if Jerry never existed.

 

[KS-IL-IA]

Let's not forget the United Cerebral Palsy Weekend with the Stars telethon.

"Look at us! We're walking!
Look at us! We're talking!
We don't need these telethons no more!"

Yep, the local stations' UCP telethons had a certain kitschiness to them. At 6 years old, I insisted my parents take me 100 miles away to the broadcast from a local college. Got to see Dennis James, Rose Marie and Pat Buttram on stage.

The late '70s-early '80s telethon went national -- it was more of a lengthy talk-show than the MDA Vegas revue. I thought it was so cool how John Ritter and his then-wife, Nancy Morgan, and Henry Winkler had so much fun with it, seeming like it was largely unscripted.

 

[KS-IL-IA]

Let's not forget the United Cerebral Palsy Weekend with the Stars telethon.

"Look at us! We're walking!
Look at us! We're talking!
We don't need these telethons no more!"

Yep, the local stations' UCP telethons had a certain kitschiness to them. At 6 years old, I insisted my parents take me 100 miles away to the broadcast from a local college. Got to see Dennis James, Rose Marie and Pat Buttram on stage.

The late '70s-early '80s telethon went national -- it was more of a lengthy talk-show than the MDA Vegas revue. I thought it was so cool how John Ritter and his then-wife, Nancy Morgan, and Henry Winkler had so much fun with it, seeming like it was largely unscripted.

 

[visaman]

The Variety Show of Hearts Telethon used to bring in top notch performers - Ray Charles was a warmly received regular, but after 9/11 BCTV switched to showing concert videos, the ones that PBS uses for their fundraisers. It wasn't as much fun to watch, but donations have remained steady.

 

[radioman148]

Children's Miracle Network
Easter Seals

The MDA telethon might join this list after this year

Looks very possible.

With no big stars headlining the telethon, its co-hosts now sharing host duties, viewer and station apathy and now Jerry out of the picture, I tend to believe it.

I won't be surprised if they cancel this year's telethon, and if it goes on, I won't be surprised if they act like if Jerry never existed.

Anyone know the real reason that Jerry is no longer with MDA? There must be a story there.

 

[wbhist]

The MDA telethon might join this list after this year

Looks very possible.

With no big stars headlining the telethon, its co-hosts now sharing host duties, viewer and station apathy and now Jerry out of the picture, I tend to believe it.

I won't be surprised if they cancel this year's telethon, and if it goes on, I won't be surprised if they act like if Jerry never existed.

Anyone know the real reason that Jerry is no longer with MDA? There must be a story there.

There may be something similar to what Soupy Sales used to say about the time he and a Cleveland, OH TV station where he worked very early in his career, parted ways - "For health reasons," he quipped. "They got sick of me." It may yet transpire that the MDA finally got sick of Lewis, his own myriad of health problems notwithstanding. I do know that in one Q&A session when he was asked about such reports and his future role in the telethons, he snapped, "That's none of your business." Yet last I checked, Mr. Lewis was still promoted left, right, center, sideways and diagonal on the MDA's website.

 

[radioman148]

The MDA telethon might join this list after this year

Looks very possible.

With no big stars headlining the telethon, its co-hosts now sharing host duties, viewer and station apathy and now Jerry out of the picture, I tend to believe it.

I won't be surprised if they cancel this year's telethon, and if it goes on, I won't be surprised if they act like if Jerry never existed.

Anyone know the real reason that Jerry is no longer with MDA? There must be a story there.

There may be something similar to what Soupy Sales used to say about the time he and a Cleveland, OH TV station where he worked very early in his career, parted ways - "For health reasons," he quipped. "They got sick of me." It may yet transpire that the MDA finally got sick of Lewis, his own myriad of health problems notwithstanding. I do know that in one Q&A session when he was asked about such reports and his future role in the telethons, he snapped, "That's none of your business." Yet last I checked, Mr. Lewis was still promoted left, right, center, sideways and diagonal on the MDA's website.

It's hard to understand why they'd drop him as chairman of MDA with the amount of star power he brings in.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Then there's this: http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=663026&GT1=28103

Could this lead to some regular telethon acts refusing to participate?

 

[radioman148]

It appears that way.

 

[joebtsflk1]

Let's not forget the United Cerebral Palsy Weekend with the Stars telethon.

"Look at us! We're walking!
Look at us! We're talking!
We don't need these telethons no more!"

Yep, the local stations' UCP telethons had a certain kitschiness to them. At 6 years old, I insisted my parents take me 100 miles away to the broadcast from a local college. Got to see Dennis James, Rose Marie and Pat Buttram on stage.

The late '70s-early '80s telethon went national -- it was more of a lengthy talk-show than the MDA Vegas revue. I thought it was so cool how John Ritter and his then-wife, Nancy Morgan, and Henry Winkler had so much fun with it, seeming like it was largely unscripted.

I remember Dennis James and the local UCP telethons, how they'd march those kids across the stage in their braces, canes, walkers and thinking as a nine year old kid that those kids were being put on display and that there wasn't a whole lot of dignity to it. Seemed like it was every hour on the hour

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Children's Miracle Network
Easter Seals

The MDA telethon might join this list after this year

I was right

 

[bpatrick]

I don't think the UNCF telethon has aired since Lou Rawls died.