Jerry Lewis Telethon

[Theodore]

Ever since i can remember,it's been on Kxas.now i see Channel 21 will carry it.wha happened ?

 

[jd]

Here's the story, from Ed Bark's blog:

http://unclebarky.com/dfw_files/0d5a24a9b957e2d218c37ac8f628bd0d-2077.html

 

[gbranch]

The MDA telethon is on it's last legs, and this year's scaled down version may be the last. The quality of the entertainment has suffered in recent years, viewership is down, and there are many other avenues now available for MDA fund raising. Many stations had started pre-empting portions of the telethon for other programming. Jerry is not even involved anymore, effectively being "fired" by MDA a few weeks ago.

 

[arnoldevns]

I think this is a case of many people longing for "the good ol days" and not realizing they have been gone for a very long time. The need for a telethon evaporated long ago. The quality of this show diminished greatly years ago. The program used to be a big ratings draw. Now it's ratings repellent. This new format has the potential to help but only marginally. Good luck to "Jerry's Kids" ...but the MDA really needs to rethink this whole thing.

 

[fredcantu]

The program used to be a big ratings draw. Now it's ratings repellent.

Competing broadcasters didn't help things by putting on better programs and sporting events on a weekend that the telethon used to have to itself.

 

[gbranch]

Plus, you take into account the increasing modes of entertainment - 500 channel cable tv, internet, etc, the telethon just does not have the captive audience that it once had. When it was at it's peak in the 1970's, most people had 12 channels or less to choose from, and many markets, especially smaller ones, did not even have a single 24 hour station. So, when the telethon was on at 2 am it was often the only thing on. I remember as a kid leaving the tv on all night with the telethon on, because I thought it was cool to stay up all night and watch tv, even though I would sleep through most of it.