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MDA: Jerry Lewis Out As Chairman, Telethon Host

Will be interesting to hear the real story behind this. Is it health concerns? Was it Jerry making the call (the tweet doesn't sound like that), or did MDA and Jerry have a difference of opinion on the direction of the telethon? Lots of questions on this one...either way most likely the end of the end for Jerry, sadly.

For Jerry fans, may I recommend one of his later movies, "King of Comedy", a dark comedy that is intrigueing for late night tv fans.
 
I'm sure Tom Bergeron, Nancy O'Dell, Jann Carl, and Alison Sweeney will be sharing co-hosting duties for the telethon.

And since it's only six hours anyway, they'll probably close with a pre-recorded version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" set to clips of Jerry's Kids.
 
In my opinion, without a strong "captain" to steer the "ship", I have the feeling that this year's telethon may be the last, due to viewer and station apathy. As it is Labor Day weekend, staying home to watch an event now featuring strictly B- and Z-Listers, and stations pre-empting valuable network programming to show it would be the last things on their minds.
 
As much as this move shocked me, in light of this, it certainly would not shock me if the telethon is eventually canceled this year. Think about it: Jerry Lewis, the MDA's most recognizable figure, stepping aside prior to the telethon in its new format is even on the air. Perhaps the other shoe will drop and the MDA will scrap the telethon for good? I know they announced that there will be a telethon this year, but if there's enough backlash, I don't know...
 
At a press conference for his upcoming biopic, "The method to the madness of Jerry Lewis" he said he’ll make an announcement the day after the telethon as to whether this would be his last telethon. Personally, I took this to mean that he would be back even after this year. I think the people behind the scenes gave him the opportunity to say goodbye this year, and he rejected it.

If you have been listening to the MDA radio commericals, there's been no mention of Lewis, so this has been a calculated move.

It would be interesting to see how wisely the money has been spent over the years. I wonder how much has been spend on actual medical research, and how much has been spent on overhead, salaries, etc.

To see how a telethon should operate, where operations and expenses are kept to a minimum, check out the "Crusade for Children". This local telethon helps the mentally and physically handicapped children of Kentucky and southern Indiana.

http://www.whascrusade.org/who-we-are
 
I agree with those posters who feel that this announcement is the prelude to the end of the MDA Telethon.

Jerry Lewis is 85 years old and has suffered from a series of health problems over the years and since Lewis' diminished role as host, the telethon hasn't been the same. Also take into account the hours the telethon is on the air have been greatly reduced.
 
That's the reason why telethons are out of fashion! Most of the money doesn't go to fund research; it's just for overhead and salaries.
 
the silence of jerry lewis himself is what raises questions.

at his age with his health it would be no suprise if he decided not to host anymore starting this year.

if it was his decision to not be involved in any way a statement by him would be good.if nothing else to stop questions about diid he quit or did MDA drop him.

its logical for him to stop doing them but it will take getting accustomed to it.
 
DToTheJ said:
As much as this move shocked me, in light of this, it certainly would not shock me if the telethon is eventually canceled this year. Think about it: Jerry Lewis, the MDA's most recognizable figure, stepping aside prior to the telethon in its new format is even on the air. Perhaps the other shoe will drop and the MDA will scrap the telethon for good? I know they announced that there will be a telethon this year, but if there's enough backlash, I don't know...
Click to expand...

The thing is that the new telethon was designed to bring in more stations into the Love Network fold, and bring in more notable celebrities to the telethon. So far, since the new format was announced, more stations were actually being dropped for one reason or another, the only confirmed celebrities are a few country musicians who have taped their performances from Nashville. And with Jerry Lewis now out of the picture, unless they find someone just as "strong" as him, they might as well ax the telethon right now.

KyDXIn said:
If you have been listening to the MDA radio commericals, there's been no mention of Lewis, so this has been a calculated move.
Click to expand...

Also, last month, the telethon became known as the "MDA Labor Day Telethon", with Jerry's name and famous cartoon profile gone.

All things considered, the MDA is better off releasing a series of one- or two-hour infomercials with old clips from the telethon and profiles of people relying on MDA's help. St. Jude's and World Vision raised funds in this manner for many years.
 
Gee that's interesting cause I just received the annual card from the MDA asking for a donation and it's signed by Jerry Lewis as MDA Chairman! And his picture is still on it! The labor day telethon without Jerry Lewis will be like taking a bath without water! The grease just smears and smears and smears all over your body!
 
a lot of their PSA's and promos now feature Carrot Top.

Well, I guess his comedic style kind of matches up with Lewis.
 
flashback said:
the silence of Jerry Lewis himself is what raises questions.
Click to expand...

Here is my take on the subject.

MDA officials decided to drop Jerry as National Chairman and Master of Ceremonies because of a number of reasons:

He's 85 years old and recently has created controversy with some of his off-the cuff remarks: Gay-bashing; on-camera sniping at his staff are just two examples.

This was suppose to be his last telethon anyways. These MDA officials figured why wait until next year and just ease Jerry out of the picture now.

The decision to make the changes however must have been last-minute because the telethon is scheduled to start in just a few weeks and all of a sudden the man who has been the "face and voice" of the MDA telethon since the mid 1960s is now put out to pasture.

Jerry's silence could be that he doesn't want to create any problems for a cause that is apparently near and dear to his heart.
 
Here's my own personal take in regards to The MDA Telethon:

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, has let one of America's greatest Icons-go Just one month before The already scheduled shortened version of Its Labor Day Telethon-which will run on Sunday, September 4th for 6 hours. And Jerry Lewis is no longer its host, or He won't be singing his signature song, "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Several TV stations including Dallas' NBC affiliate KXAS won't be carrying The MDA Telethon due to KXAS & NBC's prior commitments it MUST honor. Like The US Tennis Open on CBS, which usually begins on the last week in August. Other stations who also carry The MDA also have problems of its own.

In times like this. a lot of people are now in no mood to give any of their money away to charitable organizations like The MDA, or to The Homeless, Poor, and Needy people-Who are also known as The Panhandlers. Also, Bad events that happened over the past 10 years (9/11, and Hurricanes Katrina & Ike) have also played a major impact on The MDA's declining annual totals they have already raised over these past years.

Jerry Lewis, A True Hollywood Legend. Will always be a legend.
 
'

hubcity said:
Here's the MDA.org press release:

http://www.mda.org/news/110803.html

Still pretty terse.
Click to expand...

Terse isn't the word I would use. Harsh is better description of that press release from the MDA.

Even the title of the press release made it feel like Lewis was receiving written notice of termination from a job from an insensitive employer.

I mean give the guy credit. Jerry Lewis might be a jerk at times, but he's raised probably over a billion dollars for MDA during the past four decades and this is the thanks he gets: A memo from some PR flack basically saying ' Thanks Jerry, now go away!'
 
Troy Goodwin said:
...Jerry Lewis... won't be singing his signature song, "You'll Never Walk Alone".
Click to expand...

For that point, will "You'll Never Walk Alone" ever be part of the telethon again? What's stopping them from showing the final tote then saying, "Thanks for watching! Your late local news is next!"?
 
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