Jerry Lewis out as Muscular Dystrophy Association chairman

cnn.com ^ | August 3, 2011

[Free ThinkerNY]

(CNN) -- The Muscular Dystrophy Association announced Wednesday that comedian Jerry Lewis is no longer serving as the organization's national chairman.

Lewis, 85, and MDA had announced in May that he was retiring as host of the MDA Labor Day Telethon in September. But he said then in a statement that he was planning to continue to serve as the organization's national chairman.

"As a labor of love, I've hosted the annual telethon since 1966," Lewis said in the news release issued in May by the association. "And I'll be making my final appearance on the show this year, by performing my signature song, 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'"

Jim Brown, vice president of public relations for the MDA, told CNN in a telephone interview that Lewis will not be replaced in his role as national chairman.

He also said that Lewis will not host this year's telethon, which is scheduled for September 4. Instead, it will be hosted by Nigel Lythgoe, Nancy O'Dell, Allison Sweeney and Jan Carl, Brown said.

[daisyscarlett]

While certainly it may have been time for Jerry to step back, his shoddy treatment and the rather dismissive statement released yesterday don’t do justice to a man who had worked tirelessly for this cause for SIXTY YEARS.

I totally agree...remindds me of of when Bert Parks got dismissed from the Miss America pageant. This is far worse IMO. Jerry worked all year long for MDA (in his younger years) and gave hope and inspiration to countless.

[tsowellfan]

I won’t be watching. Without Jerry Lewis it’s not the Jerry Lewis Telethon...it’s not even Labor Day.

[tsowellfan]

He looks like the younger version of Dr. Gene Scott (another pro at raising money).

[tsowellfan]

I wonder what Rush will say about this on Monday