Posted on 09/04/2011 11:28:41 PM PDT by Eleutheria5
LAS VEGAS -The hosts of the 46th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon said Sunday that Jerry Lewis retired from the organization and its yearly fundraiser — the charity's first comments about the beloved icon's departure since an announcement last month.
Lewis publicist Candi Cazau declined comment to The Associated Press when told of the statements that opened the telethon on Sunday.
Co-host Nigel Lythgoe said during his opening comments on the telethon that he didn't realize Lewis, 85, was thinking about retirement during the show last year, when the comedian offered Lythgoe his seat as Lewis took a break and Lythgoe was coming on the air.
"He made such a big point about it. `I've never done this before,' he said," said Lythgoe, the executive producer of "American Idol." "I didn't realize then that he was contemplating retiring.
"And Jerry, and I know you're watching, when you gave me that chair I know it's possible to sit on it, but it's isn't possible, Jerry, to replace you, sir," he said. "What you have done for this organization and its families is something close to a miracle and I know that we all want to carry on your legacy."
Entertainment journalist Jann Carl followed Lythgoe by saying Lewis retired from the telethon this year.
"As Nigel just said, Jerry retired from the telethon this year, but of course, he's here with us in spirit and in heart, and we will continue to be energized and inspired by what I like to call his towering example," Carl said. "I mean that."
Carl said Lewis' dream is to rid the world of muscle disease, and she's making that her dream.
MDA spokesman Jim Brown declined comment beyond the hosts' remarks, but said the telethon would include at least one more nod ... .....
(Excerpt) Read more at aolnews.com ...
I always thought he had a martyr complex and wanted to die on the air. He’s done a phenomenal amount of good, but is always seemed that there was something dark about him.
I got the same feeling.. nothing particular except strange language(or themes) at times..
He always gave me the creeps.. even in the movies..
I thought it was weird that Jerry had his daughter and her girlfriends sitting
front row as cheerleaders. Jerry’s 85 and was not well for many years.
But something does’nt jive with his unceremonious departure. He’s
at least owed a decent send off. Perhaps he’s too big an S.O.B. or psycho to accept his fate in decency.
I always thought that his movies were funny up to a point, except for children, and couldn’t get why the French were so nuts about him. But he and Dean Martin were a great comedic ad lib team, and sometimes they made me roll on the floor with laughter. Never much liked Dean Martin solo, either.
As for the telethon? Dark side? Never watched it. Don’t care. Lou Costello had a dark side, too. Charlie Chaplin married how many teenagers?
What telethon.....I’m afraid I don’t know about any MDA telethon....there used to be one on labor day but they canceled it.....must be run by democrats, they screw up everything they touch...
Bingo!
I think we will soon find out that was probably the biggest reason he is gone. I think he and the head of the MDA got into it and what you described came out of Jerry and came out good.
That being said, it was his baby. They did him wrong.
Exactly! And the straw that broke the camel's back was his temper that flared up (as described by another FReeper on this thread)probably as a result of slowly being pushed out.
That's my take on it. My opinion. Guess we'll find out sooner or later.
It doesn’t matter what Jerry Lewis is like personally. Nothing can erase the fact that he’s raised mountains of money for MDA since the beginning and that his name is synonymous with the telethon. For them to fire him has to be the dumbest corporate move since Coke decided the world needed “new” Coke back in the ‘70’s.
I agree
He is probably gone due to harassment lawsuits that MDA had to keep quite. During the four telethons I work at, he used the F word and other sexually desciptive statements even with women around.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/29/us-jerrylewis-idUSTRE76S6BK20110729
“I didn’t mean to sound rude but on September 5, the day after that program, I will have an international press conference... and I will have plenty to say about what I think is important and that is the future, not the past.”
On YouTube I saw an old promo with him and Dean Martin. It’s audio only. They were recording a promo for their upcoming movie. Jerry Lewis purposely messed up each take by adding the words you described within the promo so that they had to keep doing it over and over.
New Coke was not introduced in the 70’s It was 1985
Nothing can erase the fact that he’s raised mountains of money for MDA since the beginning and that his name is synonymous with the telethon. For them to fire him has to be the dumbest corporate move since Coke decided the world needed “new” Coke back in the ‘70’s.
I'm not sure he ALWAYS gave me the creeps, but your statement here rings true to me. There is something about pathetic humor that has never sat well with me.
But that said, and whatever kind of person Lewis was privately, he sure did more than most Hollywood types when it came to dedicating himself and giving of himself to a charity. Really who's next, Sally Struthers?
ML/NJ
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