greg775 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 (edited) So Jerry Lewis runs this MDA Telethon for 50 years, raises 2 billion dollars for the organization and they dump him the year they are forced to a 6 hour format, which would have been better for the crotchety old man anyway. Can you imagine the meeting in which the young suits in charge of MDA discuss getting rid of the out of touch Jerry Lewis and bring in some clown from American Idol? How in the world could anybody give a cent to that organization again? This is a perfect example of corporate suits doing something totally un American (of what America used to stand for). They get rid of the guy who most of America thought owned the damn telethon, the man who raised all that money, and bring in some no-name hosts that nobody in their right mind would watch. It was a tradition to turn on the TV for an hour or so on Labor Day weekend and watch Jerry Lewis say stupid things while raising money. I think MDA got tired of waiting on him to die. And fired him. What a f***ing disgrace, America. Jerry Lewis is from the era where you don't take shots at people, either. So I would doubt we'll see what I'd love to see. The old comic blast the s*** out out of the suits who in their "team meetings" probably discussed an nauseum how to dump this institution who made the telethon a s***load of money for 50 years. Edited September 5, 2011 by greg775 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 There have been very few details from both sides, but it has been stated today by the MDA that Jerry Lewis "Retired". Co-host Nigel Lythgoe said during his opening comments that Lewis, 85, seemed to be passing the torch 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." MDA spokesman Jim Brown declined comment beyond the hosts' remarks, but said the six-hour telethon would include more nods to Lewis. Later, during the show's first hour, superstar singer Celine Dion mentioned Lewis again during a taped segment, referring to him as a friend as she introduced a cover performance of Journey's "Open Arms." "Jerry, you will always be a hero to the MDA families," Dion said. Other celebrities briefly mentioned Lewis throughout the show during cameos sprinkled between a variety of performances, interviews with people touched by muscular diseases and suit-clad corporate representatives touting company philanthropy and partnerships with the MDA. It was a stark contrast from previous years, when the show was as much about Lewis at center stage as the donations themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 (edited) QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 5, 2011 -> 08:39 PM) There have been very few details from both sides, but it has been stated today by the MDA that Jerry Lewis "Retired". I know they said that but that's them talking. Read the Las Vegas Sun they've been following it. The comedians in LA who know Lewis and David Letterman say he got axed. The comics are pissed. They have started an award for Jerry and will do a benefit every year in LA with proceeds going to MDA in Jerry's name. He got canned for being old. What a f***ing joke. It was his telethon. I pity the future of America. Doing the right thing is soooo passe and gawn now. Edited September 5, 2011 by greg775 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 5, 2011 -> 02:34 PM) So Jerry Lewis runs this MDA Telethon for 50 years, raises 2 billion dollars for the organization and they dump him the year they are forced to a 6 hour format, which would have been better for the crotchety old man anyway. Can you imagine the meeting in which the young suits in charge of MDA discuss getting rid of the out of touch Jerry Lewis and bring in some clown from American Idol? How in the world could anybody give a cent to that organization again? This is a perfect example of corporate suits doing something totally un American (of what America used to stand for). They get rid of the guy who most of America thought owned the damn telethon, the man who raised all that money, and bring in some no-name hosts that nobody in their right mind would watch. It was a tradition to turn on the TV for an hour or so on Labor Day weekend and watch Jerry Lewis say stupid things while raising money. I think MDA got tired of waiting on him to die. And fired him. What a f***ing disgrace, America. Jerry Lewis is from the era where you don't take shots at people, either. So I would doubt we'll see what I'd love to see. The old comic blast the s*** out out of the suits who in their "team meetings" probably discussed an nauseum how to dump this institution who made the telethon a s***load of money for 50 years. You'd be sending a big check if they passed to torch to Ozzie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 Right after the announcement of Lewis' curt release from his duties, a number of comics led by Kevin Nealon, Paul Rodriguez, Tom Dreesen, Norm Crosby, Larry Miller, andMark Schiff appeared on stage at a Laugh Factory news conference in an attempt to makethe MDA reconsider its shocking statement about Jerry Lewis. Discouraged that theFund's response was to ignore them, the Laugh Factory comics discussed ways of helping"Jerry's kids" rather then “going through people who charge money to raise money, andthen dismiss, unceremoniously, those who do the heavy lifting.”"All the comics said that it had to be in Jerry Lewis' honor," Masada said. We will work with international muscular dystrophy programs to help all those who suffer frommuscular dystrophy.” Good luck to all the kids today who will be working in this bulls*** corporate environment someday. Wow. America business is run so poorly. Only man with a f***ING CLUE is mark cuban. The only man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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