Jerry Lewis Retiring from Telethon After 45 Years

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Us Weekly




After 45 years of hosting the Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day telethon, Jerry Lewis is retiring.

The 85-year-old comedian said in a statement, excerpted by USA Today, that it was time for a "new telethon era.

Lewis will make his final appearance during the six-hour event on Sept. 4; he'll perform his song "You'll Never Walk Alone."

The telethon first aired in 1966 on a single New York channel and raised more than $1 million in research funds for muscular dystrophy. In 2010, the event raised nearly $59 million for the cause.

[Muddy]

I hadn't seen him in so long I didnt realize he was still around...

[RBP]

He's done great work on that thing.

[Muddy]

What made him start, I wonder?

[AntZ]

Jerry Lewis Retiring From MDA Telethon In September

May 16, 2011 3:03 PM



LAS VEGAS (AP) — After 45 years, Jerry Lewis is retiring as host of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Labor Day telethon.

The 85-year-old comedian and Las Vegas resident issued a statement Monday through the Tucson, Ariz.-based Muscular Dystrophy Association calling it time for a “new telethon era.”

He says he’ll make his final appearance on the six-hour primetime telethon Sept. 4 by performing his song “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Lewis says he’ll continue as the association’s national chairman, a role he’s held since the early 1950s.

Lewis’ first Labor Day weekend telethon in 1966 was broadcast by a single New York City television station and raised more than $1 million.

Last year’s Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon raised almost $59 million to fund research to find a cure for muscular dystrophy and ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.


________________________________________


I haven't even seen the show in at least 15 years, but I have heard it's rather lame and dated. But I do have fond memories of watching all through the 70's, it was a hip telethon then.

[Muddy]

http://tehbasement.com/showthread.ph...ighlight=lewis

[beowulf]

thought he had died years ago!

[Muddy]

Jerry Lewis is a great man...

[beowulf]

really?........why?

[Muddy]

really?........why?

He's probably raised over a billion dollars at this point for Muscular Dystrophy victims...

[deebakes]

R.I.P. Jerry...

[Muddy]

R.I.P. Jerry...

He's not dead ya' fuckin dork! He's retiring...

[Hal-9000]

He's probably raised over a billion dollars at this point for Muscular Dystrophy victims...

Yep that guy has been doing them as long as I can remember...stays up most of the weekend too.
A truly great man

[deebakes]

[Teh One Who Knocks]

He's probably raised over a billion dollars at this point for Muscular Dystrophy victims...