Jerry Lewis no Longer Welcome at Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon (Really)

By Dennis Romero Thu., Aug. 4 2011 at 3:41 PM

Categories: WTF

Jerry Lewis as 'The Nutty Professor.'

They were known as "Jerrry's kids," those young victims of muscular dystrophy. They're somebody else's kids now.

It appears that Lewis has been kicked out his his own telethon, the annual end-of-summer snooze-fest that happens the Sunday before Labor Day (it airs locally on KCAL9). He's hosted it since 1966. In May the aging (he's 85 now) Hollywood legend announced he was finished with hosting but that he would appear this year.

Well, not so fast:

The Muscular Dystrophy Association officials appear to have pushed him out, and it looks like he he won't be coming back. R. Rodney Howell, chairman of the MDA's board, stated this week:

Jerry Lewis is a world-class humanitarian and we're forever grateful to him for his more than half century of generous service to MDA. We will not be replacing him as MDA national chairman, and he will not be appearing on the Telethon.

Strange given the tradition. Google "Jerry Lewis Telethon" and one of the top results, the MDA's own, page, is titled "The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon."

With Lewis' talents the annual call-in show based out of Vegas has raised nearly $2.5 billion.

So the big question is, what the hell did Jerry do to deserve this? Did he kill a baby? Maybe he buried a body somewhere? Stay tuned.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

Tags:

Hollywood, Jerry Lewis, KCAL, Las Vegas, MDA, telethon

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Mgs

I am not sure what Jerry did to justify his ouster, but his dedication for 45 years is worth a great deal. Just ask Jerry's kids!!!!!! I ask you to allow his last moment of glory for this year's telethon, for Jerry, for Jerry;s kids and for the sake of the telethon. He deserves some recognition at this time, please do not handle it this way, it would be a real tragedy.Thank you in advance.

Josephine

Who's nutty now!! Really, MDA Board members, are you kidding me? This is a stupid move that will be costly because you so-called "geniuses" did not allow Jerry his final curtain call. This phenomenal humanitarian should receive a touching tribute honoring him for his dedication to MDA. To exclude him completely is a classless, ignorant act. Shame on you!!

What is so sad is that Jerry never received a dignified sendoff for his extreme dedication and life's work to MDA. Without a doubt, those of us who have stood by Jerry for over 40 years or more will be outraged by this stunt because he is not even allowed 15 minutes of his own telethon! I am really pissed because I received my MDA contribution notice in the mail last week and it was written as a "Note from Jerry". How dare they still use his name when he is not even allowed to be a part of the organization. This will be one of those stupid moves that will be talked about for years to come. At least give this man a small part of the telethon and/or allow him to be discharged in an honorable fashion.

yackie49

I am a fan of Jerry Lewis and will not watch the telethon this year or any upcoming years, though I will still donate a bit, but without the telethon and those people that watched and donated every year......the funding for research will suffer........this is typical of the way americans are treated by any one the work for as a volunteer of paid employee......keep your mouth shut or else......this is what america has come to.......no more freedom of speech

Who would have thought Sarah that one of America's iconic entertainers would be done in because he exercised his First Amendment rights as an American. Sad, Sad day for Jerry's Kid's.

Sarah

He offended McDonalds (who is or was a sponser) as well as American Idol where Nigel (producer of American Idol) was and is co-hosting the show. Jerry you really messed up.

Lana39

I want to be there when you are 85yrs old and say something you believe, but angers your boss' sponsor. At his age, and all that he has given -he is entitled to be honest. I will never watch this fund raiser again, and neither will the rest of America.This is America, at 85 you should be able to be honest! God Bless you Jerry, stay strong for as long as you have remaining. Never bow down to anyone!

Pauline Adamek

Perhaps at 85 he just can't do the job well enough any more? Maybe he's a real jerk? Who knows?

Sarah

I was a big fan of him for 45 years but he crossed the line recently in a documentary that will show in September. MDA evidently has seen it and the media has leaked enough damage for his firing. He did ALOT for MDA but his biggest fault is his big mouth. I understand he's "old school" where every entertainer had to work their way up but resentment isn't the approach to something you disagree with let alone a sponsor of your show to raise money.