This just sucks!

[Ftloperry]

I am outraged that the MDA has ousted Jerry Lewis and cut back the telethon from 21 1/2 hours to 6 hours and it will no longer be aired on Labor Day. The telethon which is airing tonight will start at 6 pm in most of the states and will run till midnight. Jerry who has raised over 2.5 billion since the telethon has been on the air since 1968. Jerry has been with the telethon for 45 years. I was saddened and upset to hear that MDA ousted Jerry. It's just heart breaking. The comedy world is outraged and upset. I don't know if anyone else watches the telethon on Labor Day but I've been watching it every year since 1977. This just sucks big time. Labor Day won't be the same.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/04/eveningnews/main20101566.shtml

[steveo777]

I am outraged that the MDA has ousted Jerry Lewis and cut back the telethon from 21 1/2 hours to 6 hours and it will no longer be aired on Labor Day. The telethon which is airing tonight will start at 6 pm in most of the states and will run till midnight. Jerry who has raised over 2.5 billion since the telethon has been on the air since 1968. Jerry has been with the telethon for 45 years. I was saddened and upset to hear that MDA ousted Jerry. It's just heart breaking. The comedy world is outraged and upset. I don't know if anyone else watches the telethon on Labor Day but I've been watching it every year since 1977. This just sucks big time. Labor Day won't be the same.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/04/eveningnews/main20101566.shtml

I absolutely agree! This saddens me to no end. I don't understand the politics in play here, but with Jerry being over 80, why not just let the man do his thing until he decides he can't anymore? I've got a tremendous amount of respect for him and his commitment to this very important purpose. I just hope people don't get angry and not give this year. People have to remember that this is for the kids, no matter what! I will give this year as I always have since 1978.

[JRNYMAN]

I am outraged that the MDA has ousted Jerry Lewis and cut back the telethon from 21 1/2 hours to 6 hours and it will no longer be aired on Labor Day. The telethon which is airing tonight will start at 6 pm in most of the states and will run till midnight. Jerry who has raised over 2.5 billion since the telethon has been on the air since 1968. Jerry has been with the telethon for 45 years. I was saddened and upset to hear that MDA ousted Jerry. It's just heart breaking. The comedy world is outraged and upset. I don't know if anyone else watches the telethon on Labor Day but I've been watching it every year since 1977. This just sucks big time. Labor Day won't be the same.

I have to agree with you. Jerry Lewis and the Telethon have been synonymous with the Labor Day weekend for as long as I can remember. The first time I ever stayed up all night was during one of the telethons - it was a big deal and a special thing when you're 8 yrs. old.

I absolutely agree! This saddens me to no end. I don't understand the politics in play here, but with Jerry being over 80, why not just let the man do his thing until he decides he can't anymore? I've got a tremendous amount of respect for him and his commitment to this very important purpose. I just hope people don't get angry and not give this year. People have to remember that this is for the kids, no matter what! I will give this year as I always have since 1978.

You hit the nail square on the head Steve. It would be a shame if people chose to express their anger and disapproval of his ousting by choosing not to pledge.
And yeah, you can't help but have the utmost respect for someone who has spent over half their life committed to helping raise money to find a cure for this terrible disease. When you think about how many of the kids (especially the poster children) he's met and become close with over the years and then have then died waiting for the cure to be discovered. It has to weigh heavy on him though he'd never show it. Sure, he's gotten weepy and even broken down and cried at various times over the 45 years but he's always kept it together enough to go on.
I remember one year, many years ago (I'm gonna say late 80's maybe...) when there were rumors and accusations of scandal that Lewis was on the take and had been for years demanding millions in payment for his involvement to which he went berzerk!! That was right before or right around the time he moved to France. I remember him being on numerous shows defending himself and MDA and calling people people out by name demanding they come forward and provide any kind of proof which, of course never happened. Man, was he pissed! And rightly so. He's supposedly never accepted a dime for anything he's ever done for MDA.

I worked at a Jerry's Kids Camp 3 summers in a row when I was 16-19. It was awesome! It's a very humbling experience when you're with someone who needs assistance for nearly everything 24/7.

Sorry to hijack your thread with my run-ons and rambling. It's a subject that's very near and dear to my heart and I wasn't aware of this news until reading your post. Thank you for sharing it.

Steve

[yulog]

I thought Jerry lewis died 5 yrs ago

[steveo777]

I thought Jerry lewis died 5 yrs ago

False. Thanks for your contribution to the thread.

[yulog]

Reports say the sickly comedian 85 had already expressed last year that he was thinking about retiring. Just for you Steveo .....glad i could do my part

[Ftloperry]

Sorry to hijack your thread with my run-ons and rambling. It's a subject that's very near and dear to my heart and I wasn't aware of this news until reading your post. Thank you for sharing it.

Steve

I totally understand. The last 15 minutes of the telethon they paid tribute to Jerry Lewis. It was touching left me in tears. The telethon was just not the same this year. The fire fighters total for 2011 was around 27 million. Wish Jerry was there to receive that check.

[steveo777]

Sorry to hijack your thread with my run-ons and rambling. It's a subject that's very near and dear to my heart and I wasn't aware of this news until reading your post. Thank you for sharing it.

Steve

I totally understand. The last 15 minutes of the telethon they paid tribute to Jerry Lewis. It was touching left me in tears. The telethon was just not the same this year. The fire fighters total for 2011 was around 27 million. Wish Jerry was there to receive that check.

There were great contributions this year. I was pleased with that, but sad that Jerry wasn't there at the same time.