Jerry Lewis Out At MDA, Off This Year’s Telethon

Comments Jerry Lewis made last week may have been most responsible for his removal as chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and exclusion from this year's Labor Day telethon. Lewis announced earlier this year that he was retiring from the telethon after this year's broadcast, but would remain as chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  But the MDA announced yesterday evening that Lewis was out as chairman, and would not be a part of this year's event!

MDA Telethon

Lewis has served as the MDA's national chairman since the early 1950's, and has hosted an annual telethon since 1966. It's estimated that the Labor Day broadcast has raised $1 billion for medical research and treatment of a variety of neuro-muscular diseases, most notably muscular dystrophy.

The MDA's statement, released Wednesday, said that Lewis had "completed his run" as national chairman, and that he would not be replaced. It added that Lewis would "not be appearing on the telethon", and thanked the 85-year-old comedian for "his more than half century of generous service to MDA".

 EW.com reports that Lewis made a series of harsh comments about reality tv during a session with television critics last week. His toughest remarks were reserved for American Idol and The Biggest Loser. Idol producer (and So You Think You Can Dance judge) Nigel Lythoe and Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney are slated to co-host this year's broadcast. As of the time of this post, neither side has commented on the MDA's announcement, or EW.com's report. 

Telethon Without Lewis?

My question is, can you have a Jerry Lewis Telethon without Jerry Lewis? Do you plan on watching? More to the point, will you contribute? What's your most vivid memory of the Jerry Lewis Telethon? Please join the conversation, either here or on our Facebook page.