MDA Telethon 2011 Raised $61.5 Million Without Jerry Lewis.
MDA Labor Day Telethon 2011 Programme.
Jerry Lewis Is Missing From Today’s Telethon.
Jerry Lewis won’t host MDA Labor Day Telethon.
The 46th edition of the annual MDA Labor Day Telethon wasted no time in offering a tribute to its longtime host, Jerry Lewis, and potentially diffusing any backlash or disappointment with his absence.
A dance performance opened the MDA Labor Day Telethon 2011 and then, Jerry Lewis‘ replacements — Nigel Lythgoe, Jann Carl, Alison Sweeney and Nancy O’Dell — took the stage and immediately took turns talking about the comedian’s five-decade commitment to raising money for a cure.
Huge images of Jerry Lewis at various stages of his career served as a backdrop on stage as the 2011 MDA Telethon hosts talked.
Last May, Jerry Lewis, who had hosted the telethon since 1966, announced he was retiring as MDA chairman and that this year’s Labor Day weekend telethon would be his last. But the MDA subsequently — and rather tersely and unceremoniously — said Lewis would not host this year’s show.
The new MDA Telethon hosts talked alluded to how Jerry Lewis had “retired.”
Jerry Lewis’ publicist Candi Cazau declined to comment to the AP when told of the comments to start Sunday night’s program.
Muscular Dystrophy Association spokesman, Jim Brown refused to say anything elaborate on the hosts’ words, but said the telethon would include at least one more nod to Jerry Lewis.
Nancy O’Dell talked about how MDA was there for her and her family while her mother was dying of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease).
“And, boy, did Jerry’s closing song, <<You’ll Never Walk Alone>>, hit home the year that my mom passed away,” she said.
Nigel Lythgoe talked about how Jerry Lewis was irreplaceable.
“What you have done for this organization and its families is something close to a miracle,” he said. “And I know that we all want to carry on your legacy. We’re going to try and, with a humble heart, and occasionally a good laugh — because you taught us, above all, that laughter can cure almost anything — I trust we will continue to be successful.”
Then, the show and the fundraising continued.
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I wish Jerry Lewis was still with the MDA, But I do understand that he retired, but to call this a Telethon, is crazy, this is not a Telethon, its a three hour show to hope and raise money for Mda. They could of still had a Telethon with new hosts and all the great things that Jerry brought to the Telethon, and still called it MDA Telethon. Jerry Lewis and ED Mcmann (sorry for wrong spelling) Helped raise Millions, and help alot of people…. to me Labor Day I always looked forward to watching for hours and at times stood up the whole 14.5 hrs and doing my part in donations, they put on a great show to enjoy and help. I just wish they would still have a telethon to honor Jerry and to show that even with out Jerry you could still put on a great show………. I am disapointed I saw the MDA show its not the same, but I did help Jerrys kids like always, but still want a show and the Board to show what we have done in donations,