# Jerry Lewis - MDA Telethon **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079 "2009-09-06T19:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/1 "2009-09-06T19:42:30Z")
Anyone on this board still watch this? Doesn’t seem to have the excitment it once did or perhaps I’m just getting old 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/2 "2009-09-06T20:09:00Z")
I haven’t watched it for years. The show used to have some pretty good singers and comedians, A-listers. I might be remembering wrong though. Also, while Jerry Lewis might be sincere as hell (and the cause is certainly worthwhile), he’s just too emotional and smarmy. I haven’t liked him for a long time. The man’s ego is **huge**. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/3 "2009-09-06T22:48:25Z")
I am only watching for a couple hours tonight because a little known favorite of mine, Ace Young, is hosting & performing, starting around midnight. I can’t stand Jerry Lewis. Never did like him. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/4 "2009-09-06T22:51:37Z")
Did poor Jerry do something strange during last year’s telethon? I know two years ago he got in trouble for calling a cameraman’s son an illiterate faggot, but I can’t seem to recall if there was controversy last year as well or not. I feel sorry for him, but I’m also kind of proud and amazed that despite his age and other problems, he still does the telethon for the kids every year. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/5 "2009-09-07T01:42:45Z")
It just hasn’t been the same since Jerry died 10 years ago and they stuffed him. When they pull the strings to make his mouth move, it’s just so unnatural. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/6 "2009-09-07T02:08:11Z")
Many of us grew up watching this, so most (I am guessing) of the guests are not the youngest or most famous. Now if Miley appeared… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/7 "2009-09-07T02:16:36Z")
…nude… Er, did I say that out loud? ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/8 "2009-09-07T03:52:33Z")
Actually, did you know that the MDA telethon isn’t exactly beloved by disabilty rights advocates? [long cut-and-paste of email removed by moderator] ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/9 "2009-09-07T03:59:02Z")
It doesn’t appear to be on here. I did a title search, and it looks like it’s on from 9 to 5 Monday. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/10 "2009-09-07T04:43:52Z")
Watching it used to be such a tradition at my house when I was growing up. Geez, they’ve raised $1.46B and the first one was on 50 years ago? Here’s the tote board: > **[The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon | Tote board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lewis_Telethon#Tote_board)** > > 1.The telethon's tote boards varied from year to year; in the 1970s it was operated on a Solari-board, consisting of seven (later eight) number flippers using a white background and black numbers. Instead of using blank numbers, all flippers began with zeros. This tote board was discontinued after 1989 and replaced with a new tote board, first operated with the "eggcrate" display common on game shows, then later to an LCD-type "vane" display. By 2003, the tote board was changed to a screen displa... ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/11 "2009-09-07T04:47:56Z")
It was far more entertaining when Jer was whacked out of his mind on drugs. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/12 "2009-09-07T06:19:03Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > …nude… > Er, did I say that out loud? [Why don’t you have a seat over there.](http://img411.imageshack.us/i/chrishansen.jpg/) ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/13 "2009-09-07T18:49:25Z")
> [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > Actually, did you know that the MDA telethon isn’t exactly beloved by disabilty rights advocates? > See the forward below: > –snip– Wow, that just sounds like a bunch of bitter, ungrateful disabled people. To spit in the face of Jerry Lewis after he does this year after year raising millions each year is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/14 "2009-09-07T19:02:59Z")
> [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > Actually, did you know that the MDA telethon isn’t exactly beloved by disabilty rights advocates? > > [long cut-and-paste of email removed by moderator] We ask that posters here write their own posts, and not just repeat text lifted from other sources. This is especially the case if you are not the original author of that text: we take copyright issues very seriously. If you wish to stick around, you should start by going to About This Message Board and reading up on our rules and guidelines. twickster, Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/15 "2009-09-07T22:13:12Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Wow, that just sounds like a bunch of bitter, ungrateful disabled people. To spit in the face of Jerry Lewis after he does this year after year raising millions each year is ridiculous. Yes, because perpetuating stereotypes about people with disabilities in which they must fall into neat categories of either helpless victim or noble lesson-teacher or courageous intrepid battler is entirely okay so long as you’re making money. That Jerry Lewis has spearheaded incredible fundraising efforts does not insulate him from criticism about the means which he has used in those efforts. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/16 "2009-09-07T22:25:02Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > It was far more entertaining when Jer was whacked out of his mind on drugs. …and Sammy would drop in! Also Jerry used to be a real prick about browbeating people into contributing. Comedy gold, I tell you! ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/17 "2009-09-08T15:56:20Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > they’ve raised $1.46B and the first one was on 50 years ago? 1.46 billion dollars, and 50 years, and they still cant cure a genetic disease? ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/18 "2009-09-08T16:12:16Z")
I think thats it, it was fun watching it when younger, because you could stay up all night. Now some of us are old and its not so easy to stay up that late, its not so interesting. Please tell me Dane Cook has never appeared on it. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/19 "2009-09-09T02:18:06Z")
How does this telethon (with the exception of this year) have a larger total every year? Back in the 80s, the stations pretty much aired the entire 20 hours. (Heck I even saw the Chicago and New York telethons on cable!). Now, you only get a few hours on Monday. Are they doing stuff like including internet totals, or is it creative accounting? Plus I had to post this:[Charo on the MDA telethon.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiI2FzZIn80&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eavclub%2Ecom%2Farticles%2Fcharo%2Ddoes%2Deverything%2Din%2Dher%2Dpower%2Dto%2Dstop%2Dthe%2Dnew%2C32619%2F&feature=player_embedded) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079/20 "2009-09-09T02:35:57Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > How does this telethon (with the exception of this year) have a larger total every year? Yeah, I mean it was down 7% this year, but I have no idea how they are still raising 60+ million dollars. What’s up with that? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-mda-telethon/509079.md?page=2)