# Jerry Lewis: still an asshole at 90 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232 "2016-12-20T15:18:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/61 "2016-12-25T00:14:04Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’m trying to find a write-up about a meet and greet show he did a few years ago. He talked for awhile and agreed to take questions from the audience. He was horrible. Rude, insulting, etc. > > One older woman held on to a record or book of his from years ago and asked him to sign it. He refused, which really seems unnecessary for such an old fan of his. Worse, he insulted all the people who lined up to ask questions. > > I think it was written up on the AVclub, but I can’t find it. Anyone? Here you go. > [@Loach](#): > > [Jerry Lewis Is Still Alive (and Still a Piece Of Shit)](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jerry-lewis-is-still-alive) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/62 "2016-12-26T03:03:08Z")
I’m intrigued by the many comments dissing the questions that were asked. To those of you who denigrated the questions posed, may I ask…if you were the interviewer, what would YOU ask? (Remember, the theme is entertainers still working after 90, so pretty much stay consistent with that, although of course that doesn’t mean that every single question has to involve age.) Like many in this thread, I’m in the “always thought Jerry was a nasty piece of work” camp. I’ve never forgotten his performance as Rupert Pupkin in the movie, “The King of Comedy.” He and Sandra Bernhard play adversaries in that film, and the chemistry between them is so toxic you almost need a gas mask to finish watching it. Their hatred for each other seems to go well beyond what the movie called for. Sure enough, I guess they really could not stand each other in real life. I don’t know the backstory, but I’m inclined to believe that whatever the source of their mutual revulsion, Jerry started it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/63 "2016-12-26T03:24:55Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I’m intrigued by the many comments dissing the questions that were asked. To those of you who denigrated the questions posed, may I ask…if you were the interviewer, what would YOU ask? (Remember, the theme is entertainers still working after 90, so pretty much stay consistent with that, although of course that doesn’t mean that every single question has to involve age.) > > Like many in this thread, I’m in the “always thought Jerry was a nasty piece of work” camp. I’ve never forgotten his performance as Rupert Pupkin in the movie, “The King of Comedy.” He and Sandra Bernhard play adversaries in that film, and the chemistry between them is so toxic you almost need a gas mask to finish watching it. Their hatred for each other seems to go well beyond what the movie called for. > > Sure enough, I guess they really could not stand each other in real life. I don’t know the backstory, but I’m inclined to believe that whatever the source of their mutual revulsion, Jerry started it. Robert Deniro was Rupert Pupkin. Jerry played “Jerry Langford,” who was clearly supposed to be Johnny Carson. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/64 "2016-12-26T05:34:03Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Robert Deniro was Rupert Pupkin. Jerry played “Jerry Langford,” who was clearly supposed to be Johnny Carson. Damn, that is the second time recently I have fouled up a movie recollection on the SDMB. Do you remember the movie well? I could swear that Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhardt really lit into each other - is that part correct? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/65 "2016-12-26T05:49:57Z")
(Missed edit window)…yup, I looked up a couple of clips on youtube, and it seems like it was indeed Jerry Lewis who had the nasty relationship with Sandra Bernhard. The name of the kidnapped character was Jerry Langford; Rupert Pupkin was the one who kidnapped him. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/66 "2016-12-26T06:56:01Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > You never know. When I first saw the B.B. Thornton interview I thought he was being a dick. However when you read in to the backstory, you see why he acted so. Thornton acceded to the interview on the strict condition that it would be about the band and the music only, not about himself being a famous actor. Yet the first question out of the interviewers mouth is about Thornton being a famous actor. And that Giomesh asshole is acting all innocent, like, “what did I say?!???”. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Not exactly. All the interview did was mention Hey this is Billy Bob the actor but now he’s a musician so let’s talk about that. His first question was an incredulous one about releasing 3 albums in one year. [Watch the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJWS6qyy7bw). BB is high as fuck and the bandmates are already uncomfortable before the interview starts. You’re assuming facts not in evidence by saying he was high. He just seemed pissed to me. In a recent interview on the Jim Norton/Sam Roberts show on SiriusXM he was asked about that interview. He said he had a simple request, that the band members be all introduced as equals without pointing him out as the movie star. He even claimed that he wouldn’t care if the interviewer brought up acting in the interview as long as they talked about the music first. He felt it was very disrespectful to the band to introduce them in that manner and it was 100% agreed to before the interview. While explaining it he sounded very reasonable and it was a very pleasant and open interview. Of course you can believe he was committing a bit of revisionist history or you can believe he was being genuine. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/67 "2016-12-26T06:59:01Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > (Missed edit window)…yup, I looked up a couple of clips on youtube, and it seems like it was indeed Jerry Lewis who had the nasty relationship with Sandra Bernhard. The name of the kidnapped character was Jerry Langford; Rupert Pupkin was the one who kidnapped him. Yes. Sandra Bernhard played Rupert’s crazy friend who was supposed to watch Jerry Langford while he was tied up. It’s a brilliant movie. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/68 "2016-12-26T16:27:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You’re assuming facts not in evidence by saying he was high. He just seemed pissed to me. In a recent interview on the Jim Norton/Sam Roberts show on SiriusXM he was asked about that interview. He said he had a simple request, that the band members be all introduced as equals without pointing him out as the movie star. He even claimed that he wouldn’t care if the interviewer brought up acting in the interview as long as they talked about the music first. He felt it was very disrespectful to the band to introduce them in that manner and it was 100% agreed to before the interview. While explaining it he sounded very reasonable and it was a very pleasant and open interview. Of course you can believe he was committing a bit of revisionist history or you can believe he was being genuine. FTR: that’s a different story than what he told before. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/69 "2016-12-26T17:20:27Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > What more could they say about him after he’s gone? His reputation as a hyper, moody, egomanical, short-tempered prick has been publicly well-known for years. Short of evidence of him committing some detestable acts of jaw-dropping awfulness that have managed to be covered up for many years (e.g., something like Bill Cosby’s felonious misdeeds but ten times more severe), I can’t think of anything else they could dig up about him. I think a biography with the good and the bad would be interesting, usually a celebrity has to pass away before a truthful bio comes out. (I don’t know that anything new could be dug up, who knows.) Till then, there are usually puff pieces with lotsa pictures, or National Inquirer ‘real dirt’ articles, and sometimes a Kitty Kelley expose. A solid definative warts n’ all biography is what I like to read. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/70 "2016-12-26T18:34:16Z")
I’m torn too but… > [@astorian](#): > > … if you DO accept an interview request, there’s no excuse for being a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/71 "2016-12-26T20:31:26Z")
Well, if we weren’t talking about what a jerk he is, it’s very likely that we wouldn’t be talking about him at all. So maybe there’s method to his madness. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/72 "2016-12-26T20:54:43Z")
> [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > Well, if we weren’t talking about what a jerk he is, it’s very likely that we wouldn’t be talking about him at all. > > So maybe there’s method to his madness. That’s what I’ve sometimes wondered myself. We live in an era where celebrities, politicians, and other media figures all have small armies of handlers and spin doctors whose sole purpose is to dull any sharp edges. I’m sure Lewis has them too but much of the time it sure doesn’t seem that way. Either he stopped giving a shit about what people thought about him years ago or he’s always been truly oblivious about how he comes off. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/73 "2016-12-26T22:50:52Z")
Jerry did a great interview last year. The interviewer came very prepared. He had read Jerry’s book and researched other interviews. His questions were well thought out and he connected with Jerry. This is by far the most relaxed that I’ve seen Jerry. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/sGmyHivWyN8/maxresdefault.jpg "World Over - 2015-12-17 – Jerry Lewis Exclusive with Raymond Arroyo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGmyHivWyN8) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/74 "2016-12-27T02:19:40Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Jerry did a great interview last year. The interviewer came very prepared. He had read Jerry’s book and researched other interviews. His questions were well thought out and he connected with Jerry. > > This is by far the most relaxed that I’ve seen Jerry. > [https://youtu.be/sGmyHivWyN8](https://youtu.be/sGmyHivWyN8) Thanks for that link. Although I’m not going to watch the full hour, I did watch the first few minutes to see what the questions were like. In short: yes, there is a _big_ difference between this interviewer’s approach and the one linked in the OP (not that it excuses Jerry’s unbecoming behavior in the first instance). This is paraphrased, but here are the first few questions: [ul] [li]Tell me about Danny and Ray, your parents. They were in burlesque, they put you on stage when you were 5.[/li] [li]How often did you travel with your parents?[/li] [li]You once said, “The audience is nothing more than 800 or 900 mamas and papas saying ‘good boy.’" Do you need that? Do you crave that?[/li] [li]In your memoir you describe yourself as" a dummy, a misfit, the sorriest kid alive." Yet you still go out and perform – how does that make you the “sorriest kid alive"?[/li] [li]In 1946, in Atlantic City, you performed with Dean Martin for the first time. How choreographed was that show?[/li][/ul] Well done! ---
**Author:** ![CatandMouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@CatandMouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatandMouse)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/75 "2016-12-27T02:25:44Z")
I used to love watching Jerry Lewis when I was a kid. I think the Nutty Professor was my favorite. I just watched the interview and I think Jerry Lewis was an ass. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232/76 "2016-12-27T15:59:01Z")
How about an opinion from an industry insider? Ken Levine is a script writer with an impressive resume, writing for MASH, The Simpsons, Cheers, Frasier and many other TV shows. He also was a TV baseball announcer in years past. He also writes a daily show business blog, and weighs in today on the “Jerry Lewis - Asshole or Not” question. > **[By Ken Levine](http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/)** > > Ken Levine's daily column about writing, producing and watching TV sitcoms, TV dramas, film, pop culture and life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-still-an-asshole-at-90/775232.md?page=3)