UDATE:9/5/11 Absent but still the star of the show, comedian Jerry Lewis
helped the 2011 Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon
raise, according to MDA officials, $61,491,393 nationally, up +4.36% from last year but still down -5.44% from there record. Without LIVE tot boards throughout the show, we will have to take there word for it. Hard for me to believe that a 6 hour telethon could raise more then there normal 21 1/2 hour one.
UPDATE: 9/5/11 As the 2011 MDA Labor Day Telethon closed, Nigal Lythgoe introduces a video tribute to Jerry Lewis over the years of the telethon as the Piano and band play "Smile". Then the hosts thank Jerry one final time and America as musical guests sing patriotic songs to end the only six hour telethon ending with "God Bless America". ENDING WITH THE WORDS FROM Nigal Lythgoe, "WE MISSED YOU JERRY"! NO Total was given of contibutuions so far. We will have to wait till it's airing ends in Hawaii before we know if they got what Jerry always wanted, "ONE DOLLAR MORE THEN LAST YEAR." Final NY & Tri-State area total was $5,702,146. Saying they beat last years 21 hours in just six. HARD TO BELIEVE!
FIRST AND FOREMOST. We ALL should support the work that MDA
does to Help "Jerry's Kids
" and everyone that has muscular dystrophy and there families!
MAKE A MUSCLE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR MDA!
CALL THE NEW NATIONAL NUMBER at 1-800-344-4863 and give what you can!
The
Muscular Dystrophy Association
or
MDA is a nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS (
Lou Gehrig's disease
) and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education. With national headquarters in Tucson, MDA has more than 200 offices across the country, sponsors some 200 hospital-affiliated clinics and supports more than 330 research projects around the world.
An American institution is about to change forever. The annual MDA Labor Day Telethon with Jerry Lewis has been downsized, dismantled, and its host, dismissed.
The traditional, twenty-hour, overnight marathon will be compressed tonight into 6 prime time hours, but more importantly, its host and heart for 45 years will be nowhere in sight. Jerry Lewis, the
MDA National Chairman for decades has been unceremoniously dismissed from duties in what was to be his final year, with no reasonable explanation forthcoming.
The 2011 MDA
Labor Day telethon began LIVE in NYC at 6pm (will air on tape delay everywhere where else) with Nick Flores dancers and Abbey Umali the 2011 MDA good will ambassador.
ALL scenes of
Jerry Lewis
omitted from opening credits. NO more Tony Orlando in NYC co-hosts Nancy O’Dell, Nigel Lythgoe, Jann Carl and Alison Sweeney
Nancy O'Dell
opens up and talks about Jerry Lewis. "He has 900 hours live TV time with the telethon". She talks about her MOM and her fight with ALS and how Jerry was always there and VERY suportive.The
Alison Sweeney
talks about Jerry's song
"You'll Never Walk" A song that the MDA association WONT even let Jerry come on the show to sing. But you can WATCH him sing it HERE along with the FINAL total for the 2010 Telethon
She also says,"Jerry set the example for volunteerism we all should follow."
Then it gets CRAZY!
Nigal Lythgoe talks about how Jerry gave him his seat last year. He says "He did not know he was contiplating reitiring, he can NEVER be replaced but he will try to carry on his legacy."
Jann Carl said," Jerry retired from the telethon this year. Jerry's dream to rid the world of muscular dystrophy,
it's my dream too. He taught us there are NOT just his kids there our kids."
Then the four hosts said together, "We all promise to carry on the message. This organization is and will always be about the "KIDS"
Then they bring out corporate sponsors who give millions then to Penn & Teller
Lets see, "Jerry Lewis retired? REALLY?
That's News to him.
Celine Dion
did pay tribute to "MY FRIEND,
JERRY LEWIS
" in a taped statement, as is most of this show now. Saying at the end, "Give what you can to MDA, and GOD Bless you Jerry."
This entire situation was handled extremely badly by MDA association. The explanation given tonight at the start of the show that Jerry Lewis had retired is a complete falsehood from the man himself.
Jerry Lewis said August 20, 2011 that his years of service to the Muscular Dystrophy Association helped make him a star, but he didn't provide details on his recent departure as the group's national chairman and host of the annual Labor Day Telethon.
"I made my reputation in this business caring for what I did, caring for the people that I did it for," said Lewis. "Let me tell you that saving lives is a very, very special project in the life of any man who wants to do that, but I have had the joy of ... extending my life by what I feel in my heart," he said. Lewis hinted during his brief speech that he could not explain why he is no longer the national chairman of the MDA after 45 years. He will also no longer host the group's annual Labor Day weekend telethon.
In May, Lewis said in a statement issued through the association that he would make his final appearance on the telethon this year and sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" during a six-hour prime time broadcast scheduled for Sept. 4.
But MDA officials abruptly announced in August that Lewis would no longer be the public face of the Tucson, Ariz.-based association without offering any explanation.
Lewis has said he would hold a press conference the day after the telethon to clarify his plans. "I will have plenty to say about what I think is important. And that's the future, not the past," he has said.
I'm watching the telethon as I write this. I keep reminding myself it's about "Jerry's Kids" and not one man. It's about the greater good to help find a cure for these dreadful diseases. BUT!
WE NEED TO KNOW WHY???
NO LIES! NO MEDIA SPIN!
Just tell us WHY after over 45 years to your orgainization. Raising BILLIONS with a B! You unceremoniously just DUMPED Jerry Lewis without any reason or explanation!
We await the answer!
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. A beautiful sunny day in New York City
. Temperatures were in the upper 60's. Not a cloud in the sky!
