Showman Jerry Lewis raised nearly $64 million on Monday during his annual Labor Day Telethon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, topping last year’s event by $3 million.
“We did it. We did it. I got my buck more. And more. We can go shopping,” a jubilant Lewis said as the tote board topped $63.7 million for his 42nd telethon. Last year’s record was $61 million. As in the past, the International Association of Fire Fighters anchored the donations from local fill-the-boot drives with $25.2 million, eclipsing last year’s $23.5 million. “Whoa, whoa firefighters. They’re all my heroes every firefighter you see,” Lewis said.
The telecast has raised $1.46 billion to fight the disease since it began in 1966 on a single television station in New York City. This year’s telecast was carried by 190 stations in the United States and Canada and carried worldwide on the Internet.
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Comment by Gay Hater on 4 September 2007:
Comedian Jerry Lewis apologized on Tuesday for his use of an anti-gay
slur during the weekend broadcast of his annual Labor Day Telethon for
the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The controversial remark came Monday afternoon in the 18th hour of the
live national telecast, when a visibly weary Lewis, 81, was joking on
stage, pretending to introduce members of someone’s family as he
mugged for the camera.
“Oh, your family has come to see you. You remember Bart, your oldest
son, Jesse, the illiterate fag …,” Lewis said, as he apparently
caught himself and ceased the gag in mid-sentence, turning on his heel
away from the camera.
Comment by Anti-Anti on 5 September 2007:
So what, so Jerry used what you call “the f*** word”. Big deal. In your face gays are very offensive, as are in your face anything else people. Get over yourself. Noone really cares what others call you. The mere fact that you are offended by use of the word puts more shame on you than any name calling or label ever can. Performers from Jerry’s era such as Buddy Hackett, Don Rickles and a LOT of other Vegas act “rat-Pack era” performers use language and labels often as part of their act. Now days, Don Rickles spends half of his show apologising if he’s offended anyone. He was unquestionably one of the funniest Vegas comedians of all time. He explains that you have to be able to laugh at yourself. If you’re one of those people who think that everyone has to take YOU and WHAT you are seriously all the time then you’re in for a LIFETIME of dissapointment. Too bad cause you could have spent your life laughing and having fun. Everyone has things about them that make them “unique” or “different”. Laughter is a medicine. Everyone laughs at you because the more angry you get the funnier you become to others. Jerry is NOT an evil or mean hearted person. He IS an entertainer in constant pursuit of laughter. Yes he can ’seem’ to have a rough exterior, but when life has broken you down - no matter who or “WHAT” you are - Jerry is the kind of person who is the first one to step forward with a kleenex and a sympathetic ear. In addition, he has a unique ability to tap into peoples emotional sides. Unfortunately, this CAN be a messy can of worms, hence all the loud mouthed “Jerry haters”. These people are very screwed up on a very deep down emotional level. Jerry was obviously able to “stir” their emotional sides but not to effect them so they take out their inner frusterations on him. The man has spent the better part of life trying to help others and, contrary to popular opinion, does not get paid for the telethon. If anyone can watch the telethon without being moved emotionally, then they are made of stone and are to be treated as an inanimate heartless object from then on.
Funny how the term “Gay” used to mean happy … Now days it seems to really mean “angry, agressive, finger pointing, perveted, and frusterated.” When do you ever hear of these “gay” groups trying to do something good for anyone but themselves ? tsk tsk tsk shame on the “gay leaders” for their self centeredness and for the way they have over-reacted …
Comment by Celebrity Gossip on 6 September 2007:
Comment by Keith on 6 September 2007:
I find it very sad that people are making a big thing about what Jerry said. The guy is 81 years old so things are going to slip out. Also isn’t fag also a term for cigerettes? I also remember that aids was also a diet aid.
Haven’t we all said something in public and wish you hadn’t said.
I say those without sins should cast the first stone.
Comment by stephen ready on 28 November 2007:
i have been a fan for many years jeery is one of the greats.so just get over it. big fan steve.