THE JERRY LEWIS SHOW coming soon to a DVD player near you
September 5th, 2009 by Scott Marks
Sylvia Lewis and Jerry Lewis (No relation)
Photo Credit: SylviaLewis.net
It’s Labor Day, that time of year when a young man’s fancies turn to thoughts of The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. I ran Jerry’s name through Amazon.com in hopes of finding a release date for the remaining Paramount features as of yet unavailable on DVD.
Still no “Who’s Minding the Store?” or an all region “Geisha Boy.” Damn! BUT, in the words of Norm Crosby, let me erect your detention to this entry. The big question is, which “Jerry Lewis Show?” Is it the post-Dean 1958 variety show? How about the two hour black-and-white ABC talk show from 1963 with Del Moore as Jerry’s announcer/sidekick? Don’t tell me it’s the short-lived 1984 Fox fiasco with Charlie Callas assuming the Ed McMahon role.
Amazon was no help, so I visited the Infinity Entertainment Group site and found the answer to this burning question. The 10 hour (!) DVD contains “highlights from 13 episodes of ‘The Jerry Lewis Show,’ which aired on NBC from 1967-69″ and has not been seen in the U.S. since its original broadcast.
OH, YEAH!!!
According to Infinity, “The pioneering, slapstick comedy of Jerry Lewis has earned him the moniker of world’s funniest funnyman…Jerry is surrounded by a who’s who of Hollywood’s comic royalty and is at his best in the side-splitting classic character portrayals that made him a legendary comedy chameleon.All Jerry portrays Sidney Portnoy, a nebbish and Jerry’s alter ego; Professor Frobisher; Oriental criminologist Inspector Sam Lichee; Sergeant Goodguy of the Mounties; a professional scoutmaster to the Osmond Brothers; hospital orderly; archaeologist; thief; cowboy; country bumpkin; and city slicker, among many more.”
The guest roster includes The Osmond Brothers, Flip Wilson, Don Rickles, Joey Heatherton, Janet Leigh, Shirley Jones, Audrey Meadows, Lynn Redgrave, Barbara Feldon, Nanette Fabray, Imogene Coca, Ben Gazzara, Richard Kiley, Laurence Harvey and Harold “Oddjob” Sakata to name but a few.
Sylvia Lewis, a regular performer on the show, was not as kind: “‘The Jerry Lewis Show’ was a failed attempt to resurrect his television career when his popularity was at an all time low. NBC producer Bob Finkel, and my then husband Ed Simmons as head writer, were asked to do what they thought would work for Jer with hopes of a success. It didn’t. It aired for one season with terrible ratings and reviews. The fact that Ed was writing the show and that Jerry knew me so well for so many years, I just did odd small parts… Jer has always been my champion.”
According to Amazon, the collection hits the street on October 13, while Infinity sets the release date as October 27. Amazon lists the running time as 780 minutes whereas Infinity promises a scant 640. One thing they both agree on: the one disc set will set you back $24.98.
Don’t forget that EC has set up an interactive blog for this Sunday’s Extra Special Special. Underneath the masthead you’ll find a “Live Events” tab. Click on it and post away. Since sporting events cancel out charity, I’ll be following the MDA Internet feed as opposed to WGN or KUSI, the local San Diego affiliate. So come on and join the fun and find the Live Events tab…with a big click on it.
Tags: 1967, Jerry Lewis, sylvia lewis, The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, the jerry lewis showFiled Under Rants
Outrage: Man steals from “Jerry’s Kids”
May 27th, 2009 by Scott Marks
I’ve seen a lot of loathsome scum in my days (mostly family members), but this rat scivosa takes the cake.
A South Carolina man was caught by a security cam lifting an MDA donation box after purchasing a 12-pack of beer.
An Irmo, SC police officer likened the vicious act to “stealing money from the offering plate at church,” but EC thinks it’s worse than kicking the crutches out from beneath a handicapped orphan.
According to the local newspaper The State, Joseph Cope, 30, of 100 Walden Heights Drive, Apt. 28, in Columbia, is being charged with petty larceny for absconding with $30.00 in donations.
Muscular Dystrophy Association spokesman Bob Mickle told The State that even though thousands of muscular dystrophy boxes are distributes in stores nationwide, only one or two get shoplifted each year.
Cope was turned in by an anonymous tipster. The charge carries a 30-day jail sentence and a $1,038 fine, but I say string the bastard up. Even worse, get a copy of Slapstick of Another Kind and give him the Clockwork Orange treatment.
See the shocking video here.
Tags: Jerry Lewis, joseph cope, MDA Telethon, South Carolina, steal MDA donation box, The Jerry Lewis MDA TelethonFiled Under News
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