when/why did they discontinue the MDA telethon?

[demtenjeep]

I grew up watching it. When my sisters and I were younger, we couldn't wait to get out of church Sunday night and make food to stay up as long as we could to watch it. When we got older, we volunteered at the phone banks until we had families of our own. It makes me sad to see it gone.

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. it aired, a shortened version, didn't watch it, saw it listed

[peacebird]

2. It is still on, but the bastards fired Jerry Lewis

[hlthe2b]

3. Jerry Lewis is and always was a mixed bag. But, his unceremonious dismissal makes me very sad.

While the telethon needed some "modernization" and certainly the campaign needed to reflect the more enlightened views on neuromuscular disease sufferers, the way this was handled will surely negatively impact the entire campaign for years. It is sad and inexplicable.

[derby378]

4. I know what you mean

Jerry Lewis was fired by the MDA last year. This year, the MDA replaced the annual telethon with a pre-recorded, three-hour "Show of Strength" that was broadcast last night to try to persuade donors to call in.

No more tympani, no more big board. Another long American tradition gone.

[demtenjeep]

5. what a shame

so much tradition gone

[Tx4obama]

6. Here's some info on the link below

Here: http://www.katv.com/story/19443500/mda-telethon-not-a-telethon-anymore

[demtenjeep]

7. what a load of crap

another thing gone

[spanone]

8. on other words....'adios'

[longship]

9. When they found out Jerry's kids were really all his kids...

Well, the scandal was horrible.

Sorry for the bad humor, but I heard or read that someplace years ago, maybe National Lampoon, maybe Mad, maybe even The Onion. Cannot recall. Seems to fit this thread.

Plus, I always called it the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Cryathon. I could never stomach even a second of it.

[demtenjeep]

10. aw

we loved it