What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
09-06-11 | 10:34 PM
#26
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Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
46 years and people are still contributing towards a "cure". What a load of malarkey.
Jerry Lewis was a long-running snake oil salesman in my book. Supporting local charities and hospitals to help people directly will always go a lot further than padding the salaries of a few rich folks and continuing to fund a "cure" that amounts to nothing more than treatment. A little over 1 million $ in a year per state... spread over the entire country in this day and age is going to amount to jack squat.
Jerry Lewis was a long-running snake oil salesman in my book. Supporting local charities and hospitals to help people directly will always go a lot further than padding the salaries of a few rich folks and continuing to fund a "cure" that amounts to nothing more than treatment. A little over 1 million $ in a year per state... spread over the entire country in this day and age is going to amount to jack squat.
Last edited by RobLutter; 09-06-11 at 10:39 PM.
09-06-11 | 11:10 PM
#27
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
46 years and people are still contributing towards a "cure". What a load of malarkey.
Jerry Lewis was a long-running snake oil salesman in my book. Supporting local charities and hospitals to help people directly will always go a lot further than padding the salaries of a few rich folks and continuing to fund a "cure" that amounts to nothing more than treatment. A little over 1 million $ in a year per state... spread over the entire country in this day and age is going to amount to jack squat.
Jerry Lewis was a long-running snake oil salesman in my book. Supporting local charities and hospitals to help people directly will always go a lot further than padding the salaries of a few rich folks and continuing to fund a "cure" that amounts to nothing more than treatment. A little over 1 million $ in a year per state... spread over the entire country in this day and age is going to amount to jack squat.
09-07-11 | 02:35 AM
#28
Senior Member
09-07-11 | 12:39 PM
#29
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
As others have said, I have a heavy nostalgia factor. Years of childhood memories: going to the Vermont State Fair, and then, as darkness falls and the first touch of crisp autumn air comes in, going home with some cotton candy and hard-won prizes from the Midway, and then staying up to "watch the stars come out with Jerry." Wondering, "who are all these celebrities?" Getting excited when the new tote board totals were announced. And knowing that school was starting up soon, if it hadn't already.
Then, as I grew up and moved away for college, kind of lost track of the telethon, but knew it was always there year in and year out. A few years ago I noticed the local affiliate started cutting back on the hours--one year they showed some local Golf tournament all day Monday! WTF, where's Jerry?!? Ironically, in recent years I'd tune in to the show and wonder, somewhat differently than I did as a child, "Who the hell ARE these 'celebrities?' Am I supposed to know any of these people?"
And I always thought the tote board only counted up pledges from the regular people, not the corporate contributions. Sounds like this year they must be counting the corporate money, because there's NO WAY they raised that much money in so little time. Something fishy there.
So , the end of an era. I do hope their fundraising efforts don't get hurt, but MDA should have shown more gratitude to Jerry and class in handling the transition. On their website, under "history of the telethon," they don't even mention his name!
Then, as I grew up and moved away for college, kind of lost track of the telethon, but knew it was always there year in and year out. A few years ago I noticed the local affiliate started cutting back on the hours--one year they showed some local Golf tournament all day Monday! WTF, where's Jerry?!? Ironically, in recent years I'd tune in to the show and wonder, somewhat differently than I did as a child, "Who the hell ARE these 'celebrities?' Am I supposed to know any of these people?"
And I always thought the tote board only counted up pledges from the regular people, not the corporate contributions. Sounds like this year they must be counting the corporate money, because there's NO WAY they raised that much money in so little time. Something fishy there.
So , the end of an era. I do hope their fundraising efforts don't get hurt, but MDA should have shown more gratitude to Jerry and class in handling the transition. On their website, under "history of the telethon," they don't even mention his name!
Also, in all those years, what the hell has MDA accomplished? It's not the same without Jerry. I totally forgot about the telethon this year. As a kid, it was a big deal especially when you only had 3 network tv channels to watch. Less is more sometimes.
09-08-11 | 07:59 AM
#30
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
46 years and people are still contributing towards a "cure". What a load of malarkey.
Jerry Lewis was a long-running snake oil salesman in my book. Supporting local charities and hospitals to help people directly will always go a lot further than padding the salaries of a few rich folks and continuing to fund a "cure" that amounts to nothing more than treatment. A little over 1 million $ in a year per state... spread over the entire country in this day and age is going to amount to jack squat.
Jerry Lewis was a long-running snake oil salesman in my book. Supporting local charities and hospitals to help people directly will always go a lot further than padding the salaries of a few rich folks and continuing to fund a "cure" that amounts to nothing more than treatment. A little over 1 million $ in a year per state... spread over the entire country in this day and age is going to amount to jack squat.
Also, I know several people who said that he's a total asshole to fans in public. That definitely made me think less of him too.
09-08-11 | 02:28 PM
#31
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
I have to agree. Especially once I found out that he was paid 10% of the take each year. That's a shitton of money for something that he was supposedly doing out of the "goodness of his heart".
Also, I know several people who said that he's a total asshole to fans in public. That definitely made me think less of him too.
Also, I know several people who said that he's a total asshole to fans in public. That definitely made me think less of him too.
09-09-11 | 08:48 AM
#32
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
09-09-11 | 10:21 AM
#33
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
Spoiler:
Me, I never really watched the telethon. Jerry was always a joke, the "stars" they featured had questionable talent. I mean, Florence Henderson singing... really?? And after all this time and money have they made any strides against MD?
09-03-12 | 08:57 AM
#34
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
It doesn't seem like Labor Day without Jerry Lewis and the MDA Telethon. I know they had like a three hour mini telethon last night but it wasn't the same without Jerry.
09-03-12 | 05:12 PM
#35
Senior Member
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
Was this, in years past, also the weekend that the firefighters stood at intersections getting folks to throw money into a boot?? Can't recall if that was for MDA or some other charity. I, with some shame, would plot out a route to avoid them if I had to drive someplace. Man, talk about being difficult when you get stopped at a red light and the place is crawling with firefighters shoving a boot at your car window.
09-03-12 | 10:21 PM
#37
DVD Talk Legend
felt off all day...
09-04-12 | 04:33 AM
#38
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What's The Deal with MDA Telethon This Year?
Last edited by TGM; 09-04-12 at 04:47 AM.
