Not my generation, but Jerry Lewis has died at 91 in Las Vegas.
28 Replies to “Jerry Lewis”
The most annoying and unfunny “comedian” I ever was exposed to. Have no clue why this idiot rose to such stardom. So he’s dead. Lots of good people died today. And lots of other families are grieving. Lots of kids got aborted and lots of good people failed to live a long satisfying life because of terrorists in the last few days. And spare me the telethon crap. If this idiot didn’t do it, someone else would have. And probably done a better job.
My fathers generation … and a comedian I never understood or found the least bit funny … however … you have to respect the $$ Billions he raised for Muscular Dystrophy. $$ Billions raised … and to the best of my knowledge … he never diverted a dime to his daughters wedding, or PAC … unlike a certain other “Foundation” run by HER.
I thought he was hilarious when I was young. He was GOOFY. Both comedy and movies were different in those days. We had limited choices, and acting was pretty over-the-top compared to today’s films and television. I much prefer the realistic styles and grit of Aussie, New Zealand and Irish films today. There’s nothing wrong with marking the passing of one who was remarkable in his day. I hear people lauding Beyonce and Jay Zee, for crying out loud.
“My fathers generation … and a comedian I never understood or found the least bit funny .”
True. But for some reason he was a hit in Quebec. You can still see his influence on comedy there today: goofy costumes, stupid expressions and donkey voices.
Never saw anything funny in him at all. And neither did his children.
I thought he was hilarious when I was young. He was GOOFY.
So did I, but I was about 10 years old at the time. A few years ago, Turner Classic Movies showed some of his films and I didn’t find them in the least bit funny.
Good clean fun for his day as a young man who used his 15 minutes to it’s fullest.
Unfortunately early fame and fortune appears to have derailed his self perception as an “actor” when professionally he was always type cast as a slapstick comedian.
Regardless, his efforts to help the less-fortunate by however means he could manage is a humanitarian accomplishment that very few anywhere will achieve. RIP
Never did like his “comedy” at all. I expect someone had to be really young or really stupid to have a full appreciation of it. Did I say that?
I never found him funny, but if he told “racist and misogynistic jokes, and … making an anti-gay slur” then he couldn’t have been all bad as he was offending all the right people.
Indeed … I always read that he was a real HIT in France … go figure? What I wouldn’t do to make (some) French women find me funny … and … then, who knows …?
As Lance says, different generation,different comedic tastes,so no no need for the vitriol. Even as a kid I never found Lewis funny,for slapstick far preferred Moe,Larry,and Curly, but millions DID and who am I to argue with taste.
But I’ll take Jerry Lewis and his telethons over the comedians of today, especially the revolting,unfunny women who seem to vent hatred from every pore.
To the younger commenters here; you wouldn’t have understood Jolson either,different generation and tastes.
Yup, I liken Jerry Lewis to a more contemporary Jim Carrey whom I’ve never found funny.
The only movie of the few that I’ve bothered to watch that I liked was Cable Guy, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with Carry himself in the lead roll.
Otherwise it’s my understanding that he’s a pretty good guy in real life. So whatever has a market for it’s generation I guess.
Ahhhhh! Aiieeeeee! YOU dared mention “black-face” Al Jolson!!! How DARE you? Isn’t even mentioning his name (let alone put it in writing) a THOUGHT, er HATE CRIME in Canada? That’s just NOT funny!
I agree.
Aviator, exactly.
I still miss Red Skelton.
When I was a kid I used to stay up and watch the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon. Maybe it was an excuse for staying up past midnight back then but I also remember having fun watching the performances from his Hollywood friends who’d show up to pay tribute to his cause of Muscular Dystrophy. Also it gave me exposure to people needing real help and those who reach out to the community to get it for them. I really can’t remember anyone since that’s been able to generate every year such wholesome goodness and charity for people. Maybe he wasn’t no Cary Grant on the silver screen but he had a heart of gold.
Have to agree with the first comment. The faster these Hollywood twits die off the better. Replace them all with CGI. No one will know the difference between a human airhead and a robot.
Hmmm both a hit in Quebec and France. Connect the dots. Ahhh ha! They are both French. Explains their weird taste in humour.
He raised good kids too; Gary Lewis for example. Unlike many children of celebrities in that era Gary didn’t take deferment but did his tour of duty in Viet Nam. Gary and the Playboys had great success with pop songs like ‘This Diamond Ring’ and this tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZZOwzBq5gI
So what, 90% of people raise good kids. His kids got a much better start in life than most and more breaks than any one else. So his kid served in Nam. Hundreds of thousands of kids served in Nam.
I don’t buy this “don’t speak ill of the dead” cop out. Fact is, his telethon board of directors tried for the longest time to get rid of him because his act stank so much and he was so obnoxious to deal with.
My generation, but I always found him cringe inducing (put me down for Jack and George). I’m not sure why that should induce vitriol, however.
Mammy, Mammy- how I love you, my dear ol’mammy.
Jolson was one of the greatest.
Jerry Lewis was not funny?? Mother of Jesus, some of you need a holiday or a drink, or both. His ratings went through the roof, and he made millions. What next?? You hate Snow White?? Or is it the Dwarfs??
The self absorbed, hypocritical Hollywood types and their breathless sycophantic media followers and their shallow stupid fans always induce vitriol. And they deserve vitriol back in spades. All of them.
This is my chance to tell them all how shallow, insipid and useless they all are and how pointless their lives are for centring themselves around such stupid people. They chose to grieve and weep over some useless, unfunny, obnoxious Hollywood chump? Good Lord! They are nothing but organ grinder monkeys. So a monkey died. Big deal.
Looking forward to the next Hollywood death.
The only part of the Oscars I watch is the Obituaries section. Its by far the best part. Good riddance to them all.
What a joy you must be to hang around with?
Someone’s father, grandpa, spouse, friend has died as you will die. And when you die I would hope that those who hold negative views about you will hold their tongues until your overheated corpse has at least had a chance to cool off.
My large family is entitled to say whatever they want about me. Dead or alive. To my face or behind my back.
I did not relate to his brand of humor, for the most part, but obviously millions loved him. I say “for the most part” because once he was a replacement on the Tonight Show. He hosted for a week, and he was brilliant. One of the best I have seen –far better than those hosting today. He was funny and sophisticated — not at all his usual goofy act. After seeing that I had a lot of respect for him.
Well before my time but probably the funniest Jerry Lewis bit was Martin Short’s played him in a SCTV parody of an Ingmar Bergmann film called “Scenes From an Idiots Marriage”.
Now that was hysterical! https://youtu.be/NESWnzLGcH4
The most annoying and unfunny “comedian” I ever was exposed to. Have no clue why this idiot rose to such stardom. So he’s dead. Lots of good people died today. And lots of other families are grieving. Lots of kids got aborted and lots of good people failed to live a long satisfying life because of terrorists in the last few days. And spare me the telethon crap. If this idiot didn’t do it, someone else would have. And probably done a better job.
My fathers generation … and a comedian I never understood or found the least bit funny … however … you have to respect the $$ Billions he raised for Muscular Dystrophy. $$ Billions raised … and to the best of my knowledge … he never diverted a dime to his daughters wedding, or PAC … unlike a certain other “Foundation” run by HER.
I thought he was hilarious when I was young. He was GOOFY. Both comedy and movies were different in those days. We had limited choices, and acting was pretty over-the-top compared to today’s films and television. I much prefer the realistic styles and grit of Aussie, New Zealand and Irish films today. There’s nothing wrong with marking the passing of one who was remarkable in his day. I hear people lauding Beyonce and Jay Zee, for crying out loud.
“My fathers generation … and a comedian I never understood or found the least bit funny .”
True. But for some reason he was a hit in Quebec. You can still see his influence on comedy there today: goofy costumes, stupid expressions and donkey voices.
Never saw anything funny in him at all. And neither did his children.
I thought he was hilarious when I was young. He was GOOFY.
So did I, but I was about 10 years old at the time. A few years ago, Turner Classic Movies showed some of his films and I didn’t find them in the least bit funny.
Good clean fun for his day as a young man who used his 15 minutes to it’s fullest.
Unfortunately early fame and fortune appears to have derailed his self perception as an “actor” when professionally he was always type cast as a slapstick comedian.
Regardless, his efforts to help the less-fortunate by however means he could manage is a humanitarian accomplishment that very few anywhere will achieve. RIP
Never did like his “comedy” at all. I expect someone had to be really young or really stupid to have a full appreciation of it. Did I say that?
I never found him funny, but if he told “racist and misogynistic jokes, and … making an anti-gay slur” then he couldn’t have been all bad as he was offending all the right people.
Indeed … I always read that he was a real HIT in France … go figure? What I wouldn’t do to make (some) French women find me funny … and … then, who knows …?
As Lance says, different generation,different comedic tastes,so no no need for the vitriol. Even as a kid I never found Lewis funny,for slapstick far preferred Moe,Larry,and Curly, but millions DID and who am I to argue with taste.
But I’ll take Jerry Lewis and his telethons over the comedians of today, especially the revolting,unfunny women who seem to vent hatred from every pore.
To the younger commenters here; you wouldn’t have understood Jolson either,different generation and tastes.
Yup, I liken Jerry Lewis to a more contemporary Jim Carrey whom I’ve never found funny.
The only movie of the few that I’ve bothered to watch that I liked was Cable Guy, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with Carry himself in the lead roll.
Otherwise it’s my understanding that he’s a pretty good guy in real life. So whatever has a market for it’s generation I guess.
Ahhhhh! Aiieeeeee! YOU dared mention “black-face” Al Jolson!!! How DARE you? Isn’t even mentioning his name (let alone put it in writing) a THOUGHT, er HATE CRIME in Canada? That’s just NOT funny!
I agree.
Aviator, exactly.
I still miss Red Skelton.
When I was a kid I used to stay up and watch the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon. Maybe it was an excuse for staying up past midnight back then but I also remember having fun watching the performances from his Hollywood friends who’d show up to pay tribute to his cause of Muscular Dystrophy. Also it gave me exposure to people needing real help and those who reach out to the community to get it for them. I really can’t remember anyone since that’s been able to generate every year such wholesome goodness and charity for people. Maybe he wasn’t no Cary Grant on the silver screen but he had a heart of gold.
Have to agree with the first comment. The faster these Hollywood twits die off the better. Replace them all with CGI. No one will know the difference between a human airhead and a robot.
Hmmm both a hit in Quebec and France. Connect the dots. Ahhh ha! They are both French. Explains their weird taste in humour.
He raised good kids too; Gary Lewis for example. Unlike many children of celebrities in that era Gary didn’t take deferment but did his tour of duty in Viet Nam. Gary and the Playboys had great success with pop songs like ‘This Diamond Ring’ and this tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZZOwzBq5gI
So what, 90% of people raise good kids. His kids got a much better start in life than most and more breaks than any one else. So his kid served in Nam. Hundreds of thousands of kids served in Nam.
I don’t buy this “don’t speak ill of the dead” cop out. Fact is, his telethon board of directors tried for the longest time to get rid of him because his act stank so much and he was so obnoxious to deal with.
My generation, but I always found him cringe inducing (put me down for Jack and George). I’m not sure why that should induce vitriol, however.
Mammy, Mammy- how I love you, my dear ol’mammy.
Jolson was one of the greatest.
Jerry Lewis was not funny?? Mother of Jesus, some of you need a holiday or a drink, or both. His ratings went through the roof, and he made millions. What next?? You hate Snow White?? Or is it the Dwarfs??
The self absorbed, hypocritical Hollywood types and their breathless sycophantic media followers and their shallow stupid fans always induce vitriol. And they deserve vitriol back in spades. All of them.
This is my chance to tell them all how shallow, insipid and useless they all are and how pointless their lives are for centring themselves around such stupid people. They chose to grieve and weep over some useless, unfunny, obnoxious Hollywood chump? Good Lord! They are nothing but organ grinder monkeys. So a monkey died. Big deal.
Looking forward to the next Hollywood death.
The only part of the Oscars I watch is the Obituaries section. Its by far the best part. Good riddance to them all.
What a joy you must be to hang around with?
Someone’s father, grandpa, spouse, friend has died as you will die. And when you die I would hope that those who hold negative views about you will hold their tongues until your overheated corpse has at least had a chance to cool off.
My large family is entitled to say whatever they want about me. Dead or alive. To my face or behind my back.
I did not relate to his brand of humor, for the most part, but obviously millions loved him. I say “for the most part” because once he was a replacement on the Tonight Show. He hosted for a week, and he was brilliant. One of the best I have seen –far better than those hosting today. He was funny and sophisticated — not at all his usual goofy act. After seeing that I had a lot of respect for him.
Well before my time but probably the funniest Jerry Lewis bit was Martin Short’s played him in a SCTV parody of an Ingmar Bergmann film called “Scenes From an Idiots Marriage”.
Now that was hysterical!
https://youtu.be/NESWnzLGcH4
I agree totally. What a useless derp he was.