In his book “Telethons” the disability historian Paul Longmore observed that in the late twentieth century, “nearly everyone who talked about telethons—whether they were defenders or critics, including most disability rights activists—focused on the MDA Telethon and its host, comedian Jerry Lewis., Jerry did his telethon shtick, parading little kids in wheelchairs across the Las Vegas stage, making maudlin appeals for cash, alternatively mugging and weeping, and generally claiming to be a, As of today, Jerry has neither publicly commented on the separation, nor has he given any verbal or written indication that he voluntarily “retired” as Telethon host and Chairman of the MDA., NEW YORK (AP) — The Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon is ending its annual Labor Day telethon, a television tradition for decades that has slowly disappeared from view since the sudden end of Jerry Lewis' role as host following the 2010 show., Here’s a list of those who have performed from the first Telethon in 1966 through the 2002 Telethon. Over the years, hundreds of celebrities have given their time to perform on the Jerry, Share your videos with friends, family, and the world.