I have been a huge fan of Jerry my entire life and after seeing his compassion and fight for the common man I'm an EVEN BIGGER fan now! It's the year 2022 and I don't think America is capable of producing this kind of compassion anymore... Long live this wonderful man's memories.
It's 2022 and this is the first time I have seen Jerry as Jerry. Boy!, I would love to get more of his heart and wisdom. Thank you for uploading this video!
Wow, this program aired 41 years ago today! Things have radically changed in terms of daytime TV interview programs and also the type and caliber of individuals like Phil Donahue and Jerry Lewis. I'm a big fan of Donahue and was a so-so fan of Lewis. Putting that aside, a viewer watching this could learn so much about Jerry that would be impossible today because of how TV chases after anything salacious and the very brief attention span of hosts and programs.
Jerry was an incredibly intelligent and smart man that worked very hard for what he had. His personality at times used to turn people off but I believe that he was a kind man that might have been misunderstood. His frankness and at times bluntness did not always go well with some people and to be frank, he didn't care because he knew what he wanted in life and he did it well. I think that he was an exceptional American more recognized as such in Europe than in his own country.
@@mstwelvedeadlycyns Out of jealousy, Americans take him for granted. Jesus didn't raise billions for handicapped children. Only one man did. JERRY LEWIS.
I was so impressed by his devotion to The MD telethon every year that I volunteered to work every year! I was up for the whole thing every year anyway, I might just as well do my share. I never regretted it.
The greatest talent in the history of the world lined up to be on the Telethon. The Telethon connected the highest and privileged with the lowest and needy. For the good of the needy. That is honorable.
He was, very much so. But sadly, I think you can see around his eyes that he was already in the grip of the Percodan addiction that ravaged his life for so long. It must have been terrible because he couldn't recall very much at all about the period he took it. Amazing that he could work so well.
@@niavvaran What is your issue? Their comment is positive. Jealousy? lmao Jerry was on percodan and other drugs at this time. It's a known fact! He said this many times that he was not in a good place during this time. Chill out or shake your head some more.
I still adore him .... he made my belly ache with laughter , loved by many the world over . He did so much good . Proud to stand a cheer for a man who put smiles the world over . 143 ❤️❤️❤️
I never really seen the serious side of Jerry Lewis as on this show. He shows such compassion & very solid with his family & confidence about his communication with his marriage & children. He makes crucial points about different issues. I admire Mr Lewis even more after listening to this interview. His strong belief in humanity & his thoughtfulness toward his devotion in helping "his kids' as he calls them
God Bless Jerry Lewis. I wish we had seen more of him over the last 30 years. Amazing that he's still alive after having one foot in the grave so long ago.
@Rosemarie Ward(open): I'm no fan of Donahue myself, but a lot of today's "interviewers" in the varying "talk" shows today could learn loads upon loads of things from him such as treating one's interviewees with class.
What a magnificent career and legacy he left. RIP, my Jerry. 💗 In Patti Lewis' book, I Laffed Till I Cried, she discussed the telethon and the nay sayers. The Lewis family was involved wholeheartedly alongside Jerry. MDA was ran without discrepancy according to Patti. If you're looking for dirt on Jerry in her book, it's not there. The marriage ended in 1980. It happens. I always enjoyed Jerry Lewis always. He was a very, very talented, intelligent confident, empathetic, handsome man. He is the King of Comedy. May he rest in peace.
One of the worlds best comedians and Humanitarian. This show was shown back in 1977 and it hold true for today for whats going on. A brilliant interview on Jerry Lewis part.
Looking at number of Jerry's interviews and came across this upload from an old KTVU broadcast. As a life long SF Bay Area guy, a real walk down memory lane.
A day before this interview, 12/12/77, was the release of Saturday Night Fever. Unbeknownst that it would become the monster phenomenon it did, catapulting John Travolta to mega stardom.
Great interview! I finally saw this whole thing and I am just wowed by how on top of his game Jerry was. He really knew his stuff, and was all of himself, as in funny, passionate, serious, intelligent. ❤
You have to realize something....this guy suffered, HORRIBLY with chronic pain himself for over 30 years, until he finally found some relief with a neurostim device....but all those years suffering, and yet he gave himself over and over again. I applaud him just for that fact alone.
He was actually a very cool quite macho guy, very street smart and savvy with money too in addition to his comic and entertainment genius. Good hearted in addition. Much to respect and learn from.
The reason he focused so much on the MDA and corporate sponsorship is that Donahue was very critical of this aspect so Jerry challenges him and responds on that. Good for Jerry, because Phil sounded like a fool in his criticisms
no, not Buddy nor Langford mode -- this is Serious Jerry mode or Telethon Jerry mode. really, he was serious always since the 1950s, but this was 1970s Jerry Mode
Yes it has, and downhill all the way... it's so sad to see how evil America has become over such a short time. People don't even know what sex they are or bathroom to use for God's sake!!
@@faith5940 Well I think people have the right to choose who they want to be in their life included their gender and sexual orientation. America went downhill because there are people that actually have a problem with others expressing themselves and who they are...Practically the opposite of what you wrote, which you called EVIL! Wow!
I'm paused over 16 minutes in; Jerry nails it about those who merely wish to be in the shoes of the famous(or otherwise "better") person... they seek it, but then COMMITMENT comes into the equation, and some aren't able to latch onto that aspect of it.
Saw him in the Catskills in the 1980s. He purposely stood where it was really dark so my sister and I couldn't get a photo of him. We were devastated but still love him.
Jerry Lewis is a big giving man. There shouldn't be charities, the government should pay for the children in need, but, there is a large shortfall. People like Jerry try and fill this shortfall because a lot of people care for the poor little mights. Why shouldn't the large companies that sponsored Jerry have their logos in large, advertising popularises them brings in more money and some goes to wortwhile causes such as Jery Lewis'. So everyone benefits.
I just saw a rerun of him on the Johnny Carson Tonight show a couple days ago it was from 1984 and he said he had just had a double bypass& surgery and so he quit smoking (he had been smoking 4 packs a day) and he gave up eating red meat too.
Phillip John Donahue (21 de diciembre de 1935, Cleveland, Ohio) es un presentador de televisión y productor estadounidense, principalmente reconocido por haber creado y conducido el programa televisivo The Phil Donahue Show, también conocido simplemente como Donahue, el primer programa de variedades televisivo con entrevistas e invitados. El programa estuvo 26 años en antena en todo Estados Unidos, y fue precedido por tres años en la televisión local de Dayton, Ohio, antes de su desaparición en 1996.
People don't know Jerry had a very serious accident on stage where he was sooo close to being paralyzed for life! He did a flip in a comedy routine & fell on a steel hook protruding from from the stage! He fell his lower spine was cracked!! Doctors got him on strong medication!So use the word "drug addict" very softly! The percocet 💊🏥💊 were prescription drugs by doctors!!👍🙏🙏R.I.P.& God Bless 🙏 Jerry Lewis
People can knock Lewis for his personal life and his arrogance and I get that but the guy was extremely talented. Kind of like Jim Carey. Even if you don’t like everything JC does, you know the guy is a mega talent.
Colin Werner, agreed! Jerry was a gorgeous man. And not only that but he was super intelligent. I could stare at him and listen to his views on things forever.
1981 from NYT: Jerry Lewis will pay the Hellzapoppin Company, in which Alexander H. Cohen, the theater producer, is a general partner, $39,000 to settle a claim arising out of losses incurred when Mr. Lewis allegedly refused to rehearse adequately for Mr. Cohen's 1977 Broadway-bound play, ''Hellzapoppin.'' The producer closed the updated version of the pre-World War II Olsen and Johnson musical after its Boston run at a loss of more than $1.2 million. Mr. Lewis's attorney, Gideon Cashman, said that the reason for the settlement was that an arbitration had been going on for three years, involved heavy legal expenses and it was less costly to end the matter now. However, Mr. Cashman added that Mr. Lewis continued to deny any breach of contract and any liability for the fate of the musical. Under the terms of the settlement between the production company and the actor, the $39,000 could increase to $78,000 if payment is not made within 18 months. Mr. Lewis is now in the midst of a bankruptcy proceeding in Las Vegas. According to John R. Fernbach, attorney for the Helzapoppin Company, such a recovery for lack of cooperation by a star during a rehearsal period is the first of its kind. The show was to have marked a comeback for Mr. Lewis as a performer. Mr. Lewis will appear in a film released by 20th Century-Fox, ''Hardly Working,'' in April, and he is due to begin working soon in ''King of Comedy,'' a Martin Scorsese film.
I'll make one admission... earlier that same year, we lived in SanFran; we moved east to NYC that summer... just in time for the Blackout of 77. Yet, living in SanFran, I was very fond of KTVU Channel 2; it seemed to have a flavor all its own.
I think Jerry Lewis is the most successful person with an untreated case of the milder form of bipolar disorder. The manic is very apparent and the depression takes the form of sharp anger/pointed commentary. There's some OCD tendencies as well...(see the rant on the first ammendment).
@@AbeTheSigma007 Jerry recognized his faults and tried to fix them, but he was unsuccessful at it. If you read his letters and listen to some interviews where he bares his soul, you can see how much he wanted to be different, and was ashamed to hurt the ones he loved.
Oh yeah! I agree! He was definitely a pisces!!! Highly emotional, giving, arrogant (at times) , creative, intelligent, witty...and then he had the typical pisces eyes, large, soulful, and inspiring!
This guy is absolutely intelligent and sexy , overwhelming mix of intelligence, brilliance, spontaneity, a little arrogance (which I find sweet, lol), honesty, and sexiness! He was also a VERY emotional individual. He was a force of nature. A lovable, crazy, impulsive, unpredictable guy. He was too much!
Jerry is Jerry but his wrong about the Miranda Right's.However his work should be praised no one took the task only Jerry a true hero of the sick n poor.
ive just realized jerry lewis was a genius and a saint i never liked him much never thought he was really super funny thought he was kinda cynical or jaded in mean kinda way but when he was talking about the need to assume responsibility for the world. he was kind of inarticulately presaging the things jordan peterson is now saying which is VERY remarkable
Lewis is a highly intelligent, gifted man. he's a sharp busuiness man (sorry for sp?)....Lewis is Jewish....just like blacks and Asians, etc. he has had to live with racism all of his life. he has plenty of reason to be full of rage, and he should have the right to express that. there are plenty of people who don't do anything and Lewis is doing EVERYTHING possible to help people. he doesn't care about the negativity he doesn't have time. but racism is different. he is truly hurt and angered by it. as he should be...if it makes him look like a lunatic, so be it. he is brutally honest, and people don't like that. but you have to be in any business sometimes and Lewis needs to get the job done. just sayin'. he is a hero to me and so many. very sad to lose someone who helped so many and spoke the truth.
His best work was with Dean - his ego got a little out of control outside of that but deep down sweet caring person mostly and did use his potential for a great cause here - wonderful
SuperPat88 other than Jerry Lewis being friends with Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior he was never part of the Rat Pack I can tell you from what I know of him through my husband who worked with him to describe Jerry Lewis one word comes to mind and that's impeccable he was always impeccable in his dress with his hair with his movements and with his speech a marvelous human being that could play on any level with any person in the world God bless him he is with the King alright p
Mark Johnson ‘By law??’ Does that mean that any other show business performer (or even JFK, who they campaigned for in 1960) that Frank, Dean and Sammy were friends with were also officially part of the Rat Pack?🤦♀️
You know I saw that too. He was being kind of an asshole to Jerry and I think deep down he’s jealous of Jerry and all his success as well as his philanthropy
when he says to Phil and I never liked you anyway it was a tense moment , he's obviously joking but it could be picked up the wrong way , Phil is playing devils advocate and Jerry doesn't like it .
55:29 or so... If you put that fish, slaw, and fries inside of a hoagy roll, with some cheese and maybe a fried egg, it would be a Pittsburgh-style fish sammich!
Phil Donahue - Seems to either ignore or not know that the government provides SSDI for the handicapped...yes even in 1977...They aren't or weren't starving in the streets.
He was brilliant but in his deep personality, which he showed constantly, he didn't let space for comments but his own. So in politics he would've been quite rough.
I'm having late 70's flashbacks.....the shitty TV shows....the terrible hair styles....the VCR taped shows with the annoying tracking at he bottom of the screen.....
