Sunday, August 31, 2003

The Secret Word...

Coming to DVD September 23: Groucho Marx: You Bet Your Life - The Lost Episodes. Here's a link to order it from Amazon.

• Posted at 9:51 PM · LINK

This Just In...

Don Rickles on the Jerry Lewis Telethon...

"God bless. It's good to see you. It's been a lot of years. I was sitting down...Malibu with the wife. It's her birthday. In the sun and boom. And they said, 'It's the telethon' and I knew it's for the kids. You know. But for a minute there, I started to spit up. Because I knew this is a shlep trip from Malibu to see you standing there going, 'Help me, help me.' You know, the kids need help but stop. Don't beg. You were a big star once. You've gotta remember who the hell you are. You don't have to sit there and beg for the kids in the wheelchairs. Let 'em live. God will be good to them. But you don't have to stand here and have a fireman sit here for eight hours, and then you sit with the three million dollars and they're walking around going, 'Bustin' my babe,' for the lousy three million. These guys, they give you the money gladly."

What the hell is this man talking about?

• Posted at 9:47 PM · LINK

Jerry's Back!

Just watched the opening of the 2003 Jerry Lewis Telethon. They had Jerry arriving on a Harley-Davidson with huge training wheels, flanked by a biker honor guard. Actually, it looked like they just drove around the CBS parking lot but it didn't matter. It's Labor Day and Jerry is back where he belongs.

I never know what I think of this annual event but I can't help tuning in. On one hand, a lot of it seems more devoted to hyping the careers of Jerry and his friends than to actually doing good for folks afflicted with muscular dystrophy. On the other hand, some of those performers are wonderful. As I'm typing this, Fayard Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers is doing a few steps. Who else is going to put him on a national TV show these days? And everyone I've ever met who has worked on the telethon has had sincerity that was beyond question. That includes Jerry.

There are those who find it horrifying on some levels. They include folks like this guy who feel the funds it makes available for research and care do not outweigh a certain damage done to the dignity of the disabled. There are also those, including folks whose knowledge of the topic I respect, who say that a surprising amount of good is done by the money Mr. Lewis collects. I suspect both views are valid but that the latter has the edge. Ultimately, I suppose it comes down to how you feel about Jerry. I've decided I like him, and I'll be tuning in from time to time over the next twenty-one hours so I guess I like the telethon. I'll report back here if I know for sure.

• Posted at 8:33 PM · LINK

Not to Alarm Anyone But...

The rubber duckies are coming! Watch out!

• Posted at 12:34 AM · LINK

Sanderson's Never-Ending Saga

Here's another chapter of Peter Sanderson's report on this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego. [NOTE: Those of you who've come here at Peter's suggestion to read about the Ray Bradbury panel will find that info here.]

• Posted at 12:07 AM · LINK