Most people that read this site know of my somewhat inexplicable love for the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. I’ve watched it since I was a kid, and it’s one of those things I look forward to every year… or at least, I had.

This year, I watched about 20 minutes of it. I have the last 90 minutes of it recorded, but haven’t watched it and likely won’t.

There has been a slow buildup to this year, really. I noticed it a couple of years ago, that I wasn’t watching as much as I had in years past. I used to really fight to stay up as late as possible to watch it on Sunday nights, and to watch during Labor Day itself. Now, I’ll catch some of it but won’t go out of my way to watch it.

So, we have a symptom. What’s the cause, you ask? What could have eroded my love for this institution?

Jann Karl, that’s what.

See, Jerry’s getting older. He’s getting on in years, and has had a lot of health scares of late. He’s not able to go through the entire telethon like he used to- for God’s sake, he’s 82! Dude deserves some rest, given he’s devoted the better part of SIX DECADES to this cause.

So, I get that. Perfectly logical.

Except…

Except that the co-host situation is really bugging the crap out of me. See, Jann Karl is one of those entertainment reporters with the fake blond hair, the fake grin plastered and JUUUUST enough lack of a soul to make you think that when she’s truly touched by the child whose life will be shortened by some horrific disease, in actuality she’s faking it.

Yes, I know she isn’t faking it. Yes, I know she’s really touched. The problem is… well, I can’t stand her. Not only that, but the woman I can’t stand has become something of the secondary host of this show.

I’m probably not alone. Though The money keeps being “one dollar more” each year (and this year, a couple million dollars more), I can’t imagine that viewership is as high as in the past.

So, we know the problem. What’s the solution?

It’s simple. Point of fact, it’s already there in two people. One’s a congenial talk show host, the other’s one of the wittiest comics working today. They work the midnight to 8 shift (Pacific time, natch) while Jerry rests.

I refer, of course, to Tom Bergeron and Bob Zany.

Think about it. Jerry and Ed McMahon are both very old. They’ve done their bit for king and country, really they have. The two men can let the next generation take on their cause, and spend their few remaining years with family (including Jerry’s kinda-getting-hot daughter). Plus, these two guys are already in the system! They know what’s involved, and they could take this mantle on for decades if needed. Not only that, but Tom’s riding that “Dancing With The Stars” comet of success and Bob’s quicker than anyone with a line.

Instead, we get Jann fricking Karl.

I’ll continue to watch,mind you. I’ll continue to donate- and I encourage you to do the same. But they’ve lost me as a devotee, and hopefully they can regain my loyalty to the show.

Out.

Tags: Labor_Day, MDA, Telethon
Posted in Uncategorized |

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 at 12:36 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.