Jerry Lewis Dumped from MDA Telethon

Happy Labor Day!

As a kid it was always a tradition on Labor Day to see Jerry Lewis hosting the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) telethon. While I never cared that much for his humor, I did admire all the work he put into this organization. Without Jerry Lewis I doubt this organization would have near the publicity or funding that is has received over the last 45 years.

So it was shocking to see that he was not hosting this year's event. I figured that Jerry Lewis was old and ready to retire (he is 85). But the abrupt manner in which he was dropped from the show was rather odd.

Jerry has recently come under fire for making what is now considered to be some homophobic and sexist jokes.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295723,00.html

Of course, his prime (during the 50s and 60s)  was before the era of Political Correctness and heavy censorship. As an old man he probably is not comfortable with the modern taboos. Most modern comedians know that only only certain Cultural Marxist approved groups (Whites, Men and Christians) are allowed to be the subject of jokes.

What is interesting is that the word that got him in trouble, "faggot",  also caused a popular song from 1985 to be banned in Canada.

The Dire Strait's song. "Money For Nothing" had the following lyrics that the censors in Canada found objectionable:


The little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Yeah buddy, that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot he's a millionaire

Ironically, the censors missed the meaning of those lyrics. (Censors tend to be rather literal and stupid by nature.)  The ban has since been overturned and it is now legal for you in Canada to see the original uncensored video.

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/dire-straits-ban-0905-2011/

Link to the uncensored video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6ennSQGbs&feature=related