Since 1966, it became as much a Labor Day tradition as hot dogs & hamburgers on the grill, as well as afternoon baseball on the first Monday of September. It may be the middle of May, but come Sunday, September 4th, a Labor Day tradition is going to look a lot different on our TVs everywhere.

Yesterday, veteran comic actor Jerry Lewis announced to the world that this year's MDA Telethon will be his last after 45 years as host. While Jerry is not necessarily stepping down as National Chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, his decision to leave the telethon coincides with changes that producers are making to the long-running fundraiser that has raised over $2 billion for research and awareness for some 40 known neuromuscular diseases.

As far as this year's telethon is concerned, Jerry will be joined again this year by "Entertainment Tonight's" Nancy O'Dell, former "ET" correspondent Jann Carl and "Biggest Loser" host Alison Sweeney as co-hosts. They'll be joined this year by Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of both "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance", as well as co-creator/lead judge of FOX's summer reality series. Lewis will also perform his trademark song "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the conclusion of this year's telethon.

While the rest of the talent lineup has not been announced as of yet, the MDA Telethon will be much shorter than it has ever been in its history. In what is being considered a "less is more" concept, producers are trimming some 15 1/2 hours from previous airings of the annual event. This year's telethon will only run for 6 hours September 4th between 6p and Midnight in all time zones.

Since 1979, WGN's CW9 and WGN America (formerly known as WGN Superstation) has aired the MDA Telethon for about 18 of the 21 1/2 hours over a 2 day period starting at 10p Sunday and continuing until Labor Day Monday. A Cubs' game on Monday afternoon would interrupt telethon coverage until the end of the ballgame and coverage would resume from Chicago with hosts Bart Conner & Nadia Comenici and from Las Vegas with Lewis and company until 7p that night.

Last year's MDA Telethon raised $58.9 million nationally for "Jerry's Kids", a $1.5 million decrease from 2009. Lewis said in a statement that "It's time for an all-new telethon era" upon the news released.

About time. Lewis hasnt been right in the head since 1968.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Truth be told, Jimmy, a couple years ago, Jerry looked as puffy as the Pillsbury doughboy. He looked like he was going to die during the '09 MDA Telethon.

Yeah,he was on some kind of pain medication which caused that.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Jerry Lewis is not getting any younger. He's currently 85 years old.

Who is actually getting younger, SHARK?

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

My creepiest telethon moment was when Jerry picked up a crippled kid and proceeded to say, "God made a mistake. We have to fix it." WTF!

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"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken

Actually, one of the MDA Telethon's most memorable moments came in 1976. That was when Frank Sinatra reunited Jerry & his longtime comedy partner in many classic Paramount movies in the '40s & '50s, Dean Martin.

Here's a link to some other classic moments from the annual telethon over the years...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blo ... _blog.html