PREMIUM SEARCH Search by job title, geography and build a list of executive contacts
The French notwithstanding, you either love Jerry Lewis, or you hate him. But you can't deny that he's an extraordinary humanitarian. Witness his 51 years of tireless fund-raising on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. Before Elizabeth Taylor and AIDS, there was the Nutty Professor and a host of life-threatening muscle-related diseases. He has raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and helped change -- and save -- countless lives.
I confess, I always watch some of the telethon as part of my good-bye-to-summer ritual. As a holdover from my childhood, it's the TV equivalent of comfort food. So, when I heard that this was the first "Web-enhanced telethon," I had to see if my guilty-pleasure quotient would increase. So, I turned on both my TV and my computer, and hunkered down.
One enhancement was streaming Webcast video of the live telecast -- all 21 1/2 hours. Why would this be more fun than watching it on TV? I suppose if I were at work, it would be a good thing, but one of the great things about the telethon is that it's always on a holiday, so there's no genuine competition for my attention. Also offered at http://www.mdausa.org/telethon/ are clips and transcripts of past telethon highlights, including the complete '99 telethon, which raised a record $53 million. "Relive the experience!" the site encourages, but once was enough -- even for me.
WHAT TO ASK? Two other Web enhancements promoted on the telethon were "online questions" -- many of which, it was promised, would be answered on-air during the telethon -- and a more secure, easier, online-donation process. I would have been thrilled to hear my question -- and name (be still my heart) -- on-air, but two problems got in the way. I couldn't think of a genuinely intelligent, relevant question (your mind, too, would go numb after a few hours of watching), and worse, I couldn't figure out how to navigate the Web site to submit my question. I suspect I wasn't alone. Over the hours that I watched, I saw an online question only addressed once.
Making a donation seemed like an easier path to national prominence, so I opted for that route. It was easy, all right -- just like the organizers promised. It took about 90 seconds, and they didn't ask for a mass of personal information. And I felt especially virtuous, because I charged it on American Express, which was adding $2 to every donation charged with one of its cards. As Jerry and the other hosts frequently remind viewers, every little bit helps.
While watching and waiting for my name to be read as one of the generous online donors, I noodled around on the site. My favorite thing was the postcards (several featured the singer Charo, a telethon perennial) from past telethons that I could send with a few clicks. I took the opportunity to remind several people about the reunion between Lewis and former comedy partner Dean Martin, which was staged by Frank Sinatra in 1976. Dino and Jerry, together again! I could also look at a roster of all "celebrities" who have appeared since 1966.
HOME FOR HAS BEENS. Sadly, I never did hear my name mentioned (though I confess I didn't stick it out to the bitter end). And O.K., yes, for you cynics out there, the Labor Day Telethon can be, well, cheesy. The 21 1/2 hours of "entertainment" has more bad jokes than a Friars Club roast, more has-beens than a Love Boat rerun, and more people with nominal talent than your average high-school band. (What does Charo do the rest of the year?)
But I don't care. Where else can you see the cousins of the Lennon Sisters? And besides, what the event -- Web enhancements or not -- is really about is still "Jerry's kids." All you need is to hear one family talk about the difference the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. has made in their lives -- whether it be a free clinic for care of an afflicted child, a speech device for someone whose insurance denied it, or hope for someone who years ago would have been doomed to an early death.
The King of Comedy is a real prince in my book. As long as Jerry keeps on broadcasting, I'll keep on watching -- streaming video or no.
O'Connell is a copyeditor for Business Week Online Edited by Douglas Harbrecht
Copyright 2000, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
Printer-Friendly Version
