On December 19, 2016, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) used the Internet to share with the world a brief interview with the legendary Jerry Lewis -- accomplished comedian, actor, singer, writer, director, and producer, who has amassed a body of work spanning 70 years.
Jerry Lewis is also a generous humanitarian who selflessly shepherded an annual Labor Day Telethon to raise money for children with Muscular Dystrophy that ran from 1966-2014. He hosted it until 2010, a run of 44 years! Quite a legacy.
Although the video is under eight minutes, it feels longer because Jerry methodically commands every moment as captain of his comedy ship, while mopping the deck with an inept and clueless off-camera interviewer who sounds like a high school kid doing a story for his school's paper. (I don't mean to denigrate high school newspapers or the kids who write for them, as I suspect few would fail this dismally.)
Here's the video interview in all its glory. Watch and listen closely as an interviewer is deftly schooled with a crash course in comedy. The post that follows is my take on it.
Imagine the gold they could have mined from Jerry, had they only sent someone competent. Alas, Andy is not, although his Twitter profile says he has a PhD in American History, as if that's a relevant qualification. Pfft.
Adding insult to injury, THR posted the video and write-up with the snarky headline:
Watch the Most Painfully Awkward Interview of 2016:
7 Minutes With Jerry Lewis
Did they hope to deflect blame to Jerry Lewis as if to, I don't know, humiliate him? The summary opens with:
"The famously difficult comedian made things tough for THR."
Damn right he did, and THR deserved worse. Much worse. The interviewer (if you can even call him that) writes:
"I already knew Lewis' reputation for being difficult and acerbic
with his audiences and in interviews. And he's a well-known control freak."
-and-
". . . it seemed like he was punishing THR by doing the interview
but being as uncooperative as possible."
Ya think? THR and Andy Lewis should hang their heads in shame, not only for wasting Jerry Lewis' time, but for a headline and write-up labeling the interview as a "trainwreck." Oh, but wait. They try to humiliate Jerry further with this search engine link description:
Painful, awkward, and awful for whom? Andy Lewis? I certainly hope so! The article closes with:
"He's just engaged — almost happily so — in being difficult."
Being difficult? I'm impressed Jerry Lewis endured banal questions for almost eight minutes! I would've been out of there in under two.
I'm embarrassed for The Hollywood Reporter. What possessed their editor to send an amateur to interview an icon? Andy Lewis was in way over his head. Even the drone of his voice was annoying. It's no wonder Jerry lobbed back perfectly-timed minimalist responses.
Every answer he gave was deliciously deadpan. His one mockingly faux guffaw was genius. Kept hoping he'd turn to the camera and say, "Who the fuck is this kid? Is this the best you could send?"
Jerry Lewis is a comedy legend. The Hollywood Reporter should issue him a public apology, and then send me to Vegas to do a proper interview!
And what the hell was Andy Lewis thinking when he prepared that stale laundry list of questions? It was rife with things asked ad nauseam for 50 years, with answers easily found in hundreds of books and interviews spanning Jerry's prolific career.
If this interview was a trainwreck for Andy Lewis and THR, it was anything but for Jerry Lewis. It affirmed he's still a master of comedy, delivery, and timing.
Twitter was awash with praise from celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, Josh Gad, Richard Belzer, Tom Bergeron, Danny Zuker, Howard Stern, and even Sarah Palin, all acknowledging Jerry Lewis was/is brilliant.
Would love for Jerry Seinfeld to get Jerry Lewis for Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.
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As I was just about to publish this, I did one more quick round of research, and stumbled upon John Ellis' scathing indictment of The Hollywood Reporter and Andy Lewis. The review calls them out for disrespecting Jerry Lewis, and their shameful attempt at spinning the interview as anything but their own abysmal failure.
Because John Ellis so eloquently expressed similar outrage, I encourage you to read his spot-on piece (and the comments that follow it) -- 'The Hollywood Reporter' Brags About 'Painfully Awkward' Interview With Jerry Lewis
* * * * *
Jerry Lewis was born as Joseph Levitch
on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey.
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Note: Long before Jim Carrey, an often goofy Jerry Lewis made us giggle.
- Ten Movies he made with Dean Martin (they made 17 together!)
- The King of Comedy (1983) with Robert DeNiro and Sandra Bernhard, directed by Martin Scorsese
- Top Five Jerry Lewis Comedies (at least according to the link)
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