JERRY & ME

Drew Friedman/Jerry Lewis

So, speaking of Jerry...

In 2009, Jerry Lewis invited my wife and I to be his personal guests at the annual MDA Labor Day Telethon at the South Point hotel/casino in Las Vegas. Jerry had enjoyed a tribute I had done of him for the NY Observer, in which I had implored the Motion Picture Academy to give him a special career Oscar, and called me to request a large print of the piece. I had the honor of presenting the print to Jerry that weekend, as well as my wife and I having full access to Jerry and the show's backstage rehearsals.

The visit is now of course bittersweet for us, as for some still unknown reason, Jerry will no longer being hosting the telethon...

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/08/06/a-major-weapon-in-health-care-battle-benched-jerry-lewis-tossed-from-mda/

 I'm at least happy we had this opportunity to spend some time with the one and only Jerry Lewis.

Meeting Jerry. That's his longtime secretary, Penny to my right

Jerry in his Jazzy. Presenting the print to him

Jerry and I talk comedy and art

Jerry signs a print for me

The King of Comedy and me

Backstage photos by me. Jerry rehearses his Jolson medley with the orchestra

Jerry conducts as his pal Richard Belzer looks on

This is the piece that originally appeared in the NY Observer (Jerry has since been awarded a "Humanitarian" Oscar, for his charitable work on behalf of the MDA). It can be ordered as a large print here:

http://www.drewfriedman.net/prints/jerry-lewis.html

My illustration of Jerry Lewis created for my first book of "Old Jewish Comedians" (2006)