Hot tip: If laughter is the best medicine, Comedy for a Cure—which raises money on behalf of Tuberous Sclerosis—may be just what the proverbial doctor ordered. Their 2012 event will be held Mar. 25 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Go to www.comedyforacure.org for details.
Jerry Lewis is here, there and everywhere this month in new DVD releases, marking his 80th year in show biz. The rarest item, released today by Inception Media Group, is “The Jazz Singer,” a 1959 NBC TV special from Lewis’ personal archives that’s never been shown again or offered for sale in any format since its original airing. The black and white kinescope included here is none too sharp, but the color broadcast has been nicely restored.
Jerry gives a pretty good account of himself in a rare dramatic performance, though he reportedly didn’t think so; he’s better than the script of this homage to Al Jolson’s “first talking picture.” Eduard Franz overplays the melodrama as the pious father who disowns his son for not following in his footsteps as a cantor; Yiddish theatre icon Molly Picon is fine as Jerry’s mother and Alan Reed (the voice of Fred Flintstone) is first-rate as his uncle.
Lewis was at his peak in 1965—just before his film career went sour—when he appeared on “The David Susskind Show (Open End).” They’re both in top form on this interview program—available on DVD from S’more Entertainment—with Jerry at his most open and introspective and his one-time agent Susskind letting him say whatever’s on his mind. Lewis chain-smokes nonstop as he discusses his childhood, marriage and family, film critics, anti-Semitism and much more.
Lewis and Susskind both turn up as guests on different episodes of “That Show” with Joan Rivers, coming out later this month from Synergy Entertainment. This 3-disc set offers 18 episodes from the comedienne’s first talk show, a virtual time capsule from 1968; celeb guests includeSoupy Sales, Kitty Carlisle, Sam Levenson, Johnny Carson and Joel Grey.
Rivers and Carson are both seen in “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project,” a superb documentary on The Merchant of Venom directed by John Landis. If you didn’t catch this special on HBO, it’s a must-see DVD (available from the Salient Media). Bob Newhart, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg are among the many comics who appear in this behind-the-scenes look at the acerbic Rickles.
More from Jordan:
Now on DVD: Tracey Ullman series, witty Britcom, silly Israeli farce
Charles Nelson Reilly & Britcoms on DVD, Jonathan Winters on CDhttp://exm.nr/kJJiIu
Abbott & Costello, Fibber McGee & Molly revive old radio days
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo visits Costa Mesa http://shar.es/fG3xg
“Clybourne Park” at Mark Taper, a guide to black Old-Time Radio http://shar.es/flwqq
Follow me on twitter.
Visit my Amazon Author Page.
Like a heads up when I post a new article? Just click where it says "Subscribe to get instant updates" at the top. (Not getting the emails? Keep in mind I post about 2-3 times a week). You can also share this article with your facebook/twitter friends by clicking the appropriate buttons above.
Comments