Telethon

Despite the lingering effects of the recession, the 44th annual Jerry Lewis telethon raised nearly $60.5 million in contributions and pledges to fight muscular dystrophy, the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. announced Monday. Last year's telethon raised a record $65 million. The 21 1/2 -hour event, originating at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, reached an estimated 40 million television viewers, the MDA said. Entertainers who appeared this year included Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, Train, Five for Fighting and Charo.

Now 5 years old, the Cinefamily has become a pillar of the alternative film exhibition scene in Los Angeles alongside venues such as the New Beverly Cinema, American Cinematheque and the UCLA Film and Television Archive. From its location on Fairfax Avenue, Cinefamily has become a hub of activity with its heady mix of new and retrospective movies, a particular blend of the highbrow, offbeat and way-out with an only-in-L.A. flavor. Recent programming has included a series of films by and about the Beat Generation that included a sneak preview of the upcoming Kristen Stewart-starring "On the Road"; a number of little-known documentaries by the Japanese filmmaker Shohei Imamura; and screenings of the new cult fave "Miami Connection.

Many eyes on Haiti show More than 83 million people tuned in Friday night for at least a portion of the Hope for Haiti Now telethon, which aired commercial-free on dozens of networks. The fundraising effort, spearheaded by actor George Clooney and MTV Networks, had an average audience of more than 24 million viewers and pulled in at least $61 million in pledges from the general public to help survivors of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake that rocked Haiti. Organizers on Monday were still tabulating additional donations made by corporations and large private donors, as well as proceeds from an album of the telethon's live performances sold on iTunes.

The East Coast is still recovering from the destruction of super storm Sandy, so on Friday the collected cable channels and networks of NBCUniversal will be airing a one-hour telethon to raise money for the victims. "Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together" will be hosted by "Today's" Matt Lauer and will feature performances by Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting; and have appearances by Jimmy Fallon and NBC News' Brian Williams. The telethon will air on NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!

The venue and approach were about as far removed from Mitt Romney’s straight-laced, wealthy persona as could be, but that didn’t stop about 800 volunteers from gathering in a deserted wing of the Las Vegas Convention Center early Monday to participate in the first major telethon of the 2012 Republican presidential campaign. Supporters of the former Massachusetts governor spent the day huddled around phones as they asked friends, family and business associates to make donations.

The East Coast is still recovering from the destruction of super storm Sandy, so on Friday the collected cable channels and networks of NBCUniversal will be airing a one-hour telethon to raise money for the victims. "Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together" will be hosted by "Today's" Matt Lauer and will feature performances by Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting; and have appearances by Jimmy Fallon and NBC News' Brian Williams. The telethon will air on NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!

Programs like Friday's "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" do not exist to further musical careers, introduce new material or birth fruitful collaborations. Tragedies like last week's seismic disaster necessitate such urgent media efforts, and fundraising is their primary objective. Important information may also be transmitted; perhaps someone's consciousness will be raised. The pleasure, surprise or release that art can offer is merely added value. That said, several of the major names who came on board for Haiti went beyond the expected heartstring tugs.

The following post has been updated. See note below for details. Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Christina Aguilera, Sting and other celebrities will join forces for a one-hour live telethon “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” airing Friday at 8 p.m. on NBCUniversal stations and streamed at NBC.com. Money raised during the telethon will be donated to American Red Cross relief efforts. In addition to being televised on NBC, the concert will be carried on Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC, E!

The annual Children's Miracle Network telethon will go international for the first time when it is broadcast this weekend (for 21 consecutive hours) from Disneyland. In addition to being seen on stations across the United States, it will be carried in the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. The telethon's organizers believe this is the first time a United States-based telethon has aired in those countries. Locally, Channel 9 will carry the telethon starting Saturday at 6 p.m. (Channel 3 in Santa Barbara also starts the telethon Saturday at 6 p.m.; Channel 8 in San Diego tunes in at 7 p.m.)

Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker, cancer survivor Lance Armstrong and other celebrities will take part in a three-network telethon to support cancer research, it was announced Tuesday. The hourlong "Stand Up to Cancer" will air live and commercial-free on ABC, CBS and NBC on Sept. 5 and feature musical performances and appeals from actors, athletes and journalists. Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, America Ferrera, Danica Patrick, Salma Hayek, Kirsten Dunst, Josh Brolin, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Masi Oka and news anchors Charles Gibson, Brian Williams and Katie Couric will be among those taking part.

The following post has been updated. See note below for details. Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Christina Aguilera, Sting and other celebrities will join forces for a one-hour live telethon “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” airing Friday at 8 p.m. on NBCUniversal stations and streamed at NBC.com. Money raised during the telethon will be donated to American Red Cross relief efforts. In addition to being televised on NBC, the concert will be carried on Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC, E!

Earlier this month, in a plush aisle seat, Jerry Lewis watched much of his professional life flash before his eyes. Clutching a water bottle, the 85-year-old entertainer's eyes were riveted on the huge screen of Paramount Studio's main theater as a younger version of himself mugged, mimed, spun, wreaked havoc and generally made a fool of himself. Lewis was attending the premiere of Encore's "Jerry Lewis: Method to the Madness," a feature-length tribute to the funnyman and filmmaker that debuts Saturday on the premium cable channel.

For the first time in 45 years, Jerry Lewis will not be pleading for donations in front of a camera Labor Day weekend after he was abruptly dismissed as the host of the Muscular Dystrophy Assn.'s telethon, an event that drew attention to the childhood disease and in its heyday was an annual television highlight. The group said the 85-year-old legendary comedian would not appear on this year's telethon, and would no longer serve as its national chairman, a position he held for nearly 60 years.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Thursday. Change of plans: You won't get get to see Jerry Lewis on the MDA telethon one last time this year. He's out of the organization completely. ( Huffington Post ) President Obama's 50th birthday party is looking as if it'll be decidedly unstarry. ( Los Angeles Times ) CNN's Piers Morgan and Paul McCartney's ex, Heather Mills, are having a phone-hacking spat of their own. ( Los Angeles Times ) Her Royal Highness, Kate, has gained entry into the International Best Dressed list.

Telethon to be Lewis' last Jerry Lewis, who has hosted the annual Muscular Dystrophy Assn. telethon for 45 years, said Monday he would be retiring from that job after this year's show, which is undergoing a major overhaul. Starting this September, the Labor Day telethon will shrink to six hours, with the 85-year-old entertainer joined by four co-hosts: Nigel Lythgoe of "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance," "Entertainment Tonight's" Nancy O'Dell and Jann Carl, and "The Biggest Loser's" Alison Sweeney.

The venue and approach were about as far removed from Mitt Romney’s straight-laced, wealthy persona as could be, but that didn’t stop about 800 volunteers from gathering in a deserted wing of the Las Vegas Convention Center early Monday to participate in the first major telethon of the 2012 Republican presidential campaign. Supporters of the former Massachusetts governor spent the day huddled around phones as they asked friends, family and business associates to make donations.

KHJ-TV Channel 9 and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are joining together to present an eight-hour telethon aimed at increasing community support for the sheriff's SANE (Substance Abuse Narcotics Education) program. "SANE Kids Say No" will be broadcast on Channel 9 beginning July 16 at 5 p.m.

Now 5 years old, the Cinefamily has become a pillar of the alternative film exhibition scene in Los Angeles alongside venues such as the New Beverly Cinema, American Cinematheque and the UCLA Film and Television Archive. From its location on Fairfax Avenue, Cinefamily has become a hub of activity with its heady mix of new and retrospective movies, a particular blend of the highbrow, offbeat and way-out with an only-in-L.A. flavor. Recent programming has included a series of films by and about the Beat Generation that included a sneak preview of the upcoming Kristen Stewart-starring "On the Road"; a number of little-known documentaries by the Japanese filmmaker Shohei Imamura; and screenings of the new cult fave "Miami Connection.

There are lots of ways to raise awareness about a disease -- and having Hollywood celebrities tell their stories always helps. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America has gathered a number of notables, many of whom have a personal connection to the disease, for its first hourlong TV telethon on Saturday night. The Together for Care Telethon will feature, among others, actor Hector Elizondo, the foundation's honorary chairman, who has spoken openly lately about his own family's reluctance to seek help when his mother showed signs of Alzheimer's back in the mid-1960s.

Eternal Telethon: Infinity + 24 Where: Machine Project, 1200 D N. Alvarado St., L.A. When: Saturday, Nov. 20, 12 p.m. to Sunday, Nov. 21, 12 p.m. Price: donation Information: (213) 483-8761; http://www.eternaltelethon.com