Jerry Lewis Still Bombs When Doing Stand Up | The Dick Cavett Show

[@stampeaceful]

Sticking a drinking glass in his mouth was as funny as Jerry Lewis ever got. And yet he was arrogant and mean.

[@kranwa15]

He was the funniest comedian in front of a camera but a different man in his personal life.

[@Clarkey1928]

nope - crap on all fronts

[@hatednyc]

You must mean some OTHER Jerry Lewis that was on camera. In his personal life, this Jerry was an absolute monster who used people and sexually assaulted women.

[@paulgentile1024]

I don't know about the funniest but he was a funny dude for sure during some of those movies that I saw.. never thought it was funny the few times I ever saw him do stand up.

[@skaizun]

The vast majority of us are one way in front of others, but totally different away from the madding crowd.

[@CrystalLakeEast]

@@Clarkey1928 agreed.

[@genxman7211]

He was great in Scorsese’s the King of Comedy!

[@opinionday0079]

He was playing the himself.

[@miabarry]

@@opinionday0079 Jerry Langford

[@CC-ff7ft]

A great movie, comical.

[@Portugal2025]

The only role he did which I liked him in. Otherwise, a complete schlock

[@MichaelJ44]

Should’ve done more serious films

[@2Uahoj]

He's intimidating in an interview. because you never know when he'll be ticked off. Pity that it all went to his head. The real question is not why Dean left, but why he stayed with him as long as he did.

[@chrisobrien6254]

💰 💴 💵 that’s my guess

[@paulgentile1024]

poor Dean..

[@switchbladekid1365]

I saw my first Jerry Lewis movie when I was eight and was completely unimpressed.

[@eloiseobrien2761]

SUCKS

[@wiseguymaybe]

Wow...I use to think that Lewis's humor would impress a kid 8 or under, you just proved me wrong. A Quote "Legend" that wasn't evem funny to an eight year old.

[@sifatshams1113]

I've seen 3 of his films: Nutty Professor, Ladies' Man, and The Bellboy. They were all surprisingly funny. Extremely old fashioned humor, but people still love the Marx Brothers and Laurel and Hardy movies so I don't get the hate for this guy's stuff.

[@Timinator62]

Jerry was "almost" as good as the Marx Brothers and Laurel and Hardy....he did Direct some of his own Movies so that was something different, Jerry's problem was he could be a complete jerk in real life...that's what killed his "image". The Ladies Man...wasn't that the one that while the credits and intro played, the camera slowly raised up to reveal all the girls in different colored sets doing things in silhouette? THAT was an awesome intro....Directed by Jerry .

[@Boertje247]

My mom said he was "schtick" comedian and wouldn't let us watch him. Years later, I watched several of his movies with her to see if they were really funny, and we had been wrong. We weren't. He wasn't funny to us, and years later, I coordinated a fashion show where he was the emcee. He was rude to the "lessers" and acted like he was god until the comedy act came in: Phyllis Diller and Milton Berle. The two of them were hilarious, warm, treated everyone behind the scenes like old friends, and invited us to an after-party to which Jerry came for maybe 20 minutes, was largely ignored by the stars, and surreptitiously slipped out. He had the classic insecure person's ginormous ego that stood in the way of the love he so desperately craved. He treated his first wife and five sons like dirt. There was a big charity shebang, and she had to borrow jewelry and a gown because he wouldn't buy her anything decent. You hear rumors about people, but seeing it firsthand is shocking. I felt sorry for his sons, who all seemed, despite their father's bad treatment, pretty nice guys. I never liked him after that, and couldn't stand his smarmy telethons where he acted so caring. Those telethons were the only acting he ever did.

[@petepoulos]

Which is why we never heard of any of you

[@jadezee6316]

@@petepoulos like no one has ever heard of you...but at least he was there and at least he is telling the truth...jerry lewis was the biggest dirt bag in hollywood......he not only used to fake illness and refuse to do his act with dean martin when dean was getting laughs with ad-libs...but he actually stole deans adlibs and used them in the act as if they were his jokes! no one NO ONE....liked the guy

[@doniellestenson3502]

I believe every word of this.Just listen to him in this interview.Hes a schmuck.

[@Boertje247]

@@petepoulos just because someone is famous doesn’t make them automatically more worthwhile. There are so many people in the world who do far more for humanity without ever “known”. But because someone is entertaining, funny, or blessed by their genetic lottery in looks, doesn’t make them any more “worthy” as humans. And given how I’ve seen how so many of them treat their staff, children, wives or partners, very few are worth a second glance, let alone the price of a movie ticket.

[@WonkaBiz]

To boot, he really only started those telethons to get the critics who said his act was making light of disabled people off his ass. Schmuck.

[@DAVID-sd2lj]

I've watched a few vids about him but I do like him in this one. I especially like his insights of what audiences expect.

[@kevinferrari1267]

WHY such negative comments about this interview?? He is just being HONEST jeez 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️ Jerry was great

[@boxelder9147]

I dont think he was all that great but I like Jerry's authenticity here

[@opinionday0079]

at least he was honest about the shares , he seemed almost humble there for a moment

[@peliche77]

Why do most of the comments reveal hatred towards Jerry? I think his talent is undeniable and he has two or three great movies that are true comedy classics in their own right.

[@Revelator2025]

Because he was an arrogant asshole. He was mean to those simply wanting an autograph or those helping him in retail or at hotels. The stories are plentiful. Talent has nothing to do with one’s personal life. He had 50 million at the time of his death and gave zero to his children, grandchildren. Lovely man he was… 🙄

[@thomasalexand]

Lewis sexually assaulted some of his female co-stars. There are videos of them being interviewed. He was a sociopath.

[@thepanel2935]

*_Fake Laughter_* rules my world! *_Yeah!_*

[@jimmyrecce8787]

There was alot of these guys like Lewis that were horrible people off stage...and he was one of them...there is a piece on KZbin that has two women that made movies with him back in the day and he did some unspeakable things.....

[@irgski]

$100? Wouldn’t have paid 10c to have seen him! Should have made the movie “The Jerk” abt him.

[@petepoulos]

Did he hurt your feelings? You people who haven't done anything are always great Internet Judges

[@jimilee4609]

100%

[@queenslander954]

Pete Poulos you’re a real legend Pete , you really gave it to him didn’t you mate

[@Boertje247]

@@queenslander954 bwahaha! Pete Poulos’ only criteria for criticism is that the critic must be a famous person who’s “accomplished” something. What he’s ignorant of is that 80% of celebrities do charitable activities to bolster their public image. Good PR🥲

[@sabrina-hu4ri]

Well, however you slice it, Mr. Lewis was a definite phenomenon -- with many demons, like so many of us. Some more than others.

[@yell50]

How my mother and i used to laugh till we cried watching his movies, he was a great comedian. The gift to make people laugh is the greatest gift of all.

[@MrCountrycuz]

But now we all know what a total abusive asshole he was in real life. Don Knotts was another asshole in real life. Same as Bruce Willis , nasty asshole.

[@thomasalexand]

He was a comedy actor not a comedian.

[@yell50]

@@thomasalexand Who cares he made people laugh and forget their problems for a short while that is what matters. We need more laughter in the world.

[@mooseandsquirrel9887]

Shame that egos sometimes get in the way, two of the most talented stars ever.....their act, different ideas about the routine and wives got in the way.....I found I sided with Dean.....he always seemed more sincere.....

[@salvatorelicata8768]

The pinky ring.

[@mrwilliamwonder]

Jerry really exposed his mean side later in life. It went a long way to destroy his reputation. And his pocketbook. 50 million at his death was very low for a major star who worked for decades and decades.

[@chrisminblkdiamond]

Makes a man bitter and spiteful when he plays something he is not for so long. Imagine playing a fool when you are somewhat intelligent and the world only wants to accept you as the fool.

[@frankmurray176]

Well jerry was never really funny, he appeals much more to kids

[@jadezee6316]

stupid comment...you think all comedians especially the great ones were fools and idiots and that is what made them great? lol..you alone lower the nations iq 10 points

[@chrisminblkdiamond]

@@jadezee6316 People like you should not make it blatantly obvious what everyone already assumed about you. Comprehension is a necessity in all aspects of life to get ahead. In order for me to be able to lower the nation's IQ 10 points would mean I am the one who sets the standards of the nations where you are far below.

[@Rex-gu1bu]

@@chrisminblkdiamond That's Jade Zee!

[@rr7firefly]

The facade and the reality... Lewis had a side to him that was monstrous. His five sons were treated worse than strangers. Look up his radio interview with Terry Gross (Fresh Air program) and you get a sense of how bitter and petty he was.

[@petepoulos]

His Sons were given everything in life and they had no trouble living off the reputation..and then when they denounced his adopted Daughter as not really one of them they were surprised to be disinherited? How long do Kids get an allowance?

[@rr7firefly]

@@petepoulos Look up his radio interview with Terry Gross (Fresh Air program) and you get a sense of how bitter and petty he was. A very rude guest.

[@Boertje247]

@@petepoulos Pete, he was a client. I knew his 1st and 2nd wives. His sons were not supported by him after adulthood. When his son Gary was starting a band, his mom had to sneak the money out of the household expenses to buy him a drum kit, because your much-vaunted Jerry refused to do so for his dependent (under age) son. You seriously don’t know what you’re talking about.

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

He was a JO.

[@MoeGreensRightEye]

What were Jerry Lewis' initials?

[@gs-xx8uv]

I never found him to be funny. Generally, just childish and irritating, but not funny.

[@rom553]

The only people who liked him were the French. Wonder why?

[@robintitus8295]

I could not stand him…totally agree with you. Just plan irritating 😫

[@mtp4430]

Childish irritating and idiotic. I never could understand what people found so funny about him. Dean Martin had a better sense of humor than Jerry Lewis, and he was the straight man in Martin and Lewis. Even in this interview, he's going for the stupid cheap laugh by sticking the glass in his mouth. That's funny? That's talent? Childish is what it is.

[@dsdave07]

He was a bright guy!

[@Alstars2006]

( Jerry was Literally "Biting his Tongue" on this Lame uncomfortable Interview I'm REALLY Surprised he Didn't Walk Out!!)

[@petepoulos]

I thought it was a great Interview..Dick Cavett was always a Great Interview.

[@skaizun]

During his vaudeville and Dino days, he did upwards of eight 1-2 hour shows A DAY!!! Not unusual for burlesque shows, that needed money, but, for established pros? Unheard of! And they did it with cigarettes and alcohol . . . no cocaine, et al., of which many of today's actors and comics rely!

[@glenbearh9109]

The only movie I liked was when he played himself with Deniro. His schtick was boring to me but he was a decent dancer and did well with Dean.

[@hatednyc]

The King of Comedy. The only time I enjoyed watching him and ironically this fictional role was that of a just late show host who thinks he’s better than everyone else.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales7218]

Dick Cavett 19/11/36 85 años

[@Gannooch]

have nothing against the other celebs that were on this show but is this channel ever going to show the Dick Cavett shows where he interviews Jackie Gleason or Art Carney? How about any Honeymooners actors that were part of the main cast? These are rarities much like the other Dick Cavett ones.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

JERRY LEWIS 16 DE MARZO DE 1926 20 DE AGOSTO DE 2017 91 AÑOS

[@RaquelFoster]

You can tell he has an obnoxious side. If you were friends with all the cool rich celebrities - but you were the one who was famous for playing an idiot instead of being cool - that would be easy to resent. I doubt he would've done a muscular dystrophy telethon for 44 years if he was a total monster, though.

[@Gannooch]

have nothing against the other celebs that were on this show but is this channel ever going to show the Dick Cavett shows where he interviews Jackie Gleason or Art Carney?

[@Gannooch]

How about any of the Honeymooners actors that were a part of the main cast?

[@mantraohm1]

andrew garfield should play him

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

DICK CAVETT 19 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 1936 85 AÑOS (86)

[@SenorZorrozzz]

I saw this live. It was terrible!

[@stormgeist1766]

I saw this dead. Didn't make it any better

[@shaunigothictv1003]

Jerry Lewis certainly did alot to help young disabled children. I respect him for that. However, there were many occasions when Jerry was mean and nasty to people Jerry saw it as joking around - he even said so - but many people interpreted his jokes as extremely mean and nasty and they voiced their concerns to him. I dont think Jerry realised that not everyone appreciated his crude style of jokes or crude off screen humour. His off screen humour was very different from his on screen humour. The ON SCREEN Jerry was the child friendly Jerry that we saw. But the OFF SCREEN Jerry was the adult content Jerry that only people like me who have worked in the industry saw firsthand. People need to learn to distinguish between the ON SCREEN Jerry and the OFF SCREEN Jerry - as they were not the same person. I met him several times in the late 1980's. He told us that he was just joking around with us. (The crew) Its just that other members of the crew did not always get the crude jokes - particularly his more "adult content" jokes. That was the OFF SCREEN Jerry that i worked with in the late 1980's. He was a great comic ON SCREEN - but OFF SCREEN some of his more sexually explicit jokes with the crew were shocking to us. Like i said, most people only saw the ON SCREEN Jerry who was child friendly. But i worked with the OFF SCREEN adult content Jerry that had a completely different style of humour from the ON SCREEN Jerry. It was very adult content in terms of the nature of the jokes. Our job as the crew is to shoot the scene after the background sets have been built and the wadrobe and make up artists have done their work and the lighting crew set up. It was inbetween shooting scenes that i met the REAL Jerry - and trust me - his style of humour was completely different to his child friendly movies.

[@kevinferrari1267]

Well I see it that he was an adult and he was ALLOWED to tell adult jokes…… don’t we all do that???????? So what if he was a different person and more crude off screen!? Who cares. It’s like when adults don’t like swearing? Well tough I say, you’re not a kid, so deal with it 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

[@shaunigothictv1003]

@@kevinferrari1267 I agree with what you say, although as a member of the film crew who worked with Jerry Lewis in the late 1980's whilst he was on broadway, i was still shocked at his sudden change of humour as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.

[@kevinferrari1267]

@@shaunigothictv1003 Yeah because he was away from the cameras and he knew he couldn’t say what he said to you guys on TV, so I see it as he was relaxed enough to tell these “adult jokes” to the crew because he just wanted to be one of the lads.

[@shaunigothictv1003]

@@kevinferrari1267 Excellent analysis.

[@pkdavis]

Jerry Lewis was not funny. The joke was him trying to be funny.

[@rom553]

He is funny to people who like juvenile humor.

[@soioioioioioio34]

the interview could have been so good if it was just Jerry not with that noodle

[@caponsacchi]

When placed alongside Danny Kaye and "The Court Jester," Jerry's "Nutty Professor" looks like a sloppy collection of out-takes. He apparently thought the more movies he made, the funnier he'd be. The opposite proved true. His most successful gig was the M.D. marathon.

[@BlackAbe007]

This guy reminds me of Conan...

[@ronhaworth5471]

Nothing remotely funny about him.Dean knew he was dead weight!!

[@samtopeka2535]

Dean was definitely miscast as a straight man. Martin was a natural comedian.

[@sallyozuna3883]

Jerry was an insufferable BORE.

[@frankly-he1kf]

A nasty piece of work. ...

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales7218]

Jerry Lewis 16/03/26 20/08/17

[@carlhubble6458]

Not funny. Never was funny. He was a miserable person that liked to put down others.

[@skiprope536]

The only time he was entertaining is when he was with Deano.

[@Katiedid93]

He apparently had a VERY high IQ

[@bobloblaw2958]

Buddy Love was his most cringe character ever.

[@hatednyc]

Oh he must have been FURIOUS after this. Probably blamed everyone else because HE was unfunny.

[@johngjesdahl8140]

The whole idea that charity is the solution for disfuctional profit based medi

[@johngjesdahl8140]

cine in our USA........

[@jamesdouglas994]

A sad clown.

[@alangolias8628]

Rather childish

[@sandragrant3005]

He has never ever been funny.

[@cliffiez4540]

He never was funny...ever

[@ninahiatt664]

Wow these comments ...judging coming from jealousy maybe? They who live in glass houses.....

[@opinionday0079]

Thats what it is.....All assholes are let off the hook by saying we are just jealous

[@ciarandunphy2035]

nina hiatt What part of Jerry Lewis sucked did you not understand

[@ninahiatt664]

@@ciarandunphy2035 so ,in your opinion ..he sucked...so what? You just HAVE to say it? Feel better?

[@ninahiatt664]

@@opinionday0079 off of what hook? Thousands enjoyed him. Guess that bothers some people. So what?

[@ciarandunphy2035]

@@ninahiatt664 Yes in my opinion Lewis's comedy if you can call it that really sucks.

[@Alexzoidberg245]

Jerry Lewis was never good at comedy. Only the French liked him…. He’s never been funny.

[@ilpinza1989]

I'm italian and i like him.

[@john-brady]

I didn’t see him bomb. Think of Jerry Lewis what you will but that was a very misleading statement. Duly note. Do better

[@grindle1857]

lewis without martn was never really funny

[@danloani]

Jerry Lewis wasn’t funny. His “humor” now seems childish, a bit racist, and dated.

[@crusty21]

Overcompensationally desperate to appear confident....and be the polar opposite of the clown you portray on film. Hasn't this ever happened to you..?

[@MichaelJ44]

Dick Cavett was such a dry and bland host

[@barbaracollins5605]

Cavit sucks.

[@sabrina-hu4ri]

Well, however you slice it, Mr. Lewis was a definite phenomenon -- with many demons, like so many of us. Some more than others.