kelp

As a voice impressionist, some time ago I used to voice American Comedy Icon JERRY LEWIS, (in fact my voice is still used in a touring version of The Rat Pack Live).
I wondered if anyone else in the business could tell me why no TV company shows Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis films, or indeed Jerry Lewis films? It seems strange to me that the biggest comedy team of the fifties are totally ignored. I have asked this question of various people, and have never had a sensible answer; all I get is "Well theyre not funny"....excuse me?
So, does anyone have the answer.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

sippog

Really? I thought I saw THE BELLBOY on the schedules not so long back. I was pissed off because I missed recording it.

Perhaps the real answer is Eddy Murphy has bought up all the rights to Jerry's movies because (a) he's going to do more re-makes or (b) he's scared people will find out that the original of THE NUTTY PROFESSOR was about a zillion times funnier!

ChristineCB

I occasionally see a Martin & Lewis film on American TV. Nutty Prof gets the most air time but, even then, it's once a year, likely on a local or regional station. And the only time I've noticed other Martin & Lewis films being shown, it's a marathon showing of 3 or 4 and that's done once, then years pass before doing it again.

Steve Crook

Others might say "We don't need Jerry Lewis, we've got Lee Evans who's like Jerry Lewis on speed"

Steve

mel walton

Turner Classic Movies (Do you get that channel in Britain?) has these scheduled:
Martin and Lewis:
'Living It Up' (1954) Tues. April 10, 6 -8 PM that's Eastern Daylight Savings time.
Again Sat, May 5 midnight -2 AM
Again Thurs. June 7 !:45 - 3:30
'At War With The Army' Sun. June 24 10:30 PM -12:15 AM

Lewis w/o Martin:
the Nutty Professor ('63) Sun. April 15 6-8 PM
Again Fri. April 20 Noon- 2PM
Again Fri. May 4 8-10 PM
'Ladie's Man' ('61) Fri 4 10PM - midnight
Again Sat. 30 6-8 Pm

Martin w/o Lewis:
'How to save a marriage' ('68) Fri, May 27 12L15 - 2PM
''Sons of Katie Elder' ('65) Thurs. May 7, 3:30- 5:45 PM
Bells Are Ringing' ('60) Thurs May 7, 5:45-8 PM

kelp

Yeah, good points raised. I know that they are aired on American TV stations now and again, but I meant here, in the UK. Re: Eddie Murphy, well, he has made "Nutty Professor", and made some people smile with it, even Jerry Exec-Produced, but I agree "THE Nutty Professor" was the 1963 Jerry version.
Lee Evans, is a very funny young man, and his early act was based on Jerry (Lee is a fan of Jerry Lewis) he was over the moon to appear in "Funny Bones" with his hero. Anyway guys, thanks for your comments.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

Steve Crook

Yes, we get TCM. But TCM in the UK has a totally different schedule to TCM in the US

Steve

foha80

Yes this is true,I would happily pay a subscription to view TCM in the U.S.

Terry

orpheum

Martin & Lewis were the top box office team here in the 50s and they used to be my favourites,i was around 10 at the time.Occasionally when i see thier films it just doesnt seeem as funny as 50 years ago.Anyway why is TCM in the States so good and TCM in the UK so poor?

Steve Crook

What's so great about the American one? I quite like our one.
I don't like or want to watch everything they screen of course. But there's quite a bit of variety within the confines of what they have available

Steve

orpheum

i disagree.TCM UK just dont even bother to dig deep into the archives.Not only do TCM in the US show a much bigger and varied selection they even show more British films than TCM UK.

mel walton

Hi Steve.
I don't know about TCM UK, I'm surprised to learn that it's different. thanks for the info'. Just want to put in a good word for TCM US. My opinion, it's the best channel we have. We get to see many movies from the '30s 1nd '40s including very good British ones. Scheduled in the next three months are: 'Make Mine Mink', 'Too Many Crooks', 1 Gideon. several Margaret Rutherford, including Agatha Christie mysteries. several black and white British films.
Wonder why the difference, has to be the same company. all the best, mel

JamesM

The US TCM is far superior. It isn't that the UK TCM does not dig into it's archives, it is just that TCM in the US has access to more product (such as the RKO catalogue).

As noted here, TCM plan to screen Weekend with Lulu at the end of the month and have shown some other rarely seen British films recently.

D Cairns

I spoke to the producer of the BBC show Hollywood Greats and suggested they profile Jerry Lewis. She didn't know who he was. She at first thought I meant Jerry Lee Lewis, then she didn't know WHO I meant. Maybe this kind of ignorance explains why his films don't get aired on UK TV very often.

Steve Crook

TCM UK also shows many films from the 30s, 40s & 50s including many British ones that aren't seen elsewhere. It just runs a different schedule of them.

Steve