Jerry Lewis To Retire From Telethon

Hosting duties began in 1966

Jerry Lewis will step down from hosting the annual Labor Day weekend Muscular Dystrophy Assn. telethon this year, ending a 45-year run, according to a story by Jon Weisman at Variety.

"It's time for an all-new telethon era," Lewis said.

To that end, the telethon is also making a presentation change, reducing its length from 21 1/2 hours to six, airing in a combination of live and tape-delayed segments Sept. 4 from 6 p.m. to midnight in each time zone to make it more attractive to local stations and to entice bigger talent.

Lewis, 85, said he will continue to serve as the org's national chairman.

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