41st Jerry Lewis telethon to run Sunday, Monday

September 2, 2006

The Muscular Dystrophy Association will get their annual boost, thanks to one of America's longest running annual programs, the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.

Anchored for the 39th consecutive time by Ed McMahon, the special will be co-hosted by Kelly Monaco, who recently appeared on Dancing with the Stars, and Tom Bergeron, host of that series. Broadcast from the South Coast Hotel in Las Vegas, the live program will begin at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday and run for 21½ hours.

America's Got Talent contestant, Taylor Ware, will perform Monday, according to her agent. Set to perform are Celine Dion, Lance Burton, Clint Holmes, Rita Rudner, and George Wallace; a complete list was not made available on the MDA website.

Lewis started the telethon on just one station in New York City, in 1966, yet the show raised $1 million. Last year's record total raised was $54.9 million, as the special was aired on 190 stations across America.