Classic What's My Line Jerry Lewis

[Keewaf]

I think if she didn't take offense into what he said, nobody else should be shitting their pants about it.

[ShawDAMAN]

Bennett, who was almost always impeccably gentlemanly, seems a bit uncomfortable after Lewis' fat jokes... like at 5:05. lol

[esmeisme79]

Jerry Lewis is a cunt. I hope that lady sat on his face and farted.

[flight144]

@esmeisme79 Chill out it was just a guess ;)

[esmeisme79]

@flight144 I don't give 2 shits if it was just a guess.  Jerry Lewis is still a cunt. What's your point?

[w3stwood]

i love Jerry but he went a bit too far imho

[Lainer1]

Jerry Lewis is such a jerk.

[Messaiiina]

And now, Jerry's fat. Karma's a bitch. LOL

[Lainer1]

@Messaiiina Exactly.

[Lainer1]

@Messaiiina Exactly!

[BeatlesMonkees]

LOL XD Jerry Lewis

[pokergalpoker]

I realize Jerry Lewis is a comedianne and he's gonna get a laugh anyway he can but when you have to get a laugh out of humiliating someone else, it's not worth it. He knew it was hurtful and despite Mrs. Lawrence laughing, she was clearly embarrassed by his remark and what else could she do but laugh. Karma is a bitch. I saw Jerry back in 08 when his weight ballooned from the steroids and hecklers in the audience went on about it and let me say this, he didn't take it like Mrs. Lawrence!!!

[rucksplash08]

@pokergalpoker I'm sure she realized what she was getting herself into, being a large woman who makes diet pills.

[pokergalpoker]

@rucksplash08 does that excuse humiliating someone?

[iLoveZakBagans1029]

Jerry Jerry Jerry.. Hahaha he always makes me laugh

[marlboroman1985]

ha! Jerry's such a bitch!

[ray3ker]

Hey, You can try intellectus 424 diet (Search on Google). I dropped a load of unwanted fat best result ever.

[390bullitt1968]

Jokes about fat white people. Par for the course. What a punk

[646guy]

Jerry was just being Jerry and while his comment was rude and very un-PC it was very in character for Jerry and for the times. Clearly Mrs. Lawrence was not upset by the jokes and the smile on her face throughout the entire segment is a testament to it. It was clearly a joke on Jerry's part because his reaction when he is revealed to be correct is more of shock. You see him break character before getting back into form.

[MJRookieRook]

@646guy Pretty dead on. Yes, it was only a joke. If a person can't take a joke that's their problem.

[heula1]

Jerry Lewis is a jerk.

[povilasbacevicius]

You can download full episodes of What's My Line from archive.com there are about 5-6 episodes including the premiere episode/ Jerry has awesome genes in his 60s he looked like 40 year old and so on

[loggats]

jerry lewis is a cad.

[cezzie901]

The 'average' American home. Not found in the 'average' American home back then but these days what with the obesity epidemic? Yup.

[magnumshifter]

Those were the good old days when you could tell fat women they were fat.

[xXxXBleedPurpleXxXx]

@maverickjohn923 the fact that you are happy with that shows me you have some disturbed person deep down inside of you. the fact of the matter is in no other episode was a guest made fun of like that and i HIGHLY doubt that it was "ok" with people he did that, even back then. the other statement i won't even go into detail commenting but i will say, you sound like nothing more then redneck trailer trash.

[jackjolli]

NICE LAAADYY!!

[badumpy]

Jerry was downright rude...

[pixi2nv]

Naww that was pretty funny but I felt sorry for that lady. How humiliating

[Lunarmoonbase2]

@TheSunmanho If you think American women are ugly, then you should take a trip to England.

[ChortortleC]

@Lunarmoonbase2 There are ugly and attractive people everywhere... which should not surprise since nearly anyone can be attractive with the proper attitude and healthy lifestyle.

[Liberum69]

@TheSunmanho That's quite the contradiction.

[Liberum69]

What a bunch of pricks.

[tehlinebeginstoblur]

@TheSunmanho And Chinese men are so ignorant and uncultured, with their small penises and pet-eating ways, they wouldn't know beauty if it was right in front of their slanty eyes. Isn't it great to make prejudiced generalizations about an entire country of people? I've watched many clips of WML on YT and have yet to see a single other person refer to Dorothy Kilgallen or Arlene Francis as unattractive - and while attraction is subjective, no one in their right mind would call them "butt ugly."

[kickinitonthetube]

i love catching reruns of this show every now in then on late night Game show channel

[Paperstar]

How times have changed.. It would've been nice to personally experience a majority of the last century, through it's most comforting years and it's most hard.

[Indygoguy]

Prescription reducing pills? I've heard that back in those times doctors were prescribing crystal meth to people for them to lose weight. It was a weak form of it but it still made some people crazy. I wonder what was in the ones this lady packaged.

[femoman]

@Indygoguy Not crystal meth, actually it was a weak form of amphetamines. My grandma apparently used to take them, and she said that her house had never been so clean.

[classicsfan10]

They are so mean to the poor lady!

[ALMat101]

omg jerry lewis is sooooooooooooo mean!!! hahahahahah

[filmaddict818]

Lucky she wasn't that self concious because Jerry Lewis was exceptionally rude. funny but rude.

[MrDarinWarren]

"You're a healthy robust lady" HAHAHA

[MARCBSTN]

When I watch this clip and listen to Jerry Lewis - I can see where today's comedian, Mario Cantone gets some of his inspiration. They are very similiar in mannerisms and delivery,.

[Lunarmoonbase2]

@MARCBSTN Mario who?

[jennjenn61]

The contestant didn't seem to be hurt by the jabs, maybe people back then weren't as uptight and sensitive

[Indygoguy]

@jennjenn61 Jerry was acting the character that he was known for. What he said was very rude, but it was not done out of meanness. His character was one that was naive and slow, one that was not smart enough to consider what he was saying. In short, he was acting the fool and since everyone at the time was familiar with his entertainment persona they understood. HE could say that and get away with it, no one else could, but everyone was thinking it so it was good entertainment.

[empress2real]

Jerry just says what he's thinking...he don't mean to hoyt noone's feelins...dat's juss da way he talks, he's entitled.

[203207ab]

all that for a lousy 50 bucks? what in the world.

[quizmaster85]

@203207ab Fifty dollars was a lot of money in those days; it would be about the same as about $400 in today's money.

[blackfinrick]

Jerry lewis is obnoxious. If you ever watch any interviews, he,s always condecending and speaks like he was the authority on comedy. His type of comedy was quite annoying. try and sit through the nutty proffessor, and see if you can muster up a giggle while gnawing one of your fingers off.

[iLoveHeathLedger15]

Jerry's laugh cracks me up! XD I love him!

His reaction when he finds out he's almost right is priceless! Lol

[miladynana]

ooh, that was so funny, and so nostalgic, which is kinda strange since I wasn't born yet !

[help4343]

"package reducing pills" sounds like it should do the opposite of extends

[websiteusername]

they kept making fun of her cause shes fat lmfao

[sscourtney]

lol at some of the comments here...very touchy people. I thought it was funny and if that lady had any appreciation for irony, she probably thought it was funny as well...:P

[beepandbop]

Jerry Lewis strikes me as an obnoxious prick, which is kind of hard for people to be back in the '50's...

[Hadeydeppio]

oh and i love dalys reaction to jerrys laugh at 5:00.

k im done.

:D

[Hadeydeppio]

i LOVE jerrys face at 4:43 when he looks at her in horror

[Hadeydeppio]

OMG!!!! LOL. "doesn't she take em at any time?"

hahaha i lLLOOOVEEE jerry. only he could get away with saying that!

[SuperOlds88]

what a prick, she should have got up and kicked his ass

[thedreamdealer]

back when you could take a joke and not cry that's unPC

[moviechick9620]

wow i luv jerry!!!! omg!!! :D this is great!

[stormycape]

Great Stuff!

[Punkgirl4ever4]

Jerry lewis is simply brilliant. i love him

[wombatmobile]

Wow. Jerry Lewis brazenly insults this working class woman and the audience laughs. Those were different times.

[ShawnMichaelsNo1]

heyy do you have anymore clips of jerry lewis on these kind of shows ??? plz :P

[TheMashuggina]

@ShawnMichaelsNo1 type jerry lewis password

[ShawnMichaelsNo1]

@TheMashuggina cheers :D x

[mnrider4371]

that was great. GSN should show stuff like this now.

[sanzNOR]

if she put on 55 pounds she could play with who/what?

[kirkba]

@sanzNOR The L.A. Rams, an American football team now located in St; Louis.

[formenso682]

jerry lewis :)

[funboy7979]

Speed made by Pfizer. Wonder if they tested these on African babies without consent and killed a few, as Pfizer is fond of doing?

[seajayaway]

Hahahahaha!!! I looooove Jerry! Always speaks his mind!!

[TristeroRises]

wow, jerry lewis ripped into her. lol

[beepandbop]

@TristeroRises yea I wasn't expecting that. I guess people weren't so sensitive to weight back then?

[LEIMALOCCA]

its jerry lewis!!!!! what do you expect!!!! lol

[eeocsfdo370]

Jerry is a true American original: the French are right!

[blutah]

they should play reruns of this!

[ShawDAMAN]

LOL that was so rude!! 8-P

[lou1606]

Some of the comments the Panel gives will never be accepted today!!

[lavosgundam]

Hahahahahaha!

[xxcharmed1xx]

god, so damn rude. he should have respect before he opens his mouth.

[redfenderguy]

who do you meen jerry??

[xxcharmed1xx]

@redfenderguy Yeah!

[jigsaw9919]

lol pretty damn rude of jerry

[celawren]

Every time I see this clip, it makes me smile - Elsie Lawrence was my great grandmother. My grandpa used to tell me stories about this - she was just very shy around the cameras, and not her usual boisterous no-nonsense self. He also told me about how she was on many a failed diet, and at one point her husband chained the fridge shut (like you see on cartoons and the like). But she had a blast on the show!!

[ScotishHawaii]

@celawren OMG wow that is really cool and I feel bad about what jerry said about your great grandma but she seemed to take it well ;D After reading your comment I got your name ceLawren is just putting the end of Lawrence at the beginning

[bgeren]

I've just have to say I happen to be short, fat, and sometimes lazy and I make fun of myself all the time. People need to lighten/toughen up and learn to take a joke. Jerry is a hilarious guy. I don't believe comics mean it maliciously when they "insult" someone. We live in such a PC world now days, there is no such thing as funny anymore. Now we have to be vulgar, because that's the only way to keep from hurting someone's feelings. It's sad, really, that comedians aren't funny anymore.

[Vook]

I never thought Jerry Lewis was very funny.

[rucksplash08]

The woman's obviously enjoying herself. Anytime a fat person comes on a game show who makes diet pills, they're obviously going to be ready to be made fun of a bit--even if nowadays it wouldn't happen in our hyper-PC world.

[123Rockchild]

She was teed off so that she didn't even bother to shake the hands of the panel at the end. She just got the heck out of there.

[celawren]

Actually, I can tell you with absolute certainty that she had a fantastic time on the show, she was just very shy because of the cameras. Elsie Lawrence is my great grandmother.

[TheMashuggina]

oh shutup VVVV he was being funny get over it

[cyndibear5]

I read that in real life, Jerry Lewis could be brutal. Guess this little performance proved that because he was just was downright disrespectful.

[ameroux]

The guest was very polite and did play along, but think about it: what other choice did she have? She could be a "good sport" or make herself the target of more abuse.

[KaiNyagua]

OMG!! what a dick lolol

 thank god she played along

[NYGuy322]

Gotta love Jerry's reaction when he's told he correctly guessed her occupation. Has that sort of "I was just joking when I said that!" look on his face.

[Monstermack40]

ELsie was a good sport for taking it on the chin from Jerry. She should have said to him, " I can see that Dean Martin is the one with all of the talent". LOL

[damone77]

This is my favorite game show ever! Love John, and love all of the panelists~FABOO! Thanks for the post!

[ameroux]

It's always open season on big people. Nobody thinks twice about insulting them. It's the last acceptable prejudice.

[karlakor]

@ameroux--Nobody thinks twice about insulting bald people, either. It truly is, and always has been, open season on bald headed men, and if they happen to be fat as well, so much the better. The targets of these insensitive remarks are always supposed to smile and be "good sports" about it, because the jokers are "just kidding".

[ameroux]

@karlakor-- That's so true! I hadn't thought of that when I said this was the "last acceptable prejudice". It seems as though the balding stigma is getting better, with lots of guys shaving their heads. Well, we can hope, anyway.

[aerockster]

This wouldn't fly on modern television- people were much more disrespectful then, apparently. An overweight guy, maybe, but on a modern game show, NO one would make fun of a slightly overweight lady like this one, especially since she was so passive. And if someone did, that person would be shunned by the other guests on the show.

[UDIETHATWAY]

Wow...no political correctness here.

[rinalee98]

Aw... Jerry bad boy...

[shniggle99]

jerry's voice alone makes me smile

[khtx]

Seems like the women are little embarrassed by Jerrys behavior.

[irvinetustin]

I love Jerry Lewis but I was horrified by him humiliating Elsie on national TV like this.

[Cris43130]

But Mrs. Lawrence was polite and played along.

[xXxXBleedPurpleXxXx]

@irvinetustin yea it's one thing to poke fun but to a total stranger in front of all those people there and watching, not cool.

[madamerotten]

Bad Jerry! You're so rude!

[MattTheSaiyan]

I wish they'd release a good DVD box set of these shows.

[Aidooosh]

what year was this?

[celawren]

This episode aired November 11, 1956.

[jjgriffinjr]

so ironically, Jerry got fat in old age ( albeit medication caused ) Old Jerry did not always think before he spoke.

[Commando303X]

"Doesn't she take 'em at any time?" Lol.

[professor1966]

that would have to be a yes, seeing as how Mr. Daly was instructed to mention that she lost 40 pounds!

[nicolevalentino1]

"Robust"! HA!

People sometimes wish that we had shows like this these days, but you have to think of who would be on them... oy!

[InvisibleXconfused]

rotfl xD

Jeez I love him

I've got such a major crush on Jerry Lewis haha :)

[rockinredneck57]

Celeb panelists in tuxes and pearls!! Not ripped jeans and mesh shirts! LOL Classy time!

[chandru1103]

yeah they just had promiscuous sex and shot up methamphetamine BEHIND closed doors. A very classy time.

[HistoryFreak15]

hahaha is she taking them any time:D

hahah

[tsjrlover]

I never thought Jerry would say something so hurtfull. It's not funny, it's rude.

[wickedlarue]

Well everyone was thinking it. I think that's why they brought her on the show. There is nothing funny about a skinny woman who packages diet pills.

The ironic thing is that he himself struggled with his weight later in his life. He has type 2 diabetes, though I think he is managing it.

[CarlyIsAGangster]

I wish times were more like this.

I rarely ever watch tv with my parents because I'm so nervous with the inappropriate vulgar comments and what we accept on tv these days.

I wish it was still funny but at the same time something you could watch with your parents.

[moviechick9620]

@CarlyIsAGangster i have the exact problem!!!!!!!

[mastashaker916]

@CarlyIsAGangster

So true.

[nintendodailyvideos]

@CarlyIsAGangster what made it so funny was something so innoncent could bring up all sorts of innunendos like on the game show Names the Same and A. Mattress

[TheSunmanho]

@CarlyIsAGangster

you dumb statement makes me lough. so you are a Puritan hypocrite while your parents enjoy hardcore porn?

[Gnillob802]

"Average American household" would apply today.

[RinceBox]

I wonder what was the active ingredient in the "reducing" pills in the 1950s? Nothing you could get nowadays I bet

[FightDPower]

Holy shit..... you could never get away with that these days. "Don't you take 'em any time?" Man, that was hilarious.

[rosey1952]

"She's lost 40 pounds!"

[betsiecow]

Jerry's expression when he realized he was correct, cracked me up.

[Midnightsun913]

we'll see and even if he does go..he's 83..he looks great for his age but hes still 83..the stars that are dying were reasonably young

[Midnightsun913]

entertainment means nothing anymore nowadays..i so0o0o0 belong in the 50's

[BRGradyTate255]

Back when TV was comfortable, friendly, and simply funny without vulgarity, etc. Jerry's fun presence added to the atmosphere!

[rockingdylan]

i wish america lived in this age again

even though i'm canadian

[FightDPower]

Me too.

[meneshayounot]

gosh i don't... as a black person i don't think that would be very productive for me.

however if TODAY western culture had this essence of fun it couldn't hurt. i mean those jokes about her weight would be on every single news station the next morning asking if it was appropriate and SOMEONE would be calling for someone to be fired if this kind of thing happened today.

[CarlyIsAGangster]

I agree and this comment made me laugh hysterically.

Hahaha.

[beaverliqour]

people were smarter back then in this country. We've gone backwards

[Findulidas]

Doubt that, its just the quality of the celebrities that has been reduced.

[lovejoecartwright]

jerrys comments made me laugh so much, u gotta love him

[yerrj]

Have you seen Lewis lately...he could use them now.

[Midnightsun913]

i think ya better take another look at him nowadays pallie lol he looks wonderful

[Doug9399]

Ok lets all pick on Jerry??? I happened to have loved him when I was a child but not so much any more...

[dude71761]

I think Jery Lewis's comments were fine -- they were funny and not offensive in my opinion.

[26mae1987]

If i was that lady i would have sat on him!

[Wilcox3]

Before Jerry Says What The Woman Does For Work, The Guy Asking the Questions Calls Him "GARY" Listen Closely....

[etrax2000]

she was a big girl but not realy teriably fat,. I don't think she was insulted

[professor1966]

well, also add to the fact that Daly mentioned that she had already lost 40 pounds.. I think that was a nice comeback..

[MyNameisB4U]

Was this the same episode as the one with Walt Disney?

[derfla1977]

yep :)

[bluepiggy9]

aw that wasnt nice, it was funny but twas kinda mean

jerry lewis has been known to be quite an asshole but i do think hes very funny and he does do very nice things towards people with muscular distrophy (if thats even how you spell it lol)

[LindaSetonCase]

Yeah, there's a definite meanness to his comedy. You can be very funny and still be gracious and warm: just look at Arlene!

Recently, on Mad Men, there was a total jerk of a comic that seemed to be based on Jerry Lewis. Anybody else notice the similarity?

[reb1959]

I have always hated Jerry Lewis and this makes me hate him even more.

[martinimerlin]

The pills are made by the Charles PHIZER company -- the now huge pharmaceutical company -- I'm glad I have stock in!!!

[fredhetz]

Pfizer (the accurate spelling) has been huge for a long time and was already a presence in about 10 countries in the 1950s.

[1mothra]

dialectgirl1: Well spoken. Lewis proves himself yet again to be the oafish, selfish ass he has always been, completely eroding the otherwise elegance of the program. Still, though, props go to kirkba for another great post and, as you already know, Arlene Francis RULES.

[dialectgirl]

For everyone that finds the insults funny - imagine if you were this lady - how would you feel?? Yes, it was funny that JL found the answer out of nowhere, but the thing I value about this show - the respectful way they talk - vanishes with those very thoughtless remarks. Also, apparently she is trying to lose weight, so she deserves recognition for that!

[GravySnifter]

I feel bad for the guest, Jerry comes off as a mean spirtited a-hole

[Muffy2314]

Well said!

[eleventhdr]

Jerry got it how come there's nothing like thses old show's today pity that

[cigardad11]

great

[oldcountrytunes]

Very entertaining !!!

[stewballmax2]

A wonderful segment from THE BEST of the early panel quiz shows.

Thanks for posting.:)

Pax,

Max

[peterack]

If you watch Mad Men on HBO there is a "jerky comic" (I forget the character's name) who I swear was based on Jerry Lewis from this period...watching Jerry on this I can definitely see the similarity.

[Muffy2314]

Yes i think Jerry was too blunt here. seems like a nervy guy.

[romeman01]

It appears to me that Arlene Francis tells Jerry Lewis to cool it at 5:02. He did ... for a bit.

[MalubaySyecado]

His role on these things was to be the outspoken smart alecky scamp for the sake of a laugh. Sort of like what a stand-up comic does in a nightclub when he makes fun of audience members. Based on his experience he must have had a good sense of what he could say to get a laugh versus a groan.