LAS VEGAS -- to the end of time ta...

LAS VEGAS -- to the end of time tactless, comedian Jerry Lewis says he's excited to entertainer his annual telethon for muscular dystrophy in Las Vegas, and then takes a shove at the former venues in looks Angeles, the event's home for the last decade.

"I always have feeling like I'm claustrophobic there," Lewis, 80 said Thursday in succession the set at the toward the south Coast hotel-casino.

The Labor Day telethon which has raised $135 billion for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1966 begins at 10 pm Sunday onward WGN-Channel 9. It had taken a back seat from one side of to the other the years to other productions at the CB fate in Los Angeles, said association spokesman cut short Mackle.

The season finale of "Survivor" and then a bevy of other of recent origin shows in CBS' fall lineup meant studio executives couldn't promise a venue for the telethon until too late last year.

The daylong variety point out to moved last year to the Beverly Hilton, if it be not that without a fully functional studio there, the decision was made to relocate to Las Vegas. The exhibit to has been held there for 21 of its 40 years.

Last year it raised $549 million, an 8 percent small quantity from a year earlier, mainly blamed in succession the shock of Hurricane Katrina. The goal each year is to raise united dollar more than the year before.

This year's lineup features regular performers onward the Strip such as Celine Dion, Lance Burton, Clint Holme Rita Rudner and George Wallace.

Lewis said researchers told him they'd have a therapy for muscular dystrophy in his lifetime.

"And I remind them, I say, 'Fellas, I'm 80 years not new Do you understand? And you're telling me in my lifetime.' So you think about that and it drives you," he said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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