Hollywood Reacts to THR's Hilariously Awkward Jerry Lewis Interview
The uncomfortable sit-down with the famously difficult comedian quickly became a viral sensation.
The Hollywood Reporter's "trainwreck" sit-down, as editor Andy Lewis called it, with famously difficult comedian Jerry Lewis (no relation) quickly became the talk of the town after the awkward, seven-minute interaction, captured on video, was posted online on Monday.
Media outlets ranging from CBS News to Inside Edition to various overseas outlets picked up the video, which as of Wednesday morning was THR's most viewed video in history with more than 1.2 million viewers on THR.com alone in a single day.
And Hollywood stars like Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Bergeron and Marc Maron took to social media to react, often finding humor in the discomfort. Even Sarah Palin chimed in, saying his behavior "sums up how I feel when I sit down for an interview."
Andy Lewis, meanwhile, says of the reaction to his interview: "I knew the video would get attention. I never knew it would get this much attention. I’m glad people find it as entertaining as I do, even if some of the laughs are at my expense."
The 90-year-old comedian was interviewed as part of THR's feature on creatives still going strong in their 90s.
Read on for some of the funniest reactions to the video.
Love this and Jerry L. so much.
The essence of every comedian on display. Wish this was mine. @TonyBiancosino https://t.co/g50clt3w6F— Jerry Seinfeld (@JerrySeinfeld) December 20, 2016
Note to self: Never piss off Jerry Lewis https://t.co/fzwQsTxDz8 via @thr
— Tom Bergeron (@Tom_Bergeron) December 20, 2016
Wow. Guess I did pretty good with Jerry. https://t.co/0ycZ8k7vZI https://t.co/deQt7OQlTP
— marc maron (@marcmaron) December 19, 2016
Breaking: Jerry Lewis still unbearable https://t.co/7u3sJICQTp
— Ike Barinholtz (@ikebarinholtz) December 19, 2016
Sums up how I feel when I sit down for an interview. I'm jealous of Jerry! https://t.co/ej8UgGefck
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) December 21, 2016
I've watched this twice and winding up for number three. Best ever. https://t.co/hKCRUUb6vP
— Howard Stern (@HowardStern) December 21, 2016
Jerry Lewis' @thr interview is me when my husband asks me to listen to one of his many favorite "comedy" podcasts. https://t.co/CsIXzFEeg2
— Aimee Carrero Rock (@aimeecarrero) December 21, 2016
Yes, Jerry Lewis, you can be honest https://t.co/xhBUWsRVxu pic.twitter.com/gAynacVpc1
— Jake Macapagal (@jakepromac) December 21, 2016
Calling this Jerry Lewis interview a "trainwreck" is polite https://t.co/NYBE0SdphI this is very sly and funny! Seriously!
— Richard Belzer (@MRbelzer) December 20, 2016
Current mood. https://t.co/lrAZC6zZoS
— Danny Zuker (@DannyZuker) December 19, 2016
This is the funniest thing I've seen this year. https://t.co/kdMY270NWp
— Max Landis (@Uptomyknees) December 19, 2016
@andyblewis @HowardStern It's a shining light through dark times! I can't stop watching it. #BlessYou
— Danny Zuker (@DannyZuker) December 21, 2016
@HowardStern I'm on number 4! I dreamt about it last night!
— Danny Zuker (@DannyZuker) December 21, 2016
This video is the single most important thing to happen to comedy in at least a decade. https://t.co/iVM6YCicaP
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) December 21, 2016
The level of disillusioned anger, dismissal, and flat out 90 year old disgust on display is heroic. https://t.co/yivF03ZhsP
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) December 21, 2016