Dear Reader:
Re the October 1 Straight Dope:
Roger Ebert had an interesting slant on the French-Jerry Lewis affair when I wrote to his Sunday page. I asked him if we would ever be able to look down on the French for idolizing Lewis when multimillions are paid to such actors as Jim Carrey and, heaven help us, the very unfunny Chris Farley.
Ebert’s answer: “I personally find Carrey funnier than Jerry Lewis, but I have attended screenings of Jerry Lewis comedies in France and can promise you the French really do love him–maybe because he makes Americans look like idiots.”
Hank Oettinger
Chicago