Thursday, March 16, 2006 10:59 a.m. EST

Jerry Lewis Enters France's Legion of Honor


France formalized its fascination with Jerry Lewis Thursday with a
uniquely Gallic gift for his 80th birthday: a medal and induction into
the Legion of Honor.

Lewis, who has long been venerated in France, received the honorary
title of "Legion Commander" in a raucous ceremony in Paris - hamming
it up for the cameras, winking, sticking out his tongue and making his
trademark funny faces.

Story Continues Below

True to form, the American comedian turned what is generally a sober
event - set in a gilded hall of the Ministry of Culture - into a
virtual slapstick routine.

Lewis, who bucked formality by wearing slippers to the ceremony,
clowned around with Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres -
yawning, checking his watch, and even pretending to fall asleep during
Donnedieu's 20-minute-long speech in French. The crowd roared at
Lewis' antics, their laughter often drowning out Donnedieu's lofty
words.

At one point, Lewis tried to snatch the prepared speech off the
podium, but an affable Donnedieu persevered. "The longer my remarks
last the better," he told the audience, "so you can keep on enjoying
Jerry Lewis' comic talents."



When he finally took the microphone, Lewis apologized for not speaking
French, but said that "even if the French people cannot hear my
language, they have always heard my heart."

Lewis applauded the country's sense of humor, saying he believed it
"took France through all those difficult years, and will take it
through difficult times now because the French are not afraid to
laugh."

Ministry officials wheeled in a massive cake, and the audience sang
"Happy Birthday," delivered with a heavy French accent.

Lewis said he was flattered by his induction into the Legion of Honor,
and said he had been "gloriously elevated" by the award. He was one of
37 foreigners to have received the title over the past three years.

"The French people are the best in the world," Lewis said.
"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the **** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner