AWARDS DINNER A JERRY LEWIS TELL-E-THON OP?

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

Lifetime achievement awards in Hollywood traditionally are mutual love fests, where hyperbolic praise meets undying gratitude over a podium and a piece of mantle art.

Tonight, that trend could be stood on its head as the Los Angeles Film Critics Association gives its award to Jerry Lewis at its annual dinner at the St. Regis in Century City.

``How about that?'' Lewis said in an interview not long after learning of the honor. ``Jesus Christ, is that retribution or not?''

The irony comes not so much from critics' frequent derision of his film work as from his deep-seated resentment of their entire profession. He famously branded them ``whores'' in a newspaper interview and remembers in vivid detail the notice that most upset him: A Chicago Sun write-up in 1950 harshly criticizing a movie he made with Dean Martin, taking a dig at a scene shown in the advance press kit that had been left on the cutting-room floor when the film was completed.

``And from that day on, I never trusted one of them,'' he says now. ``That's just nasty. If you're going to cheat, I can show you how to do it where nobody will find out.

``From that day, I learned we don't read anything anymore. There's no reason to. It's a no-win situation.''

LAFCA insiders say when the 1950s slapstick star and box-office champ's name came up last fall in discussions of potential honorees, there were groans of disapproval. But his supporters made a compelling argument on behalf of his solid acting in ``The King of Comedy,'' the video-assist device he pioneered in 1960 for instant playback on the set, and his devotion to the craft of movie comedy that compelled him to travel to Switzerland to sit at the feet of Charlie Chaplin.

``I'm very honored,'' Lewis said. ``And what my plan is, is to deal with it like it was just any other award - never say a word. I'm going to be so perfect that I'm just going to knock their socks off. They'll all be wondering, what's he going to do to us?''

Lewis' trophy case is plenty full of decorations, many of them recognizing his dedication to battling muscular dystrophy; the Nobel Peace Prize nomination is a personal favorite.

``I can't even count the awards I've gotten over the years from so many different places for different reasons - incredible - but this one I want. Oh yeah. It's even formal. I'm going to wear my best tux and bring my best behavior.''

A Mona Lisa smile appeared, he gave a little snort and then revealed his fingers were crossed.

Valerie Kuklenski, [phone]

valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com

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