British TV mogul Nigel Lythgoe fronted the televised six-hour charity drive with co-hosts Nancy O'Dell, Jann Carl and Alison Sweeney - and the quartet came out on top, raising over $61 million (GBP38.1 million). Last year's 20-hour MDA telethon, which Lewis hosted, raised $58.9 (GBP36.8 million).

The show began with a tribute to Lewis and during the telethon Lythgoe referred to longtime host Lewis as ""retired"". Lewis has not publicly discussed his split from the MDA.,