Fresh from a triumphant starring engagement in the London production of the hit Broadway musical "Damn Yankees," Jerry Lewis is back in the United States. And the MDA Telethon's got him.

"A great, glamorous glitterball of a show," is how London's Sunday Times described the revival of "Damn Yankees," which quickly became one of the West End's hottest tickets. Of Jerry's performance as the devilishly charming Applegate, the Times said: "His timing is masterful, his control of the audience implacable, and when he laughs he curdles your blood." The venerable paper went on to suggest that Jerry's solo comedy interlude in the second act should be filmed for posterity.

Jerry arranged for a hiatus in the play's international tour schedule to allow him to return to the States for the crucial weeks of preparation for the 1997 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. For the Telethon, which airs for 21½ hours starting at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 31, MDA's national chairman and Telethon star will be backed up by scores of celebrated names from the worlds of comedy, music, drama and professional sports.

Aiding and abetting Jerry for the 30th consecutive year will be Telethon anchor and MDA National Vice President Ed McMahon. "You could say he's special to me," Jerry says. "I guess I must be doing something right to keep him by my side for three decades. Even Johnny didn't have him that long!"

(Incidentally, neither Jerry, Ed nor any of the famous people on the Telethon are paid for their appearances.)

On the national broadcast, which will emanate from CBS Television City in Hollywood, Jerry and Ed will be ably supported by co-hosts:

Emmy-winning talk show host Jerry Springer and "Entertainment Tonight" correspondent Jann Carl.

MULTITUDE OF GUESTS

The co-hosts will introduce and interview many of the special guests on the Telethon, including musical and comedic performers, individuals with neuromuscular diseases, scientific researchers who are studying these disorders and MDA national sponsors.

In Los Angeles, Max Alexander and Jean and Casey Kasem will host KCAL-TV's broadcast of the Telethon. Comedian Tom Dreesen will host Chicago's local broadcast on WGN-TV. And Maureen McGovern, Denise Richardson and Elayne Boosler will team up in New York on WWOR-TV.

"Believe me, I know how lucky I am to have such fabulous talented professionals helping me," Jerry says. He also praises the perhaps lesser known but equally indispensable local Telethon hosts in cities and communities across the country. "They're our lifeline, the ones who drive home the very important idea that helping MDA means helping people right there in your own community."

Comic firepower is scheduled for the national broadcast in the form of master laugh makers such as Norm Crosby, Paul Rodriguez, Tom Arnold, Kathy Buckley, Mal Z. Lawrence, Chuck Booms, Chips Cooney, Diane Ford, Cathy Ladman, Steve Marmel, Sarge, Rip Taylor and Bob Zany.

Tom Poston, beloved performer from "Newhart" and other classic series, will appear in a special and very serious segment with his wife, Kay, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). Together, the Postons will talk about living with this degenerative disease, which can prove fatal in only a few years. Kay, who was walking with a cane when she appeared with her husband on the Telethon two years ago, now uses a wheelchair.

Two important personalities from last year's Telethon will make return engagements: 10-year-old MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Benjamin Cumbo, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and 17-year-old MDA National Youth Chairperson Mandy Van Benthuysen, who has the limb-girdle form of the disease. Both of these young MDA representatives have been making appearances across the country to educate people about MDA's mission to defeat neuromuscular diseases.

MUSICAL DIVERSITY

All colors of the musical spectrum will be represented on this year's Telethon spectacular. Country fans will get to enjoy Alabama and Kenny Chesney. Jazz and classical trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will appear as well as rhythm and blues guitarist Brody Buster. Violin virtuoso Rachel Barton and singer Nana Mouskori are also scheduled to appear. And the Kingston Trio and Manheim Steamroller will be on hand to sing some of their biggest hits.

Charo will make her 18th Telethon appearance. "She's amazing," Jerry says. "Just when your energy's lagging, when you think you can't stand up there for another hour, Charo comes out and gets the whole audience jumping. She revitalizes everybody."

Acts from Universal Cheerleaders Association, Cirque de Soleil and Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus are slated to appear.

Baseball great Brett Butler and boxer Oscar De La Hoya will make special appeals, as will gymnasts Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci and actors Dennis Farina and Michael Greyeyes.

CONTROLLED SPONTANEITY

Also look for surprises from Tony Danza and Savion Glover and the cast of "Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk."

But Jerry warns that every year the talent roster keeps changing right up until airtime. "The Telethon thrives on spontaneity, even uncertainty," Jerry says. "If you try to button it down too much, you start to lose some of the magic."

So tune in on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 and see the magic flow. As always, Jerry's greatest hope is to put on a high-quality entertainment program while raising one dollar more than the previous year's total. And Jerry knows that for Kay Poston, Benjamin Cumbo, Mandy Van Benthuysen and the one million other Americans with neuromuscular diseases, this is a hope that simply must be fulfilled.