Jerry Lewis, a comic legend who is as famous for his telethon as his movies, finally caught on to the punchline. Jerry Lewis has for years maintained that women are not funny, but while sticking his hands in wet cement yesterday Jerry Lewis finally conceded that women are funny, but not as crude standup comics.

The 88-year-old comedian who started as half of the comedy duo Martin and Lewis with Dean Marting has been criticized for expressing his distaste for female comedians. Lewis called Lucille Ball "brilliant" and said Carol Burnett is "the greatest female entrepreneur of comedy."

After leaving his hand and footprints in cement outside Hollywood's Chinese Theatre, Lewis said Lucille Ball "went to the lowest level of the barrel, and she was brilliant because of it."

Lewis continued "Seeing a woman project the kind of aggression that you have to project as a comic just rubs me wrong. And they're funny - I mean you got some very, very funny people that do beautiful work - but I have a problem with the lady up there that's going to give birth to a child - which is a miracle. But when you have women like Carol Burnett, that's the greatest female entrepreneur of comedy. I just saw Carol at the Smith Center at home in Vegas, and I was stunned by how brilliant she is and how brilliantly she brings the audience right up to her."

Lewis went to the historic theater with his wife and Danielle Sara Lewis, Lewis' only daughter and the youngest of his seven children. Jerry said "This is an incredible time for me. I have never, ever had an experience like this and had my daughter present. And this is the first time I've ever asked her to join me."

Quentin Tarantino introduced Lewis Saturday. Comedians Richard Belzer and Dane Cook were among the guests. Lewis planned to attend a 50th anniversary screening of "The Nutty Professor" later that evening as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival.

In 1998 Lewis said he has trouble with the idea of would-be moms as comedians, saying watching women comedians "sets me back a bit."

Last year when Lewis was in Cannes for the premiere of "Max Rose," which h estars in as an aging jazz musician. The former Nutty Professor was if asked new performers like Melissa McCarthy or Sarah Silverman tickled his funny bone, he said he couldn't watch women perform broad comedy. He said "I can't see women doing that. It bothers me. I cannot sit and watch a lady diminish her qualities to the lowest common denominator. I just can't do that."

Tina Fey, the former head writer of "Saturday Night Live" and writer/creator/star of the immensely funny, but sadly cancelled "30 Rock" and a funny women herself, has gone on record as saying he's out of touch. In "Bossypants," Fey's 2011 memoir, she discussed Lewis' comments about female comics. She wrote "Whenever someone says to me, 'Jerry Lewis says women aren't funny,' or 'Christopher Hitchens says women aren't funny,' ... Do you have anything to say to that?' Yes. We don't fucking care if you like it."