If Jack Lemmon had made only one movie in his life, and that movie was Some Like It Hot, he'd deserve a primary mention in any discussion of beloved movie icons. Has there ever been a funnier movie or performance? Obviously, the American Film Institute thinks as highly of both  as the rest of the universe does. In 2000, the AFI announced that Billy Wilder's mad and merry caper-in-high-heels classic was chosen by 1,600 industry experts as the funniest American movie of all time. Hilarious it is, and not only is Jack absolutely ace in it, but so is everyone else - Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, Joe E. Brown and the rest of it's solid gold cast. We'll be showing it on Jan. 14 as part of our salute to the nimble Jack as our January Star of the Month, pointing out along the way how close Some Like It Hot came to being an entirely different movie altogether, with others originally eyed for the key roles being, momentarily, Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Mitzi Gaynor and Edward G. Robinson.

As for Lemmon, we decided he'd be the perfect guy to help us all launch a brand new year, not only because he brings this "funniest American movie of all time" with him, but also because, with this particular Lemmon, we get so much more: Mister Roberts, The Apartment, The Fortune Cookie, The China Syndrome, Save the Tiger, Grumpy Old Men, and a wise mix of other movie treats every Wednesday this month, including three Jack Lemmon musicals, a film form one doesn't usually associate with him. His pals, however, are quick to point out how musically talented he was; not only was he a whiz on the piano, but also wrote the music score for his 1980 film Tribute.

Another thing Jack brings with him as our January honoree is a great many formidable costars: Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Cagney, Betty Grable, Doris Day, Fred Astaire, Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft, Kim Novak and June Allyson for starters, as well as several who were constants in the Lemmon career, like Walter Matthau, Shirley MacLaine, Kim Novak, Ernie Kovacs and the rare and wonderful Judy Holliday. You'll be seeing them all.

About that name: it's his real one. He was born Jack Uhler Lemmon III in Massachusetts in 1925; his father, J.U.L. the second was the president of a doughnut company. When Jack first signed a Hollywood contract with Columbia studios in the early 1950s, following some Broadway roles and considerable work on early television, his new boss Harry Cohn told him that name would have to go. Cohn said, "We can't put a name like Lemmon on a marquee. Besides, every  reviewer out there would use your name against you. No one will take you seriously." Lemmon's reply? "Mr. Cohn, I've been doing radio, Broadway and television for 10 years. I've been reviewed many times by many people and no one has ever used my name against me. But more importantly," he said, "I like my name and I'm going to keep it." He did, and had a career which couldn't have been more celebrated, more varied, more honored or, rare for a Lemmon, sweeter. It's a career we're very happy to be sharing with you all month long.

by Robert Osborne