Jenny Jones (presenter)

Infobox actor


name = Jenny Jones
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birthname = Janina Stranski
birthdate = birth date and age|1946|6|07
birthplace = Bethlehem, Palestine
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othername =
occupation = Talk Show Host, Awards Presenter, Comedienne, Singer
yearsactive = 1969 -present
spouse =
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influences =
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Jenny Jones (born Janina Stranski on June 7, 1946 in Bethlehem, Palestine) is a Canadian-American talk show host who hosted "The Jenny Jones Show" from 1991 to 2003.

Women's Health Advocate

Jones was an honorary chairperson for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Chicago Race for the Cure, an annual event that raises awareness and money for breast cancer research and she donated a mobile mammography motor coach to Cook County Hospital. [ [http://jennyjones.com/pages/bio01.shtml Biography ] ]

Controversy

On an episode called "Same-Sex Secret Crushes" taped on March 6, 1995, a gay man named Scott Amedure confessed his love for his friend, Jonathan Schmitz. Schmitz reacted with laughter while on the show, but became disturbed by the incident later. He had a history of mental illness and alcohol/drug abuse. Three days after the show's taping, Schmitz killed Amedure. Schmitz was later convicted of second degree murder and received 25-50 years in prison. The episode was never aired.

Amedure's family then sued the producers of "The Jenny Jones Show" saying they should have known about Schmitz's mental illness history. In interviews, Jones said her producers told Schmitz that his admirer could be a man, but Schmitz maintained they misled him into thinking it would be a woman. While under oath, Jones admitted that the show didn't want Schmitz to know that his admirer was a man. Amedure's family won the initial ruling and the show was ordered to pay them $25 million. The verdict was later overturned by the Michigan appellate court. The case is now studied in law school tort classes because of the legal significance of saying the show's producers were not responsible for guests' safety after they had left the studio.

Parodies

On the comedy sketch show "MADtv", cast member Mo Collins would often do skits in which she acted as Jenny Jones; poking fun at her high voice, chuckle, the cadence of her voice and her extreme politeness. For example, scolding her booing audience with "No! That's not, not, not nice, No!" while smiling.

On "Saturday Night Live", former cast member Rachel Dratch parodied Jenny Jones in 1999.

Filmography and TV appearances

* "Jenny Jones"
* "Hollywood Squares"
* "Match Game"
* "Wisecracks"
* "Man of the Year"
* "Press Your Luck"

External links

* [http://www.jennyjones.com/ Jenny Jones Website]
*imdb name|id=0428360|name=Jenny Jones

References