Janette Barber

Infobox Person
name = Janette Barber

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birth_date = 25 September, 1953
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nationality = American
known_for = stand-up comic, television producer, writer, spokesperson
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employer = Rosie O'Donnell, "Molly McButter"
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Janette Barber (born 25 September, 1953) is an American stand-up comic, television producer, and writer. She has won six Emmy Awards, including five that she shares with the writers and producers of "The Rosie O'Donnell Show". After that show ended, Barber continued to work with O'Donnell on "The View" and on O'Donnell's blog "JaHeRo". Barber is also known for her recovery from chronic pain, and her story was reported on "20/20", "Larry King Live" and reported elsewhere. In addition, Barber acts as the food expert and spokesperson for "Molly McButter". [http://www.mollymcbutter.com/tips.cfm Molly McButter® | Cooking Tips ] ]

Career

At "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", Barber was the supervising producer and head writer. She shared five Emmy Awards with the producers of the show. Following that she was executive producer and co-host of "Lighten Up!", a series she created for the Food Network. Barber just won her sixth Emmy Award in writing on "The View". [cite web |url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_35th_creative_winners.html|title=35th Annual Creative Arts & Entertainment Emmy® Awards Presented at Star-Studded Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City |accessdate=2008-06-30]

Barber also has 12 years of stand up comedy experience. She was a nationally touring headliner who made regular appearances on many of the cable comedy shows, such as "Showtime Comedy Club Network", "VH1 Stand Up Spotlight", and A&E's "Comedy on the Roads".

In addition, Barber is a best selling author. She is the co-author, along with Laura Banks, of the humorous work titled "Breaking the Rules, Last Ditch Tactics for Landing the Man of your Dreams (Career Press Publishers)". Her latest book with Banks, "Embracing Your Big Fat Ass," was released in June 2008 by Atria, a division of Simon and Schuster. [ [http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=618520 Simon & Schuster: Embracing Your Big Fat Ass: An Owner's Manual (Trade Paperback) ] ]

Barber is also the food expert and spokesperson for "Molly McButter", a non-fat butter-flavored seasoning.

The blog

In March 2007, Rosie O'Donnell began creating video blogs for her website. She made the video blogs while getting her hair and makeup done by Helene Macaulay in preparation for going on-air for the television show "The View". As viewers began submitting questions directed towards or about Macaulay, she became a regular contributor to O'Donnell's video blog. Barber, who acts as O'Donnell's producer, would show up in the video occasionally to speak with O'Donnell. Within a few weeks, people were directing questions and comments towards Barber as well, and she also became a regular contributor to the video blog. The trio are collectively referred to as Jahero.

In May 2008, Barber started her own video and written blogs.

Last day at "The View"

Barber was Hot Topics Writer of "The View" and was in the ABC studios on the day Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck had a significant fight that caused O'Donnell to leave the show three weeks earlier than her one-year contract specified. Barber, a close friend of O'Donnell, drew a moustache on a magazine tear sheet of Elisabeth Hasselbeck that was tacked up in "The View" offices [cite web | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-view30may30,1,6448127.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews&track=crosspromo | title = Walters says 'The View' will go on | author=Gold, Matea | accessdate = 2008-07-23 | date = May 30, 2007 | work=Los Angeles Times] . It was mistakenly reported by the "New York Post" and TV media outlets that Barber was escorted out of the building.

Chronic pain

Barber is also well known for her dramatic improvement from chronic pain. Barber said that she suffered from back pain, and later ankle pain diagnosed as tendonitis.cite episode |title=Dr. Sarno's Cure|series=20/20|serieslink=20/20|network=ABC|airdate=1999-07-25|url = http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6660313127569317147] cite episode |title=How Can Chronic Back Pain Be Cured? |series=Larry King Live |serieslink=Larry King Live |network=CNN |airdate=1999-08-12 |transcripturl=http://www.tarpityoga.com/larryking.html] She said that the severity of the pain eventually prevented her from walking, so she used a wheelchair instead. cite web |url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/hosts_celebrity_chefs/article/0,1974,FOOD_9889_1842044,00.html |title=Janette Barber (Food Network host biography) |accessdate=2008-01-25] After a segment about Barber's pain on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", many viewers wrote in with suggestions. As a result, Barber saw the controversial Dr. John E. Sarno, who diagnosed her as having tension myositis syndrome (TMS). Barber said that, after treatment for TMS, she was able to walk and run again. Barber's story was covered by "20/20" and "Larry King Live".

Disaster Relief

After her chronic pain improved, Barber began doing volunteer work on behalf of AmeriCares, a disaster relief and humanitarian aid agency. Between 1999 and 2001, she participated in three airlifts to Albania, Kosovo and the Republic of the Congo. [citation|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9906E0D61E3DF934A35754C0A96F958260|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Public Lives|first=Charles|last=Strum|date=1999-07-07|accessdate=2008-02-20] cite web |url=http://www.charitywire.com/charity18/00861.html |title=AmeriCares Sends Relief to the Congo |date=2001-07-02 |accessdate=2008-02-20] Barber produced segments for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" about these airlifts.

Barber now sits on the Board of Directors of The Bridge Foundation.

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1095109/ Imdb entry]
* [http://www.janettesblog.com Official website] - Janette's Blog
* [http://www.rosie.com Rosie O'Donnell's blog] - Where the "Jahero" video blogs are located
* [http://www.embracingyourbigfatass.com] Official site for Janette's book co-authored with Laura Banks