Jenny Jones (presenter)
 |
Jenny Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | Janina Stranski |
| Occupation(s) | Talk show host, presenter, comedienne, singer |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse | Denis McCallion |
Jenny Jones (born Janina Stranski; June 7, 1946) is a former Canadian American stand-up comedian and talk show host. She hosted The Jenny Jones Show from 1991 to 2003.
Life and career
Born in to immigrant parents of Polish and Russian descent.[1] Jenny grew up in London, Ontario.
Jones started her career as a comedienne, which she was infamous for not allowing men to watch her routines.
Women's Health Advocate
Jones was an honorary chairperson for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Chicago Race for the Cure, an annual event that raises awareness and money for breast cancer research. Jones also donated a mobile mammography motor coach to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.[2]
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. While on the show, Schmitz reacted with laughter, but he 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. He was later convicted of second degree murder and received a sentence of 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 that 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.
References
External links
- 1946 births
- American television talk show hosts
- American people of Canadian descent
- Canadian television talk show hosts
- Contestants on American game shows
- Living people
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- People from London, Ontario
- American people of Polish descent
- American people of Russian descent
- Women comedians