| Jenny Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | Janina Stronski June 7, 1946 |
| Occupation | Talk show host, presenter, comedienne, singer |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse | Denis McCallion |
Jenny Jones (born Janina Stronski; 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.
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Born in Bethlehem, Palestine to immigrant parents of Polish descent.[1] Jenny grew up in London, Ontario.
Jones started her career as a drummer in a rock band.
The Jenny Jones Show was a Canadian and then American syndicated daytime tabloid talk show that was hosted by Jenny Jones. It was produced by Telepictures and was distributed by Warner Bros. Television. The show ran from September 1991 to September 2003 and was taped in Chicago at WMAQ-TV studios.
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] Six silicone-implant operations since 1981 had left her with firm and asymmetrical breasts. Jones later had her breast implants removed, and publicly spoke out against them in a cover story article in People Magazine. Jones then went on to established The Image Foundation as a resource for women seeking information about implants and support with body image issues.
In 1997 Jenny's autobiography, "Jenny Jones: My Story" was published with 100% of her proceeds going to breast cancer research. In 2006, her cookbook, "Look Good, Feel Great" was published and again, Jenny is donating 100% of her profits to breast cancer research at City of Hope.
Jones established The Jenny Jones Foundation in 2005 as a means to provide assistance to those in need. Primary areas of focus are education, women’s health, and improving communities throughout the country. In 2008, Jenny established "Jenny's Heroes" a program where, through The Jenny Jones Foundation, she is giving 2 million dollars of her own money to individuals wanting to make a difference in their local communities.
On an episode called "Same-Sex Secret Crushes" taped on March 6, 1995, a gay man named Scott Amedure confessed his love for an acquaintance, Jonathan Schmitz. While on the show, Schmitz reacted with laughter. Three days after the show's airing, Schmitz killed Amedure. He was later convicted of second degree murder and received a sentence of 25–50 years in prison.
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 the producers told Schmitz that his admirer could be a man, but Schmitz thought that the admirer was a woman. Jones also said that the show didn't want Schmitz to know the outcome of his secret crush. Amedure's family won the initial ruling, and the show was ordered to pay them $25 million.[3][4] The verdict was later overturned by the Michigan appellate court.
Although she has left the talk TV scene behind, Jones continues to interact with her fans on her Facebook page. She has already posted on her page that despite the request she's been getting to return to television, Jones says that she has no desire to return and prefers to stay out of the spotlight.