From 1991 to 2003, Jenny Jones was as much of an institution on daytime television akin to Ricki Lake, Maury Povich, and Jerry Springer. The show's host, Jenny Jones, became a notable television host and "talking head" as media personalities are often referred to.
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Jones carried on in the public eye, but declining ratings and a competitive TV market eventually led to her show getting canceled. Jones is still around, but she is hardly as visible as she was in the 90s and early 2000s. For anyone worried about her though, they can rest easy. Jenny Jones is alive and well and she has been keeping busy.
8 Jenny Jones' Rise To Fame
Jones's earliest TV role was actually the time she was a contestant on The Price Is Right and a few other game shows. She officially started her entertainment career as a drummer for a band, but soon left that behind to pursue stand-up comedy. She won the 1986 season of the show Star Search with her act, and from then on slowly gained attention from media moguls and producers. Fun fact about Jones, she was born in Bethlehem before the nation of Israel was officially recognized by the United Nations.
7 Her TV Show
Eventually, Jones must have made friends with the right people because in 1991, five years after winning Star Search, her show debuted on NBC. It was filmed in Chicago and was syndicated by WMAQ, the Chicago affiliate of NBC. The show was like any other tabloid daytime talk show. Guests were invited to cover outlandish and bizarre topics and incidents of snidey audience participation were frequent, all of which were mediated by Jones. This might sound like a standard formula, and it is, but it was a successful one for Jones. Many thought Jones handled the intense drama on her show with a bizarre lightheartedness, which was parodied several times by Mo Collins' impression of Jenny Jones on MadTV.
6 The Murder Of Scott Amedure
Jones enjoyed a successful run on television with minimal scandals, save for the tragic death of Scott Amedure. Amedure came on the show to confess he was in love with his friend Jonathan Schmitz. Three days after this televised confession, Schmitz murdered Amedure. Amedure's family sued the show, claiming they should have been aware that Schmitz might react violently due to his recorded history of mental illness. The family initially won their case, but the verdict was overturned on an appeal. Schmitz was sentenced to 25 -50 years in prison for second-degree murder. Schmitz was released from prison in 2017.
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5 Her Show's Cancelation
Jones' show survived the Amedure scandal, but ratings began to decline in the early 2000s. The public was losing interest in the drama of daytime talk shows, and eventually, this decline in popularity led to Jones getting canceled in 2003. Since then, fans have wondered what she's been up to, and why they don't see her much anymore.
4 Her Other Gigs
Jones is not just a comic and TV host. She has many hobbies, especially cooking and is an advocate for a variety of charities and causes. She is a vocal advocate for Race for the Cure and breast cancer research, and in 2006 she started the Jenny Jones Foundation. The Foundation seeks to help the needy get access to women's health services and education. She also started JennysHeroes.com, a website that highlights the positive impact anonymous individuals have had on their communities.
3 Her Books
Jones is probably making a little extra scratch thanks to her two books. While her show was still on the air, Jenny Jones wrote her autobiography Jenny Jones: My Story. It came out in 1997. Nine years later, in 2007, she released a cookbook titled Look Good, Feel Great which featured a list of recipes that emphasized the importance of superfoods. Cooking remains a prominent part of Jones' life, as one will see as they read on.
2 Her Marriages
Jones has not exactly had the best of luck with love. She has been married three times with two marriages ending in divorce and one annulment. She was with her third husband, Buzz Wilburn, from 1973 to 1980, and previously she was with Al Gambino from 1970 to 1972. She was only with her first husband Jack Howard Poster, for a few months in 1969 but the marriage was annulled in 1970. Jones has been in a long-term relationship with her current partner, Dennis McCallion, for several decades.
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1 What Is She Up To Now?
So, anyone who has made it this far in the article is probably still wondering, "Ok, great, but what is she doing now?" Well, the answer is very simple: she's cooking. Jones has moved from hosting on TV, though she'd probably take a gig if it was offered to her, to hosting a cooking show on her Youtube channel. She also continues to blog on her website and run her various charities and foundations. One can easily follow Jones on Youtube to see what she's been up to and get some great recipe tips in the process. So rest easy Jenny Jones stans, she is alive and well and cooking!
