Jenny Jones: My Story

by Jenny Jones

Jenny examines her traumatic childhood in Canada, when, as an eleven-year-old runaway, she lived on her own for more than a month, surviving by waiting tables and shoplifting, only returning home when she was arrested for the first of four times in her life. Flunking nearly all her classes, she quit high school and took to the road playing drums with a succession of rock bands in the '60s, living in sleazy motels, and playing smoke-filled bars in Canada's lumber camps. Using her skills as a drummer, she worked her way first to Los Angeles, then to Las Vegas, where she formed the first of her many bands and sang backup for Wayne Newton. Two failed marriages later, with her musical career in a rut, Jenny reinvented herself as a stand-up comic, once again hitting the road playing clubs across America and Canada. Four years after Star Search, she'd lost it all - the money, the fame, the opportunities, the self-confidence. As a last-ditch effort to save herself from financial ruin and career oblivion, she developed Girls' Night Out, an irreverent for-women-only comedy show that's been described as part stand-up comedy, part talk show, and part group therapy. It became one of the most talked-about comedy shows in the country, and paved the way to Jenny Jones, one of the most popular talk shows in the country. With personal and professional insights, and humorous and painful anecdotes, Jenny discusses her self-doubts, a heartbreaking relationship with her alcoholic mother, her breast implant disaster, and the often antagonistic media. And, for the first time, she speaks publicly about the tragic murder of one of her talk-show guests in March of 1995.

349 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Jenny Jones (born Janina Stranski) is an American talk show host and television presenter. She hosted The Jenny Jones Show from 1991 to 2003.

Reviews

[Genna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I love Jenny Jones! I watched her show a lot in college and bonded with a dear friend after confessing my love of the Jenny Jones show....to find out she also loved JJ too! In all seriousness....it breaks my heart that sweet, successful Jenny lives so insecurely and has had such a negative body image and feeling like she’s a phony or not good enough. The terrible relationship she had with her mother has to have been the root of these insecurities. Sadly, her story hits very close to home, minus the talk show fame. Jenny seems to be a sweet, humble person, and I love her story and how she just tells it without sugarcoating anything. I would Iike to know more about her Denis and why she never had kids and if it was because of her negative lack of relationship with her own mom. JJ is a pretty cool chick. Starting out as a female drummer, being a contestant on multiple game shows, then shifting to comedy before landing the talk show. Reminds me a lot of the Marvelous Mrs Mazel personified.

[Sardonic_Nate · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s very self serving / pathetic of Jenny Jones to not take any responsibility / accountability whatsoever for the death of Scott Amedure after he was on her show. She lost the civil lawsuit initially but only won on appeal because she and her tv network outspent the Amedure family. I hope Jones lives with the guilt over her part and her shows part in a murder.

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never been a big Jenny Jones fan. I bought this book for a dollar and thought I would read it. Boy was I surprised! Not only is it a well written book but she is an incredible woman! After reading this, I have a respect for her that I never had when I thought she was "just a talk show host".