Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 20, 1995                   TAG: 9502220006
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RICHARD HUFF NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JENNY JONES IS THE TALK OF THE TALK GAME

A little more than three years ago, the former rock drummer jumped from being a standup comic into the role of talk-show host. The results, at least at first, were, by many standards, somewhat dismal.

Instead of going the ``I-slept-with-my-sister's-boyfriend'' route, ``The Jenny Jones Show'' was scripted, and included health and fitness segments and some comedy. The critics, for the most part, hated it. Judging from ratings, viewers seemed to agree.

``I was the only one that was enjoying the show,'' Jones said last week.

In today's rough-and-tumble talk-show world, ``The Jenny Jones Show'' wouldn't have made it past the first season. However, Warner Bros., the company that sells her show, liked her, and saw potential in the program. Together, they revamped the product into something more like a traditional talk show.

``I'm lucky for having come on the air when we did,'' Jones said. ``If I didn't, I might not have survived.''

But she has, and now ``Jenny Jones'' is being used as a sales tool by other syndicators trying to convince stations to stick with a program even when it's not doing so well. (The program airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on Channel 21/27.) The point being: Look how this show turned it around. This season, ``Jenny Jones'' has shot to the upper region of the daytime-ratings charts, challenging ``Ricki Lake'' for second place behind ``Oprah'' (Winfrey). WB likes the new ``Jenny Jones'' ratings neighborhood so much it recently signed the host for another five years.

Jones said that she actually isn't sure what's behind the ratings boost. A second daily telecast in some markets has helped some, but otherwise it's the same show she's been doing for the past two years.

``I'm more confident,'' Jones said, trying to explain the boom.

While ``Jenny Jones'' does get into the typical, weird relationships daytime seems so fond of, it shies away from a heavy load of bare flesh and confrontational on-stage rowdiness. According to Jones, she and her producers made a conscious decision about two years ago to cut out the sleazy topics. In fact, she said she ``resents'' being lumped in with the other daytime talkers who frequently feature strippers and the like in their quest for ratings.

Of course, there's no denying the more titillating topics would make her ratings soar even higher. But that's not the route she wants to take.

``It's frustrating,'' Jones said. ``We look at the numbers and say `it's not fair, they're getting a 10 rating and they have a fistfight on.' But we try to use a little restraint. In the end, we'd like to think people can get some help [from watching].''