Page 2 ~ THE VILLAGER/June 2, 2017 THE COMMUNIQUÉ www.theaustinvillager.com Star Jones Opens Up About ‘Daytime Divas’ by: Nadine Matthews|Special to the AFRO Star Jones had al- ready distinguished her- self in the courtroom and on the airwaves when she got the call from Barbara Walters to be one of the inaugural co-hosts of the daytime chatfest, “The View.” The North Carolina born, New Jersey raised lawyer’s reputation as a tough on crime Brooklyn prosecutor opened the Star Jones (Justin Hoch/Hudson Union Society) door for her to become a legal analyst on television Kennedy rape trial and at a time when television tapped Jones for the job. THE LUNCH HOUR - From L-R: Vanessa Williams, Tichina Arnold, Fiona Gubelmann in executives realized that It wasn’t long before she a scene from ‘Daytime Divas,’ which premieres on VH1 June 5. (Courtesy photo) true crime had started to came to the attention of intersect with entertain- Jeff Zucker, then head of gal aspects, but she talked “The View.” Walters’ pio- actually every story in her being, as the tabloid ment. NBC. In a 1993 interview like a regular person. Ev- neering concept brought “Satan’s Sisters” comes NY Post put it, a “Celeb- Court TV was looking with the Washington Post eryone was using F. Lee together five women of from someone I inter- rity bridezilla” in the lead for a legal analyst for the he recalled of Jones, “She Bailey and [Harvard Law various ages and back- viewed, was interviewed up to her wedding to infamous William Smith had knowledge of the le- professor] Arthur Miller, grounds, to discuss the hot by, worked with, worked banker Al Reynolds after a the same middle-aged topics of the day. for, prosecuted. So it really three month courtship and ARE YOU LIVING White men talking in le- Those experiences was born of my gut. I wrote over the top proposal from IN A SUMMER galese, saying the same came full circle when what I knew which is usu- him during a televised CAMP DESERT? thing over and over. Star Jones, whose parents and ally the first rule of any NBA game. They were di- Are all the options didn’t look like them and sister live in Maryland, set successful author; write vorced four years later. Fi- either too costly, too far she didn’t sound like them. about writing her first what you know. There is a nally, there was her sur- away, short of sub- We said, ‘Let’s use her.’” novel as cognitive training grain of truth in each one prise on-air revelation that stance, or too school ish?The Affordable Jones went on to give after undergoing open of the stories. “Daytime she had been fired from Camp Act can help with trenchant yet accessible heart surgery. “My physi- Divas” kept with that “The View” by ABC. Ex- a camp in your neighbor- legal analyses for a num- cian had advised that I do policy. That’s why I think ecutive producers Barbara hood that is low-cost, ber of high profile legal an activity that would not the audience will spend Walters and Bill Geddie focused on science, cases during the nineties tax me physically but most of their time thinking, both claim to have been math, and thinking including the Mike Tyson would exercise my mind. ‘Ooh, who’s that about?’” blindsided by the timing of skills, hands-on, and rape case and the O.J. When you have your heart She promised that the disclosure, causing designed with com- Simpson murder trial. Her taken out of your body for the New York City set pro- some bad blood. It remains munity input. Make it skill and charisma led to 22 minutes there is always gram, which premieres unclear how much of the happen in your area! what is arguably her most a concern that your short June 5, will be just as relationship has been re- Call (512) 350-4864 famous television foray as term and your long term steamy as the novel on paired. Of Walters, Jones Visit www.activiteca.org Jeff Zucker (Photo/David Shankbone 2010) one of the first hosts of memory might be af- which it is based. “I was a said, “Listen, we’ve had fected. Well this was a little worried about that. our issues but that’s be- wonderful exercise for me The book was very steamy cause we’re family. We to kind of gather up all of because daytime TV is may be dysfunctional but my memories and put very steamy you just don’t we’re still family.” them together in a fictional get to see it all. “Daytime To get through these account,” she told the Divas” took out some of multiple challenges, Jones AFRO. the creepier steaminess reveals that she drew on That book became but kept the sexy lessons learned from her the novel, Satan’s Sisters steaminess I would say.” family and that she en- and is the inspiration for For all of her accom- listed professional help. “I Jones’ newest project the plishments, many of Star choose not to focus on VH1 drama “Daytime Di- Jones’ personal chal- anything that was hurtful vas” starring Tichina lenges have also played because clearly I got Arnold and Vanessa Will- out under harsh media through it and I moved for- iams. “Daytime Divas” is scrutiny. In addition to hav- ward and I moved on. If you about five co-hosts of a ing heart surgery, there look up you can get up. I daytime talk show called was also her long battle know it was the way I was “The Lunch Hour.” Like the with obesity. After shed- raised but it’s also a result book though, it explores ding over a hundred of sitting down and doing much more than work- pounds in the early aughts, the hard work in therapy. place politics and deeply there was a lot of pressure Not enough people talk delves into each woman’s to disclose exactly how about that that sometimes off-screen life with family, she lost the weight; some- you need to sit down and friends, and community. thing that for most people talk about your own be- For source material, Jones is a private matter. havior and make sure that looked at her own life. Then there was the you are being the best per- “Just like “Daytime Divas,” harsh characterization of son that you can be.”