Kent Jones
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kenton "Kent" Jones (born June 12, 1964) is a writer and performer on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show
, airing live M-F at 9 p.m. Eastern time. He is an Emmy-winning comedy writer who also wrote and performed at Air America Radio
.
native, Kent moved to New York
in 1986 and held a variety of journalism
jobs working at InStyle and People
and contributing freelance humor articles to various publications. In 1996, he discovered the 'far more legitimate field of fake news' at The Daily Show
on Comedy Central
, where he was a writer for five years. In 2000, Kent and his fellow writers won the Emmy Award
for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy, Variety or Special, as well as the Peabody Award
for Excellence in Broadcasting. Kent then moved to Los Angeles
and worked as a producer on shows at Oxygen and ABC
.
In 2004 Kent moved back to New York to become part of the launch of Air America Radio
. He wrote for Unfiltered
with Lizz Winstead
, Chuck D
and Rachel Maddow
where he delivered the "Unfiltered News." He also wrote extensively for Morning Sedition
where he performed several characters including Foreign Correspondent Angus McFarquhar, Bill from Harlem and, most frequently, Planet Bush Bureau Chief Lawton Smalls. After the cancellation of Morning Sedition in December 2005, Kent continued to write and perform on The Marc Maron Show
until its cancellation in July 2006. He appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show, with daily Sports and "Kent Jones Now" segments and additional co-hosting, especially during her "Ask Dr. Maddow" and "Pet Story" segments. The Lawton Smalls character made "calls" to The Sam Seder Show
and was on the Nov 7th 2006 live webcam election coverage with Rachel Maddow. Jones left Air America on Friday, December 14, 2007, as a result of a "business decision" by the management.
He uses the phrase Sacajawea! When something shocks and surprises him.
Jones became a regular contributor to The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC in September 2008. His regular segment "Just Enough" aired for several months, during the last few minutes of the show and focused on pop culture news, before being quietly eliminated. He now serves as an occasional correspondent and appears in other segments of the show from time to time.
He has also joked that he is the four-time winner of the Iditarod sled race
in Alaska, though he disclaimed this on the March 16, 2007 Rachel Maddow Show, referencing the Wikipedia entry in the process ("It's false. It's funny, but it's wrong.")
He is a Kansas City Royals
fan.
The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)
The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program that airs weeknights on MSNBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name...
, airing live M-F at 9 p.m. Eastern time. He is an Emmy-winning comedy writer who also wrote and performed at Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
.
Career
A MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
native, Kent moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1986 and held a variety of journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
jobs working at InStyle and People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
and contributing freelance humor articles to various publications. In 1996, he discovered the 'far more legitimate field of fake news' at The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, where he was a writer for five years. In 2000, Kent and his fellow writers won the Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy, Variety or Special, as well as the Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
for Excellence in Broadcasting. Kent then moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and worked as a producer on shows at Oxygen and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
In 2004 Kent moved back to New York to become part of the launch of Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
. He wrote for Unfiltered
Unfiltered
Unfiltered was a morning show on Air America Radio hosted by Rachel Maddow, Lizz Winstead and Chuck D.The show's theme song was "Exploration" by The Karminsky Experience Inc.....
with Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is an American comedienne, radio and television personality, and blogger. A native of Minnesota, Winstead was co-creator of The Daily Show along with Madeleine Smithberg, and served as head writer....
, Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
and Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
where he delivered the "Unfiltered News." He also wrote extensively for Morning Sedition
Morning Sedition
Morning Sedition was a three-hour radio program that premiered April 1, 2004 and ran until December 16, 2005, in the United States. It was hosted by comedian Marc Maron and New York radio veteran Mark Riley. Prior to June 2004, the show was also hosted by radio and television journalist Sue...
where he performed several characters including Foreign Correspondent Angus McFarquhar, Bill from Harlem and, most frequently, Planet Bush Bureau Chief Lawton Smalls. After the cancellation of Morning Sedition in December 2005, Kent continued to write and perform on The Marc Maron Show
The Marc Maron Show
The Marc Maron Show was a late night radio show produced in affiliation with the Air America Radio network and hosted by comedian Marc Maron. The show originated from KTLK 1150 AM in Los Angeles, California. The show was less politically focused and more comedic than the other weekday programs on...
until its cancellation in July 2006. He appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show, with daily Sports and "Kent Jones Now" segments and additional co-hosting, especially during her "Ask Dr. Maddow" and "Pet Story" segments. The Lawton Smalls character made "calls" to The Sam Seder Show
The Majority Report
The Majority Report is a talk radio program originally on the Air America Radio network hosted by film actress/comedienne Janeane Garofalo, and actor/comedian Sam Seder, until Garofalo left in July 2006. Garofalo was reportedly originally asked by Air America to host the program and suggested Seder...
and was on the Nov 7th 2006 live webcam election coverage with Rachel Maddow. Jones left Air America on Friday, December 14, 2007, as a result of a "business decision" by the management.
He uses the phrase Sacajawea! When something shocks and surprises him.
Jones became a regular contributor to The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC in September 2008. His regular segment "Just Enough" aired for several months, during the last few minutes of the show and focused on pop culture news, before being quietly eliminated. He now serves as an occasional correspondent and appears in other segments of the show from time to time.
Personal
Kent lives in New York City with his wife, Kelly.He has also joked that he is the four-time winner of the Iditarod sled race
Iditarod (race)
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual sled dog team race across Alaska. Mushers and a team of 12-16 dogs cover over 1,049 miles in 9–15 days from Anchorage to Nome....
in Alaska, though he disclaimed this on the March 16, 2007 Rachel Maddow Show, referencing the Wikipedia entry in the process ("It's false. It's funny, but it's wrong.")
He is a Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
fan.