Jenny Jones Talk Show Is Sued Over Slaying -- Victim Was Given Vodka, His Family Says

PONTIAC, Mich. - Scott Amedure was plied with liquor and encouraged to make his "Jenny Jones Show" appearance "really good" even though it meant humiliating on national television the man he secretly loved, Amedure's family says in a lawsuit.

The object of Amedure's crush, Jonathan Schmitz, allegedly killed Amedure three days after the March 6 taping. In a $25 million lawsuit filed yesterday, Amedure's family says the show would do anything for ratings.

Amedure, 32, of Orion Township, Mich., and Schmitz, 24, were on a show in which people revealed secret crushes. Amedure, who was gay, said on the show that he had a crush on Schmitz, who responded that he was heterosexual and not interested.

Schmitz is being held without bond in Oakland County Jail pending trial.

Moments after the shooting, the lawsuit alleges, Schmitz told a 911 operator he killed Amedure because of what he had done on the TV show.

Neither Jenny Jones nor representatives of her Chicago show could be reached for comment. In addition to Jones and her show, defendants include Schmitz and the companies that own and distribute the show: Warner Bros. and Telepictures.

The suit alleges that Amedure was encouraged by producers to describe a sexual fantasy involving Schmitz, who had no idea his secret admirer was a man. The Amedure family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the show misled its guests and encouraged them to drink liquor before the taping to reduce their inhibitions. The lawyer said Amedure was given a fifth of vodka.