Jennifer "Jennie" Ketcham is an American writer,

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1 ...

personality,

blog A blog (a Clipping (morphology), truncation of "weblog") is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries (posts). Posts are typically displayed in Reverse ...

ger, and artist. Before 2009, she worked as a

pornographic film actress A pornographic film actor or actress, pornographic performer, adult entertainer, or porn star is a person who performs sex acts in video that is usually characterized as a pornographic movie. Such videos tend to be made in a number of dis ...

and director under the name Penny Flame. She later appeared on a number of television talk shows to discuss

sex addiction According to proponents of the concept, sexual addiction, also known as sex addiction, is a state characterized by compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, particularly sexual intercourse, despite negative consequences. The c ...

, including ''

The Oprah Winfrey Show ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', often referred to as ''The Oprah Show'' or simply ''Oprah'', is an American daytime syndicated talk show that aired nationally for 25 seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois. Produced ...

'', ''

The Tyra Banks Show ''The Tyra Banks Show'', also known as and shortened to ''Tyra'' or ''The Tyra Show'', was an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks that aired from 2005 to 2010. While Banks's show covered a variety of topics, there was a sensationalized focus ...

'', '' The View'', ''

Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American first-run syndicated news broadcasting newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Paramount Streaming. ET also airs in Aus ...

'', ''

Extra Extra or Xtra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * ''Extra'' (newspaper), a Brazilian newspaper * ''Extra!'', an American me ...

'' and ''

Lifechangers ''Lifechangers'' was an American half-hour daytime show hosted by Drew Pinsky. It premiered on September 19, 2011, as part of The CW Daytime. Overview The show featured Drew Pinsky and a panel of experts including celebrities and doctors, hel ...

''.

Pornography career

Ketcham entered the pornography business at age 18, after answering an ad in the

San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system ...

newspaper. In 2005, Ketcham directed an instructional video for Shane's World Studios. In 2008, she signed a deal with

Vivid Entertainment Vivid Entertainment Group is an American pornographic film production company,

and

Tristan Taormino Tristan Taormino (born May 9, 1971) is an American feminist author, columnist, sex educator, activist, editor, speaker, radio host, and pornographic film director. She is most recently known for her book ''Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Susta ...

to direct her own line of movies under the studio's sex education imprint, Vivid-Ed; the first film was "Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Handjobs", and the second was "Penny Flame's Expert Guide to Rough Sex". She retired from the industry in 2009.

Television appearances

In 2009, Ketcham appeared in the VH1 series ''

Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew ''Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew'' is a VH1 reality television show that documents people being treated for sexual addiction by Dr. Drew Pinsky and his staff at the Pasadena Recovery Center in Pasadena, California. Premiering on November 1, 2009, ''Sex R ...

'', a spin-off of ''

Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew ''Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew'', later called simply ''Rehab with Dr. Drew'', is a reality television show that aired on the cable network VH1 in which many of the episodes chronicle a group of well-known people as they are treated for alcoh ...

''; her co-stars included Amber Smith, Nicole Narain,

Kari Ann Peniche Kari Ann Peniche Williams ( ) (born March 20, 1984) is an American actress and entertainer from Fairview, Oregon. She has held the Miss Oregon Teen USA and Miss United States Teen titles. She was stripped of the latter title after appearing nud ...

and

Duncan Roy Duncan Roy (born 8 July 1960) is an English film director and producer, script writer, art director and television personality. Early life Roy was born on 8 July 1960, in Whitstable, Kent, England to Frances Elizabeth Spark and Kuros Khazaei. Fr ...

. Ketcham has said that she originally intended to disrupt the process in order to gain publicity and increase marketability as a porn star, but that after the first five days of treatment, she began to have a change of heart. Afterward, she entered a

sober living Sober living houses (SLHs), also called sober homes and sober living environments, are facilities that provide safe housing and supportive, structured living conditions for people exiting drug rehabilitation programs. SLHs serve as a transitional ...

facility, as depicted in the second season of ''

Sober House Sober living houses (SLHs), also called sober homes and sober living environments, are facilities that provide safe housing and supportive, structured living conditions for people exiting drug rehabilitation programs. SLHs serve as a transitional ...

'', which premiered in March 2010. The last adult film that Ketcham performed in, titled ''Celebrity Pornhab with Dr. Screw'' (a parody of the ''Celebrity Rehab'' series that had recently featured porn star Mary Carey), was shot just before her participation in ''Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew''. Ketcham discussed her path into pornography and her recovery from addiction with Pinsky and others in a March 17, 2010, appearance on '' The View''. Ketcham stated on ''The View'' that she remained in the industry because it allowed her to work only three days a week while earning a substantial income; that it gave her the instant attention and acceptance of adoring fans, and it was the most convenient way to feed the

sexual addiction According to proponents of the concept, sexual addiction, also known as sex addiction, is a state characterized by compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, particularly sexual intercourse, despite negative consequences. The c ...

associated with an inability to trust or form deep emotional connections with others; and that sex addiction preceded the substance addiction, but the two became intertwined and difficult to untangle. She explained that she had taken a year-long vow of abstinence when she completed treatment. Nine months into this period of abstinence, a friendship with a man who supported her recovery and attended "12-step" meetings with her became a committed, monogamous relationship.

Awards

* 2005

AVN Award The AVN Awards are film awards sponsored and presented by the American adult video industry trade magazine '' AVN'' (''Adult Video News'') to recognize achievement in various aspects of the creation and marketing of American pornographic fi ...

– Best Solo Sex Scene (''Repo Girl'') * 2006 AVN Award – Best Couples Sex Scene, Film (''Dark Side'') with

Herschel Savage Herschel Savage (born Harvey Cohen on November 25, 1952) is an American former pornographic actor, director and stage actor who has appeared in over 1,000 adult films. In 2002, '' AVN'' ranked him 46th on their list of ''The Top 50 Porn Stars of A ...

* 2006 AVN Award – Best Group Sex Scene, Film (''Dark Side'') with Alicia Alighatti, Dillan Lauren,

Hillary Scott Hillary Dawn Scott-Tyrrell (born April 1, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter. She is the co-lead singer of Lady A, previously known as Lady Antebellum, a country music group that was formed in 2006, and is signed to Big Machine Records ...

Randy Spears Randy Spears (born June 18, 1961), sometimes credited as Greg Ory, is an American retired pornographic actor and director who has appeared in numerous adult feature films. Spears is noted among porn actors for his comedic acting talent. Career ...

& John West * 2006

XRCO Award The XRCO Awards are given by the American X-Rated Critics Organization annually to people working in adult entertainment and it is the only adult industry awards show reserved exclusively for industry members. Once every calendar year, XRCO ...

– Best Onscreen Couple (''Dark Side'' – Red Light) with Herschel Savage * 2006 Adam Film World Guide Award – Actress of the Year (''Dark Side'') * 2008 AVN Award – Best Actress – Film (''Layout'') * 2008 AVN Award – Best Couples Sex Scene, Film (''Layout'') with

Tom Byron Tom Byron (born Thomas Bryan Taliaferro Jr.; April 4, 1961) is an American former pornographic actor, director and producer. A member of the XRCO and the AVN Halls of Fame, he was voted #20 in AVN's list of top 50 pornstars of all time. Early ...

* 2008 F.A.M.E. Award – Favorite Oral Starlet * 2010 AVN Award – Best Supporting Actress (''Throat: A Cautionary Tale'')

Writing career

In 2009, Ketcham started a blog titled ''Becoming Jennie''. In her first entry, dated April 29, 2009, she wrote, "My name is Jennie Ketcham, and I am a recovering pornstar, and addict. This day, as every day, is the first day of the rest of my life, and I intend to live it to the fullest." The blog has been featured on ''

Last Call with Carson Daly ''Last Call with Carson Daly'' is an American late-night television series that was broadcast by NBC from 2002 to 2019. Hosted by former MTV personality Carson Daly, the series was initially formatted as a late-night talk show in line with ''T ...

''. In December 2009, Ketcham began contributing to ''

The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...

''. She published a memoir in July 2012 titled ''I Am Jennie''.

Personal life

Ketcham states she became sexually active at age 12, and that she practiced

safe sex Safe sex is sexual activity using methods or contraceptive devices (such as condoms) to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially HIV. "Safe sex" is also sometimes referred to as safer ...

as a youth. She has explained that her sexual activity was a way for her to achieve the emotional validation missing from her relationships with family and friends. Her parents divorced when she was 13; Ketcham has said she ceased speaking to her father and did not do so again until she was 26.Ketcham described her early life and her path to porn and sex addiction in her March 17, 2010, appearance on '' The View''. Ketcham is an avid painter and sees it as a healthy activity for

, as well as a new source of income. When she was enrolling in college, she forfeited all porn-related sources of income to make a clean break.Ketcham on ''Last Call with Carson Daly''

References

External links

"Becoming Jennie" blog by Ketcham at WordPress website
* *
Ketcham blog at the Huffington Post website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ketcham, Jennifer 1983 births American bloggers American female adult models American pornographic film actresses American pornographic film directors American women painters Film directors from California Living people Participants in American reality television series People from Aurora, Colorado Pornographic film actors from Colorado American women bloggers Women pornographic film directors Film directors from Colorado 21st-century American women artists