Spartan Profiles: Suzanne Sena

CELEBRITY HOMES

            One of the most popular shows on E! Entertainment Television network is “Celebrity Homes,” which takes viewers into the private estates of the superstars every night at 7:30 p.m. The show’s host is Suzanne Sena (formerly Woronchak), ’85, who also reports for “E! News Daily” and does live coverage of events such as the Oscars and the Emmies. “There isn’t a big star in town that I haven’t interviewed,” says Sena, who lists among her interviewees such stars as Whoopi Goldberg, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Kostner and Jay Leno.

            Before moving to Los Angeles in 1997, Suzanne had hosted TV shows in Alburquerque, Atlanta, and Dallas. Last fall, she did two, two-day stints with “LIVE with Regis” and remains a top candidate to replace Kathie Lee Gifford as Regis Philbin’s co-host. “I really enjoyed doing (the auditions),” she notes. “Regis and I had a great chemistry.”

            A native of Dearborn, MI, Suzanne chose MSU because of the communication arts program and because “MSU was a fun place to be.”

            She credits MSU with laying the foundation for her success in the entertainment business. “I loved MSU,” she says. “It was an amazing place for me to grow, in one of the country’s most beautiful campuses. The friends I had at MSU are still my friends. I was a T.A. for Dr. Ralph, who taught public speaking.'

            While a student, Suzanne was on the waterski team, worked as an R.A. in Butterfield, and gained her first broadcasting experience as a DJ with the student radio station. “It’s the same station that Magic Johnson worked at,” she recalls.

            In a twist of irony, she recalls listening to Duran Duran at an East Lansing bar with Alan Hunter, a VJ with MTV. “Who knew then,” she muses, “that one day I would actually be having lunch with that band as part of my show, ‘Out To Lunch’?”