John Sencio is an American television host, producer, and journalist, as well as a former MTV VJ. Mr. Sencio is also a 2-time cancer survivor and motivational speaker. He currently resides in Los Angeles and New York, according to his official website. John Sencio grew up in Holliston, Massachusetts. Prior to working in television he was a counselor for young people with emotional and behavioral disorders. Sencio is a graduate of Emerson College, where he studied television, film, and radio. He was a popular VJ for four years during the mid-1990s. He hosted a number of shows on MTV including Rude Awakening, which aired music videos from 6 am to 7 am. He was known for writing and producing his own skits and interviewed a number of celebrities, from music artists to movie stars such as Mel Gibson and Halle Berry. Although he remained under contract to Viacom until 1998, John Sencio was released in April 1997 as part of a shake up at MTV. The dramatic shake up occurred when MTV tried to refocus more on music instead of VJs and game shows. Most other VJs that were on the channel at the time were also released.