- For the television sitcom, see: Ellen (TV series), and The Ellen Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is a syndicated television talk show hosted by actress and comedienne Ellen DeGeneres. The show features interviews with celebrities and comedic monologues by the host. It premiered on September 8, 2003.
| The Ellen DeGeneres Show | |
|---|---|
| Ellen DeGeneres Show title card Ellen DeGeneres Show title card | |
| Created by | Ellen DeGeneres |
| Starring | Ellen DeGeneres |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 1 hour |
| Original release | |
| Network | Syndication |
| Release | September 8, 2003 – Present Renewed through the 2009-2010 Season! |
The show was nominated for 11 Daytime Emmy Awards its first season, winning four, including Best Talk Show. It gained 12 nominations in its second season and won 6 Emmys, including best talk show and talk show host.
The show was at first called "These Friends of Mine", which was later on renamed "Ellen".
Concept
"Ellen" is known for its variety of recurring jokes and gags, some of which eventually puttered out. Since the show's conception DeGeneres has segued from her opening monologue to the rest of the show by doing a dance. This has progressed to a two minute segment wherein DeGeneres dances into the audience, sometimes "borrowing" a coat or purse from someone's chair, and taking it with her. She has also featured a segment in which people teach her new dance moves.
Early popularity of the show resulted from DeGeneres making viewers feel as though they were a part of the "family" of crew and employees on the show itself. A popular crew member, aspiring stunt man Houston (pronounced "How-Ston"), frequently featured during the first broadcast year. He was set up on a variety of blind dates, and a segment called "Have Houston Do It For You" in which he was sent to people's homes to help with tasks like putting up Christmas decorations or remodeling a bathroom.
Similar to The Rosie O'Donnell Show, DeGeneres often has audience participation games where prizes are awarded. During her "Twelve Days of Giveaways" promotion she gives about $1,000 worth of prizes to the entire studio audience (and a handful of home viewers as well) for 12 days in a row leading up to Christmas. Because the show has become so popular, not all who arrive hoping to see a taping can fit into the studio, so an off-shoot space referred to as "The Riff Raff Room" was created. Persons seated here are often referenced and shown briefly on camera but watch the taping from off-stage and do not participate in audience activities (or receive any giveaway prizes).
DeGeneres' mother Betty regularly attended the show and was frequently featured on camera, but she stopped appearing early in 2006. Her chair was designated the "Mama" chair and special privileges are given to the audience member who sits in it. Ellen has also helped many people to be "famous for 15 minutes" by having them as guests on the show for no reason in particular. The owner of a small shop called "Mostly Moose and More" appeared as a guest, as well as Jim "Carl," the audience member who refused to dance.
In the show's third season, a new part of the format was added, in which Ellen surprised fans by introducing them to their favorite celebrities.
The show was featured in an episode on the NBC sitcom Joey, with the main character (Joey Tribbiani) as a guest star. It was also featured on an episode of the HBO series Six Feet Under and The Bernie Mac Show, with Bernie Mac appearing as a guest. Still later, it was featured on an episode of the ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition; while the Holmes family of Altamonte Springs, Florida was receiving a new home, they were in the audience during an episode of the show, and saw the unveiling of a secondary project of Ty Pennington's team, a turtle habitat, while there.
On May 18th, 2006, The Ellen DeGeneres Show celebrated its 500th episode.
Repeated Quotes:
"Oh, Mama!"
"How dare you!"
"KAAAA!"
"Holla!"
"Whoozat!"
Segments
- "Picture Justaxposition" - Used in Ellen : The Musical
- "My Crazy Dreams" - Ellen makes viewer's requests and dreams come true in this segment.
- "Clip From The Future" - Ellen shows us the future happenings (untrue maybe) in this segment.
- "Clip Fom The Past" - Ellen shows us the past happenings in this segment.
- "Hidden Audience Talents" - Ellen invites a few audience members to display their talent.
Games usually played
Starring
- Ellen DeGeneres — Host
- Tony Okungbowa — Show DJ (2003–2006)
Ellen Internationally
Australia
Ellen premiered in early February 2006 on Australian cable channel Arena, shortly after it premiered on Network Ten a major Australian commercial television broadcaster. Ten has since pulled Ellen from its schedule in July 2006, it is not yet known if this is a permanent change or if Ellen will not return to Ten.
Canada
"Ellen" is aired everyday on CityTV simultaneously as the US broadcast. The show premiered on the same date as the US version.
New Zealand
Ellen premiered on 7th February 2006 in New Zealand on free-to-air network television Television New Zealand TV One. Episodes air approximately one week behind US air dates.
Philippines
Ellen premiered on 15th October,2005 on Solar Entertainment Corporation's ETC 2nd Avenue. It only shows on Weekdays at 8:00pm (GMT 20:00). The show always airs before Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy!. The Episodes air the next day's episode like
- Monday airs Friday Episode
- Tuesday airs Monday Episode
- Wednesday airs Tuesday Episode
- Thursday airs Wednesday Episode
- Friday airs Thursday Episode
Singapore
Ellen is aired on weekdays at 5:00pm (GMT 09:00) on Mediacorp's MediaCorp TV Channel 5. It airs before The Oprah Winfrey Show. The episodes are approximately six months behind US air dates.