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Entertainment July 11, 2017
Leading by example.
In the 1990s, a TV series called “Ellen” graced small screens nationwide. People enjoyed watching Ellen DeGeneres, portraying a fictionalized version of herself, getting in to wacky scrapes.
Then in 1998, Ellen (the character and the person) announced that she was gay. It took five years for Ellen to make a comeback.
Her return, “The Ellen Show” wasn’t a sitcom like “Ellen” had been. Instead, it was a daytime talk show. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” fourteen years later has gone on to become a staple in households around the globe. And because we love Ellen, here are five fun facts about her and “The Ellen Show.”
“The Ellen Show” is widely well known for the pranks it pulls. Among my personal favorites are: Starbucks Prank!, scaring people and literally anything to do with Andy, a producer.
She even brought a girl to “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day” to pretend to be her daughter, Rafter Yellow. Ellen also started a prank vendetta with morning news host Matt Lauer. Matt was more than up to the challenge, however, and retaliated by filling her car with ping pong balls.
Ellen gave a commencement speech in 2010 at Tulane University. She talks about her entry into the world of entertainment, having to hide her sexuality and pivotal moments of change. Watching it is a must.
She goes into detail about the cancellation of her sitcom, “Ellen,” and finding a purpose. It’s incredibly inspiring; none of us are worthy of Ellen Degeneres or “The Ellen Show.”
Ellen gives away a lot of her swag on her show. As a matter of fact, an attendee got in trouble last week for taking more than her share of free stuff. But Ellen also has a clothing line called Ed by Ellen that I cannot afford.
A t-shirt will run you about thirty bucks. Ellen also recently announced a new line of Ed by Ellen for pets which is far more affordable.
Ellen’s show is often a first stop on a road to the stars for a lucky few. Sophia Grace and Rosie, a pair of English girls that went viral for their rendition of Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass,” have gone on to star in their own feature film. In 2010, Ellen founded a record label called “Eleven Eleven” to sign and promote unknown talents. People on the label have included Greyson Chance and Charlie Puth.
Sure, we all know that Ellen gives a lot of things away on her show. We all want to go to the twelve days of giveaways. (What do I have to do for my ticket, Ellen, Your Grace?!) But Ellen always goes the extra mile for those in need.
In 2005, she set up a relief fund for victims of Hurricane Katrina. In 2016, she won the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Humanitarian” and chose St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for the $100,000 donation. And Ellen, with wife Portia De Rossi, has long supported the Gentle Barn, whose mission is to reconnect man and nature.
Thank you, Ellen, for making the “The Ellen Show” and thus giving us more than this Earth deserves.
