TheTVObserver: Ellen DeGeneres

Congratulations to Ellen DeGeneres and her talk show on its 1,000th episode. TheTVObserver presents a special OnTheProgram edition, as we celebrate the The Ellen DeGeneres Show's achievement.

If given a choice between Tyra and Ellen, I would choose Ellen in a second. Part of the reason would be the host’s ability to make both viewers and her guests feel comfortable.

I have enjoyed observing Ellen’s talk show and can see it replace the likes of Oprah (when she decides its time to retire). Ellen is down to earth and although her show format is nothing new in the talk show landscape. Her personality is so pure and attractive, on television, that we can’t help but enjoy every episode of this wonderful tv talker.

I remember the first day I got the press kit announcing the launch of a new talk show called The Ellen DeGeneres Show. I was not expecting to be blown away as I thought to myself "can anyone move Oprah to second position?", but after the first few episodes it was clear she had a selling point unlike any other talker. Seasons later, she is the #1 talker (next to the big O, of course).

The show features interviews with celebrities and members of the public, comedic monologues by the host and music performances. It premiered on September 8, 2003.

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 Ellen DeGeneres Show has been renewed through the 2010–2011 season.

Since the beginning of its run, the show has been taped in Studio 11 at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. The show began taping in high definition on September 8, 2008, the sixth season premiere. This coincided with a move to Stage 1 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California after NBC sold the property where the show was previously taped

As in 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 each member of the 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.

On May 18, 2006, the show celebrated its 500th episode. On November 19, 2007, the show celebrated its 700th episode, even though the actual 700th show was over a month earlier. On May 1, 2009, Ellen celebrated her 1,000th episode.

(Ellen's Look Like)

The show was featured in an episode on the NBC sitcom Joey, with the main character (Joey Tribbiani) as a guest. It was also featured on an episode of the 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. Also, on The CW show Reaper, the Devil, played by Ray Wise, asked Sam Oliver, played by Bret Harrison, "What time does Ellen come on?"

The show averages about three million viewers per episode, according to daytime television ratings, which makes it one of the highest-viewed daytime shows.

Ellen's show features a wide variety of regular segments. Some of these segments appear very frequently, while others are less popular. Most segments have a theme song, usually taken from popular music, that is played along with a full-screen graphic with the segment's title.

The show frequently features audience games. These games can be played with Ellen, guests or between members of the audience. Most games involved a prize for all participants, with a larger one being given to the winner.

Ellen can be seen on television internationally in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Finland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela, Uruguay.

Ellen has also helped many non-famous people attain their 15 minutes of fame by having them as guests on the show. Guests in this role have included intelligent children, the owner of a small shop called "Mostly Moose and More", a flea market owner who raps in his commercials, and a male audience member who refused to dance, named Carl by Ellen based on the way he looks, while his real name is Jim. Most recently there has been Lisa Barnum, who attempted to step on Ellen's coffee table aggravating her back injury; in several later episodes Ellen jokingly blames Lisa for her back injury.

We wish you well with the 1,000 episodes you've produced and let there be thousands more.

Related Links
TheTVObserver: Oprah & Ellen
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TheTVObserver's StarSpread
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