In the 16 years since she’s dominated daytime TV, Ellen DeGeneres has been a stabilizing, non-threatening force for good. No matter what’s in the news, who’s blowing up your timeline, or the state of your bank account, Ellen’s is here to make you laugh with some eight-year old who knows all the words to “Back That Azz Up” or whatever. That could very well change in the near future, however, as a new profile in the New York Times centers around the host’s potential retirement.
She reportedly almost didn’t renew her current contract, which keeps her on air until the summer of 2020. After that, though, it’s anybody’s guess where she goes. Stand-up is definitely an option, but that likely depends on how fans receive her upcoming Netflix comedy special, Relatable, her first in 15 years. In the interview, Ellen teases that it smudges her squeaky clean image somewhat.
“I wanted to show all of me,” she said of the special. “The talk show is me, but I’m also playing a character of a talk-show host. There’s a tiny, tiny bit of difference.”
Her wife, actor Portia de Rossi, seems to want her off TV, saying that she could pivot to radio or podcasting. “I don’t see the end of her show as her career ending,” de Rossi said, and she’s not wrong in that audiences would most certainly turn out for another Dory and Nemo joint.
If Ellen bailing on her daytime safe space sounds cruel in this soul-crushing climate, know this: Ellen’s fans sometimes demand that she dance for them. There is perhaps no greater nightmare.
Relatable hits Netflix on December 18.
31 Comments
Now what am I going to watch when I’m waiting for the doctor to see me?!
She could make a mountain of money if she left the talk show gig, and agreed to do a stand-up comedy special one-off for Netflix or HBO.
Stand-up is definitely an option, but that likely depends on how fans receive her upcoming Netflix comedy special, Relatable, her first in 15 years. Read the whole article, maybe.
She is making a mountain of money now, showing up to a studio in Burbank, talking to famous people and telling jokes written by a room full of people. A one-hour comedy special takes about year’s worth of writing, workshopping and touring before you bring the cameras in. That’s probably more work than Ellen wants to do at this point.
She could consider just buying a couple of claw machines filled with toys. She can make a few bucks off of those after the initial capital investment with little maintenance cost!
she has a netflix special…
Then she can do another one.
But who’s gonna give away beats headphones and large TV’s courtesy of Target now!?
or give out scholarships to youtube-vlogger looking white guys.
Jordan Schlansky?
Who are the nation’s moms going to look to for inspiration and a show that’s “just so fun!”?!?
Isn’t her program called The Ellen Show? If so they could replace her with another Ellen and nobody would know the difference!
30 Ellens agree!
As long as the guests include some of the Daves I know I know, I’ll tune in.
Someone get Ms. Barkin on the blower!!
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia?
Ellen Cleghorne’s calendar is open.
Ellen Page. Sponsored by L&M cigarettes. Filmed in Deep Ellum.
Or they could get Naughty Dog to create a CGI facsimile.
They’ll do a show together called “Ellen on Ellen”, which will run for seven seasons without ever definitively answering which Ellen is on which Ellen.
but who will we @ on twitter when we want some viral flash in the pan personality to be put on tv?
Steve Wilkos?
The President
Few celebrities willingly give up $50 million per year to host a daytime talk show.
but who will surprise middle class white people on TV now? She filled the void Oprah left
Ellen tucks into some onion rings, the bell on the door rings and she looks up. Cut to black.Fin.
Can you “tuck into” a plate of onion rings though? You can tuck into a plate of mashed potatoes or a bowl of chili, but can you tuck into onion rings? I’m asking because I didn’t go to college and I assume that’s when you learn such things.
If I was Fox – Who has always wanted to compete in the Late Night talk show category but has never been able to, I’d back up a truck of money and bring her to lat night to compete with Fallon, Kimmel & Colbert. Why can’t we have a late night show on a major network that has a female host?
Ellen doing a podcast makes so much sense I am flabbergasted she hasn’t had one yet.
I can’t believe Ellen’s Netflix special premieres next week and this is the first I’m hearing of it! I used to love her stand-up, so I hope my expectations aren’t unrealistic.
Ending in 2020 sounds reasonable. Sixteen years is a long time to do anything, and she’s going to turn 63 in 2020. There’s something to be said for walking away on your own terms. I’d love to see her do a bit more comedy where she can be a bit more of herself (her talk-show host personality is just a bit too twee for my tastes). But I would totally understand if she just wanted to go home and swim in her giant pile of money ala Scrooge McDuck. She’s earned it.