The Ellen Show

The Ellen Show is a television sitcom created by and starring Ellen DeGeneres that was broadcast during the 2001–2002 season on CBS. It was DeGeneres's second attempt at a sitcom, following Ellen on ABC (1994–1998), but it was unable to attract strong ratings and was quickly cancelled after 13 episodes, leaving 5 episodes unaired.

After coming out as a lesbian on her first sitcom, DeGeneres's character on The Ellen Show, Ellen Richmond, was also a lesbian, although the show did not focus as heavily on the character's sexuality as did the final season of her first sitcom.

The Ellen Show also starred Cloris Leachman, Martin Mull, Kerri Kenney, Jim Gaffigan and Emily Rutherfurd.

Plot

After her internet company, Homelearn.com, goes bankrupt, Ellen Richmond decides to move back to her hometown to live with her eccentric mother, Dot, and scatter-brained sister, Catherine. At home, Ellen becomes reacquainted with her senior prom date, Rusty, who thinks they can pick up where they left off (which, since she is a lesbian, seems unlikely), and her befuddled high school teacher, Mr.Munn. Though worlds apart from the people who love her, Ellen begins to adjust to a very different way of life and takes a job as a counselor at her former high school.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show (often shortened to and stylized as ellen) is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBCUniversal, in the United States and Canada. For its first five seasons, the show was taped in Studio 11 at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. It later moved to Stage 1 on the nearby Warner Bros. lot. Since the beginning of the sixth season, Ellen has been broadcast in high definition. The show has won 36 Daytime Emmy Awards as of 2013. It was announced on March 11, 2013 that the show had been renewed through 2017, which would extend the show through its 14th season. On January 20th, 2016, it was announced that the show had been renewed for 3 additional seasons through 2020.

Concept

The program combines comedy, celebrity, musical guests and human-interest stories. The program often features audience participation games where prizes are awarded. During her Twelve Days of Giveaways promotion, audience members receive roughly $1,000 worth of prizes on each of twelve episodes. Because the show has become so popular, not all who arrive hoping to see a taping can fit into the studio, so an offshoot 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. Other non-celebrities have been featured in an attempt by DeGeneres to give them 15 minutes of fame. Guests in this role have included intelligent children, small business owners, etc. In the show's third season, DeGeneres began surprising fans by introducing them to their favorite celebrities.