P!nk, Billie Eilish, Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Aniston. Image Source: Fox News
Ellen DeGeneres Says Farewell to The Ellen DeGeneres Show!
Ellen DeGeneres, decided to end The Ellen DeGeneres Show after 19-years, had its finale episode premiere on Thursday where she called her final guests Billie Eilish, P!nk, and Jennifer Aniston.
The talk show host received a standing ovation from the audience, which included her wife, Portia de Rossi, her nieces, and some tears. Ellen DeGeneres started the show with a monologue where she welcomed everyone to her last show and added that she walked out here 19 years ago and said to the audience that this was going to be the start of a relationship and today, after 19 years, it’s not the end of that relationship but it’s just a little break.
Ellen DeGeneres reminded the audience that The Ellen DeGeneres Show was not an easy sell, especially after ABC decided to cancel 'Ellen' sitcom in 1998 after she decided to come out to the world via Time Cover. At the time, it was reported ABC officials requested that the episodes do not have a homosexual theme and that a specific viewer's alert concerning the topic is inserted at one point. In her monologue, Ellen stated that no one believed this could work twenty years ago, and that it was not because it was a different program, but because she was different, and that only a few stations wanted to acquire the show.
The host and comedian remembered that she was not permitted to say 'gay' on the program, which she did frequently at home, and that she was not allowed to say "we" on the show since it meant that she was with someone, but now she says "wife" all the time and Portia de Rossi was featured. She referred to the sitcom being canceled in 1998 and said that 25 years ago, executives did not want a lesbian to be on prime time once a week, so she went ahead with The Ellen DeGeneres Show and appeared on daytime every day. Ellen DeGeneres added that she has had a beautiful journey with everyone who has been a part of the show and added that if the show has ever made you smile, lift you, especially when you’re in pain, sadness, or anything else, then she has done her job well.
Ellen DeGeneres added that through The Ellen DeGeneres Show, they have been able to change so many people’s lives, and the show has changed her life as well, describing the entire journey as one great experience. She asked her co-executive producer and sidekick, Stephen tWitch Boss, to dance with her, and both of them wiped their tears and danced to The Emotions’ "Best of My Love." Ellen DeGeneres added that the atmosphere on the show is like a family and she is very proud of the show, family, and the team that they have put together.
Jennifer Aniston was the first guest to appear on the finale episode and Ellen asked her how she handled the ending of her successful and popular show "Friends" in 2004, to which Jennifer Aniston replied that when Friends ended, she got a divorce and went into therapy, and then she made a movie called "The Break-Up" adding that she went all in to end things and start fresh. Ellen shared with Jennifer that she is unsure about what the future holds up for her. Returning to stand-up comedy is one of the possibilities, she added, but also said that she wants to lay low for a while and rest and then start something but is not sure what that is.
Billie Eilish and P!nk followed Jennifer Aniston, and during the interview, P!nk mentioned to Ellen DeGeneres that she wanted to be a singer in the hope of growing up and changing the world to make it a better place. P!nk said to Ellen that she has done that in so many ways, before adding that she helps people find their pain, she helps them find joy, and we need that so badly right now. P!nk complimented Ellen and told her that she is as kind as she seems and she supports people when she shines her light on them, it’s like staring into the sun.
Billie Eilish also complimented Ellen DeGeneres for being extraordinary and recalled that The Ellen DeGeneres Show started a year after Billie was born, so she was in her house all day. On asking about what she has been up to, Billie shared that she is grateful that the world is coming back. She is performing on stage and added that she just thought about her first time on the show and how she was nervous. She mentioned that she is feeling the same right now. Billie mentioned that she is starting to think about her new album and just that she is in a happy place right now.
Ellen DeGeneres finally said a final goodbye before the episode ended, and expressed her gratitude to everyone who had watched the program and supported her, saying that she hoped that what they had been doing for 19 years had made everyone happy and that she had been able to alleviate some of their sufferings. Ellen also expressed her hope that she has been able to motivate them to make people happy, do good in the world, and discover their calling.
The talk show presenter stated her wish that she had encouraged people to be themselves; their genuine, honest selves, in her concluding words. And, even if you disagree, if someone is courageous enough to tell them who they are, they should be supported. They're showing you who they are, she said, which is the best gift someone can give you. Ellen urged the audience to open their hearts and minds, saying that doing so would allow them to be more compassionate, which would make the world a better place.
She concluded the show with thanking everyone for such beautiful memories and added that she feels the love everyone has sent her and she sends it right back to them. "Bye. "
