Ellen DeGeneres, Emmy Award-winning host of the syndicated talk show, "The
Ellen DeGeneres Show", has talked and danced her way into the hearts of
America. The comic's namesake show, which debuted September 2000 is scheduled
to be seen across the nation through the 2009-2010 season. With its renewal,
announced August 10, 2006, Ellen DeGeneres becomes a constant in the Daytime TV
world.
In May 2006, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" won its third straight Daytime Emmy
for Outstanding Talk Show. DeGeneres won her second straight Daytime Emmy for
Outstanding Talk Show Host. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is the first talk show
in television history to win the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show for its first
three seasons on the air. It was nominated for eleven Daytime Emmy Awards in
its freshman season, winning four, including Best Talk Show. The show has won
fifteen Emmy Awards in its first three seasons on the air.
Ellen has given the daytime show her signature touch - a lighthearted,
carefree romp which begs its audience to forget their troubles and enjoy the
conversation. She marks each show with a dance up front and many thanks at the
end.
Ellen's ability to provide laughter, while staying in touch with the human
heart, has been the hallmark of her career. She received multiple standing
ovations for her charm, tone and uplifting prsonality when she hosted the Emmy
Awards following the September 11 attacks in 2001, using the perfect balance of
wit and heartfelt emotion.
The defining moment in Ellen's career came with her appearance on "The
Tonight Show" in 1986. After her set, Johnny Carson, with his infallible
judgment, invited her to sit next to him, a traditional signal to both
comedians and the entertainment industry that Johnny thought this person was
something special. Ellen was the first female comedian to be invited over.
Ellen had begun her career as an emcee at a local comedy club in her
hometown of New Orleans. She received national recognition in 1982 when her
videotaped performances won Showtime's "Funniest Person in America". Moving
from New Orleans to San Francisco, she began performing at comedy clubs all
over the country. She was named Best Female Stand-Up Comedian at the 1991
America Comedy Awards.
Ellen began her TV career in Fox's "Open House", then moved on to ABC's
"Laurie Hill" until being offered "These Friends of Mine" by ABC, which, after
its first season, became "Ellen". It premiered in March 1994 with its final
episode in July 1998. The ABC show was popular due to the quirky, observational
humor of Ellen; it was often referred to as a "female" Seinfeld.
In 2003, Ellen enjoyed unprecedented popular and critical response to her
character, "Dory", the fish with extreme short-term memory, a Disney/Pixar
animated feature film, "Finding Nemo". In addition, she was nominated for a
2004 MTV Movie award for Best Comedic Performance for her work in the film.
Ellen has written two books, My Point .. And I Do Have One,
published in 1996 and The Funny Thing Is, published in 2003, which
quickly hit The New York Times bestseller list.
DeGeneres has also served as host for several industry events including the
38th and 39th Annual Grammy Awards for which she earned an Emmy nomination, the
46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, receiving an American Comedy Award, and the
VH1 Honors, which garnered her a Cable Ace Award.
In 1995 her first book My Point...And I Do Have One debuted at #1
on the New York Times bestseller list, and in 1997 she released her comedy CD,
"Taste This." In July 2000, DeGeneres returned to stand-up, embarking on a
three-month tour of major theatres across the country that culminated in her
critically acclaimed and Emmy nominated special "The Beginning."
Since she was first nationally recognized in 1982 as a comedian in New
Orleans, Ellen's many contributions to the entertainment industry have earned
her numerous accolades including a Golden Apple Award as Female Discovery of
the Year from the Hollywood Women's Press Club, a Lucy Award honoring women in
Television and Film, as well as an Amnesty International Award.
*In partnership with International Creative Management
