As a long-time fan of Ellen DeGeneres, it’s been a rollercoaster ride watching her journey unfold over the years. From her groundbreaking coming out to the tumultuous events of 2020, she’s shown an incredible resilience and humor that’s truly inspiring.
[This story contains spoilers from Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval.]
Ellen DeGeneres is getting the last laugh.
In her newly released (and seemingly last) stand-up comedy special on Netflix, the previous daytime talk show host talks about being ousted from the entertainment industry and uses humor to express it. However, amidst the jokes are also heartfelt moments of honesty and introspection. “I’m here because I enjoy doing stand-up, I miss doing stand-up, I like making people happy, and I do care about what people think,” she admits at the beginning of the special, aptly named Ellen DeGeneres: In Pursuit of Your Appreciation.
If you haven’t followed the news from 2020, Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show faced accusations of a toxic work environment, and she also experienced some personal criticisms. She stated that these issues didn’t prompt her to end the long-running series, but she did acknowledge the emotional pain the controversy caused. In a new special, she humorously reflects on the situation, saying, “I’m a comedian who hosted a talk show and ended it each day by telling people to ‘be kind to one another.’ Yes, that seemed like a good idea. If I had closed my show by saying, ‘Go screw yourselves,’ people would have been surprised to learn I’m actually nice.
Similar to the special’s approach, it initiates by revisiting the 2020 events (presented via a whirlwind of sensational headlines), alongside the scandal that impacted DeGeneres’ career earlier, when she publicly declared her sexuality on the cover of Time magazine. Subsequently, DeGeneres emerges onstage and shares her own account. “I was expelled from show business. Yes, because I’m unkind. You can’t be unkind in show business; they’ll expel you. They won’t tolerate mean people,” she quips, implying that this is her second offense. “Expelled me once before due to my coming out. No place for gays in show business; they’ll expel you. Sooner or later, they’ll expel me a third time for being old – unkind, old, and gay, the triple crown.
Additionally, there’s a wealth of humor yet to be shared. She admits, “Money wasn’t my goal. I was aiming to mend my childhood traumas. I reasoned that if I could bring joy to others, they would accept me, and in turn, I would find self-acceptance.” With a wry smile, she adds, “Well, I can only say, thank goodness for the income!” Indeed, DeGeneres touches upon various topics such as chickens and parallel parking, but the main themes revolve around the controversy and its aftermath.
The upcoming special, lasting an hour and 10 minutes, is one of a two-special agreement that Ellen DeGeneres had previously sealed. The first of these, titled “Relatable“, released in 2018, was DeGeneres’ first special in 15 years. “For Your Approval” was produced by Ben Winston and his company Fulwell 73 Productions, along with DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi, who makes an appearance on stage at the end. Joel Gallen, known for directing Chris Rock’s 2023 “Selective Outrage” special, was in charge of direction.
Towards the end of the special event, DeGeneres openly expresses her happiness – a contentment that stems from no longer being associated with brands, management roles, or advertising. The crowd erupts in thunderous cheers and a standing ovation as she proudly proclaims herself a self-reliant woman. She expresses heartfelt gratitude to the audience for their love and encouragement, admitting that she had doubts about returning to stand-up comedy after such challenging times. However, stepping back onto the stage brought a sense of healing, she says, concluding with more applause, “I’m just glad I got to bid farewell on my own terms.
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2024-09-24 16:54