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00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:07,841
Give me the, the rundown
on how to say your name.
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00:00:07,841 --> 00:00:09,051
-The rundown on it?
-Yeah.
3
00:00:09,051 --> 00:00:10,677
It's DeGeneres.
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Sometimes in public bathrooms
you'll find railings
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on each side of the toilet,
and you think that's
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for the elderly or
the handicapped.
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It's not so, it's for people
who are that paranoid about
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catching germs they can
balance themselves like...
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[narrator] Ellen exploded on
the scene in the early 80s
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with her clean,
uncomplicated comedy.
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She was talking about the
things that make us all laugh.
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And something
about the darkness,
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we just lose all of our
inhibitions in the darkness.
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Is the popcorn really that
delicious we must
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00:00:33,242 --> 00:00:35,619
shovel handfuls of it
into our mouth?
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00:00:35,619 --> 00:00:38,080
Please welcome
Ellen DeGeneres!
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[Shrieking]
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She created one of the
most iconic moments
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in network
television history.
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[Amplified]
I'm gay.
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[Laughing]
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It really was a
game changer,
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00:00:49,591 --> 00:00:51,593
and it was monumental.
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Her roles in Hollywood were
all about simple innocence.
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[Vocalizing]
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He's not coming back,
you offended him!
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Maybe a different dialect.
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And when she launched
a daytime talk show,
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it was the biggest
thing on air.
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You just brought a
friend to Bora Bora?
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Yeah.
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And you're just
naked with your friend?
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Why are you putting me
on the spot like this?
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Her entire stage persona
was based on
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being nice and kind.
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Everybody loved Ellen.
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She was the
friend next door,
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and you liked her.
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She is one of my
very good friends.
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I love her so much.
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She is one of the best
people on this planet.
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Until one day the
curtain was pulled back.
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Three top producers are
out at the Ellen show.
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It was some of the darkest
times of her life, too.
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Toxic, phoney,
hypocrite, liar.
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That's what she is.
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Suddenly everything
Ellen stood for
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seemed to be a lie.
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I got to the core,
and it wasn't...
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it was rotten,
and it wasn't good.
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She demolished her brand.
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How did Ellen DeGeneres
go from being
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the ambassador of kindness,
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to being tagged as the
meanest person on TV?
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-Siri.
-"Yes?"
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Spell the word bitch.
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"E-L-L-E-N."
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[Overlapping voices]
Ladies and gentlemen!
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You're about to
be entertained!
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Getting the laugh is
the greatest addiction.
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They want more of it,
they want more of it.
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She was getting
death threats.
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It [beep] with your head!
He's out of his skull!
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That's what
took her down.
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This is a crazy story.
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♪
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When I was watching
Lassie as a kid,
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they always made it
look like Lassie was
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the hero of the show.
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Lassie was not
the hero of the show,
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it was the people who were
on there with Lassie
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who were the geniuses to
figure out what the hell
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the dog was
talking about.
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Do you remember
this show?
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Raised in Metairie,
Louisiana,
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Ellen DeGeneres' childhood
is anything but simple.
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I was a normal kid.
Loved dolls,
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was a tomboy also,
but loved dolls.
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Loved babies.
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Ellen's parents divorced
when she was around 13.
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She said that she was raised
in a pretty "non-communicative"
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household, so, it was a
surprise to her and her
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brother that her parents
had been fighting at all.
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Ellen had a childhood
like most comedians,
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it was a little dark.
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She moves in with her mother,
who's suddenly a single mom
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and mourning the
end of her marriage.
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Her mother battled
depression,
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and that trickled
down to affect Ellen.
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I think it was the
first time I realized
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what kind of
power, um...
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humour has.
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You know, she's crying one
minute and then the next
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minute she's laughing
hysterically, and I thought,
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that's, that's amazing to be
able to do that for people.
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I think that maybe was the,
the first seed of
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how Ellen got into this
world of comedy.
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You know, people say
there's a lot of
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descriptions of
what that is.
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What, what making people
laugh does for a person,
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00:03:39,845 --> 00:03:44,641
the need for love, or
acceptance, approval...
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all of those things are,
I'm sure they're true,
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but it's a high.
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As Ellen hits her 20s,
she upends her life.
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She moves to New Orleans,
and she kinda comes into
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00:03:55,152 --> 00:03:58,530
her own and starts being
an adult living by herself.
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I was a waitress,
I sold clothes,
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00:04:01,575 --> 00:04:02,993
I was a vacuum
cleaner salesman,
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and boy did
that job suck.
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-You know that?
-[Laughing]
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I mean, I did
a lot of things.
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I didn't know what
I was gonna do.
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Have you always
wanted to do comedy?
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Um... no, I really didn't
until I got on stage,
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until I was talked into it,
because I didn't wanna,
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you know, do it.
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Soon after moving
to New Orleans,
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Ellen is actively looking
for work in the
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00:04:22,596 --> 00:04:25,056
city's comedy scene.
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I'm driving down the street
in the French Quarter,
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and there was a
sign that said,
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'Opening soon Clyde's
Comedy Corner'
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00:04:31,521 --> 00:04:33,356
up on this banister.
And I went inside,
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and I asked if the
owner was there,
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and he happened
to be there.
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I told him I was a comedian,
and could I be the MC?
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Ellen has become
fully committed to a
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career as a comedian.
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00:04:44,159 --> 00:04:47,454
I won't say how old I am,
but I'm pretty old,
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00:04:47,454 --> 00:04:49,498
and I've been singing and
playing the guitar
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my whole life,
and I still do gigs.
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Why do I do that?
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I don't make any
money at it, really.
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There's something you get
from making people laugh
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00:05:03,512 --> 00:05:06,515
as a group,
anonymous people,
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00:05:06,515 --> 00:05:09,726
that you can't replace any
other way in your life.
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And boy,
she's had it big time.
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♪
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00:05:14,064 --> 00:05:17,484
By 1982, Ellen is flush with
strong material and
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00:05:17,484 --> 00:05:20,070
a desire for
greater exposure.
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00:05:20,070 --> 00:05:22,489
She submits a tape to
'Showtime' and is chosen as
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00:05:22,489 --> 00:05:25,867
the network's funniest
person in America.
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We write a letter
to a friend,
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00:05:27,369 --> 00:05:28,912
we run out of room on
the front of the letter,
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00:05:28,912 --> 00:05:31,831
we write 'over' on the
bottom of the letter.
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00:05:31,831 --> 00:05:34,668
What, are we writing
to morons or something?
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00:05:34,668 --> 00:05:38,255
Like they're going to read it,
"And so Kathy and I-"
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00:05:38,255 --> 00:05:40,006
Ellen DeGeneres.
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00:05:40,006 --> 00:05:42,425
[Applauding]
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00:05:42,425 --> 00:05:44,928
She is soon making her
name on the comedy circuit.
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00:05:44,928 --> 00:05:48,932
So like, if you would laugh,
then he won't get it.
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00:05:48,932 --> 00:05:50,934
[Laughing]
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00:05:50,934 --> 00:05:54,521
To get paid for, for doing
things that you made up,
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00:05:54,521 --> 00:05:56,439
things that you say,
"Yeah, this will be funny.
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They'll enjoy this."
And you get on stage,
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and they actually are funny,
and they actually do make
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people laugh, and you
think you have this,
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00:06:03,363 --> 00:06:06,741
this talent for making other
people enjoy themselves.
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00:06:06,741 --> 00:06:08,869
It's, it's the greatest
thing in the world.
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As Ellen's professional
life starts to grow,
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so does her
personal life.
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She's come out to
her friends as gay,
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and she has a girlfriend
named Kat Perkoff.
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♪
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Ellen had experienced
this terrible tragedy.
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Her girlfriend and her had
had this terrible fight.
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They weren't on
speaking terms.
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Ellen discovers that
Kat has been unfaithful.
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Later that evening at
a club, Kat tries to
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00:06:34,519 --> 00:06:37,147
reconcile the situation,
but Ellen pretends
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she can't hear her
over the music.
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The two leave the club
separately and Ellen
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notices a car accident
on the way home.
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The next morning,
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she finds out that
the crash involved Kat,
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and her girlfriend
is now dead.
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It left Ellen heartbroken.
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Ellen was in mourning.
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She had to move out her
apartment because she
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couldn't afford to stay in
apartment that her and
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00:07:01,171 --> 00:07:02,672
her girlfriend stayed in.
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She was staying in this
raggedy place,
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00:07:06,635 --> 00:07:08,053
sitting on a mattress,
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00:07:08,053 --> 00:07:11,640
and she had this
sort of epiphany.
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Wouldn't it be great if we
could just pick up the phone
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00:07:13,475 --> 00:07:15,894
and call up God and
ask him these things?
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Just pick up the phone
and call up God and...
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"Yeah, hi, God?
It's Ellen.
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00:07:21,858 --> 00:07:23,526
Ellen."
-[Laughing]
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You got a little cold,
God bless ya.
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00:07:25,111 --> 00:07:27,364
-[Laughing]
-Bless yourself.
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She creates a routine
about speaking with God.
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It leads to a call.
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00:07:31,951 --> 00:07:34,871
One that every comedian
in the 1980s strives for.
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Would you welcome,
Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen?
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♪ [Applauding] ♪
197
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The set that she gives on
the Johnny Carson Show,
198
00:07:43,463 --> 00:07:46,007
which was one of the most
pivotal moments of her
199
00:07:46,007 --> 00:07:48,510
career, was directly
inspired by her
200
00:07:48,510 --> 00:07:50,261
grief in that moment.
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00:07:50,261 --> 00:07:51,888
♪
202
00:07:51,888 --> 00:07:53,932
Yeah, hi God,
this is Ellen.
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00:07:53,932 --> 00:07:55,225
Ellen.
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00:07:55,225 --> 00:07:57,060
DeGeneres...
205
00:07:57,060 --> 00:07:58,770
DeGeneres.
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00:07:58,770 --> 00:08:00,480
What's so funny?
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00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,273
[Chuckling] No, I never
thought of that,
208
00:08:02,273 --> 00:08:03,900
it does sound like that,
doesn't it?
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00:08:03,900 --> 00:08:07,696
She was super driven,
super focused,
210
00:08:07,696 --> 00:08:09,698
and super ambitious.
211
00:08:09,698 --> 00:08:12,450
Ellen's appearance has more
than career implications.
212
00:08:12,450 --> 00:08:15,537
It arguably marks
a shift in culture.
213
00:08:15,537 --> 00:08:18,206
It's always tougher for a,
a woman to do comedy.
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00:08:18,206 --> 00:08:20,500
I say that and men think
I'm being chauvinistic.
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00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:22,752
I think she had to work
harder than any comedian.
216
00:08:22,752 --> 00:08:23,962
Number one because
she was a woman.
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00:08:23,962 --> 00:08:26,339
I think it was hard then
because the people who were
218
00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:30,010
making the decisions
were all guys in suits.
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00:08:30,010 --> 00:08:31,636
In the wake of her
breakout appearance
220
00:08:31,636 --> 00:08:32,929
on 'The Tonight Show',
221
00:08:32,929 --> 00:08:36,015
Ellen's profile increases
exponentially as
222
00:08:36,015 --> 00:08:38,643
America embraces
her brand of comedy.
223
00:08:38,643 --> 00:08:40,270
She had, like, a, a...
224
00:08:40,270 --> 00:08:42,480
you know, an every
woman kind of a thing.
225
00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,191
She had a dry delivery.
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00:08:45,191 --> 00:08:47,861
She took the, the dull
and mundane and
227
00:08:47,861 --> 00:08:49,487
made it hysterical.
228
00:08:49,487 --> 00:08:50,947
[Applauding]
229
00:08:50,947 --> 00:08:53,825
In 1992, Ellen lands
an HBO special,
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00:08:53,825 --> 00:08:56,369
marking a crucial next
step in her career.
231
00:08:56,369 --> 00:08:57,537
[Applauding]
232
00:08:57,537 --> 00:09:00,582
Her relentless drive also
lands her her first regular
233
00:09:00,582 --> 00:09:03,209
small screen gig as
a cast member
234
00:09:03,209 --> 00:09:05,503
on the Fox sitcom
'Open House.'
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00:09:05,503 --> 00:09:07,922
♪
236
00:09:07,922 --> 00:09:10,759
You know I had dinner
with Mr. Green once.
237
00:09:10,759 --> 00:09:11,885
Actually it wasn't dinner,
238
00:09:11,885 --> 00:09:14,846
it was more like a
snack, really.
239
00:09:14,846 --> 00:09:17,432
'Open House' only
lasts one season,
240
00:09:17,432 --> 00:09:19,976
but Ellen impresses
network executives.
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00:09:19,976 --> 00:09:22,061
They decide to take
a chance and
242
00:09:22,061 --> 00:09:24,022
build a sitcom
around her.
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00:09:24,022 --> 00:09:26,816
Her personality really did
244
00:09:26,816 --> 00:09:30,320
allow her to segueway
into a sitcom.
245
00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:31,571
Here's a crazy thing.
246
00:09:31,571 --> 00:09:33,198
They were auditioning
for the pilot,
247
00:09:33,198 --> 00:09:36,034
and I went in. It was
a chemistry read,
248
00:09:36,034 --> 00:09:39,913
or like a, a studio
network test, with Ellen,
249
00:09:39,913 --> 00:09:41,790
reading with her
in the room.
250
00:09:41,790 --> 00:09:44,125
I don't know if
people know how, like,
251
00:09:44,125 --> 00:09:46,961
intimidating it is to go for
these big network tests
252
00:09:46,961 --> 00:09:48,463
and they say how much
they're gonna pay you and
253
00:09:48,463 --> 00:09:51,299
you start cashing the cheques
before you get there.
254
00:09:51,299 --> 00:09:53,760
I was like, "I could buy a
house after this."
255
00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,012
But I made Ellen laugh,
256
00:09:56,012 --> 00:09:58,264
and she made me laugh,
257
00:09:58,264 --> 00:10:00,141
and we had amazing
chemistry and
258
00:10:00,141 --> 00:10:02,060
I got the job
an hour later.
259
00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:05,063
The Ellen sitcom was
about a single woman
260
00:10:05,063 --> 00:10:06,648
who owned a bookstore.
261
00:10:06,648 --> 00:10:09,818
It really is what we would
now call a 'hangout comedy.'
262
00:10:09,818 --> 00:10:13,113
A bunch of friends
getting together,
263
00:10:13,113 --> 00:10:17,158
going through sort
of funny scenarios.
264
00:10:17,158 --> 00:10:20,495
We worked on a set where
everybody was on time,
265
00:10:20,495 --> 00:10:23,456
where we came prepared,
266
00:10:23,456 --> 00:10:26,292
where we were
able to improv,
267
00:10:26,292 --> 00:10:28,169
where we were able
to try things,
268
00:10:28,169 --> 00:10:30,338
where it was
encouraged.
269
00:10:30,338 --> 00:10:33,758
And then once it was, like,
set, of course it was set,
270
00:10:33,758 --> 00:10:36,469
and then a second take
was like all bets are off.
271
00:10:36,469 --> 00:10:37,595
[Drumming]
272
00:10:37,595 --> 00:10:40,265
I'll always be there
when you talk to me.
273
00:10:40,265 --> 00:10:41,516
[Drumming]
274
00:10:41,516 --> 00:10:44,102
I'll always hear you.
275
00:10:44,102 --> 00:10:46,062
Ellen came into
her truth and
276
00:10:46,062 --> 00:10:48,148
what she wanted
the show to be.
277
00:10:48,148 --> 00:10:50,567
Paige, why would you just
naturally assume they're mine?
278
00:10:50,567 --> 00:10:51,985
I mean, could they
possibly be Spence's?
279
00:10:51,985 --> 00:10:53,236
Okay, they're mine.
280
00:10:53,236 --> 00:10:56,489
I think that you come to
the table, quite literally,
281
00:10:56,489 --> 00:10:59,200
with authenticity
and integrity,
282
00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,287
and you want everything
to be great and funny,
283
00:11:02,287 --> 00:11:04,122
'cause it is a sitcom.
284
00:11:04,122 --> 00:11:07,375
The show is a big success,
but behind the scenes
285
00:11:07,375 --> 00:11:09,794
Ellen will reveal another
side of herself...
286
00:11:09,794 --> 00:11:12,839
a deep-seated determination
for perfection.
287
00:11:12,839 --> 00:11:16,217
I could only imagine what
the pressure was on her.
288
00:11:16,217 --> 00:11:19,387
And an ambition so
driven that it ignores
289
00:11:19,387 --> 00:11:21,347
the feelings of all others.
290
00:11:30,148 --> 00:11:32,150
Ellen's sitcom is
ever more popular,
291
00:11:32,150 --> 00:11:35,153
but with growing success
comes increased pressure,
292
00:11:35,153 --> 00:11:38,239
and a determination
to push her team.
293
00:11:38,239 --> 00:11:39,991
It was a horrible show to
write for because
294
00:11:39,991 --> 00:11:41,910
you had to reinvent the
show every week.
295
00:11:41,910 --> 00:11:44,329
First of all, that week we
were doing a show where
296
00:11:44,329 --> 00:11:48,791
the character of Audrey
was pregnant.
297
00:11:48,791 --> 00:11:50,835
It had been okayed by the
network and the studio
298
00:11:50,835 --> 00:11:52,170
and by Ellen.
299
00:11:52,170 --> 00:11:55,256
The script was written,
we shoot on Friday,
300
00:11:55,256 --> 00:11:58,009
it's Wednesday night, we're
all drinking, we've had wine.
301
00:11:58,009 --> 00:12:00,136
We were walking out
on stage, and she turns
302
00:12:00,136 --> 00:12:03,181
to Dava Savel, who is one
of the executive producers,
303
00:12:03,181 --> 00:12:04,807
turns to her and says,
"By the way,
304
00:12:04,807 --> 00:12:07,101
I don't think I want Audrey
to get pregnant this week."
305
00:12:07,101 --> 00:12:11,439
♪
306
00:12:11,439 --> 00:12:14,150
But not after the writers
have been drinking and now
307
00:12:14,150 --> 00:12:16,903
know they have to go back
and pull an all-nighter
308
00:12:16,903 --> 00:12:19,572
to write another story,
that's different from
309
00:12:19,572 --> 00:12:22,367
replacing jokes,
or a scene.
310
00:12:22,367 --> 00:12:26,663
When we got back to the
office to start the night,
311
00:12:26,663 --> 00:12:30,833
or continue the night,
she sent us all wine,
312
00:12:30,833 --> 00:12:34,837
bottles of wine.
Now...
313
00:12:34,837 --> 00:12:36,756
That's not thinking.
314
00:12:36,756 --> 00:12:40,468
That's a sweet gesture, but
it's a thoughtless gesture in
315
00:12:40,468 --> 00:12:43,680
the sense of that we'd all
want to drink that wine,
316
00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:45,682
'cause we were already
a little bit high,
317
00:12:45,682 --> 00:12:47,308
but we couldn't.
318
00:12:47,308 --> 00:12:49,435
The next day I understand
she was upset because
319
00:12:49,435 --> 00:12:51,229
we didn't thank her.
320
00:12:51,229 --> 00:12:52,981
But Ellen is also
pushing herself,
321
00:12:52,981 --> 00:12:54,899
and is struggling with
the need to create
322
00:12:54,899 --> 00:12:56,651
something meaningful.
323
00:12:56,651 --> 00:12:59,320
Something authentic.
324
00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,406
I was, I was doing
well financially,
325
00:13:01,406 --> 00:13:04,075
I was doing well
professionally, but I didn't,
326
00:13:04,075 --> 00:13:06,869
I felt like I was not free.
327
00:13:06,869 --> 00:13:08,871
Everything felt like a lie.
328
00:13:08,871 --> 00:13:12,709
I saw my friend and
a fellow performer
329
00:13:12,709 --> 00:13:16,796
come to the set with...
330
00:13:16,796 --> 00:13:19,757
pain, and fear,
and angst.
331
00:13:19,757 --> 00:13:21,509
And then trying to be
funny on top of that
332
00:13:21,509 --> 00:13:23,428
because she really
wanted to be
333
00:13:23,428 --> 00:13:25,596
living in her truth.
334
00:13:25,596 --> 00:13:28,599
She invited all the writers
to her house for a, a party,
335
00:13:28,599 --> 00:13:30,977
I think it was in the
summer during hiatus...
336
00:13:30,977 --> 00:13:33,980
and she stood up in front of
everybody and she announced,
337
00:13:33,980 --> 00:13:36,983
"I'm coming out on the
show this season."
338
00:13:36,983 --> 00:13:41,404
All I remember was my
partner does a U-turn,
339
00:13:41,404 --> 00:13:44,073
goes out to the
balcony, and he said,
340
00:13:44,073 --> 00:13:46,159
"We can't do this."
341
00:13:46,159 --> 00:13:50,288
He felt like this was
possibly gonna kill us.
342
00:13:50,288 --> 00:13:52,373
The 90s were a very
different time from today.
343
00:13:52,373 --> 00:13:56,919
They were not welcoming to
gay people in popular culture.
344
00:13:56,919 --> 00:13:59,297
Ellen's sitcom is
on summer break,
345
00:13:59,297 --> 00:14:01,049
but rumours have
gotten out and there's
346
00:14:01,049 --> 00:14:03,259
public speculation about
what's going to happen
347
00:14:03,259 --> 00:14:05,303
next on the show.
348
00:14:05,303 --> 00:14:06,929
When is Ellen
gonna come out?
349
00:14:06,929 --> 00:14:08,723
How is Ellen
gonna come out?
350
00:14:08,723 --> 00:14:10,308
What is it
gonna look like?
351
00:14:10,308 --> 00:14:13,436
Rumour about your character
on Ellen, Ellen Morgan,
352
00:14:13,436 --> 00:14:15,104
you know,
coming out of the closet.
353
00:14:15,104 --> 00:14:17,273
She was not true
to herself on it.
354
00:14:17,273 --> 00:14:20,318
She didn't want to date
men on the show anymore.
355
00:14:20,318 --> 00:14:22,779
I mean, is, is it, is
it going to happen?
356
00:14:22,779 --> 00:14:24,447
Or is it not
going to happen?
357
00:14:24,447 --> 00:14:27,241
And if it does happen,
well, that's great, right?
358
00:14:27,241 --> 00:14:30,286
She couldn't walk around
holding hands
359
00:14:30,286 --> 00:14:32,205
with her girlfriend.
360
00:14:32,205 --> 00:14:33,664
You're like in
hard news right now.
361
00:14:33,664 --> 00:14:34,999
I love that you're-
362
00:14:34,999 --> 00:14:36,959
you know, I don't,
I don't know.
363
00:14:36,959 --> 00:14:38,628
-Oh come on, you know.
-Yeah, okay.
364
00:14:38,628 --> 00:14:39,754
You gotta know,
it's your show.
365
00:14:39,754 --> 00:14:41,881
[Laughing]
366
00:14:41,881 --> 00:14:44,133
She couldn't be...
367
00:14:44,133 --> 00:14:47,970
look like a couple
with anybody.
368
00:14:47,970 --> 00:14:50,264
Though the network bows
to pressure from Ellen,
369
00:14:50,264 --> 00:14:53,601
the actual episode where
her character will come out
370
00:14:53,601 --> 00:14:56,187
remains a closely
guarded secret.
371
00:14:56,187 --> 00:14:59,315
Has there ever been anyone
you felt you clicked with?
372
00:14:59,315 --> 00:15:01,359
♪
373
00:15:01,359 --> 00:15:04,570
And what was his name?
374
00:15:04,570 --> 00:15:06,280
Susan.
375
00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,533
[Laughing &
applauding]
376
00:15:08,533 --> 00:15:11,661
The energy of the,
of the tapings
377
00:15:11,661 --> 00:15:13,663
started to grow,
and you could feel it,
378
00:15:13,663 --> 00:15:15,081
and when was gonna
be the time,
379
00:15:15,081 --> 00:15:16,749
and we all knew,
obviously, that when it,
380
00:15:16,749 --> 00:15:18,376
when it was
gonna happen.
381
00:15:18,376 --> 00:15:20,545
I remember driving up to
get to my street and
382
00:15:20,545 --> 00:15:22,380
it was completely
blocked off.
383
00:15:22,380 --> 00:15:24,382
Someone was having a party
on the block to watch it,
384
00:15:24,382 --> 00:15:26,217
and I thought, "Oh this is,
this is sensational.
385
00:15:26,217 --> 00:15:27,927
This is really,
really terrific."
386
00:15:27,927 --> 00:15:30,513
The official 'Come Out
with Ellen' website
387
00:15:30,513 --> 00:15:34,183
claims that it's received
1,500 requests for
388
00:15:34,183 --> 00:15:37,311
its 'Come Out with Ellen'
house party kits.
389
00:15:37,311 --> 00:15:39,021
I'm 35 years old.
390
00:15:39,021 --> 00:15:41,566
I'm so afraid to tell people.
I mean, I just...
391
00:15:42,733 --> 00:15:44,360
Susan...
392
00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:45,903
[Amplified]
I'm gay.
393
00:15:45,903 --> 00:15:50,158
[Cheering]
394
00:15:50,158 --> 00:15:52,201
When Ellen announced that
she was gay into that
395
00:15:52,201 --> 00:15:56,372
loudspeaker, the audience
started crying and
396
00:15:56,372 --> 00:15:59,876
applauding for, we had to
stop tape for five minutes.
397
00:15:59,876 --> 00:16:02,003
It was, I mean,
I'm choking up
398
00:16:02,003 --> 00:16:03,754
just remembering it.
399
00:16:03,754 --> 00:16:06,215
There was screaming,
there was laughter,
400
00:16:06,215 --> 00:16:09,093
there was crying,
there was emotion.
401
00:16:09,093 --> 00:16:14,182
It was like a vibration that
will never, ever be repeated.
402
00:16:14,182 --> 00:16:16,726
There's a line in the show
that I say to open it,
403
00:16:16,726 --> 00:16:18,311
to the therapist, "Nobody
ever gives you a cake
404
00:16:18,311 --> 00:16:19,812
that says, 'Good
for you, you're gay.'"
405
00:16:19,812 --> 00:16:22,023
And they, they,
they wheeled out
406
00:16:22,023 --> 00:16:24,567
a huge cake that said,
'Good for you, you're gay.'
407
00:16:24,567 --> 00:16:27,403
It really was a
game changer,
408
00:16:27,403 --> 00:16:29,030
and it was monumental.
409
00:16:29,030 --> 00:16:30,156
It was weird, I was
getting phone calls,
410
00:16:30,156 --> 00:16:33,201
people from New York saying
that the streets were empty,
411
00:16:33,201 --> 00:16:37,038
that places had
closed down early.
412
00:16:37,038 --> 00:16:39,707
During commercial breaks or,
or after a certain line
413
00:16:39,707 --> 00:16:41,667
you could hear cheering.
414
00:16:41,667 --> 00:16:44,837
I think she rose to,
415
00:16:44,837 --> 00:16:48,382
to this stratosphere
that we talk about and,
416
00:16:48,382 --> 00:16:51,135
you know, the
cover of 'Time Magazine'
417
00:16:51,135 --> 00:16:54,555
and, 'Yep, I'm Gay,'
was a big deal for her.
418
00:16:54,555 --> 00:16:56,974
Not many people
had done that.
419
00:16:56,974 --> 00:16:58,684
When Ellen came
out on her show,
420
00:16:58,684 --> 00:17:01,395
it was this bold
and brash decision.
421
00:17:01,395 --> 00:17:03,648
It was a powerful decision.
It was a calculated decision.
422
00:17:03,648 --> 00:17:05,191
It was time for her.
423
00:17:05,191 --> 00:17:07,985
I was...
424
00:17:07,985 --> 00:17:11,322
filled with joy.
425
00:17:11,322 --> 00:17:13,282
But as the celebration
around Ellen's coming out
426
00:17:13,282 --> 00:17:14,951
begins to recede,
427
00:17:14,951 --> 00:17:16,786
a backlash starts
to foment.
428
00:17:16,786 --> 00:17:19,622
I think it was
really post the show,
429
00:17:19,622 --> 00:17:21,541
post the actual
coming out show,
430
00:17:21,541 --> 00:17:23,584
where it became
the darkest.
431
00:17:23,584 --> 00:17:27,838
And I remember
going to her home to,
432
00:17:27,838 --> 00:17:29,382
to huddle
down with her,
433
00:17:29,382 --> 00:17:31,842
to hunker down with her,
and it was very scary.
434
00:17:34,136 --> 00:17:38,557
Some anti-Ellen protestors
rallied outside ABC today.
435
00:17:38,557 --> 00:17:41,686
Some people are coming out
against the coming out hoopla.
436
00:17:41,686 --> 00:17:44,188
It turns me off.
I don't think it's proper.
437
00:17:44,188 --> 00:17:47,316
I don't want my children or
grandchildren exposed to it.
438
00:17:47,316 --> 00:17:48,943
I'm not an arch
conservative,
439
00:17:48,943 --> 00:17:50,778
I'm a liberal, but there's
no place for it.
440
00:17:50,778 --> 00:17:52,154
It's out of hand.
441
00:17:52,154 --> 00:17:54,740
All of the, the, the
ripple effect that it had,
442
00:17:54,740 --> 00:17:57,201
the industry
just went nuts.
443
00:17:57,201 --> 00:17:59,161
You can be as
gay as you want,
444
00:17:59,161 --> 00:18:01,289
but if you upset the
advertisers then
445
00:18:01,289 --> 00:18:02,915
we've got a problem,
Ellen.
446
00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:06,002
And the industry
just wasn't ready.
447
00:18:06,002 --> 00:18:08,379
It wasn't cool to
be gay at that time.
448
00:18:08,379 --> 00:18:12,174
Many evangelical groups
ran a campaign against it.
449
00:18:12,174 --> 00:18:14,093
They all came after Ellen.
450
00:18:14,093 --> 00:18:18,180
She's the first leading
character in a leading sitcom
451
00:18:18,180 --> 00:18:21,017
in primetime to
come out as a,
452
00:18:21,017 --> 00:18:24,186
as a homosexual
on television.
453
00:18:24,186 --> 00:18:27,815
It is a precedent setter
because if in fact this gets
454
00:18:27,815 --> 00:18:30,735
by the board, and the
corporate America
455
00:18:30,735 --> 00:18:33,779
continues to pay the bill
for that kind of garbage,
456
00:18:33,779 --> 00:18:36,365
it won't be long before
God knows what.
457
00:18:36,365 --> 00:18:40,578
I remember we all were told
to exit the stage before
458
00:18:40,578 --> 00:18:43,539
every taping so they could
bring the dogs through to
459
00:18:43,539 --> 00:18:46,125
make sure there weren't
bombs on the set.
460
00:18:46,125 --> 00:18:47,668
Yeah, there was a
bomb threat. I don't-
461
00:18:47,668 --> 00:18:49,462
I didn't read the hate mail,
so I don't know.
462
00:18:49,462 --> 00:18:52,173
But I know they didn't
show it to Ellen.
463
00:18:52,173 --> 00:18:54,175
So it was pretty ugly.
464
00:18:54,175 --> 00:18:57,053
And then we would go on and
do our show and
465
00:18:57,053 --> 00:18:59,930
make funny and be like
a carnival ride.
466
00:18:59,930 --> 00:19:02,641
Their television program
promotes homosexuality.
467
00:19:02,641 --> 00:19:04,143
Do you know
what they say?
468
00:19:04,143 --> 00:19:08,356
"Hey, if you don't like it,
turn it off."
469
00:19:08,356 --> 00:19:10,524
Okay, we will.
470
00:19:10,524 --> 00:19:13,569
What starts out as attacks
from the religious right,
471
00:19:13,569 --> 00:19:17,156
soon turns into criticism
from within the industry.
472
00:19:17,156 --> 00:19:21,118
How gay was the show?
473
00:19:21,118 --> 00:19:22,745
-How gay was the show?
-Yeah.
474
00:19:22,745 --> 00:19:25,164
I could have, if it wasn't
a struggle every single week
475
00:19:25,164 --> 00:19:28,334
to get that on
the air, it,
476
00:19:28,334 --> 00:19:29,710
it would've
probably been more.
477
00:19:29,710 --> 00:19:31,629
Even if it meant risking
the comfort level
478
00:19:31,629 --> 00:19:34,048
of the audience?
479
00:19:34,048 --> 00:19:35,049
Yeah.
480
00:19:35,049 --> 00:19:37,843
We were watching Ellen
find a relationship,
481
00:19:37,843 --> 00:19:42,932
which people didn't
necessarily want to see.
482
00:19:42,932 --> 00:19:44,392
It started off great.
483
00:19:44,392 --> 00:19:47,186
We had big ratings,
it's a giant hit.
484
00:19:47,186 --> 00:19:49,939
And then...
485
00:19:49,939 --> 00:19:51,482
it fell apart.
486
00:19:51,482 --> 00:19:52,942
And I don't think it had
anything to do with
487
00:19:52,942 --> 00:19:55,236
the subject matter
falling apart.
488
00:19:55,236 --> 00:19:56,612
It had to do with
it got boring,
489
00:19:56,612 --> 00:19:58,072
the same show
every week.
490
00:19:58,072 --> 00:20:00,658
My feeling was there's
gonna be a big elephant
491
00:20:00,658 --> 00:20:03,619
in the room in
every episode.
492
00:20:03,619 --> 00:20:07,915
It's so gay it's excluding
a large part of our society.
493
00:20:07,915 --> 00:20:09,291
Ouch.
494
00:20:09,291 --> 00:20:12,294
I think the most important
thing was that
495
00:20:12,294 --> 00:20:14,255
it just stopped
being funny.
496
00:20:14,255 --> 00:20:16,257
By coming out she was
essentially telling
497
00:20:16,257 --> 00:20:17,591
the world
who she was.
498
00:20:17,591 --> 00:20:19,760
She was being more honest,
she was being herself.
499
00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,721
And what the world said was,
"We're not sure about that."
500
00:20:22,721 --> 00:20:26,267
Well, if you were to
have her sitting here,
501
00:20:26,267 --> 00:20:29,520
it was some of the darkest
times of her life too.
502
00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:32,523
Slowly the hype and the
hatred begin to fade,
503
00:20:32,523 --> 00:20:35,192
but so do the ratings
for the 'Ellen' show.
504
00:20:35,192 --> 00:20:37,903
ABC decides to
cancel the series.
505
00:20:37,903 --> 00:20:39,905
Well, I believe we tried
to give her more
506
00:20:39,905 --> 00:20:44,785
personal support, but again,
I think her own passion
507
00:20:44,785 --> 00:20:46,454
got in the way
of that a bit.
508
00:20:46,454 --> 00:20:48,664
She had a great opportunity
and she knew it.
509
00:20:48,664 --> 00:20:50,916
To some extent she
took advantage of it,
510
00:20:50,916 --> 00:20:53,335
to some extent she tried
to take advantage of it
511
00:20:53,335 --> 00:20:56,213
too much, and the
result was failure.
512
00:21:03,012 --> 00:21:05,055
Ellen DeGeneres
will leave ABC.
513
00:21:05,055 --> 00:21:07,933
Her show canceled,
her feelings bruised,
514
00:21:07,933 --> 00:21:09,894
and she leaves behind
a fierce debate
515
00:21:09,894 --> 00:21:11,479
about what happened.
516
00:21:11,479 --> 00:21:14,732
Did she torpedo her own show
by pushing a gay agenda?
517
00:21:14,732 --> 00:21:16,484
-And we cut! Woo!
-[Applauding]
518
00:21:16,484 --> 00:21:17,985
Is everybody
here right now?
519
00:21:17,985 --> 00:21:19,737
'Cause I'd like
to say something.
520
00:21:19,737 --> 00:21:22,948
♪
521
00:21:22,948 --> 00:21:26,160
You, you've dealt with
probably stuff that you
522
00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:30,539
don't deserve to
deal with because...
523
00:21:30,539 --> 00:21:32,333
because of my views and
because of what
524
00:21:32,333 --> 00:21:33,709
I've decided to
do with my life.
525
00:21:33,709 --> 00:21:35,836
She thought she would
never work again,
526
00:21:35,836 --> 00:21:38,297
that she was going
to be canceled.
527
00:21:38,297 --> 00:21:41,509
It's been a wonderful,
wonderful run.
528
00:21:41,509 --> 00:21:42,968
[Applauding]
529
00:21:42,968 --> 00:21:46,096
And thank you.
Just, just thank you
530
00:21:46,096 --> 00:21:49,266
so much for being
such good people.
531
00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:51,769
Her sitcom character came out
of the closet straight into
532
00:21:51,769 --> 00:21:54,563
controversy and
eventually cancellation.
533
00:21:54,563 --> 00:21:57,816
After that, the phone
didn't ring much for Ellen.
534
00:21:57,816 --> 00:22:00,611
I think we all were
lost at what to do next.
535
00:22:00,611 --> 00:22:02,446
We had all,
you know,
536
00:22:02,446 --> 00:22:06,784
brought history making
television to fruition.
537
00:22:06,784 --> 00:22:10,371
It's hard to catch
lightning in a bottle twice.
538
00:22:10,371 --> 00:22:12,665
Until this year when she made
a splashy comeback as the
539
00:22:12,665 --> 00:22:16,043
voice of 'Dory' in the year's
biggest movie, 'Finding Nemo.'
540
00:22:16,043 --> 00:22:17,503
Forget things
almost instantly.
541
00:22:17,503 --> 00:22:18,587
It runs in my family.
542
00:22:18,587 --> 00:22:21,382
Well, I mean, at least
I think it does.
543
00:22:21,382 --> 00:22:23,634
Um... hmm...
544
00:22:23,634 --> 00:22:25,386
Where are they?
545
00:22:25,386 --> 00:22:28,305
In the early 2000s, Ellen
fights her way back.
546
00:22:28,305 --> 00:22:29,849
You know, you know
what I want to say-
547
00:22:29,849 --> 00:22:31,308
and I really do
mean this- I,
548
00:22:31,308 --> 00:22:33,686
I think it's important
for us to be here because
549
00:22:33,686 --> 00:22:35,479
they can't take away
our creativity,
550
00:22:35,479 --> 00:22:37,773
our striving for
excellence, our joy...
551
00:22:37,773 --> 00:22:40,442
only network
executives can do that.
552
00:22:40,442 --> 00:22:43,112
High profile gigs such as
hosting the Emmys and a
553
00:22:43,112 --> 00:22:46,657
comeback HBO stand-up
special return Ellen to
554
00:22:46,657 --> 00:22:49,243
her place as a
bankable big star.
555
00:22:49,243 --> 00:22:51,495
From the ashes
the phoenix rises.
556
00:22:51,495 --> 00:22:54,123
Now, the reality is
557
00:22:54,123 --> 00:22:55,541
you made money
for so long
558
00:22:55,541 --> 00:22:57,543
you weren't stupid enough
not to put some away.
559
00:22:57,543 --> 00:23:00,713
You'll figure it out,
because you're a money maker.
560
00:23:00,713 --> 00:23:02,172
You're a money maker.
561
00:23:02,172 --> 00:23:04,091
We still were hanging
out quite a bit,
562
00:23:04,091 --> 00:23:08,178
and she said she was gonna do
a, a pilot for a talk show,
563
00:23:08,178 --> 00:23:11,098
and one of her guests
was gonna be Tom Hanks.
564
00:23:11,098 --> 00:23:12,808
And I was like, "Well,
that's gonna go."
565
00:23:12,808 --> 00:23:14,894
This is our very,
very first show,
566
00:23:14,894 --> 00:23:17,062
and you are my very
first audience.
567
00:23:17,062 --> 00:23:18,105
[Cheering]
568
00:23:18,105 --> 00:23:20,608
In 2003,
Ellen DeGeneres debuts
569
00:23:20,608 --> 00:23:22,526
her brand new
talk show.
570
00:23:22,526 --> 00:23:25,195
When Ellen got her
daytime talk show,
571
00:23:25,195 --> 00:23:28,407
it was still the
'Jerry Springer' era.
572
00:23:28,407 --> 00:23:31,744
So, most daytime talk
shows were trashy.
573
00:23:31,744 --> 00:23:33,621
You know, people
throwing chairs,
574
00:23:33,621 --> 00:23:36,790
and people's pop surprise,
"I'm your daddy" and,
575
00:23:36,790 --> 00:23:39,043
"I've got a surprise for you."
You know, at the time,
576
00:23:39,043 --> 00:23:41,337
Ellen was just a
breath of fresh air.
577
00:23:41,337 --> 00:23:43,005
So, but what do you do?
Do you work out?
578
00:23:43,005 --> 00:23:44,882
-What do you do?
-Well, it ain't cheap.
579
00:23:44,882 --> 00:23:46,675
-Yeah?
-[Laughing]
580
00:23:46,675 --> 00:23:50,929
So, her talk show was
a lot classier and
581
00:23:50,929 --> 00:23:53,223
a lot more fun than
the competition.
582
00:23:53,223 --> 00:23:56,226
♪ [Clapping] ♪
583
00:23:56,226 --> 00:23:59,313
Ellen's show was supposed
to be light and airy and...
584
00:23:59,313 --> 00:24:01,857
a good time and
dancing and fun,
585
00:24:01,857 --> 00:24:04,360
and this kind of
positive space.
586
00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:07,112
She is somebody that
you do want to like,
587
00:24:07,112 --> 00:24:10,908
sit down and chat with,
and this was gonna be
588
00:24:10,908 --> 00:24:12,618
an incredible
success for her.
589
00:24:12,618 --> 00:24:14,953
I think everybody kind
of knew it right away.
590
00:24:14,953 --> 00:24:17,831
At the heart of the show
was Ellen's brand of comedy,
591
00:24:17,831 --> 00:24:21,543
which is always
happy-go-lucky, goofy,
592
00:24:21,543 --> 00:24:24,588
sort of naive, but there's
always a slight edge there.
593
00:24:24,588 --> 00:24:26,715
The last person
I kissed was- blank.
594
00:24:26,715 --> 00:24:28,092
8-year-old kid in
the audience last night.
595
00:24:28,092 --> 00:24:31,303
-That is gross.
-[Laughing]
596
00:24:31,303 --> 00:24:33,722
It made her that person
that you want to be around.
597
00:24:33,722 --> 00:24:35,474
I am terrified of
porcelain dolls.
598
00:24:35,474 --> 00:24:37,559
[Laughing]
Stop! Stop, man!
599
00:24:37,559 --> 00:24:40,437
The show was an
immediate hit and it,
600
00:24:40,437 --> 00:24:42,940
pretty soon was bringing
more viewers than Oprah,
601
00:24:42,940 --> 00:24:44,692
which is an incredible
achievement.
602
00:24:44,692 --> 00:24:47,403
Ellen basks in her
newfound superstardom,
603
00:24:47,403 --> 00:24:49,655
using her show as a
platform to push
604
00:24:49,655 --> 00:24:52,032
a distinctly
personal agenda.
605
00:24:52,032 --> 00:24:53,784
Today, I don't know
if you know this,
606
00:24:53,784 --> 00:24:55,494
but it's
'World Kindness Day.'
607
00:24:55,494 --> 00:24:57,913
[Applauding]
608
00:24:57,913 --> 00:24:59,581
Since I preach
kindness every day,
609
00:24:59,581 --> 00:25:00,708
this is a big one for me.
610
00:25:00,708 --> 00:25:02,376
This is like my
Super Bowl or...
611
00:25:02,376 --> 00:25:05,045
or my World Series or my-
612
00:25:05,045 --> 00:25:06,964
I don't know any other
sports. That's all.
613
00:25:06,964 --> 00:25:08,006
[Laughing]
614
00:25:08,006 --> 00:25:09,758
All along,
Ellen makes kindness
615
00:25:09,758 --> 00:25:11,301
a big part of the
show's appeal.
616
00:25:11,301 --> 00:25:12,678
She says,
"Be kind to one another,"
617
00:25:12,678 --> 00:25:13,971
at the end of
every episode.
618
00:25:13,971 --> 00:25:16,390
She makes charity a
part of the spectacle.
619
00:25:16,390 --> 00:25:18,517
It's not just funny,
it's that you feel like
620
00:25:18,517 --> 00:25:20,310
you're watching someone
who's using their platform
621
00:25:20,310 --> 00:25:21,311
to do good.
622
00:25:21,311 --> 00:25:22,646
Her motto was,
"Be kind."
623
00:25:22,646 --> 00:25:24,398
She was the
friend next door,
624
00:25:24,398 --> 00:25:26,275
and you liked her.
625
00:25:26,275 --> 00:25:29,153
So, to me,
it was real.
626
00:25:29,153 --> 00:25:31,989
Ladies and gentlemen,
winning tonight for
627
00:25:31,989 --> 00:25:33,866
favourite
daytime TV host,
628
00:25:33,866 --> 00:25:36,076
favourite comedic
collaboration,
629
00:25:36,076 --> 00:25:38,871
favourite animated
movie voice...
630
00:25:38,871 --> 00:25:41,874
Ellen sells this idea of
kindness with a capital K.
631
00:25:41,874 --> 00:25:43,542
It becomes a lifestyle
brand, and not just
632
00:25:43,542 --> 00:25:45,419
like a moral value.
633
00:25:45,419 --> 00:25:48,380
She is one of the best
people on this planet and
634
00:25:48,380 --> 00:25:50,340
no one is more deserving,
635
00:25:50,340 --> 00:25:52,509
the one and only,
Ellen DeGeneres.
636
00:25:52,509 --> 00:25:54,887
For over a decade,
Ellen's daytime talk show
637
00:25:54,887 --> 00:25:58,056
is a juggernaut, making her
the most beloved and
638
00:25:58,056 --> 00:26:01,393
highest paid talk show host
in television history.
639
00:26:01,393 --> 00:26:03,687
But as the show
enters its 18th year,
640
00:26:03,687 --> 00:26:05,481
culture shifts.
641
00:26:05,481 --> 00:26:07,691
Scrutiny becomes
currency.
642
00:26:07,691 --> 00:26:09,485
And for the first time,
rumblings about
643
00:26:09,485 --> 00:26:12,237
Ellen DeGeneres being
not what she seems
644
00:26:12,237 --> 00:26:13,947
float to the surface.
645
00:26:13,947 --> 00:26:16,074
The show did so
many good things.
646
00:26:16,074 --> 00:26:18,535
Going on TV every day
and telling people
647
00:26:18,535 --> 00:26:20,204
to be kind to
one another...
648
00:26:20,204 --> 00:26:23,373
there's so much goodness
and beauty within that.
649
00:26:23,373 --> 00:26:25,584
But it's like
an apple, right?
650
00:26:25,584 --> 00:26:28,128
The apple is really, really
good until you get to a core
651
00:26:28,128 --> 00:26:30,172
and then it's a different,
it's a different thing.
652
00:26:30,172 --> 00:26:32,132
I got to the core,
and it wasn't...
653
00:26:32,132 --> 00:26:34,510
it was rotten, and
it wasn't good.
654
00:26:44,144 --> 00:26:47,689
In 2012, Ellen DeGeneres
is one of the most powerful
655
00:26:47,689 --> 00:26:51,068
people in the industry,
capable of making or
656
00:26:51,068 --> 00:26:54,071
breaking anyone she
takes an interest in.
657
00:26:54,071 --> 00:26:56,573
♪ WE ARE THE CROWD
WE'RE C-COMING OUT, ♪
658
00:26:56,573 --> 00:26:58,492
♪ GOT MY FLASH ON
IT'S TRUE ♪
659
00:26:58,492 --> 00:26:59,993
♪ NEED THAT
PICTURE OF YOU ♪
660
00:26:59,993 --> 00:27:01,787
♪ IT'S SO MAGICAL. ♪
661
00:27:01,787 --> 00:27:03,038
My name is
Greyson Chance.
662
00:27:03,038 --> 00:27:05,165
I'm an artist and a
singer-songwriter.
663
00:27:05,165 --> 00:27:07,918
She wasn't just one of
the biggest champions,
664
00:27:07,918 --> 00:27:09,753
she was my champion.
665
00:27:09,753 --> 00:27:13,090
It was yesterday
I saw your video,
666
00:27:13,090 --> 00:27:15,968
and you were sitting in math
class, I believe, right?
667
00:27:15,968 --> 00:27:19,137
I finally excused myself
from class and I called,
668
00:27:19,137 --> 00:27:21,431
and she said, "The Ellen
producers just called."
669
00:27:21,431 --> 00:27:25,602
And I just remember
multiple times her saying,
670
00:27:25,602 --> 00:27:28,730
"I wanna be in this for
a long time with you.
671
00:27:28,730 --> 00:27:30,816
Your mentor, your guide
through the industry.
672
00:27:30,816 --> 00:27:32,526
We're going to do
this together."
673
00:27:32,526 --> 00:27:33,694
She looked at
my mom that day
674
00:27:33,694 --> 00:27:35,779
and she said, "You will
never have to work
675
00:27:35,779 --> 00:27:37,739
a day in your
life ever again."
676
00:27:37,739 --> 00:27:39,992
You are...
just be prepared.
677
00:27:39,992 --> 00:27:41,660
Your minds will be blown.
678
00:27:41,660 --> 00:27:44,621
She told my mom and
I that for a very,
679
00:27:44,621 --> 00:27:47,040
very long time in her
career, she had always
680
00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:48,750
wanted to do
something in music.
681
00:27:48,750 --> 00:27:50,294
And at this point
in her career,
682
00:27:50,294 --> 00:27:53,672
the way that she saw that
dream sort moving forward
683
00:27:53,672 --> 00:27:55,215
was she wanted to
start an imprint
684
00:27:55,215 --> 00:27:57,050
under a major
record label.
685
00:27:57,050 --> 00:27:59,428
She had gotten an
advance copy of the
686
00:27:59,428 --> 00:28:02,222
Justin Bieber documentary,
at the time.
687
00:28:02,222 --> 00:28:03,932
It was like a month
before it released,
688
00:28:03,932 --> 00:28:05,142
she'd gotten a copy of it,
689
00:28:05,142 --> 00:28:06,727
and she really wanted
me to see it.
690
00:28:06,727 --> 00:28:09,563
So this DVD gets to us.
691
00:28:09,563 --> 00:28:12,190
I remember kind of being
a little fussy about it,
692
00:28:12,190 --> 00:28:13,650
I don't want to watch it,
693
00:28:13,650 --> 00:28:15,193
but I remember
talking to my mom
694
00:28:15,193 --> 00:28:16,320
and my mom saying,
"You know what?
695
00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:18,155
We have like two or
three more shows,
696
00:28:18,155 --> 00:28:20,157
and we're gonna be back
in LA in a few days.
697
00:28:20,157 --> 00:28:21,325
You'll be off.
698
00:28:21,325 --> 00:28:22,367
Why don't we watch
it together"?
699
00:28:22,367 --> 00:28:23,744
And I was like,
"Okay, cool."
700
00:28:23,744 --> 00:28:26,079
A few days pass,
we arrive in LA.
701
00:28:26,079 --> 00:28:28,415
I was at lunch
with my mom,
702
00:28:28,415 --> 00:28:29,541
and she had received
a phone call
703
00:28:29,541 --> 00:28:32,419
directly from Ellen,
and I remember
704
00:28:32,419 --> 00:28:35,964
my mom took a step outside
out onto the street,
705
00:28:35,964 --> 00:28:37,966
and I just remember
as a kid watching her
706
00:28:37,966 --> 00:28:39,676
kind of pace
back and forth,
707
00:28:39,676 --> 00:28:41,720
and I remember her trying
to catch a word in and
708
00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:43,388
she couldn't,
on the phone.
709
00:28:43,388 --> 00:28:44,681
And I was just looking,
and I was like,
710
00:28:44,681 --> 00:28:46,058
"What's going on"?
711
00:28:46,058 --> 00:28:48,143
She came into the
restaurant, my mom said,
712
00:28:48,143 --> 00:28:49,686
"She wants to
talk to you."
713
00:28:49,686 --> 00:28:51,813
And the message
that was expressed to me
714
00:28:51,813 --> 00:28:55,567
was how disappointed
she was that I had not
715
00:28:55,567 --> 00:28:57,694
watched
the documentary,
716
00:28:57,694 --> 00:29:00,280
and she spent a lot of
time telling me that,
717
00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,950
"I took time to
personally get this,
718
00:29:02,950 --> 00:29:05,535
and you were not
able to watch it."
719
00:29:05,535 --> 00:29:07,996
And that's when I saw a
completely different
720
00:29:07,996 --> 00:29:09,456
side of her.
721
00:29:09,456 --> 00:29:12,292
And in years later, you know,
when I got a little older,
722
00:29:12,292 --> 00:29:14,753
my mom and I had rehashed
that story a bit more,
723
00:29:14,753 --> 00:29:18,090
and my mom had told me that
she had kinda come at her
724
00:29:18,090 --> 00:29:21,176
very, very hard and said
things along the lines of,
725
00:29:21,176 --> 00:29:23,011
you know, "How are
you raising him?
726
00:29:23,011 --> 00:29:24,471
What type of
mother are you"?
727
00:29:24,471 --> 00:29:28,350
And these things that
were pretty, pretty awful.
728
00:29:28,350 --> 00:29:32,437
And all of a sudden it became
a little more like I kinda
729
00:29:32,437 --> 00:29:36,024
had to walk on eggshells,
and I really had to behave,
730
00:29:36,024 --> 00:29:39,027
because if I didn't, she was
gonna get nasty with my mom
731
00:29:39,027 --> 00:29:41,113
or she was gonna
get nasty with me.
732
00:29:41,113 --> 00:29:45,033
And the second that, all of
a sudden I wasn't going to
733
00:29:45,033 --> 00:29:48,245
get her to the success
that she wanted,
734
00:29:48,245 --> 00:29:51,039
and to the imprint, she not
only cast me aside,
735
00:29:51,039 --> 00:29:53,333
she casted aside
the entire project.
736
00:29:53,333 --> 00:29:57,254
And any interaction with
her from that day on was
737
00:29:57,254 --> 00:29:58,839
completely surface level
and I was just
738
00:29:58,839 --> 00:30:01,675
another guest
on the show.
739
00:30:01,675 --> 00:30:03,760
I think that I was a nice
person to begin with
740
00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:05,429
and I hope I've
gotten nicer.
741
00:30:05,429 --> 00:30:08,557
Is Ellen's culture of
kindness just for cameras?
742
00:30:08,557 --> 00:30:11,393
In 2020, the same
year as the pandemic,
743
00:30:11,393 --> 00:30:13,353
the same year that we're all
stuck at home watching
744
00:30:13,353 --> 00:30:16,356
as much TV as possible,
745
00:30:16,356 --> 00:30:18,483
Ellen's facade
starts to crumble.
746
00:30:18,483 --> 00:30:20,736
These reports come out that
people on her show
747
00:30:20,736 --> 00:30:22,612
allegedly aren't being
treated well and are
748
00:30:22,612 --> 00:30:24,322
unhappy with
the environment.
749
00:30:24,322 --> 00:30:27,993
But Ellen is now facing a
major PR problem following
750
00:30:27,993 --> 00:30:30,954
a Buzzfeed article that
portrays the 'Queen of Nice'
751
00:30:30,954 --> 00:30:32,748
as the 'Queen of Mean'.
752
00:30:32,748 --> 00:30:36,168
A lot of the backlash built
up around this Twitter thread
753
00:30:36,168 --> 00:30:38,336
that the comedian
Kevin Porter posted,
754
00:30:38,336 --> 00:30:40,047
where he asked people
for horror stories
755
00:30:40,047 --> 00:30:41,298
of interacting with Ellen.
756
00:30:41,298 --> 00:30:44,426
He tweeted that she is
notoriously one of the
757
00:30:44,426 --> 00:30:47,054
meanest people alive,
and asked for others to
758
00:30:47,054 --> 00:30:49,723
share their stories about
her being mean.
759
00:30:49,723 --> 00:30:51,308
-Siri.
-"Yes?"
760
00:30:51,308 --> 00:30:52,851
Spell the word bitch.
761
00:30:52,851 --> 00:30:55,687
"E-L-L-E-N."
762
00:30:55,687 --> 00:30:57,272
The staff that worked
on the Ellen show,
763
00:30:57,272 --> 00:30:59,358
they couldn't have
eye contact with her,
764
00:30:59,358 --> 00:31:02,569
there were allegations that
Ellen and her staff
765
00:31:02,569 --> 00:31:05,489
yelled at people, yelled at
people on their team.
766
00:31:05,489 --> 00:31:06,948
Well, let me tell
you something.
767
00:31:06,948 --> 00:31:11,036
I did Ellen DeGeneres'
show a couple of times,
768
00:31:11,036 --> 00:31:13,705
and the last time I did it,
it was a long time ago,
769
00:31:13,705 --> 00:31:15,207
it was probably
10 years ago,
770
00:31:15,207 --> 00:31:18,543
I took note of how
scared her staff was.
771
00:31:18,543 --> 00:31:21,254
Brad Garrett of 'Everybody
Loves Raymond' fame
772
00:31:21,254 --> 00:31:23,632
and Leah Thompson
from 'Back to the Future'
773
00:31:23,632 --> 00:31:27,594
have posted Tweets saying
that she's not nice.
774
00:31:27,594 --> 00:31:30,055
So, it's a pretty
tough moment
775
00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:32,057
to be Ellen right now.
776
00:31:32,057 --> 00:31:34,684
With her reputation
suddenly in question,
777
00:31:34,684 --> 00:31:37,437
Ellen writes up an
apology to her staff in
778
00:31:37,437 --> 00:31:39,898
an attempt to mitigate
the damage.
779
00:31:39,898 --> 00:31:43,068
Ellen came off as
somewhat defensive.
780
00:31:43,068 --> 00:31:44,736
It was during the
summer, so I didn't
781
00:31:44,736 --> 00:31:46,822
have any platform
to respond to it.
782
00:31:46,822 --> 00:31:49,324
She was sort of implying
that there was some kind of,
783
00:31:49,324 --> 00:31:52,661
you know, behind the scenes
conspiracy to take her down.
784
00:31:52,661 --> 00:31:54,121
I mean, I really
didn't understand it.
785
00:31:54,121 --> 00:31:56,373
I still don't understand it.
786
00:31:56,373 --> 00:31:57,666
Yeah, I thought,
I thought
787
00:31:57,666 --> 00:31:59,334
something was
going on that, that...
788
00:31:59,334 --> 00:32:01,378
because it was
too orchestrated,
789
00:32:01,378 --> 00:32:03,004
it was too coordinated.
790
00:32:03,004 --> 00:32:05,507
I don't think they
felt she was sincere.
791
00:32:05,507 --> 00:32:07,551
I don't think
they believed it.
792
00:32:07,551 --> 00:32:09,344
With her career
under siege,
793
00:32:09,344 --> 00:32:12,556
more bad news is on the
doorstep for Ellen.
794
00:32:12,556 --> 00:32:14,432
The culture at Ellen's talk
show has been under
795
00:32:14,432 --> 00:32:16,810
a harsh spotlight for the
past few weeks.
796
00:32:16,810 --> 00:32:18,979
And just as Ellen
vows to make changes,
797
00:32:18,979 --> 00:32:21,731
these new allegations
are painting an even more
798
00:32:21,731 --> 00:32:23,817
disturbing picture
behind the scenes.
799
00:32:33,076 --> 00:32:35,787
When I first heard the
allegations against Ellen,
800
00:32:35,787 --> 00:32:39,082
I was like,
"What? What"?
801
00:32:39,082 --> 00:32:42,836
I thought, my first
reaction was, it was unfair.
802
00:32:42,836 --> 00:32:45,672
But then it kept coming out,
and it was when
803
00:32:45,672 --> 00:32:47,674
Warner Brothers did a,
804
00:32:47,674 --> 00:32:50,343
did an inside investigation.
805
00:32:50,343 --> 00:32:53,513
As Ellen struggles to contain
a flurry of allegations that
806
00:32:53,513 --> 00:32:55,724
she allowed a toxic
work environment,
807
00:32:55,724 --> 00:32:57,809
the situation escalates.
808
00:32:57,809 --> 00:33:00,520
Staffers at 'Ellen' alleged
a culture of racism,
809
00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:02,939
fear, and intimidation
at the show.
810
00:33:02,939 --> 00:33:05,317
They asked to go on
leave for mental health,
811
00:33:05,317 --> 00:33:07,235
and when they came back
they found out that
812
00:33:07,235 --> 00:33:08,945
their job had
been terminated.
813
00:33:08,945 --> 00:33:10,572
If you went against her,
814
00:33:10,572 --> 00:33:12,824
you might be boycotted
in this industry.
815
00:33:12,824 --> 00:33:13,992
You might have
a hard time.
816
00:33:13,992 --> 00:33:16,453
One Black staffer said that
she underwent a
817
00:33:16,453 --> 00:33:18,205
number of racist
micro-aggressions.
818
00:33:18,205 --> 00:33:20,248
This morning three top
producers are out
819
00:33:20,248 --> 00:33:21,583
at the 'Ellen' show.
820
00:33:21,583 --> 00:33:23,835
Warner Brothers confirming
to NBC news that
821
00:33:23,835 --> 00:33:26,630
executive producers,
Ed Galvin, Kevin Leman,
822
00:33:26,630 --> 00:33:29,049
and co-executive producer,
Jonathan Norman,
823
00:33:29,049 --> 00:33:30,550
have all parted
ways with the
824
00:33:30,550 --> 00:33:32,969
Emmy award-winning
daytime series.
825
00:33:32,969 --> 00:33:36,389
"I am 100% categorically
denying these allegations.
826
00:33:36,389 --> 00:33:38,350
I have never had a single
complaint of any
827
00:33:38,350 --> 00:33:40,727
misconduct against
me in my career."
828
00:33:40,727 --> 00:33:44,731
The people who were
actually being accused of
829
00:33:44,731 --> 00:33:46,942
the harassment and,
and the misconduct
830
00:33:46,942 --> 00:33:49,694
were producers on the
show, not Ellen herself,
831
00:33:49,694 --> 00:33:51,279
which we should be
very clear about.
832
00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:54,658
But when you put all
of those together,
833
00:33:54,658 --> 00:33:58,536
what you get is the
poisoning of one of the
834
00:33:58,536 --> 00:34:01,081
best reputations
in Hollywood.
835
00:34:01,081 --> 00:34:03,541
Now the question is,
was she in the dark?
836
00:34:03,541 --> 00:34:05,585
Or did she turn
a blind eye?
837
00:34:05,585 --> 00:34:07,671
Despite a Warner Brothers
investigation that
838
00:34:07,671 --> 00:34:09,589
forces out three
of her producers,
839
00:34:09,589 --> 00:34:11,758
the accusations
levelled against Ellen
840
00:34:11,758 --> 00:34:15,011
continue to paint an
increasingly dire portrait.
841
00:34:15,011 --> 00:34:16,846
Toxic, phoney,
hypocrite, liar.
842
00:34:16,846 --> 00:34:18,390
That's what she is.
843
00:34:18,390 --> 00:34:20,558
Hannah Muscat was with
Ellen from the beginning,
844
00:34:20,558 --> 00:34:23,603
in 2003, when the talk
show was launched.
845
00:34:23,603 --> 00:34:25,480
We were told from
the very beginning,
846
00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:27,732
"Don't talk to Ellen.
Don't do this.
847
00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:30,110
You can't, you know,
go into her office."
848
00:34:30,110 --> 00:34:32,529
It was very nerve wracking,
very stressful.
849
00:34:32,529 --> 00:34:34,781
We all walked on
eggshells all the time.
850
00:34:34,781 --> 00:34:38,285
Muscat says, despite Ellen's
'Queen of Nice' reputation,
851
00:34:38,285 --> 00:34:41,037
it became clear early on
that it would not be
852
00:34:41,037 --> 00:34:42,289
a pleasant place to work.
853
00:34:42,289 --> 00:34:44,582
You are the exec producer,
854
00:34:44,582 --> 00:34:47,210
or you hired the
exec producer.
855
00:34:47,210 --> 00:34:48,962
Your name is on the door.
856
00:34:48,962 --> 00:34:52,507
You are responsible
for what goes on.
857
00:34:52,507 --> 00:34:57,512
You are responsible for
how your staff is acting.
858
00:34:57,512 --> 00:34:59,180
It had built up,
which means it had
859
00:34:59,180 --> 00:35:00,765
been going on for a
long time and people
860
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:03,476
didn't say anything,
until finally, it was
861
00:35:03,476 --> 00:35:06,730
the straw that broke
the camel's back.
862
00:35:06,730 --> 00:35:09,816
When you look at comedians,
Hollywood stars in general,
863
00:35:09,816 --> 00:35:12,902
you always kinda
wonder the context of,
864
00:35:12,902 --> 00:35:14,154
what's their childhood?
865
00:35:14,154 --> 00:35:15,488
What's their
journey been like?
866
00:35:15,488 --> 00:35:17,615
And for Ellen,
it really feels like
867
00:35:17,615 --> 00:35:21,536
she was super driven,
super focused,
868
00:35:21,536 --> 00:35:24,164
and super ambitious,
and it kinda,
869
00:35:24,164 --> 00:35:27,208
probably was fuelled by
some of the awful things
870
00:35:27,208 --> 00:35:29,419
that happened to
her as she was a child.
871
00:35:29,419 --> 00:35:32,589
After Ellen's mom
and dad divorce,
872
00:35:32,589 --> 00:35:34,841
Ellen's mom later
got married.
873
00:35:34,841 --> 00:35:36,593
She has said that
874
00:35:36,593 --> 00:35:38,595
her stepfather began
sexually abusing her
875
00:35:38,595 --> 00:35:41,598
when her
mother got cancer.
876
00:35:41,598 --> 00:35:43,683
My mother had just
had a mastectomy,
877
00:35:43,683 --> 00:35:45,518
she had breast cancer...
878
00:35:45,518 --> 00:35:49,648
and he told me that he
thought he felt another lump
879
00:35:49,648 --> 00:35:52,942
in her other breast and
he needed to feel mine.
880
00:35:52,942 --> 00:35:54,527
And then it escalated
to more and more,
881
00:35:54,527 --> 00:35:56,237
trying to do more.
882
00:35:56,237 --> 00:35:58,782
And then, she was out of town
and one night tried to
883
00:35:58,782 --> 00:36:00,241
break the door down
when I was sleeping,
884
00:36:00,241 --> 00:36:02,827
and I had to kick a window
out and go sleep in a
885
00:36:02,827 --> 00:36:05,372
hospital overnight and
just stay on the floor.
886
00:36:05,372 --> 00:36:06,498
And I couldn't,
it's a small town,
887
00:36:06,498 --> 00:36:08,792
so I couldn't tell
people why I was there.
888
00:36:08,792 --> 00:36:12,128
Ellen told her mom what
her stepdad had done,
889
00:36:12,128 --> 00:36:13,505
and Ellen's mom
wouldn't believe her.
890
00:36:13,505 --> 00:36:15,548
So, she did confront
him about the story?
891
00:36:15,548 --> 00:36:16,883
Yeah, but he said
I was lying
892
00:36:16,883 --> 00:36:20,261
and then she
stayed with him.
893
00:36:20,261 --> 00:36:23,056
So that, that made me
really angry.
894
00:36:23,056 --> 00:36:24,933
That really is like the
ultimate form of betrayal,
895
00:36:24,933 --> 00:36:27,727
realizing that you don't
have your mom's support and
896
00:36:27,727 --> 00:36:29,270
you're not safe at home.
897
00:36:29,270 --> 00:36:30,688
To escape the abuse,
898
00:36:30,688 --> 00:36:32,440
Ellen moves in
with her father,
899
00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:33,858
but the hope that
everything will be
900
00:36:33,858 --> 00:36:36,361
better there is
soon shattered.
901
00:36:36,361 --> 00:36:37,904
Her father, you know,
is remarried and
902
00:36:37,904 --> 00:36:40,281
has his own children,
his own family...
903
00:36:40,281 --> 00:36:42,617
and so, Ellen comes to a
point where she wants
904
00:36:42,617 --> 00:36:44,869
to tell her dad
that she's gay.
905
00:36:44,869 --> 00:36:47,414
The woman who
he's married to
906
00:36:47,414 --> 00:36:49,874
had two daughters,
907
00:36:49,874 --> 00:36:52,001
and they asked me to
908
00:36:52,001 --> 00:36:54,212
move out of the
house after that.
909
00:36:54,212 --> 00:36:57,882
And she's being told that
she's dangerous in some ways,
910
00:36:57,882 --> 00:36:59,592
that she can't be
around children
911
00:36:59,592 --> 00:37:01,928
or a traditional
family life.
912
00:37:01,928 --> 00:37:03,847
So, that obviously
sends a message.
913
00:37:03,847 --> 00:37:06,975
That was bad...
914
00:37:06,975 --> 00:37:08,977
because they loved me,
and I loved them,
915
00:37:08,977 --> 00:37:13,064
and they didn't want me
in the house.
916
00:37:13,064 --> 00:37:14,149
I mean, the story of what
happened to Ellen
917
00:37:14,149 --> 00:37:16,443
when she came out to her
biological father is
918
00:37:16,443 --> 00:37:18,361
familiar to a lot
of queer kids.
919
00:37:18,361 --> 00:37:20,155
It's maybe a more extreme
version than some people
920
00:37:20,155 --> 00:37:23,158
experience, where, you know,
a lot of people live in homes
921
00:37:23,158 --> 00:37:26,161
that, where they
feel disapproval.
922
00:37:26,161 --> 00:37:28,746
In this case, she was
literally not approved and
923
00:37:28,746 --> 00:37:30,373
asked to move out.
924
00:37:30,373 --> 00:37:34,085
When you face rejection
and trauma growing up,
925
00:37:34,085 --> 00:37:36,337
the pressure isn't
necessarily about
926
00:37:36,337 --> 00:37:38,506
what other people are
telling you to do.
927
00:37:38,506 --> 00:37:41,551
The pressure is about
internally how you prove to
928
00:37:41,551 --> 00:37:44,095
other people that
you are worthy.
929
00:37:44,095 --> 00:37:48,683
So, if I internally have
a storm inside of me,
930
00:37:48,683 --> 00:37:51,102
I'm gonna create that
on the outside of me.
931
00:37:51,102 --> 00:37:56,357
So, I see the laser focus
on the goal being
932
00:37:56,357 --> 00:37:59,152
very chaotic to the
people around her.
933
00:37:59,152 --> 00:38:02,822
And I think that edge
is informed by life.
934
00:38:02,822 --> 00:38:05,325
I think that edge is
informed by
935
00:38:05,325 --> 00:38:09,245
having had to
keep a big part of
936
00:38:09,245 --> 00:38:11,664
who she was
hidden for so long.
937
00:38:11,664 --> 00:38:15,126
Because I didn't have the
privilege of being protected,
938
00:38:15,126 --> 00:38:17,670
so nobody around me gets
that privilege either.
939
00:38:17,670 --> 00:38:19,172
Ellen would always tell
stories about fighting
940
00:38:19,172 --> 00:38:23,092
bullies in childhood, or
standing up for the innocent.
941
00:38:23,092 --> 00:38:25,845
And, you know,
in the end,
942
00:38:25,845 --> 00:38:28,097
the thing that
takes her down is
943
00:38:28,097 --> 00:38:31,059
this impression that she
actually is a bully herself,
944
00:38:31,059 --> 00:38:33,686
and there's something really
sad and tragic about that.
945
00:38:33,686 --> 00:38:35,855
There was something almost
mythical about the way that
946
00:38:35,855 --> 00:38:39,901
her reputation for kindness
was getting totally torn down
947
00:38:39,901 --> 00:38:43,655
in spectacular fashion
in front of everybody.
948
00:38:43,655 --> 00:38:45,865
I would argue that
949
00:38:45,865 --> 00:38:49,786
she demolished her brand,
950
00:38:49,786 --> 00:38:51,371
almost entirely.
951
00:39:00,129 --> 00:39:02,215
After more than 3000
episodes and
952
00:39:02,215 --> 00:39:04,509
2,400 celebrity interviews,
953
00:39:04,509 --> 00:39:06,719
that's a wrap for the
Ellen DeGeneres show.
954
00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:09,305
The daytime TV star telling
the Hollywood Reporter,
955
00:39:09,305 --> 00:39:11,683
"As great as the show is,
and as fun as it is,
956
00:39:11,683 --> 00:39:13,601
it's just not a
challenge anymore."
957
00:39:13,601 --> 00:39:15,103
So it was crazy,
and it was quick.
958
00:39:15,103 --> 00:39:17,355
It, it, it happened
really fast, and...
959
00:39:17,355 --> 00:39:20,275
and we woke up one day
and it was over.
960
00:39:20,275 --> 00:39:22,193
Unable to mollify her
detractors and
961
00:39:22,193 --> 00:39:24,445
fully clear her reputation,
962
00:39:24,445 --> 00:39:26,698
Ellen DeGeneres
chooses to end
963
00:39:26,698 --> 00:39:29,284
her talk show
after 19 seasons.
964
00:39:29,284 --> 00:39:31,411
This is my last season, in
case you didn't know that,
965
00:39:31,411 --> 00:39:33,329
and if you didn't
know, surprise!
966
00:39:33,329 --> 00:39:34,497
-It's my last season.
-[Laughing]
967
00:39:34,497 --> 00:39:37,542
I went to Ellen's show to
sit in the audience to go,
968
00:39:37,542 --> 00:39:40,003
I wanted to dance with her
and meet Ellen and
969
00:39:40,003 --> 00:39:41,379
hug her and tell her,
970
00:39:41,379 --> 00:39:43,464
"Welcome to the
talk show arena!
971
00:39:43,464 --> 00:39:46,175
I'm so proud of you!
You told those folks!"
972
00:39:46,175 --> 00:39:48,303
We are all standing there
waiting for
973
00:39:48,303 --> 00:39:49,804
our girl Ellen to come out.
974
00:39:49,804 --> 00:39:52,307
She comes out,
she goes up on stage,
975
00:39:52,307 --> 00:39:55,310
and then she does the opening
and we're just so excited.
976
00:39:55,310 --> 00:39:57,103
The big blue eyes,
and she's funny,
977
00:39:57,103 --> 00:39:59,856
and we're laughing and
giving it, giving it, giving it.
978
00:39:59,856 --> 00:40:02,025
And then the
commercial break comes,
979
00:40:02,025 --> 00:40:03,818
and we're all
expecting like,
980
00:40:03,818 --> 00:40:05,403
"Come on up here,
talk to us, girl"!
981
00:40:05,403 --> 00:40:08,239
And I'm, I'm like,
"Hey, girl, hey"!
982
00:40:08,239 --> 00:40:10,074
You know, I'm like,
"Hey..."
983
00:40:10,074 --> 00:40:11,951
♪
984
00:40:11,951 --> 00:40:14,787
Ellen never turned
to the audience.
985
00:40:14,787 --> 00:40:18,041
Never said like, "Y'all,
I'm so glad you're here."
986
00:40:18,041 --> 00:40:21,085
Ellen sat there as if we
weren't even there.
987
00:40:21,085 --> 00:40:23,296
I just found it so odd
because there was
988
00:40:23,296 --> 00:40:25,381
so much love
there for her.
989
00:40:25,381 --> 00:40:27,467
How could you just
not turn and say,
990
00:40:27,467 --> 00:40:29,594
"I love you" back?
991
00:40:29,594 --> 00:40:31,471
You know, what I wanted to
do when I started out is,
992
00:40:31,471 --> 00:40:33,848
is make people happy,
and make people laugh.
993
00:40:33,848 --> 00:40:37,310
But then, this has turned
into something so much
994
00:40:37,310 --> 00:40:40,146
better for me that I get to
change people's lives.
995
00:40:40,146 --> 00:40:42,732
I think it's wholly unfair.
996
00:40:42,732 --> 00:40:46,110
Ellen DeGeneres was the first
person who called me back
997
00:40:46,110 --> 00:40:50,448
in the pandemic when I was
making a video for
998
00:40:50,448 --> 00:40:52,617
raising money for the
Navajo Nation because
999
00:40:52,617 --> 00:40:54,202
they didn't have
ventilators.
1000
00:40:54,202 --> 00:40:56,245
And Ellen was the first
person to call me back,
1001
00:40:56,245 --> 00:40:58,414
and say,
"What do you need"?
1002
00:40:58,414 --> 00:41:00,541
Well, I love you,
and I...
1003
00:41:00,541 --> 00:41:03,294
so appreciate you and
what you have
1004
00:41:03,294 --> 00:41:06,547
given to the world over
the last 19 years.
1005
00:41:06,547 --> 00:41:09,384
The contribution is,
it's endless.
1006
00:41:09,384 --> 00:41:11,928
With her talk show
ending prematurely,
1007
00:41:11,928 --> 00:41:15,765
her fan base divided and
revelations still coming,
1008
00:41:15,765 --> 00:41:19,227
Ellen DeGeneres'
legacy becomes murky.
1009
00:41:19,227 --> 00:41:22,313
I think the saddest thing
about this whole Ellen
1010
00:41:22,313 --> 00:41:26,776
revelation is that she
exploded from within,
1011
00:41:26,776 --> 00:41:31,531
imploded from within,
that the staff imploded.
1012
00:41:31,531 --> 00:41:34,033
That's the structure
of your show.
1013
00:41:34,033 --> 00:41:36,953
And that the audience
didn't come to her rescue,
1014
00:41:36,953 --> 00:41:38,955
those are the sad things.
1015
00:41:38,955 --> 00:41:40,832
To have a tainted
legacy because of
1016
00:41:40,832 --> 00:41:42,625
the way you treated people.
1017
00:41:42,625 --> 00:41:44,544
There are people
out there who,
1018
00:41:44,544 --> 00:41:49,632
when a prominent gay woman
is accused to be harsh,
1019
00:41:49,632 --> 00:41:52,510
mean, insensitive,
inhuman...
1020
00:41:52,510 --> 00:41:54,887
all their stereotypes
are confirmed.
1021
00:41:54,887 --> 00:41:58,141
And so, I would bet that
part of that sentiment,
1022
00:41:58,141 --> 00:42:00,184
wanting her to fit
the stereotype,
1023
00:42:00,184 --> 00:42:02,019
has driven some
of the backlash.
1024
00:42:02,019 --> 00:42:04,897
She looked at the news,
she looked at TikTok,
1025
00:42:04,897 --> 00:42:06,983
she looked at all
these places and said,
1026
00:42:06,983 --> 00:42:08,568
"How do I make this
a part of the show,
1027
00:42:08,568 --> 00:42:10,319
as opposed to only bringing
on celebrities
1028
00:42:10,319 --> 00:42:12,447
who are going to
promote a thing?"
1029
00:42:12,447 --> 00:42:16,951
She opened the door and
then people ran through.
1030
00:42:16,951 --> 00:42:19,954
There's nothing that Ellen
could do that would erase her
1031
00:42:19,954 --> 00:42:22,373
importance in the history
of Queer television.
1032
00:42:22,373 --> 00:42:24,083
-[Applauding]
-Thank you, thank you.
1033
00:42:24,083 --> 00:42:27,170
I so, I so appreciate
the support, and it's,
1034
00:42:27,170 --> 00:42:31,090
it's been really hard to
convince people that I can,
1035
00:42:31,090 --> 00:42:34,802
you know, do a daytime show
and be this person that
1036
00:42:34,802 --> 00:42:37,597
I know that I am and that
I've always tried to be.
1037
00:42:37,597 --> 00:42:40,141
And this is a huge
thing for me and I,
1038
00:42:40,141 --> 00:42:41,768
I'm so happy doing it
and I hope...
1039
00:42:41,768 --> 00:42:44,103
[Cheering & applauding]
1040
00:42:44,103 --> 00:42:48,024
My friend Ellen DeGeneres
has done a tremendous
1041
00:42:48,024 --> 00:42:50,860
amount of good
for the world.
1042
00:42:50,860 --> 00:42:54,071
For the LGBTQ plus
community,
1043
00:42:54,071 --> 00:42:57,450
for moms at home
that needed a friend
1044
00:42:57,450 --> 00:43:01,078
and needed a laugh or a
good cry during their day.
1045
00:43:01,078 --> 00:43:02,955
[Applauding]
1046
00:43:02,955 --> 00:43:04,373
When we started the show,
1047
00:43:04,373 --> 00:43:07,043
I couldn't say
'gay' on the show.
1048
00:43:07,043 --> 00:43:08,878
I was not allowed
to say 'gay'.
1049
00:43:08,878 --> 00:43:11,506
I said it at home,
a lot. I, you know,
1050
00:43:11,506 --> 00:43:13,758
"What are we having for
our gay breakfast"? Or...
1051
00:43:13,758 --> 00:43:15,009
[Laughing]
1052
00:43:15,009 --> 00:43:16,928
"Pass the gay salt."
1053
00:43:16,928 --> 00:43:18,137
"Has anyone seen
the gay remote"?
1054
00:43:18,137 --> 00:43:19,639
Things like that.
But...
1055
00:43:19,639 --> 00:43:22,391
we couldn't say 'gay.'
I couldn't say 'we'
1056
00:43:22,391 --> 00:43:25,436
because that implied that
I was with someone.
1057
00:43:25,436 --> 00:43:27,230
Sure couldn't say 'wife'
and that's because
1058
00:43:27,230 --> 00:43:29,273
it wasn't legal for gay
people to get married,
1059
00:43:29,273 --> 00:43:31,150
and now I say
'wife' all the time.
1060
00:43:31,150 --> 00:43:33,736
[Applauding]
1061
00:43:33,736 --> 00:43:37,031
I think that you can catch
people on a bad day,
1062
00:43:37,031 --> 00:43:39,951
and I think you're
allowed to have a bad day.
1063
00:43:39,951 --> 00:43:44,497
I think that if you spend
your life being kind,
1064
00:43:44,497 --> 00:43:47,375
and being good,
I think that you are
1065
00:43:47,375 --> 00:43:50,127
allowed to have a
really shitty day.
1066
00:43:50,127 --> 00:43:54,632
And maybe she had those.
You know?
1067
00:43:54,632 --> 00:43:58,010
I know I have.
It's unfair to,
1068
00:43:58,010 --> 00:44:00,763
to make a judgment about
someone without knowing
1069
00:44:00,763 --> 00:44:02,807
all the parts of the story.