Ellen DeGeneres is today’s biggest daytime talk show host. She has taken on the mantle after Oprah ended her show to focus on her tv channel and more, but Ellen says she’s getting tired too.
In order to promote her upcoming comedy special “Relatable,” her first in 15 years, Ellen DeGeneres has gone through a series of interviews. In one interview with the New York Times, Ellen hints on how tired she’s getting of being a human symbol for dancing, comedy, and glee.
DeGeneres shared that she has extended her contract for the show until the summer of 2020, but she was close to declining. It seems the celebrity host and comedian is on the fence about leaving her show.
On top of that, all of the closest people around Ellen keep giving her different advice. Ellen’s wife Portia de Rossi suggests that Ellen takes her exit, but her brother, comedian Vance DeGeneres, wishes she’d stay.
“She gets mad when my brother tells me I can’t stop,” DeGeneres said while talking beside her wife.
“I just think she’s such a brilliant actress and standup that it doesn’t have to be this talk show for her creativity,” de Rossi said. “There are other things she could tackle.”
“I don’t see the end of her show as her career ending,” de Rossi added.
DeGeneres shares that she would love to do another movie and play “someone appealing,” and de Rossi suggests looking into doing radio or a podcast.
But it’s not just the creative side that’s bothering DeGeneres but also the emotional side as well. Frankly, Ellen is getting tired of always having to dance and be bubbly.
“Being trapped in the world of being asked to dance and expected to be nice, it’s real,” said Tig Notaro, comic and co-director of “Relatable,” in a phone interview. “I’m sure there’s people who think she’s kidding. Or can’t have a bad day. But she does. It’s an interesting pickle she’s in.”
“There’s been times someone wants a picture, and while I’m doing a selfie, they’re like: ‘You’re not dancing!,’” DeGeneres remarked. “Of course I’m not dancing. I’m walking down the street.”
It seems Ellen DeGeneres is feeling out the last few years of her time on Daytime television. The famed comedian and actress is ready to break from the mold of talk show host and move on to other ventures. And with 16 seasons under her belt, can we really blame her?
h/t: New York Times
Ellen, you can do anything.
Ellen, you can do anything. Switch up the format, do a show a week about a serious topic in depth. Aids, MeToo, Voting Rights, Sexual Harassment in the US Senate, Animal Welfare. You have a bully pulpit, use it. Your fans will follow you. You have done so much for so many, you don't have to keep doing that. But I personally hope doing so isn't just a career choice at this point, but a calling. But bottom line is, you have the right to be happy too. Good luck in your decision making and know the power is in your hands. Be happy.