The Ellen Show
| The Ellen Show | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Ellen DeGeneres |
| Starring | Ellen DeGeneres Jim Gaffigan Emily Rutherfurd Martin Mull Kerri Kenney Cloris Leachman |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 22 minutes per episode |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | September 24, 2001 – January 11, 2002 |
- For the syndicated television talk show, see: The Ellen DeGeneres Show. For DeGeneres's first sitcom, see Ellen (TV series).
The Ellen Show was a television sitcom starring Ellen DeGeneres that aired during the 2001-2002 season on CBS. It was DeGeneres' second attempt at a sitcom, after her more successful These Friends of Mine/Ellen on ABC (1994-1998), but it was unable to garner strong ratings and was quickly canceled. DeGeneres moved on from this setback to host her highly successful talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, starting in 2003.
After coming out of the closet as a lesbian on her first sitcom, DeGeneres' character on The Ellen Show, Ellen Richmond, was also a lesbian, although the show did not focus as heavily on the character's sexuality as did the final season of her first sitcom.
The Ellen Show also starred Cloris Leachman (Mary Tyler Moore), Martin Mull (Roseanne), Jim Gaffigan, and Emily Rutherfurd (The New Adventures of Old Christine).
Plot
Ellen Richmond decides to trade the stresses of her fast-track, big-city lifestyle for the slower pace of her quieter hometown, where she is known and loved. It remains to be seen, however, whether or not returning to her hometown, a fishbowl of a place, and her eccentric mother, Dot, and scatter-brained sister, Catherine, is the best course of action. At home, Ellen becomes reacquainted with her senior prom date, Rusty, who thinks they can pick up where they left off (which, since she's a lesbian, seems unlikely), and her befuddled high school teacher, Mr. Munn. Though worlds apart from the people who love her, Ellen begins to adjust to a very different way of life.
Cast
- Ellen DeGeneres - Ellen Richmond
- Jim Gaffigan - Rusty Carnouk
- Emily Rutherfurd - Katherin Richmond
- Martin Mull - Mr. Munn
- Kerri Kenney - Pam
- Cloris Leachman - Dot Richmond
Guest Stars
- Betty White - Mrs. Gibson
- Mary Tyler Moore - Aunt Mary
- Dakota Fanning - Young Ellen
Episodes
The Ellen Show consisted of 18 episodes, it was canceled mid-way through its first season. The final 5 episodes of the series were never aired, but are available on the DVD.
- Pilot
- Walden Pond
- Chain Reaction
- Vanity Hair
- The Move
- Muskrat Love
- Joe
- Cathy's Taffy
- Missing the Bus
- Alive and Kicking
- Ellen's First Christmess
- A Bird in the Hand
- Just the Duck
- Ell on Wheels
- One for the Roadshow
- Gathering Moss
- A Matter of Principal
- Where the Sun Doesn't Shine
DVD Release
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 in a 2-disc boxset on July 11, 2006.
