The Ellen Show
The Ellen Show is an American television sitcom created by and starring Ellen DeGeneres that was broadcast during the 2001–02 season on CBS, aired from September 24, 2001, to January 11, 2002. It was DeGeneres's second attempt at a sitcom, following Ellen on ABC (1994–98), but it was unable to attract strong ratings and was quickly cancelled after 13 episodes, leaving 5 episodes unaired.
| The Ellen Show | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Ellen DeGeneres Mitchell Hurwitz (co-creator) Carol Leifer (co-creator) |
| Starring | Ellen DeGeneres Jim Gaffigan Emily Rutherfurd Martin Mull Kerri Kenney Cloris Leachman |
| Theme music composer | Jude Christodal |
| Composer | David Schwartz |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 [1] |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes [1] |
| Production companies | The Hurwitz Company CBS Productions Columbia TriStar Television (2001) (season 1) Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001-2002) (season 1) |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original release | September 24, 2001 – January 11, 2002 |
DeGeneres came out as a lesbian in Ellen, and her character on The Ellen Show, Ellen Richmond, was also a lesbian, although the show did not focus as heavily on the character's sexuality unlike the final season of her first sitcom.
The Ellen Show also starred Cloris Leachman, Martin Mull, Kerri Kenney, Jim Gaffigan, and Emily Rutherfurd.
Plot
After her internet company Homelearn.com goes bankrupt, Ellen Richmond decides to move back to her hometown to live with her eccentric mother, Dot, and scatter-brained sister, Catherine. At home, Ellen becomes reacquainted with her senior prom date, Rusty, who thinks they can pick up where they left off (which, since she is 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 and takes a job as a guidance counselor at her former high school.
Cast
Main
- Ellen DeGeneres as Ellen Richmond
- Jim Gaffigan as Rusty Carnouk
- Emily Rutherfurd as Catherine Richmond
- Martin Mull as Ed Munn
- Kerri Kenney as Pam
- Cloris Leachman as Dot Richmond
- Diane Delano as Bunny Hoppstetter
Guest stars
- Jennifer Irwin as Meg (episode: "Pilot")
- Regan Burns as Officer "B" Arthur (episodes: "Walden Pond", "Joe"")
- John Francis Daley as Erik (episode: "Walden Pond")
- Susan Yeagley as Waitress (episode: "Chain Reaction")
- Marissa Jaret Winokur as Tina (episode: "Vanity Hair")
- Tom Poston as Joe (episode: "Joe")
- Betty White as Mrs. Gibson (episode: "Missing the Bus")
- Dakota Fanning as Young Ellen (episode: "Missing the Bus")
- Mary Tyler Moore as Aunt Mary (episode: "Ellen's First Christmess")
- Ed Asner as Santa Claus (episode: "Ellen's First Christmess")
- John Ritter as Percy Moss (episode: "Gathering Moss")
- Maureen McCormick as Rita Carter (episode: "Shallow Gal")
- Kaley Cuoco as Vanessa Carter (episode: "Shallow Gal")
Production
The show was created by Carol Leifer and Mitchell Hurwitz, who co-wrote the pilot episode. The original title was Ellen Again.[2]
Episodes
The Ellen Show produced 18 episodes, but was canceled mid-way through its season. The final 5 episodes were never broadcast, but are available on DVD.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Andy Ackerman | Carol Leifer & Mitchell Hurwitz | September 24, 2001 |
| 2 | "Walden Pond" | Andrew D. Weyman | Carol Leifer | September 28, 2001 |
| 3 | "Chain Reaction" | Andrew D. Weyman | Carol Leifer & Chuck Martin | October 5, 2001 |
| 4 | "Vanity Hair" | Andrew D. Weyman | Ric Swartzlander | October 12, 2001 |
| 5 | "The Move" | Andrew D. Weyman | Rob LaZebnik & Mitchell Hurwitz | October 19, 2001 |
| 6 | "Muskrat Love" | Andrew D. Weyman | Carol Leifer & Chuck Martin | October 26, 2001 |
| 7 | "Joe" | Andrew D. Weyman | Mitchell Hurwitz & Rob LaZebnik | November 2, 2001 |
| 8 | "Cathy's Taffy" | Andrew D. Weyman | Story by : Sue Kolinsky Teleplay by : Carol Leifer & Chuck Martin | November 9, 2001 |
| 9 | "Missing the Bus" | Andrew D. Weyman | Story by : Jim Gerkin & Ric Swartzlander Teleplay by : Ric Swartzlander | November 16, 2001 |
| 10 | "Alive and Kicking" | Andrew D. Weyman | Carol Leifer & Chuck Martin | December 10, 2001 |
| 11 | "Ellen's First Christmess" | Andrew D. Weyman | Darin Henry | December 17, 2001 |
| 12 | "A Bird in the Hand" | Andrew D. Weyman | Sue Kolinsky | January 4, 2002 |
| 13 | "Just the Duck" | Andrew D. Weyman | Jim Gerkin | January 11, 2002 |
| 14 | "Shallow Gal" | Andrew D. Weyman | Harold Kimmel | Unaired |
| 15 | "Gathering Moss" | Andrew D. Weyman | Bill Kelley | Unaired |
| 16 | "A Matter of Principal" | Andrew D. Weyman | Darin Henry | Unaired |
| 17 | "Where the Sun Doesn't Shine" | Andrew D. Weyman | Chuck Martin | Unaired |
| 18 | "One for the Roadshow" | Andrew D. Weyman | Story by : Mitchell Hurwitz & Rob LaZebnik Teleplay by : Darin Henry & Bill Kelley | Unaired |
Home media
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 in a 2-disc box set on July 11, 2006.[3]
In 2014, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series and subsequently re-released the complete series on February 4, 2014.[4]
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, in partnership with CBS Home Entertainment, owns the international rights. The complete series was released in Region 4 (Australia) as a 2 DVD set on February 1, 2017 by Umbrella Entertainment.
References
- "The Ellen Show (TV Series 2001-2002)". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- "Ellen's Return". The Advocate. June 5, 2001. p. 24.
- "The Ellen Show DVD news: Front & Back art for 2001 sitcom". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19.
- "The Ellen Show DVD news: Re-Release for The Ellen Show - The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-22.