The Ellen Show

Infobox Television
show_name = The Ellen Show

caption = "The Ellen Show" Cast
format = Sitcom
runtime = approx. 22 minutes per episode
creator =

Ellen DeGeneres
starring = Ellen DeGeneres
Jim Gaffigan
Emily Rutherfurd
Martin Mull
Kerri Kenney
Cloris Leachman
country = USA
network = CBS
first_aired = September 24, 2001
last_aired = January 11, 2002
num_episodes = 18:"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 ("My Boys"), 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

Production

The show was created by Carol Leifer and Mitchell Hurwitz, who co-wrote the pilot episode. Noting the presence of Hurwitz, best known for his series "Arrested Development", as well as "Night Court" writer Harold Kimmel, a critic concluded "There's a heck of a comedy pedigree here." [http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ellenshow.php]

Guest Stars

*Betty White - Mrs. Gibson
*Mary Tyler Moore - Aunt Mary
*Dakota Fanning - Young Ellen
*John Ritter
*Maureen McCormick

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
# Shallow Gal
# Gathering Moss
# A Matter of Principal
# Where the Sun Doesn't Shine
# One for the Roadshow

DVD Release

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 in a 2-disc boxset on July 11, 2006.

External links

*imdb title|id=0285358|title=The Ellen Show