Ellen DeGeneres on ending her show in 2022 and coming out 25 years ago
Ellen, one of the most renowned comedians and a host for more than two decades for her own show, Ellen DeGeneres Show, came bearing two big news today.
One is when she celebrates how far she’s come, particularly her iconic coming-out episode on April 30, 1997.
Second is where she announced the day she will be ending her long-running show this upcoming May 2022.
25th anniversary of her coming out episode, “The Puppy Episode”
In “The Puppy Episode,” no pups were injured – in fact, no puppies appear at all. That extraordinary episode of Ellen, which aired 25 years ago on April 30, 1997, had a significant influence not just on the television business but on society as a whole.
This is the day when Ellen publicly came out as gay; both her character on the ABC sitcom and herself. The episode was taped live.
She also recalls when people told her that it could ruin her career. For a minute, she believed they were right.
“Actually, for exactly three years, I lost my career. But look at me now.”
DeGeneres was greeted with a thunderous ovation. Then emphasizes the significance of learning to accept and welcome individuals for who they really are.
“It really goes to show you how important it is to be your authentic self. And how important it is to accept others as their authentic selves,” she continued.
“I didn’t see a lot of people like me on television when I was a kid — Peppermint Patty, of course,” she joked. “As soon as I saw those sensible shoes, I knew. The creator said she wasn’t a lesbian, but good grief.”
Ellen Morgan, the comedian onscreen, alter the character, has always been a loosely fictionalized version of DeGeneres’ silly public self. She took that link a step further with “The Puppy Episode,” bringing Morgan to come out of the closet together with DeGeneres famously stating, “Yep, I’m Gay.”
DeGeneres was heavily involved in the writing of “The Puppy Episode,” coming up with a story that found Ellen Morgan embracing her sexuality after finally meeting a person she felt genuinely attracted to— Susan DeGeneres (Laura Dern).
The Last Episode of Ellen DeGeneres Show
In May 2021, last year, Ellen announced that she would be ending her talk show in 2022. Due to her need for “something new to challenge” her, she decided to end the series; she told The Hollywood Reporter at the time.
And earlier today, Ellen posted that they had already taped the final episode that will be airing on May 26.
Ellen DeGeneres thanked the show’s fans as they gave her the privilege to be part of their lives together as they witnessed how the world changed.
