Even as Taylor Swift counts down the days to her July wedding to Travis Kelce, the artist keeps feeding the Swifties. After a couple of new music videos from The Life of a Showgirl, she’s now spilling the tea about her writing process. In addition to answering a question that has plagued us for literally two decades, she also appeared to throw some shade, and fans were quick to start pointing fingers at Ellen DeGeneres over one viral interview.

The New York Times has named Taylor Swift one of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters, and the artist opened up about how the haters have inspired her music. In a viral clip circulating from the interview, she calls out the people (or perhaps a specific person) for mocking her dating life, saying:

It’s the voice Taylor Swift uses to portray this unnamed bully that really exemplifies how she feels about the sentiment, and Swifties were quick to recall all the times former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres joked about this on her show. One viral tweet shared just that portion of the quote and tagged The Ellen DeGeneres Show (which aired its final episode in 2022):

Fans loved how Taylor Swift appeared to be calling out people who often spoke about her dating life out of turn, and the comments were absolutely vicious when it came to their thoughts on Ellen:

• She is Clocking Ellen...And I am here for it… – priyanka6290123
• Oh youre messyyyyy – Fipanmu
• No, because when she sent this, the first thing I thought of was the Ellen Show incident – ghostlylutz
• End that hag – thiskelpo
• Am I the only one who thought of Ellen? The “ring a bell if you dated him” thing? – sgtschenford

Taylor Swift appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show quite a bit during the talk show’s run to promote her music, but the boyfriend slideshow in question seems to be from a 2012 episode. Ellen tried to get the singer to divulge which ex-boyfriends certain songs were written about by ringing a bell when she showed a photo of someone she'd dated.

Photos of Taylor Swift and different men started to carousel across Ellen DeGeneres’ big screen — some of them did feature her ex-boyfriends, but others were just pics Swift had taken with other celebrities like Justin Timberlake and Zac Efron. Taylor Swift stated that she wasn’t going to reveal anything and didn’t want to play the bell game. She seemed to be tearing up when she said:

Ellen DeGeneres proceeded to grab the bell and start ringing it as Taylor Swift buried her head in her hands, ultimately crying:

The Red artist appeared to be really upset by Ellen’s actions, and it’s honestly not a fun clip to watch. I guess Taylor Swift ultimately got her revenge, laughing all the way to the bank with the money she earned from “Blank Space.” She didn’t even need to drop any names for Swifties to make assumptions about whose to write in it.

Ryan Murphy’s legal drama All’s Fair made all kinds of waves when it premiered last fall for Hulu subscription holders, as critics called it “tacky and revolting” and Kim Kardashian’s real-life divorce lawyer, Laura Wasser, called out the show’s inaccuracies. One of the biggest controversies, however, involved a Birkin bag carried by Kardashian’s Allura Grant, and the reality star-turned-actress opened up about what happened and the reaction she got from celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres.

Kim Kardashian — who has an interesting past with PETA — got a lot of backlash when she was shown on All’s Fair carrying what appeared to be a controversial Hermès Birkin bag made from elephant skin. However, she explained on her sister's podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, that the bag was not real. In her words:

She explained that she did bring in several items from her own Birkin collection (it’s unclear if they included the ones that cost Kris Jenner six figures), but there were also others provided that the actresses could use to match one of their luxurious outfits.

As for the elephant hide bags in question — created for a limited series in the ‘80s from the skin of an elephant who was killed during a safari — PETA says Hermès never sold them commercially, but they reportedly go for upwards of $125,000 on resale markets.

Many people, including celebrities, found it atrocious that Kim Kardashian and/or Allura Grant would own such an item. Ireland Baldwin, for one, wrote on social media that it was “disgusting and shameful,” while Ellen DeGeneres apparently took a more private approach.

The comedian is a longtime friend of the Kardashian-Jenner family members, and Kim even credits Ellen for inspiring her to switch fully to faux fur. It would make sense, then, that the former talk show host was confused when she saw the All’s Fair controversy. Kim said:

Kim Kardashian said she was appreciative of the way Ellen DeGeneres handled the situation, contacting her privately and taking time to communicate her thoughts. Now the American Horror Story actress said she understands the outrage that the bag caused, and despite the fact that it was just a prop, it shouldn’t have been used. She said:

Critics may have not loved the legal drama, but outside of the Birkin faux pas, fans devoured the nine-episode first season, which led to a quick renewal for All’s Fair Season 2. There’s no word yet on when that might happen, but I think we can expect at least one change to Allura Grant’s bevy of accessories if and when she and her fellow litigators return to the 2026 TV schedule.

Ellen Degeneres has been a celebrity for a long time, making waves as an accomplished stand-up comedian, actor, and talk show host. People loved her comedy specials, including the most recent one For Your Approval which was released for those with a Netflix subscription. But following some controversies, Degeneres moved to the U.K. with her wife Portia de Rossi. Although a recent report indicates she might be ready to return to The States. Let's break it all down.

After years of being known as the kindest talk show host on TV, Degeneres faced backlash over reports of a toxic work environment. The Ellen Degeneres Show ended in 2021 after nearly two decades on the air, and the host has been enjoying some privacy across the pond. But a new report by The Daily Mail claims (per an anonymous source) that Degeneres and de Rossi have plans to "come home soon" and resettle on the West Coast of The United States.

This is just a rumor at this point, so we should probably take it with a grain of salt. But considering how surprising her move to the U.K. was, it might track to some fans that she'd eventually return to America. We'll just have to wait and see if this anonymous source's information ends up being legit.

It's been a number of years since Ellen fired her top producers after the reports of her behavior on the talk show went viral. The chatter surrounding her alleged behavior has quieted, which might be why she and her wife are considering returning to the states. Back in April there were also rumors about Degeneres planning a return to TV, so we'll have to see if that actually happens.

Ellen Degeneres is far from the only celebrity to move abroad following notable controversies. After the verdict of the Amber Heard/ Johnny Depp trial was revealed, both actors went to Europe; Depp moved to London while Heard settled down in Madrid.

Prior to her controversies going viral, Degeneres had a pretty sterling reputation in Hollywood. Her talk show was wildly popular, as was her message for viewers to "be kind to one another." She also starred as Dory in the Finding Nemo franchise (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) and had great success as a stand-up, including her various specials like the iconic Here and Now. This is partly why the accusations made against her were so viral; they stood in stark juxtaposition to the public perception of her at the time.

Only time will tell if/when Ellen and Portia return to the states, and how the talk show host's career recovers. For now, fans can re-watch episodes of The Ellen Degeneres Show on the Roku Channel.

Johnny Carson is one of the best modern late-night talk show hosts, and it seemed like anybody who was anybody wound up on The Tonight Show during his tenure. Still to this day, Carson is still talked about, with Jimmy Kimmel revealing what he learned about late-night following Carson’s final show, and it’s that he would never be anywhere near as good as Carson. However, during Carson’s time on The Tonight Show, he allegedly banned a handful of huge celebrities, such as Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Dana Carvey, and even William Shatner.

Recently, Mark Malkoff wrote a book with David Ritz about Carson’s life and career titled Love Johnny Carson. It features interviews with those who knew him best and gives a look at him both during and after his time on The Tonight Show. Allegedly, Carson’s producer for 22 years, Peter Lassally, told Malkhoff that Carson had a ban list (via Fox News). He claimed that “Burt Reynolds and Rich Little have both claimed to have seen a ‘hard copy’ with over thirty names on it,” though to his knowledge, a physical list never existed.

One of the names allegedly on the list was fellow late night host Leno, who made his Tonight Show debut in March 1977 and was once a regular on the talk show. The book claims that after the “audience laughs were so light” during his fifth appearance in February 1978, Carson “decided never to invite him back.” As Malkoff wrote:

Of course, Leno would eventually return to The Tonight Show as host for 22 combined years, from 1992 to 2009 and 2010 to 2014, so he wasn’t permanently banned from the talk show. Just blacklisted (allegedly) during a portion of Carson’s tenure.

He wouldn’t be the only one allegedly banned. Ninety-four year-old Star Trek favorite William Shatner wasn’t asked back after he apparently broke three Tonight Show rules during an appearance in 1983. This included speaking “monotonously for four minutes straight” without letting Carson butt in.

Like Leno, Shatner actually did come back to the show, but only when there were guest hosts and Carson was not in the seat, which seemingly lends credence to this rumor.

Other allegedly banned guests included fellow former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, which came after she reportedly made a joke after Carson told her not to. In addition, popular guest Carl Sagan, who appeared at least 24 times, eventually didn’t return after the scientist corrected Carson twice while he and Carson were discussing Halley’s comet. Finally, SNL star Dana Carvey, was allegedly “permanently banned” from appearing as a guest after he parodied the talk show in a sketch. (I guess he was not turtle-y enough for the Tonight Show's turtle club.)

Orson Welles, Jerry Lewis, and Steve Allen were also allegedly on Carson’s banned list for various reasons. None of this is confirmed officially, of course, though the information around each of the various celebrities and their final appearances is pretty specific.

Even if the banned list is true, Carson was still a respected talk show host, and he certainly seemed to know who was and was not worthy of his own time, though this whole thing does make me wonder if a list like that exists for other talk shows.

Ellen DeGeneres changed television forever not only by coming out on her Ellen sitcom, but for hosting one of the most celebrated daytime talk shows ever. But after 19 years, The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended with its host voicing her desire to try new things following a widely publicized backslide in popularity. The American comedian may be living comfortably in the U.K. now, but an insider claims she’s reportedly planning to make a TV comeback, and it may involve Jennifer Aniston.

Since ending her talk show, Ellen DeGeneres made a permanent move to the U.K. in 2024 with wife Portia De Rossi After renovating their $18 million property in the Cotswolds, the pair have decided to put their house on the market in order to find a new place to facilitate and pasteurize the Arrested Development actress’ horses. Amidst murmurs about her potentially returning to the small screen, Star Magazine is reporting one insider's claims that a TV comeback is indeed on the table.

If Ellen DeGeneres is allegedly serious about returning to television, the same source said the Finding Nemo actress reportedly won’t go at it alone. She's supposedly reaching out to close pals with massive fanbases like Kris Jenner and Jennifer Aniston, who have both been repeat guests on her talk show.

While Kris Jenner was a guest on the farewell season of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jennifer Aniston was part of the fun in the show’s final episode. When iasked for advice on how to deal with ending a major chapter in one's life, Aniston delivered a great Brad Pitt divorce comment and reflect on the importance of starting anew. As Aniston has made great strides in film and television since Friends ended, I'd say the Golden Globe winner knows a thing or two about reinvention.

The year The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended, Jennifer Aniston was quick to express sadness at the idea of the “staple” series no longer being around. So if the rumors are true that DeGeneres is allegedly looking for a fresh start on television, I’d like to believe Aniston would see it as an honor to be asked to tag-team with her for more good times like this.

After Ellen DeGeneres faced backlash from her TV crew about toxic workplace allegations, her talk show went through a big ratings drop. Once The Ellen DeGeneres Show concluded in 2022, the Emmy winner led a big-hit Netflix comedy special, Relatable, where she famously said, “I was kicked out of show business.”

At the same time, the thought has previously crossed Ellen DeGeneres' mind about returning to show business despite her three-year hiatus. When asked in July about wanting to do another talk show, the Louisiana native answered that she’d love to. However, she mentioned awareness of how the landscape of television has changed, with more people looking at their phones compared to TV screens. (Also, don’t expect to hear her voice Dory the third time around in a potential Finding Nemo 3, as she said in her stand-up special, “I’m going bye-bye.”)

While the rumors about Ellen DeGeneres' aim to return to TV may not be fully legitimate, the potential success that'd come from these two women teaming up seems limitless, so I'm interested to see if either one of them speaks up about it in the near future, possibly while Aniston is promoting The Morning Show Season 4.

Over the years, there have been many claims made about Ellen DeGeneres being mean and the work environment at The Ellen DeGeneres Show being toxic. Now, Adam Carolla has opened up about his experience being a guest on her show, and he explained why he believes “people were scared” of her.

As DeGeneres makes headlines over her move to the UK and political comments, Adam Carolla was asked on After Party with Emily Jashinsky if he thinks she’s one of the people who have unraveled because of Donald Trump. In response, he said, “Ellen has always been a mean person.” He also compared the energy of her show behind the scenes to other talk shows, like Jay Leno’s and Jimmy Kimmel’s. While he said Kimmel and Leno were “laid back,” he believes DeGeneres made people “scared.” As he said:

He then went on to tell a story about a time he was a guest on the show. Carolla explained that a segment producer came into his dressing room to discuss the topics he’d talk about on air. He noted that they’d discuss things like “Christmas,” and then he clarified with the comedian that he wouldn’t bring up “beef or meet.” Carolla confirmed he would not, but the producer returned later to ask again, as he explained:

After that, Adam Carolla doubled down on his opinion, saying he spoke to another employee about their experience working on DeGeneres’ show. Without saying their name, he recalled that he was told they thought she was the “worst person” they’d ever met:

Adam Carolla then said that DeGeneres was never directly mean to him. He came to the opinion that she was mean, because the people who worked for her that he interacted with were scared of their boss.

Of course, this is simply his opinion. However, he is by no means the first person to claim the former talk show host was “mean.” Margaret Cho recently said Ellen was “weird and not nice” to her. Back in 2020, Ryan Phillippe threw some shade at her by pausing over her “be kind to one another” line. Meanwhile, former Bachelorette star Ali Fedotowsky-Manno said the host laughed at her instead of with her.

For the last five years, the discourse surrounding Ellen DeGeneres, her work and her show has been turbulent. Now that she’s back in the news, it’s bubbling back up again. So, as we learn more about what she’s up to and the ever-evolving discussion about her old show, we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Ellen DeGeneres was an incredibly successful talk show host during her time on the air, and also one of the most controversial. Mid 2020, DeGeneres faced a slew of “Mean Ellen” rumors by many of her Hollywood peers, which laid the groundwork for her show ending. Regardless of the buzz, she still has fans who'd love to see her on TV, but could it ever happen? Now, three years after The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended, the former host is sharing if she’d step back into that limelight.

After DeGeneres said goodbye to her long-running series, she moved to the UK with wife Portia de Rossi in November 2024. With the move, many aren't expecting any daytime TV reprisals for the 67-year-old celeb anytime soon. But in a discussion at the Everyman Theatre with broadcaster Richard Bacon, the thought still intrigues her. After being asked if she'd ever be interested to host a similar project, she expressed that she misses the gig but today's formatting standards don't fill the bill anymore. Via BBC, she shared:

Before the “toxic” workplace allegations, DeGeneres’ show guaranteed that she had a major influence on TV. Her reputation took some hits after comments from celebrities who had appeared on her show that weren't exactly complimentary. Many stars shared general feelings, like Ryan Phillippe’s shade, or their professional and personal experiences. Singer Mariah Carey was “extremely uncomfortable” with DeGeneres, after she forced her hand to talk about her pregnancy. The Bachelorette alum Ali Fedotowsky-Manno was made to feel stupid while she was a guest.

Still, the Finding Nemo actress seems to be looking ahead in her career, and not behind. She's open to future possibilities awaiting her but not sure where to head just yet. That said, DeGeneres will be going into any new endeavor with intention, and to have some fun. For now though, she is more or less making do with her farm animals, as she said on the subject of picking her next gig:

As one of the many celebrities who've moved out of Los Angeles, it seems that the move was a big step forward for her. The aftermath of The Ellen DeGeneres Show was followed by Ellen's Game of Games game show getting cancelled. But the comedy vet eventually moved ahead with a return to stand-up followed by Netflix standup special, For Your Approval.

As for whatever’s next – even the possibility of a talk show – it seems like she's going about it carefully, with intention and trying to avoid any future backlash. It remains to be seen where she goes next, as there are still comments being made by celebs about Degeneres’ odd professional behavior.

Ellen DeGeneres was caught in a whirlwind of controversy in 2020, in connection to her long-running talk show. During the summer of that year, reports of a “toxic” work environment on the Ellen talk show began to surface, though the initial allegations weren’t aimed at DeGeneres herself. However, the veteran comic eventually found herself on the receiving end of rumors about on-set bullying. That controversy has mostly died down at this point, but Magaret Cho is now sharing some less-than-positive thoughts on working with DeGeneres.

Margaret Cho has been working within the comedy sphere for some time now and, as a result, she’s crossed paths with more than a few notable comics in her time. When Cho appeared on The Kelly Mantle Show (which is on YouTube), the eponymous host asked for her thoughts on an assortment of comedians. When Ellen DeGeneres came up, Cho noted that she’d known her for “such a long time” and referred to her as “a mean girl.” It sounds like the uncomfortable vibe between the two remained for years:

The “Mean Ellen” rumors made the rounds across social media several years ago. Lea Thompson and Brad Garrett were among some of the earliest stars to back up the claims, and Ryan Phillippe called out DeGeneres, too. Just months ago, Bachelorette alum Ali Fedotowsky-Manno claimed she was made to feel “stupid” while on Ellen. Margaret Cho went on to recall another situation involving David Bowie guest-starring on DeGeneres’ show. The matter apparently involved Bowie praising Cho during his TV appearance:

Ellen DeGeneres herself has not provided any kind of comment on her reasoning for cutting that part of David Bowie’s interview, as of this writing. Although DeGeneres faced blowback from multiple people, she was publicly defended by her brother, Vance, music producer Scooter Braun and a few others. When the toxic work environment rumors initially surfaced, DeGeneres said she was committed to spearheading “change” behind the scenes.

Ultimately, not long after the controversy, it was reported that Ellen would conclude at the end of the 2021-2022 TV season. DeGeneres later addressed the backlash she faced, claiming that it was “too orchestrated” and “too coordinated.” The stand-up comedy veteran signed off from her show for the final time in May 2022.

At present, Ellen DeGeneres no longer lives in the United States, as she and wife Portia de Rossi now live in the United Kingdom. The Emmy-winning comedian has been keeping a relatively low profile as of late. Whether or not comments from Margaret Cho or Ali Fedotowsky-Manno might spark further backlash against DeGeneres remains to be seen.

Plenty of celebrities have packed up and moved out of Los Angeles for varying reasons, but with no projects planned as of yet for the 2025 TV schedule, Ellen DeGeneres chose to make a more drastic change. She and wife Portia De Rossi left the country, relocating to England following the presidential election. It sounded like their first few weeks across the pond might have been less than ideal, as some news outlets reported their home in Cotswolds flooded in torrential rains. However, the comedian is dispelling those claims in a recent social media post.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi got married in 2008, four years after they began dating. The former talk show host posted a selfie of the two of them in front of a gorgeous landscape to honor their two decades together, and in that Instagram caption, DeGeneres flat-out disputes any water-related woes in their new home, writing:

Well there you have it. Ellen DeGeneres and the Arrested Development star are still deeply in love after 20 years, and there was no flooding in their farmhouse.

The Daily Mail reported that raging floods had swamped the couple’s 43-acre, multi-million-pound property when the banks of a River Thames tributary broke following days of strong wind and rain. They were virtually marooned, the trade reported, as roads were left unpassable in the Cotswolds area of Oxfordshire, which is about two hours away from London.

In the photo posted by the television icon, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi did not appear to be distressed or flummoxed in the way that you might be if your new house flooded just days after you moved across the world (assuming the photo was a current one).

The couple reportedly purchased their UK home before last month’s presidential election, but according to TMZ, they were “very disillusioned” with Donald Trump’s victory and decided to “get the hell out.”

While Ellen DeGeneres hasn’t returned to TV since ending her eponymous talk show in 2022, she did go on tour with a new standup routine, which was filmed for Netflix. The show went over well with viewers but not so much with some of her former talk show staffers. For Your Approval is available to stream with a Netflix subscription.

Since television began, women have been an important part of its history. This is a list of many of the groundbreaking women who have made their mark not only for themselves but for all women in the industry. Women like Lucille Ball, Barbara Walters, Mary Tyler Moore, and many more.

Lucille Ball

I Love Lucy has been one of the most enduring hits in the history of television. It's been on TV both in the first run when it first aired in 1951 and in reruns ever since. Almost the entire time TV has been in people's homes. Of course, that's all because of the brilliant Lucille Ball's performance as Lucy. She's a one-of-kind legend we're unlikely to see the likes of again.

Roxie Roker

Over the course of her incredible career, Roxie Roker broke new ground everywhere she acted, whether it be on the big screen, the Broadway stage, or, as Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, on television. The most important thing Roker did on TV seems so antiquated now that it's hard to believe, but when she was on a hit CBS show, she was actually the first Black actress to appear on a TV show in a relationship with a white man. It was a huge deal.

Carol Burnett

Not only is Carol Burnett one of the funniest women in TV history, but she's at or near the top of the list of the funniest people, period. Her eponymous show was a groundbreaking sketch comedy show and she not only paved the way for more female comedians to have their own show, she paved the way for enduring sketch comedy shows like Saturday Night Live

Betty White

There are few actors more beloved than Betty White. When she died just shy of her 100th birthday in 2021, the outpouring of grief from fans was incredible. It wasn't just for her roles on legendary shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Golden Girls, but for her whole career in television back to its earliest days.

Shonda Rhimes

Many of the women on this list are here for what they've done in front of the camera. Shonda Rhimes is here for what she does behind the scenes as one of the most prolific show creators of all time. Not only is she one of the first women to be so successful as a TV producer, but she's one of the first Black women to do it, making it doubly important and groundbreaking.

Ellen DeGeneres

It's obvious why Ellen DeGeneres is on this list, but that doesn't mean we should overlook the obvious. When DeGeneres came out as a lesbian on her sitcom in 1997 it was actually earthshattering. It shouldn't have been and today, something like that would hardly be blinked at and that's all because she had the guts to do it when she did.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag does something that few shows have done before it - it's an unflinching look at the life of a single woman and by doing that it, it automatically less of the cultural taboo it's been for far too long. It's weird that it's taken so long for something like this be a cultural stone, but at least we're here now.

Barbara Walters

In the TV news business, there is no more groundbreaking figure than the legendary Barbara Walters. As a news broadcaster, reporter, interviewer, and panel host, Walters did many things no woman before her had ever done. It's hard to downplay just how much of a trailblazer Walters was during her amazing career.

Marta Kauffman

As the producer and co-creator of Friends, Marta Kauffman showed the world that a woman could create what was, at the time, the biggest show in the world. It wasn't a show "for women," Friends was a show for everyone and few shows have seen the kind of popularity Friends had - and continues to have today with its endless life on streaming.

Mary Tyler Moore

Without The Mary Tyler Moore show, we might not have had other trailblazing shows like Murphy Brown, or Ellen, or Fleabag. Mary Tyler Moore did it first and, for many, still did it best. Before he blazed a trail on her own, she was also an early hero on The Dick Van Dyke Show. She truly made it on her own on TV.

Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman, And Gilda Radner

It had to be hard for the three women in the original "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live, Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman, And Gilda Radner. The show felt like a frat house at times and there they were, consistently as funny or funnier than the frat bros that made up the rest of the amazing cast. Talk about groundbreaking.

Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson's first television role came in 1961 and her final appearance came just before her death in 2020. In between she starred in literally 100s of episodes of television and often was the first and only Black woman on those shows and episodes. There aren't enough words to explain how important she was for every Black woman who came after her on TV.

Peggy Charren

Activist Peggy Charren is different than most on this list. She wasn't an actress, nor did she even work in the television industry. Instead, she was an advocate for the children at home watching. It's because of the work of Charren that kids had the option to watch informative and educational TV, and not just corporate drivel made to sell more sugary cereal to them. Anyone who grew up loving Sesame Street or The Electric Company has Charren to thank, at least in large part.

Katie Couric

It's hard to believe that it took until 2006 for a major network to have a female lead anchor, but it's true. That woman was, of course, Katie Couric and for that alone, she should forever be remembered as a groundbreaker. She's done so much more as well, so it's not the only thing she'll be remembered and appreciated for.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' career has been nothing short of spectacular. She is one of very few people, much less women, to have won more than 10 Emmy Awards, for her work on not one, not two, but three hit shows. Seinfeld, The Old Adventures of New Christine, and Veep have all been great in large part due to her talent and hard work.

Irna Phillips

On her Wikipedia page, Irna Phillips is described as a scriptwriter, screenwriter, casting agent, and actress. In reality, she kind of invented the entire genre of the soap opera in the 1940s, first on radio and later on TV. She was the first to really pinpoint women as a target audience and write and create shows geared towards them. Daytime TV would be very different if not for Phillips.

Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll isn't the most famous person on this list and that's kind of weird because her contribution to TV is huge. Her groundbreaking role as the lead in Julia showed that Black actors, especially Black women, could be a whole more than just maids or other stereotypical roles they typically played before Julia debuted in 1968.

Candice Bergen

Even before she blazed a new trail in Murphy Brown as the first woman on TV to express the desire to raise a child as a single mom, Candice Bergen was breaking ground on TV. She was the first female member of the SNL Five-Timers Club, for example. As the lead on Murphy Brown, she won so many Emmys (five) that she started declining invitations to give others a chance at the career boost a win provided.

Bea Arthur

Like her cast mates on Golden Girls, Bea Arthur was a true trailblazer. For starters, she is one of few women in Hollywood who served in the active military during World War II as a marine. Once she got to Hollywood, she played by her own rules which eventually landed her a recurring role on All In The Family in the early '70s, tackling some of the biggest issues of the day. That led to the spinoff Maude where she was unflinching in her pursuit of bringing women's liberation issues to the forefront on prime-time TV, including such political hot topics as sensitive as abortion in the early '70s.

Oprah Winfrey

Of all the entries on this list, the one who might need the least introduction is Oprah Winfrey. Starting with a small locally-produced talk show on TV called AM Chicago and later simply The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey built a massive media empire and became one of the biggest moguls in television. Her empire reaches across all forms of media these days and she's among the richest people in the world. And then there are all the cars she's given away...

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols was the sole woman in the original Star Trek cast and she more than held her own. Not only was she an equal member of the Enterprise crew, she was an equal member of the cast. On the show, Nichols' character Uhura shared an on-screen with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) which was one of the first, and most famous example of an interracial kiss on network television. It seems simple, but it was incredibly groundbreaking at the time.

Donna Reed

There were plenty of family-focused sitcoms on 1950s television. What set The Donna Reed Show apart is evident by its name. It was one of the first shows that focused on the mother, played by Donna Reed, as the primary character of the show. This wasn't Father's Knows Best or My Three Sons. Reed was the star and the main character. Additionally, she was no mere wallflower. She was a strong, independent-minded mother and wife who had a full life as a homemaker and mother and audiences saw it all, not just June Cleaver doing the dishes while wearing her pearls.

Laverne Cox

Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox wasn't the first transgender woman on TV, but she was one of the most visible as part of such a huge hit. Cox, and her character were remarkable not only because she was was transgender but because her character Sophia dealt with problems that weren't just because she was transgender, but because she was also human locked up in prison. Sophia wasn't simply a one dimensional character, she was much more than her gender. That was, and still is, rare.

Jodie Whittaker

If she does nothing else in her career (and that is unlikely), Jodie Whittaker will forever be known for being the first female Doctor on Doctor Who. That alone makes her incredibly groundbreaking and worthy of inclusion on this list. There was even a time when critics and fans thought that such a thing would be impossible. Whittaker has been remarkably popular and has proven all the doubters wrong.

Marlo Thomas

Like many instances on this list, it's hard to believe that there was ever a time when it was shocking to even consider an entire television show focused on an unmarried woman. Of course, there was a time when that was true, but that was before Marlo Thomas starred in That Girl starting in 1968. The show, which was actually a little controversial at the time was all about Thomas' character moving to New York to try to make it in show business.

Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen is probably best known as the star of the TV version of Fame (and a small role as the same character in the movie), as well as a judge of So You Think You Can Dance. But Allen's accomplishments run so much deeper than that. She is one of the most prolific TV directors of the last few decades and was the choreographer for the Oscars for a decade. She's had an amazing career on both sides of the camera.

Kerry Washington

It's really hard to wrap one's head around the fact that between Julia, starring Diahann Carroll, which ended in 1971, and Scandal when it started in 2012 (created by Shonda Rhimes), there were no TV shows with a Black female lead. Kerry Washington changed all that when Scandal became a huge hit and ran for six seasons on ABC.

Lynda Carter

Who says girls can't be superheroes? Well, today we know all too well that women can not only be superheroes, but they can lead franchises as such. Back in the late '70s, that was an open question that was answered by Lynda Carter who helped turn Wonder Woman into a hit show that ran for three seasons and then became a staple of syndication for years after.

Sandra Oh

It seems like Sandra Oh has been around forever. She got her big break as part of the cast of Arliss on HBO, then found more fame as a member of the cast of Grey's Anatomy. Her groundbreaking moment came in the titular character in Killing Eve. When she did, she became the first woman of Asian descent to lead a show in the United States. Remarkably it took until 2018 for that to happen. Like all the other women on this is, she proved there are still trails to be blazed.

Pauline Frederick

Pauline Frederick was a groundbreaking female reporter with ABC and NBC during her career. She covered major events like World War II and the Vietnam War, first on radio and then as one of the first female reporters on TV.

Mary Kay Stearns

Like the TV network it was first broadcast on, The DuMont Network, Mary Kay Stearns, and her sitcom Mary Kay And Johnny has mostly been lost to time. Few people remember the show or the network and that's too bad, because both were groundbreaking. In fact, Mary Kay And Johnny was the very first sitcom ever aired on broadcast TV when it debuted in 1948. Mary Kay Stearns starred with her real-life husband Johnny Stearns and not only was it the first sitcom, but it was the first show to feature a pregnant woman and the first to show a married couple sleeping in the same bed.

Viola Davis

As an EGOT winner, Viola Davis has proven over and over what a powerhouse actor she is, no matter where it is. Whether on stage, in film, or on television, she is one of the best to ever do it.

Three years after announcing her talk show exit, and more than two years after filming her final episode, Ellen DeGeneres entered what she says is her retirement phase with the release of For Your Approval. The stand-up special, which hit Netflix’s 2024 lineup in mid-September, may end up being her last televised stage show, and it sounds like that’s the best-case scenario for former talk show staffers who have alleged complaints against DeGeneres over her workplace behavior.

With its title serving as a snarked-up response to the wave of negative publicity making national headlines in 2020, Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval does indeed feature the former sitcom star directly addressing that controversial period, but in ways that don’t accept any responsibility for the actions she was accused of. And several Ellen Show employees had quite a few opinions to share with Rolling Stone about seeing their former boss addressing claims of being mean in front of such a massive audience.

Understandably, the former staffers spoke under the cloak of anonymity, with one noting that the comedian’s motives were recognizable just from the title of the special alone, saying:

In a similar vein as Louis C.K.'s 2020 and 2021 specials Sincerely Louis C.K. and Sorry, which were his first releases following his sexual misconduct scandal, DeGeneres talks about being shunned and canceled, as it were, but without ackknowleding the way in which she was sharing this message with her loyal fanbase. That sentiment came up in a complaint at least from one staffer, who said:

Ellen DeGeneres doesn't stick entirely to her public backlash (which she previously called "orchestrated") throughout the special's runtime, and offers some arguably amusing non sequiturs here and there that have little or nothing to do with being a celebrity, a lot of her act does address her fall from pop culture grace by bringing up her legitimate struggles rising up the ranks in Hollywood.

Specifically, she talks about her ABC sitcom and the groundbreaking move of having a major network TV character coming out as gay, and then doing the same thing herself soon after. It was a watershed moment for media representation, and DeGeneres inspired a lot of LGBTQ+ people within the entertainment industry and beyond. But even so, those who worked with her previously don't think she should be able to use that example of facing strife to put herself on the same level as those who spoke out about the host herself. As one put it:

While she may never outright apologize to anyone in particular for her alleged behavior behind the scenes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and while seeing those issues spoken about with levity in the stand-up special may be triggering, the fact that she's supposed to be retiring after this special should come as good news to many of those who lodged complaints about it.

Of course, some former staffers also expressed to Rolling Stone that they doubt DeGeneres is being completely sincere about retiring, but we'll just have to wait and see whether or not that gameplay plays out.

If you know me, you know I love animation. I’ve always been a fan, from the latest animated movies coming out as part of the 2024 movie schedule to classics that I could rewatch again and again. I also love animation on television, something that I grew up on and have come to appreciate even more. But there are just some characters voiced by actors that I genuinely could not imagine another actor voicing them – and today, we’ll be going over them. 

Robin Williams As Genie (Aladdin)

This is the obvious answer. Robin Williams as the Genie in Aladdin was honestly one of Robin Williams' best roles, and he wasn’t even on screen. He was able to give so much energy, wit, and fun to a character that was drawn, and it almost made you feel like Genie was a friend rather than some random side character.

Tim Allen As Buzz (Toy Story Franchise)

Toy Story is hands down one of the best Pixar films, and a big reason for this is the natural partnership between Buzz and Woody. Of course, I had to put Tim Allen as Buzz here. I’m pretty sure we can barely think of Buzz in any other way aside from Allen doing it, even if Chris Evans did give it his all in the Lightyear cast. 

Dante Basco As Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

“Hello, Zuko here,” is a line that has lived in my brain since I was literally a child and will forever be there. Dante Basco as Zuko is iconic. Not only is Basco basically the biggest Avatar: The Last Airbender fan out there, but he’s also voiced not one but two characters in the ATLA universe. However, he, like Zuko, can’t be beaten, and we will always love him voicing one of the best redemption arcs on television. 

Bryce Papenbrook As Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan)

Let me preface this by saying that yes, I know the primary voice roles for anime are the Japanese voice actors but have you ever heard an English dub actor who is just so good that it makes it almost impossible to watch it in Japanese? That’s Bryce Papenbrook with Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan. As one of my favorite anime, I started this series listening to Papenbrook, and I ended it with him, too, when I watched the finale again with the dub. He does Eren so well, and it’s hard to picture anyone else but him. 

Eddie Murphy As Mushu (Mulan)

Eddie Murphy is one of those actors where it feels like he plays himself in his voice roles, and he, as Mushu, is certainly one of them. I cannot tell you how often I quote this character. “Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!” I mean, only Murphy could have that kind of delivery. 

Tara Strong As Timmy Turner (The Fairly Oddparents)

There are some voice actors out there who ultimately defined my childhood, and Tara Strong is one of them. I could put so many of her characters on here from multiple different TV shows, but I think the best one has to be Timmy Turner from The Fairly Oddparents. I couldn’t imagine Timmy having a distinct voice, and Strong brought so much character to his iconic kid. 

Seth MacFarlane As Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)

Family Guy has cemented itself as a show that just won’t stop, and the voice actors have pretty much stayed the same since the beginning. One that hasn’t changed is Stewie Griffin, who is voiced by the creator of the show, Seth MacFarlane, and obviously, he has to be here. I’m pretty sure Stewie is probably the most iconic character from the show, and it’s because of MacFarlane’s delivery and his hilarious lines. 

Tom Hanks As Woody (Toy Story Franchise)

Come on. You knew Tom Hanks would be here. Hanks is like the grandfather of our generation when it comes to voice roles, and his role as Woody will live on in our memories long after we’re all gone and Toy Story becomes a certified classic (if it isn’t already). Hanks is just that good, and I will listen to him voice Woody over and over again. 

Ellen DeGeneres As Dory (Finding Nemo)

Ellen DeGeneres isn’t exactly known for her movies, as she was mainly a daytime talk show host for many, many years, but her voice acting as Dory in Finding Nemo is top-notch. Dory wound up becoming just as big as the clown fishes that we followed in the movie and became a loveable character that children all around the world flocked to, and that’s because of DeGeneres and her voice skills. 

Jay Baruchel As Hiccup (How To Train Your Dragon)

Even though there’s a live-action How To Train Your Dragon set to release, you can’t beat the animated movies, and of course, Jay Baruchel is voicing Hiccup, the main character. Honestly, I think Hiccup would have been really tough to nail if the voice actor wasn’t right. Baruchel had to find the delicate balance between a surprisingly brave warrior and a kind of wimpy teenager and build on that for three movies straight – and he rocks it. 

Eddie Murphy As Donkey (Shrek)

Eddie Murphy as Donkey is everything. Look at me. Look at me and tell me you can picture someone else as Donkey because I surely can’t. This talking animal has cemented itself into pop culture with hilarious lines, memes, and so much more, and it’s because of Murphy’s delivery. Now I’m gonna go and make some waffles. 

Kaiji Tang As Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Kaiji Tang is an example of an English dub actor in anime who knocks it out of the park. I honestly love any version of Jujutsu Kaisen, and Season 2 was one of my favorite anime of 2023, but let me tell you, Tang, as Gojo, made it so much better. His line delivery is just phenomenal – it’s no wonder the character is, like, the anime community’s crush. With that smooth voice, it’d be hard not to crush on him.

Trey Parker As Eric Cartman (South Park)

There are so many outrageous episodes in South Park that make you squirm, and you want to know who’s behind most of them. Eric Cartman, because he’s a menace to society – so, of course, one of the creators is the voice behind him. Trey Parker is a naturally funny person, so he as Eric Cartman makes sense – only he could think of the most ridiculous and awful lines to say for a literal fourth-grader. 

Billy Crystal As Mike Wazowski (Monsters Inc.)

When making this list, I thought about putting maybe John Goodman as Sully, but then I really thought about it and realized that Mike is actually low-key more iconic. Mike, in general, is a great character with a good backstory and a hilarious sense of humor, but you want to know why he’s so funny? It’s because of Billy Crystal—I can almost feel him through Mike. Mike is Billy, Billy is Mike. 

Shameik Moore As Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)

Miles Morales proved anyone can wear the mask in Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, a film that became a huge hit and spawned a sequel and another movie coming out soon enough. However, a big reason why Miles is such a great character is because of the voice behind him, Shameik Moore. Since the first film, Moore has brought humility to Miles, but also that kind of smooth swagger that we know only he could have. He’s excellent, and I can’t wait to hear more from him. 

Tom Kenny As Spongebob (SpongeBob SquarePants)

How could I not include Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants from the SpongeBob SquarePants series here? This man is my childhood. Sure, there are impressionists out there who believe they can impersonate SpongeBob, but no one can do it like Tom Kenny, and I stand by that. 

Kaley Cuoco As Harley Quinn (Harley Quinn)

There have been multiple people who have voiced Harley Quinn in Batman TV shows and animated movies, but I’m sorry. Kaley Cuoco takes the cake, and I want her to be the animated version of Harley Quinn from now on. Her take on Harley in the TV show Harley Quinn is hilarious, on-brand, and unforgettable, and if you haven’t had the chance to watch her voice the heck out of his classic DC villain/antihero, then you have to. 

Mike Myers As Shrek (Shrek)

Obviously, I had to put Mike Myers on this list. While I do think Donkey is a little more iconic, Mike Myers as Shrek is pretty much the same as butter and toast, or Oreos and milk, or popcorn and movies—you get my gist. Myers as Shrek is pretty much the standard for celebrities voicing animated characters, and he’s quite hard to beat. 

Dakota Fanning As Coraline (Coraline)

Coraline is one of the best stop-motion films out there, and surprisingly, no matter how creepy it might be to others, it’s a comfort film for me. And, of course, I can’t imagine anyone else voicing Coraline other than Dakota Fanning. She was so young at the time but still brought so much sass and wonder to the character, and it made me love Coraline for the explorer she was. 

Dan Castellaneta As Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)

Oh, you know he would be here. The Simpsons is hands down the most iconic TV series of all time and has been around since the 1980s. Dan Castellaneta has voiced the patriarch of the Simpsons family since the very beginning and has cemented himself in television just as much as the rest of the cast. But you can’t get more iconic than Homer freaking Simpson. 

Christy Carlson Romano As Kim Possible (Kim Possible)

Kim Possible was a show from my childhood on The Disney Channel that made me want to be a spy. It likely led to a few injuries when I jumped from trees to show how cool I was. Either way, it was mainly because of Kim and how kick-butt she was while also being a remarkable teenager, and thanks to Christy Carlson Romano’s voice acting, she was made all the better. 

Christian Bale As Howl (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my favourite Studio Ghibli movies, and I have to admit that for this, I do like the English dub better because, come on, you can’t beat Christian Bale as Howl! That man has a voice as smooth as butter, and you will find yourself falling for Howl so quickly because of how he voices the character. Ugh, I’m getting butterflies just thinking about it. 

Antonio Banderas As Puss (Shrek 2)

Shrek has plenty of iconic voices, but you want to know who has one of the best ones? Antonio Banderas didn’t even show up in the Shrek franchise until the second movie. But Banderas’ voice was so popular that he spawned not one but two spin-off films – the second of which featured one of the best DreamWorks Animation villains of all time, so you know he’s iconic. 

Jeff Bennett As Johnny Bravo (Johnny Bravo)

Okay, so, if we’re being honest, Johnny Bravo is actually a pretty lousy person and very misogynistic, but man, is it funny to get his butt handed to him in so many situations? It’s because of Jeff Bennett and the way he voices him. He’s just so funny in a messed-up way. I love it. 

Matthew Mercer As Levi Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

Attack on Titan is a case where I tend to lean more towards the English dub than the Japanese because of some of the voice-acting choices, and Matthew Mercer as Levi Ackerman is just *chef’s kiss.* Don’t get me wrong, the Japanese voice actor Hiroshi Kamiya does a great job, too, but when I think of Levi, I think of Matthew Mercer’s voice, and that just means I literally cannot imagine anything else.

Jack Black As Po (Kung Fu Panda)

Po the Panda is one of those characters that has become a pretty big name for DreamWorks Animation. In reality, it’s really just Jack Black behind a microphone in the sound booth voicing some of the most hilarious moments ever. Sometimes, it feels like I’m almost just watching Jack Black on screen because Po is as funny as him.

Helena Bonham Carter As Emily (The Corpse Bride)

The Corpse Bride is an excellent stop-motion animated film that certainly has a specific group of people who watch it every year (me included during Halloween). I could talk about Johnny Depp as Victor, but I have to point out Helene Bonham Carter as Emily. She voices the character so well and gives so much life to a literal corpse. It’s one of Carter’s best movies. 

Chris Rock As Marty (Madagascar)

Chris Rock as Marty makes sense. While there were only three Madagascar movies, Rock voiced the zebra in each of them and killed it every time. I could literally watch an entire spinoff film on just Marty. I want more, Marty. Please give me more hilarious lines like “Oh, sugar honey iced tea!”

Bill Fagerbakke As Patrick Star (SpongeBob SquarePants)

You can’t have SpongeBob without his best friend, and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star is a match made in heaven. Since the show’s beginning, Fagerbakke has voiced the sea star, and he’s perfect for the role. Honestly, I almost want to watch him and Kenny voiceover the Super Bowl again next year because he as Patrick and them together is just perfect. 

Matthew Lillard As Shaggy (Scooby Doo)

There have been many voice actors who have come and gone to voice Shaggy, but let’s be honest here – Matthew Lillard has become Shaggy. Ever since he did the live-action version of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo films, we’ve loved seeing him as Shaggy, and then he began doing the animated version. He’s been voicing the character (except for Velma, but we don’t talk about that), and he’s fantastic. 

Oscar Isaac As Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse)

Oh, Miguel. TikTok’s boyfriend of Summer 2023. The man, the myth, the legend that somehow captured my heart and reminded me that I have a thing for fictional brooding men. Either way, Oscar Isaac voices Miguel, and yes, this man is Miguel, and I will not accept any other person voicing him. 

Idina Menzel As Elsa (Frozen)

I had to put Elsa here somehow. Frozen is one of the biggest animated franchises of all time, and it’s mainly because of Elsa, her ice powers, and the incredible force of Idina Menzel’s voice. There isn’t another singer/actress on the planet that could belt like that.

While there are plenty of other animated characters we could discuss, these were just some of the first ones that came to mind—and now I feel like having an animated movie marathon. 

As the success of Inside Out 2 only grew this past weekend, Pixar is celebrating its first $1 billion movie since the 2019 release of Toy Story 4. With the numbers marking a clear trend for the animation studio and sequels, it’s no surprise that Pixar would be contemplating more theatrical follow-ups to continue the stories of pre-existing characters, including a third Finding Nemo movie. But how does the voice of Dory, Ellen DeGeneres, feel about reprising the role?

Ellen DeGeneres Comments On Potential Finding Nemo Return 

On Monday, Ellen DeGeneres performed a standup show in Santa Rosa, California, ahead of an upcoming Netflix special from the former daytime host. When Ellen opened up the show to a Q&A, one fan asked the comedians if she would be showing up in movies or Broadway after her The Ellen DeGeneres Show exit following allegations of a toxic work environment surfaced in 2020. DeGeneres said this (per SFGate):

The 66-year-old was an incredibly successful daytime talk show host for 19 years. Currently, DeGeneres is doing a small tour called “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up,” but she’s apparently not providing hope for additional work in show business. When a third Finding Nemo film came up, here’s how DeGeneres responded:

During the appearance, DeGeneres also spoke to her controversial few years, alleging that she “got kicked out of show business for being mean” before joking that she’ll be “kicked out” “next time” for being “old, gay and mean.” She also defended herself by saying that she is “many things” but “not mean.”

What Pixar Has Said About Finding Nemo 3

Ellen DeGeneres’ comments come about a month after Pixar Animation Studios president Jim Morris told Bloomberg that the creatives were brainstorming ideas for another Finding Nemo movie, along with a third Incredibles. Inside Out 2 director Pete Docter also said this:

Now, another Finding Nemo movie doesn’t automatically mean Ellen DeGeneres’ Dory would definitely be involved, although many would say that she is the most popular character in the franchise. Perhaps the studio would explore a completely new story or side of the ocean without the likes of the forgetful regal blue tang fish. In the 2016 sequel, Dory goes on a hunt for her parents in an aquarium. When the movie ends, she rejoins the reef with Marlin and Nemo.

Aside from the main characters that have been at the center of those movies, it’s not hard to imagine Pixar pivoting to focus on Crush, the sea turtle or the sharks, for example. As Docter shared, “The ocean’s a big place.” For now, we know that the next Pixar movies include an original called Elio coming next summer, and Toy Story 5 officially coming in 2026!

The Ellen DeGeneres Show, by all accounts, was one of the most successful daytime talk shows of its time, with the eponymous comedian dancing her way through 19 seasons of laughs, giveaways and pranking celebrities. But despite A-listers like Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian and Chris Pratt honoring Ellen DeGeneres in her final episode two years ago, it was a bittersweet time, as it ended amidst allegations of a toxic work environment from former employees. The comedian is still hurt by how things went down, and she spoke candidly about it as she returned to the stand-up stage.

Ellen DeGeneres has mostly been laying low since May of 2022, when the final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show aired. In a move that likely pleased her wife Portia de Rossi, the former sitcom star returned to the stage, kicking off the Ellen’s Last Stand…Up Tour. It was obvious that she’s still hurting over the way her talk show ended, as she told the crowd (per Rolling Stone) that she’d been kicked out of show business. DeGeneres referenced how she used to end her show by telling people to “be kind,” saying:

In addition to the “Mean Ellen” accusations (that were corroborated at the time by several celebrities), Ellen DeGeneres also made reference to the controversy that surrounded her sitcom Ellen in the ‘90s, on which she publicly came out as gay. She said during her comedy set that the end of her talk show mirrors that situation in a way. The comedian pointed out:

The standup tour is reportedly being filmed, so fans will be able to see her set on streaming with a Netflix subscription this fall. In true Ellen DeGeneres fashion, there were plenty of laughs to be had, but make no mistake, the talk show host was deeply affected by the events of the past couple of years. She said:

In July 2020, 36 former employees independently reported incidents of racism, sexism, sexual misconduct and harassment from top executives on the show. Three senior producers were fired, but Ellen DeGeneres herself did not come out unscathed, as she was deemed to have fostered that toxic atmosphere, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show never recovered from the ratings dip.

It’s interesting to hear her perspective now on how her long-running talk show came to end, so keep your eye on the schedule of upcoming Netflix movies and TV shows for when you can catch Ellen’s Last Stand…Up Tour.

Stephen Boss, better known as tWitch, made a huge impact on people as part of the dance community, and that was never more obvious than when so many came forward to share stories about him after he passed away. Boss died by suicide at age 40 on December 13, 2022, and on the one-year anniversary of his passing, Ellen DeGeneres paid tribute to her friend, who had served as the DJ on her popular talk show. The comedian shared memories of tWitch, saying she misses him every day, and as a longtime fan, I’m still not over the loss either.

Ellen DeGeneres’ friendship with Stephen Boss dates back to 2014, when he joined The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he would remain until the show ended last May. The host has spoken out many times about tWitch over the past year, and on the anniversary of his death, she posted a video to Instagram, recalling one of her favorite memories of their time working together. She said: 

As she spoke a video played, showing her and tWitch walking together backstage, and while she clearly misses him, it’s beautiful that so many of her memories with him are documented for her to look back on. She also recalled some fun times they had on vacations they took for the show, before lamenting that she didn’t know he was in such pain. She continued: 

Ellen DeGeneres was one of several celebrities to open up about their shock at tWitch’s passing a year ago, and in the days that followed she encouraged her followers to “laugh,” “hug each other” and “play games,” because that was what he would have wanted. She later planted a tree in his memory at the Ellen Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and recalled their last dance together at a public celebration of his life. 

Stephen Boss’ death affected not just the people whose paths he crossed, but his many fans as well. I was a fan of his since he competed on So You Think You Can Dance, and I’d followed his career through The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Magic Mike XXL and several Step Up movies. Sometimes it still hurts to remember that he’s no longer among us, and that there was so much pain behind that big smile.

One of tWitch’s last projects was serving as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, and in what I think is a great move, his widow Allison Holker — another SYTYCD alum — will join the panel for the upcoming Season 18. Tune into Fox for that premiere on March 4.

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of self-harm, please, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Despite largely coming across as one of the goofier and most affable late night hosts — one who landed his own theme park ride (at the heart of a 2022 lawsuit), no less — Jimmy Fallon was the subject of a scathing report alleging toxic workplace behavior at The Tonight Show, with claims made by a variety of former and current employees. Fallon certainly isn’t the first TV host to be called out by staffers for problematic behavior behind the scenes, and an expert on the matter, The Late Shift and The War for Late Night author Bill Carter, shared a lengthy essay that addresses why this kind of troublesome situation happens more often than viewers might think. 

The blowback from the Jimmy Fallon report has been pretty widespread, with past clips of celebs like Martin Short criticizing the host resurfacing and being enjoyed anew. In his opinion piece for The New York Times, Bill Carter compared the late night host’s stumble from public grace to the myriad rumors and claims made about Ellen DeGeneres and that allegedly toxic work environment in the final years of her daytime talk show, which led to producers being fired. In his mind, TV hosts' endless charm will often be balanced by complete shifts in mood. Here's how he put it:

Carter spoke further to the why he thinks hosts like Jimmy Fallon (and David Letterman before him) start leaning into slightly more megalomaniacal behavior behind the scenes when the cameras aren't around, while continuing to maintain a genial personality that viewers feel is authentic as the day is long. In his words:

Many business owners whose names are part of the brand likely feel similar kinds of pressure to fight to keep consumers happy, even if it comes at the cost of employee contentment. A late night talk show is obviously different from a local hardware store or something of that nature, but with the similar need to thrive amongst the competition. 

Bill Carter pointed out that this kind of stress isn't present behind the curtains of every late night talk show, those who do experience that pressure often don't stick around for the long haul. As he put it:

While The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has gone through its share of EPs and showrunners, The Tonight Show is relatively well-known at this point for having a revolving door of writers, producers and showrunners coming and going in the years since Fallon took over as host. That speaks why so many former staffers were available to make their allegations public in the initial report. 

The report dropped right around the same time Fallon, Colbert, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver debuted the podcast Strike Force Five, which centers on the fivesome's group conversations that started up following the onset of the WGA writers strike, with proceeds going to the out-of-work late night staffers. I wonder what Bill Carter thinks about that combined effort compared to the more cutthroat days of Letterman vs. Leno. 

The music world lost a legend today, as Tony Bennett, whose remarkable eight-decade career resulted in more than 70 albums, 20 Grammy Awards and two Primetime Emmys, died July 21 at the age of 96. With a career as storied as his, it goes without saying that he crossed paths with numerous fellow musicians and celebrities in his lifetime, and many of them, including Ellen DeGeneres, Billy Joel, and Elton John are joining fans in paying tribute to the iconic singer for his contributions to the world.

Those remembering the “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” crooner spanned multiple sectors, from entertainment icons to former presidents and even Muppets. Retired talk show host Ellen DeGeneres sent love to Tony Bennett’s family, saying on Threads: 

Billy Joel — a musical legend in his own right, who appeared on Tony Bennett’s Duets: An American Classic — wrote multiple tweets in honor of the singer, noting how his unique voice transitioned from jazz to pop and praising him for championing songwriters. He also remembered him as “one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever known,” tweeting: 

Sir Elton John, who also appeared on Tony Bennett’s first Duets album, shared a memory of the two of them, and he too sent condolences to Bennett's family, as he called the artist “irreplaceable”:  

Barack Obama tweeted that he was honored to have had Tony Bennett perform at his inauguration, and Bill Clinton released a statement on his philanthropy, saying he "lived his remarkable life with perfect pitch." 

Rolling Stones icon Keith Richards added his own tribute, posting a photo with the singer from 2015: 

Sesame Street’s official Twitter account paid homage to the Tony Bennett, sharing a video of his appearance in a 1998 episode, where he sang to Big Bird: 

That’s certainly not where the singer’s history with the Muppets began or ended, though. Miss Piggy tweeted that she was “deeply honored” to have dueted with him several times, while Kermit the Frog called their performance on Muppets Tonight in the '90s one of the highlights of his career: 

There’s no questioning Tony Bennett’s impact on the music world, as Mariah Carey — his duet partner on "When Do the Bells Ring for Me" — called him one of the most “legendary singers of the past century”: 

With "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" being possibly Tony Bennett's most famous tune, it was to be expected that the people of California were also feeling the loss. The San Francisco Giants baseball team honored the man they called a "true legend," tweeting:

San Francisco may be favor that popular song, but that wasn't the one that David Letterman referenced in his tribute. He opted to share a different tune in remembrance of the musician, and one appropriate for the day. The late-night legend tweeted: 

Tony Bennett, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, passed away July 21 at his home in New York following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Our condolences go out to his friends, family and all who have been affected by his death. 

While many would argue that primetime is where most of the marquee TV shows are, one can’t underestimate the popularity of daytime offerings. Many folks tend to make sure that they catch some of their favorite series on the daily, whether it be talk shows or soap operas. Those who keep up with programming schedules are probably aware of the fact that a number of longtime fan-favorites have gone off the air over the past few years. For example, veteran tabloid talk show Maury was one of 2022’s many canceled shows and closed out its run after 31 seasons and over 5,000 episodes. Now, it would appear that the axe is now falling on two other small-screen staples: Judge Mathis and The People’s Court.

Chances are that TV fans have at least heard of those shows. The two legal-centric programs  have entertained viewers for quite some time now with their wide-ranging cases. Well, that’s all coming to an end fairly soon, as both are set to conclude after their current seasons. Judge Mathis will finish with a total of 24 seasons, while The People’s Court will bow out with 26. Per Variety, the ruling on these shows’ cancellations has to do with the changing nature of daytime TV, which sees local affiliates aiming to cut down on programming during the midday hours. These two particular shows are overseen by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures Productions, with WB Domestic Television serving as producer.

There have been some stark changes in the daytime landscape as of late. Last year alone saw the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and, at the same time, Nick Cannon and The Wendy Williams Show concluded as well. Also, after Cannon and Williams’ programs were confirmed to be ending, Emmy-winning talk show The Real was canned, with its fate largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

And when it comes to legal shows, even Judge Judy was canceled in 2020 after 25 years. That didn’t spell the end of the titular host’s entertainment career, however. After Judy Sheindlin ended her show, she headed to the streaming realm (specifically Amazon Freevee) to launch Judy Justice.

As for Greg Mathis’ courtroom show, it began its run in 1999 and has since received large viewership numbers and several notable accolades. Among the latter are a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News, Talk or Information Series. Mathis has become a widely recognized legal official and has reportedly presided over more than 13,000 cases since the show debuted. He’ll finish his broadcast tenure as the longest-running Black, male host on television. And on top of that, he’s both the second-longest-running arbitrator in the history of courtroom TV, falling right behind Judith Sheindlin.

The People’s Court also has a very illustrious TV history, which began when the original show made its debut in 1981. That show ended in 1993, and the currently airing revival premiered in 1997 and has since earned multiple Daytime Emmy awards. The show’s current judge is Marilyn Milian, who has been on the air since 2001 and was the first Latina to head up a courtroom show that’s nationally syndicated. Also, with 22 years under her belt, she’s now the longest-tenured judge in the show’s history.

It goes without saying that daytime TV will be a poorer place without the presences of Judge Mathis and The People’s Court. Of course, it’s like the old saying goes, don’t be sad it’s over, be happy it happened. And it’s safe to say that the two long-running programs leave us with plenty of great memories. 

Check your local listings to see when you can catch the remainder of both series’ final seasons, which are part of the 2023 TV schedule.

Stephen “tWitch” Boss is still in the hearts and minds of so many, two months after the 40-year-old dancer died by suicide. The dance community and a plethora of other famous faces have rallied around his wife, fellow dancer Allison Holker, and her three children amidst their devastating loss, including Ellen DeGeneres. The two grew close on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with tWitch serving as her longtime DJ, and as hundreds gathered for a public celebration of Boss’ life, the comedian shared an emotional video of their last dance.

More than 500 of Stephen Boss’ friends and family gathered in Los Angeles on February 11 to memorialize the dancer, per US Weekly, including several people from So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars, and the entire cast and crew of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. On the same day, DeGeneres took to Instagram with a video of her and tWitch on the final day of her talk show, where she tearfully asked the DJ to “one last time, dance with me”: 

The montage showed plenty of tears and plenty of dance moves from both tWitch and Ellen DeGeneres, as she said they were able to change people’s lives through her show. The video ended on a beautiful still shot of the two of them hugging, and her caption said that while she normally posted new videos on the weekend, “today I was only thinking about my friend tWitch.”

She was not alone in that, as People reports the celebration of Stephen Boss’ life was attended by celebrities including Debbie Allen, Loni Love, Wayne Brady, Wade Robson and Backstreet Boy AJ McLean. Mickey Guyton and Andy Grammer performed songs, while there were also dance tributes from Slavik Pustovoytov, Bdash and Ceasare “Tighteyex'' Willis. Allison Holker and her 14-year-old daughter Weslie also spoke at the memorial, with Holker’s message including this remembrance of her husband: 

It was also revealed that Allison Holker and her family had started the Move with Kindness Foundation — which aims to help “individuals facing adversity by serving as a source of support and inspiration” — in Stephen Boss’ memory. Guests at the celebration of life were reportedly given wristbands and invited to make a donation. 

Ellen DeGeneres has paid tribute to tWitch several times since his December 13 death. Upon news of his passing, she was one of several celebrities to open up about their shock at the heartbreaking news. In the days that followed she encouraged her followers to “laugh,” “hug each other” and “play games,” because that was what tWitch would want. She also planted a tree in his memory at the Ellen Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. 

Check out the video below for more special moments from their friendship, as the comedian surprised tWitch with a tribute in the final days of her talk show: 

Stephen “tWitch” Boss was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a motel room near his house December 14. The dancer left behind a note that reportedly referenced past “struggles.”

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of self-harm, please, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Stephen Boss’ death by suicide in December left so many of his friends, family and fans in shock and confusion by how much pain was apparently hiding behind the dancer/DJ/actor’s bright smile. As natural as it is to want to find a reason behind such tragic situations, it’s also dangerous territory to speculate about what tWitch might have been going through. Todrick Hall is apparently receiving backlash from some of the late dancer’s friends for suggesting that tWitch was “under a lot of pressure” for his support of Ellen DeGeneres.

The So You Think You Can Dance alum began appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2014, and he remained loyal to the longtime daytime TV host through accusations that she perpetuated a “toxic work culture.” Todrick Hall said that the continued working relationship may have caused pressure in tWitch's life, and Stephen Boss’ friends are apparently not happy with those comments. They apparently think it’s “unfortunate” that Hall would speculate on what was going on in Boss’ mind. A source who was reportedly close to tWitch told TMZ: 

The fact that Todrick Hall made such comments while promoting his own project is even further in bad taste, according to the source. While the entertainer admitted: “I don’t know what was going on in his life that may [have led] him to make that decision,” he said if he were in a position where there was “abuse” that would take place “for years and years and years, there’s only so much a human being can take.”

Stephen Boss reportedly did leave a suicide note that alluded to past “struggles,” but there’s no way for most of us to know what he was referring to.

When Ellen DeGeneres was being investigated for claims of racial discrimination, microaggressions and sexual misconduct in 2020, Stephen Boss said there wasn’t much that he could say legally. However, he appeared to stand by the comedian, saying, “Obviously there’s some things to address, but from my standpoint and from countless others, there’s been love.” A year later, when it was officially announced that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be ending after 19 seasons, tWitch said he “was really proud of her,” and that the show had been “such a huge blessing” in his life.

The feeling seemed to be mutual, as Ellen DeGeneres was among many to pay tribute to the DJ upon news of his death, sending love to his wife Allison Holker and their three children. A week later, the former talk show host posted another heartfelt message, encouraging tWitch’s fans to “laugh,” “hug each other” and “play games,” because that’s what he would have wanted. She also said she was grateful that he was by her side when The Ellen DeGeneres Show filmed its final episode, and she shared their emotional conversation from that day as well.

Stephen Boss’ family held a private funeral on January 4 to honor the dancer, who died December 13 at age 40, and it was reported that a larger celebration of his life is being planned.

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of self-harm, please, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

When the news came out that Stephen “tWitch” Boss had died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, his family, friends, and millions of fans were shocked and saddened by the sudden loss. Everyone was left to wonder what could have led The Ellen Show DJ, who became a co-executive producer on the eventually-embattled daytime talker in 2020 after beginning his on-camera work there in 2014, to such a troubling decision. Now, his friend, Todrick Hall, has claimed that the backlash for that very show did put “pressure” on Boss.

What Did Todrick Hall Say About Stephen “tWitch” Boss And The Ellen Show Backlash?

The past few weeks since Boss’ death have seen celebrity friends like Justin Timberlake pay tribute to the dancer/choreographer, along with his widow, Allison Holker, speaking out about her grief on Instagram. As she, their three children, and Boss’ mother continue the long road of coming to terms with his death, one of his friends, singer/YouTube star Todrick Hall, has spoken to Page Six about how he thinks the backlash against Ellen DeGeneres and her long-running series may have impacted the So You Think You Can Dance talent, and said:

While Hall, who’d done some TikTok videos with the Magic Mike XXL actor and called him “kind and down to earth,” freely admits that he has no idea about the breadth of thoughts or experiences that could have led his friend to the choice he ultimately made, but he does also believe that the firestorm of controversy surrounding Ellen (which included allegations of sexual misconduct by show execs) may have still led to tough times for the star. 

It is incredibly likely that the claims made against the show put one of its newer staff members in a difficult position. After the spring 2021 announcement that she was ending her show, tWitch only had good things to say about DeGeneres (who had her own tributes for her talk show sidekick after his death) and the decision, noting that his time on the series had “been such a huge blessing.” While he was well-known long before his DJ gig on the show, he probably saw his career opportunities increase as a result, so it might have been very hard to reconcile his feelings of thanks for the show with the backlash and claims of abuse levied at many behind the scenes.

While investigating his death, police did reveal that Boss left a note, which referred to past “struggles,” in an effort to dispel the many rumors that began to spring up in the wake of the tragedy, though it’s likely that even those closest to him will never fully understand what he was going through near the end. All we can hope for now is that his family and friends can continue to care for their own mental health as they start the healing process.

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of self-harm, please, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Last year Anne Heche passed away tragically, but fans interested in learning about her notable life will still have a chance to do so, as the actress completed a memoir prior to her death. In the new book, Call Me Anne, a companion to a previous memoir, the actress talks about her experiences on the set of Six Days, Seven Nights, and a “confrontation” she had with director Ivan Reitman and co-star Harrison Ford, over her public relationship with Ellen Degeneres, though she also had positive things to say about how the actor supported her. 

Anne Heche’s most high-profile film role was the romantic comedy Six Days, Seven Nights, and the movie was going into production just as Heche’s relationship with Ellen Degeneres was entering the public eye. Radar Online reports that in the book, Heche mentions a rumor going around that the couple was planning to have a child, and the rumor became so widespread that it came up on the set. Heche uses the word “confronted” to describe the conversation she had with the film’s director Ivan Reitman and Ford.

It seems that the two men felt that the openness of the relationship was causing them problems. Reitman reportedly asked Heche why she couldn’t handle her sexuality more like Jodie Foster, referencing the actress whose sexuality was, at the time, not public knowledge, but was apparently still widely known within the industry.  

While Heche was apparently somewhat shocked by Ford coming to her like this, she says she ultimately forgave the actor, elsewhere in the book she calls him a mentor during the film’s production. The reason for her surprise may have been the support that Ford had shown her prior to production. Heche had said previously that she almost lost the role in Six Days, Seven Nights after she took Ellen to the premiere of another film. Ford called her and made it clear that none of it mattered to him, and Heche credits Ford’s support as the thing that allowed her to keep the role. 

It’s a reminder of just what things were like in Hollywood in the late ‘90s. While an actress's sexuality would certainly be more accepted today, few major names in Hollywood were out in that era, and people were clearly unsure how to handle it. Heche was a major tabloid target at the time, which brought attention to the movie that it may not have received otherwise. Anne Heche arguably became the story rather than the movie itself.

Frequently when major memoirs are released the author is there to talk more about the stories held in the pages. In this case that won’t be possible. Anne Heche died last year when an automobile she was in crashed into a building and caught fire. 

It’s been a big year for Kelly Clarkson and her daytime talk show, as she took over the time slot previously held by Ellen DeGeneres (and Oprah Winfrey before that). The Kelly Clarkson Show also won seven Daytime Emmy Awards in 2022, including for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show and Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host. Even bigger changes seem to be on the horizon for the OG American Idol winner, as her show is potentially moving to the East Coast, but coming on the heels of her divorce settlement, would that affect her custody agreement with Brandon Blackstock?

The Kelly Clarkson Show is in negotiations to move production to the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Variety reports. Nothing has been finalized, but an NBCUniversal spokesperson confirmed to the trade that Kelly Clarkson was the one who requested that the network look into moving the show — which has already been renewed through 2025 — outside of Los Angeles.

As far as her custody arrangement with Brandon Blackstock, however, it’s unlikely to have much of an impact, as Kelly Clarkson has primary custody of 8-year-old River Rose and 6-year-old Remington Alexander. Per the terms of their divorce agreement — which was finally settled last March, nearly two years after the “Since U Been Gone Singer” filed to end her marriage — Blackstock gets the kids one weekend per month, with the singer paying $45,000 in child support to her ex-husband. He can also travel to visit them on a non-regular basis.

Following the divorce and all the drama that surrounded the former couple’s ranch in Montana, Brandon Blackstock purchased his own bachelor pad in Big Sky Country. Kelly Clarkson took part of the summer off, spending time in Montana and enjoying the co-parenting routine they were able to come up with by being in the same state. If and when The Kelly Clarkson Show heads east, that will likely mean longer flights are in store for the little ones.

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock seem to have gotten into the groove of co-parenting, at least as far as how the former couple splits up their holidays with their little ones. The F-bomb-dropping talk show host spent Christmas with their kids, while Blackstock gets them every Thanksgiving. Fans of Clarkson know just how much Christmas means to her, and how much her divorce played into all the holiday music she’s released in the past couple of years.

The singer’s talk show has filmed at the Universal lot in Los Angeles since it premiered in 2019. The plan would be to move production following the end of its current season, and Variety reports that the show hopes to keep as much of its current crew on board as possible. The Kelly Clarkson Show is certainly no stranger to the East Coast. For the past two seasons, the singer has filmed special premiere week episodes in New York City.

While the custody arrangement shouldn’t be impacted too much, should the daytime TV hit move, Kelly Clarkson’s position as a coach on The Voice would seemingly be in question. After taking Season 22 off of the NBC singing competition — which films in Los Angeles — Clarkson is set to return for Blake Shelton’s goodbye season when the show resumes March 6. We’ll have to stay tuned for updates, and in the meantime, be sure to check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what other premieres are coming up. 

Kelly Clarkson has to be one of the most likable personalities on television right now. As the host of her own daytime talk show and reclaiming her spot on The Voice for Blake Shelton’s final season, audiences can’t help but love her infectious laugh, adorable freak-outs and all-around relatability. (She shops at Target, y’all, come on.) But for as much time as Kelly Clarkson spends in front of the camera, one thing we're really not accustomed to hearing is her self-proclaimed “potty mouth.” 

During a conversation with actress Andie MacDowell on the January 11 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the first American Idol champ let an F-bomb fly, expressing her appreciation for the versatile word, and then joked that her actions may have lost her some viewers. Watch the seemingly uncharacteristic display below: 

This type of language is probably not what earned The Kelly Clarkson Show the coveted time slot that was previously occupied by Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. However, a lot of us would be lying if we said our words didn’t get a bit colorful every one in a while, and it’s also more understandable in the context of Kelly Clarkson’s former career as a cocktail waitress. When Andie MacDowell expressed that the host’s brand was more “angelic and pure,” the “Since U Been Gone” singer insisted: 

Of course the big F-bomb was bleeped out before being released to the public, but it looks like the live studio audience still got an earful. When it came to how the crew would handle the edit, Kelly Clarkson explained to her guest: 

Leave it to Kelly Clarkson to find the silver lining! Hopefully nobody was actually offended by The Voice coach’s word choice, especially to the point that they would choose to stop watching her show. When you consider everything she’s been through over the past couple of years — her tough divorce from Brandon Blackstock and taking legal action against stalkers and strangers showing up at her house — nobody should begrudge her a little coarse language.

Those who want to remain loyal Kelly Clarkson fans, potty mouth and all, can check their local listings to see when The Kelly Clarkson Show plays in their area, and tune in to The Voice Season 23, when it returns to NBC at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, March 6. Also be sure to check out our 2023 TV schedule to keep up with all of the upcoming premiere dates. 

Thanks to the power of the Internet, not much can stay buried forever, and that's not necessarily a good thing. Old interviews tend to resurface, and a Taylor Swift appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show from a decade ago is making the rounds again. People can’t help but to point out how uncomfortable the singer looks, including Emily Ratajkowski.

A TikTok user posted an interview with Taylor Swift describing how when she was 23, she did an interview in which her songwriting and skills were diminished, and her dating life was all that was discussed. The user put two and two together and posted an Ellen interview side-by-side that fits the bill for what Swift was talking about:

It’s sad to see how uncomfortable she was in the Ellen interview, especially since she made the point to DeGeneres several times. Being asked about rumors about her love life is clearly not what she wanted to talk about in light of her musical accomplishments, and Swift and fans are not the only ones sharing their thoughts about it. 

Emily Ratajkowski, who has been in the public eye recently for her own love life, took to the comments of the TikTok video. She shared her very open opinion on the video and, like many, disliked what was happening:

It’s always nice to see a celebrity come to a fellow celebrity’s defense, even if the circumstances may not always be so pretty. Emily Ratajkowski knows a thing or two about romance in the limelight, as she’s been moving on from Pete Davidson following their two-month relationship, even downloading dating apps not long after the breakup. 

Nowadays, Taylor Swift has even more accomplishments to her name than when she was 23, including more releases and her directorial debut, with her relationship with beau Joe Alwyn (who has also served as a co-writer on numerous songs) seemingly going strong. With her record-breaking Midnights album and her Eras Tour causing Ticketmaster to crash, she has plenty on her plate. It looks like Emily Ratajkowski is officially among those to have her back, even if it's just to defend her online.

Meanwhile, Emily Ratajkowski has taken interviewing into her own hands by launching her own podcast. She recently had Bella Thorne on, who opened up about growing up in the industry and being a Disney kid, as well as nearly being fired from Disney Channel. With her own platform to do interviews, maybe EmRata will have Taylor Swift on at some point. That would be a dream.

Now that Emily Ratajkowski has defended Taylor Swift, maybe she can appear in one of her upcoming projects, or better yet, make a cameo in her first feature film? Perhaps this could be the start of a beautiful friendship, and I need more of it.

Following the death of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, many celebrities and friends posted tributes to the  DJ, they wrote about their love and appreciation for him, and what a joy he was to be around and work with. This included messages from his So You Think You Can Dance colleagues, posts in his honor from Dancing With The Stars veterans, as well as videos and tributes from his longtime friend and colleague Ellen DeGeneres.  

After the news about tWitch’s death broke, DeGeneres posted a heartfelt message and photo on social media. A few weeks later she posted an emotional video calling her friend “pure light,” and encouraging viewers to “laugh,” “hug each other” and “play games” in honor of tWitch. 

Along with these recent posts, DeGeneres has also been posting clips from her show, highlighting tWtich’s best moments. Most recently, she uploaded a video from the final season of her and tWtich reflecting on their time together on the daytime talk show, and the positive impact it had. It got very emotional, and it’s clear how much the show and their friendship meant to them. You can watch the video DeGeneres posted on Twitter here: 

The video shows the longtime talk show host and her DJ sharing an emotional moment as they reflected on their time together making The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The dancer noted that has was “feeling all of the things,” to DeGeneres and they both spoke about how “thankful” they were for the special show. 

Ellen then talked about her love for tWitch, saying:

While the moment was emotional, it was also joyful. They both reflected on how lucky and grateful they were to work on the show for so many years. DeGeneres hosted the show for 19 years, and tWitch was by her side as the DJ for eight of those. 

The dancer and DJ was loved by DeGeneres, the staff of The Ellen Show and its guests. Following longtime Ellen Show producer Andy Lassner posting a tribute to tWtich, popular guests like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Garner posted their condolences and love for the dancer. 

There has been an outpouring of love for the SYTYCD competitor-turned-judge. From DeGeneres to Jojo Siwa, many have posted about him, and his family has also opened up about how much they miss tWitch. His mother posted an emotional image on Instagram, saying she wished she could FaceTime her son in heaven.

Not much is known about tWitch's death, other than he died by suicide. However, in the weeks following his passing, there has been an abundance of love and support shown toward the dancer and his family. 

DeGeneres has been posting lots of videos and tributes for tWitch, noting her love for him and remembering “all the love and laughter” she had with him, as she wrote in a post on December 15. And this latest video from one of the final episodes of the show really amplifies how much Ellen and tWtich love each other, and how much they loved working together. 

A little over a week after Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss’ tragic death, his longtime colleague and friend Ellen DeGeneres posted a heartfelt video to the dancer and DJ. This is the first time the talk show host has spoken about what happened to tWitch. She posted a tribute to him the day he died as well as highlights from him on her show, but this video is the first time she verbally spoke about it. 

In the video, she encouraged viewers to “laugh” “hug each other” and “play games,” because that is what tWitch would want. You can watch her heartfelt message where she called the So You Think You Can Dance alum “pure light” here:

There was no caption with DeGeneres’ video. She acknowledged how hard the last few weeks have been for everyone, and how the holidays can be hard. The comedian got emotional talking about tWitch, and she encouraged people to honor him, even though it feels “impossible.” She also asked people to check in on one another, and ended her video by saying we should honor him, and “send love to one another.” 

On the day tWitch died, DeGeneres posted a heartfelt message to his family, saying she was “heartbroken.” She also sent her “love and support” to the dancer’s wife Allison Holker and their three children.  

Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss had been on DeGeneres’ show full-time for eight years. He started as a guest, and eventually became the show’s DJ. In the final years of the daytime talk show, he was also an executive producer. 

The long-time Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ died by suicide at the age of 40. Immediately following the news of his death many posted tributes to their long-time friend, showing just how beloved tWitch is. 

The dancer’s friend of over 20 years Justin Timberlake posted about him, saying he “lit everything up.” Along with DeGeneres and Timberlake, many people from the dance community paid tribute to tWitch too, including pros from Dancing with the Stars and the judges and contestants from So You Think You Can Dance, as well as celebrities like Jodie Sweetin and Derek and Julianne Hough. 

The SYTYCD contestant turned judge’s mother released a statement thanking everyone for the “love, prayers and encouragement,” and she said his family is “completely devastated right now.” She explained that she had talked with her son not long before he died, and said there was “no indication that anything” was wrong. tWitch reportedly left a suicide note that alluded to “struggles” in the past.  

While there is not much else known about his death, there has been a clear and abundant outpouring of love from those who knew and loved him, including his long-time friend Ellen DeGeneres. 

We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to tWitch’s family and friends. 

If you or anyone you know is experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

Stephen “tWitch” Boss, known for his work as a DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as well as competing and then judging on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance, passed away earlier in December at the age of just 40 due to a reported suicide. Friends and famous fans wasted no time in paying tribute to Boss. Prior to his death, he had a number of projects in the works, with some new reveals and comments coming from HGTV. 

HGTV revealed that Stephen Boss and wife Allison Holker were scheduled to start production on a new series about constructing a real-life (and full-size) Malibu Barbie Dream House in Santa Clarita, California, with Deadline reporting that January was intended as the beginning of filming. In comments to the outlet, an HGTV spokesperson said this about the planned project: 

While it seems that nothing has been decided about the project that was evidently far enough in development that filming could begin in January, HGTV’s priority is wishing well to Boss’ widow and the rest of the family. It’s a nice sentiment in what is undoubtedly a very difficult time for his loved ones. 

The format of the project that would have starred Stephen “tWitch” Boss and his wife would have been similar to A Very Brady Renovation, which broke ratings records for HGTV back in 2019. While it would have been a limited series running for only a set number of episodes, the married couple had already proven their talent for home renovation on television. 

They appeared on HGTV’s House Party, and Allison Holker hosted the network’s Design Star: Next Gen, on which Boss appeared as a guest judge. HGTV and the two were also developing a separate show, called Living the Dream and focusing on the duo helping prospective home buyers who had never purchased a house before.

Boss and Holker also had projects in development elsewhere than HGTV, including a dance competition show, which made sense for a married couple who both got big breaks through appearances on Fox’s Dancing with the Stars, which returned for the first time in years earlier in 2022 with Boss as a judge. They reportedly were furthermore working on a game show as well as a talk show, all not too long after their deal with Dick’s Sporting Goods for leisure and athletic clothes, starting in 2021. 

Stephen Boss’ death via suicide has resulted in poignant messages being shared by those who knew him, with friend Justin Timberlake commenting that “you just never know what someone is going through,” and motivating Tyler Perry to disclose his own history with suicide attempts, which were reported earlier in his career. Rumors also began to spread in the days following Boss’ tragic death, with the police coming out to debunk some and clear the air. 

Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend remain with the family, friends, and loved ones of Stephen “tWitch” Boss in this difficult time, and it’s at least a relief to know that HGTV isn’t prioritizing its shows over giving them time to grieve. 

The entertainment world continues to reel from the sudden and tragic passing of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the dancer who was well-known as the DJ on Ellen DeGeneres’ longtime talk show. The host herself reacted to the heartbreaking news of Boss’ death by suicide at the age of 40, saying she “loved him with all my heart.” Now, producer Andy Lassner has penned his own heartfelt message. In a lengthy post, Lassner spoke about what tWitch meant to everyone who crossed his path, and his musings elicited comments from popular guests of the talk show, including Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Garner. 

The light Stephen Boss emitted seemed to touch all corners of the entertainment world. Everyone from Justin Timberlake to actors Kerry Washington and Jason Alexander to those he knew from the Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance community have all paid tribute to tWitch on social media. Andy Lassner received A-list support following his own Instagram post that talked about how tWitch made everybody feel like "the most important person in the world," and the reason he's missed so much and by so many is proof that he was "our flame. Our joy. Our dancer." Check out the producer’s post below: 

The beautiful and eloquently written message struck a chord with several celebrities, with frequent Ellen guests Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Aniston each commenting with heart emojis.

Jennifer Aniston appeared on both the first and final episodes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show (and lots more in between) and, in addition, to her show of support for producer Andy Lassner, she also posted a tribute on her Instagram Stories (per Hello magazine) that featured a video of her and tWitch walking arm-in-arm with the caption: 

Andy Lassner emphasized in his post how much tWitch never made anything about himself and said the light from his flame still burns in us:

Other celebrities who showed support for Andy Lassner in the comments included another face in daytime TV, Jennifer Hudson, who said: 

Mario Lopez also contributed heart emojis, while Rosie O’Donnell said the producer’s words were “just beautiful.” Carnie Wilson agreed, saying his words were “just perfect,” and dancer Cheryl Burke commented: 

Stephen “tWitch” Boss was found dead in a motel room on December 14 with what police say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police said there was a suicide note that alluded to past “struggles.” His wife, Allison Holker Boss, had reported him missing that morning, after she said he uncharacteristically left the house on foot the day before and was not answering her calls. 

The DJ/dancer had reportedly checked into the Oak Tree Inn in Encino, California, which was less than a mile from his home. Housekeeping “repeatedly” knocked on the door of his room when he didn’t check out the next morning and eventually called management to open the door. That was when his body was found.

Officers reportedly had gone with Allison Holker Boss to help her search their house for clues, before the call came in from the motel. In addition to his wife, tWitch leaves behind three children: Weslie, 14; Maddox, 6; and Zaia, 3. Like so many stars, we here at CinemaBlend continue to extend our thoughts to the Boss family at this time.

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of self-harm, please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

This week, the public has been mourning the shocking death of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who was a freestyle dancer, The Ellen DeGeneres Show co-host and So You Think You Can Dance judge. Following news that Boss was found dead on Tuesday by suicide, filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry opened up about his own past with suicide attempts in order to spread a positive message to other people who may be going through related struggles. 

Tyler Perry has previously disclosed that he attempted suicide more than once in the past as a child with an abusive father. Following Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ death this week, Perry took to Instagram to share the public’s “shock” and share these words: 

Perry sought to speak to anyone considering suicide in his message. Along with sharing resources, which you can find for yourself or a loved one at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 800-273-8255, he also said this: 

In the video, Perry spoke about finding himself in a place where he’s the ”happiest” he’s “ever been” thanks to his attempts not working. The actor and filmmaker shared that his life is full of “joy and love” these days, and he challenged folks who may have suicidal thoughts to think about what could be on the other side for them. Check out the full message: 

He struggled with depression as a teenager while living in an abusive household with a father Perry described as violent and "whose answer to everything was to beat it out of you,” per Biography. Additionally, the Madea star has also alleged that he was sexually abused by four different adults outside his home as well. Perry, who was born Emmitt Perry Jr. decided to change his name to Tyler in order to distance himself from an abusive father. 

Perry would go on to break into Hollywood and eventually open Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Some of his films in the past have touched on abuse-related storylines. Perry’s latest movie was A Jazzman's Blues, which is currently available to stream with a Netflix subscription. 

Perry’s message received over 300 thousand likes and comments from the likes of Reese Witherspoon, who thanked him for sharing his heart, and Tyrese Gibson, who wrote a lengthy comment echoing his sentiments and telling Perry that the public has a “new level of respect” for him for opening up. 

As we continue to process the death of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, a larger conversation about mental health and suicide can be had about the public, including with Perry’s recent and thoughtful comments following his own experiences with suicidal thoughts. 

A celebrity whose smile and energy were infectious every time he appeared on the small screen, Stephen "tWitch" Boss entertained TV audiences for years, arguably most notably as the dance-happy DJ for The Ellen DeGeneres Show for a sizeable part of its run. Tragically, it has been reported that the So You Think You Can Dance competitor-turned-judge has died at the age of 40.

News of tWitch's death was first shared by his wife, Allison Holker Boss, with whom he shares three children: Weslie, 14; Maddox, 6; and Zaia, 3. Boss reportedly entered an LAPD station on Tuesday in a panic, according to TMZ, while saying her husband left home without a vehicle, which he was not known to ever do. After a short while, a call came in for a shooting at an L.A. hotel, and it's there that Boss was found dead. The wound was described as being apparently self-inflicted, though suicide is not yet an official cause of death.

Allison Holker Boss shared the following statement with People:

News of tWitch's death comes as a major shock to fans, as the entertainer has been as busy as ever on the small screen of late. Despite the highly publicized end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which went through some turmoil in its final years due to allegations made about the host's behavior, the DJ (who was eventually granted co-executive producer status in 2020) always had positive responses when addressing such complaints, and always spoke highly of DeGeneres herself. And he surrounded that show's conclusion with plenty of other gigs and appearances. 

In the past two years alone, Boss served in a hosting and/or judging capacity for So You Think You Can Dance's post-hiatus return, the final season of Ellen's Game of Games, the game show Clash of the Cover Bands, the short-lived The Real Dirty Dancing, and was also a guest judge in Sarah Hyland's streaming competition series Play-Doh Squished. (He also shared the screen with Hyland as a Modern Family guest star in 2018.) As well, he and Allison Holker played "Dad" and "Mom," respectively in Disney+'s holiday musical The Hip Hop Nutcracker, which premiered just three weeks before his death.

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Stephen Boss first rose to fame during Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance, and returned the next season to even more success, and later achieved All-Star status within the brand ahead of eventually landing behind the judge's table. He followed that up with acting and dancing roles in such projects as Step Up 3D, Step Up Revolution, and Step Up All In, as well as Ghostbusters and Magic Mike XXL. Over the years, he also showed off his skills on Dancing with the Stars, Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings, Dance Like a Boss and more.

Below is the latest social media post tWitch and Allison Holker Boss shared, with a growing number of celebrity friends and fans sharing their condolences in the comments. (They'd just celebrated their nine-year wedding anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 10.)

We at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Stephen "tWitch" Boss during their time of mourning.

If you’re anything like me, then you still think of the ‘90s as being a mere ten years ago - and not actually two decades and change. This isn’t helped, of course, by the fact that fashion trends of the decade are coming back in style. It’s also pretty shocking when seeing faces from the past’s pop culture aged up and moving on to new stages of life - like ‘90s child star Macaulay Culkin entering midlife. That’s why you might feel pretty old when I tell you that one of Ellen’s mini pop sensations, Sophia Grace, is all grown up and pregnant.

Sophia Grace Brownlee and her cousin, Rosie McClelland, were first invited to appear on Ellen back in 2011 when they were just 8 and 5 years old, respectively, after a cover they did of a Nicki Minaj song that went viral (and landed them a trip to the Grammys). Their first appearance was a hit due to their witty and endearing stage presence, and they were brought back to the show numerous times after, becoming regulars and receiving with their own segment. 

Now, Sophia Grace is all grown up at the age of 19 with a successful YouTube channel, and she has over three million followers keeping up with her life on a regular basis. Her most recent YouTube video contains a pregnancy announcement, during which she revealed that she is not only going to be a parent but she is pretty far along. In the clip, the Internet celebrity explained why she decided to keep the news hush hush for so long. Here it is in her own words:

Sophia Grace has posted to her YouTube channel a number of times throughout her pregnancy, and this is the first time fans have been met with the news. So that's probably why mentioned that it may come as a shock to viewers who loyally watch her content. She also says that her videos will be shifting to cover her journey and new stage of life, so it sounds like fans can look forward to seeing baby news and maybe even seeing the little one on the channel and watching the child grow up.

Some celebrities choose to keep their children off of social media, setting that boundary between their career and life in the limelight and maintaining their child’s privacy. Stars like Katherine Schwarzenegger have come up with creative ways to share their children. However, YouTubers tend to be more open to having their children appear on screen, as their lifestyle is more attuned to their fans seeing into their personal matters more frequently. Sophia Grace’s fans do seem thrilled with the news, saying in the comments that they feel as though they’ve watched her grow up on screen and are now witnessing her enter a major, new stage in her life.

The Ellen alum proudly showed off her growing baby bump in the video, standing up and doing a traditional pose typically reserved for those expecting. She’s absolutely glowing, and she also revealed a sonogram of her baby as a way for fans to share in the exciting moment with her. See for yourself in the announcement below:

Times have certainly changed since Ellen fans became familiar with Sophia Grace and her sweet little British accent, as DeGeneres' program has even been replaced by The Kelly Clarkson Show since. It sounds like Sophia Grace is thrilled with the changes in her life though, and she can’t wait to enter into the next chapter of her life as a parent. While fans won’t be seeing her on a primetime TV schedule any time soon, it certainly sounds like her YouTube channel will have plenty of content for her fans. We wish her the best as she continues on this new journey, even if it is make me and probably many others feel our ages.

Ellen DeGeneres bid farewell to the daytime talk show world this year after 19 seasons. Many of her longtime fans were excited to see what she’d do next, and after just five months off the air, the comedian is back with a short docu-style comedy series called About Time For Yourself… With Ellen.

On the new series, which People reports will premiere October 22 on Ellen DeGeneres’ YouTube channel, the comedian will document her unemployment and her attempts to learn new hobbies, including bird-watching, crocheting, making cards and more. The former host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show explained: 

The series sounds perfect for the comedian, and I love that she's enlisted her wife to work behind the camera. I can only imagine how hilarious it will be to see Ellen attempt these new hobbies. About Time For Yourself... With Ellen will consist of eight episodes, which will be released weekly, and as she attempts to learn new skills, the hope is that fans will join in too. 

This announcement of the new series comes after Ellen DeGeneres ended her 19-season talk show the same way she started it — with Jennifer Aniston as her guest. Pink was also there to give a performance of the show's Emmy-winning theme song, "Today's the Day," which she wrote. Many celebrities shared kind words and excitement over what the future held for the Emmy-winning host.

While Portia De Rossi said she hoped her wife would take the opportunity to do more stand-up comedy, the couple actually took some time in June to travel to Rwanda for the opening ceremony of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. De Rossi helped to fund the campus in honor of Ellen’s 60th birthday, and the former talk show host said the trip reaffirmed her lifelong love for gorillas and that being next to them was "life-changing."

Whether the gorillas played a part in inspiring her to learn how to crochet, that remains to be seen. A description of the upcoming series reads:

It will definitely be different to see Ellen DeGeneres in her own home, rather than in the familiar studio setting (and without DJ tWitch providing us with some music and dance movies), and fans are surely excited to see this next chapter in her entertainment career. See what else is coming soon to cable and streaming with our 2022 TV schedule. 

Charlie Puth has been belting out tunes as a radio staple for over 10 years now. The “Light Switch” singer got his start after posting covers on YouTube with his friend Emily Luther. He was soon discovered by Ellen DeGeneres, who signed him to her record label, eleveneleven in 2011. It sounds like a fairytale story, but the label was fraught with problems, and would be considered defunct in 2012, only a few years after its inception. Now, Charlie Puth is speaking out about his experience at the label, and his treatment there during the early days of his career. 

Puth was recently a guest on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, where he talked about getting his start in the music industry, and how DeGeneres played a part in this. Puth spoke candidly about the lack of support at the now defunct label, confessing,

Puth shared that he doesn't "talk shit on anybody" and that what happened in his career has never come up when he's been in the same space with Ellen DeGeneres. He also mentioned seeing her, feeling like little time had passed and that it should be "onward and upward." 

Meanwhile, he talked about how the pandemic helped him to reset where he was at, but it took some work and self-reflection, as he noted he had lost two people that he thought he needed in order to move forward and really make it in a music career, including the business relationship.

This comes shortly after Greyson Chance, who was also signed to the label, spoke about the total abandonment he felt at eleveneleven, and blamed DeGeneres for being opportunistic. The label dropped Chance when he started to underperform. Chance was one of the first artists the former talk show host signed to her record label, also after discovering him on YouTube. While Puth clearly agrees with Chance that he felt abandonment at eleveneleven, he also added that his situation was different, adding:

The criticism towards the environment at DeGeneres’s record label comes after controversy around the working environment at her famed daytime talk show was highly publicized. Many former staff members blamed producers of the show for a toxic workplace culture, and said DeGeneres herself was rude to staff. 

Following a slew of accusations and controversies, the comedian announced she would be ending her show in 2022, after 19 years of being on air. The accusations of DeGeneres’ behavior led to decreased ratings and the show went out with more of a whimper than a bang. Kelly Clarkson’s daytime show filled the longtime host's time slot. 

Charlie Puth has since moved on from his rocky experiences at eleveneleven, becoming a top recording artist with four Grammy nominations. He is no longer signed with Ellen Degeneres, and is now signed to Artist Partner Group. His fourth studio album titled Charlie! was released on October 7th, which was preceded by 5 hit singles. 

You can currently stream Charlie! On Apple Music and Spotify. Puth has also composed several soundtracks for major films like Fast and Furious 7, which is currently streaming with a Peacock subscription. Despite the aforementioned allegations, Ellen DeGeneres is still active in the industry and acts as the executive producer of several TV projects like Little Funny and Couple Time, which will both be airing sometime in the near future. Check out CinemaBlend's TV release schedule for more information on what’s coming to the small screen soon.

What is it about Target that makes it the great equalizer? We’re all familiar with the Target shopping experience where we go in for a couple things but walk out with baskets full of treasure (that is all absolutely necessary to our survival). Lacey Chabert knows what I’m talking about, as the Hallmark star shared a photo of her Target bounty earlier this year. It is funny how the phenomenon seems to extend to celebrities as well. They also seem powerless to resist the red dartboard, and Kelly Clarkson even made reference to the big box store when commenting on her fame.

Kelly Clarkson has certainly made her mark in the entertainment industry. She recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her American Idol win and took over the coveted daytime TV time slot previously held by Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey when The Kelly Clarkson Show kicked off its fourth season. Throw in hosting gigs on two NBC competition shows, three Grammy Awards from her nine studio albums, and even some movies, and it wouldn’t be hard to imagine the Texas native reaching a level of fame that would make her completely out of touch with the masses. That’s not the case at all, the singer told Variety, insisting she’s maintained a stunning level of relatability. She said: 

What I love most about this comment is that she is literally bragging about her ability to go to Target. All the time. Anytime she wants. And she knows she’s lucky for it. When people talk about the perfect amount of fame, I believe Kelly Clarkson has nailed it. Rake in millions of dollars but retain the ability to stock up at Tar-jay. 

Lacey Chabert seems to always be showing how relatable she is. Take, for example, when she recently posted about having to miss her daughter’s first day of school because she was filming a Hallmark Christmas Movie. So many of us understand the struggle of balancing our personal and professional lives, just like so many of us relate to going into Target for one thing and coming out with this: 

Jessica Alba is another celebrity who had a real-person experience in the store, when she posted a photo of herself breastfeeding her baby in a Target dressing room. Hungry baby waits for no one!

However, visiting the big box store doesn’t seem to make the public sympathetic to any and all celebrities. Kylie Jenner visited Target in July in an apparent attempt to show her followers she’s just like us, after she experienced backlash from an Instagram post boasting about her and boyfriend Travis Scott’s private jets. Fans didn’t quite buy it, but it made for some fun social media barbs: 

Meanwhile, don't mind Kelly Clarkson. She'll just be over here, shopping at her preferred Target. All the time. Anytime she wants. If you don’t see her in the store, you can check your local listings to find out when to catch her on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and also take a peek at our 2022 TV Schedule to see what premieres are coming soon.

The day is fast approaching for Sherri Shepherd to debut her new talk show, and she’s excited to finally be taking over the time slot previously held by Wendy Williams with her own show, rather than just serving as a guest host. The comedian/actress has some big ideas when it comes to what she wants Sherri to accomplish, and it sounds like she’s getting advice from the right person to make those things happen. Shepherd opened up about the wise words she was offered from none other than Oprah Winfrey about how to find success in the daytime TV realm.

Sherri is set to premiere on Monday, September 12, as a replacement for The Wendy Williams Show, which was canceled after its 13th season when the eponymous host was unable to appear for the final season due to health issues. Sherri Shepherd filled in for Williams as a guest host, but now that she’s set to call all her own shots, she took advantage of the opportunity to pick the brain of one of the most famous talk show hosts in TV history. Shepherd recalled to EW the advice she got from Oprah:

If Oprah says to bring the energy, you can bet that Sherri Shepherd will do just that. For one thing, I can imagine that following any advice “The Queen of All Media” sends your way would be a good idea. But also, Shepherd’s background in stand-up comedy proves that she already knows how to engage her audience. In fact, she’s said that with Ellen DeGeneres ending her show after 19 seasons, she has the opportunity to fill that void of a daytime talk show hosted by a comedian.

Sherri Shepherd was apparently able to glean a good bit of advice from Oprah Winfrey, as she said she took multiple pages of notes during her audience with the iconic host. She said:

I can only imagine the gems that Oprah Winfrey dropped, and Sherri Shepherd must feel pretty fortunate to have those words of wisdom. Shepherd already had some ideas about how her show will differ from Wendy Williams’. She wants a celebrity-friendly atmosphere, where her guests won’t have to worry about a “gotcha” moment. Audience feedback suggested that some people thought Williams was “mean,” but that is not something Shepherd plans to carry over to Sherri. Perhaps that will help her attract A-listers including Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep and, of course, Oprah Winfrey herself. 

Sherri is set to make its debut in syndication on Monday, September 12, so check your local listings for time and channel. You can also check out these movies and shows to watch if you love Oprah Winfrey.

Since the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, HBO Max subscribers have seen a relatively large wave of cancellations, with a variety of TV and movie projects being axed at a neck-breaking pace. One series that was placed on the chopping block spells unfortunate news for former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. So, which of DeGeneres’ HBO Max shows failed to escape the streamer’s continuing wave of canceled projects?

According to Deadline, the animated preschool series Little Ellen will not be returning for another season. This move from the streaming service marked Ellen DeGeneres’ second series to end in 2022, as her self-titled talk show concluded with its 19th season earlier this year. Similar to how things played out with some other HBO Max cancellations, Little Ellen had already completed production on its most recent season, but it apparently won't get a premiere through any Warner Bros. Discovery platforms. 

It was alleged that the conglomerate canceled the children’s series as part of tax write-off efforts. It was also alleged that other animated content may be in cancellation jeopardy as well, with the streamer said to be moving away from kids and family programming.

Before its cancellation, Little Ellen was preparing to premiere its third season, with Season 1 and 2 of Little Ellen having premiered in September 2021 and March 2022, respectively. (Both seasons are currently available to stream.) The newest episodes were originally set to premiere in June before it was taken off the schedule, and now we know its fate has been sealed. The preschool series followed a seven-year-old version of Ellen DeGeneres as she and her friends grow up together in New Orleans while exploring the world around them.

It is unclear whether DeGeneres' other two HBO Max projects – Ellen’s Home Design Challenge and First Dates Hotel – are safe from the ongoing series of cancellations. It wouldn’t be surprising if news about the two series was imminent, given everything else being reported on. The streamer already made headlines for canceling Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, with both projects being in the middle of post-production. The backlash led to WBD issuing a statement about it. Canceling multiple TV and film projects (including the House Party reboot) hasn’t been the only change for the streaming platform, as some exclusive movies were removed without any announcement or fanfare. The disappearing HBO Max content may signal the start of bigger changes as it and fellow streamer Discovery+ are reportedly preparing to merge at some point.

The onslaught of cancellations and removals has sent some into a panic, with worries about shows like the planned Green Lantern series and Harley Quinn leading to fans making threats in certain cases. Even James Gunn had to step out and send a message to fans about Peacemaker Season 2 by telling them to calm down amongst the chaos. You can’t blame fans for feeling unsure as multiple projects are being cut left and right.

There is still amazing content to watch on HBO Max for the time being. You can check out the best TV shows and movies on the streamer right now. While viewers will miss Little Ellen, there are plenty of new TV shows set to premiere in 2022 with both children and adults in mind.

Those in need of a good laugh can usually find exactly what they are looking for with a Netflix subscription. One of the reasons why the platform is one of the best streaming services to subscribe to is its nearly countless number of stand-up comedy specials that have sparked the on-stage revival of various beloved legends or helped skyrocket the careers of comedy’s most promising voices. 

As you might imagine, however, there are almost too many stand-up comedy specials to choose from, so what are the funniest available to stream now? Let us see if we can help you narrow down your choices for your next night of laughs with our picks for the funniest stand-up comedy specials available on Netflix.

John Mulaney: Baby J (2023)

In his first special since his stint in rehab, John Mulaney details his struggles with that life-changing occasion, shares other revealing personal anecdotes, and tells some of his best jokes ever, making Baby J some of the comic’s finest work yet.

Stream John Mulaney: Baby J on Netflix

Ali Wong: Baby Cobra (2016)

While several months pregnant with her first child, Ali Wong – future Emmy-winning star of one of the best A24 TV shows, Beef – performs what is widely considered to be some of her best and most insightful work in Baby Cobra.

Stream Ali Wong: Baby Cobra on Netflix

Deon Cole: Cole Hearted (2019)

Black-ish star and former Conan writer Deon Cole’s debut Netflix special, Cole Hearted, sees him riff on the true meaning behind the name “Arby’s,” explaining when and why to give thanks to Jesus, and demonstrate why comedy is the last raw form of expression.

Stream Deon Cole: Cole Hearted on Netflix

Little Big Boy may boast the most mature material we have seen yet from Nick Kroll, but don’t be surprised when the Big Mouth co-creator throws in a fart joke.

Stream Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy on Netflix

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer (2024)

Not to be confused with a certain Oliver Stone film, Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer sees the British comedian continue to deliver his signature, shamelessly crass, but undeniably clever, one-liners, which cover everything from veganism, anti-vaxxers, and how to practice proper consent.

Stream Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer on Netflix

Steve Martin And Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life (2018)

Steve Martin and Martin Short are at their best when they are together and the Only Murders in the Building cast members deliver something truly unforgettable in An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life, which consists of witty banter, uproarious sketches, and a few moments of great music.

Stream Steve Martin And Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life on Netflix

Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (2023)

Netflix’s very first live special, Selective Outrage, saw Chris Rock reveal his thoughts on Will Smith slapping him at the Oscars, among other topics, in front of a Baltimore audience.

Stream Chris Rock: Selective Outrage on Netflix

Taylor Tomlinson: Look At You (2022)

While still in her 20s, Taylor Tomlinson proved herself to be one of the sharpest and boldest comedians working today with her brilliant debut special, Quarter-Life Crisis, in 2020. However, the gold standard of her career might be her second Netflix original, Look at You, for how she cleverly turns her own struggles with family, friends, and romance after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, into one hour of laugh-a-minute delight.

Stream Taylor Tomlinson: Look at You on Netflix

Mike Birbiglia: Thank God For Jokes (2017)

The state of comedy as we know it is a hotly debated topic these days and Mike Birbiglia believes it really all comes down to one thing: it has been ruined by people who are bad at telling them or try to hide behind their own mistakes by vocally claiming they are “just joking.” Well, the recurring Orange is the New Black cast member and three-time interim Jimmy Kimmel Live host is on a mission to preserve the art with his first Netflix special (out of four currently available on the platform), Thank God for Jokes.

Stream Mike Birbigila: Thank God for Jokes on Netflix

Demetri Martin: Live (At The Time) (2015)

I have always thought of Demetri Martin as the Bob Dylan of comedy – mostly because he often wears a harmonica around his neck while playing guitar during musical interludes, but also for his inventive, obscure approach to the art, involving illustrated sight gags or edits to his special that add a wonderfully meta commentary. The former Daily Show correspondent presents what may be the funniest display of his irreverent style with his first Netflix special, Live (At the Time) – a title that is totally on-brand for the comic.  

Stream Demetri Martin: Live (At the Time) on Netflix

Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh (2018)

A stand-up icon who always loves to incorporate music into his act is Adam Sandler, the SNL cast member-turned-cinematic comedy superstar-turned-acclaimed dramatic thespian (i.e. his acclaimed performance in Uncut Gems). Before taking that award-winning role, the “Sandman” reignited his stand-up presence with this Netflix special, in which he raps about our over-reliance on technology, pays tribute to the late Chris Farley, and gives us more material that is truly 100% Fresh.

Stream Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh on Netflix

Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill (2020)

Netflix is the ultimate hub for content related to Jerry Seinfeld, as it’s the one place you can stream Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, his groundbreaking self-titled series from the ‘90s (and one of the all-time best sitcoms), and other titles, including this original special. The comedy icon certainly kills in 23 Hours to Kill by bringing his signature observational style to topics like how similar the words “sucks” and “great” truly are, how different talking and texting are, and more.

Stream Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill on Netflix

Patton Oswalt: Annihilation (2017)

Former The King of Queens cast member and Ratatouille star Patton Oswalt has always had a bold and boisterous on-stage presence, whether he is poking fun at politics or at himself. However, the actor and comedian (who also lends his voice to Netflix’s The Sandman cast) has never been more candid about either topic than in his second special for the platform, Annihilation – half of which is devoted to honoring his late wife, true crime author Michelle McNamara.

Stream Patton Oswalt: Annihilation on Netflix

Norm Macdonald: Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery (2017)

In 2021, we lost beloved comedian and former SNL star Norm Macdonald to a private, nine-year battle with cancer. Remember the joy he brought to the world of comedy with his first Netflix original special, Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery – one of his finest career efforts for brilliant takes on mundane topics like the abbreviation for “identification” and his analysis of Germany’s volatile place in history.

Stream Norm Macdonald: Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery on Netflix

Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)

After taking a hiatus from stand-up, Bo Burham was planning on returning to the stage right as Covid-19 put most public appearances on hold, as he reveals in this bizarre and bitingly funny project he wrote, performed, and shot entirely on his own and in one single room during the pandemic. While this special barely counts as “stand-up” and sometimes veers far from comedy when the Promising Young Woman star makes devastating confessions about his own mental health, no matter what you prefer to call it, Inside is one of the best Netflix movies of 2021 and nothing short of a masterpiece.

Stream Bo Burnham: Inside on Netflix

Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial (2018)

In her third Netflix original stand-up special and one of the best credits of her career, Iliza Shlesinger explains just what it means to be an Elder Millennial and how it informs her opinions of society. She reenacts the typical night of a single thirty-something, explains “landlines,” and shares the not-so-surprising story of how she met her fiancé on a dating app.

Stream Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial on Netflix

Trevor Noah: Afraid Of The Dark (2017)

As a former host of The Daily Show, it is clear Trevor Noah has an eye for politics, but he lightens his commentary on the state of America (a little) to cover a wide range of topics with his signature energy. He talks about his South African upbringing, apologizes to the women in his audience on behalf of male “creeps,” and reveals why he is, as the title of his comedy special teases, afraid of the dark. 

Stream Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark on Netflix

Tom Segura: Disgraceful (2018)

While he does not, particularly, exhibit signs of being what the title of this Netflix stand-up special suggests, “disgraceful” would certainly be a proper way of defining the many topics Tom Segura explores – such as a visit to an adult entertainment store, finding humor in mental disabilities, and the satisfaction of letting an elevator door close on a stranger. The 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast host’s brand of observational humor is refreshing in how it trades brutal honesty for off-beat absurdity that often veers on the edge of uncomfortable relatability. 

Stream Tom Segura: Disgraceful on Netflix

Marc Maron: Too Real (2017)

He has found success from starring in the Netflix series GLOW, a brief appearance in the box office smash Joker, and, especially, interviewing Hollywood’s finest as host of the highly rated podcast, WTF. However, Marc Maron got his start as a comic and you can see him at his best in his 2017 Netflix stand-up comedy special, Too Real.

Stream Marc Maron: Too Real on Netflix

Neal Brennan: 3 Mics (2017)

In 2017, Neal Brennan – the secret weapon to Dave Chappelle’s career, from co-creating Chappelle’s Show to co-writing Half Baked – came out of hiding in his remarkably unique Netflix comedy special, 3 Mics, which refers to the three different microphones set up on the stage. Each one is reserved for a different purpose: clever one-liners, traditional stand-up bits, and deeply personal stories, which is where Brennan truly shines in this astounding achievement mixing comedy with tragedy to rewarding effect.

Stream Neal Brennan: 3 Mics on Netflix

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City (2018)

As one of the most exciting names in comedy today, it makes sense that John Mulaney would eventually find himself performing at a prestigious venue like New York’s Radio City Music Hall, but that does not stop him from commenting on the very absurdity of that concept in his Emmy-winning Netflix stand-up comedy special, Kid Gorgeous. The former SNL writer’s classically-trained stand-up style, complemented by his formal wardrobe and choice to carry a wire-attached mic, adds a refreshing, old-fashioned energy to the topics he dares to dissect with his razor-sharp wit in a special that demands repeat viewings. 

Stream John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City on Netflix

Dave Chappelle: The Age Of Spin (2017)

Regardless of how you may feel about his more recent Netflix specials, you have to admit that Dave Chappelle’s intelligent observation, fearless expression, and effortless delivery is unlike anyone or anything seen in the world of comedy – now or before his time – and no better proof of that is in the first of his Netflix stand-up comedy specials, The Age of Spin. Filmed live at the Hollywood Palladium, this Grammy-winning special saw the A Star is Born actor’s triumphant return to the mainstream following his controversial decision to leave his groundbreaking Comedy Central series, which is easily the lightest of topics he touches on before riffing on everything from racism to sexuality and recalling his multiple encounters with O.J. Simpson.

Stream Dave Chappelle: The Age of Spin on Netflix

No one’s brand of comedy is the same, so hopefully we have covered everything that fans of stand-up specials might be interested in streaming on Netflix in the list above.

Daytime TV viewers are seeing a huge shift in the landscape after a number of longtime talk shows came to an end this year. Ellen DeGeneres, for one, wrapped her show after 19 seasons, and The Wendy Williams Show was canceled after 13 seasons when its namesake host was unable to return for the final season amid health and financial struggles. To that end, Sherri Shepherd is stepping in with her own show, Sherri, and she sees a specific void in the daytime TV slate that she plans to fill.

Sherri Shepherd was one of many guest hosts who stepped in for Wendy Williams when she was unable to return for Season 13 of her show. The decision was eventually made to cancel The Wendy Williams Show and give the time slot permanently to Shepherd. However, the former co-host of The View told People, she’s going to put her own spin on her series, filling a hole that’s been left in the world of daytime TV, particularly since the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Shepherd said:

The Kelly Clarkson Show has been tapped to take over Ellen DeGeneres’ vacated time slot, and the American Idol winner is apparently putting her show through a complete overhaul in order to do that. Every host has their strengths, however, and where DeGeneres is known for her comedy, Kelly Clarkson is more musically inclined. Singing is and will likely remain a big part of the former Voice coach’s show, clearing the lane for Sherri Shepherd and comedy background.

The actress said as a guest host on The Wendy Williams Show, she stayed within the format that Wendy Williams had established, but with her own eponymous talk show, Sherri Shepherd looks forward to bringing her own flavor and finding “the lightness and the humor of a hot topic story.” She said:  

Sherri Shepherd seems excited about being able to call the shots on her own series, but when Sherri premieres, there’s one person who likely won’t be tuning in. Wendy Williams threw some shade at the woman who’s replacing her, saying that what Shepherd brings to the table is “really not my thing.” To each her own!

As well as Wendy Williams and Ellen DeGeneres, Maury Povich hung up his hat after a 31-year talk show career. NIck Cannon saw his talk show axed after just one season, and The Real was also canceled following the end of its eighth season. In the musical milieu, meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson will be joined by fellow American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, who’s set to debut her own show this fall.

Viewers who are excited to see Sherri Shepherd put her stamp on the world of daytime TV can do so this fall, with the premiere of Sherri coming September 12 (check your local listings for time and channel). You can also see what other premieres are coming soon with CinemaBlend's 2022 TV Schedule.

Plenty of celebrities spoke out in celebration of Ellen DeGeneres when the comedian closed the book on her award-winning The Ellen DeGeneres Show after 19 seasons, but Jennifer Aniston had an especially important role. The actress who served as the talk show’s first interview back in 2003 (and then showed up around 20 more times) helped her friend come full circle by appearing on the final show, and it turns out the Murder Mystery 2 actress had some pretty strong emotions while filming the last episode.

Jennifer Aniston’s first appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show came the year before Friends ended on NBC after 10 seasons. When the host sought advice on how to deal with the end of such a huge chapter in her life, Jennifer Aniston responded with humor — albeit dark humor — about getting divorced post-Friends and starting therapy. It seems the salad-loving actress may have been feeling the impending loss of Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show harder than we realized. She opened up to People about what it was like on that last day of filming, and she said the sadness actually started when she appeared earlier in the final season:

The Morning Show actress appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show at least 20 times, which averages out to more than once per season. While Jennifer Aniston is certainly not left with as big of a hole in her schedule as the comedian herself, I can see how she could feel sad about not having that to look forward to. Aniston’s also done a lot of thinking about the end of Friends lately — thanks to Friends: The Reunion that hit streaming last year for HBO Max subscribers — and the unexpected heaviness she felt returning to that set, which may have contributed to some extra empathy for her longtime pal. 

Once the cameras were rolling and she and Ellen DeGeneres were on stage together, filming flowed naturally, as they looked back to that very first 2003 interview, and Jennifer Aniston gifted Ellen with a welcome mat, just as she had 19 years earlier. Apparently, Aniston said, they took steps to prevent themselves from getting emotional during the show:

It sounds like Jennifer Aniston is really feeling the loss of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, even if the end does mean that her friend gets to explore some of her other lifelong passions like animals and conservation. I’m sure the Friends actress, like so many others, is excited to see what on-screen projects Ellen DeGeneres is planning to do next. In the meantime, check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what shows are premiering soon.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show just came to an end after 19 seasons, with a number of the host’s friends congratulating her on the achievement and many fans wondering what she’s going to be doing next. Ellen DeGeneres spent nearly two decades interviewing celebrities, dancing and pulling pranks, and that followed even more years in front of the camera and on stage as a stand-up comedian. However, it looks like her first big project following her talk show doesn’t have much to do with cameras — or even people — at all.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi are in Rwanda for the June 7 opening ceremony of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The talk show host has been fascinated by primatologist Dian Fossey since she was 12 years old, and her passion inspired De Rossi to help fund the DFGF’s new campus in honor of her wife’s 60th birthday four years ago. DeGeneres spoke with THR about the impact the campus has made already, even before its official opening:

The campus opened to the public in February of this year, offering immersive and educational experiences, such as watching gorillas in the 360-degree Irmelin DiCaprio Theater (an auction was held to name the buildings, with Leonardo DiCaprio purchasing the theater in his mother’s name, and a computer lab to be named after his father, George). Portia De Rossi said she was inspired by Ellen DeGeneres’ passion for Dian Fossey’s work, and thought it would be the perfect gift, both for the milestone birthday and post-show project:

Portia De Rossi seems to only have her wife’s happiness in mind, as her other hope for her spouse post-talk show was for her to start doing stand-up comedy again because she’s so good at it and it brings her joy.

The plans to spend more time in Africa once the show ended have been in the works for a while. In fact, in the same interview last May that Ellen DeGeneres announced the end of her talk show, she told THR that she was hoping to get more involved with her passion for animals and conservation:

The opening ceremony for her campus to help save Rwanda’s gorillas is certainly an exciting way for Ellen DeGeneres to kick off her post-talk show life, and likely a welcome break from a long career in front of the camera. Lots of fans still hope she doesn’t stay away from the camera for too long though. To see what shows are coming soon to TV and streaming, check out our 2022 TV schedule.

The road to The Ellen DeGeneres Show finale was an emotional one for fans and the host herself, but the moment has now come and gone. After officially signing off, Ellen DeGeneres now has time to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants. There are really only a few people who have been in her situation: ending a massively popular talk show after a long and storied run. Of course, one of those people is none other than entertainment icon Oprah Winfrey. And DeGeneres has now revealed that Winfrey gave her some sage advice, which she didn't heed when she wrapped up her own series.

The comedian spoke about Oprah Winfrey while being interviewed by THR. Winfrey already dished out some on-air advice during Ellen DeGeneres’ final week on air, but these new comments seem to go even deeper. DeGeneres says the showbiz legend advised her to do one thing immediately following the end of her talk show -- take it easy for a while:

If anybody would know about jumping from one project to another at a rapid pace, it would be Oprah Winfrey. The Color Purple alum ended her talk show in 2004 after 25 seasons. And as mentioned by the comedian, Winfrey was preparing to launch her cable network, OWN around the same time. She didn’t have much downtime between those moments and other projects. And even today, it seems like the 68-year-old TV personality always seems to be working on something. 

Thankfully, though, the former Ellen host seems to be taking the advice to heart. As a result, she'll likely be enjoying a well-deserved break after working the daytime grind for almost two decades.

Oprah Winfrey isn't the only one to weigh in on Ellen DeGeneres' next steps. DeGeneres' wife, Portia de Rossi, gave her take on what her spouse should do next. She just wants her spouse to do what will make her happy and, at this point, it sounds like a break is indeed what she wants. And DeGeneres has even revealed that she has travel plans mapped out.

Her show may have just finished, but the many lovely messages left by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey indicate that the host's on-air presence is already missed. In turn, Ellen DeGeneres has already expressed her gratitude to those who've supported her all these years. And we wish her all the best as she prepares to enter this new phase of her life and career.

Though Ellen is done, be sure to check out CinemaBlend's 2022 TV schedule for more talk show options.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt were the “It” couple in the early aughts. When they married in July 2000, she was in the midst of her decade-long run as Rachel Green on Friends, and he was starring in some of the hottest movies of the time, including Fight Club and Ocean’s Eleven. The perfection didn't last forever, though, and the actress recently shared her amusing take on how she dealt with the end of Friends coming around the same time that her marriage dissolved.

Ellen DeGeneres wrapped her daytime talk show on May 26 in the same way that she started it — with Jennifer Aniston as her guest. Since The Ellen DeGeneres Show premiered 19 years ago, Aniston has appeared at least 20 times, so she said that she and Ellen could talk about anything. This season the talk show host has been garnering advice from her final guests, and she asked the Murder Mystery 2 actress how she had dealt with the end of Friends after its 10-season run on NBC. Aniston joked that it was far more than her role as Rachel Green that came to an end at that time in her life:

Ooh, is Jennifer Aniston throwing a little shade at her ex-husband? Friends aired its last episode in 2004, and it was January 2005 when the couple split amid rumors of a budding romance between Brad Pitt and his Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-star Angelina Jolie (who he went public with soon after). Aniston, meanwhile, moved on with Vince Vaughn — her co-star in The Break-Up — but the relationship didn’t last long.

It doesn’t sound like the actress regrets any of her decisions, however, and she famously has remained close with Brad Pitt since their divorce. The two even participated in a steamy Fast Times at Ridgemont High virtual table read in 2020, where Jennifer Aniston said there was no oddness at all between the former couple reading the parts of Brad and Linda. The actress also remains close friends with Justin Theroux, who she started dating after they acted together in Wanderlust in 2010 and were married from 2015 to 2018. 

The audience at the final taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show applauded Jennifer Aniston’s admission that she started therapy when Friends and her marriage ended, and while it was surely a huge transition period in her life, it is pretty crazy in hindsight that she was able to wipe the slate clean for new projects and relationships. And at least she can laugh about it now! Hopefully Ellen DeGeneres can find the same post-show happiness, just without the divorce aspect!

Jennifer Aniston recently wrapped filming on Murder Mystery 2 with Adam Sandler and will star in another season of The Morning Show, available to Apple TV+ subscribers. Check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what other shows are premiering soon on television and streaming.

After 19 seasons, The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to an end on May 26. The longtime talk show host celebrated her last episode by welcoming back Jennifer Aniston — her very first guest back in 2003 — as well as Billie Eilish and Pink, and many tears were shed over Ellen DeGeneres’ impact on daytime television and beyond. Only a few celebrities may have been in the studio for the comedian’s final on-air moments, but a number of A-listers sent her loving well-wishes after the show’s finale aired, including Kim Kardashian and Chris Pratt. 

The final episode featured a montage depicting the ways both television and Ellen DeGeneres’ life have changed since the show's beginning, as well as one last dance with DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who lauded his longtime TV colleague, saying: 

After the show, Ellen continued to receive lovely messages from friends and former guests. The Kardashian-Jenner family made frequent appearances on the show, and Kim Kardashian shared a clip reel on her Instagram Stories that showed some of their fun moments and a sweet message to her friend:

Kris Jenner, as well, shared a number of her favorite moments on her Instagram Stories, including the time the famous momager was frightened so badly on the show she fell down and nearly wet her pants. In a separate post, she made sure to thank Ellen for all of the memories:

Chris Pratt also made numerous appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show over the years, and the Jurassic World Dominion actor posted a video on Instagram Stories applauding the host for her hard work and an extraordinary career:

When Ellen DeGeneres appeared on stage for her final show, she was greeted with a wild standing ovation from the audience, who included her wife, Portia de Rossi. Ellen thanked her fans and reflected on how much things have changed in the past 19 years, pointing out that when her show premiered, “I was not allowed to say 'gay.'” She said she couldn’t say “we,” because it implied that she was with someone, and she couldn’t say “wife,” because gay marriage wasn’t legal. In a glowing Instagram post, De Rossi credited her wife with helping to change those things by heightening the world’s consciousness:

Amy Schumer also sent her love to the fellow funny lady, sharing clips from her appearances on the show:

Many of Ellen DeGeneres’ famous friends said they looked forward to what the comedian does next, and Portia de Rossi has spoken her mind on what she’d love to see her wife pursue. The fans Ellen has amassed over the past 19 years are excited to find out as well. In the meantime, check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what shows are premiering soon.

That ‘90s Show is shaping up to be a nice marriage between bellbottoms and flannel shirts, as That ‘70s Show alums like Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama are set to reprise their breakout roles. Of course, the news had fans reminiscing over the Fox sitcom and seeing everyone again after the show's altered final season. Viewers weren’t the only ones thinking about the farewell episode, either, as star Mila Kunis shared her reflective thoughts on filming the throwback show's finale ahead of her return to the Netflix sequel series.

The Bad Moms actress chose to reminisce about the sitcom’s series finale while visiting The Ellen DeGeneres Show for the talk show’s final week. The actress couldn’t help but look back to the past as she and Ellen DeGeneres recalled her frequent visits to the show. In preparing for her show’s conclusion, DeGeneres asked the actress what it was like to say goodbye to the long-running sitcom.

Ending a successful series would be an emotional affair for any actor. For Kunis, the show was more like a family to her than a job since she spent her formative teen years on the sitcom. That factor came up, as Kunis recalled the life events she experienced during the series’ run.

Growing up on television is something not very many stars have experienced, relatively speaking. Kunis’ transition to young womanhood was documented by millions of viewers weekly, and we all adore her for it. (You can still watch the actress’ progression on Amazon, though you'll have to rent or buy the digital versions, since they're not available with a Prime Video subscription at the moment.) Of course, the Fox sitcom served as the start of Kunis and husband Ashton Kutcher’s eventual relationship, including their very first kiss.

Now, the actress and her husband are returning to Wisconsin along with Grace, Valderrama, and Prepon for the sequel series. They’ll be joined by That ‘70s Show fave Tommy Chong on That ‘90s Show (even if he might get a wrist-slap from Netflix for disclosing his previously unrevealed return). Of course, Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith were already on board as Kitty and Red Forman, who will be taking care of Eric and Donna’s daughter Leia for the summer-set series. So, it’s only a matter of time before viewers get to see what hijinks Kunis will once again get sucked into while back in Point Place.

At this time, it’s unknown when the revival will premiere on Netflix. In the meantime, you can see what new TV shows are premiering on Netflix in 2022.

Ellen DeGeneres has made an impact on many people’s lives through her daytime talk show over the past 19 seasons, and not just for regular viewers like you and me. In the final week of episodes before The Ellen DeGeneres Show goes off the air, the comedian is checking with some big Hollywood names, and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence kicked off the farewell celebration with an admission about how much the talk show host really meant to her, and it had to do with going “Number 2.”

It seems that Jennifer Lawrence, who is Ellen DeGeneres’ neighbor, somehow let it slip to the comedian that from the time she was about 13- to 17-years-old (her “formative years”) she used to pretend she was getting interviewed while sitting on the toilet. The talk show host was all too happy to turn this fantasy into reality, and she called the actress on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to ask her some questions while Lawrence did her business. DeGeneres asked her if the honor was hers alone, or if other hosts were part of the bathroom ritual, and the Don’t Look Up actress had a pretty hilarious confession:

Ellen DeGeneres was honored, obviously. Jennifer Lawrence insisted the honor was all hers, because look where she is now. She jokingly advised others with big bathroom aspirations to “Take your time" and "don’t rush it,” saying she’d somehow been able to manifest these practice sessions into a career where she really does get interviewed by these heavy hitters. So what were the questions that DeGeneres would ask of Lawrence all those years ago in Lawrence's toilet scenarios? The actress provided a sample question:

Hey, false modesty is a good skill to have! It was a pretty humorous segment from the two funny actresses, and surely it was a full-circle moment for Jennifer Lawrence. Ellen DeGeneres will have her own full-circle moment on air this week, when The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s series finale wraps the same way that the show started — with Jennifer Aniston. The Friends actress was Ellen’s first guest back in 2003, and she’ll be her final interviewee as well. 

Jennifer Aniston is no stranger to the show; in fact, this won’t be the first time she has appeared during the farewell season. Aniston originally returned to help kick off the final stretch of episodes, much to the delight of the host. Over the course of 19 seasons, Aniston has been featured on over 20 episodes, so it will be a fitting — and likely tearful — end to the talk show’s reign.

The final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show is set to air on Thursday, May 26. Check your local listings for the time and channel the show airs in your area. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon.

The end is near for The Ellen DeGeneres Show as, later this month, the longtime daytime TV offering is set to conclude after nearly two decades. It’ll truly mark the end of an era, and many viewers are sure to have a mixture of emotions about it. With only a few weeks left in its run, details on the show’s final episode have surfaced, and it seems the show will end just as it began. In addition, Jennifer Aniston will be getting in on the fun as well. 

It was announced via Instagram that the final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show will indeed feature an appearance from the Friends alum, creating a full-circle moment for the NBC staple. When the show kicked off its run in 2003, she was the first guest the titular host welcomed. So it’s only fitting that she be featured as the final interviewee as well. And she won’t be alone, as Pink (who wrote the show’s theme song) will also be present as will Billie Eilish. Plenty of other stars will also be paying visits in the lead-up to that final farewell, including Zac Efron, Oprah Winfrey, Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. 

This won’t be the first time that Jennifer Aniston has appeared during Ellen’s farewell season. Aniston originally returned to help kick off the final stretch of episodes, much to the delight of the host. Over the course of the talk show’s run, Aniston has been featured on over 20 episodes, so it’s more than evident that she’s been a major fixture since the production’s inception. 

At the end of April, Ellen DeGeneres confirmed that she had taped the final installment of the series. In that same social media message, she shared some thankful sentiments with the fans for the 19-year journey. As she put it, getting to produce the program has “been the greatest privilege of my life and has brought me incredible joy.”

Now that production has officially wrapped, the media personality is going to have to find a new gig, and she certainly has a variety of options. Her wife, Portia de Rossi, shared her own thoughts on the matter when she was a guest this season. De Rossi suggested that her spouse could take on stand-up comedy again but, ultimately, she just wants her to do something that makes her happy

Ellen has seen a decrease in viewers this season, but there’s a chance many may be tempted to tune in to see her sign off for the last time. The episode will undoubtedly be emotional but, with Jennifer Aniston and others stopping by to help close things out, there should still be plenty of fun.

The final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show airs on Thursday, May 26 on NBC, so be sure to check your local listings for the exact time. Also, take a look at CinenaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule for information on shows that are premiering and returning.

Ellen DeGeneres is about to have a lot more time on her hands, as her hit daytime talk show is ending after 19 seasons. The former sitcom star recently shared a thankful message with fans after she taped the final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which is set to air May 26, and now that it’s really over, what’s coming next? DeGeneres’ wife, Portia De Rossi, weighed in on what she thinks the longtime host's best next move would be.

When Ellen DeGeneres announced the final guests who would be interviewed on the show, among them was Arrested Development actress Portia De Rossi, whom DeGeneres has been married to for 13 years. The comedian took the opportunity on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to get her wife's opinion on what her next career project should be, and De Rossi had a specific idea about what she thinks Ellen would enjoy:

Ellen DeGeneres seemed amused by her wife’s answer and recalled that Portia De Rossi didn’t have that opinion back in 2018 when the comedian did her stand-up special Relatable for Netflix. The Finding Dory voice actor recalled De Rossi being “petrified” about Ellen’s decision to do stand-up again after 15 years. However, after seeing her performance, De Rossi agreed with DeGeneres’ statement that she wanted to go back out on tour with the comedian:

Ellen DeGeneres started her career performing stand-up comedy in the 1980s, and was successful enough to land her own sitcom, Ellen, which premiered on ABC in 1994. It was during the fourth season when her character Ellen Morgan famously came out as gay, mirroring the actress’ real-life coming out on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She found long-term success with her talk show, but has struggled with ratings in the past couple of years amid accusations that the show fostered a toxic workplace culture.

When production returned to the studio for Season 18 following COVID shutdowns, the ratings continued to decline, and despite the number of people who tuned in to see her address the workplace allegations, viewership subsequently fell by 40 percent. The host maintains that the drop in ratings did not contribute to her decision to end her talk show. She cited her need “to be challenged” in new ways as a key factor in the choice. Could "returning to the stage for a comedy tour" serve as one of her challenges?

Along with The Ellen DeGeneres Show coming to an end, it was also announced in January that her game show Ellen’s Game of Games was canceled by NBC after four seasons. It doesn't seem likely that she'll be gone for good from the small screen in the coming years, given her work as a producer, but it'll definitely be on a more limited basis.

So will Portia De Rossi get her wish to accompany her wife to Las Vegas for more stand-up? Only time will tell, but until then, fans can still tune in to The Ellen DeGeneres Show for new episodes through Thursday, May 26. Check your local listings to see when and where to catch the final episodes in your area, and also check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what new and returning shows are premiering soon.

Launching a daytime talk show and having it go on to become a quick success might be the very definition of difficult. So, when the host of such a show leaves the air after a long tenure, you can bet that it makes them consider all of the fans who helped them get to where they are. Such can be said for Ellen DeGeneres, who recently shared a thankful message with her fans for the 19-year journey she’s had on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after filming her final episode.

How Did Ellen DeGeneres Thank Fans After Filming Her Final Talk Show Episode?

While it’s fair to say that every television show survives because of its fans, it might be even more true for talk shows, where the personality who leads the proceedings every day has to be fully embraced by the audience in order for the show to have a shot at continuing. For nearly all of her 19 seasons on the air, that has been completely true for Ellen DeGeneres (who spoke about the end of her show last May), so after filming her last episode of Ellen on April 28, she took to Twitter to thank her loyal fanbase for sticking with her:

I’m sure that DeGeneres’ diehard fans would certainly agree that her show held firm and kept her original goal alive of making viewers laugh for an hour, no matter what else was happening in the world. But, that has been quite a bit trickier in the last two years.

Even though DeGeneres will likely rank as one of the most successful daytime talk show hosts in history for many years to come, what had been a nearly perfect public image came under fire in a big way in 2020. Mid-July of that year saw former employees begin to come forward with allegations of Ellen being a toxic workplace, with claims ranging from reports of racial discrimination to workers being fired for taking medical leave. Eventually, claims of sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault from dozens of former employees also surfaced, all of which led to an investigation and Ellen later firing several top producers.

This led to a number of additional issues, both for DeGeneres and her long-running show. Stories about her personal, supposed bad behavior started to either circulate for the first time or come to light again. That, added to the reports about how some of her staff had alleged treated people, led DeGeneres to see declining ratings over the past couple of seasons, with Ellen’s Game of Games even being cancelled earlier this year.

Ellen DeGeneres has said that she decided to end her show because it wasn’t “a challenge anymore,” and it had nothing to do with all of the behind the scenes controversy (though some of Ellen’s ex-staffers had different thoughts on why she was quitting). Regardless of the reason, though, she’s now done something that few daytime talk show hosts have done by completing Season 19, and the best thing to do would be to pay thanks to the fans who helped her make it this far. 

There’s something strange about a spring season without The Voice to help fill our Monday and Tuesday evenings. Fans who are already reeling from the longest break of the show's 10-year history are being made even more anxious by the lack of an update from NBC regarding the Season 22 coaches. Kelly Clarkson may not be currently dodging Blake Shelton’s insults, but she’s certainly kept busy in other ways, including co-hosting NBC's American Song Contest while planning a revamp of her daytime talk show. With everything going on, we can’t help but wonder: Will these changes affect her availability to work on The Voice?

Since winning Season 21 of The Voice with the history-making trio Girl Named Tom, Kelly Clarkson has kept her foot on the accelerator. Along with hosting NBC’s new singing competition with Snoop Dogg, the singer’s daytime talk show is as hot as ever, and she’s reportedly planning a complete overhaul when The Kelly Clarkson Show takes over The Ellen Degeneres Show’s time slot when the comedian ends her longtime talk show May 26. So what does that mean for The Voice?

As far as her talk show, she’s always logistically been able to juggle that at the same time as  unexpectedly complicated comes up, it’s likely The Voice's next season will go forward unaffected by all of Kelly Clarkson’s recent moves. American Song Contest’s finale is set for May 9, which obviously won't hinder anything. Even if ASC gets renewed for Season 2, it's likely that production would take place in early 2023, after The Voice has wrapped. A

As far as her talk show goes, Kelly Clarkson has always logistically been able to juggle those duties with her responsibilities on The Voice. Possibly the biggest question mark is where the American Idol winner herself wants to focus her attention. The past couple of years have been coupled with a lot of changes, including her divorce being finalized, and now would feasibly be as good a time as any to explore new opportunities. 

However, my gut tells me Clarkson will be back without worry. Her most recent victory on The Voice gave her an impressive 50% win rate, as Team Kelly has now come out on top in four of the coach’s eight seasons in the Big Red Chair. Can she really walk away from that? How would you not go back just to sit next to Blake Shelton and rub that in his face every day?

Speaking of the OG coach, there was quite a bit of concern that the cowboy was ready to hang up his hat after 21 seasons. NBC's adjustment to focusing on just one season a year might have ended up working in his favor, however, as he seemed to indicate this spring break would be the recharge that his battery needed to keep going a while longer.

The other coaches from Season 21 — John Legend and Ariana Grande — are more questionable as returnees, as they’re currently immersed in other projects. Legend’s Las Vegas residency opened April 22, but if The Voice Season 22 follows a similar production schedule to past seasons, the Love in Las Vegas show likely wouldn’t conflict with the singing competition. 

Ariana Grande’s starring role in the movie adaptation of Wicked, however, is a different story. Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo said in March that rehearsals are set to begin in July ahead of the start of filming, and with the pair of movies being shot in the U.K., that seems to indicate the “Thank U, Next” singer might need to be replaced on The Voice panel.

Obviously it’s all speculation until we hear something official from NBC, so we’ll continue to hold our breaths until that happens! In the meantime, be sure to check out Kelly Clarkson on American Song Contest at 8 p.m. ET Mondays on NBC, and check your local listings to find The Kelly Clarkson Show in your area. Also be sure to take a look at our 2022 TV Schedule to keep up to date on all of the upcoming premieres.