'House' Gets An End Date
PTC Targets MTV's New Show
Ellen DeGeneres Interview for 'Ellen's Bigger, Longer and Wider Show'
It's called 'Ellen's Bigger, Longer and Wider Show' -- and Ellen DeGeneres' variety show, in its third year, promises to be just that. As part of TBS' annual Very Funny Festival, Ellen heads to Chicago for an over-the-top night of live music, dancers, comedians and oddball acts that airs on Sat., June 27. Kanye West is set to perform; David Blaine will hit the streets to show off his unique brand of magic; and Nick Cannon will man the DJ booth.
The jokester chatted it up with AOL TV via conference call about leaving standup behind (for now), why she's such a fan of Adam Lambert and whether she and partner Portia de Rossi are planning to start a family anytime soon. -- By Katy Kroll
It's called 'Ellen's Bigger, Longer and Wider Show' -- and Ellen DeGeneres' variety show, in its third year, promises to be just that. As part of TBS' annual Very Funny Festival, Ellen heads to Chicago for an over-the-top night of live music, dancers, comedians and oddball acts that airs on Sat., June 27. Kanye West is set to perform; David Blaine will hit the streets to show off his unique brand of magic; and Nick Cannon will man the DJ booth.
The jokester chatted it up with AOL TV via conference call about leaving standup behind (for now), why she's such a fan of Adam Lambert and whether she and partner Portia de Rossi are planning to start a family anytime soon. -- By Katy Kroll
You've had some great success with the variety format, but other celebrities haven't done as well with it. Why do you think that is? And were you ever nervous about tackling the format?
No. I mean, this is something I wanted to do before I did my second sitcom. I really wanted to do a variety show, and we did a pilot, which didn't get picked up. I really was sad because it was sort of a Larry Sanders version of a variety show, so it was me hosting a variety show and then behind the scenes of the variety show. But this is something I've wanted to do. I mean, I grew up watching Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, Carol Burnett, Sonny and Cher and Donny and Marie. I loved those shows. So it's just something I've always been drawn to, and it kind of has something for everybody. Now it seems like a lot of people are doing it and, you know, who's to say why anything works when one person does it and doesn't work for somebody else? I really couldn't tell you. But we've been fortunate that whatever we're doing is working, so I'm very grateful for that. I have fun doing it; it's just something different to do than my show every single day.
Ellen DeGeneres Photos
Kanye West and Ellen DeGeneres speak on stage at Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show during TBS presents A Very Funny Festival: Just For Laughs at the Chicago Theatre on June 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 18462_0177.JPG.TBS Presents Just For Laughs Chicago – Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show.The Chicago Theatre.Chicago, IL United States.June 17, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (16843202), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Ellen DeGeneres performs on stage at Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show during TBS presents A Very Funny Festival: Just For Laughs at the Chicago Theatre on June 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 18462_0030.JPG.TBS Presents Just For Laughs Chicago – Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show.The Chicago Theatre.Chicago, IL United States.June 17, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (16843036), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Ellen DeGeneres performs on stage at Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show during TBS presents A Very Funny Festival: Just For Laughs at the Chicago Theatre on June 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 18462_0030.JPG.TBS Presents Just For Laughs Chicago – Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show.The Chicago Theatre.Chicago, IL United States.June 17, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (16843036), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Ellen DeGeneres performs on stage at Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show during TBS presents A Very Funny Festival: Just For Laughs at the Chicago Theatre on June 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 18462_0021.JPG.TBS Presents Just For Laughs Chicago – Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show.The Chicago Theatre.Chicago, IL United States.June 17, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (16843044), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Ellen DeGeneres performs on stage at Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show during TBS presents A Very Funny Festival: Just For Laughs at the Chicago Theatre on June 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 18462_0024.JPG.TBS Presents Just For Laughs Chicago – Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show.The Chicago Theatre.Chicago, IL United States.June 17, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (16843043), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Ellen DeGeneres performs on stage at Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show during TBS presents A Very Funny Festival: Just For Laughs at the Chicago Theatre on June 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 18462_0013.JPG.TBS Presents Just For Laughs Chicago – Ellen's Bigger Longer & Wider Show.The Chicago Theatre.Chicago, IL United States.June 17, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (16843035), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Actresses Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. speak onstage at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held at NOKIA Theatre LA LIVE on April 18, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Actresses Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. speak onstage at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held at NOKIA Theatre LA LIVE on April 18, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi attend the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Nokia Theatre on April 18, 2009 on Los Angeles, California..20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Show.The Nokia Theatre.Los Angeles, CA United States.April 18, 2009.Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com..To license this image (57219381), contact FilmMagic.com
WireImage.com
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi attend the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Nokia Theatre on April 18, 2009 on Los Angeles, California..20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Show.The Nokia Theatre.Los Angeles, CA United States.April 18, 2009.Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com..To license this image (57219377), contact FilmMagic.com
WireImage.com
When you do standup, it's just you up there on the stage. While in the variety show format, you share the stage with a bunch of people. So what are some of the joys of each format for you? And will your standup fans still get their Ellen fix from the variety show?
I'm asked a lot to do standup again or go to Vegas and it's something I'm not really ready to go back to. I don't want to say never, but I did it for so long that I was so happy to move into another venue, another format. I love doing the talk show because I get to come out and do a monologue, and then talk to people -- and still get to be funny or serious whenever I feel like it. And with the variety show, I'll do a monologue, probably 5 to 10 minutes of standup and then I'll interact in between each act. Someday I may go back to doing another standup gig once in a while. I don't know. I keep setting the bar higher and higher for myself, and I think I'm more critical of the quality of work and what I do. I try to pick very carefully what I do so that I can do it as best I can.
You finally landed George Clooney this year after a campaign for him. Who's next on your most wanted list for a guest on your show?I don't know. We keep talking about who's next. Well the next thing you know we set was the quest to get on the cover of O magazine, and then that happened. That happened too fast for me. I really planned on milking that thing for about 3 or 4 years. So now that's happening, and I got to come up with ... maybe Fish and Game? But I don't know what the next quest is, but certainly when we start season 7, we'll let you know.
What do you think about Adam Lambert's Rolling Stone and the 20/20 interviews?
Well obviously you're talking to somebody who is a big believer in being truthful, just because it's the healthiest thing that you can do for yourself, and it's not trying to be anything other than honest. And you know also as a byproduct of that, you're helping other people that are struggling. You know, we've seen recently in the press how many kids have killed themselves because of being bullied and teased at school. And so whenever there's somebody that is successful and talented and happy and openly gay, I think that sends a really positive message for all these kids out there that are struggling. I mean, you know, in this business alone, there are so many closeted people still, so I'm proud of him. I'm happy for anyone who has the guts to actually tell the world who they are, and not fear that they're going to lose their career or alienate anybody.
Now that you and Portia are married, will you have kids anytime soon?
No, I don't think we're going to have kids. We have animals, and we love them. They don't talk back, and they don't explore their vocal chords out in public. And, you know, we are brand new aunts. Her brother and his wife just had a baby girl who's a month old now, and it's fun to be a part of that. But no, I think, you know, we definitely thought about it. And it's something I think most people, as a relationship goes on, explore. But it's just a huge responsibility, and I don't know that that's something we want to take on. We're very happily married without children.
2009 Summer TV: New Series
The heat of summer is matched only by the hot new TV shows we'll be seeing this season.
We've got the scoop on the return of familiar faces ('Nurse Jackie''s Edie Falco), the next cable hits ('Hawthorne'; 'Hung'), the new reality shows ('The Bachelorette'; 'Kendra') and more that will have everyone talking.
See all of this year's new shows in our 2009 Summer TV gallery.
TNT / HBO
'The Bachelorette'
Premiered: Mon., May 18, 9PM (ABC)
Premise: Jillian Harris, who finished third on last season of 'The Bachelor,' gives love a second chance with the help of a whopping 30 potential suitors -- hopefully none of whom resemble Jason Mesnick. As usual, men are eliminated week by week until Jillian finds her Prince Charming -- or at the very least, a spot on next season's 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Related Links
ABC
'Mental'
Starring: Chris Vance, Annabella Sciorra
Premieres: Fri., May 22, 9PM (Fox)
Premise: Vance ('Prison Break') stars as Jack Gallagher, an unorthodox psychologist who butts heads with his conservative boss, Nora Skoff (Sciorra), in this medical mystery thriller. Oh, did we mention they used to date? That'll complicate things, we bet.
Related Links
Fox
'Royal Pains'
Starring: Mark Feuerstein, Campbell Scott
Premieres: Thu., June 4, 10PM (USA)
Premise: The Hamptons: home to some of the richest people in America ... and the people who work for them. Hank Lawson (Feuerstein) is the latter, a doctor whose career hits a little snag (um, if you call getting blamed for the death of a hospital head honcho "little"), getting him demoted from hot-shot healthcare provider to on-call private practitioner for the wealthy -- and incredibly needy -- elite.
Related Links
USA Network
'Nurse Jackie'
Starring: Edie Falco, Eve Best, Peter Facinelli
Premieres: Mon., June 8, 10:30PM (Showtime)
Premise: Falco stars in this deeply dark comedy about an ER nurse whose cynical outlook on life is tempered only by the prescription painkillers she snorts -- and the occasional life she saves. Compared to Jackie, Carmela Soprano's a softie.
Related Links
Showtime
'Kendra'
Premieres: Sun., June 7, 10PM (E!)
Premise: 'Girls Next Door' alum Kendra Wilkinson gets her own reality show, focusing on life after living in the Playboy mansion and her engagement to football player Hank Baskett. There'll surely be plenty of Kendra's signature half-shirts and cutesy Elmer Fudd-style laugh to go around.
Related Links
Getty Images
'Top Chef Masters'
Premieres: Wed., June 10, 10PM (Bravo)
Premise: Anyone who thinks 'Top Chef' is full of amateurs or who only watches the show for its guest judges ... well, 'Top Chef Masters' is for you. This time around, the contestants are renowned chefs (as opposed to TV-famous chefs) such as Wylie Dufresne (pictured), Rick Bayless, Jonathan Waxman and Hubert Keller, all of them competing for charity. We can't wait to see what they'll make using only a pack of Chiclets and a hot plate.
Related Links
Getty Images
'Wedding Day'
Premieres: Tue., June 16, 8PM (TNT)
Premise: Think 'Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition.' Deserving couples from across the country are awarded the most amazing wedding celebrations by celebrity event planner Alan Dunn and wedding planner to the stars Diann Valentine.
Related Links
TNT
'Hawthorne'
Starring: Jada Pinkett Smith, Michael Vartan
Premieres: Tue., June 16, 9PM (TNT)
Premise: As the newest strong female lead in the TNT lineup, Pinkett Smith plays Christina Hawthorne, a tough-as-nails nurse who is determined to give every patient in her Richmond, Va., hospital the best care possible. Christina's got baggage -- she's a widower left raising a rebellious teenage daughter -- but she also has heart. And, of course, some chemistry with the head of oncology (Vartan).
Related Links
TNT
'Merlin'
Starring: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head
Premieres: Sun., June 21, 8PM (NBC)
Premise: Morgan and James star as Merlin and Arthur, respectively, in this teen-drama take on the Arthurian legend. The future king's ladylove, Guinevere, is called Gwen -- expect angst and romantic tension aplenty. Think of it as 'Camelot, 90210.'
Related Links
NBC
