Back in 2003, comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres debuted her own syndicated daytime talk show to great success. Now, over 15 years later, despite facing ratings competition from the likes of Dr. Phil, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Judge Judy, The Ellen DeGeneres Show (or Ellen for short) continues the same success as it remains one of the highest-rated daytime shows on TV. Besides interviewing, pranking, and playing games with various celebrity guests, Ellen also reaches out to audiences everywhere with her generous gifts, hilarious monologues, and groovy dancing, making this more than just another talk show, but a fun experience all its own.
However, while fans have had several years to get to know the layout of the show, there are still many who are unaware of the crazy details surrounding the show. Whether it be Ellen’s strict rules about show attendance, her various honors for hosting, or the show’s questionable future on the air (don’t ask, because we’re not ready to talk about it…yet), there are many interesting facts about Ellen that even some dedicated fans don’t know about. So, today, in honor of TV’s funniest, silliest, and most unpredictable (as well as one of its most beloved) shows, we’re going to count down some of the show’s wildest details, from Ellen’s battles with lawsuits and the Writers Guild of America to the one celebrity that was banned from the show.
Now that the opening monologue is finished, let’s take a look at 25 Wild Details About The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The Show Has Been Sued By Record Companies For Song Usage
As mentioned earlier, one of the show’s standout features is the dancing, which has been done to various pieces of music through the years. However, a 2009 lawsuit almost put an end to this when several recording companies, including Warner Bros. Records and Sony Music Entertainment, accused the show of using more than 1,000 songs without permission. When defendants for the show were questioned about not having licenses to use the songs, they replied that they didn’t “roll that way.”
While the suit has seemingly been taken care of, this wouldn’t be the last time the show was sued for a crazy reason (but we won’t talk about that here…).
One Celebrity Has Been Banned From Appearing
Though Ellen loves to see celebrities come on her show, award-winning gospel singer Kim Burrell’s invitation was taken away following a controversial sermon in 2016. While she was scheduled to appear on the show with Pharrell Williams to sing their song “I See a Victory” from the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures, Ellen tweeted that Burrell “will not be appearing on my show” after a video of the sermon surfaced.
Burrell was also dropped as an honoree for the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music event and had her Texas Southern University radio show, Bridging the Gap with Kim Burrell, canceled.
The Show Has Somewhat Strict Rules About Clothing
Yep, back to the rule book again. Attendees are not only required to upscale/trendy or business casual attire in bright colors (dressy jeans are allowed, but no black or white), but are also banned from wearing WB/Ellen apparel and shirts with huge logos, as well as coordinating their outfits.
Look no further than the rule’s final line, “We reserve the right to deny entrance to anyone inappropriately dressed,” for proof that this rule is taken seriously. But, hey, at least everyone will be looking their very best for the cameras.
Tom Hanks Is Responsible For The ‘Riff-Raff Room.’
Whether he’s donating an espresso machine to the White House press corps or tweeting photos of lost gloves, actor Tom Hanks is always trying to help out, and he definitely made use of his time on season 2 of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. While discussing the size of the show’s sound stage, Ellen revealed to Hanks that many guests without studio seats are allowed to watch the show in an offshoot area. When Hanks suggested using the word “riff-raff” to describe it, the name immediately stuck.
Thus, Ellen officially dubbed the area “The Tom Hanks Riff-Raff Room” (complete with a plaque featuring Hanks’ face), and, just like that, Tom Hanks became a part of Ellen history.
Ellen Has A Collection Of Celebrity Selfies
Ellen is well-known for her love of taking selfies, with the one she and several other celebrities took part in at the 86th Academy Awards currently standing at the third most-retweeted tweet of all time. However, it’s the ones she takes part in with various guests on the show that have a special place in her heart, and on the studio’s wall.
Yes, according to attendees of the show, there is a wall covered with selfies of Ellen and her guests that visitors can spot on their way to the seating area. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then this wall certainly has its share of stories to tell.
The Studio Is Often Cold
While Ellen’s outfits are well-regarded for their style, it seems she also wears them for warmth, as the show’s official website mentions the studio’s temperature is usually on the lower side. Unfortunately, hot food and drinks are only allowed in the show’s line and not inside the studio, so guests are advised to “bring a light jacket or sweater to stay warm.”
Though it may be a bit chillier than some attendees prefer, they’re sure to warm up whenever Ellen decides it’s the right time to dance (which is anytime).
Cameras Aren’t Allowed
Those attending The Ellen DeGeneres Show are expected to follow a certain set of rules (all of which are listed on the show’s website), and one of the biggest no-nos is having a camera.
Yes, Ellen understands that there are many who would love to take some pics to remember their time on the show, but it’s probably not gonna happen.
While attendees are allowed to bring cell phones with cameras, they must shut them off before coming into the studio. Though it may be tempting to sneak a few pics, remember that the show is “not responsible for any items that are confiscated.”
All Gifts Must Be Checked By Security
Since Ellen has so many adoring fans, it’s understandable that many would like to bring her a gift when they get to be on the show. While this is perfectly fine, attendees should keep in mind that they won’t be able to give their gifts to Ellen themselves.
Going back to the show’s rules, we find that any attendee with a gift must let a staff member know about it. After this, they will have to declare it upon reaching the security checkpoint. Yes, this may make the studio sound a bit like an airport, but these rules are made for good reason.
Several Celebrities Have Served As Guest Hosts
It might be Ellen’s show, but that doesn’t mean other celebrities have to miss out on the fun of hosting.
In a 2014 episode, Ellen was out sick, so Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Ellie Kemper filled in for her. Two years later, Miley Cyrus did the same. When Ellen took two days off in 2018, actors Sean Hayes and Kristen Bell each hosted a show in her place. Glee star Lea Michele took over for the season 15 finale (which happened to fall on her birthday) and Mario Lopez hosted some bonus episodes leading up to the next season. Sounds like Ellen’s got all the help she needs when she decides to take a break.
It Has Been Featured On Various Sitcoms
The Ellen DeGeneres Show has become a staple of daytime television, so it makes sense that it would appear in other shows, particularly sitcoms.
Way back in 2004, only a year after the show began, Bernie Mac got to be an Ellen guest on his sitcom, The Bernie Mac Show. The following year, everyone’s favorite fictional actor Joey Tribbiani made an appearance on Ellen to issue an apology to a past love in the second and final season of Friends spin-off, Joey. Recently, in season 10 of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper attended the show with geologist Bert Kibbler.
We can only hope Ellen and her show will keep crossing over into other shows in the future.
Ellen Has A Pre-Monologue Ritual
Fans who don’t frequently watch the show have probably seen Ellen throw a mint into the air and catch it in her mouth (sometimes) before beginning the show. While it may seem like a one-off thing to some, it’s actually a frequent occurrence on the show.
While Ellen likes to joke about the reasoning behind it online, according to Entrepreneur, she does it to keep her breath fresh for when she dances with attendees in the aisles and takes part in kisses with celebrity guests. Can’t argue with that logic.
It Has Won More Emmys Than The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show may hold a place in history as the highest-rated daytime talk show ever, but Ellen just so happens to have it beat in another category: Daytime Emmy Awards. After ending the show in 2011, Winfrey had racked up a total of 47 Emmys for her show. To this day, Ellen has been awarded a total of 59.
However, Winfrey did make the decision to stop submitting the show and herself for Emmy consideration back in 1999, so this is probably the main reason Ellen is able to have this bragging right (though, she has shown a bit of humility by taking herself out of consideration for Outstanding Talk Show Host).
Oprah Winfrey Appeared On The 1000th Show
Any show that makes it to 1,000 episodes deserves recognition, and Ellen got just that when fellow talk show host Oprah Winfrey appeared via satellite to congratulate her success in the 2009 episode. Not only that, but she also was pleased to tell her that she would appear alongside her on the holiday-themed cover of The Oprah Magazine‘s December issue.
Oprah definitely knows how to liven up an already-exciting environment (after all, Matthew McConaughey was the guest of honor for that particular show). But, don’t worry, the 2,000th show was even crazier.
Ellen Announced Her Engagement On The Show
Even though Ellen told Allure in 2005 that she hoped she and then-girlfriend Portia de Rossi would be “together the rest of our lives” (Source: THR), it would be until 2008 before they were able to tie the knot. When the same-gender marriage ban was overturned in California in 2008, DeGeneres announced her engagement to de Rossi on her show in May. The following month, DeGeneres officially proposed to her at the 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards before they were married two months later at their home in Beverly Hills.
The happy couple has remained together ever since, with de Rossi having her name legally changed to “Portia Lee James DeGeneres” in 2010.
Ellen’s Mom Is A Frequent Attendee
It always feels nice to have your family supporting you, and Ellen’s mom, Betty, is a prime example of this. Besides becoming an activist for rights and guest-starring on “The Puppy Episode” (the infamous Ellen episode where Ellen’s character, Ellen Morgan, came out), she is also a frequent audience member on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Ellen revealed in a Good Housekeeping interview that, following Betty’s divorce from her first husband when Ellen was 13, they became closer when they “kind of became roommates” in their apartment.
“She’s tougher than I am, I’d say,” she said.
The Stage Has Been Called “The Ellen Stage” Since The 2,000th Show
If the 1,000th show was crazy, the 2,000th show in 2015 was downright insane. Not only was Ellen surprised to have her first two guests, Jennifer Anniston and Justin Timberlake, return to the show, but she was honored in-person by Warner Brothers Television CEO Peter Roth with the official renaming of Stage 1 as “The Ellen Stage.” Anniston and Timberlake could barely contain their excitement as a video played of the official unveiling of the new name.
Needless to say, tears were shed by both fans and Ellen herself (and Timberlake, too, in a joking manner).
Sophia Grace And Rosie Have Their Own Movie
Many fans know that after gaining attention for their cover of Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” on YouTube, cousins Sophia Grace Brownlee and Rosie McClelland became recurring guests on the show, getting to interview numerous celebrities in their segment, “Tea Time with Sophia Grace & Rosie,” and correspond at red carpet events. So, obviously, the next step for the duo was a movie.
Released in 2014, Sophia Grace & Rosie’s Royal Adventure follows the girls on a mission to correspond a royal coronation in Switzerland.
However, the duo hasn’t stopped there as Sophia Grace went on to be a judge for ABC’s The Toy Box and release several music singles, while Rosie has begun her own solo career.
Khloé Kardashian Basically Confirmed Kylie Jenner’s Pregnancy In An Interview
Out of all the talk show hosts who can get secrets out of celebrities, Ellen is the queen. One of the greatest examples of this was when Khloé Kardashian appeared on a January 4, 2018 episode, and Ellen was eager to get a confirmation of her half-sister Kylie’s pregnancy. When asked about why Kylie wasn’t on the family’s 2017 Christmas card, Kourtney replied, “I don’t know! You’ll have to ask Kylie! Why don’t you get Kylie on the show?”
While this certainly wasn’t what attendees wanted to hear, Ellen replied to her that the look in her eyes gave it away. Her prediction proved correct, as Kylie gave birth to her first child, Stormi, a month later.
Attendees Receive $1,000+ Worth Of Prizes On Each Of The 12 Days Of Giveaways
For those looking to score some awesome prizes, Ellen’s annual 12 Days of Giveaways makes December the most wonderful time of the year to do so. Known already for her extraordinary generosity, Ellen really outdoes herself around the holidays by giving attendees different assortments of prizes for each of the 12 days. According to Sweepstakes Fanatics, last year resulted in $1,000 to $4,500 worth of prizes being given out each day.
Fans at home are also able to get in on the fun by entering the show’s sweepstakes, where a few lucky people can even win all 12 days’ worth of prizes. ‘Tis the season, indeed.
Ellen Defied The 2007 Writers Guild Of America Strike To Keep It Going
Many remember that from November 2007 to February 2008, thousands of film and TV screenwriters went on strike. Ellen, a member of the Writers Guild of America, was among the supporters. However, not long into the strike, Ellen crossed the picket line to continue taping the show, explaining to Chicago Tribune that she was informed that “no other daytime shows have shut down.”
After the Writers Guild of America, East made it clear that Ellen was unwelcome in New York, her representative responded that Ellen had “done nothing to violate the Writers Guild of America agreement” because she had “a contractual obligation to the affiliates to continue production.”
