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A long, long, long time ago there use to be a late night talk show that was hosted by a guy named Johnny Carson. Carson owned late night television and provided the springboards for Jay Leno, David Letterman and almost all of the most recognized names in stand up comedy and late night television. That's how Ellen DeGeneres made it. She has been heralded as the very first female stand up comic that got invited to join the other guest on Johnny's "couch." Nothing has got in the way since.
The New Orleans native DeGeneres started her routines as a defensive mechanism to standing in front of a large crowd - just talking. People immediately noticed her talent and rye wit. In fact, her brother – the creator of the Mr. Bill clay figure on Saturday Night Live – was suppose to be the funny one in the family. DeGeneres has passed him by in warp speed.
Ellen started with her own sitcom, similarly named, in 1994. With a four-year, award winning but turbulent run, the show was canceled in 1998. The Ellen showed introduced gay theme lined plots that raised a hardy ruckus with some audience members and ultimately the advertisers.
The for next five years, DeGeneres concentrated her talent on the silver screen. She appeared in a string of successful movies, including Mr. Wrong, EdTV with Mathew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson and If These Walls could Talk with Sharon Stone.
Ultimately, she heeded her calling and returned to television in 2003 as the host of her own daytime television variety and talk show. The award came chasing after as she accumulated Emmys, Peoples Choice Awards and multiple requests to host Award show telecasts.
Of course in her spare time DeGeneres has cranked out a number of books. The titles include My Point...and Do I Have on and the 2004 best seller, The Funny Thing Is....
