Fast Facts

Title:The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Host: Ellen DeGeneres

DeeJay: Tony Okungbowa (Seasons 1 - 3, Present)

Former DeeJays:

• Jon Abrahams (Season 4)
• Ted Stryker (Season 5)

Personalities: Houston Rose (Season 1), crew members Jeff Cosgrave, Mary Connelly, Andy Lassner, "Robert," "Kevin," "Jim," and "Andy the Prize Guy."

Format: One-hour, traditional chat

Broadcast information: Daytime, in syndication.

Check your local listings.

Tapes: Weekdays, originating from Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, Calif.

Premiere Date: September 2003

Overview:

Like daytime talk shows of the '60s and '70s, The Ellen DeGeneres Show follows a standard daytime talk show format:

• 1. Open with a topical monologue. Ellen traditionally ends her monologue with a jazzy dance through the audience and to her set.
• 2. Follow with banter and a comedy bit from the set
• 3. First guest interview
• 4. Recurring comedy segment or a game with the audience
• 5. Second guest
• 6. Third guest, musical, or comedic final act

Since the show's debut in 2003, Ellen has kept the program light and happy. Her guests often remark that they love coming to her program because of its inviting atmosphere. And though moments of her life outside the program have skirted the edges of controversy (her homosexuality and her tumultuous relationship with actress Anne Heche, for example), Ellen never brings those aspects to the hour.

Ellen's guests are often A-listers either hawking a project or just sitting down to visit.

But Ellen also likes to put the spotlight on everyday people, inviting audience members to participate in games or featuring youngsters with unique talents. One season, she regularly checked in with a group of women driving cross country to see her show, and presently, senior Gladys Hardy dishes advices via phone from Texas.

Rather than a traditional announcer and band, Ellen employs a DeeJay who spins tunes and mixes music to break in and out of segments. For the first three seasons, this was actor/DeeJay Tony Okungbowa. He left to pursue his acting career, but has since returned.

Popular Segments:

Newsbreak! In a nod to fake news programs like The Daily Show, this comedy bit involved Ellen talking to a reporter "out in the field" about a breaking news item. As the bit comes to a close, it is revealed that Ellen and the reporter are only a few feet from one another.

Dancing. Ellen is well-known for her moments of spontaneous dancing, and guests will often get involved in the festivities.