Recently in Ellen DeGeneres Category

Portia de Rossi has been in the spotlight in recent years mostly as the girlfriend and now wife of Ellen DeGeneres. But of course Portia is a wonderful actress and veteran of both "Ally McBeal" and "Arrested Development." Now she's set to co-star in the new ABC comedy series "Better Off Ted." Here is a portion of a press conference she was a part of for the show at today's session of the Television Critics Assn. Tour:

Q. Do you think Ellen will pop up on your show?
Portia: I think there is more chance of me popping up on her show. Unfortunately, I say unfortunately because it seems like a very awkward kind of interview. She will make it flawless. I am happy to talk about the show, so I am happy to go on her show and talk about it, I just hope she won't ask any personal questions. That is off limits.

Q. What are you going to do for your wedding anniversary [August 17]?
Portia: It is going to be something that I can do for Ellen, because she took care of the anniversary of us being together last year and it was amazing. I want to do something special, so if you have any ideas, let me know.

Q. How has marriage changed your life?
Portia: It is a very different way of being together. There is a peace to it and a sense of togetherness we didn't have before. I didn't realize it would change as much as it has, but it is so lovely.

Q. What was unexpected about marriage?
Portia: The ability to get married legally and to have my family, my mother especially, when I say the word wife, because it is legal and so there is that kind of formality to it, that makes it very lovely. We are very much a partnership and team. That wasn't surprising, but the emotions that went with that as a gay woman -- that I would be that relieved to have my mother be present at the ceremony and bless the union and to call Ellen her daughter-in-law.

Q. Any plans for Valentine's Day?
Portia: A lot of pressure today. I tell you what happens with our lives. We have our anniversary of when we got together, then we have Christmas, her birthday, my birthday and then Valentine's day and by the end of that whole thing, we are exhausted and broke.

This is a hoot!

I've got no idea what's up with these outfits but maybe we'll find out on today's "Ellen DeGeneres Show" when Britney Spears is the guest.

It was unimaginable that Britney would have been able to do something like this a year ago when she was still so deeply troubled and erratic. Now she seems to have it together - at least outwardly - and is once again a big star. It's the fastest comeback in history!

The world's most famous and popular lesbian comic (sorry Rosie) will host "Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show" on TBS tonight at 9/8c. She hosted "Ellen's Really Big Show" a year ago so this one is even bigger, get it?

Here's what is promised via the TBS site: Live music, dancers and a boatload of specialty acts will be showcased in this throwback to variety shows of the past. Here is Ellen in a fun promo.

Here is more from the conference call I participated in yesterday with Ellen DeGeneres about her upcoming variety show "Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show" to air on TBS on Nov. 29 and which will tape next week in Las Vegas. It follows last year's special that was called "Ellen's Really Big Show."

"It's even bigger as the title says," Ellen said. "I think that says it all. Last year was really, really big and this year, even bigger. It's gonna be the same kind of excitement, the same kind of acts. We brought in people from all over the world who are fascincating to watch."

On her favorite things to do in Las Vegas, where the special will be taped: "Well, the buffet...I'm vegan so I'll just have salad but still, it's still a bargain."

TBS tried in vain to keep the questions to just the special but the ,majority of them were about other topics and Ellen answered all that was asked of her by me and other journlaists.

Here are some of the highlights:

Was she surprised at how much play clips from her show with guests like Barack Obama, John McCain and her own comments on gay marriage got on the various news channels?
"No. You know I guess when you get the political candidates to dance - well actually one danced, that's going to get some play. I mean, I have the picture of Barack and I dancing right outside of my dressing room door, I see it every single day, and it makes me very happy. No, I wasn't that surprised about that. I was thrilled for it, and really proud and excited as a lot of people are about this. And you know I don't think, I will. I mean, I commented on it a tiny bit leading up to the election just because there were some things to comment on, but I'm not really a political comedian. So I think I'm done with that. And you know although I never say never, I don't think I will be commenting.

On how she thinks John McCain feels about her after she put him on the hot seat over gay marriage when he guested on the show: "Well, I don't think we're going to keep in touch anyway. I mean, I would be glad to take a call from him, he seems like a nice guy. That was a moment that was an obvious question for me to ask, if he doesn't really agree with equality, and that's what it really boils down to is equality. And so - but I didn't want to - you know I wasn't going to give him too hard of a time because I understand that that's how he believes and I wasn't going to change anything, I wasn't there to change his mind, I just wanted to present just a very obvious case for it which is, we are all the same and we all deserve to have equal rights. But - and I am glad that I got picked up. I am glad people watched it and, like I said, I didn't want him to - I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. That's not my job. It's not the kind of show I ever want to do.

On her dream talk guests: "Bono. He's an amazing man. And George Clooney of course. We're gonna capture him one day. And now I want Keith Olbermann on just because I love him, I think he's brilliant."

On possibly hosting the Academy Awards again: "It's a really tough job and I thought I did well. Now if I did it and do well, then great. And if I don't do well, then I'm kind of talked about and criticized. There's a lot going on in my life and I probably won't do it again. I kind of feel like my plate is full."

On having children: "We have a lot of friends who have babies and they're amazing and change your life. There was a time we were thinking about it, I don't know. Today it's no...and that's one of the things about not being able to accidentally get pregnant. You have to really, really want (a baby). So we're not taking it lightly. We would really think about it before we did it."

On her post-Prop. 8 passage mood: "I live my life in gratitude for the most part. The other day what happened was sad to me but everything happens for a reasons and it has caused this movement of people standing up and saying, 'This isn't fair."

On famous people coming out: "It's a big risk for people to have a big career and come out.,. But it would change things if people would live their lives., It's healthier for them. I have faith that people will open their minds and their hearts."

The conference call with Ellen DeGeneres to talk about her upcoming TBS comedy special had been on the books for weeks. Who knew then that Prop. 8 would pass and end up dominating the conversation?

Of course we were warned that Ellen would only discuss the special but she was game for just about anything. When it was my turn to ask some questions, I mentioned that she sounded a little more subdued than usual and wondered if the election had taken a toll.

"I feel good, I feel really good," she insisted. "I think the next day (after the election) a lot of people felt energized about Obama and excited for that then there was that big, loud voice saying, 'You are not equal to us' and that feels bad - really, really bad. A loud voice saying, 'You don't deserve the same rights.' So it took a little bit of air out of me from the night before.

":I feel hopeful and excited and I'm not tired or anything," she added. "But it was an emotional day for me."

During the course of the campaign, Ellen had both presidential candidates, President-Elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain on her show as well as vice President-elect Joe Biden. She also made several statements against Prop. 8. I asked her if she had suffered any viewer or advertiser backlash as a result of her political views.

"i think I'm probably protected from a lot of stuff that would be negative," she said. "Everyone is blogging about everyone so I can't possibly pay attention to that. I'm sure there are straight managers in certisan markets who aren't really thrilled with it. They probably would vote yes on 8. I'm sure they have opinions and don't really love me any which way I go. So I can't really pay attention to that."

Earlier in the call, Ellen talked about the heartfelt commentary about gay marriage that Keith Olbermann gave on his MSNBC show the other night. She talked about on her show and wants to have him on as a guest.

________________________________________________________________

"I thought Keith Olbermann was so brilliant and eloquent. I just
thought what he said is all that needs to be said, It really is about following your heart and people paying attention to what the right thing is."
________________________________________________________________

Ellen has been following the various protests that have sprung up since election day what needs to happen for same-sex marriage to be accepted: "Hopefully, (the protests) will be done peacefully and the right way. It needs for people to not be ignorant. It needs for people to open their minds and understand it's a fundamental right for people to love who they want to love and to marry who they want to marry and stop holidng on to that discrimination ...I have faith that people will realize that this is wrong."

Tomorrow: Ellen on her TBS variety special, on hosting the Oscars and how she and wife Portia de Rossi feel about having kids.

Ellen DeGeneres (pictured with wife Portia de Rossi) says she is "saddened beyond belief" by the passage of Prop. 8. She has released a statement to the Associated Press that she: "like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step toward equality" by electing Barack Obama as president. But with the passage of Proposition 8, "we took a giant step away."

Ellen says she will "continue to speak out for equality for all of us."

Let's face it, there's a lot of gloom and doom out there right now between the economy, the ugliness of the presidential election and the ferociousness of the pro-Prop. 8 forces.
But watching this video made me forget about it all for about five minutes and see if it does the same for you. It's Hillary Swank guesting on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and it is priceless stuff!

Ellen is a happening gal. But you already know that!

The Associated Press reports that at the end of a long campaign day Tuesday in Florida, Democrat Barack Obama had one more stop: "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Ellen got right down to business: "Let's talk about dancing," she said. "Your wife, Michelle, was on the show and she was talking some smack about your moves."

The AP writes: Ellen played music and gave Obama 20 seconds to prove his spouse wrong. He complied, albeit in a decidedly awkward set of circumstances -- standing alone on a patch of concrete and looking into cameras that were to beam him into the studio, as supporters and reporters watched. He gamely grooved a little, though mostly with his arms, before calling off the operation with a smile.

"Michelle may be a better dancer, but I am convinced I am a better dancer than John McCain," Obama said of his Republican rival.

The interview is scheduled to air Wednesday.

Ellen DeGeneres is helping to make a big difference in the fight to defeat Prop. 8, the initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in California. Here is a new message Ellen has posted on her show's website:

Don't Discriminate -- No on 8!
Hey everybody. There're only a couple weeks left before we vote. In California there's a proposition that's trying to take away my right to be married. And if it passes, my marriage will probably no longer be valid.

The supporters of Proposition 8 have raised more than $25 million just to discriminate against same-sex couples who want to get married. That's a lot of money.

I can think of 25 million other uses for all that money:

- How about paying teachers more?
- What about helping those people who just lost their homes in the recent fires?
- How about buying a pony for every child in California? How much fun would that be?!

Don't let them convince you that discrimination is okay just because they can pay for a commercial. It's wrong. Please vote NO ON PROPOSITION 8! I'm begging you. If you vote no on Prop 8, I'll buy you a pony.

Ellen DeGeneres once again has shown that her popular talk show, which is watched in so many places around the country, is the best weapon she has in combating bigortry. In the video above, Ellen talks about GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin's recent remarks that she is in favor of a federal ban on same-sex marriage.

Here is the test of Ellen's very touching and sometimes funny remarks:
"Basically (Palin) wants to change the constitution. So if you're wondering how I feel about it, I don't like it...Maybe it's just because I'm gay that I think we should all be equal, but I feel that we're all created equal."

"People are going to be who they're going to be and we need to learn to love them for who they are and let them love who they want to love."

Well said Ellen!

Let's be clear, I hate that Barack Obama and Joe Biden officially are opposed to same-sex marriage. They are pro civil unions (gee, thanks) Bujt I understand the political realities and that it's a hot-button issue the campaign does not want to have to defend. And so, nice to see Biden speak out against Proposition 8 at a fundraiser in West Hollywood last night:

My pal Ted Johnson writes on his Wilshire & Washingtoin blog:
At the event, Biden told IN Los Angeles magazine journalist Karen Ocamb that he opposes Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage in California. He had just finished taping an episode of "The Ellen Show" that will air Monday, and expressed his opposition to the measure to host Ellen DeGeneres.

At the vice presidential debate with Sarah Palin, Biden said that he opposes same-sex marriage. Obama holds the same position, but also has said he opposes Proposition 8, citing the fact that it would write a restriction into a state constitution.

Here's some of an ABC News report from his appearance on Ellen's show set to air Monday: As Biden entered to David Bowie's "Changes", DeGeneres quipped, welcoming the Democratic vice presidential candidate the same way his Republican counterpart did at the onset of their October 2 debate: "Can I call you Joe?"

"Yeah, as long as you wink at me," Biden replied.

Biden also hit out at Plain for turning down an offer for a second vice presidential debate.

"Gov. Palin said she'd like to debate me more," Biden said. "Coincidentally, we'd been asked by a national police group if we'd each appear in a debate and I agreed to do that and she decided not to do that."

Biden also told DeGeneres, who recently married actress Portia de Rossi, that he opposed Proposition 8, an amendment on California's November ballot which would amend the state constitution to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman.

"If I lived in California, I'd clearly vote against Prop 8," Biden said.

There were those who were critical of Ellen DeGeneres for not writing a big check to the NI on Prop. 8 campaign. The beloved talk show host, newly married to Portia de Rossi, has responded in a big way: The campaign announced today that Ellen has made a media buy to urge Californians to vote NO on Proposition 8.

The effort was partially revealed Tuesday when Ellen released a special video to confront false and misleading scare tactics used by those supporting the proposition. DeGeneres is purchasing television time for her ad to underscore the importance of this fight and broaden the reach of the spot.

A familiar face like Ellen, so popular across the board, is so needed in commercials to combat the very effective ads that have had an impact on the polls. It's a dogfight until election day but those who favor equal rights for gays and lesbians in this state have got to feel like there is a real fighting chance of beating back the challenge.

"In her desire to speak directly to the people of California, Ellen has stepped up as only Ellen can," said Patrick Guerriero, Campaign Director. "Her voice has a tremendous ability to elevate this conversation above the scare tactics and help people understand what's at stake for the people they know and care about. Her generous contribution to the campaign comes just at the right moment - and is done in a way that ensures her conversation with voters continues to Election Day. And it delivers our message that Proposition 8 is unfair and just plain wrong."

Ellen's video can be viewed on line at: www.NoOnProp8.com

"Fair-minded Californians agree that we should not eliminate the fundamental rights of our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers and our family members," said Kate Kendell, Executive Director of National Center for Lesbian Rights. "Like Ellen, fair-minded Californians are going to vote no on Prop 8."

This is something that is so needed. Ellen DeGeneres in a spot urging people to vote no on Proposition 8, citing her personal story, belief in equality and mentioning the millions the opposition has raised to air all those "twisted" commercials. I hope to see this spot airing on television as much as those other ones!

This is what Ellen says in the spot:

Hi, I'm Ellen DeGeneres. I got to do something this year I never thought I'd ever be able to do: I got married. It was the happiest day of my life.

Please, please, vote NO on Prop. 8.

The NO on Prop 8 campaign, Equality for All, today thanked Ellen for releasing the video to confront what they say are the false and misleading scare tactics being used by the proponents of Prop 8.

"Ellen DeGeneres is someone Californians know and respect," said Patrick Guerriero, Campaign Director. "Her voice has a tremendous ability to elevate this conversation above the scare tactics and help people understand what's at stake for the people they know and care about."

I have some mixed feelings about this letter but if it helps to raise more money in the fight against Proposition 8, it will be worth it. I just want to say that I believe Ellen DeGeneres has done more for visibility of gay marriage than just about anybody because of the widespread coverage of her wedding to Portia de Rossi. I'm not sure she should be criticised.

Anyway, graduate student Jacob Reitan, former director of Equality Ride, has written this letter to Ellen and it has been posted on Advocate.com which added this editor's note: According to the California secretary of state's campaign finance records, as of last Friday, Ellen DeGeneres -- like some other gay celebrities -- has not donated to the campaign to beat Proposition 8. Her publicist didn't return calls seeking comment.
Dear Ellen,

Jacob Reitan

I missed Ellen DeGeneres on Jay Leno last night (I was watching Charlie Rose and don't realize she;d be on). But here's a clip and I also have a bit of a transcript from my pal Karen Ocamb:

Jay Leno - "I don''t get it. If two people want to have something together....the economy is falling apart.

Ellen - "That's exactly right. There are ...I just think that... I look at the people who are losing their homes and they're foreclosing - and people in Texas who have lost homes....there are so many people that need money right now - and if you're raising millions of dollars - give it to those people because you don't need to promote hate. So
No on 8 everybody."

Jay - "There's so little love in the world - I know it's corny - but God belss them...I think if two people want to be together - what do I care?"

Ellen - "Well, I don't think that's corny to say there's not enough love in ther world because it's true and we're going through hard times right now. .."

Ellen DeGeneres says marriage to Portia de Rossi changed her life for the better.

"My heart just feels a little bit different, softer and somehow more in love," she told the Associated Press in an interview for anti-cancer messages she recently recorded. "I don't know how. But it just feels really romantic and lovely. I just feel really blessed." .

Ellen admitted that she has had to make one or two adjustments: "I keep saying 'my girlfriend,' but I have to go to 'wife,'"

Ellen has recorded a collection of phone messages doubling as health wake-up calls for women. The messages are part of October's national breast cancer awareness drive.

"I went into a studio and recorded a million different (versions): 'Hi, this is Ellen DeGeneres and your sister told me to remind you that it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month,'" she said. " 'Your teacher told me to call you,' 'Your neighbor told me to call you,' 'Your cousin,' 'Your mother.'"

Newlywed Ellen DeGeneres, who married Portia de Rossi last month, has posted this message on her show's website:

My Political Point... And I Do Have One
You know how usually I talk about cell phones or kitty cats or cheese pizza... well, this is sorta like that... without the cell phones, the cats, or the pizza.

There's a California Proposition on the ballot that's a little confusing. It's Proposition 8. It's called, "The California Marriage Protection Act" -- but don't let the name fool you. It's not protecting anyone's marriage. Not yours. Not mine.

The wording of Prop 8 is tricky. It's like if someone asked you, "You don't want dessert, right?" But you do want dessert so you say, "Yes," which really means you don't want dessert. And if you say, "No," which means you do want dessert -- it sounds like you don't. Either way, you don't get what you want. See -- confusing. Just like Prop. 8.

So, in case I haven't made myself clear, I'm FOR gay marriage. And in order to protect that right -- please VOTE NO on Proposition 8. And now that you're informed, spread the word. I'm begging you. I can't return the wedding gifts -- I love my new toaster

Ellen DeGeneres is so many things Emmy winning talk show host, American Express spokeswoman, wife to Portia de Rossi. Now Ellen is going where no 50-year-old lesbian has ever gone before: she is the newest face for CoverGirl cosmetics, it was announced this week.

How great is THAT?

Ellen talked about her new glamorous gig on her talk show Wednesday: "They're putting some lip liner on me--man they love lip liner. Man, they love lip liner. [The makeup artist] was just there for lip liner. I am very, very excited about it. It's a very cool thing, I'm honored, and the photo shoot was 'Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, CoverGirl.'"

Ellen's campaign is scheduled to debut in magazines and on television by January 2009.

NOTE: The photo is from an unrelated shoot some time ago. I just thought it was kinda cool.

I'm really glad they've done this story. We've all been so busy basking in the glow of the Ellen DeGeneres-Portia de Rossi wedding that we haven't really paused to realize that it was treated much like any other celebrity nuptials. Here is an excerpt from The Advocate's new cover piece by Michele Kort

It was an archetypal People celebrity wedding featuring two of the beautiful people, one in pants and the other in a gown, and a dreamy setting with flowers, champagne, candlelight, the whole romantic nine yards. No expense spared, no fabulous purveyor left unmentioned. (Mark's Garden! Zac Posen! Neil Lane!) The only thing missing: a groom.

And that's what was most amazing about the August 16 marriage of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi: People and other mainstream celebrity news sources didn't treat the event much differently than they would, say, the arrival of Brangelina's next children. CNN.com did headline the word "marry" in scare quotes, but the blogosphere outcry forced the site to make a quick edit. Other than that there seemed to be no backlash from the mainstream media or public.

Here is a LINK to the story...

I can't think of a better thing to use in the fight against Proposition 8. Love is a beautiful thing...The top video is all wedding while the bottom video is Ellen on her show yesterday introducing it and reflecting on the momentous day in her life.