Episode 8
Ellen DeGeneres
You probably know Ellen, since her show is named The Ellen Show. She's a household name now, but there was a time when she wasn't. Ellen sits down with Dax and gives the quickest Armchair Expert episode ever. We learn about her ups and downs in her early career, and how she became the biggest thing since Oprah.
What's this all about?
Ellen sits down with Dax and goes over the early part of her career, and how her career changed when she came out as a lesbian. She stands up for herself and her sexuality, and ultimately wins over America with her charming wit. It’s a short episode, but a sweet one and you can listen to it here.
What did they say?
- @2:56 “As I got a little more confident, a little better and had material. I was happier with the silence.” Ellen discusses her influences like Bob Newhart, Woody Allen and Steve Martin. She explains her brand of comedy and how she is able to deal with the silence.
- @4:44 “I moved into this basement apartment that I was sleeping on a mattress on the floor and it was infested by fleas.” Ellen talks about how she came up with the “Calling Up God” idea. It involves a tragic accident with her then girlfriend and fleas.
- @9:14 “And how did you end up on Carson?” Ellen talks about her journey getting onto Carson. It involves Sinbad winning a stand-up competition, Charo and Ellen’s Calling up to God bit.
- @17:30 “You have had boyfriends?” Dax and Ellen discuss her past relationships with males. Dax points out that guys get really gross as they get older.
- @19:07 “They finally let me come out.” Ellen talks about what happened when she came out during her sitcom. She details the aftermath and the eventual rebirth of her career.
- @22:54 “So I wrote The Beginning” Ellen starts the rebirth of her career. How it was hard to get straight people to attend her shows at first because of the idea that she was performing “gay comedy”. Ellen becomes a leader within the gay community without actually wanting the title.
- @29:26 “I think every lesbian was looking at me like meerkats.” Ellen discusses how she was viewed as a pioneer for lesbian celebrities and how all of their eyes were on her.
- @33:34 “We’ll kiss one day.” Dax tries to convince Ellen that they will one day kiss. It doesn’t work out.
These are the facts...
- @34:18 The Fact Check begins
- Ellen MC’ed at Clyde’s Comedy Club in New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s now called Deja Vu.
- Sinbad wore Harem pants. Dax may or may not have seen Sinbad in a carpet store while filming something.
- Charo is from Spain.
- Unlike Ellen, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carrey were not called over to the couch on the Tonight Show during their first time there.
- 19.43 million avg. watched Carson’s last week.
- Drew Carey was getting $750,000 per episode of The Drew Carey Show.
- Dax goes in-depth into talking about the 4th step and how he believes it can help anyone, not just those in the AA program. It’s a great listen.
Sponsors
@20:55 ZipRecruiter is the first official sponsor of the Armchair Expert.