Ellen DeGeneres, a shameless return to standup that's unfunny

[Social Media]

 

In Ellen DeGeneres’s Netflix special, *For Your Approval*, she addresses the fallout of her talk show’s abrupt end and the backlash surrounding allegations of her off-camera behavior. Despite the potential for self-reflection, DeGeneres instead offers a peculiar, self-pitying performance that feels more like a missed opportunity than a sincere farewell. The special, which she calls her final stand-up appearance, leaves viewers questioning whether she has truly absorbed any lessons from the controversy.

 

"She sounds like Meghan Markle!"

"She sounds like Meghan Markle!"

Piers Morgan's panel discuss Ellen DeGeneres justifying her bullying behaviour... by pointing out she's a woman.

📺 https://t.co/vXew6NHe63@KatTimpf | @emilyraustin | @LouiseMensch | @piersmorgan pic.twitter.com/DHanDxVkss

— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) September 25, 2024

 

It all started in 2020 when a Twitter comedian from Los Angeles pledged to donate two dollars for every “insane story” shared about DeGeneres being "mean." The response was overwhelming, with countless stories emerging of her supposed behind-the-scenes behavior. Six hundred dollars later, the queen of daytime television was painted not as a beloved figure, but as something closer to “Satan in sneakers”—a tyrant who hid her true nature behind a smile and a friendly demeanor.

 

The Intro

the intro to the new ellen special is soo ridiculous pic.twitter.com/MkeWLMP7XA

— sam (@samxmcgowan) September 24, 2024

 

Four years later, *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* is off the air, its end precipitated by a workplace misconduct investigation. DeGeneres herself stepped out of the spotlight, admitting to emotions like sadness and frustration, but consistently denied outright cruelty. The whole saga seems like a bizarre conclusion to a storied career in show business, especially for someone who had long symbolized queer visibility and respectability in mainstream America.

 

One might have expected that DeGeneres would use this moment to truly reflect. After more than three decades in the industry, perhaps she would finally shed the polished, inoffensive persona and offer a more candid take on her experiences. Instead, *For Your Approval* follows a different path. Rather than introspection or vulnerability, the special finds DeGeneres asserting that it was everyone else who got it wrong. In a performance that is, at times, bafflingly unfunny, she casts herself as an unfairly maligned victim.

 

The special feels artificial, partly due to the fact that the audience seems pre-selected, filled with known supporters. Oprah Winfrey is seen laughing in the crowd, and a huge cheer erupts when DeGeneres mentions her show’s executive producer, Andy Lassner—a figure few people outside her inner circle would recognize. This curated environment suggests that DeGeneres remains insulated from the criticism that ultimately ended her talk show, unable or unwilling to bridge the growing gap between herself and her audience.

 

Much of the comedy in *For Your Approval* falls flat. DeGeneres leans on familiar, mundane observations, with long bits on parking and windshield wipers that fail to land. But even more frustrating is the way she addresses the controversy head-on. Early in the special, DeGeneres tells the audience, “I got kicked out of show business because I’m mean,” before quickly brushing off the accusation with the quip, “And you can’t be mean and be in show business.” Yet, there’s no attempt to grapple with the reasons behind her fall from grace. Instead, she suggests it’s simply a matter of gendered double standards, where strong-willed men are seen as decisive, while women in positions of power are expected to be kind and accommodating.

 

DeGeneres declares herself “honest, generous, sensitive, thoughtful... tough, impatient, and demanding,” and the moment feels like a performance in itself—an attempt to reclaim control over her narrative without actually confronting her critics' claims. By the end of the set, the audience is left with the sense that DeGeneres views herself as the real victim, undone by an unfair and fickle public.

 

The most jarring element of the special is how DeGeneres draws a parallel between her current situation and the period in the late 1990s when she came out as gay and subsequently lost her sitcom. At the time, her career took a nosedive due to widespread homophobia. Now, DeGeneres seems to conflate that period of her life with the backlash she faced recently, as though both were driven by the same forces. This is a strange comparison, as one was undeniably rooted in prejudice, while the other is tied to allegations of toxic behavior.

 

Ultimately, *For Your Approval* presents DeGeneres as an unimpeachable figure who has learned little from the accusations leveled against her. The special feels more like an exercise in deflection than a sincere farewell, framing her departure from the public eye as a loss for her audience, rather than an opportunity for personal growth.

 

Based on a report from: The Independent  2024-09-27

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

I don't know about you guys but I sure don't plan on watching this thing, she is so far off my radar I don't think I've ever watched her show once in my life. 

[Tug]

Ellen who?nevermind………

[stoner]

she's trash. 

[JonnyF]

Just another fake #bekind Liberal, playing the victim and hiding behind immutable characteristics.

 

A real nasty piece of work once the cameras go off. 

[Celsius]

[stoner]

3 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

nice. can you check usher's account see if there is anything similar.