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. 

[Celsius]

"For one entire minute in Ellen DeGeneres’s new Netflix special, DeGeneres receives a standing ovation for stating, “I’m a strong woman.”

 

more like a weak bloke

 

 

[Tarteso]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Ellen who?nevermind………

Degenerates 

Edited September 27 by Tarteso

[Tug]

4 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Degenerates 

Good one!

[bendejo]

She certainly doesn't need the $$$. 

She can do anything in the world if she's in good health, she's rich, her worst enemy is dead, she should just get a life.  She started in standup, she's going backwards, it's sad to see.

 

[LukKrueng]

She stopped being funny the minute she came out of the closet.

[bendejo]

36 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

She stopped being funny the minute she came out of the closet.

I used to see her on a TV show "At the Improv" in the 1980s that had people trying to make it as comics.  I guessed she was gay.  Why?  She was the only one who did not do any jokes regarding sex.

 

[JonnyF]

47 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

She stopped being funny the minute she came out of the closet.

 

Yeah, she used to be quite good looking as well. It's amazing how over the years people who are have a darkness on the inside end up resembling their inner demons. 

 

 

Makes me wonder what Markle will look like in 10 years. It's already started with her. 

[Cameroni]

Who would have thought the oh so nice Ellen de Generes was in reality such a horrible person. Goes to show how first impressions can be wrong

 

BuzzFeed News spoke to one current and 10 former employees on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, all of whom asked to remain anonymous, fearing retribution from the award-winning NBC daytime talk show and others in the entertainment industry. They said they were fired after taking medical leave or bereavement days to attend family funerals. 

 

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krystieyandoli/ellen-employees-allege-toxic-workplace-culture

[JonnyF]

31 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Who would have thought the oh so nice Ellen de Generes was in reality such a horrible person. Goes to show how first impressions can be wrong

 

BuzzFeed News spoke to one current and 10 former employees on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, all of whom asked to remain anonymous, fearing retribution from the award-winning NBC daytime talk show and others in the entertainment industry. They said they were fired after taking medical leave or bereavement days to attend family funerals. 

 

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krystieyandoli/ellen-employees-allege-toxic-workplace-culture

 

It's often the ones who make a show of how kind and compassionate they are that are the real nasty pieces of work.

 

Degeneres was a horrible bully in the workplace. Just like her "great friend" Markle.

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-keeps-quitting-prince-harry-meghan-markle-1235996963/

 

 

[paddypower]

4 hours ago, Tug said:

Ellen who?nevermind………

you beat me to it 🙂

 

[paddypower]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yeah, she used to be quite good looking as well. It's amazing how over the years people who are have a darkness on the inside end up resembling their inner demons. 

 

 

Makes me wonder what Markle will look like in 10 years. It's already started with her. 

''shag off'', Harry.

[Cameroni]

30 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

It's often the ones who make a show of how kind and compassionate they are that are the real nasty pieces of work.

 

Degeneres was a horrible bully in the workplace. Just like her "great friend" Markle.

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-keeps-quitting-prince-harry-meghan-markle-1235996963/

 

 

"Everyone’s terrified of Meghan,” claims a source close to the couple. “She belittles people, she doesn’t take advice. They’re both poor decision-makers, they change their minds frequently."

 

Something has gone wrong with parenting  in the post war  years, John Mearsheimer also lamented the strange decline in political leaders recognising the limits of power since the 1990s. 

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

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.

It didn't work for Roseanne Bar until she met MAGA and Tucker Carlson.

[NativeBob]

I enjoyed the show. Very sincere and professional. 

[newnative]

     What a load of BS.  Likely, I am in the minority but I find the whole 'mean boss' bruhaha to be much ado about absolutely nothing.  She's the boss.  She's paying your salary and she's responsible for you having a job in the first place, and continuing to have an income and a job to go to.   That means she is not required to be nice.  That means she can be demanding of her staff.  That means she can be tough.   That means she's not required to befriend every person working for her.   That means she doesn't have to pretend to like or care about everyone working for her.  Don't like it?   Quit.  There's the door.   It's the Ellen Show , not the Coffee Runner Show.   Not the Deputy Assistant Flunky Show.

     I have no doubt that some incidents happened and I also have no doubt that they were publicized greatly out of proportion to what actually happened by a few disgruntled staff members.  It bears remembering that her show was on for 19 years.  That's a long time--of course there were bound to be some incidents, disagreements, differences of opinion, arguments, stressful times, etc., in that many years of putting on a very high-pressure, daily show.   I doubt her management style was much different from what a man's would be in that same environment--but as a woman that still doesn't fly.   And, a gay woman . . . ?    Strong, tough man--admired.   Strong, tough woman--bitch.  

     What I find utterly laughable is the scorn for her, which does not seem to have abated much.  I imagine there's some resentful envy in there, too.  Apparently, she is 'shameless' for not showing quite enough remorse for being a tough boss, for not being friendly enough or caring enough to her employees.  Apparently, what remorse she has shown has been judged as being not sincere enough to satisfy the great unwashed of social media.   I imagine she's thinking, I really don't know why I need to do anything.   I totally agree.  

[JonnyF]

21 minutes ago, newnative said:

What a load of BS.  Likely, I am in the minority but I find the whole 'mean boss' bruhaha to be much ado about absolutely nothing.  She's the boss.  She's paying your salary and she's responsible for you having a job in the first place, and continuing to have an income and a job to go to.   That means she is not required to be nice.  That means she can be demanding of her staff.  That means she can be tough.   That means she's not required to befriend every person working for her.   That means she doesn't have to pretend to like or care about everyone working for her.

 

I think you will find that most people do not care that much about her being a horrible boss. Nobody likes a bully who abuses their power in the workplace but it's not like she murdered anyone. 

 

What people object to is the hypocrisy of her and the likes of Markle preaching about kindness, compassion, joy, love, empowerment, equality, respect etc. while reducing their underlings to tears with their tyranny as soon as the cameras are off.

 

It's the 2 faced hypocrisy that people find revolting. Me included. If she was honest about not giving a toss about anyone I'd actually have some respect for her. 

[CanadaSam]

I don't know about others, but I have always found, that when I'm nice to people, they are invariably nice to me.

 

Not only that, but when I help people, God somehow finds a way to help me, when and if I need it.

 

IF the entire world lived like that, I think this would be paradise.

[KhunLA]

Never really watched her show, big surprise.   Little I knew, she come off as a hypocrite.

 

Saying that, the trailer looks good ...

 

 

[newnative]

47 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I think you will find that most people do not care that much about her being a horrible boss. Nobody likes a bully who abuses their power in the workplace but it's not like she murdered anyone. 

 

What people object to is the hypocrisy of her and the likes of Markle preaching about kindness, compassion, joy, love, empowerment, equality, respect etc. while reducing their underlings to tears with their tyranny as soon as the cameras are off.

 

It's the 2 faced hypocrisy that people find revolting. Me included. If she was honest about not giving a toss about anyone I'd actually have some respect for her. 

     Not my take, but I respect your viewpoint.  I think she mostly did 'give a toss'--but not every waking minute of every day of the 19 years of her show.  So, cancel her.  Also not buying Markle being a horrible tyrant, either.  I think both are victims of some 'underlings', frankly, not really knowing their place in the workplace hierarchy--and seizing on, and likely blowing up, a few instances of perhaps poor behavior to 'get at' the boss.  I do wonder if reprimanding an employee is now considered poor behavior by a boss, who is not being 'kind' and 'loving'.  Maybe only if they are female and named Markle.   Or, a certain magazine editor wearing Prada.

     We're seeing the same thing with Harris--some stories of staff turnover.   She must be the dreaded 'difficult to work with'.  Can't have that, at least not in a woman.  Note: If an 'underling is reduced to tears', likely they are the wrong person for a demanding, high-pressure job and should look for something more suitable to their delicate temperament.  Perhaps teaching flower arranging.  

     These days, with social media so pervasive, a few negative stories, true or not, can easily leave a false, unfair impression.  I think that is mostly the case with both women, with some envy and jealousy thrown in for good measure.   I re-read some of the Ellen workplace stories and found myself thinking, what's the big deal.  Pretty thin, watery gruel to feast on considering 19 years of workplace behavior involving hundreds of workers to dissect and find fault with.  The sole possibly serious charge I noticed involved alleged sexual harassment or other questionable behavior by three male producers, who were fired.  

     People are human, they aren't perfect.  If a celebrity chooses to use their public position to try to both promote and to  try to be kind, compassionate, etc., I don't think it's hypocrisy if they aren't always successful in practicing what they preach.   And, it is certainly not hypocrisy, in my book, to believe and promote love, joy, etc., as important things to strive for in general, but also be focused, in the workplace as a boss running a business, on other important things--like keeping the business afloat.   Ellen did that for 19 years, keeping her show at or near the top of the ratings, not an easy thing by any means.  And, at the same time, keeping her workers employed, including, it seems, some rather resentful, ungrateful ones. 

[Jingthing]

Americans love to see celebrities crash.

[Cryingdick]

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Americans love to see celebrities crash.

Especially celebs that are this widely despised. 

[GammaGlobulin]

She is just too......TOMish....for me.....

 

Also, she has always reminded me of ......

 

This guy:

Edited September 27 by GammaGlobulin

[AlwaysThere]

On 9/27/2024 at 7:50 AM, CanadaSam said:

I don't know about others, but I have always found, that when I'm nice to people, they are invariably nice to me.

 

Not only that, but when I help people, God somehow finds a way to help me, when and if I need it.

 

IF the entire world lived like that, I think this would be paradise.

 

No good deed goes unpunished came from where?