Product Description

One of America's funniest women returns to the small screen in ELLEN: THE COMPLETE SEASON FOUR, which includes all 25 critically acclaimed episodes of the landmark season that made entertainment history. As thirty-something Ellen Morgan, DeGeneres plays a neurotic Los Angeles bookstore owner who manages to get through her daily follies and foibles with the help of her loyal, lovable friends. Overflowing with humor, warmth, and wit, ELLEN serves up ample laughs and offbeat goofiness while also bravely confronting contemporary social issues. The groundbreaking SEASON FOUR includes the famous two-part episode in which Ellen comes out. In short, ELLEN is sitcom comedy at its very best. The star-studded ELLEN: THE COMPLETE SEASON FOUR includes guest appearances by Anne Rice, Trisha Yearwood, Queen Latifah, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Oprah Winfrey, Melissa Etheridge, and many more! DVD Features: Audio Commentary with Writers of "The Puppy Episode"; Cast Biographies; Interactive Menu; Scene Selection

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13601 in DVD
• Brand: A&E HOME ENT.
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: .70 pounds
• Running time: 575 minutes

Features

• The first TV vehicle for the many talents of comedienne Ellen DeGeneres came in the form of the half-hour sitcom ELLEN. The show lasted for four years, and firmly established DeGeneres in the hearts and minds of the American public. Ellen played a bookstore employee who regularly has to deal with her irritating parents, her best friends Paige (Joely Fisher) and Adam (Arye Gross), and a variety of

Amazon.com
Ellen: The Complete Season Four includes a significant moment in television history: the first time the central character in a situation comedy stepped out of the closet and announced she was gay. The widely-seen "The Puppy Episode Part 1" and "Part 2," closely followed by "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah," were among the final episodes that season. All dealt movingly and comically with the anxiety Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres) experiences as she tells her friends, parents, and the world she is gay, a distress quickly washed away by relief. Helping celebrate the event are a number of famous faces in co-starring or cameo roles, including Oprah Winfrey as Ellen’s therapist, Laura Dern as a gay woman who helps Ellen come to terms with the truth, Billy Bob Thornton as a grocery clerk in a nutty dream, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. laing, Gina Gershon and others. Part of the fun of watching the 25 episodes on The Complete Season Four are discovering little signs along the way that DeGeneres is planning something big, including a sight gag where Ellen literally steps out of a closet. But there are other tumultuous (yet funny) storylines unfolding in Season Four, including Ellen’s agonizing decision to sell her bookstore in order to raise money to buy a house. Ellen remains as manager, working for an executive (Bruce Campbell) who takes over her office with hunting trophies and a desire to cut dead weight—namely Joe (David Anthony Higgins), the attitude-impaired clerk whom Ellen considers a friend. Meanwhile, cousin Spence (Jeremy Piven) navigates a competitive medical residency while romancing Paige (Joely Fisher), and squeaky-voiced Audrey (Clea Lewis) becomes infatuated with a deaf actor who is more attracted to Ellen. Between these big strokes, however, is an endless stream of DeGeneres’ hilarious takes on the simplest things: brushing teeth, waiting to get to the bathroom, drinking too much at a wine-tasting party. An heir to Lucille Ball, DeGeneres is also enough of an actress to convey real angst and sorrow when Ellen’s parents announce a breakup, or when hopes for love fall through. One gets it all here: great comedy and emotional truth. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

The Fourth Season Is Where It All Comes Together
In season 4, Ellen's world crumbles. Her parents divorce, her friendship with Paige (Joely Fisher) is almost ruined, and she is forced to be more self-confident by her therapist. In addition to all this craziness, Ellen discovers she is a lesbian and comes out to her friends and family at the end of the season. Of course, all the drama is mixed in with good humor. Spence (Jeremy Piven), Joe (David Anthony Higgins), and Audrey (Clea Lewis) are also there along for the ride. We even see the relationship between Paige and Spence evolve in a positive way. This memorable season also includes cameos by Eddie Fisher (Joely Fisher's father), Demi Moore, Melissa Ethridge, Bonnie Rait, Aaron Nevile, David Crosby, and so much more! If you're not already a fan of this show, buy this season and all the other seasons out there because it's one of the greatest shows in television history! YOU GO ELLEN!!!!

ELLEN COMES OUT & HITS HER COMEDIC STRIDE!!!!
I must say Ellen's 4th season was probably one of her best, because her coming out as a lead gay character was groundbreaking! I just loved the way she poked fun with the gay innuendo during most of the episodes that lead to her actually coming "out". The fourth season also included alot of really funny episodes involving her parents separation, Joe's sugarmama Florence Henderson, and Ellen going to the rock and roll fantasy camp starring Aaron Neville and Bonnie Raitt! I'm so looking forward to the release of the fifth and final season!!!

Classic, even ten years later
Ten years ago, Ellen was a mid rated comedy, a "female Seinfeld" it was once described, about a group of friends living and loving in L.A. Season three Ellen - The Complete Season Threehit its peak, with one of the funniest hour long episodes in the history of sitcoms, Paige's wedding. And then came the infamous season four, with the even more infamous hour on television "The Puppy Episode", which galvanized and turned the nation on its ear, and became the birthmother, intentionally or not.

I purchased season four of Ellen primarily to relive those days gone past, and see if the Puppy Episode held up to the previous "genius" season. And the good news is, it did. With all of the "Ellen is gay" hype gone, and the public thinking of her as more of a Oscar host and congenial television hostess, the episode stands alone now. The thing that is quickly apparent is how personal this show was to Ellen, as she herself comes out of the closet nationally, as her character comes out to her small group of friends. Both make significant impacts on their worlds, but Ellen's world was totally rocked. As she talks with counselor Oprah, she is both Ellen and Ellen Morgan, discussing and divulging the pain of coming out to millions of people who may have never realized how hard it is.

And what is even more surprising is how personal I took the show. It harkened me back to a time where I was struggling with these issues such as Ellen. I didn't take the time, surprisingly, to appreciate how similar she and I were, and how our shared experiences were so revolutionary. The episode itself was proof on how far we've come baby, and how far we have to go still.

Other than "the episode", the entire season plays out well. Many funny episodes are included in this collection, and you'll find yourself laughing out loud from one to another. You can't help but feel that each episode is bringing you one step closer to THE episode. And once that hits, you know you've just fallen into a new, and somewhat different show.

Ellen was courageous, and full of conviction to do what she did, when she did. Bravo to our funny lady, and thank you for teaching us, and taking us on an incredible ride.