Product Description

When Ellen played by Emmy Award-winner Ellen DeGeneres is invited to return to her hometown of Clark to receive an achievement award she's faced with the fact that the town has not changed one bit. Her sister Catherine is still involved with the wrong men her mother keeps her room exactly the same as she left it her old high school teacher Mr. Munn is still teaching and Rusty Carnouk Ellen's prom date still thinks he and Ellen might have a future together. Then without warning Ellen receives a phone call saying her L.A. dotcom company has gone bankrupt and she does the last thing she thought she'd do ' she stays in Clark.Welcome to The Ellen Show a small town comedy with big time laughs from executive producers Ellen DeGeneres Carol Leifer (Seinfeld) and Mitchell Hurwitz (Golden Girls).System Requirements:Run Time: 399 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 043396150768 Manufacturer No: 15076

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37472 in DVD
• Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
• Released on: 2006-07-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .40 pounds
• Running time: 30 minutes

Amazon.com
Three years after the series finale of Ellen aired, Ellen DeGeneres gave sitcoms another shot with the genial The Ellen Show, which made its debut in 2001 on CBS. This time around, DeGeneres plays Ellen Richmond, a Los Angeles career woman who moves back to her hometown after her dot-com business goes under. She moves back home to live with her appropriately named mother, Dot (Cloris Leachman), and insecure younger sister Catherine (Emily Rutherfurd), who both idolizes and resents her. Clark is a small town where no one ever moves away. So when Ellen returns to her high school, eventually landing a job as its guidance counselor (she had conveniently earned a teaching degree prior to her L.A. move), she finds it to be pretty much the same place she left. Mr. Munn (a wry Martin Mull) is still the sarcastic principal. Her lunk of a high school boyfriend, Rusty (Jim Gaffigan), is now a teacher there and he doesn't see why her being a lesbian has to get in the way of a relationship. He simply stares blankly when Munn says, "Newsflash, Rusty. She's hopped the net and is swinging a new racquet."

Unlike Ellen, which moved at a faster pace, The Ellen Show takes its sweet time setting up each gag and waiting for the laughs, which are sometimes undeserved. With her chatty, friendly way, DeGeneres is a likeable focal point but the storylines are often unfocused. The series ultimately didn't pack enough oomph to last a full season. Its last episode aired 3-1/2 months after it premiered. This two-disc, 18-episode set includes the handful of shows that never made it on television. Guest stars include Betty White and Mary Tyler Moore, who do a nice job chewing up the scenery. But it's a tiny Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds) who steals the show, playing a chatty school-age version of Ellen. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Reviews

An Overlooked Gem!
I didn't see this series when it was originally aired ... and I am so thankful for the DVD release! The premise is that Ellen is an ex-dotcom exec whose corporation has gone belly-up. She decides to move back to her hometown, the dot-on-the-map "Clark," where she is in for a real culture shock, as she adjusts to life as a guidance counselor at her old high school, as well as living with her mom and younger sister -- who cannot begin to comprehend some of the big-city ways Ellen has picked up in L.A.

The great thing about Ellen is that in every series or show in which she appears, there's a familiar feeling that always brings joy. You don't get the feeling that she's trying to be hip, or play up a role more than necessary. There's always that, for lack of a better term, "Ellen element" that is predictable in the most surprising ways.

The show's heart comes from the hilarious ignorance of the small-town characters (marvelously portrayed by the likes of Kerri Kenney, Jim Gaffigan, and others) and Ellen's attempts to interact effectively with them. Though the first two episodes are a bit slow, the plotlines get funnier and better-paced after that. There are some hysterical moments. For instance, in the episode "Vanity Hair," Pam (Kenney) cuts Ellen's hair, as does a dog groomer -- unbeknownst to Ellen. The dialogue in the process, as well as the results, will leave you out of control!

Also worth definite mention are Cloris Leachman in her role as Ellen's mom, and Emily Rutherford as Ellen's younger sister. They play their roles in a way that is not generically stereotyped, rather, zesty and unique.

I recommend this DVD set to any Ellen fans, as well as any who appreciate down-to-earth situation comedy!

If you missed it the first time, check it out now!
I remember watching this show when it was originally aired (oh-so-briefly) and thinking that although I was glad to see Ellen back on TV, it wasn't nearly as good or hilarious as her first sitcom. After purchasing and re-watching the series on DVD, I can see that it definitely holds its own. Ellen is the comical Ellen that we all know and love...and the storylines and jokes definitely suit her. For anyone who loves "Ellen" and/or "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," I highly recommend catching "The Ellen Show" as well. You won't be disappointed.

Really Funny and Truly Witty
I like this show a bit more than Ellen's earlier hit show (where she famously came out); Cloris Leachman is very funny, sort of an abrupt version of Carol Brady, if you will. Her sister is also very, very good, Jim Gaffigan is not bad, and Martin Mull is essentially reprising the character he played on Roseanne.

Ellen is very subtle at times, but I think that's funnier than what you find in most "joke" oriented sitcoms. Lots of good observational humor, and Ellen DeGeneres is very likeable throughout. This is one that the audience never caught up with.

The Editorial Review dismisses the show because it didn't do well in the ratings, as if there's never been a wonderful show that didn't do well in the ratings! CBS buried this show on Friday nights, and preempted it more than once, so it never had a chance. The "standup comedian with his/her own show" window was closing--hardly Ellen DeGeneres' fault. This is a smart show, and Carol Leifer who worked on "Seinfeld" and had her own show (Alright Already) is co-creator, so you know it's going to have quality writing. That's the key.

I'm a comedy connoisseur, and believe me this is a smart comedy--along the lines of Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, The Bob Newhart Show, Barney Miller, Cheers, early Seinfeld, etc. Check it out.