Series Description

The Ellen TV Show was a 30 minute comedy series on ABC about a neurotic, 30-something book store employee who tried her best to get along with her wacky group of friends, co-workers, and her strong-willed parents.

Ellen Cast

Ellen DeGeneres .... Ellen Morgan
Joely Fisher .... Paige Clark
Clea Lewis .... Audrey Penney
David Anthony Higgins .... Joe Farrell
Steven Gilborn .... Harold Morgan
Alice Hirson .... Lois Morgan
Patrick Bristow .... Peter Barnes
Jeremy Piven .... Spence Kovak
Jack Plotnick .... Barrett
Arye Gross .... Adam Green
Dan Gauthier .... Detective Matt Liston
Bruce Campbell .... Ed Billik
Lisa Darr .... Laurie Manning

Ellen Trivia:

The original script title of the Ellen TV show was, "These Friends of Mine".

Ellen DeGeneres' last name is pronounced "duh-generous". She earned her living as a paralegal and a vacuum cleaner salesperson before making it in show business. In 1982, Ellen was voted the "Funniest Person in America". During an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" in 1986, she became the first female comic to be asked to join Johnny on the couch after her performance. Ellen won the "Best Female Club Standup" award at the 1991 Comedy Awards. Entertainment Weekly magazine named Ellen, "Entertainer of the Year" in their year-end 1997 issues.

During the opening segments of a large number of the Ellen TV show episodes, Ellen would introduce a musical performer or group who was playing the show's theme song that week. While doing so, she would hold up a sign with the name of the show on it.

The show was changed dramatically during the Ellen "came out" as a lesbian on episode #84, "The Puppy Episode - Parts 1 & 2", on April 30, 1997, some of the advertisers pulled their business and an ABC affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama even refused to air the show proving that the fear and/or hatred of gay people that the Ellen TV show would go on to sometimes portray was not a figment of anyone's imagination!

During the first season, test audiences often preferred the supporting characters more than some of the regular cast. Therefore, most of the regulars were fired for the second season! Clea Lewis' character, "Audrey Penny", had only been in one first season episode but test audiences loved her so she became a regular. David Anthony Higgins (Joe Farrell) also became a major cast member.

Joely Fisher ("Grosse Pointe" and "Normal, Ohio") is the daughter of Connie Stevens and Eddie Fisher. Carrie Fisher is her half-sister. Joely didn't realize that Carrie existed until she saw the first Star Wars movie and sometime told her that Princess Leia was her half-sister!