Ellen DeGeneres – my hero.
I haven’t really watched daytime TV en masse since the HSC. In those days, my study schedule revolved around certain programmes, namely Passions (oh what happened to Passions??). But for the first few weeks of my unemployment, my whole day revolved around certain programmes – get up at 11ish, watch the news, then Ellen, The View, All Saints, Entertainment Tonight, then freak out that all I’d done all day was watch TV in my pj’s! Realllly healthy time of my life. These days I’ve come to realise that I’m a much happier person if I get out and do something everyday, but it’s still OK to have the odd day in, catching up with old friends.
However. I am blessed by the fact that Ellen, my absolute favourite show (well it will be after tonight’s finale of Farmer Wants A Wife) is screened TWICE a day. So if I’m not at home to watch it during the day, I can watch it at night! Thank you channel 9 for making one of the best programming decisions EVER.
Why do I love Ellen? Well, Ellen is possibly the most genuine person I’ve ever met. Because I feel like I’ve met her, and I feel like I know her intimately. So happy all the time. Through my TV screen I can see the sparkle in her eye when she laughs and the glaze she gets in her eye when she’s doing something really good for someone.
The format is exquisite – arrive, be funny, dance, talk to amazing, inspirational but not necessarily famous people, play some games, give away some prizes, change someone’s life and make EVERYONE’s day. And the best part – no pretentions. I don’t ever feel like she’s doing it for the money or because someone told her it was a good career move, or so that she can lord over everyone with her knowledge and her connections. Nope, she does it for the love. Not just the love she gets, but the love she know she puts out there.
As I get older, I’ve become an increasingly emotional person – used to be the only movie I’d cry at was Heart and Souls (I know, how tragic am I??) These days, every time I hear about a struggling family or person, and then see or hear someone doing something to help them out, and seeing/hearing their gratitude – pure, unrestrained happiness and thanks – I tear up. Because it makes me feel good, that there are people out there who are still positive in times of trouble and need, and that there are people like Ellen who know how to go about changing their lives. In this day and age, where social injustice is rife, and an accepted part of our lives, it’s so refreshing and heartwarming to know that there’s good stuff going on out there.
