Changes

'''Ellen DeGeneres''' is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and host of the syndicated talk show ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''. She first reached success with her own sitcom called ''These Friends of Mine'', later renamed ''Ellen'' (1994-98).

'''Ellen DeGeneres''' is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and host of the syndicated talk show ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''. She first reached success with her own sitcom called ''These Friends of Mine'', later renamed ''Ellen'' (1994-98).

The ABC show had difficulty finding a formula to bring in a large audience, having frequent cast changes.  While not a ratings hit, it did do well enough to be renewed for 4 seasons.

The ABC show had difficulty finding a formula to bring in a large audience, having frequent cast changes.  While not a ratings hit, it did do well enough to be renewed for four seasons.

Ellen made her [[homosexuality]] public on ''The [[Oprah Winfrey]] Show'' in February 1997, surprising few people.  The resulting media attention highlighting this event (including being put on the front cover of ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine) caused a stir.  Subsequently her character on the sitcom came out of the closet in April of that same year, admitting she was gay to her therapist (portrayed by Oprah Winfrey). After a great deal of media attention highlighting the outing episode, entitled "The Puppy Episode," the showing was the highest-rated episode of the sitcom.  But the bounce proved to be short lived.  The show became a constant weekly refrain of lesbian themes and viewers stopped watching rather quickly.  Even Chastity Bono, the media director of GLAAD, a homosexual group, criticized the show for going over the top on the gay issue.<ref>http://www.planetout.com/entertainment/news/?sernum=544</ref>  After the ratings rapidly declined, the show was canceled.

Ellen made her [[homosexuality]] public on ''The [[Oprah Winfrey]] Show'' in February 1997, surprising few people.  The resulting media attention highlighting this event (including being put on the front cover of ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine) caused a stir.  Subsequently her character on the sitcom came out of the closet in April of that same year, admitting she was gay to her therapist (portrayed by Oprah Winfrey). After a great deal of media attention highlighting the outing episode, entitled "The Puppy Episode," the showing was the highest-rated episode of the sitcom.  But the bounce proved to be short lived.  The show became a constant weekly refrain of lesbian themes and viewers stopped watching rather quickly.  Even Chastity Bono, the media director of GLAAD, a homosexual group, criticized the show for going over the top on the gay issue.<ref>http://www.planetout.com/entertainment/news/?sernum=544</ref>  After the ratings rapidly declined, the show was canceled.