An endearing act

What happens when the ‘Queen of Nice’ is labelled as the ‘Queen of Mean’? Well, she turns to gardening, and raises chickens. Ellen DeGeneres, the iconic talk show host, who changed the narrative of comedy, bids farewell to the entertainment world with a comedy special. The one-hour-10-minute show is less comedy, more Ellen’s attempt to win approval, quite literally! Now, you forgive her or not, the show is in your court.

The special begins with some self-deprecating jokes; the car sequence is rather dull, as is our comic. She looks old, for one we see her after two years, and she’s stopped botox and fillers. After revealing the long sought-after truth to why did the chicken cross the road, she addresses the elephant in the room, or in Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, that she was kicked out of.

Labelled a mean and toxic boss, Ellen was shunted out a second time. The first time was when she was forced to bid goodbye to sitcom, post her coming out. Overnight, the childless, lesbian stand-up comedian, who was on the top of the list of being the best babysitter, had turned into America’s most hated. The show reveals how she dealt with it.

Honestly, her explanation of what made her a toxic boss — her narrative — might have some truth in it, but it doesn’t really justify the uproar. She deserved the dignity to bid farewell on her terms, she claims.

Talking of childhood scars, of growing old, being gay and a woman in a multi-billion industry, Ellen, for sure, tries hard to give her side of the story — balancing her ‘Mean, Old and Gay’ triple crown delicately. When she started the show, people thought that watching it will turn them gay. Working with her sure did for all 16 of them, she reveals.

It’s on them whom she wronged to forgive her or not, her fans sure do. The woman who spread joy, scared the hell out of Thor aka Chris Hemsworth and doled out goodies — filling our world with hope and laughter — still remains beloved for many.

Gardening and chickens, coupled with good old pals — do we spot Oprah in the audience? — can help one tide over the lows in life. It was lovely to see Portia stand with Ellen — all teared up, especially after stories of her being a difficult wife on sets abound.

It’s no laugh-out-loud piece but an endearing one. One can overlook the jokes that don’t work, or when Ellen wasn’t at her best. Nobody’s perfect, and we still hope she gets another way in.