Ellen Degeneres talked about how she feels after deciding to end The Ellen Degeneres Show after 18 years.
The 63-year-old comedian revealed on an episode of the famous long-running talk show which will air on May 13 that she’ll be concluding the series with season 19 in spring next year. She said, “The past 18 years, you have to know, has changed my life. You all have changed my life. And I am forever grateful to all of you for watching, for laughing, for dancing, sometimes crying. This show has been the greatest experience of my life, and I owe it all to you. So thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The TV host said she thought about her decision and even talked it over with her wife, Portia de Rossi. She said, “I sat with it for a while. I mediated on it. Two years ago, I signed a deal for three more years, and I always knew in my heart that season 19 would be my last.”
She added, “The truth is, I always trust my instincts. My instinct told me it’s time. As a comedian, I’ve always understood the importance of timing. In all seriousness, I truly have felt like next season was the right time to end this amazing chapter.”
She compared her decision with that time she decided to come out in public 25 years ago.
She shared, “In 1997, I knew it was time to come out on my sitcom and live my truth. Back then, I had a vivid dream that a bird flew out of a cage and set itself free, because it needed to get out of that cage. Recently, I had a dream that a beautiful bird with bright red feathers came to my window and whispered, ‘You can still do stuff on Netflix’. And that was the sign I was looking for.”
Meanwhile, she assured fans that they’ll still see a lot of her. “Eighteen years ago on the very first show, I said this was going to be a relationship. And we are going to continue that relationship, even when this show ends. But not in this house, because you know I love to move. I promise you that we are going to have a fantastic final season.”
Ellen also promised that season 19 will be different as “every day will be a celebration”. She explained, “There will be a lot of surprises. There will be trips down memory lane. We still have a lot of celebrating to do this season.”
