The Ellen DeGeneres Show ran for nineteen seasons, from September 8, 2003 to May 26, 2022, and it made Ellen DeGeneres the host of daytime television’s biggest talk show. It was syndicated, first-run, and it aired on local stations across America. The show won 63 Daytime Emmy Awards and 17 People’s Choice Awards.
This is a review of that run, not a tribute to the person behind it. The show was built on celebrity interviews, audience games, and a warm tone that critics either loved or dismissed as thin. It was successful for a long time, and then it faded away. Here is what that run looked like, broken down by the numbers that matter.
The Numbers Behind the Run
The show ran for 19 seasons, with 2087 episodes broadcast between 2003 and 2022. It was taped at NBC Studios in Burbank, California, for its first five seasons, and then moved to Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank starting with season 6. It switched to high definition at the start of season 6.
| Season | Premiere Date | Final Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-09-08 | 2003-06-16 |
| 2 | 2004-09-06 | 2004-06-14 |
| 3 | 2005-09-05 | 2005-06-13 |
| 4 | 2006-09-04 | 2006-06-12 |
| 5 | 2007-09-03 | 2007-06-11 |
| 6 | 2008-09-01 | 2008-06-09 |
| 7 | 2009-09-07 | 2009-06-15 |
| 8 | 2010-09-06 | 2010-06-14 |
| 9 | 2011-09-05 | 2011-06-13 |
| 10 | 2012-09-03 | 2012-06-11 |
| 11 | 2013-09-02 | 2013-06-10 |
| 12 | 2014-09-01 | 2014-06-09 |
| 13 | 2015-09-07 | 2015-06-15 |
| 14 | 2016-09-05 | 2016-06-13 |
| 15 | 2017-09-04 | 2017-06-12 |
| 16 | 2018-09-03 | 2018-06-11 |
| 17 | 2019-09-02 | 2019-06-10 |
| 18 | 2020-09-21 | 2020-06-15 |
| 19 | 2021-09-13 | 2022-06-17 |
The Record and Its Limits
The Emmy record is the clearest measure of the show’s reach. The Oprah Winfrey Show won nine awards before its category was split in 2008. The Ellen DeGeneres Show won 11 total awards, including four for Outstanding Talk Show and seven for Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment.
| Show | Total Awards | Category Split |
|---|---|---|
| The Oprah Winfrey Show | 9 | Before 2008 |
| The Ellen DeGeneres Show | 11 | None |
The record is real. The comparison is simple. The show won more Emmys than its predecessor, and it held that lead until the rules changed.
The Decline
The show’s final season aired from September 13, 2021 to May 26, 2022, and it ended on that date.
The show’s legacy is secure. It won awards, and it gave DeGeneres a platform that lasted for nearly two decades. The show itself was not immune to the forces that reshape entertainment.
The Verdict
The Ellen DeGeneres Show was a cultural force for nearly two decades. It won awards, and it gave DeGeneres a platform that lasted for nearly two decades. The show itself was not immune to the forces that reshape entertainment.
The show earned a 5.6 out of 10. That is a score that reflects its success and its decline at once. It was a great show for a long time, and then it became a show that coasted on its past. The record is the record, and the record stands. The show is over, and the record remains.
The final episode aired on May 26, 2022. That is the end of it. The show is done.
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