Isn't she going to be so missed?ĭEGGANS: One key to that admiration is DeGeneres' status as a groundbreaking gay star, a performer whose career was nearly derailed after she came out publicly in 1997, only to see her popularity rebound as a successful, openly queer host on daytime TV. But you will never, ever have a time like this where you were held in the public's eye and received the joy in such a way.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, 'THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW') NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says DeGeneres is a pioneering voice with a complicated legacy.ĮRIC DEGGANS, BYLINE: Recent episodes leading to 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show's' finale have been packed with celebrity goodbyes, but few of them landed with the power of the farewell given by the star that DeGeneres calls her longtime friend and mentor, Oprah Winfrey.
Ellen DeGeneres's talk show will end its run today after 19 years and more than 3,000 episodes.
