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Ellen talks success and being in love on "The Oprah Show"The recent appearance of Ellen DeGeneres on The Oprah Show was called "An Oprah Show special event" and it really was, especially in terms of lesbian visibility. As her own wife refers to her, "the most famous lesbian in the world" joined Oprah for a discussion on her career, her marriage and her O Magazine cover campaign from the past year. Here are some choice moments: Ellen on coming out: When I came out, it was celebrated but reports kept reporting on the reports, and people were like 'Shut up already," but I didn't say anything. On The Ellen Show being canceled: No one called to say it had been canceled. I had to read it in the trades. I knew there was a possibility of losing my career, but I didn't do it for my career — I did it for me to live in my truth. There was no shame. I don't care if people approve of it or not it's who I am. Ellen went on to say she didn't work for three years, became depressed and was running out of money. Trying to convince networks to give her a talk show was difficult because they thought that the perceived audience ("housewives") wouldn't have anything in common with an openly gay woman. It was during these three years, however, that Ellen said she did a lot of soul searching and was able to discover who she really was, which led to where she is today — "the happiest and healthiest she's ever been." Another reason she's so happy is her wife,
"I feel very fortunate, very lucky that I found that connection," Ellen said of Portia. Portia then told the story of how she knew she was interested in Ellen, and subsequently decided to come out:
Ellen said she'd had feelings for Portia, but didn't know it was reciprocated. Finally, Portia told her, and it was love. It's been over a year since Ellen and Portia became married, and before showing behind-the-scenes clips of their ceremony, Oprah asked them why it was so important to be able to call each other "wife." Portia explains: It's a legal stamp of validity. It's hard to know it feels until it happens. I hope everyone gets to have that feeling. The thing about being a gay couple is that, in the past, you referred to your wife and there was quotation marks around it and people could snicker about it. Now, it's fact, it's law — she's my wife. I get to say she's my wife and it's a fact. Ellen then said, "It feels like your home, your anchor and safety. I'm going to be with her until the day I die and I know that." It's all incredibly adorable, heartwarming and followed up by video of them preparing for their wedding day, where Ellen can't stop saying "Oh my god" upon seeing Portia in her gown. The show ends with highlights of Ellen's success and the great fun she has with her show and current career. Not only is her talk show successful, but her endorsements of products such as CoverGirl and American Express have proven to be incredibly profitable as well. No wonder she's so happy! The O issue with Ellen and Oprah on the cover hits newsstands this week, and there's also an interview and photo spread of Ellen inside. And, as an added bonus, the comedian was also able to take over the column that Oprah herself normally writes: "What I know for sure." And what does Ellen know for sure? You can actually read it online now, but one of the things she knows for sure is: I would never change any of the hard times I went through in my life. Because it was in those times that I grew the most and gained the most perspective.
The fact that both Ellen and Portia are speaking so candidly about their relationship and the importance they place on their marriage is such a great thing for lesbian visibility. I appreciate that they've been given the platform to talk about the normalcy of their relationship, and the love they feel for one another. Oprah, despite not always being agreeable to many, is a champion of gay and lesbian rights, and I loved the episode. Can't wait to get my copy of O in the mail. Submitted by on November 9, 2009 - 12:00pm. |
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So happy for them!
Ellen & Portia
I never watch Oprah either! I loved Portia in Ally McBeal... I love Ellen...after all she is from Metairie, LA and so am I! I think it is wonderful that Ellen & Portia will have the chance to reach millions of Oprah fans...mostly straight women...and they will show that we, lesbians, are normal, loving, caring, and deserve the right to be happily married. Tina and I have been together for 21+ years and I would gladly walk down the aisle again to legally marry her...we have had 3 ceremonies already...to each other only...how many straight people can say the same, or have to prove their love over and over again!
Bravo Ellen & Portia...this is one episode I will watch!
Lisa & Tina
all gooey inside
Spolier's Are Ok. I Will Still Watch Ellen Online
Thanks for this synopsis of this interview w/ Ellen & Portia. I think the whole shebang is beautiful. We need more openess. It looks like Ellen has grown so much spiritually. I'm so glad she has learned. I know she is surrounded by great people. Beautiful people.
I can't wait to watch.
twitter me @ www.twitter.com/brownskinfaery
WOW Portia looks stunning.
WOW Portia looks stunning. Yummmm.
Go here for my view on all things lesbian: http://allthingslesbeau.blogspot.com
Epic...
I can't wait to see this
Amazing...
I loved Portia on Ally McBeal and I loved Ellen and them being together is just awesome.
-MJ
Spread the RAINBOW!
http://mgayness.livejournal.com
Cant wait to see it!! Im a
Cant wait to see it!! Im a big Ellen fan, she is amazing.
_________
vivono nella speranza
ed&portia derossi
lmao
that is TOO FUNNY!!!
does anyone know how i can
just watched it on tv
"No one called to say it had been canceled. I had to read it in the trades. I knew there was a possibility of losing my career, but I didn't do it for my career — I did it for me to live in my truth. There was no shame. I don't care if people approve of it or not it's who I am." - I got all teary-eyed :')
all googly inside now, 'cause i couldn't "aw" during the whole show when my bro was right there, aha :)
omg ellen and portia...they are so sweet together <3
that was heartwarming,
made my month, haha :D
"In a world of cheerios, be a fruitloop"
"I'm a deeply superficial person" - Andy Warhol
Wow
had to miss Ellen today.....
Had to miss Ellen today to watch Oprah since both shows are on at 4pm and I only have a VCR (and w/ my cable the TV has to be on the same channel that is being taped...ugh). BUT, it was totally worth it! I have followed and loved Ellen from the very beginning of her career, and her and Portia are so beautiful and amazing together. Can't wait to buy O magazine with our very own Covergirl on da cover! :)
"Hey you
Did you know you make me wet just by looking at your smile?"
(Leisha Hailey/The Murmurs)
That was amazing.
I just sat there in awe for the better part of an hour. And of course, I laughed a lot. I love that Ellen said Portia makes her laugh all the time, and Portia was all "I just say normal things and she starts laughing at me!" They are an amazing couple.
oh no!
I forgot to tune in!!! damn it. Does the Oprah site have full episodes? I'll have to check.
"Were I receptive to such proposition, it would first require a full booty check, and if you were to pass muster, baby I'd give it to you family style"-Peggy Peabody
My girlfriend had to wipe my tears..
It Was Great!
I sat here with an ear to ear grin for the entire hour. They are so obviously in love and so happy together.
How can anyone hate on that?
"...what goes 'round...comes 'round..."
Great Episode. I just love
I was smiling...
Portia and Ellen
what a wounderful episode. i made a point of getting it taped so i could watch it again and again.
i loved how passionate Portia talked about being in love with Ellen. I teared up when she said "my love for her beat out the fear" .
about three days before this aired I re-watched Ellen's 1997 interview with Oprah after coming out, and the difference today in the way she carries herself, the way she talks and how happy she is, is such a statement on how far she is has come in her own growth as a person. it makes me all warm and inspired inside just thinking about it.
Happy Tears
GREAT, JUST F*#*ING GREAT
perfect match
perfect match
beautiful..
I missed the showing and watched it here:
http://www.watchoprahshow.info/2009/1109
it was beautiful. agh it made me cry! it's amazing to see them together..such amazing women they are. there's something about lesbian couples, I swear, there's something there that I just don't see as often in others..it could just be that I relate to them more but I feel like it's even more than that..you know?
well I love them both..this made me day <3
Thank you for the link,
Thank you for the link, Pony... Im off to watch it now..
Thanks also for the recap Trish... spoiler or not, I would still read and watch this one... :)
yay
these two are fantastic. thanks for this.
Love love LOVE them
Taped the show to watch it and I'm so glad I did! Both of them were so open about everything, from being closeted and how they couldn't live like that, to their wedding and why exactly they needed to be legally married. Just great. I really hope people see that and think twice about voting away their (and our) rights.
Ellen when she was like "hey baby! there's my wife over there" at the shoot was just adorable. Apparently it was unusual that someone's spouse would come to something like that? Oprah seemed a bit surprised that Portia had come to the shoot, but they both seemed to think it was entirely natural.
Obviously Portia is way lower profile than Ellen, but every time I see her in an interview she amazes me. It was also nice to see that her family supports her too, or at least her mom came to their wedding.
I'm dying to watch it
I'm dying to watch it but I can't watch it on the Oprah website because of the survey thing. Do you know where European viewers can access to that episode?
Youtube has some videos but I wanted the whole thing.
"don't trust what you see"
Link
full show, bad quality:
http://www.megavideo.com/v/I46ARSRTc1240d881d6bf4d788e0002badfeda61
I wish i could see it :) so
Thank you
Thank you so much for the link Torka, that made my day!
Metaphorical cheers to you*
"don't trust what you see"
I can't believe Oprah actually allowed them time to speak.
I understand that people love Oprah, but I find watching her show tedious as she too often talks over her guests and frames what they are trying to say in her own Oprah jargon. But I thought with this episode she stood back a bit and gave both Ellen and Portia the time to express how they felt and what their experiences were like without Oprah drowning them out.
I'm sure these two (E and P) don't really want the responsibility of being the spokespeople for the entire queer community, but they are both certainly very eloquent when they express why it's so important that we have the right to marriage. Portia, especially, is becoming such a wonderfully articulate advocate for us.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the whole thing. And the tshirt? 'Laugh. Dance. O'. Does anyone else think the O doesn't really stand for Oprah? :-)
well..
I think it is awesome that Ellen is out and proud and having the opportunities she is having. She is doing so much to increase visibility and acceptance. I personally am not a fan of either Ellen/Portia though. If the little I have heard is correct, Ellen treated Alexandra Hedison very badly when Portia came on the scene. I agree that Oprah allowed them to speak freely, much more than she usually does.
After seeing this, I found Ellen's coming out interview with Oprah on Youtube, after Ellen's character had come out on her comedy show, and I recommend people seeing that. Ellen spoke of the fact that when she came out to her father, who she was apparently living with at that time, he asked her to move out because he didn't want her around his two young daughters. That would be killing.
With regard to hearsay...
"I personally am not a fan of either Ellen/Portia though. If the little I have heard is correct, Ellen treated Alexandra Hedison very badly when Portia came on the scene."
Apart from the fact that it's really none of our business, until we actually "hear" from Ellen, Alex, or Portia, with regard to what happened during this time, I don't think it's fair to make judgemental comments on their private lives.
yes, true.
who are we to judge. and gossip is just taking over the lives of celebrities.
i like alexandra better than portia, though i am aparantly quite alone in that. but then, just because i like alex better doesn't have anything to do with the ellen/portia relationship. i just wish there would be more about alex, and not just portia and ellen. though they are quite perfect when it comes to visibility for gays and i am very grateful for that.
YAAAAAAAAAY GOT TO SEE IT
OMG!!! I love them!!! =)
OMG!!! I love them!!! =)
Portia is hot. :) I wonder
wow
wow, thts so cool oprah one of the most loving and powerful women with ellen and portia the most happily loving married couple, thts amazing
Very Awesome
That Ellen and Portia did an interview together. Surprised that Oprah would have wanted to, considering Ellen knocked her off her perch...
Is it just me, or does that first picture of Portia, Oprah & Ellen look INCREDIBLY photo-shopped?!
AWW!!!
Damn, I can't wait to see this! Seeing Ellen and Portia together never stops making me smile. The way they talk about each other and the way they light up when they're around each other is just really damn sweet <3.
If I could sleep forever, would you still be in my dreams?
=)
the sound soooooo in love with the things they both said!
I need to find somebody that feels that way bout me!!
awww.
awww.
That was an adorable
That was an adorable episode! They are so in love.
VOTE at http://www.zudacomics.com/node/1540
Niki Smith: Comics & Graphic Novels
http://www.niki-smith.com/
That was an adorable
edit: gah, double post. sorry.
VOTE at http://www.zudacomics.com/node/1540
Niki Smith: Comics & Graphic Novels
http://www.niki-smith.com/
Aww
You can tell that these two are totally in love. I love listening to them talk about life with each other because you know none of what they're saying is made up. They are just two genuine people who are in love. It's refreshing to see.
Makes me want to get myself a wife...