How many have you got to experience the virtual reality
thing back there?
[CHEERING]
Isn't it incredible?
It's like you're with the gorillas.
And after the show, they're going to wait
and you can do it again if you missed it.
You have to do it.
It's a great experience.
It will make you want to go to Rwanda and see the gorillas.
Because you probably remember, a couple of years
ago, Portia gave me the best birthday present ever.
She started the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife
Fund to help save the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
And this past Saturday night we threw a huge fundraiser.
We called it Gorillapalooza And it was a big deal for me
because there are only two things that can get me out
of the house on a Saturday night,
that is helping animals or an open bar.
[LAUGHTER]
This had both of those.
So a lot of thought-- a whole lot of thought went into this.
So first of all, I want to thank my wife Portia,
my sister-in-law Casey Rogers.
All the time and energy they put into it was--
I mean, they worked really, really hard on this.
They carefully planned every detail even down
to the dress code.
It was concert cocktail chic.
And if you're wondering what that is so was everybody else.
[LAUGHTER]
People really had no idea what to dress like.
So it was all over the place.
Of course, there were a lot of celebrities there.
There was one name that was mentioned
over and over all night long.
And I would like to thank him for being there.
His name, Don Julio.
[LAUGHTER]
The people of Don Julio created a special bottle of tequila.
They put a gorilla logo on it.
And everyone got one when they went home.
They sponsored the bar for the night.
So not only did people spend money,
Diane Keaton got a lower back tattoo.
So they were enjoying the tequila.
Not everything went exactly as planned.
Miley Cyrus was supposed to be there to perform.
But she ended up in the hospital.
She had tonsillitis, had to get them taken out.
So Miley we send you love.
Hope you're feeling better.
But you know the old saying, if you can't get a Miley,
get a Martin.
So Chris Martin from Coldplay--
I asked him to fill in at the very last minute.
And he had already bought a table for $25,000.
So he was going to be there.
And then he said, Oh, I'll step in.
And then I said, well, then I'll give you your money back.
He said no, keep the money.
So basically he paid us to perform for us.
[APPLAUSE]
Right, I mean, what a great guy.
I love Coldplay.
I love Chris Martin.
He is a sweet, sweet human being.
And he is really hilarious.
I don't think people knew how funny he was.
And so he did a couple of Coldplay songs.
He also decided to sing a song that Miley may have sang.
And he just learned it for that night.
(SINGING) So I put hands up, playing my song.
I know it's going to be OK.
Yeah!
It's a party in the USA.
Yeah!
It's a party in the USA.
Sweet, right?
[APPLAUSE]
He sang a song that the monkeys sang.
He said I think Ellen's trying to save
the monkeys or something.
So he did a song from the monkeys.
Very funny.
And then Bruno Mars headlined the night.
He was amazing.
I mean, if you've never seen him live, and we all got front row.
It was incredible.
Every person was just jumping out on the dance floor.
This is a tiny bit of his performance.
(SINGING) Gold jewelry shining so bright.
Strawberry champagne on ice.
Lucky for you, that's what I like.
That's what I like.
Lucky for you, that's what I like.
That's what I like.
He was amazing.
[APPLAUSE]
We had a live auction.
James Corden and I did the auction.
And it's always awkward to ask people for money.
So we wanted to make it as laid back and casual as possible
while we asked for money.
And when that didn't work out, James Corden
just yelled at people.
You are looking at a man who has been told tonight
there are only 1,000 gorillas left.
That is more viewers than watch my show, Bill.
OK, this is technically the biggest audience
I've ever played for.
And are you going to let me down, Bill?
The Bill I know wouldn't do that to me.
He'd raise that paddle.
$100,000.
He bullied him into $100,000.
[APPLAUSE]
He's saying the Bill I know.
He didn't even know him at all.
[LAUGHTER]
The gorillas and the people of Rwanda are so important to me.
I wanted to donate something to the auction.
And of course, the one thing I have that people
care the most about are 12 Days tickets.
So I offered them--
I had no idea how very, very rich celebrities would go crazy
over free stuff.
50--
$50,000.
--down here with Julia Roberts.
America's sweetheart Julia Roberts. $50,000
sitting on her lap of her husband.
55 on Sofía Vergara.
$55,000.
Oh my God--
She's going to take America's sweetheart down.
--it's on.
She says $55,000.
I got money.
60 in the back.
65.
$65,000.
Sofía says do not push me around.
And that was aimed at Julia.
She looked at you and said 65.
$80,000?
$80,000.
Julia Roberts says $80,000.
Wow.
$85,000.
Sofía Vergara says $85,000.
Good for you.
Both of you can come together for the 12 Days of Giveaways.
Done.
So they're going to be sitting in the audience.
[APPLAUSE]
I'm so thankful to all my friends who came and helped.
Leonardo DiCaprio donated.
Diane Keaton, Kendall Jenner.
Sean Hayes was the first to bid on naming rights
for one of the buildings at my gorilla campus.
My mother stole four gift bags.
We were hoping to raise $2 million.
That didn't happen.
We raised over $5 million.
[CHEERING]
This is so important because there are only
1,000 mountain gorillas left.
And that means each gorilla after taxes gets about 3,500.
I don't know what they'll do with the money.
But I want to thank Walmart for sponsoring the event.
We couldn't have done it without them.
And thanks to my friends who were so generous
with their time, their money.
Jen Aniston stayed after the event.
She did the dishes and gave Portia and I a ride home.
So you're a sweet, sweet girl Jen.
And you can see a montage of the whole night on Ellentube
right now.
And if you want to help the gorillas, and I hope you do,
there's an online auction that's live today.
Go to our website to find out how you can bid on some really
cool things online.