- Today is our 2002nd show. 2000 and 2 shows.
[cheers and applause]
So, I have been told
there are some people in the audience
who have a message for me.
I don't know what this is.
I have not seen it, but let's all look at it together.
- Hi, my name is Lisa Jarmon.
- Hi, my name is Edgar.
- I'm Darrell Watson.
- My name is Sherrie Gahn. - Susie Conway.
- Anthony Carbajal.
- And I met Ellen six years ago.
- About a year and a half ago.
- And I met Ellen five years ago.
- The experiences on the "Ellen Show"
was like...Christmas.
It was like, birthday, New Years.
Amazing seems to sum it up.
- The feeling I felt when she called me down.
I felt, like, from my toes up,
like, just this happiness, this joy.
- I couldn't breathe 'cause I was so excited,
and I couldn't believe it was happening
to a little ole person like me.
- Like, I'm just a normal person.
You never think that you would get the opportunity
to meet someone you look up to so much.
- My heart was pounding through my chest.
I was overcome with joy and happiness
and just in absolute awe.
- I ran down with no pants, so that was an epic moment.
It was so crazy.
- What're you wearing? Put some pants on!
- The night that Ellen called me on my cell phone,
that's my favorite sentence to speak,
is that Ellen called me on my cell phone.
- But when I heard her voice,
I just knew somehow that, you know,
something better was gonna come my way,
and it was--I was just so happy and relieved.
- I stepped out and they played the song "Anything Can Happen."
[Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen"]
It was the most amazing experience
that I will never forget. - And I just remember
walking out and it was just an amazing feeling--the aura.
- But once I got to the stage and she started dancing,
I just felt so at home.
- And ever since I set my butt in that seat
my whole life has changed.
- I know you need a new-- - What? What?
- Brand--a brand new car. - Don't do that.
- You got a--
[cheers and applause] - [mouthing]
When Ellen gives you something,
she gives you life-changing somethings.
- I was a single mother.
I just had to move back in with my parents
at 27 years old and, you know, she came in and just--
she gave me my fresh start.
- I still reflect on this one moment
when Ellen just turned to me and said, "I love you,"
and to get that expression from her--for her to say that to me,
it just--really just--
it meant everything.
Someone was listening to me. Someone was hearing me.
- And I realized it, you know,
it was also--it was bigger than me,
and it wasn't just me, but it was everyone
that was fighting an illness that wasn't common.
A rare disease like ALS.
- My kids came to school
to be safe,
and it was really through meeting Ellen
and everything that she's provided to my babies.
My kids come to school to learn now.
- When we were able to give every kid
in the school the Target card,
that was such a tangible thing for them,
like, I knew that that would be
a game changer for so many of our kids.
That they would get to buy groceries
or they would get to buy school clothes.
- When I first met Ellen,
I was getting my associates degree,
and now I have my masters degree,
and she helped me do that, and if it wasn't for her,
I wouldn't be able to provide for my family,
so I'm so grateful... [crying]
to Ellen for everything she did for me and for others
because she used me to help others
and that's the most important--portant point
of everything.
I'm so grateful.
- Ellen, I just wanna say,
congratulations
on 2000 episodes,
and...
thank you for having the courage to tell stories,
to make people laugh, and to--just to be you.
Thank you because not only did you change my life,
you changed those around me
and I just appreciate you so much.
- Ellen, thank you so much
for everything that you have done
for our kids,
and for all the ways that you inspire us everyday
to be kind to one another and to give.
- Our heads are held higher because of you.
- We were the hole. Really, in the hole,
and you really took us out.
- Today we are moving into our house.
That is possible because of you.
It's wheelchair accessible. It's beautiful.
It's everything. It's our home.
They're installing our doggie door
and we're ready to live in it.
- In the life,
there is the--everything it comes and goes,
but the memories, it stays,
and I'm really thankful for the memories.
- I have patients that I take care of,
and we'll watch your show,
so for that brief moment...
they don't have cancer,
and so thank you for doing that for me
and for all of my patients and for everyone.
- Every morning I wake up
and the first thing I do is my gratitude prayer,
and I always end it with you.
- Between you and God, ya'll are my angels.
[cheers and applause]
- Um...
[chuckles] Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
Um...
Thank you very much. That's, um--I just wanna say,
I started out as a comedian,
and I wanted to make people happy,
and I wanted to make people laugh
and this has turned into something so much better for me,
that I get to change people's lives.
That I get to have this platform
where we get to help people that are in need,
and in turn you're able to help other people in need,
and be inspirations to other people
that're watching the show.
So, from someone who started out
just wanting to make people happy,
um--I make people cry, and, uh--
[laughter]
Uh, but thank you for all of that.
Thank you so much, and you've changed my life.
[cheers and applause] We'll be back.
[Pink's "Today's the Day"]
- [singing] No no no
No no no no no
[music continues]
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'ma say today's my day
I'ma say it's gonna go my way
I'ma say today's my day
I'ma say it's gonna go my way
Today's the day I've been waiting for
Tomorrow won't come after all
Yesterday's so far away
Yes today's the only day
Somebody please stop the clock
Oh oh oh
Don't ever let this day stop
Oh oh oh
I never wanna go home
Yeah
No no no no no
I'ma say today's my day
I'ma say today's my day No no no
I'ma say it's gonna go my way Oh oh oh
I'ma say today's my day
I'ma say today's my day Oh oh oh
I'ma say it's gonna go my way
[music continues]