These are the same kind of women I imagine,
you go to their homes and you always
see this lovely, lovely clear plastic fitted slip
covers over their sofas.
Their lampshades.
This to me is like keeping the plastic on your dry cleaning
while you're wearing it.
Ellen DeGeneres is a comedienne.
And the performance you just saw won
her the title of The Funniest Person in Louisiana,
for a Showtime competition on Cox Cable Network.
People laugh at things that they can relate to.
Things that happened every single day.
[MUSIC - ALOE BLACC, "KING IS BORN"]
Like a beast in the jungle.
In the heat of the rumble.
Good evening, my name's Tammy Jeannine.
Would you welcome, Ellen DeGeneres.
Ellen.
Yeah, hi God, this is Ellen.
Listen, if you weren't to b-- sure I'll hold on.
Somebody's at the gate.
That's very good.
Thank you.
Yeah.
That's very clever and very fresh.
Wow, that's wonderful hearing that from you.
After 14 years as a stand comedian,
she starred in last season's highest rated new TV show.
Ellen's show is a consistent top 10 hit.
Well, Ellen DeGeneres, is certainly on the fast track.
She's one of the top female comedians on television.
Has there ever been anyone you felt you clicked with?
And what was his name?
Susan.
[MUSIC - BISHOP BRIGGS, "DREAM"]
Shining light, show and tell.
Don't be scared, truth is hell.
Why do I have to be so ashamed?
I mean, why can't I just say the truth.
I mean, be who I am.
I'm 35 years old.
I'm so afraid to tell people.
I mean, I just--
Susan, I'm gay.
Why was it necessary for you to come out?
Tell the public.
Why was it necessary for the character to do so?
Because it's OK.
Because it is OK.
[MUSIC - BISHOP BRIGGS, "DREAM"]
They say that secrets make you sick--
I know, as a celebrity, the most important thing I'll ever do
is to stand up and make a difference for those who
need voices to speak for them.
This has been quite a journey for me.
To lead to this night.
Because since I made the decision to come out
three years ago, I--
easy for you to say.
Yeah.
You are a role model to me, both before, and especially
after you came out.
I'm sorry.
And I just want to thank so much you for coming out.
Because you give me so much hope that I can be normal
and fulfill my dreams.
So, thank you.
I got to be stripped down of everything
and start all over again.
And that was a wonderful gift.
To realize that I was strong enough to come back.
Ellen DeGeneres is one of television's hottest new stars.
Well, not really new.
Just newly reinvented.
I think, you know, I'm more comfortable in my skin
than I've ever been.
She's pulled off what's been called one of the greatest show
business comebacks of all time.
When I'm on stage, I feel like I have a purpose.
I feel like I'm here contributing to this planet.
If you haven't heard, the California Supreme Court
overturned a ban on gay marriage.
So I would like to say, right now, for the first time,
I am announcing, I am getting married.
You have to acknowledge the people affected
by Hurricane Katrina.
This is the worst disaster in the history of the United
States.
Ellen has helped raise over 10 million dollars for--
[MUSIC - PORTUGAL.
THE MAN, "LIVE IN THE MOMENT"]
Ooh la la la la la let's live in the moment.
Come back Sunday morning.
A lie, oh well.
When you're gone--
They want to give Whitney Elementary School $100,000.
Oh my god.
And thanks to Ellen DeGeneres, one group of local students
won't have to worry about college tuition.
We reached out to the people at Wal-Mart.
And they want to give each one of you a four year scholarship.
[MUSIC - PORTUGAL.
THE MAN, "LIVE IN THE MOMENT"]
My home.
Is a girl who can't wait for time to tell.
God only knows we don't need history--
I just want to say thank you.
Because for five years you've been
my chemo buddy every night.
And you've helped me go to sleep with a laugh.
And I just thank you from the bottom of my heart.
[MUSIC - PORTUGAL.
THE MAN, "LIVE IN THE MOMENT"]
God only knows we don't need ghost stories.
Ooh la la la la la let's live in the moment.
And I say this with just the deepest love for you.
You make everybody feel better.
You, make everybody feel better.
Turn off the news.
Turn on Ellen.
You will feel better.
Changing hearts and minds.
I don't think anybody's been more influential than you are
[? then. ?] You, being willing to claim who you were,
then suddenly it empowers other people.
And then attitudes shift.
And the laws followed.
But it started with folks like you.
Thank you.
That's really sweet.
Thanks a lot.
Thank you.
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.