Here's Why Ellen DeGeneres Thinks It's "the Right Time" to End Her Iconic Show
| LAST UPDATE 05/13/2021
Ellen DeGeneres announced on May 12 that her talk show would be coming to an end after 19 seasons and 18 years on our screens. The beloved host said The Ellen DeGeneres Show isn't "a challenge anymore." Here are all the details.
While filming for the latest episode, Ellen detailed why exactly she's decided to leave the series. "The past 18 years, you have to know, have changed my life. You all have changed my life. And I am forever grateful to all of you for watching, for laughing, for dancing, sometimes crying," DeGeneres said. "This show has been the greatest experience of my life, and I owe it all to you. So thank you, thank you, thank you."
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The comedic icon shared that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have been talking and thinking "a lot about this decision." "I sat with it for a while. I meditated on it," Ellen explained. "Two years ago, I signed a deal for three more years, and I always knew in my heart that season 19 would be my last." So why did the Emmy winner want to end the show?
For DeGeneres, it's all about following her gut. "The truth is, I always trust my instincts," she said. "My instinct told me it's time. As a comedian, I've always understood the importance of timing. In all seriousness, I truly have felt like next season was the right time to end this amazing chapter."
"In 1997, I knew it was time to come out on my sitcom and live my truth," the talk show host explained. "Back then, I had a vivid dream that a bird flew out of a cage and set itself free because it needed to get out of that cage. Recently, I had a dream that a beautiful bird with bright red feathers came to my window and whispered, 'You can still do stuff on Netflix,'" DeGeneres joked, much to the delight of her audience. "And that was the sign I was looking for."
Ellen then assured viewers that her relationship with fans of the talk show would continue, regardless of the upcoming final season. Plus, DeGeneres guaranteed a "fantastic" final year - as if we'd expect anything less. We're looking forward to it and to that promised Netflix deal!
