I’m so happy that Ellen DeGeneres is hosting the Oscars this year. Have you noticed how little drama there’s been in the lead-up to the Oscars? At this point last year, we already had dozens of insider-y stories about Seth MacFarlane and how he was changing everything, blah, blah. I’m glad the Oscar producers have finally settled on something that works: get someone non-controversial and funny and just do it like that. Anyway, Ellen covers this weekend’s issue of Parade. You can read the full Parade piece online here. Some highlights:
Her two favorite movies: The World According to Garp and Out of Africa. “I love stories that are inspirational yet have a lot of heartache, because I think that’s what life is. Life is filled with struggles and yet there’s always beauty, and that’s what I get from those films.”
On why she initially said no to hosting the Oscar broadcast again (she earned an Emmy nomination for her emceeing duties in 2007): “Everybody who works with me thought I was crazy. But the person who lives with me—Portia—was on my side. She thought, ‘I don’t need to go through this, either. She’s gonna be stressed.’”
On why she ultimately agreed to do it: “I thought, ‘All right, let me scare myself again.’ It’s good to do something that scares you.”
On her commitment NOT to do her trademark dancing on Sunday’s Oscar broadcast: “I’m not going to be dancing. I dance on my show. I don’t think people need to see that every time I do anything.”
On the pride she takes in her supporting role in the 1999 comedy EDtv: “Jen Aniston is my friend and she recently reminded me that I beat her out of that. I got the part and Jen Aniston didn’t! That’ll probably be the only time that happens.”
On being the inspiration for the film Miss Congeniality, in which Sandra Bullock starred: “Miss Congeniality was written based on me. When I was getting ready to cohost the Emmys, the writer saw me [on TV] learning how to walk in a dress and heels. My stylist at the time—a man—was teaching me, and it was hilarious. The Miss Congeniality writer saw it and thought it was brilliant.”
On perhaps following Oprah’s lead and taking on an occasional dramatic film role: “Okay, I’ll do that. Put that I’m available for small roles. If they give me the right one, I promise I’ll be nominated for an Oscar, if not win… You know what? I can tell people that on Oscar night.”
It’s weird that she doesn’t act that much anymore, because I’ve always thought of her as a gifted comedic actress. I mean, she doesn’t have range or anything – her characters always have to be droll and witty – but for what she does, she does it well. I LOVE the Miss Congeniality story too – I’ve never heard that before. So Ellen’s dude stylist had to teach her how to walk in a dress and heels. Amazing.
So, do you think Ellen is going to hit a homerun with her second time hosting the Oscars? I think she will. I think she’ll be lighter and more family-friendly than Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (no jokes about supermodel vagina), but Ellen will do more “bits” and such and I bet they will all be funny.
Photos courtesy of Parade.
I love Ellen, but my favourite Oscar hosts were Chris Rock and Jon Stewart. Nothing better than making a bunch of celebrities uncomfortable.
I loved Jon Stewart too, but I think his Oscar ceremony was like the worst-ratings ever. I doubt they’ll ever ask him back!
Yes, Chris Rock was hilarious.
I love Ellen so much, she can just smile and I fall in love with her.
Jon Stewart hosted! I love him–ever since I saw him have Malala on, and how he genuinely was in awe of her–I love him. I think he’s funny. I’ll see if any clips are on youtube.
I love Ellen, too, and I think she is physically beautiful as well as inwardly beautiful.
Add me to the list for Ellen love…she’s so funny, and I’m happy that she seems to be in a good place in her life and enjoying it.
and I want to see her dance at the Oscars!
I think she’ll do great. Love her!
She’s beautiful but those pics, especially the closer one, are horrible. Makeup, lighting and photographer people all need to be fired STAT!
Love Ellen. She’s hilarious and so much fun! I guess I’ll suck it up and actually watch the Oscars this year.
I know she’s rumored to be really hard to work with, but I just really enjoy watching her show.
I think she’ll do great Sunday night.
I’ve never heard she is an unpleasant person to work with I doubt she would be as popular as she is with that being true
I’ve read a few articles that she can be a very demanding boss. But the boss has to be demanding. And her being a woman of course, it’s going to be looked at by the press as bitchyness.
Wow really??? Spill the tea! About to google this.
Being a woman and a demanding or efficient boss always translates as being a bitch and its sad. If she were a man people would be praising that behavior.
he’s right, she’s a nightmare. her whole staff is terrified of her. “be kind to one another” is just something she says at the end of her show. it’s sad, really.
Who is this “he” you’re mentioning? And where’s your proof? Or at least a legitimate sounding rumor?
Though Ellen has a wonderful energy to her, I wont be watching. I’ll just check out the fashions the next day since they are really all I’m interested in.
I loved her as Dory.
me too! she TOTALLY stole that movie.
“I wish I could speak Whale.”
“Escape”!
I think she is teasing about Miss Congeniality being based off her;)
I love Ellen so much. I think she’ll do great!
Love Ellen. End of. She’s a positive person, and when she smiles she lights up a room. I have a platonic crush on her.
She’ll be fantastic!! Can’t wait to see her.
Ellen’s ’90s sitcom (the one with The Piv and Joely Fisher) was terrific… she and Fisher reminded me so much of Ethel and Lucy. My fave episode was the one where she keep trying to befriend her East Indian neighbors. The more she tried to impress them, the more they disliked her. I think Dan Schneider (the guy who now produces the Nickelodeon shows) was the barista at Ellen’s bookshop.
I remember that episode, it was pretty funny.
I love her too! She was my favorite character on that 80s sitcom based in a real estate office.