LOS ANGELES, CA – It’s the end of an era for daytime television. On Wednesday, May 12, Ellen DeGeneres announced that the 19th season of her eponymous daytime talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” would be its last.
In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” DeGeneres explained her decision to end her long-running talk show and said that she was ready to start a new chapter.
“I’m a creative person, and when you’re a creative person you constantly need to be challenged, which is why I decided to host the Oscars or why I decided to go back to stand-up when I didn’t think I would,” DeGeneres said. “I just need something to challenge me. And as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore.”
She also shared the news with her viewers on the May 13 episode of her show, which featured a virtual guest appearance from longtime friend and former talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
The two discussed DeGeneres’ decision to end her show and Winfrey, who said goodbye to her own eponymously named talk show in 2011, empathized with the mix of emotions that DeGeneres was feeling.
“I know what those feelings are, I also know the feelings leading up to it,” Winfrey said. “So, hearing you say and announcing to the world that it was your instinct and that you thought long and hard about it, because anybody would know that something as powerful as the show is in other people’s lives, that you would not take that lightly.”
During an interview with “Today’s” Savannah Guthrie, DeGeneres said that it was difficult having to break the news to her staff and crew.
“That was emotional because I haven’t been sleeping. I’ve been trying to anticipate how to tell them and hope that everybody would take it ok,” DeGeneres said. “A lot of people were very emotional, I got emotional.”
She also dispelled the rumors that she was ending her show because of the controversy she faced last summer surrounding allegations of a toxic workplace.
“If it was why I was quitting, I would’ve not come back this year,” DeGeneres said. “Because everything happened what you’re talking about, is last summer and honestly I really did think about not coming back.”
The 18th season of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” premiered last September and recently celebrated its milestone 3,000th episode on April 29.
Through her show, DeGeneres has had 1,600 musical guests, conducted 2,400 celebrity interviews and has won an astonishing 64 Emmys.
While the show may be coming to an end next season, DeGeneres called the show the “best experience of [her] life” and told Guthrie it’s what she’s most proud of.
“To do something for 19 years, especially something that nobody thought would happen you know, or give a chance,” DeGeneres said. “I had to fight really hard to get this show, so it’s just, it’s something I’m really proud of.”
