When talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, was asked about how she felt when American Idol runner-up, Adam Lambert came out of the closet, she had the following to say: “It’s the healthiest thing that you can do for yourself, and it’s not trying to be anything other than honest ,,, and you’re helping other people that are struggling.

You know, we’ve seen recently in the press how many kids have killed themselves because of being bullied and teased at school. And so whenever there’s somebody that is successful and talented and happy and openly gay, I think that sends a really positive message for all these kids out there that are struggling.”

I agree with Ellen.  She has broken down barriers by being openly gay even though the admission likely played a role in the cancellation of her sitcom.  I think that there are a lot of people who will benefit from the courage of these celebrities who come out of the closet and I’m glad to see that a veteran like Ellen is showing her support for Adam.

image: Bauer-Griffin

I just wrote about Rachael Ray (and Oprah) choosing not to have children and then this morning, I was on the OK magazine website and saw this article about Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi.

image: Bauer-Griffin

While speaking with AOL’s Inside/TV, the talk show host said:  “No, I don’t think we’re going to have kids.  We have animals, and we love them. They don’t talk back, and they don’t explore their vocal chords out in public. [Portia's] brother and his wife just had a baby girl who’s a month old now, and it’s fun to be a part of that. But no, I think, you know, we definitely thought about it. And it’s something I think most people, as a relationship goes on, explore. But it’s just a huge responsibility, and I don’t know that that’s something we want to take on. We’re very happily married without children.”

It feels like there’s a been a baby boom for a while in Hollywood and I’m beginning to wonder if celebs like Rachael, Oprah and Ellen will inspire a “childless” phase in Tinseltown.  Anyway, I’m glad that these couples are choosing to do what makes them happy and not what they feel they should do to blend in with society.

Ellen’s Biggest, Longer and Wider Show premieres on June 27, 2009 and some big names have been added to the roster.  The TBS variety special will feature appearances by rapper, Kanye West, street magician, David Blaine, and Nick Cannon will serve as the DJ.  

The show will be taped during Chicago’s Just For Laughs festival which marks the first time the event has been held in the United States.

"I’m so excited to be going to Chicago for my variety show," said Ellen DeGeneres. "We’ve got amazing acts, plus I’ve never seen the Liberty Bell up close."

Tickets for The Very Funny Show at Zanies are available through the Zanies box office at 1548 N. Wells St., by phone at 312-337-4027 or online at zanies.com.  Additional Festival information is available at www.justforlaughschicago.com.

If you’re in the area and you can go, I strongly encourage you to check out the festival.  Having grown up in Montreal where Just for Laughs began, I got to attend many events and it’s always a lot of fun and you just can’t beat a live show with Ellen, Kanye, David Blaine and Nick Cannon!

image: Bauer-Griffin

Yesterday, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 (the ban on gay marriage ban) and I am not surprised to see that Ellen Degeneres and other celebrities are responding in a very public way.

Ellen and her wife, Portia de Rossi, are still legally married under the ruling (they wed last August) but she had the following to say: “I’m sure you heard the Prop 8 news. One day when everyone is treated with full equality, we’ll look back and realize how wrong this was,” Ellen said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

Lance Bass, the openly gay former member of N*SYNC echoed in a written statement: “I can only hope to one day live in a country that grants equal rights, opportunity, and freedom to all citizens.”  For more celeb reactions, visit the Access Hollywood site. 

What do you think of the ruling?  Should there be a ban on gay marriage?  Should all Americans have the same civil rights?  Tell me what you think!

image: Bauer-Griffin

According to reports made by Perez Hilton, several of his readers are claiming that they were turned away from seeing rock group No Doubt performing  outdoors. The group performed yesterday for an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The fans had been waiting for 7 hours in the sun and each of them had reserved tickets to the show. Despite the fact that they had reserved tickets, they were denied access due to a major miscount on the show’s part. They over counted 500 people attending the event so those 500 fans left the Warner Bros lot disappointed and terribly unsatisfied.

One woman even claims that she was able to squeeze in behind the stage, but even that turned out to be horrendous. "We had no speakers to hear anything! My nose started bleeding and NO ONE even bothered to see if I was ok. The security guy just gave me a napkin. Two other girls fainted because of the heat."

After all they’d reportedly been through, the fans were then told to call back next season for tickets.

That is just awful!! Some of the fans had even travelled from far away to see No Doubt perform. I don’t understand how you can over count by 500. That is insanity!

Image: Zuma Press

Yesterday, on the Ellen DeGeneres Show comedian, George Lopez and rock group No Doubt stopped by for interviews. No Doubt also performed a couple of their much loved songs including “Just a Girl”, “Hella Good” and “Hey Baby.” As usual, they put a whole bunch of energy into their performances.  Gwen Stefani is crazy! I can’t believe what she does around the 2:10 mark. The vocals weren’t all that great, but it looked like she was having enough fun rocking out!

George Lopez and Ellen spoke about him getting his own late night talk show which will air on TBS, debuting in November 2009. His interview was absolutely hilarious! When Ellen asked him what separated him from other late night talk show hosts, his response was that he’s “not a pasty white guy” I love him and I’m happy that he’s getting his own talk show! I’m sure it’s going to do well

“Just a Girl”:

More after the jump!

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At last, the nominees for this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards have been announced! Of course, some of our favorite talk shows and talk show hosts have been nominated so here is a list of some of the categories and nominations.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show has by far taken the crown for the most amount of nominations this year with over six of them! Rachael Ray and Dr. Phil got a good amount as well. Who are you rooting for? I have no idea who’s going to win for Outstanding Talk Show. It’s quite a close match, so it should be interesting to see who takes it!

This year Vanessa Williams will be hosting the awards show! Make sure to catch the event on August 30th at 8 pm E.T on the CW Network!

OUTSTANDING MORNING PROGRAM

• “Good Morning America”
• “The Early Show”
• “The Today Show”
  

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW / ENTERTAINMENT

• “Live With Regis and Kelly”
• “Rachael Ray”
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”

More after the jump!

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American mothers were asked to choose the celebrity they would feel most comfortable leaving their children with in a ParentDish.com poll.  There were several big names to choose from (including Oprah and Jennifer Aniston, who fared better than Angelina Jolie) but, in the end, the more than 10,000 moms chose (with 31 percent of the votes) Ellen Degeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, even though the couple have no children!

Aniston game in second with 22 percent (she has no kids either!), Jolie and Brad Pitt got 18 percent of the vote and Oprah garnered nine percent.

The poll, which was conducted to mark Mother’s Day on Sunday, was held on AOL’s parenting website ParentDish.com between April 23-May 5.

image: Bauer-Griffin

Ellen Degeneres was honored at the 20th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles this weekend with an award for “Outstanding Talk Show Episode.”  I was confused at first, since I had assumed she had won for being an openly gay talk show host but then I realized that it did, in fact, say “episode.”  When I read the rest of the recap, I quickly understood. 

Ellen was recognized for the episode titled "Ellen & Portia’s Wedding Day" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  I remember that one very well because it brought tears to my eyes.  There was a video montage of the photos from their special day and it just reminded me that love is what matters most so who are we to judge what is right and what is wrong?  It seemed like a beautiful ceremony and I think it was brave of Ellen to broadcast those personal moments on her show.

"Love comes in lots of different forms," said DeGeneres with her wife, Portia de Rossi, standing beside her. "I am flabbergasted by the fact that we’re still trying to fight.  I am not trying to fight for gay rights – I am trying to fight for equal rights."

Many people have enjoyed the comedic lineup during the Just For Laughs festival which is held in Montreal and Toronto annually. 

For the first time ever, there will be an American version of the event, Just For Laughs Chicago, which will feature daytime talk show host, Ellen Degeneres, along with George Lopez, Jimmy Fallon, David Alan Grier, Bill Engvall, Lisa Lampanelli, Louis C.K., Jim Jefferies, Bob Odenkirk and Andy Dick.  Canadian comedian, Russell Peters, is also set to perform.

The Chicago event runs from June 17 to 21, 2009. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, at box offices or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

I’ve attended the Just For Laughs festivals many times in the past since my brother, along with Russell Peters, was a performer and I can tell you that some of the best jokes are told during this event.  If you have the chance, get out and see it!

image: Bauer-Griffin