American talk show host and reality star, Ellen DeGeneres is set to stop her long-running daytime TV show.
Ellen shared the big news during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. A source also told the Post, “She’s promised one more season after this one and will exit at the end of the 2021/2022 season.” DeGeneres has hosted the series since 2003, meaning the show will have run for 19 seasons by the time it ends. She explained to the outlet: “When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged – and as great as this show is, and as fun, as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore,” DeGeneres told THR on Wednesday.
Ellen explained during her interview, “I was going to stop after season 16. That was going to be my last season and they wanted to sign for four more years and I said I’d sign for maybe for one. They were saying there was no way to sign for one. “We can’t do that with the affiliates and the stations need more of a commitment.” So, we [settled] on three more years and I knew that would be my last. That’s been the plan all along. And everybody kept saying, even when I signed, “You know, that’s going to be 19, don’t you want to just go to 20? It’s a good number.” So is 19. [Laughs]”
She went on to say, “When we did our 3,000th show, they showed that highlights montage and everybody was emotional. We all hugged and everyone had tears in their eyes, and Mike Darnell was here going, “You really want to [end this]?” Look, it’s going to be really hard on the last day, but I also know it’s time. 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. I just needed something to challenge me. And as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore. I need something new to challenge me.”
This news comes as ratings have plummeted due to allegations of bullying and a toxic work environment on set.