The sun is finally setting on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” after its nearly two-decade-long journey.
The 19th and final season is set to premiere on Monday, September 13, and lovers of Ellen DeGeneres’s eponymous show got to see a long-awaited sneak peek into the first interview that would air.
The teaser clip revealed Jennifer Aniston as she stepped out onto the set of the daytime show trying hard to restrain her tears and sniffles.
It seemed apt that the “Friends” star would be one of the first guests on DeGeneres’s final season as she was the first-ever guest on the program in 2003.
Keep reading below for more information.
Aniston Had All The Feels
For what might be her last time on the show, teary-eyed Aniston made her way to the stage and became choked up as she gave DeGeneres a hug. The actress then sat on the guest chair, and the host handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes.
‘What the hell? This is not supposed to be emotional! God dang it!’ Aniston says as she wiped her tears. ‘Not yet, it’s not even over!’ DeGeneres adds, with the final season of her show set to finish next year.
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Aniston, then disclosed to the audience that she hasn’t “been out” in two years and thinks the last time she was on a talk show in person was when she guest hosted in early 2020.
DeGeneres also acknowledged that Aniston doesn’t go out very often this period, as she has been ‘very careful’ during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I know you don’t go out much, so thank you for being here. I know you’re very, very careful,” she says.
The Welcome Mat
When The 52-year-old actress first appeared on the premiere episode back in 2003 she had gifted the talk show host with a welcome mat.
DeGeneres swore to keep the mat on the side of her stage forever, which regrettably did not happen. She, however, got it replaced and tried to pretend she did.
“I’ve done this show 19 times,” Aniston said while singling out the mat. “That has only been here one time…What department distressed it to look like this?”
“I don’t think it’s the actual one,” DeGeneres responded.
“I think we made a new one. I think the other one’s gone.”
“Oh, well thank you for your honesty,” says Aniston, still wiping tears out of her eyes.
For the premiere week, Aniston would be joined by other A-list celebrities such as Jimmy Kimmel, Tiffany Haddish, Kim Kardashian West, Imagine Dragons, and Charli and Dixie D’Amelio.
‘It’s Time To End Talk Show’- DeGeneres
Back in May, the comedienne gave a very emotional talk about her decision to end the daytime series with season 19.
“Two years ago, I signed a deal for three more years. I always knew in my heart that season 19 would be my last,” she explained.
“The truth is I always trust my instincts. My instinct told me it’s time. As a comedienne, I’ve always understood the importance of … timing. In all seriousness I truly felt like next season was the right time to end this amazing chapter,” she added.
DeGeneres is surely leaving big shoes to fill.
Who’s Next In line?
Although a lot of people have been touted to take up the queen of daytime television crown after DeGeneres leaves, American Idol OG, Kelly Clarkson seems to be the favorite in the running.
Hollywood Reporter recently announced that “The Kelly Clarkson Show” will fill DeGeneres’s old time slot come 2022 paving the way for more speculations.
“I think Kelly Clarkson already surpassed DeGeneres and she is already the next DeGeneres,” said Swoon Talent founder, Donna Benner during a sit-down with E! News recently.
“When Oprah [Winfrey] left, it was, ‘Who’s going to be the next Oprah?’ And it was clearly DeGeneres. And then it became Kelly,” he concluded.
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Well, speculations are not facts and the throne for the new queen is still vacant for now.
