Whats Hot On TV

Ellen deGeneres finally made her return to daytime TV today after a very fruitful summer for her. She made big news marrying longtime girlfriend Portia DeRossi, giving her that and many other things to discuss today. Following her lead, another comedienne, Bonnie Hunt, tried to carve out her own niche in the daytime talk circuit.

In a new studio, she was introduced as Mrs. Ellen deGeneres. The set looked very much like her old one which seemed odd considering she was in a whole new place. Also odd was that she’d been waiting a long time to say something, and it didn’t have anything to do with her wedding. What she wanted to say was, “Tony, make me dance.” DJ Tony Okungbowa had left a few years ago, and was followed by Jon Abrahams, then Stryker last season. Never did she explain what had happened to Stryker. I’ve researched and can’t find any information online either.

Ellen did talk about her wedding and brought some photos. We’d already seen some of them posted online and in magazines, but it was still nice to see Ellen sharing them so proudly. She also showed off her wedding ring. She’s come far since her sitcom which folded not too long after she announced she and her character were gay, then spent a good deal of time blacklisted in the industry.

Her guests were Michelle Obama and The Jonas Brothers. Obama was a good spirit, participating in a skit with Ellen that thad them screaming outside The Jonas Brothers’ door, and later danced, prompting Ellen to announce she was a better dancer than her husband. The Jonas Brothers appeared in the chairs with Ellen and also sang outside at the end of the show. My daughter walked in off the school bus just as they were beginning to perform, and she was more than thrilled. Ellen’s guests for day two of season six will be gymnast Shawn Johnson, gold medal winner, and Joshua Allen, the winner of So You Think You Can Dance.

Bonnie Hunt premiered a talk show as well yesterday. I kept thinking she had had a talk show before, but she hasn’t. I was reminded that that’s a part she played in her old sitcom, so maybe that’s what I was thinking about. She talked about growing up watching talk shows like Dean Martin’s, saying that same type of feel is what she is after here and the reason as to why she has numerous pictures lining the walls of her studio of stars of the past. Bonnie is known to be a big family person and that held true in her show as she talked about her family often and even had her young niece on to help her open the show. She also interviewed kids at a school, talking to them about having crushes on each other. It couldn’t have helped when one of the boys guessed she was over 100 years old.

Robin Williams, Bonnie’s costar in the film Jumanji, was her first guest, very fittingly. When Robin is the guest, the host never has to do very much. They just need to let him go. Bonnie did need to remind him in more than one occasion that it was daytime TV, and he was getting in dangerous territory, getting a little blue. Her second guest was Joe Mantegna, her fellow Chicagoan, appearing through a door on the set with a doorbell, the same way Dean Martin would welcome his guests. He brought with him a welcoming pizza for Bonnie and Robin, and italian beef sandwiches for the whole audience. You couldn’t get more Chicagoan than that! Cloris Leachman is Bonnie’s guest on Tuesday, giving us more great humor.

I think the Bonnie Hunt Show is going to be a success, as she seems to have what it takes. She’s unproven, just as deGeneres was six years ago, but she has a warmth that comes through, whether she’s sharing a family anecdote or making a joke. If Tyra Banks can be successful with it, I see now reason why Bonnie Hunt can’t be as well.

Ellen photo courtesy of ellen.warnerbrothers.com and Lara Porzak and Bonnie photo courtesy of bonniehunt.com

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