The Politico reports:
The results of a March 26, 2008, AOL Television popularity poll of television hosts reveal Americans may now embrace Ellen DeGeneres over Oprah by a wide margin. Forty-six percent of the 1.35 million people who participated in the poll said the daytime talk show host that "made their day" was Ellen, compared with only 19 percent who chose Oprah. Nearly half (47 percent) said they would rather dine with Ellen, compared with 14 percent who preferred Oprah.
To be sure, Oprah remains one of the most popular figures in America, but recent data suggest her popularity has eroded. One possible explanation for this decline is that her endorsement of Obama and her support for him may have done more to damage impressions of her than to strengthen support for Obama.
If this analysis is correct, daytime chat viewers don't much like overt political endorsements by show hosts, but are comfortable with Ellen ("Yep, I'm Gay") Degeneres, who doesn't browbeat her audience over the issue but did recently movingly address the murder of young Lawrence King.
As both Rosie O'Donnell (back when she was seen as the Queen of Nice) and Ellen have shown, gay women have broken through a media barrier. But no out and proud gay man has come anywhere close to such onscreen success as of yet.
15 Comments for “Ellen Tops Oprah!”
posted by Bobby on
I’m proud of Ellen, unlike Oprah, she knows she’s in the business of being an entertainer, not a political supporter.
I’m glad many Americans enjoy her show, although frankly, I liked her better when she was doing stand up comedy, she’s a great comedian, but now many comedians are becoming lazy, they would rather do talk shows than write original material.
And frankly, what’s with all the dancing? It’s so corny. But whatever, people like Ellen show the rest of America that gays aren’t so weird after all. And she does have a very sexy girlfriend, a lot prettier than that Heche bitch.
I just hope no liberal screams “racism” just because her ratings are good. Wouldn’t that be funny?
posted by NG on
Good for Ellen, bad for Oprah, but I wonder if any of this will have any bearing on TV ratings? It’s hard to imagine anything making a dent in the Oprah Media Empire.
Ellen’s comments on the Lawrence King tragedy are really good. She kept to the facts instead of bringing up things like his cross-dressing. My understanding is that the whole “be my valentine” episode was the motive, not the way he was acting or dressing. I could be wrong though.
posted by Richard on
I am not sure that its safe to say that gay women have broken through the media glass ceiling.
Gay women, have often been treated as somehow being less threatening them gay or bi men.
posted by Michigan-Matt on
Stephen notes: “But no out and proud gay man has come anywhere close to such onscreen success as of yet.”
Isn’t uberliberal Anderson Cooper of CNN considered an entertainer? He sure isn’t a journalist.
Opps, my bad. He’s a newsreader. And he isn’t exactly out, unless you redefine what the word “out” is.
posted by NG on
I am not sure that its safe to say that gay women have broken through the media glass ceiling.
Maybe not in all of media, but they certainly have done well in the talk show arena. I can’t think of any gay man who has been as popular as Ellen and Rosie. Then again, I can’t think of a gay man in this area who isn’t the screechy, gay stereotype. I don’t watch those types of shows. Maybe I’m just missing something.
posted by Bobby on
Anderson Cooper is gay? For real?
I think Perez Hilton has achieved a lot of success, although he doesn’t have his own TV show yet, and frankly, the man makes me sick. He’s too gay.
posted by Richard on
Anderson Cooper is a good example of how far we have gone and how far we have to go.
Is he being ‘tight lipped’ about his (cough, cough) ‘private life’ because of homophobia? sincere modesty?
posted by Jason D on
part of the reason I think that gay male entertainers haven’t come as far is because…
Outing yourself is generally more empowering for women than it is for men(at least in Hollywood), it appears to be more of a lateral shift, than a step backwards. Being a straight male(especially white ones!) definitely has it’s privileges still, and an actor wants to keep as many of those perks as he possible can. Most of the gay actors I know who remain in the closet don’t want to be looked over for a role based on their sexuality. Rupert Everett anyone? The only gay equity theatre in Chicago is notorious for only casting STRAIGHT men in it’s gay plays. So coming out tends to double screw you.
Those that are Out tend to be Out because the closet door was made of crepe paper: it would be darn near impossible for them to pass as straight, so they don’t even bother. To be honest, the entertainment industry runs on marketability, entertainment factor — most butch gays are as interesting and entertaining as wet toast. If you can find a funny, interesting, captivating AND Butch gay man — his agent will probably insist he get a beard and stay in the closet anyway.
posted by Richard on
I would largey agree with Jason’s comments.
I have known a few closeted gay and bi men in the entertainment industry and many simply do not want to have their career shot down.
Openly gay and bi men do not seem to have many different casting choices in Hollywood, it improves somewhat with tv and no one is too sure about video games.
posted by Jorge on
Well where can men go in entertainment or TV where they have the liberty to be get that deep about themselves to their audience and still have commercial success? The only thing I can remotely think of is late night TV. Everyone else has to play a role.
posted by Jacob Mayhew on
I like Ellen a lot and have seen her numerous times, but I would much prefer to watch Oprah and her topics to do with bettering the earth and ourself (for the majority), than some entertainer blabbing about their movie. Oprah has entertainers as well, but not primarily.
posted by Wha... on
Ellen not political? Didn’t she throw her hat in for Clinton?
posted by Richard on
I think that she had Clinton on her show once, and I am not sure if she made a formal nod or has had the other candidates on.
posted by Marc on
So i am the only gay guy who finds Ellen dull, her comedy trite and her show the equivalent of being trapped at a party with a group of people who keep telling the same joke over and over again? Friends have told me they thought her crying jag over a dog was their jumping shark moment, but I never found anything funny about her.
posted by Bobby on
Marc, you don’t have to like her TV show, but her stand-up comedy is quite brilliant. She’s not obscene, she finds humor in everyday life, she can talk about ants and make it funny. Not many comedians can pull off material like that.