10 Questions For Ellen DeGeneres

By Jeffrey Ressner

Celebrities don't often make the most successful talk-show hosts. JUST ASK Sharon Osbourne or Roseanne. But Ellen DeGeneres, whose daytime syndicated show debuted last fall, has been a rare hit with both critics and audiences. Jeffrey Ressner talked with the TV star and stand-up comedian, who publicly revealed that she was gay in a TIME cover story seven years ago.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR TALK SHOW IS DOING SO WELL?

I've tried not to dissect it. Before the show was put together, everybody asked me what I was going to do differently to make it last. I really didn't have anything planned. I wanted to do something that's fun and that's my sensibility.

WHAT'S THE HARDEST PART OF BEING A TALK-SHOW HOST?

The monologue. I've got to churn out about 10 minutes every single day, and I can't reuse the material. It's real pressure to find something funny every day. I mean, I'll look at a chair or a rug and think, There are people who make rugs--and that turns into something. I try to notice every single thing now and go beyond it.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE--JANET JACKSON PERFORMANCE AT THE SUPER BOWL?

I guess you could say I was shocked. I actually was disappointed. I thought, Uccch. It seemed like it was done for controversy's sake. In a way, I think we've seen enough nudity. It's getting to where we're all numb, and in a way, I'm against (sigh) all the sexuality that's all over the place.

YOU CAME OUT IN A FAMOUS TIME COVER LINE--"YEP, I'M GAY." IF YOU HAD WRITTEN THAT COVER LINE YOURSELF, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT?

It would have been, "Surprised?" I didn't think it would be that big a deal. I thought most people knew. I never did say those words. Now every title of every article about me starts with "Yep" before my name.

ARE YOU EVER SORRY YOU MADE YOUR SEXUALITY PUBLIC?

No, I'm not sorry at all. It's the best thing I ever did for myself. It certainly was a bad thing for my career for a while, and that hurt my feelings in many ways. But once all that settled, I'm able to be exactly who I am and I have nothing to hide anymore.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE BEING A GAY ICON?

I'm very uncomfortable with it, because I'm not. An icon is something that somebody else makes you. I didn't choose to be anything other than a comedian. I just happen to be gay, and I didn't feel like keeping it a secret, so I announced it. I didn't intend for it to be an announcement even. It all turned into this whole big political thing.

YOU WERE THE VOICE OF DORY IN FINDING NEMO. NOW PIXAR [THE FILM'S CREATOR] AND DISNEY SEEM TO BE IN THE MIDST OF A DIVORCE. WHO GETS CUSTODY OF YOU?

Pixar is an amazing company, and that's what made the movie so special. I love those guys. If they do a Finding Nemo sequel, I'd only do it with Pixar.

ARE YOU SUPPORTING ANYONE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION?

No. I haven't even been paying attention. I'm not a political person, and that may be surprising to hear. I don't know enough about what's going on to say anything. It's probably fair to say that I'd support the Democratic candidate, but that being said, I really don't know who it will be.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE STATE OF COMEDY TODAY?

I'd like to see it get a little smarter. Sometimes the entertainment industry doesn't give the public enough credit for getting things, and so they keep lowering the bar instead of raising it. There seem to be a lot of jokes at people's expense, whether it's a magazine making fun of someone's clothes or a stand-up comic pointing out something a person did wrong. We don't even notice it anymore. It's become common to tear somebody down. I don't find it funny.

HOW'S YOUR LOVE LIFE THESE DAYS?

It's fine. People know I'm in a relationship, and that's all they need to know. I don't try to hide it. I'm very happy.