The Ellen DeGeneres Show concluded its 19-season run with its final episode.
On May 26, 2022, the final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show aired, bringing to a close a 19-season run that had begun in 2003. The show had become one of the most-watched and most-awarded daytime talk shows in American television history, earning dozens of Daytime Emmy Awards over nearly two decades on the air.
The decision to end the show followed controversies in 2020 involving allegations of a toxic workplace culture behind the scenes, which had affected the show's ratings and public perception in its final seasons. Despite this, the finale was treated as a major cultural moment, with DeGeneres reflecting on the show's legacy, its impact on popular culture, and her personal journey as a host.
The show's conclusion marked the end of an era in daytime television, one defined by viral dance segments, celebrity interviews, philanthropic giveaways, and DeGeneres's efforts to promote kindness as a core value of her brand. Even amid the controversies of its final years, the show's long run and numerous accolades ensured its place as one of the most significant and influential talk shows of the early 21st century, and DeGeneres's role as its host remained central to her broader legacy in American entertainment.