Ellen (1994)
Ellen is an American television sitcom that aired on the ABC network from March 29, 1994 to July 22, 1998, consisting of 109 episodes. The title role of Ellen Morgan, played by stand-up comedian Ellen DeGeneres, was a neurotic bookstore owner in her thirties. The series centered on Ellen's dealing with her quirky friends, her family and the problems of daily life. The series is notable for being the first one in which the main character came out as gay, which DeGeneres' character did in the 1997 episode "Puppy Episode". This event received a great deal of media exposure, ignited controversy, and prompted ABC to place a parental advisory at the beginning of each episode. The series' theme song, "So Called Friend" is by Scottish band Texas. A running gag was that each episode had a distinct opening credits sequence, resulting from Ellen's ongoing search for the perfect opening credits.
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Episode 1 - Shake, Rattle and Rubble
Release Date: 1995-09-13Ellen's world is turned upside down when an earthquake devastates Buy the Book. Ellen tries to salvage her business, with little help from her friends. Meanwhile, the arrival of her high-energy cousin shakes up Ellen's relationships and jolts her into speaking up for herself.
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Episode 2 - These Successful Friends of Mine
Release Date: 1995-09-20Ellen feels left in the dust when Paige and Adam's careers take exciting turns, so she embarks on a journey to find her own dream.
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Episode 3 - The Shower Scene
Release Date: 1995-09-27Ellen labors to make amends after accidentally taping over a video of Paige's sister giving birth to twins, so she throws a lavish baby shower to relieve her guilt.
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Episode 4 - The Bridges of L.A. County
Release Date: 1995-10-04Ellen takes a stand for womanking, rewriting the ABCs of dating after Spence's one-night stand with a member of her reading group.
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Episode 5 - Hello, I Must Be Going
Release Date: 1995-10-18Before moving to England for an exciting job opportunity, Adam makes a surprising personal revelation to Ellen, who must deal with the awkward consequences when his trip is postponed.
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Episode 6 - Trick or Treat- Who Cares?
Release Date: 1995-11-01As Halloween approaches, Ellen's high spirits have no effect on Spence, who is haunted by thoughts of his life. Meanwhile, Paige doesn't have a ghost of a chance of completing her first big assignment without help, and Joe is spooked by Audrey, who thinks she's been hired at Buy the Book.
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Episode 7 - She Ain't Friendly, She's My Mother
Release Date: 1995-11-08Ellen is elated when her mother enters therapy but she's not that crazy about her mom's idea that mother and daughter become friends.
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Episode 8 - Salad Days
Release Date: 1995-11-15Inspired by domestic diva Martha Stewart, Ellen throws an elegant dinner party, but she's the one who's thrown when an unexpected guest arrives.
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Episode 9 - The Movie Show
Release Date: 1995-11-22Ellen is thrilled when Paige's first film project shoots at Buy the Book, but her enthusiasm is soon outweighed by her disappointment with Paige's show-biz ways.
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Episode 10 - What's Up, Ex-Doc?
Release Date: 1995-11-29Thanks to Ellen's miscommunication, Spence and his equally combative dad have reached a peace settlement, but Ellen is determined to set things straight, even though it will result in father and son resuming their battle of wills.
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Episode 11 - Ellen's Choice
Release Date: 1995-12-06Ellen is thrilled when she's invited to appear on the television program ""Book Chat."" However, her ecstasy turns to agony when she's forced to decide which three of her five book club members will join her.
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Episode 12 - Do You Fear What I Fear?
Release Date: 1995-12-20Ellen's holiday spirits hit an all-time low when her parents present her with a cemetery burial plot as a Christmas present.
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Episode 13 - Horshack's Law
Release Date: 1996-01-03Ellen is thrilled when Paige invites her to an exclusive birthday party for John Travolta. But their fantasy evening turns into a nightmare thanks to some uninvited guests and an overly sensitive limo driver.
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Episode 14 - Morgan, P.I.
Release Date: 1996-01-10When Buy the Book is robbed, Ellen volunteers to become the bait in a police sting operation designed to catch the ""perp.""
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Episode 15 - Oh, Sweet Rapture
Release Date: 1996-01-24It's Ellen to the rescue when Audrey buys a new car that comes with an extended warranty and an extended family of fanatics.
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Episode 16 - Witness
Release Date: 1996-02-07Recruited by Spence to play the key witness in a mock trial, Ellen assumes the role of a stripper, but must perform some fancy footwork when she loses her notes.
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Episode 17 - Ellen: With Child
Release Date: 1996-02-14Looking after Paige's boyfriend's daughter for the weekend, Ellen is proud of the way she communicates with her charge. But when the fourth grader asks Ellen about sex, she's tongue tied.
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Episode 18 - Lobster Diary
Release Date: 1996-02-21Ellen is heralded as a hero when she rescues a lobster from a restaurant and tries to set it out to sea, but the elderly lobster has other plans.
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Episode 19 - Two Ring Circus
Release Date: 1996-02-28Ellen gets caught in the middle of Paige and Matt's relationship when Paige's engagement ring gets stuck on Ellen's finger.
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Episode 20 - A Penney Saved...
Release Date: 1996-03-13Money problems force Ellen to consider giving Audrey the ax, but when Audrey's parents buy a slice of the bookstore, it's with strings attached.
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Episode 21 - Too Hip for the Room
Release Date: 1996-03-20Disappointed when Buy the Book isn't voted one of L.A.'s ""Top Twenty Hippest Hangs,"" Ellen hires a lounge act to draw a hipper crowd, and is elated when the group proves popular--until she realizes why.
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Episode 22 - Two Mammograms and a Wedding
Release Date: 1996-04-03Ellen is afraid Paige's marriage will end their friendship so, while nervously awaiting a mammogram, she latches onto Chloe, but soon discovers that making new friends isn't as easy as it used to be.
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Episode 23 - Go Girlz
Release Date: 1996-05-01Ellen throws a bachelorette party for a despondent Paige, inviting her high-powered studio boss and a psychic aerobics instructor whose dire predictions seem to be coming true.
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Episode 24 - When the Vow Breaks (1)
Release Date: 1996-05-08When Paige's wedding day is marred by complications, maid of honor Ellen manages to keep it together. But things threaten to fall apart when she stumbles on an unlikely couple just before the ceremony.
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Episode 25 - When the Vow Breaks (2)
Release Date: 1996-05-15With Paige's marriage mere moments away, it's up to maid of honor Ellen to decide if things will go off with or without a hitch.
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Episode 26 - The Tape
Release Date: 1996-05-14Ellen and her friends make a frantic effort to retrieve a racy videotape that winds up in the wrong hands.
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Episode 27 - The Mugging
Release Date: 1996-05-21A reluctant Ellen is persuaded to come forward as the witness to a mugging she never saw.