Matt Buckler: Ellen DeGeneres had a fantastic run
May 27—When Ellen DeGeneres started her talk show in 2003, it didn't take me long to come up with an opinion — failure. It appeared to be another example of a big-name star coming up empty in the talk show environment. The show was unorganized, and DeGeneres struggled as an interviewer. The out-of-studio segments were not interesting. I didn't even like the disc jockey.
But DeGeneres did smile a lot, and now I know why. She has just finished one of the most amazing talk shows in TV history, winning a busload of Daytime Emmy Awards. It took DeGeneres a couple of weeks to figure out how to put together a successful talk show and then she went on a 19-year roll.
On her final show this week, she mentioned how it was a struggle to convince local TV stations to carry her show because she was gay.
She overcame that with her cheery personality and her ability to attract top-tier guests — and her ability to connect to average people who came on her show. She always seemed interested in them and when you're on television for five hours a week, viewers can tell if a host isn't sincere. DeGeneres was always sincere.
In the past two years, DeGeneres has been accused of creating a hostile work environment. She was able to overcome those complaints, keeping any turmoil off the set.
Not everyone is a DeGeneres fan. But her 19-year record of longevity in the tough talk-show industry is going to be very tough to surpass.
NBA prevails
The TV ratings for National Hockey League games used to be at subterranean levels, far below those of the other major sports.
In recent years, the ratings have climbed, especially this year thanks to the new contracts the league signed with ESPN and Turner Sports.
Even with a ratings boost this year, however, the NHL is no match for the National Basketball Association. The NBA slam-dunked the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Wednesday by about the length of the Golden State Bridge.
Game 5 of Boston Celtics-Miami Heat conference semifinals on ESPN took in 6.4 million viewers, making it the No. 1 show on cable. It far exceeded the Cup game between the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Blues on TNT, which pulled in 1.4 million viewers.
Obviously, the Celtics-Heat had some advantages — the Celtics are one of the premier teams in the league and one of the premier teams in sports.
The difference is obvious, however. NHL ratings are improving, but they still have a long way to go to reach the NBA.
'Chicago' dominance
The most-watched show Wednesday was on broadcast TV — "Chicago Fire," which attracted 7 million viewers for its sizzling season finale.
Rounding out the Top 3 were the other two members of NBC's Chicago trilogy, "Chicago Med" (6.4 million) and "Chicago P.D. (5.98 million). That's been the case all season — as long as those three shows have first-run episodes, they dominate the Wednesday ratings chart.
Martha Stewart made a prime-time appearance Wednesday with "The Great American Tag Sale," on ABC, which finished with just over 3 million viewers.
Attaching the Martha Stewart name to a show does mean something — such as a million extra viewers.
Liotta's legacy
When most people think of the career of actor Ray Liotta, which ended this week when Liotta died at the age of 67, they automatically remember one movie — "Goodfellas." The film is regarded by many as the greatest gangster movie ever made. The 1990 classic made Liotta a star.
While the bulk of his work was in movies, he did have an impact on television. He had a flawless performance in the 1988 HBO made-for-TV movie, "The Rat Pack."
He starred as Frank Sinatra and had the role down cold, from his loyal friendships, especially to President John Kennedy, to his explosive temper.
The movie aired almost 35 years ago, but is still one of Liotta's best.
He also starred in a primetime TV series, "Smith" during the 2006 season. Not many remember that one, however, because the show was terminated after just three episodes.
That was one of the few blemishes on Liotta's great career. It took just one theatrical movie, "Goodfellas," and one made-for-TV movie, "The Rat Pack,' to make it that way.
Follow Matt Buckler for more television, radio, and sports coverage on the JI's Twitter @journalinquirer, and see his articles on the Journal Inquirer Facebook page.
