Yesterday, Ellen DeGeneres presented one of her "Read Letter Day" segments, where she reads and responds to fan mail. One of the letters was from a girl from Connecticut who lamented the fact that she missed the episode featuring Justin Bieber's performance. "That's why I keep guests around just in case," she said. The host stood up from her chair and found Bieber lying on the ground behind her reading an issue of O magazine.
Bieber was greeted with rapturous cheers from the audience and gave a shout-out to the fan from Connecticut. After announcing the release of his album My World yesterday, Ellen mentioned that Bieber was on Usher's label and that it was only appropriate that Usher was there too.
The curtain on the "Ellen" stage parted and revealed Usher, who danced in and hugged DeGeneres. The R&B superstar told the story about how he found Bieber and revealed that what sold him was Justin's rendition of "U Got It Bad."
DeGeneres then raised the stakes. "You guys should dance a tiny, tiny bit," she said. "Yeah!" kicked in on the PA and the pair both started busting out moves, including Usher's strange sideways moonwalk that Bieber aped perfectly. They closed out the show by reminding everybody about Bieber's golden ticket promotion, which will give winners a chance for a private concert from Bieber and the opportunity to be in one of his videos.
Justin Bieber's promotional blitz for his debut album My World continued yesterday when the 15-year-old singer hit yet another milestone. Bieber made his daytime television debut on yesterday's episode of "Ellen." He performed his first single "One Time," sat down for a brief conversation with the host and got a bit of one-on-one time with some rabid fans.
During their short chat, Bieber told DeGeneres how he parlayed his Internet stardom into a bidding war between Justin Timberlake and Usher, which has lead to his tremendous crossover success. He also told DeGeneres that he attempted to spin his success into a relationship with another pop star.
"Did you ask Rihanna out? Is that true?" DeGeneres asked.
"Yes, that did happen. I just went in," Bieber said.
"And what did Rihanna say?"
"Well, I'm not dating her," he replied. Still, he held out hope for a possible relationship in the future. "Maybe in a few years."
DeGeneres repeatedly called Bieber "adorable," and the singer told her that the biggest lesson he has learned from his new mentor is that he needs to "stay humble." Bieber's debut album My World hits stores on November 17, and his new single "Favorite Girl" — a funky, groovy, swaggerific jam — just debuted on iTunes today. So far, Bieber has dropped three other singles ("One Time," "One Less Lonely Girl" and "Love Me"), each of which has catapulted up the iTunes charts ("Favorite Girl" currently sits at #4). Check out his "Ellen" performance of "One Time" below.
Ellen DeGeneres spent most of the month of October pranking staffers and celebs on her show, so when Taylor Swift stopped by last Thursday (October 29), she probably should have been expecting something. But based on video evidence, the country star was caught completely off guard by the newest "American Idol" judge.
Swift followed in the footsteps of Katie Couric, Mario Lopez, Lauren Graham and David Spade, who all got a little scare from Ellen. DeGeneres showed the audience Swift's prank on Friday's episode of the show, and in the grand scheme of everyone who got pranked, Taylor definitely was the biggest scaredy cat.
The pranks all followed the same sort of formula: Ellen sent stars off to a green room where she told them there was a picture of the pair hanging up in the bathroom. Just as the celeb walked into the bathroom, Ellen popped out from behind a door to give them a fright. For the most part, people just kind of did a quick scream and laughed it off, but Taylor got truly frightened.
She got so scared of Ellen's prank that she screamed very loudly and fell to the floor. After a few seconds she composed herself, started laughing hysterically with Ellen and shared a hug with the talk show host. Ellen said it best: "Oh my god! That was the best one yet!"
Adding an "Idol" superfan to the panel is a fun idea. I think many of us assumed producers would find a washed-up pop star from a past decade to replace Paula. But going with the diehard fanatic is an interesting twist that threw me for a loop. Congrats to "Idol" for still having tricks up its sleeve.
But three things concern me with their choice of Ellen.
First, Ellen posted a video on her daytime chat show's Web site in which she promises to take the role of the viewer. She said, "I'm the people's point of view 'cause I am just like you. I sit at home and I watch it. I'm not looking at that in a critical way from [a] music producer's mind. I'm looking at it as a person who's going to buy the music and relate to that person. So hopefully I'll be the voice of what we're all doing at home."
But let's be honest. Nine times out of 10, the home viewer is the harshest critic of them all. Admit it: You've sad things about these singers that would make Simon Cowell blush. We rag on contestants left and right. If anything, us "Idol" geeks have been upset that the judges haven't been hard enough on certain contestants. (I know I was harshest on Danny Gokey because I didn't think he received enough criticism from the panel.) This video statement from Ellen worries me because I find it disingenuous and not representative of who she actually is. She's a zillionaire celeb who is likely too afraid to piss anyone off. She'll be more like the "Idol" cheerleader than you or I would ever be. If you're gonna claim to be "the armchair critic," Ellen, you better be prepared to really go there. Join the party. Come to the dark side.
Secondly, Ellen guest-judged this past summer on "So You Think You Can Dance" and her appearance was frustrating to say the least. Read more...
Lately, there's been a mess of speculation that Mariah Carey and hubby Nick Cannon are expecting a little bundle of joy. And Mariah's appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which airs today, is only raising the alert level on the baby-bump watch.
When asked by the talk-show host if she is pregnant, the singer gave this response, "No, that's OK [to ask]," E! Online reported. So, the wily Ellen instead offered the pop star a glass, saying, “You don’t have to answer that. Let’s just toast with champagne.” Read more...
Here come the brides...Ellen DeGeneres and longtime girlfriend Portia De Rossi are getting hitched in a good, old-fashioned, legally recognized style.
Ellen announced the news while taping her show yesterday –- the same day California courts ruled against a ban on gay marriages. Studio audience members cheered and gave a standing ovation as Portia watched from the sidelines. (You might remember Portia from "Ally McBeal” and, more recently, “Nip/Tuck.”)
"I'm thrilled that the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage," she told The Advocate magazine yesterday. "I can't wait to get married. We all deserve the same rights, and I believe that someday...not allowing gays to marry will seem as absurd as not allowing women to vote."
