A stand-up comic who makes fun of the trivial things in life while doing nothing, really, with her three sarcastic friends? Obviously, somebody watched a lot of Seinfeld. Ellen, a bookstore owner, always interfered where she shouldn’t and rambled uncontrollably when a situation made her nervous. People in her life were java buff Joe, self-centered Paige, cousin Spence and shrill Audrey, an apparition in pink. Not terribly funny in the beginning even if the show had few interesting characters… but changes were made. Ellen DeGeneres eventually outed herself on the show – but it was canceled shortly thereafter. Pity. The final episodes showed this could have been a winner.
1994-1998:U.S. Made for TV. 109 episodes. Color. Created by Neal Marlens, Carol Black, David S. Rosenthal. Cast: Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen Morgan), David Anthony Higgins (Joe Farrell, 94-98), Joely Fisher (Paige Clark, 94-98), Jeremy Piven (95-98), Arye Gross (94-96), Clea Lewis (95-98), Holly Fulger (94), Maggie Wheeler (94).
Trivia: The show’s title in the first season: These Friends of Mine.
Emmys: Outstanding Writing 96-97, Guest Actress (Emma Thompson) 97-98.
AVERAGE