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List Price: $19.95 | | Label: A&E Home Video
Salesrank: 11327
Released: September 26, 2006 |
| Our Price: $7.12 |
| Used Price: $7.10 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
One of America's funniest women returns to the small screen in ELLEN: THE COMPLETE SEASON FOUR, which includes all 25 critically acclaimed episodes of the landmark season that made entertainment history. As thirty-something Ellen Morgan, DeGeneres plays a neurotic Los Angeles bookstore owner who manages to get through her daily follies and foibles with the help of her loyal, lovable friends. Overflowing with humor, warmth, and wit, ELLEN serves up ample laughs and offbeat goofiness while also bravely confronting contemporary social issues. The groundbreaking SEASON FOUR includes the famous two-part episode in which Ellen comes out. In short, ELLEN is sitcom comedy at its very best. The star-studded ELLEN: THE COMPLETE SEASON FOUR includes guest appearances by Anne Rice, Trisha Yearwood, Queen Latifah, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Oprah Winfrey, Melissa Etheridge, and many more! DVD Features: Audio Commentary with Writers of "The Puppy Episode"; Cast Biographies; Interactive Menu; Scene Selection
Description of Ellen - The Complete Season Four:
Ellen: The Complete Season Four includes a significant moment in television history: the first time the central character in a situation comedy stepped out of the closet and announced she was gay. The widely-seen "The Puppy Episode Part 1" and "Part 2," closely followed by "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah," were among the final episodes that season. All dealt movingly and comically with the anxiety Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres) experiences as she tells her friends, parents, and the world she is gay, a distress quickly washed away by relief. Helping celebrate the event are a number of famous faces in co-starring or cameo roles, including Oprah Winfrey as Ellen’s therapist, Laura Dern as a gay woman who helps Ellen come to terms with the truth, Billy Bob Thornton as a grocery clerk in a nutty dream, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. laing, Gina Gershon and others. Part of the fun of watching the 25 episodes on The Complete Season Four are discovering little signs along the way that DeGeneres is planning something big, including a sight gag where Ellen literally steps out of a closet. But there are other tumultuous (yet funny) storylines unfolding in Season Four, including Ellen’s agonizing decision to sell her bookstore in order to raise money to buy a house. Ellen remains as manager, working for an executive (Bruce Campbell) who takes over her office with hunting trophies and a desire to cut dead weight—namely Joe (David Anthony Higgins), the attitude-impaired clerk whom Ellen considers a friend. Meanwhile, cousin Spence (Jeremy Piven) navigates a competitive medical residency while romancing Paige (Joely Fisher), and squeaky-voiced Audrey (Clea Lewis) becomes infatuated with a deaf actor who is more attracted to Ellen. Between these big strokes, however, is an endless stream of DeGeneres’ hilarious takes on the simplest things: brushing teeth, waiting to get to the bathroom, drinking too much at a wine-tasting party. An heir to Lucille Ball, DeGeneres is also enough of an actress to convey real angst and sorrow when Ellen’s parents announce a breakup, or when hopes for love fall through. One gets it all here: great comedy and emotional truth. --Tom Keogh
Ellen - The Complete Season Four Reviews:
I Love Ellen 
2009-08-11 - What can I say I Love this show. I love Ellen herself, Joley Fisher, Jeremy Previn
and the whole cast.
The 4th season is the Best of Ellen
2008-11-21 - I really liked Ellen's show,but the forth season was the best for me,when ellen lets it all out,and ended the show by comming out.
The Best one is with Emma Thompson.I played this one over and over again,and love it when Emma comes out to the world that she was born in Dayton Ohio,but the big suprise is when Sean Penn comes out at the end of the show.
I also liked the black and white 50's flashback final.
The SEASON where everything WORKS!!!!!
2008-05-01 - This was the best of the Ellen series throughout its 5 year run. There was something really magically about this season despite the fact that every time you saw Entertainment Tonight it was speculating if the character was coming out the closet or not for an entire year of news coverage. That was the news that was covered all year round till the final infamous coming out episode. It was INSANE the news COVERAGE! Season 3 was really great also and overall this was just a great show. But something really magical about the comedy and the way the CREW just clicked made this season great and stand out from the rest. The storyline were funny and crazy also. Ellen's sense of HUMOR is just on POINT in this season. The relationship between Paige & Spence was also what made the series so great. The plots in this season was so do different as Ellen's world starts to just crumble from the announcement of her parents divorce to Ellen seeing a therapist. Unfortunately this would be the last time Ellen would be FUNNY! Season 5 was such a letdown and i have to agree it deserved to get cancel. I felt the storylines were not tackled well in terms of Ellen being a lesbian on the show. All the jokes seem to lose its magic. I guess COMEDY is better when it's based on speculation rather then the truth being revealed. Season 5 is still a must own for any fan but in all honesty it's a HUGE let down. After the stellar coming out episode in season 4 i was so looking forward to season 5 being 100 times better. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. I also didn't like the relationship between Ellen and her Girlfriend character on the show. They really should have cast someone else that had more chemistry with Ellen. Get this season before it goes out of PRINT. You'll laugh till you CRY and watching these episodes brings back many wonderful memories of the 90's.
Classic, even ten years later
2007-09-25 - Ten years ago, Ellen was a mid rated comedy, a "female Seinfeld" it was once described, about a group of friends living and loving in L.A. Season three Ellen - The Complete Season Threehit its peak, with one of the funniest hour long episodes in the history of sitcoms, Paige's wedding. And then came the infamous season four, with the even more infamous hour on television "The Puppy Episode", which galvanized and turned the nation on its ear, and became the birthmother, intentionally or not.
I purchased season four of Ellen primarily to relive those days gone past, and see if the Puppy Episode held up to the previous "genius" season. And the good news is, it did. With all of the "Ellen is gay" hype gone, and the public thinking of her as more of a Oscar host and congenial television hostess, the episode stands alone now. The thing that is quickly apparent is how personal this show was to Ellen, as she herself comes out of the closet nationally, as her character comes out to her small group of friends. Both make significant impacts on their worlds, but Ellen's world was totally rocked. As she talks with counselor Oprah, she is both Ellen and Ellen Morgan, discussing and divulging the pain of coming out to millions of people who may have never realized how hard it is.
And what is even more surprising is how personal I took the show. It harkened me back to a time where I was struggling with these issues such as Ellen. I didn't take the time, surprisingly, to appreciate how similar she and I were, and how our shared experiences were so revolutionary. The episode itself was proof on how far we've come baby, and how far we have to go still.
Other than "the episode", the entire season plays out well. Many funny episodes are included in this collection, and you'll find yourself laughing out loud from one to another. You can't help but feel that each episode is bringing you one step closer to THE episode. And once that hits, you know you've just fallen into a new, and somewhat different show.
Ellen was courageous, and full of conviction to do what she did, when she did. Bravo to our funny lady, and thank you for teaching us, and taking us on an incredible ride.
Absolutely great
2007-03-10 - We own them all and love every one. Can't get enough of this series - wish it went on longer.
