On a recent episode of “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” host Ellen Degeneres welcomed a star-studded lineup including Liam Neeson and George Lopez. The festive holiday atmosphere was palpable as the audience members and guests were all dressed in their holiday best.
Ellen began the show by introducing Andy Lassner, one of the show’s producers known for his humorous mishaps on stage. She jokingly mentioned that Andy is Jewish and that the first night of Hanukkah was being celebrated that evening. The audience joined in wishing everyone a happy Hanukkah.
As the show continued, Ellen spoke about the various holiday traditions observed during this time of year. She mentioned the different celebrations like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. Ellen playfully joked about the infamous fruitcake, questioning which culture gave it to us and suggesting that it’s time to put an end to it.
The talk show host then turned her attention to her beloved audience members, highlighting their holiday attire. Ellen mentioned the tradition of wearing festive sweaters and jokingly brought up the relative at every party who hangs mistletoe from their hat.
Keeping the holiday spirit alive, Ellen discouraged dressing up pets as reindeer, citing that they don’t enjoy it. She also mentioned her appreciation for the creativity of those who put wreaths on their car grills, as if they had hunted it down in the woods.
Ellen lightened the mood by discussing the joy and benefits of eggnog, emphasizing the protein content from the scrambled eggs in the drink. She comically suggested that including turkey bacon in cocktails would take care of your health while enjoying the festive season.
The host wrapped up her comedic monologue by encouraging responsible drinking during the holiday season, jokingly mentioning the health benefits of the bar fruits like maraschino cherries.
After this lively introduction, Ellen introduced her first guest, Liam Neeson. The esteemed actor is known for his roles in critically acclaimed films like “Schindler’s List” and “Gangs of New York.” He discussed his experience working on his latest movie, “Kenzie,” receiving praise from critics.
During their conversation, Ellen amusingly revealed that Liam is a devoted toothpick chewer. To commemorate this unique habit, she presented him with a special toothpick holder shaped like a large toothpick. Liam shared that he uses tea tree oil toothpicks and mentioned they help him think. He also jokingly admitted to learning about sex from crude drawings on bathroom walls in his conservative Irish Catholic upbringing.
Later in the show, the second guest, George Lopez, joined Ellen on stage. George talked about his new TV movie, “Naughty or Nice,” and shared funny anecdotes from his career. Ellen expressed her admiration for George’s comedic talent, with his humor being as bright as a long summer day.
The show also included Ellen’s interaction with a fan named Kitty, who she had playfully nicknamed because she reminded her of her own mother. Kitty shared amusing stories about how people recognized her after appearing on the show.
As the show came to a close, Ellen surprised the audience with special gifts. She gave each audience member an American Express gift card worth $50 and Beamer Video Phones, allowing them to video chat with loved ones.
We can always count on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” to deliver entertaining and heartwarming moments, and this episode was no exception. With its festive atmosphere and delightful guests, it was a joyous celebration of the holiday season.
Originally aired on December 7, 2004
