<P> The Ellen DeGeneres Show (often shortened to Ellen) is an American television comedy talk show hosted by comedienne / actress Ellen DeGeneres . Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBCUniversal . For its first five seasons, the show was taped in Studio 11 at NBC Studios in Burbank, California . It later moved to Stage 1 on the nearby Warner Bros. lot . Since the beginning of the sixth season, Ellen has been broadcast in high definition . </P> <P> The show has won 59 Daytime Emmy Awards as of 2017, including four for Outstanding Talk Show and six for Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment, surpassing the record held by The Oprah Winfrey Show, which won nine . The show also won 17 People's Choice Award . The talk show's YouTube channel is currently charted as being in the top 20 most - subscribed YouTube channels . On January 20, 2016, it was announced that the show had been renewed for three additional seasons through 2020 . </P> <P> The program combines comedy, celebrity, musical guests, and human - interest stories . The program often features audience participation games where prizes are awarded . During her Twelve Days of Giveaways promotion, audience members receive roughly $1,000 worth of prizes on each of twelve episodes . Because the show has become so popular, not all who arrive hoping to see a taping can fit into the studio, so an offshoot space, dubbed by Tom Hanks "The Riff Raff Room", was created . Persons seated here are often referenced and shown briefly on camera but watch the taping from off - stage . Other non-celebrities have been featured in an attempt by DeGeneres to give them 15 minutes of fame . Guests in this role have included intelligent children, small business owners, etc . In the show's third season, DeGeneres began surprising fans by introducing them to their favorite celebrities . </P> <P> Several recurring sounds, gags, and catchphrases are used by DeGeneres depending on the topic of discussion or theme for a specific episode . For example, after DeGeneres says the phrase, "Aww Snap!", a sound effect of a whip cracking often is played . In her monologue, DeGeneres frequently thanks the audience's applause by saying "I feel the same way about you!" Other video segments include DeGeneres scaring people, playing pranks, taking part in faux - breaking news segments, interacting with crew members, etc . Other recurring segments include those where DeGeneres comments on Internet videos, tabloid - style photographs of celebrities, advertisements on Craigslist, or voicemails left for her on an answering machine . Some segments feature audience members more prominently, including having audience members show hidden talents, pictures of others that resemble DeGeneres, interviewing children, etc . </P>

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