Could ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ finally dethrone Ellen DeGeneres?
If there’s one celebrity whose life has turned upside down in the past few months, it’s Ellen DeGeneres. The talk show host of her eponymous show & a poster-girl for kindness, DeGeneres was found battling multiple allegations of her unkind behavior, towards not just her own employees & audiences, but also people who met her elsewhere, including the girl who waited tables for her.
Her reputation as the epitome of kindness & generosity took a massive hit earlier this year with the allegations of workplace harassment, abuse, and non-payment. The scandal that followed created seemingly irreparable damages to her goodwill.
At first, social media was set ablaze with anecdotal evidence of DeGeneres’ cruelty. This was followed by the crew’s apprehensions over their salary during the lockdown when DeGeneres continued filming with another company.
The reputation goes for a deep dive
Following these nebulous conversations on social media, BuzzFeed News revealed, based on 36 interviews with former staff, how the show created a “toxic work culture” & a general experience of “racism, fear, and intimidation.” This prompted an internal investigation of the show’s workplace by WarnerMedia.
As a result of the investigation, executive producers Ed Glavin & Kevin Leman & co-executive producer Jonathan Norman were shown the exit gates. Ellen had reportedly apologized to her staff & promised to do better in a meeting held over videoconferencing.
In her memo to her staff, she had mentioned, “Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show. I could not have the success I’ve had without all of your contributions. My name is on the show and everything we do and I take responsibility for that.”
Is recovery possible from such a catastrophic headfirst dive?
All things considered, it’s hard to believe that the show can go back to being the same. The allegations & controversies also gave fans a chance to revisit old telecasts & point out various incidents where DeGeneres made her guests comfortable by making distasteful remarks or downright insults. Even if the show doesn’t suffer a huge blow, the critics are ready with their guns at all times.
In such a situation, it’s nothing wild to consider another show & another host taking over the reins. That’s where The Kelly Clarkson Show is making headlines.
The Kelly Clarkson Show is a daytime variety talk show hosted by singer Kelly Clarkson. She’s fun & funny, makes her guests comfortable, gives them space & time to speak, feels so much chirpier than any other talk show host. If the face of talk shows has to be replaced, it’s hard to think of anyone better.
Why we’re rooting for Kelly
There’s something quite welcoming about her demeanor – in sharp contrast with the hierarchy that DeGeneres was so insistent on maintaining. In recent times, Kelly’s also been candid about her struggles with her divorce from Brandon Blackstock, who she married in 2013. There’s something very warm about her personality, and it’d be a refreshing change from the fame & power struggle we often see between talk show hosts & guests.
Celebrity communications expert Danny Deraney seems to agree, “There’s a genuine kindness with Kelly, she comes across as relatable and caring which is something that people of every generation can connect to.”
“It’s an excellent quality for a talk show host because it means you don’t have to be a fan of her music to enjoy watching her show. You can just be a fan of her humanity because there is something that radiates out of Kelly and viewers are drawn to it,” Deraney was quoted as saying.
Case in point
Consider her lockdown chat with Jake Johnson. She very warmly tells him how New Girl – the show that’s getting a second life during the pandemic and lockdown – is a fan-favorite. Then they play a game where they rate random things in their lives, like going pantless on Zoom calls, Jake’s New Girl co-star Max Greenfield and toilet paper with the outside layer facing down.
She lets him talk about his new show Hoops in a way only a true artist can – letting the other artist explain their process & be endlessly intrigued by it. Years & years of hosting can strip this charm & intrigue out of the conversation, so we’re rooting for Kelly.
