Ellen (DeGeneres) Hooks Up Military With Cruises

The Associated Press (via Yahoo) ^ | November 24, 2005 | The Associated Press

[Living Free in NH]

LOS ANGELES - For relatives and friends of U.S. troops serving in Iraq, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" was the place to be. Studio audience members, all with a military connection, were surprised with the gift of a free cruise at a taping Tuesday. The episode of the syndicated talk show, with guest Tom Hanks, aired Wednesday.

A total of 250 seven-day cruises for four, along with taxes and fees, were given in appreciation of troops deployed from three California bases: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Camp Pendleton and Fort Irwin.

Celebrity Cruises is providing the vacations, available at any time to allow for troops overseas to take part on their return, according to a spokeswoman for the show.

DeGeneres also joined with the USO to send more than 5,000 care packages to the audience's relatives and friends in Iraq. The episode will be repeated on Thanksgiving on the Armed Forces Network.

[LauraleeBraswell]

Well while I don't agree with her politics, I can't help but admire her for doing that.

[Radix]

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, center, joined by actor Tom Hanks, left, appears with military mother Terry Garcia, right, of Long Island, N.Y., during a special taping of the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” at NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif. on Tuesday. The studio audience for this Thanksgiving program was comprised entirely of family members of military personnel serving in Iraq. DeGeneres surprised the audience by giving away cruise vacations for four, along with 5,000 care packages to be sent to Iraq as part of the USO’s Operation Care Package Program. 

[HairOfTheDog]

Kudos to Ellen, and Tom Hanks, who I have always seen as a class act.

[Ghengis]

What very generous things to do.

Some would say it was De Generous thing to do. ;-)

[bikepacker67]

It's amazing to me that a no talent like ellen is still in the news.If she were not a lesbian she would have long ago faded into obscurity..

Have you EVER watched her stand-up?

She's freakin hilarious, with nary a swear word, or sexual connotation. She's a throwback to the Bill Cosby "trip to the dentist" routines.

[asgardshill]

Although I know a few of FR's more unappeasable churchladies will still be taking their shots at her in this thread, I still say: 'Well done, Ellen!'

[LauraleeBraswell]

Shes better than that Rosie O'Donnell.

[Noachian]

She's too much of a liberal to be that generous without politics being involved.

Watch for liberals to be pro-military in the near future, and they may even go to a church.

[Mr. K]

Good for her, but... she is the most over-rated person on TV- why they keep giving her jobs is simple- promoting homosexual agenda.

Besides this was copycat of Oprah

[June Cleaver]

I always thought she was funny, though I do not agree with her lifestyle. Seems she got away from the whole in your face homosexual agenda thing a couple of years ago...and has donemuch better since then.

Now, about this give-away. I agree with bonfire, ginifer, benice, etc. It was a nice thing to do and she did not have to do it. We should be happy for small victories. She is not following suit of those Hollywood celebs who want us to think our soldiers and Marines are out killing babies and worse than Saddam. I say give her credit for doing something good.

I wonder if Tom Hanks had anything to do with it also?

[Still German Shepherd]

I agree, I don't like Ellen Degenerate either.

[PISANO]

Keep it coming Ellen.........you have a long way to go, but I stand behind any effort that HELPS our TROOPS at home, abroad and when in Harm's way.

[Trippin]

I personally like Ellen D. although I don't get to watch her show a lot. Unlike many of the other talk show hosts, she is actually funny, and I have never heard her make political statements one way or another. She stays out of politics, even as others openly banged the drum for Kerry. My wife loves her.

[wideminded]

I like Ellen. She may be a lesbian but she doesn't seem to hate men. That is somewhat refreshing.

[coconutt2000]

If ever the truth were told on this thread as to Ellen's comedic abilities...


You hit it right on the nail.

[Living Free in NH]

She's freakin hilarious, with nary a swear word, or sexual connotation.

She had a stand-up special on HBO (I think) recently. She was taking questions from the audience. As you know, she can draw a strong lesbian fan base. Anyway, someone stands up (pretty close to the stage - about 10-15 rows back) to ask something. Ellen points and says "Yes, Sir?" "He" replied back, "I'm a ma'am." Ellen was very embarrassed, but it was funny as hell.

[HitmanLV]

A wonderful gesture. Kudos to Ellen & he co.

[Inspectorette]

As the mother-in-law of a Marine serving in Iraq, I say that if Ellen is sincere in her motive for doing this, then good on her.

[Ramonan]

Well, she could have just sit there and bitched and complained, and made snide remarks,like the rest of Entertainment.

This is concrete. This isn't just tying a yellow ribbon and just saying that you support the troops.
She may have vices, but I'll give her a pass from now on.

[gc4nra]

"Celebrity Cruises is providing the vacations, available at any time to allow for troops overseas to take part on their return, according to a spokeswoman for the show."


The way I read this Celebrity is footing the bill, no????