Ellen DeGeneres‘ first TV appearance in four years did not go as smoothly as planned. The comedian’s guest spot on The Graham Norton Show, which aired October 16, turned awkward when fellow couch guest Quentin Tarantino called her out over a decades-old chat-show snub, according to Unilad and The Mary Sue.
DeGeneres, 68, joined Tarantino, Colin Farrell and Gemma Chan on Norton’s famous red couch with nothing to promote — admitting she “really misses being on TV” four years after her daytime talk show ended in 2022.
“I was never asked”
When Norton asked Tarantino if he had ever appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the director didn’t hesitate. “I was never asked,” Tarantino said, as DeGeneres responded: “I don’t know why that is, I have…”
“I was never asked,” Tarantino repeated. “Now I’m angry,” DeGeneres joked. Tarantino clarified he didn’t “mean it like that” but had always wanted to be invited. DeGeneres explained her booking process involved producers: “As we know, there are producers that bring you people, and I don’t know why you weren’t… I’m so glad we’re meeting now.”
Viewers divided
The appearance drew a swift and divided reaction online. Some viewers questioned why DeGeneres was on the show at all, while others noted she refused to join the other guests in applause. “But why is Ellen DeGeneres on Graham Norton?” one viewer asked, while another joked, “How much did Ellen DeGeneres pay to get on The Graham Norton Show?”
DeGeneres, who now lives in the English countryside, also joked about breaking into British television: “I think it is pretty easy to get on TV here — you have a pottery show, you have a sewing show, and you even have a show about people watching TV shows!” She did not announce any project, leaving fans to wonder whether a comeback is truly on the cards.
No comeback — yet
Despite admitting she misses television, DeGeneres announced no new project on the show, leaving fans to wonder whether a comeback is truly on the cards. For now, the Graham Norton appearance stands as her most high-profile outing in years — awkward Tarantino moment and all.
Love her or loathe her, DeGeneres remains one of the most consequential figures in daytime TV history. Whether the British countryside is her final act or just an intermission, only time will tell.
