DeGeneres giving
Celebrities help Ellen spread cheer.
Stack boxes of tissues on end tables with care, in anticipation of tears that will surely be everywhere. NBC’s “Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways” (a complete sobfest) premiered Tuesday (8 p.m. EST), with additional episodes on Wednesday and Thursday.
In the premiere, host Ellen DeGeneres got help from Michelle Obama, Jennifer Aniston and Sterling K. Brown as she bestowed gifts on the down-on-their luck and deserving. Other guest stars that shone as brightly as tree toppers: Chrissy Teigen, Jason Momoa, Justin Timberlake, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Robert Downey Jr., Michael B. Jordan and Melissa McCarthy.
Tuesday’s episode rewarded a hardworking sign spinner who relies on LA’s public transportation, and students at Randle Highlands Elementary School in Washington, D.C., where a large percentage of the students are homeless or in foster care.
Also in the first episode, Aniston helped DeGeneres surprise an out-of-work father and his two daughters, who lost their wife and mother to cancer when they were young. Jeff Kimball’s daughter Elyse made a moving video about their circumstances.
“He has given all he has got for our family of three. He doesn’t deserve this,” Elyse said, wiping her tears. “He’s all I got. He is my life. He is what gets me through the good and the bad,” she added. “For once, I want to give something to him. I want him to get something he deserves, and I can’t do this without help.”
Speaking to DeGeneres, Jeff shared how the comedian’s “Finding Nemo” character Dory inspired his wife’s fight. “She was going in for a 13-hour surgery. The last thing I did was blow her a kiss and say, ‘Just keep swimming,’” he said.
“Oh, my God!” Aniston reacted. “What would your mom say right now if she knew you guys were here?”
“She would be so happy,” Jeff said. “Ellen, she was your biggest fan. So, she would be like, ‘Move over, ‘cause I am getting closer.’”
Touched, DeGeneres said, “I know this time of year is important to you, because she really loved Christmas, and we wanted to make Christmas just a little extra special.”
DeGeneres explained while the family has been at the show’s taping, their house has been infused with Christmas spirit. Video showed the home had lights, decorations, lots of luggage, and a pile of gifts under a glowing tree.
The family rose to its feet in shock. “Wow!” Jeff says with appreciation.
DeGeneres teased the specials, giving her talk show audience a sneak peek last week. And the celebrities featured shared DeGeneres’ giving spirit.
“It’s not enough to go through life just working for yourself,” the former first lady advised. “You gotta reach back and lift others along the way.”
“We wanted to change people’s lives in a bigger way than we ever possibly imagined,” DeGeneres added in the teaser clip.