Ellen DeGeneres on Ending Her Talk Show: 'I Always Knew 19 Would Be My Last' Cynthia Littleton, provided by FacebookTwitterEmail Ellen DeGeneres told her virtual studio audience that she has long planned to wrap her talk show after completing 19 seasons. In “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” episode set to air Thursday, the host in her opening remarks acknowledges the news that broke today of her decision to call it a wrap after the 2021-22 season. She began her Emmy-winning run in daytime in 2003. More from Variety “Two years ago I signed a three-year deal. I always knew in my heart that (season) 19 would be my last,” she said. “Nineteen is a great number.”