The Story So Far...
Ellen Degeneres may be better known as a dancing talk show host now, but she established herself as a stand-up act, earning the ultimate compliment when Johnny Carson invited her to sit down after her set on "The Tonight Show." From there, she got a sitcom, came out to America and took over as a housewife favorite on daytime TV.

Warner Brothers has released both of these comedy specials previously, with "Ellen DeGeneres - The Beginning" coming out in 2000, and "Ellen DeGeneres - Here and Now" in 2003. DVDTalk has a review of "Here and Now" here.

The Show
Ellen's comedy career, based on a style heavy on observation, hit the mainstream with her role on the cult comedy "Open House" and a hilarious "One Night Stand" special that was alternately bizarre and down-to-earth. There was something universal about her comedy, which focused on the little things in life and tangents that took jokes in various and hilarious directions. However, once she came out publicly as a lesbian, it seemed like the entire focus was on being gay, which turned people away and eventually helped bring about the end of her eponymous TV series.

After some time out of the spotlight, and some underwhelming film roles, Degeneres returned to comedy, once again taking the stage for HBO.

It may be a result of her time off, or her status as an "alternative" comic at the time of the taping, but "The Beginning" is not the usual Degeneres comedy, in that it touches on themes that are a bit more risqué than usual. Sex toys, homemade porno and plenty of ass talk mark a routine that is a departure for the usually squeaky clean comedienne. It's almost uncomfortable listening to her talk about sex, though her good-natured personality sells it as more innocent than it might be in another comic's hands.

The other discomforting factor is the tinge of politics that's floating just beneath the surface of the show. The first seven minutes, which are filled with some more of her dancing, center around Degeneres' orientation, while later she slips into a bit about gay rights, which is funny as it satirizes the idea that gay marriage is a step before bestiality. On the other hand, it does come off a bit too serious for a comic who, until her coming-out, was basically a goofball. Follow it up with an uber-PC bit about meeting God, and you have a new philosophical Ellen, one that though funny, is different than the one that Johnny fell for.

The show is followed by excerpts from a post-show Q&A that reveal that A) gaydar isn't perfect and B) a lesbian fan-base creates issues you wouldn't expect. This section puts an emotional capper on the night and including it was a nice touch.

A few years later, Degeneres followed up her successful second book with a special of the same name, "Here and Now," performed on the same stage. Opening up with a gay run that gets the politics of her cultural status out of the way, this special sees the comic looking better than she did three years earlier and performing an act that's more in line with her reputation.

Riffing on things like procrastination, TV, memory and the movies, Degeneres is in fine form, connecting on a variety of life's quirks, though her observations have a hint of negativity to them now. Her observational comedy seems more like complaints during much of the show. Though none of this act is particularly original or enlightening, it's the way that she delivers the jokes that makes them work, as her frustration with life isn't annoying, like it could be.

The best of her comedy comes from her ability to be simply weird. It's not usual for a female comic to pull out the odd things Degeneres does, like jokes about monkeys and yogurt, but combined with the more pedestrian parts of her act, they make for a good time that anyone can enjoy, as she's back to her clean, easily accessible comedy.

The DVD
This collection collects two previously released DVDs, and wraps them in a cardboard wrapper that holds two standard-width keepcases. Based on the copyright information, it seems like "Here and Now" is the original disc, and "The Beginning" is a new printing, marked 2005. Each disc comes with a one-sided insert that lists the chapter stops.

Though the special starts automatically when the disc starts, "The Beginning" features a static main menu, with links to play the special, select scenes and check out the special features. The scene selection menu is a text list of chapter stops, and there are no language or subtitle options. The disc is closed captioned though.

"Here and Now" also features a static main menu, with the same options: play the special, select scenes and check out the special features. Once again, the scene selection menu is a text list of chapter stops, and there are no language or subtitle options. This disc is closed captioned as well.

The Quality
There's nothing to dislike about either special's full-frame presentation, with both boasting gorgeously clear video, excellent color and a good amount of detail. Sure, it's just Ellen and a mic on-stage, but it's a very nice presentation. There's no obvious pixilation or dirt and damage evident.

The audio, presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, is equally good, with Degeneres in the center channel, and enhanced crowd noise in the surrounds. Once again, it's a simple mix, but it works for what it is.

The Extras
The only extras are a pair of text biographies. On "The Beginning," it's a rather lengthy, though severely out-of-date text biography of Degeneres, while "Here and Now" has a similarly lengthy and more recent version.

The Bottom Line
I haven't seen Degeneres' "One Night Stand" in a while now, but I remember it being more laugh-out-loud funny than this DVD set. But at the same time, these discs are funny, and at a price that's almost the same as either disc separately, the set is worth checking out for any fan of Ellen, especially the "Here and Now" show. There aren't really any supplements, but the quality of the presentations is very good, and no one who enjoys Degeneres should come away disappointed by this set.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.