The Third Season

In the first season of Ellen, the series was called These Friends of Mine. However, with the second season came many changes, including a different cast and title change. The third season introduces another cast change and continues the same episodic format as the past seasons that looks into the crazy daily life of thirty something Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres) and friends. Overall, the comedy feels much like season one and two. For more details about this series please refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one and season two.

The third season begins with the episode "Shake, Rattle and Rubble". In this episode a lot of things happen, which include the introduction of the new cast member Spence Kovak (Jeremy Piven). Spence is Ellen's cousin, who was recently kicked out of his medical residency for his overly aggressive attitude. He was added to replace the Adam Green character who leaves early into season three. The new character Spence adds a new dynamic to the cast. He doesn't get along with everyone else as Adam did. He is constantly bickering with everyone else, which turns out to be worth a lot of laughs.

The other big event of the season premiere episode is an earthquake that destroys Buy the Book and leaves Ellen's dream in rubble. In the following episode "These Successful Friends of Mine", Ellen is plagued with her friend's success. Paige finally gets a break in the movie industry as an executive producer and Adam's dream is realized when Lifetime magazine publishes one of his photographs (ironically of Buy the Book in shambles). Surrounded by her friends' successes, Ellen decides that her dream may not be owning a bookstore. Trying to figure out the meaning of life, Ellen ventures out into the world to seek her destiny, which of course is a funny path that brings her to a magic eight ball and one bizarre guy.

In "Hello, I Must Be Going", Adam leaves on a three year job to England. The hilarity of this episode comes from Adam telling Ellen he loves her right before he leaves only to find his job was postponed. "She Ain't Friendly, She's My Mother" is a funny episode where Ellen's mother tries to be her girlfriend. What makes this episode a blast is when they try to share common interests and Ellen gets caught with her foot in her mouth, as well as the discussion about sex is a riot.

"Salad Days" is another strong episode with guest star Martha Stewart. Martha comes to Buy the Book for a book signing, and Ellen realizes she and her friends are not sophisticated enough. Ellen decides to host a dinner party, Martha-style. Of course nothing works out as planned, especially when Joe brings Martha to the party. The following episode "The Movie Show" guest stars Carrie Fisher. Paige wants to use Buy the Book for a live set for a movie she is working on with Meg Ryan (who isn't actually in the episode) and Carrie Fisher. There are some great jokes about Fisher and Ryan, along with Ellen making a baboon of herself.

In "Witness" Spence needs someone to be a witness in a mock trial when his girlfriend bails on him. The trial is his entire grade for a law course. Fortunately Audrey agrees to help him, but at the last minute she cancels and Spence is stuck with Ellen. With absolutely no preparation, Ellen tries her best to play a stripper who witnessed a robbery. Simply hilarious.

The last four episodes end the season with Paige engaged to her cop boyfriend Matt. In "Two Mammograms and a Wedding", Ellen tries to make a new friend to replace the void of Paige, but it doesn't work out. "Go Girlz" is a ridiculous attempt at a bachelorette party on Ellen's behalf. In the two part season finale "When the Vow Breaks", Paige's soon to be husband is caught with another woman and Paige leaves the decision whether or not to proceed with the wedding on Ellen's shoulders.

Overall, season three of Ellen continues to be a delight. Each episode brings about several fun sticky situations for Ellen and her friends to get in the middle of. This season's cast change also added something positive to the show. The addition of Jeremy Piven brought on a cynical, darker personality who intermixes with the rest of the cast for some fun times. This season comes recommended.

Episode Guide
1. Shake, Rattle and Rubble
2. These Successful Friends of Mine
3. The Shower Scene
4. The Bridges of L.A. County
5. Hello, I Must Be Going
6. Trick Or Treat-Who Cares?
7. She Ain't Friendly, She's My Mother
8. Salad Days
9. The Movie Show
10. What's Up Ex-Doc?
11. Ellen's Choice
12. Do You Fear What I Fear?
13. Horshack's Law
14. Morgan, P.I.
15. Oh, Sweet Rapture
16. Witness
17. Ellen: With Child
18. Lobster Diary
19. Two Ring Circus
20. A Penny Saved...
21. Too Hip For the Room
22. Two Mammograms and a Wedding
23. Go Girlz
24. When The Vow Breaks Part 1
25. When The Vow Breaks Part 2

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame color. The picture quality is fairly decent, with only a slight grain in the picture. However, there are noticeable compression artifacts in each episode, which cause slight color distortion. The quality isn't very impressive, not really much better than what you would expect from broadcast or cable television.

Audio:
The audio track in this DVD release is an English 2.0 Dolby digital stereo sound track. The sound quality is fairly good, with only a barely audible distortion. Like most other television series releases on DVD, the audio is relatively flat, as it consists of spoken dialogue. Also, there is very little distinction in separation between audio channels.

Extras:
The extras department is pretty light with a bloopers reel (almost five minutes of filming goofs) and cast biographies for the main cast. The bloopers reel is the only item of real interest and should be worth a few chuckles.

Final Thoughts:
What I liked about season two over season one was the better mix of characters and funnier stories. Well, season three comes with a different set of characters who are even better together and there are some really delightful tales to tell. If you enjoy heartwarming, goofy comedy, then season three of Ellen is for you.