Ellen DeGeneres has long been a queen of daytime laughter, with a career built on making people smile, dance, and—more often than not—laugh until they cry. Even after stepping away from her iconic talk show in 2022, Ellen’s wit and sense of humor remain intact.

In her most recent online special, she returned to what she does best: reacting to the internet’s most bizarre, unexpected, and downright hilarious viral videos. The result? Classic Ellen—dry humor, spot-on timing, and that unmistakable sparkle in her eye.

The special, streamed via her YouTube channel and Instagram Live, was a nod to the segments that made The Ellen DeGeneres Show a staple in daytime television. Fans around the world tuned in not only for the humor but for the nostalgia of watching Ellen do what she does best—observe the world with a slightly raised eyebrow and a heart ready to laugh.

Dressed in a cozy sweatshirt and seated casually on a couch in what appeared to be her California home, Ellen immediately set the tone with her trademark self-deprecation.

“I figured it’s time I weigh in on the stuff people are watching instead of me now,” she quipped. “Let’s see what you all think is funny without a studio audience clapping on cue.”

She began with a clip of a toddler attempting to catch a frog in the backyard—only to fall backward into a kiddie pool in dramatic slow motion. Ellen burst into laughter. “I don’t know who’s more surprised: the kid, the frog, or the internet,” she said between chuckles.

“This is why toddlers should come with airbags.” The video, which had racked up over 12 million views on TikTok, was a prime example of what Ellen calls “the comedy of chaos”—moments so accidental and pure, they couldn’t be scripted if you tried.

Next came the ever-popular genre of pets behaving badly. A clip featuring a Labrador who had somehow locked itself in the bathroom and was attempting to unlock the door with a plunger drew a long pause from Ellen, who watched with exaggerated concern.

“This is either the beginning of a Pixar movie or the end of civilization,” she said. “Either way, I want this dog as my new assistant.” She followed up with a cat that appeared to be playing the piano—badly. “That cat is clearly classically trained,” Ellen deadpanned. “In chaos.”

Ellen’s commentary wasn’t just about delivering punchlines; it was also an affectionate celebration of internet culture and how ordinary people—and their animals—become global stars overnight. She reflected on how much the online world had changed since her show first began.

“When I started The Ellen Show, YouTube was still new. Now, it’s basically the new cable. People don’t just send funny home videos to a show—they upload them, tag them, and hope the algorithm is kind,” she said. “It’s democratized comedy. Anyone can go viral, whether you’re doing backflips or accidentally running into a sliding glass door.”

One standout video featured an older man attempting to use virtual reality goggles for the first time, wildly flailing around in what appeared to be a quiet retirement community living room.

“This is what happens when grandparents meet the metaverse,” Ellen said, unable to contain her laughter. “This poor guy thinks he’s fighting a dragon but probably just destroyed a ficus plant.”

The man’s granddaughter, off-camera, could be heard laughing uncontrollably—something Ellen pointed out as the true joy of the video. “That laugh is what makes it. The connection, the love, the generational confusion—it’s all beautiful.”

The segment also highlighted a few of Ellen’s longtime fans who submitted their own videos specifically for the event. One memorable submission came from a woman attempting a TikTok dance challenge in her living room, only to be knocked over by her overly enthusiastic golden retriever.

Ellen replayed the moment in slow motion, narrating it like a nature documentary. “Here we see the suburban human in her natural habitat, attempting a ritual dance of the youth, interrupted by the sacred canine guardian of the household.”

Midway through the special, Ellen paused to reflect on why people are drawn to this kind of content in the first place. “Laughter is connective,” she said. “It’s not just about a funny video—it’s about seeing something unexpected and sharing it.

It’s about realizing that everyone, everywhere, is a little bit ridiculous.” She noted that during her talk show days, some of her favorite moments weren’t the celebrity interviews or the elaborate games—they were the home videos sent in by fans that showed slices of everyday life. “There’s something so honest about a grandma falling off a hoverboard,” she said. “It’s the purest form of comedy.”

She closed the special with a series of themed “supercuts,” including “Dogs Who Don’t Understand Glass Doors,” “People Who Thought They Could Jump Higher,” and “Kids Saying the Darndest, Weirdest, Possibly Haunted Things.”

Each one was met with Ellen’s signature expressions: a mix of amusement, mock horror, and genuine delight. “I’m telling you, kids these days sound like they’ve been reincarnated five times already,” she joked. “One of them said ‘the shadows speak to me’—no thank you, goodbye, next video.”

As the stream came to an end, Ellen thanked her audience for continuing to support her even after her daytime reign concluded. “You don’t need a big stage to make people laugh,” she said warmly.

“Sometimes all it takes is a phone, a moment, and a very confused raccoon in a kitchen.” She promised to do more of these “reaction sessions” in the future, hinting that fans might soon be able to vote on categories or even submit their own commentary.

Reaction from fans was immediate and enthusiastic. Social media lit up with clips from the special, favorite quotes, and requests for more. “This is the Ellen I missed,” one viewer tweeted. “Witty, sharp, and making me laugh until I snort.” Another wrote, “She needs a whole show just reacting to TikTok. I’d watch every single episode.”

Though her days on the big studio set may be behind her, Ellen’s ability to find joy in everyday silliness remains as sharp as ever. By reacting to the same videos the world is watching, she’s tapped back into the core of her appeal—relatable laughter, unfiltered fun, and the comforting sense that even in the chaos of the internet, there’s always something to smile about.

And, of course, if a dog dancing in a tutu while someone falls off a hoverboard can bring us all together for a laugh? That’s a win in Ellen’s book.