New York Times
Sept. 24, 2001
    The show's bright spot is the appealing Jim Gaffigan, who plays Ellen's high school boyfriend, now a teacher in their hometown. He specializes in the rube who is actually intelligent as well as good-natured, a part he played so well last season's "Welcome to New York," one of last year's smarter comedy efforts but a ratings failure.
-- Julie Salamon



Variety
     Now that Ellen is out, the "in" jokes are funnier than ever. Ellen DeGeneres returns to primetime TV four years after her groundbreaking show and much-hyped "gay outing" on ABC, and the comedienne gets the chance to play for laughs and not for politics. "The Ellen Show," the best and brightest of the new sitcoms, is an ensemble in the grand traditionof classic TV, thanks to a cast well-schooled in comedy . . . .
     "The Ellen Show" adds allure to a usually dull Friday landscape. . . . . . And making it all the more hilarious are Jim Gaffigan, Martin Mull and Cloris Leachmen . . . Leachman is a po at the comic absurd, Mull is wonderfully smarmy and Gaffigan is the lovable goof. . . . a taut and funny half-hour.
--Laura Fries



Some Raves on the Web
"All-Star Cast . . . The show's most salient feature is probably the ensemble-troupe vibe."
Entertainment Weekly

"Great Supporting Cast . . . Everything Has Gelled"
Bigmanout