[cheers and applause]
>> here she is now, ellen degeneres. [cheers and applause]
>> ellen: thank you very much. right back at you.
thank you so much.
have a seat.
thank you so much.
[cheering]
that's so nice of you.
i feel the same way about you.
thank you so much, everybody.
back at you.
and you -- i can say, you are
the best audience we've had all
season.
[cheers and applause]
yeah.
today is our premiere show and
so they have to top you.
so you -- you are the watermark
right here.
[cheers and applause]
it's also the premiere of our
new theme song.
pink wrote it just for me.
can you believe that?
i think she writes all of her
songs for me, but this one is
just for me.
pink will be in new york to
sing it live in two days.
this is our 13th season.
when we started, it was me
taking phone calls wearing
colorful suspenders.
i'm thinking of larry king.
i'm sorry.
[laughter]
did you have a good summer,
everybody?
[cheers and applause]
i'm glad to hear it.
let me tell you about mine.
i got to do something that was
so amazing.
i passed my driver's test.
finally.
[laughter]
no.
that would be sad if that was
it.
portia and i went on safari.
we went to south africa and the
country was beautiful, the
people were beautiful.
portia and i were beautiful.
[laughter]
some parts were challenging.
how many people have been on
safari?
anybody here?
it's amazing, isn't it?
here's what i have to say about
it, too, and this was my
concern going in.
you are on an open truck, a
safari truck.
and it's fun, but it's three
hours.
you are out in the wild, you
know.
it's the wilderness and you are
on a truck.
so obviously at some point, you
will need to go to the restroom
and they have something that's
called the comfort stop.
that's what they call it, the
comfort stop, which means you
are out there behind a termite
mound.
that's why they find for you.
and so, anyway, after two hours
on the first day, i needed a
comfort stop.
the guide looks around to see
if there is anything dangerous.
if there's a lion or a rhino or
a dentist or anything around
that could actually.
[laughter]
but then there's one animal
that they tell you to watch out
for that they can't really see.
it's a puffer snake.
do you know the puffer?
they're very aggressive.
and they will chase you.
if you run, they will come
after you.
there is nothing more
terrifying than a snake chasing
after you with their tongue out
like a miley cyrus or something
like that.
[laughter]
and so the guide says that the
snakes are not out this time of
year.
where are they?
on vacation?
i'm on vacation in the same
spot.
it wasn't a comfort stop.
it was an uncomfortable stop
for me.
i took some video and put some
of the highlights of our trip
together.
enjoy.
>> ellen: we went on safari in kruger national park, one of the largest, most beautiful
game reserves in africa.
here we are on the first day of
our safari.
we've can't remember where we
parked the car.
we walked for hours.
not to brag, but i'm good at
spotting animals.
i saw a rhinoceros in the
distance.
we started walking toward it
carefully.
it just sat there when we got
closer realized it was a rock.
way saw a rhinoceros,
elephants, buffalo, warthogs,
elephants, antelope, more
elephants.
we cannot stop seeing elephants.
i was so over them.
i'm taking a selfie there.
did we see a lion?
you bet we saw a lion.
was i excited?
you bet i was excited.
we saw these leopards.
if the drought keeps up in
california, that's how we're
all going to have to clean
ourselves.
anyway, we saw giraffes, zebras
and dragons.
okay, we can't see dragons.
that was from "game of
thrones," but i did binge watch
on the way over.
everyone we met in of africa
was joyful, though i believe
this song about their feud with
katy perry.
every night before dinner, they
would sing to us.
it was amazing.
i believe the words mean, "the
fire's hot.
don't get close to the fire.
your dinner is ruined because
the fire is too hot."
toward the end of the night,
portia and i got up and danceed
with them.
it was a ceremonial marriage
dance and portia and that guy
are now married.
it was a once-in-a-lifetime
trip and reminder to respect
and cherish all life, the
beauty of animals and how
expensive cell phone roaming
charges are.
[cheers and applause]
it was amazing.
unforgettable trip.
i'm excited to be back and
start the new season.
we have huge things planned.
we've partnered with visa
checkout to make it possible to
do a lot of these things and if
you don't know about visa
checkout, you sign up once and
never have to re-enter your
information so on-line shopping
is very easy and you can see
how easy it is because you will
all go home with a $150 visa
checkout.
[cheers and applause]
and now we must dance.
?
>> ellen: if you are just tuning in, it's our season 13 premiere and we've already
watched leopards lick each
other.
we have a lot of things in
store this season, but one
thing i'm happy to say has
stayed the same.
please welcome back, everybody,
twitch.
[cheers and applause]
? >> how you doing? >> ellen: i'm great, twitch.
how are you doing?
>> excellent.
it's so good to be back.
>> ellen: it's great to be back
and have you back.
we've been texting all summer
long, but tell everybody what
you've been up to.
>> we went to hawaii.
the girls had never been there
before, so it was fun.
we swam, swam under waterfalls,
tried surfing.
didn't go that well.
i wish i had pictures to show
you, but i couldn't stand up
for a picture.
you know what i mean?
we had a good time.
>> ellen: i took pictures on my
trip and since i have memories
that i want to last forever, i
put my favorites in this photo
book and it's from shutterfly.
they partner with visa checkout
so you can order your own
photos and books on-line and i
used visa checkout to get you a
copy of this book, so you will
all get a copy of this book.
[cheers and applause]
>> ellen: i took a lot of these pictures and it really is -- i'm glad that they did that for
me, so everybody gets a copy.
i'm sure everybody heard also
over the summer my friends
jennifer aniston and justin
theroux got married.
[applause]
that was an amazing event and
they took our phones away when
we got there, but i always
carry two.
i had one in my sock.
so i'm going to get in so much
trouble, but i recorded a
little bit of the wedding
reception.
this is actual footage from the
very fancy -- do not think this
is not.
it is footage from their fancy
wedding.
?
>> ellen: that was jennifer in the chicken costume. that was real.
[applause]
you guys, that was so fun.
jen, don't be mad.
people tell me all the time
what they love about the show
is it makes them happy for an
hour, no matter what is going
on in their lives and i want to
keep doing that.
i've come up with a brand-new
segment.
it will make you feel better in
7 seconds.
it's called 7-second mood
booster and i dare you not to
enjoy this.
? and i i ?
[laughter]
>> ellen: immediately.
one more time.
? and i i ?
[laughter]
>> ellen: lay it on me again.
? and i i ?
>> ellen: just one more time.
? and i i ?
>> ellen: see?
your mood is boosted, isn't it?
[applause]
we have to go to break, but as
we go to break, one more time.
? and i i ?
>> ellen: in 1976, bruce jenner won an olympic gold medal in the decathlon and captivated
the attention of the world.
now almost 40 years later,
bruce has managed to captivate
us once more by coming out as
caitlyn.
please welcome in her first
talkshow appearance, caitlyn
jenner.
[cheers and applause]
>> ellen: hi. >> hi, ellen.
how are you doing?
we haven't talked in a long
time.
anything new?
>> ellen: no.
anything new with you?
>> no, nothing with me.
>> ellen: nothing at all?
you look fantastic.
>> thank you.
i appreciate that.
>> ellen: how does it feel?
i know this is your first
talkshow appearance and you've
stayed away from the press
other than the espy awards and
diane sawyer, but how do you
feel?
>> fabulous.
[cheers and applause]
it has been such an experience
to go through.
i'm just a very lucky person in
so many ways.
and my experience has been so
different than the people in
this community and i've learned
that over the last few months.
>> ellen: right.
>> in doing our show.
>> ellen: which i love, by the
way.
i watch every week.
it's fantastic and educational
and i hope that people are
watching it.
>> we have so many great people
that are putting the show
together and we're really
trying to make a difference and
educate people and open up a
conversation so we can talk
about this issue because it's
out there.
>> ellen: yeah.
>> people are dying over this
issue.
the things that i've learned
over the last few months has
just been overwhelming.
and my experience is very
different than anybody else's.
>> ellen: right.
>> i'm on your show.
there's nothing better than to
wake up in the morning and be
able to be your authentic self.
>> ellen: yes.
and i think everyone can relate
to that, whether you understand
this or not, everyone wants to
feel free and to feel good in
their own skin and some people
are not even really sure of
what that means, but some
people are aware early on in
life that you feel different.
and i'm watching you learn
things every week and be turned
on to a world that is something
you probably didn't --
>> very different.
>> ellen: you knew you wanted
to make this change and become
a woman but you didn't know
what it meant.
>> exactly right.
i had no idea.
>> ellen: what is the biggest
surprise to you and do you ever
think you would do it
differently or do you ever
wonder, should i have done it
earlier?
>> i've thought about that,
could i have done it earlier.
for me, it just wasn't the time.
back in the '80s, i went
through a real difficult time.
i isolated myself.
i lived six years basically by
myself in the mountains in
malibu.
i never really left the house
besides just to go to work.
i was on hormones.
i thought for sure i was going
to transition before i was 40
years of age.
and i got to 39 and just
couldn't do it.
i just couldn't -- i couldn't
go any farther.
so i thought, well, i'm getting
back into the game.
let's get back into life.
i'm wasting my life away and
that's when i met kris a few
months later.
and in the next 23 years,
raised a family and it's the
best part of my life.
it's a wonderful time.
but i got to this point in my
life and all of a sudden now,
there i was, back in malibu,
all by myself in a house with
the same issues i had had when
i was 10 years old.
what am i going to do?
how can at this point in my
life, it seems like, i had a
lot of conversations with a lot
of people, with all of my
family members, everybody
within the family, with my
pastor, and now was the time.
i have raised my family.
i've got just wonderful
children.
i've done so much in my life
that maybe now is the time to
talk on this issue, to come out
publicly.
i was getting destroyed in the
tabloids.
>> ellen: here's something i
read that i think is really
fascinating and this is really
gutsy of you.
you were doing these
motivational speeches.
you were traveling around the
country and being a
motivational speaker as an
athlete, as an olympian.
under your suit, you were
wearing a bra and pantyhose to
feel like yourself.
>> yes.
i did do that a lot.
>> ellen: and did you get
nervous that if someone, you
know, patted you on the back,
they would feel a bra?
>> i was always wearing a suit,
so they couldn't really feel
anything under.
i was very stealthy.
i was good at this stuff.
i would go back to the hotel
room, cross-dress, walk out
around the hotel and never knew.
>> ellen: they couldn't
recognize you?
>> no.
>> ellen: i think i would
recognize it if it was bruce
jenner dressed as a woman.
>> but they don't expect me to
be in that position.
so you can be a little more
stealthy that way, because they
would never in a billion years
think that.
>> ellen: yeah.
>> okay.
so i never got caught, never
had a problem.
>> ellen: we have to take a
break.
but i have so many questions
for you, because this is --
this is fascinating for a lot
of people to understand this
and i do agree with you.
i think had you not been as
successful in so many areas of
your life this wouldn't be
talked about and you are
helping a lot of people and
there's a high suicide rate.
there --
>> we'll talk about it when we
come back.
it's so scary.
>> ellen: and i think whether
you understand it or not, i
think that everybody can
support happiness for someone
else and if it makes someone
else happy, how can you stop
them.
>> how can you deny that?
>> ellen: how can you deny
someone else's happiness?
we'll take a break and come
back.
>> when you feel like you gave your whole life to somebody and then to find you were a
distraction.
>> don't go there.
this is not the issue.
i was defending myself.
it was a distraction from the
sense of who i was.
that doesn't mean i didn't love
you or the kids.
>> ellen: that is from "i am
cait."
that's the first time you see
each other in months.
>> in months, yes.
i was a little nervous,
although she had seen me many,
many, many years ago dressed.
as time went on, the
relationship changed a lot and
it had been years.
>> ellen: she had seen you
dressed as a woman when you
were married it her?
>> yes, right at the beginning.
>> ellen: in the beginning.
and then it just went away or --
>> it went away.
we had children and
restrictions and -- yeah,
pretty much.
>> ellen: did you think about
it every day?
did you think every day or is
it once a week or how often do
you think to yourself, i want
to be a woman.
>> every single day because
it's your identity.
it's who you are as a person.
>> ellen: so now that you are a
woman, you are caitlyn, do you
miss bruce and do you get
confused?
how quickly is that transition
that, i am cait.
>> it went pretty quick.
>> ellen: you know what i mean?
>> i know exactly what you mean.
do i miss him?
no.
as a woman, i can do all the
fun stuff anyway.
i can play golf and do race
cars.
>> ellen: do you hit from the
women's tee or men's tee?
>> don't go there.
>> ellen: well?
you are a good golfer.
it's not fair to someone else.
>> you don't think so?
actually, i still play from the
men's tees.
>> ellen: i saw the episode
when you want out on motorbikes
and you love cars and you love
-- so you are the same person
exactly that bruce was except
now you are cait.
>> yes.
in so many ways.
i can live my authentic self,
but why would you want to give
up all the fun stuff, all the
things, i've flown airplanes
all my life.
why would i want to give that
stuff up?
>> ellen: and you shouldn't.
i don't think gender has
anything to do with hobbies.
>> no.
those are my hobbies.
>> ellen: who was the toughest
person to tell?
was it kris or your children?
>> kris was tough and my mother.
>> ellen: she took it really
well.
>> boy, did she.
i was shocked.
she got it really fast.
she's 89 years old.
i don't think she really even
understood it at the beginning.
>> ellen: right.
>> but started -- today it's
different.
there is on-line.
there is books and on-line
stuff.
there's a tremendous amount of
information on gender issues.
>> ellen: but still, for
someone who is 89 --
>> she's been great.
>> ellen: and so -- and your
kids and you have grandkids.
have you seen your grandkids?
>> yeah.
yes, the kids get it.
it's not a big deal to them.
>> ellen: they're fine?
>> yeah.
they've been great.
never had any problem with it.
>> ellen: i know you are very
conservative and you have been
very conservative.
you have said you are
republican and -- the only
thing is, a lot of republicans
-- i don't want to speak for
everyone -- would vote against
all the issues that you as a
woman and you as a transperson
would want someone to support.
>> i agree with that in some
cases.
>> ellen: and same-sex marriage.
>> gay marriage.
i have to admit, i remember 15,
20 years ago, whenever the gay
marriage issue came up, at
first i was not for it.
i thought, i'm a traditionalist.
i'm older than most people in
the audience.
i kind of like tradition.
and it's always been a man and
a woman.
and i'm thinking, i don't quite
get it.
but as time has gone on, i
think like a lot of people on
this issue, i've really changed
thinking to, i don't ever want
it stand in front of anybody's
happiness, you know?
that's not my job.
>> ellen: uh-huh.
>> okay?
if that word marriage is
really, really that important
to you, i can go with it, you
know?
>> ellen: it's funny, because
you are still kind of a little
not on board with it.
>> no.
i'm on board.
it's the going to be the law of
the land, so i still feel like,
yeah, i'm okay with it.
i don't want to stand in front
of somebody's happiness.
>> ellen: and i just think that
-- obviously, marriage is an
important word because marriage
is marriage and equality is
equality.
so we want the same word that
everyone else has.
it wouldn't be civil union.
>> right.
>> ellen: so equality is
important for all of us.
i think that's what you are
fighting for with what you are
doing.
>> and the trans issue -- it's
like 30 years behind the gay
issues.
>> ellen: yeah.
>> there's a lot of teaching to
do.
there's a lot of understanding
to do.
there's a lot of work to be
done because the statistics and
what's happening out there is
just horrifying.
i couldn't out myself.
>> ellen: yeah.
>> i have a group of girls on
the show that are just amazing.
a lot of them transitioned 20
years ago and they've been in
this community forever and
they're teaching me the ropes
of what's going on here.
and in so many ways, it's
horrifying, the suicide rates,
the murder rates.
we're up to 17 this year
confirmed hate crimes towards
transwomen, mostly transwomen
of color.
it is horrifying to see this
type of stuff going on out
there.
people are just not accepting
of this issue.
they don't understand it.
and i get that.
i don't -- honestly, i don't
understand it sometimes.
why did this happen to me?
i still deal with it.
there's a difference between
gender identity and your
sexuality.
most people here think, oh, my
gosh, are you gay, are you
this, who are you dating?
all of these things.
it's not about that.
it's about -- gender is your
identity of who you are as a
person in your soul.
>> ellen: right.
>> it's who you identify as
inside.
and that may be different than
what it appearing on the
outside.
the old saying is,
homosexuality is who you sleep
with.
transgender is who you go to
bed as.
that's kind of a simple way.
it's hard for people to
identify with that.
>> ellen: it's confusing.
we have to take a break and i
am going to ask you about
dating and we'll be back.
>> ellen: we're back with caitlyn jenner and, okay, so i'm watching the show and the
whole dating thing is --
everyone keeps talking to you
about dating and you are saying
that you haven't even thought
about it.
>> no.
>> ellen: you must have thought
about, okay, if i'm going to
become a woman will i date
women because your whole life
you have loved women or all of
a sudden -- you are the same
person, but you look physically
different or are you going to
date men, women, what are you
doing?
>> this is -- and we deal with
it in our show.
it's a tremendous issue in the
transcommunity.
it's a very big issue.
and so many transition at a
young age and the dating thing
comes in.
everybody wants it have a
partner and would love to have
a family.
for transpeople, that can be
extraordinarily difficult to do.
it's an issue that's big in the
community.
for me, i'm at such a different
place in life.
i already have too many
children.
just kidding.
[laughter]
just kidding.
but i have 10 children.
i have my eighth grandchild in
the oven with kimberly.
i have all of these wonderful
kids.
i've passed that stage in my
life.
would i like it find a partner
in life to share my life with?
yeah.
i'm sure i will at some point.
right now, i'm just very busy
doing a lot of things and just
getting used to where i'm at
and who i'm at.
as time goes on, i will deal
with that subject.
>> ellen: will it be candace?
>> candace is backstage, but
that's another deal.
>> ellen: i don't know, y'all
hit it off.
>> no.
candace is great.
we really have a lot of fun and
she's a beautiful woman and
we're shooting and in san
francisco at hrc at the
facility there and they brought
in a couple of transgirls from
around the u.s. and one of them
i absolutely fell in love with.
her name is blossom brown.
she is the first transwoman
that will graduate from
mississippi state university.
she is a wonderful example of
someone who wants to give back
to the community.
and she's just a really great
person and she loves your show.
>> ellen: so she's trying to go
to understanding school.
she can't get into nursing
school because she's trans.
what a better profession.
she's here.
she's in the nursing room.
she doesn't know it, but we
have hidden cameras backstage.
hi, blossom.
>> hi.
>> ellen: how are you?
>> good.
how are you?
>> ellen: i can't see you so
well.
why don't you come out here
with us.
>> oh, my god!
[applause]
>> ellen: right over here. hi, blossom. >> hi, ellen.
>> ellen: come here and sit
there.
>> sit right down there.
>> ellen: surprise!
>> oh, my gosh.
>> ellen: you were just back
there watching.
>> 13 seasons of the best
daytime talkshow.
>> ellen: thank you so much.
>> i'm sitting there and you
are talking about how you just
love ellen degeneres.
and i'm sitting there and i'm
thinking, i know ellen.
>> ellen: and she called me up
and i saw it on the show.
so you are graduating
university of mississippi.
>> mississippi university for
women.
>> ellen: and now trying to get
into nursing school.
how many have you applied to?
>> six times.
i was denied all six times.
>> ellen: because you are trans.
>> mostly because i'm trans.
i have a good g.p.a.
i make straight as.
i have a great a.c.t. score.
everything was great.
i've even talked to people with
lower a.c.t. scores and lower
g.p.a.s and they got in.
they wouldn't let me.
>> ellen: that's ridiculous.
you are open to going anywhere?
>> yes.
>> ellen: please get in touch
with us so we can get in touch
with blossom.
we want to help blossom get
into nursing school.
>> she wants to come back and
help within the community.
so many people want to come
back and help and she wants to
help in public health.
>> ellen: we want to help you,
but one thing -- i don't own a
nursing school.
>> you don't?
>> ellen: not yet.
season 14.
[laughter]
that's my goal.
shutterfly likes to help people
tell their story and they love
your story and we want to give
you $20,000.
[cheers and applause]
>> oh, my god!
>> ellen: all right.
and, really, seriously, if
there is anyone that can help
blossom get into nursing
school, what a wonderful, noble
profession you are trying to do.
season finale of "i am cait"
airs this sunday at 8:00 on e.
we'll be right back.
caitlyn jenner, everybody.
>> ellen: our next guests not only changed the lives of each other through a simple act of
kindness but inspired people
from all over to pay it forward.
>> are you ready to order?
>> coffee.
>> you got it.
>> i came in at 8:00 p.m.
it was a normal shift.
i was supposed to be done at
4:00 a.m.
i had cleaned up the whole
place and in walks two
firefighters.
i knew they had had a heck of a
night and i made the decision
to pay for their check.
instead of just telling them, i
decided to write them a note.
>> my immediate reaction was, i
have to take a picture of this
and put this on facebook
thinking that people need to
know that there was somebody
out there like liz.
>> it's changed our lives and i
feel like that's an
understatement.
>> after everyone had been
sharing the post that i made on
facebook, i got a message that
said that liz was trying to
raise money for her father who
is a quadriplegic, so i said, i
have to share this, too.
>> my father always stressed,
what you put out into the
universe is what you will
receive.
>> she took money out of her
pocket to help us and it takes
a lot of heart 20 do something
like that.
>> i launched a fundraiser in
december.
our goal was to get my father a
used van.
ever since i met the two of
them for breakfast last month,
we're up to $80,000.
all it took was a nice gesture,
being kind.
and it came back.
i'm just so thankful.
>> ellen: from burlington
county, new jersey, please
welcome liz, tim and paul.
[cheers and applause]
>> ellen: you are liz. are you time -- tim or paul?
>> i'm tim.
>> ellen: you decide out of
nowhere -- have you done this
before?
>> listen, before i -- i can't
believe i'm about to interrupt
ellen.
>> ellen: you can.
>> i just have to say how much
i love you and my entire family
loves you.
you've been a part of our
family.
we watch you every single day
and have for years.
you're a part of my dad's
therapy.
they always say laughter is the
best medicine and no one in the
world makes him laugh like you
do.
he shakes his hospital bed in
laughter.
and it's incredible.
thank you for being who you are.
>> ellen: thank you for saying
that.
[applause]
i hear stories like that and it
makes me feel like i have a
purpose, like i'm doing
something good.
so thank you for telling me
that.
[applause]
this is the letter you left.
"your breakfast is on me today.
thank you for all you do for
searching others and running
into places that everyone else
runs away from.
no matter your role, you are
courageous, bold and strong.
thank you for being bold and
bad ass every day.
fueled by courage, what an
example you are.
get some rest, liz."
amazing.
and i ditto that.
i love firefighters.
thank you for everything that
you do.
[applause]
>> you're welcome.
>> ellen: simple facebook post
that everyone came together to
just help, you know, a regular,
wonderful person like liz.
it's great.
>> ellen: it is.
one act of kindness, like i
said, the ripple effect that
that has and hopefully someone
watching here today helps
someone else that helps someone
else, which is so important.
what is the name of -- where do
you work?
>> route 130 diner.
>> ellen: and you go there a
lot, right?
>> we do now for sure.
[laughter]
>> ellen: shutterfly wants to
pay for the next five years, so
eat a lot.
the next five years, it's taken
care of.
they're paying for your meals.
>> oh, my goodness.
wow.
[applause]
>> ellen: we'll be back.
>> ellen: we're back with liz, tim and paul. so, liz, you work nights,
right, so that you can stay
home and care for your dad
during the day.
>> yes.
>> ellen: that's amazing,
because you could move out and
live someone else, but you stay
home to help your mom take care
of your dad.
>> it's a commitment.
if we were not taking care of
him at home, he would be in a
nursing home.
he had spent 567 days
hospitals, nursing homes,
rehabs.
>> ellen: so he's home now and
gets to watch the show.
hi.
what is his name?
>> steve.
>> ellen: hi, steve.
so you paid it forward.
would i like to pay it forward
to you right now and shutterfly
wants to give you a check for
$20,000.
[cheers and applause]
thank you for being here.
i want to thank caitlyn jenner
and twitch.
our show will be in new york
thursday and friday.
i will see you tomorrow.
be kind to one another.
bye.