Submitted by: kirkland on Tuesday November 02nd, 2004 at 02:49 PM EST

Ellen DeGeneres doesn't want to just sit and interview celebrities on her talk show. She wants to have fun.

That's why you'll often see her getting stars to do wacky stunts, an emerging hallmark of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, now in its second season.

November sweeps guests making their first appearances on the show include Samuel L. Jackson (Nov. 5), Ashley Judd (Nov. 10), Woody Harrelson (Nov. 15), Pierce Brosnan (Nov. 16), Renee Zellweger (Nov. 26) and Colin Farrell (Nov. 29).

Not only does DeGeneres make celebs feel at ease, but viewers also get a kick out of seeing a celebrity doing something other than push a new movie, CD or TV show. Kelly Preston taught DeGeneres how to hula; Paris Hilton gave her tips on walking the red carpet.

The show doesn't try to make news, and DeGeneres won't ask stars touchy personal questions. "Even though my segment producers are in the room saying, 'Ask about that,' I won't ask about it. There's Extra and Access and ET if you need that kind of stuff."

DeGeneres just wants people to be happy. And Ellen's disc jockey, British actor Tony Okungbowa, says that's how it is behind the scenes: "It's like going to a party every day." Recent guest Robin Williams, Okungbowa says, was bopping so much during commercial breaks, "We had to strap him back in the chair."

Now, DeGeneres doesn't talk about girlfriend Alexandra Hedison on the show. Some fans say it's to DeGeneres' credit that she doesn't bring up her sexual orientation.

"We all know that Ellen is gay, but I do not want to hear about it," says Lola Mitchell, 48, of Richardson, Texas. "No matter what, though, I love Ellen as a talk show hostess, and I do love her wit and humor."

» Read full story @ USA Today