SALAD DAYS

Ellen

Season 3 (1995)

Ellen & Martha & Pantsuits

“Salads Days” is technically not a Thanksgiving episode, but rather an “Autumn Bounty Dinner” episode.  However my November would not be complete without watching it, usually more than once.  It’s one of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite shows and guest stars one of my idols, Martha Stewart.  Where to begin in unpacking this (should-be) television classic?

The gist of the story is that Ellen, inspired by a Martha Stewart book signing, decides to throw a grownup dinner party.  Everything starts out well but once Martha herself shows up as Joe’s guest, things devolve into slapstick tomfoolery.  Spurred by Martha’s appearance, Ellen goes into manic perfection mode and of course fails miserably.  One of the guests shows up in alien makeup (she's filming an episode of Babylon 5-- so 90s!); the oven breaks; Ellen is forced to smuggle uncooked game hens in a trash bag and serve Kraft singles to her guests.  Ultimately Martha comes to the rescue in an unexpected way by ordering pizza for everyone. 

Love the vintage Martha books in the background!

Say what you will about Martha Stewart, her presence here is very welcome.  She seems to enjoy poking fun at her highbrow, perfectionist image.  An actress she isn’t, delivering her lines in an even more pronounced New Englandly accent and stiff manner that defies explanation.  But she’s game throughout, including swigging beer and eating pizza crusts in the last few moments of the show.

This episode holds its own against some of the classic screwball comedies of the Golden Age.  The pacing is increasingly frenetic and Ellen DeGeneres is at her best, culminating in a scene of her desperately pounding a shoe against a tub of frozen ice cream.  There are nice fall/Thanksgiving touches through, including dried palm fronds in place of autumn foliage on the table (because there's no such thing as fall in Los Angeles).

Pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain!  Or, in this case, floor screen.

An extra nice element of the plot is the first meeting of Barrett and Peter, who would go on to become a couple and remain supporting characters throughout the show’s run.  While Ellen is obviously credited with the coming out of her own character, the show should also be applauded for the portrayal of Peter and Barrett, who remain one of TV s best representations of a committed (and adorable) gay couple.

When Barrett met Peter.  Complete with place cards!

The Menu: Salad, Kraft Singles, Cornish Game Hens, Radish Roses, Rolls, Twice-Baked Potatoes & Ice Cream.  And, ultimately, Pizza & Beer.

Thanksgiving Quotient: I adore this episode but since it isn’t technically a Thanksgiving episode (though it might as well be) I’m forced to give it a 4.

See It, Skip It, Own It?

Own it, along with the rest of Ellen’s excellent Season 3.