“IT'S CALLED GOSSIP AND OF COURSE IT'S AN OBSESSION OF MINE” -ANDY WARHOL

Ms. DeGeneres ranked as the most popular celebrity in the U.S. in a poll by Harris Interactive earlier this year. She edged out talk rival Oprah Winfrey, who generally enjoys higher ratings but saw her popularity dinged after her strong endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid. She grilled Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain on his gay-marriage stance during his Sept. 2 appearance on her show, in which he said he supported "legal agreements" between gay couples to deal with such issues as insurance, but that marriage should be between a man and a woman. "I along with many, many others wish you every happiness," Mr. McCain said. "So you'll walk me down the aisle, is what you said?" Ms. DeGeneres responded. "Touché," Mr. McCain said.

-AdAge
Sept 16 2008