After 19 seasons, Ellen DeGeneres signed off for the last time yesterday. Here's what she had to say . . .
"To all of you who have watched the show and supported me. Thank you so much for this platform.
"I hope that what I've been able to do in the last 19 years has made you happy and that I was able to take a little bit of pain away from a bad day or anything you're going through."
She added, quote, "I hope I've been able to inspire you to make other people happy and to do good in the world. To feel like you have a purpose. And I've said it before, but I'll say it again . . .
"If I've done anything in the past 19 years, I hope I've inspired you to be yourself, your true, authentic self. And if someone is brave enough to tell you who they are, be brave enough to support them."
In her opening monologue, Ellen remarked that she wasn't even allowed to say "gay" when the show premiered 19 years ago