Ellen DeGeneres on the Net

When ABC suits began to waffle on whether Ellen DeGeneres and her TV alter ego should step out of the closet, according to GLAAD, a Prodigy message board led supporters to mail hundreds of boxes of waffle mix to ABC in protest. But now that the news is out, Ellen fan sites are revving up for the April 30 hour-long episode in which Ellen Morgan finds out what everyone in TV land already knows. In cyberspace, the countdown continues apace.

YOU GO GIRL!
(http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/4010/ellen.html) Read postings by fans and critics of the wifty stand-up-slash-actor-slash-newly out and proud lesbian. Notable: Check out the real-time chats, all Ellen, all the time.

THE ELLEN CLUES PAGE
(web.syr.edu/~jnpecenc/ellen.html) An exhaustive episode guide that breaks down every nuance and line providing clues to Ellen Morgan’s sexual proclivities (in one episode she literally steps out of a closet). Notable: The thoughtful, thorough analysis verges on overkill.

COME OUT WITH ELLEN
(http://www.glaad.org/glaad/come_out_with_ellen/ index.html) The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation offers a Come Out With Ellen kit, which can be ordered online, that includes invites and handy instructions on outing yourself. Notable: GLAAD’s Ellen Watch site went up in the fall, shortly after the news was ”leaked” on the critics’ press tour.

THE ELLEN DEGENERES INTERNET FAN CLUB
(http://www.geocities. com/Hollywood/ 4566) This spiffy, well-linked fan site includes publicity pix of Ellen and her TV gang, plus ticket info for future tapings. Notable: The site is maintained by 15-year-old Alex LaVake of Pennsylvania, who idolizes Ellen — whatever her sexual orientation.

OFFICIAL ELLEN WEBSITE
(http://www.tvplex.com/Touchstone/Ellen/) The Buena Vista-Touchstone site devoted to Ellen offers downloadable cast photos plus funny but blurry QuickTime clips from the show. Notable: Despite network fanfare heralding ”the show,” the word lesbian is conspicuously absent.

PLANETOUT RENAME THE SITCOM
(America Online, Keyword: PNO) This loopy PlanetOut contest gives folks the opportunity to win fabulous prizes, including a cruise to Europe and assorted tchotchkes. Notable: Currently in the running for Ellen replacement titles: Suddenly Sapphic and Leave It to Beaver.