Before starring in a popular situation comedy, making her mark in movies, writing a best-selling book, and landing her own talk show, Ellen DeGeneres first made her name as one of America's best stand-up comics, and in this performance video, she shows off the dry but personable wit that has made her an audience favorite. Taped during a 2003 appearance at New York's Beacon Theater, Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now finds the comedian training her eye on the foibles of contemporary life, from personal conversations on cell phones to the slippery slope of self-esteem. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi