Ep 169. Meredith Vieira, Taylor Swift

Meredith Vieira and Taylor Swift are both guests on the 169th episode of season 8 of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The show starts with a segment in which Ellen chats with the audience and introduces the guests. Then, she welcomes Meredith Vieira, a veteran journalist and TV host, to the stage. Ellen and Meredith talk about Meredith's new talk show, The Meredith Vieira Show, which premiered earlier that year. They discuss the format of the show, the guests, and the topics that are covered. Ellen also asks Meredith about her experience hosting The Today Show and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

After the interview with Meredith Vieira, Ellen introduces Taylor Swift to the stage. The audience cheers as Taylor walks out in a sparkly dress and takes a seat next to Ellen. Ellen and Taylor start by talking about Taylor's latest album, Red, which had just been released a few weeks before the episode aired. They discuss the songwriting process and the inspiration behind some of the songs, including "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You Were Trouble."

Ellen also asks Taylor about her personal life, including her dating history and her close friendships with other celebrities like Selena Gomez and Ed Sheeran. Taylor talks about how important it is to have people you can rely on in the entertainment industry, and how grateful she is for the friendships she has.

In addition to the interview, Taylor also performs two songs during the episode. First, she performs "Red," the title track from her new album. The audience sings along as Taylor plays guitar and sings the catchy chorus. Later in the episode, Taylor performs "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," which was a runaway hit and one of the biggest songs of the year.

Throughout the episode, there are also a few funny and lighthearted segments. In one, Ellen and Meredith play a game where they have to guess which of two headlines is real and which is fake. In another, Taylor plays a game where she has to answer questions about herself while hooked up to a lie detector. The humor and energy of the show are always high, and the audience is engaged throughout.

Overall, the 169th episode of season 8 of The Ellen DeGeneres Show is a fun and engaging hour of television. With two compelling guests in Meredith Vieira and Taylor Swift, there is plenty to keep viewers entertained, whether they are fans of music, journalism, or just good conversation. Ellen's skill as a host is on full display, as she guides the conversation and keeps the energy level high throughout the episode. All in all, it's a great example of the kind of entertaining and engaging programming that has made The Ellen DeGeneres Show a staple of daytime television for so many years.