Ellen DeGeneres Plays Pizza Gag to Logical, Albeit Flat, Conclusion

Ellen DeGeneres earned some laughs early in the Oscar telecast by joking she would order some pizza for the stars seated in the front rows.

Turns out she wasn’t joking.

DeGeneres escorted a pizza dude to the first few rows in the audience and several stars eagerly took a slice. The bit had worn out its welcome long before the first pizza box opened. DeGeneres dutifully played along. It was too late to back out, which is what happens when you riff … and riff … before a live audience.