The Bent Pin

WHEN the host of a comedy show has a crying jag on camera and then cancels her next two shows because her disconsolate woe just keeps getting worse, we can’t help wondering, Where can a funny lady go from here? The answer is: She can’t. It’s checkmate time for Ellen DeGeneres.

Picture it. She stands sobbing now on the chessboard, her tragic life smashed to kibbles ‘n’ bits, looking for someplace, anyplace, to move. But she is surrounded by unkindred spirits.