HBO Max & Ellen DeGeneres Pact for Original Series

HBO Max has aligned with Emmy Award winner Ellen DeGeneres, ordering three original shows straight to series—Ellen’s Home Design Challenge, First Dates Hotel and Little Ellen—as well as the docuseries Finding Einstein in development.

In Ellen’s Home Design Challenge, design aficionado DeGeneres is giving eight forward-thinking designers the chance to push their creativity to the limit. She will be on hand to weigh in on each challenge and provide humorous, colorful commentary. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television and A. Smith & Co. Productions in association with Telepictures and A Very Good Production, with DeGeneres, Jeff Kleeman and Arthur Smith serving as executive producers.

Little Ellen is a 2D animated children’s show that explores the world through the eyes of a 7-year-old DeGeneres. On her adventures in her musical hometown of New Orleans, Little Ellen takes big risks and makes big mistakes, but she’s always able to laugh at herself and bounce back when things don’t go as planned. The 40-episode quarter-hour series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and Ellen Digital Ventures. DeGeneres, Kevin A. Leman II and Sam Register serve as executive producers. Jennifer Skelly is a co-executive producer and Jason Blackman is a producer.

Based on the hit U.K. format devised by Twenty Twenty Productions, First Dates Hotel is set at an affluent boutique hotel and will find single people from multiple generations gathering for an intensive and tailor-made romantic experience. After fun, amusing and potentially disastrous dates at the hotel restaurant, poolside and under the stars, if the potential lovers like each other, they can choose to stay on for a second date in the hopes of finding out if they’re ultimately a match. Produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television in association with Shed Media, A Very Good Production and Twenty Twenty Productions Limited, DeGeneres, Kleeman, Pam Healey and Dan Peirson will serve as executive producers on the project. Previous seasons of the U.K. series First Dates and First Dates Hotel will also be available on HBO Max.

Finding Einstein is an inspiring docuseries, blessed by the Einstein estate, that will seek out, celebrate and support a fresh generation of Einsteins. The series is executive produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television in association with Telepictures and A Very Good Production, with DeGeneres, Kleeman and Todd Goldman serving as executive producers.

DeGeneres announced the pickups on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and surprised her audience with a two-year HBO Max subscription in celebration of the news.

“Ellen is a singular talent, and a powerhouse, creative triple-threat that we are lucky to have now bringing her talents to bear on behalf of HBO Max,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer for HBO Max and president of TNT, TBS, and truTV. “Ellen’s flair for home design and matchmaking will most certainly inspire and delight—but HBO Max is full service, so as not to leave the kids out she’s bringing them back to the hilarious misadventures of her childhood in an imaginative animated series.”

DeGeneres added, “I’m very excited to bring my new shows to HBO Max. I don’t know who Max is, but I can’t wait to work with him.”