Last year, DeGeneres managed to pack the crowds in on her late spring tour of theatres. It was her first tour in two years. This year’s trek follows a similar pattern, starting March 8 with a two-night stand in Santa Rosa, Calif., and wrapping May 2 with another two-night set at New York’s Beacon Theatre. Other multi-night stops on the itinerary include San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

With a new talk show on the horizon, a book in the wings, lending her voice to a Disney/Pixar animated film, and of course this tour, 2003 is certainly DeGeneres’ year. This fall, DeGeneres will take to NBC in her own, five-times-a-week, one-hour talk show/variety strip. The show will sport interviews with celebrities as well as segments featuring ordinary people with extraordinary stories. Musical performances and recurring studio and field segments are all part of the package.

Also in the fall, DeGeneres will put out a book of comedic short stories and essays. The untitled book follows her other foray into the literary world, “My Point… and I Do Have One.”

Bridging the tour and fall projects, DeGeneres can be found, or rather, heard in a new Disney/Pixar film. The comedian gives voice to the character of Dory in the flick “Finding Nemo.” The underwater adventure will be released in May.

For those who miss DeGeneres on the road, HBO will tape one of her performances for a special, scheduled to air June 7.