Ellen DeGeneres buys a new house

The Los Angeles Times reports that out sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres has closed escrow on a Beverly Hills-area home that was listed at about $3.5 million. The house has five bedrooms in more than 5,000 square feet, along with a gym, media room, parklike grounds, and a pool. The star of The Ellen Show put her Hollywood hills residence on the market in September for just under $2 million.