Ernie Bjorkman relaxed and loose-lipped on Ellen Degeneres Show

A scruffy and bearded Bjorkman (quite a change from his serious newsman persona) was wearing a black argyle over-sized sweater during his appearance. He came out dancing to David Bowie's "Changes" and seemed more at ease than ever before.

In recounting his firing, Bjorkman tells Ellen that after 26 years in the Denver news business, a new general manager joined Channel 2 and told everyone that they had to re-interview for their jobs. "It was humiliating and a lot of people were angry," he said. He then talked about how each employee had to go one by one into the general manager's office to learn their fate. He said you either came out empty handed (which meant you were retained) or with a purple envelope with your termination papers.

But the real reason, Ellen tells us, that she took interest in Bjorkman's story is because he is now reinventing himself as a vet technician (as reported HERE) - and we all know that animals are near and dear to Ellen's heart.

Bjorkman said he made over $200,000 as an anchor, but as a vet technician he'll only make about $35,000. He doesn't mind though because he'll be doing something he's passionate about.

As the segment wrapped up, Ellen said that the animal clinic that gives Bjorkman a job will receive a free year supply of her new pet food line, HALO. Let the job offers roll on in! Arrrrufff!