Judge Judy Talks Retirement on 'Ellen' After 25 Years on Television

For many, "Judge Judy" has been on television as long as they can remember, or even longer than they've been alive, but is she ready to retire?

Judy Sheindlin dropped by "Ellen" on Friday to talk about her longevity on television and future plans after having just turned 76 years old. Currently in her 23rd year on the air as "Judge Judy," Sheindlin has two more years on her current contract, which would take her to a 25th season.

The big question, then, is if she will call it a day after a quarter of a century on the air? She's already become a cultural icon, remains a ratings juggernaut more than two decades in and has become a brand empire. So what does her next chapter look like?

"I have a wonderful time," Sheindlin told DeGeneres about doing her show. "What would I do? What would you do every day?"

DeGeneres admitted that she's thought also about her future after turning 60 earlier this year and reached a similar conclusion. "I've thought about that because I get bored easily," she said.

"This job, believe it or not, it's an anchor," Sheindlin said of her daily show. "Because it gives you someplace to go."

Even better, she's streamlined production so she only works every other week for three days and yet can produce a daily show. That revelation certainly got DeGeneres' wheels turning.

Of course, Sheindlin has the advantage of her show's format and structure being built around everyday people, or her "endless parade of idiots," with minor disputes. Poor DeGeneres is doing an oft-times topical talk show that requires her to be somewhat current to what is going on in the world and the lives of her guests, who are mostly very public figures.

That also helps Sheindlin with syndicated reruns of her show, and she has been a dominant force in syndication since the early seasons of her show, and remains number one in first-run and overall syndication to this day. Clearly, the audience hasn't tired of her acerbic wit and no-nonsense approach to the bench.

And even after she retires -- whenever that may come -- it's totally feasible that reruns of "Judge Judy" will continue airing until long past our cancellation dates.

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