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Normally, posts on this site are written with current fans of of ABC’s Ugly Betty in mind. However, in this post I’d like to speak to another group altogether: those former fans of the show who stopped watching in season 2 or season 3 and have not returned.
Oh, I know you’re out there. If I am reading the ratings correctly, there are somewhere between 4 and 6 million of you who watched in season 1 or early into season 2, but no longer include Betty on your must-watch list.
Each of you quit the show for your own reasons (believe me, I’ve heard them all). Regardless of your reasons, I have something to say to you.
If you enjoy quality television, you are missing out on one of the greatest creative comebacks ever seen from a weekly scripted series.
I do not say that lightly. If I may, I’d like to present 5 reasons why you should give Ugly Betty another try.
1) Desperation breaks bad habits. Let’s face it – with the move to Friday, and the awful early season 4 ratings, the show seemed condemned. Because the producers didn’t know how many episodes they had left, they broke their awful habit of letting stories unfold too slowly. Now, storylines are begun, then closed, at a feverish pace. Don’t like a storyline? Have no fear – it will be over in 4 episodes, tops. (Daniel’s cult experience comes to mind). Until, maybe, they bring the story back in a fresh new way (Connor Owens). The writers are being forced to bring their ‘A’ game every single week and make each episode stand on its own.
2) They are challenging America Ferrera again. In 2007, Ferrera was the first ever TV Actress to have won all 3 major Lead Actress Awards in a single year: the Emmy Award, the Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actor’s Guild Award. Since then, the episodes in which Ferrera was asked to use her talent to the fullest have been few and far between. In season four, however, the show has turned to its star quarterback and said, "You are going to have to win a few games for us". And she has.
In the most recent episode (4.09, Be-Shure), there was a brilliant sequence in which Ferrera deftly and dramatically played Betty’s confusion when Betty’s boyfriend Matt reacted in an unexpected way to a pregnancy scare, then a few minutes later was madcap in trying to cover up for blurting out Bobby’s (Hilda’s new flame) name in mixed company. This was a reminder of just how talented Ferrera is.
More after the jump.
3) Becki Newton and Ana Ortiz. Both supporting actresses have been outstanding in season 4. Newton had a scene so funny in episode 4.04 (The Wiener, The Bun, and the Boob) that I’m STILL laughing about it (her multiple screams after kissing Betty in a dream, then seeing Betty standing before her in real life). She’s actually been given something to do this season, because both matt and Claire NEED Amanda’s help.
Ortiz has been allowed to be hilarious (especially in the recent episode 4.09). Hilda’s love triangle was actually interesting, and now, she’s pregnant, which will add all kinds of dramedy storylines.
4) Adam Rodriguez brings a new energy to the show. Now, I’ll admit that I hate seeing Ralph Macchio leave the show – and they cleared the way by introducing Bobby, Hilda’s old flame. Rodriguez’s Bobby was "the other man", and I didn’t want to like him, but for me, it’s impossible NOT to like him. He’s funny, he has a "past", but he seems to be trying to do the right thing. He is a mentor, alongside Michael Urie’s Marc, to Justin. Which leads me to the final reason to come back to the show…
5) Justin Suarez has become a fascinating character. At the end of episode 4.06, when Justin had bravely faced down the embarrassment of being named ‘Homecoming Queen’ in front of the whole school, he abruptly declared to his family: "I’m not gay". And thus began what will certainly be the most intriguing storyline of season 4. Is he? Isn’t he? Is it any of our business? What more will Justin have to endure at school? The part is just so skillfully written and acted, we forget that there has NEVER been a character like Justin Suarez on broadcast TV before (starting his ‘journey’ at age 12). We are in uncharted territory, and it’s going to be fascinating to see it unfold.
So, former Betty fans – now that the show is moving to a night/time when people are actually home (Wednesdays at 10), maybe it’s time to give the Ugly Betty a try again. It’s as good as you remember when it was at its best. Join us on January 6…I’ve been saving a seat for you.
Image: Bauer Griffin
Urie not on list is a sin (altho I know it wasn’t intended) but A Rod as a reason and Urie not listed… Oh, that’s a tough one… It’s NO contest, please :)
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I think if Bobby can do the Santos character-type justice then he should represent but it deeply disappoints me how both Archie and Gio have been wrongfully dissed already. I understand this is Betty’s show, that is a given but think about this: everyone needs a mentor. Bradford saw alot in Betty. He gave her a chance when even Daniel was scoffing. Her place should in no way be threatened whatsoever by Matt Hartley or his father. Did anyone steal the thunder from Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen? Ok then. That’s all I’m saying. Tracey Ullman groomed The Simpsons too. Its not all just one gender. What happened with Family Matters was the show got pushed around until Urkel appeared. The people who got mad about his appearance were blatant by whom spiked the punch bowl during the Urkel dance leading aunt Rachel to tightrope walk and save his scrawny butt. :) Thank you UB for bringing the show back to Wednesdays. <3
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Guess what? I don’t like Bobby either. He’s not half as charming as Santos and Hilda cheating with him seriously made me not like her character. Everybody else is wonderful. Bobby sticks out like a sore thumb.
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B-) I just want some resolution here.
1.) To me, the show really went of its rails when Bradford died.
a.) Up until that point throughout season 1, until post-Santos season 2 when Gio was established, I saw for myself a bit of something mythic. It was as if Adrian Balboa was being given her own spin-off from Rocky with Santos as Apollo, Gio as the champ and Bradford his trainer Mickey.
2.) The Pauly of this situation is whomever exec greenlit the show’s following sabotage:
a.) In season 1, right before Alexis is revealed, Wilhemina asked the masked woman what they should do now and that person said that they thought it was time for Fey Summers to make a comeback or return. This was after, I believe, Bradford had opened Fey’s crypt and there was no body inside. That’s a storyline that just… dropped.
b.) In season 2, Betty got over Mr. Meade’s death by what seemed to be the very next episode. Yet all this season Daniel has been allowed to mope about Molly? What happened to in “Getting over the Ghost” Daniel getting over things right away because its what his dad would have done?
i.) Next, in season 2 Bradford has a video will made out and (although it
is my favorite episode) the Meade children decide who will chair the company via a paintball war? Wouldn’t his darling… have made for a more intriguing overall season-arc?
c.) Then the DJ paternity issue in season 3 was quickly resolved in a matter of episodes.
i.) Suddenly Connor Owens is in Alexis’ chair without any conflict,
ii.) steals Mode’s money and
iii.) loses his cancer-stricken girlfriend to Daniel?
Meanwhile,
iv.) Cal Hartley appears and Betty falls in love with his son, Matt who has a roving eye?
That is alot of story to cover in one season which was constantly put on hiatus for new shows to air. Outside of there not being any “previously” segments to keep the viewers on track, there just seems to be a bit of contrary scriptwriting double-think going on. With all due respect its like the show has been consistent only in schizophrenically exploiting itself like human traffickers do a migrant sweatshop worker. If this program were farm worker-based or anything else there would be civil rights controversy issues to contend with. Just look at how The Princess and The Frog, a Disney animation project is getting flack for its presumed inappropriate portrayal of African-Americans in a part of the South that for a long time, was not ratified into the constitution as being part of the United States but like District of Columbia, territory belonging to another country. Thank you. This all I have to say for the time being.
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Is Natalie Portman wearing Betty’s “B” pendant in “The Other Boleyn Girl”?
See picture #7 http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/17/young.victoria.screen.queens/index.html
She is totally wearing Betty’s “B” pendant. Who constumed both shows?
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B-Betty, Betty’s necklace is actually an homage to Ann Boleyn’s famous pendant. :)
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No thanks. They are still keeping some bad storilines alive from season 3. I’ll give it a try once the Hartleys leave the show and Horta announces he’s giving up writing the show. Or that Freddy Rodriguez comes back to play Gio.
Whichever comes first.
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Amen. I have people who ask me for updates on the program, what they’ve missed, and its all too confusing for them to follow. I just wonder if Sirhan Sirhan writes the episodes from prison because the program is being handled like Nixon’s administration up until Watergate broke. In other words, Inspector Clouseau could be less bumbling as an auteur. *Eats a corned beef sandwich with nacho tortilla chips.* B)-~~~
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