Michael Urie Clip From The 'It Gets Better Project'

Found this wonderful clip whilst searching for current Ugly Betty related stuff: it's a short vid from Dan Savage's 'It Gets Better' project.

In it, Michael tells teens who are or consider themselves to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gendered people to 'keep looking' and to reach out to those who can help them, if and should they encounter bullying at some stage. He also explains that being from and growing up in Texas- which is predominately a conservative State in America when it comes to LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgendered) issues to name, he still managed to have a support network of friends, family that he could confide in and turn to.

Michael's words couldn't be more further from the truth- if you are a teenager who is experiencing bullying or problems because of your sexual orientation, don't keep living in fear. Talk to someone you know and trust, be it a friend, if you are on-line on a site such as Facebook, Twitter, perhaps you may feel it is easier to converse on-line your problems. That way, you'll know you have the support and get the advice you are looking for.

Bullies prey on and target those whose differences are seen as a threat to them, and as they can not accept those differences. But if you manage to withstand the verbal threats, taunts, it will be okay in the end.

Believe me, when you think it is going to get worse for you, ultimately 'it gets better' after the ordeal is over. Just like the name of the project.

Go Michael! :-)

*update: this video was made in response to recent cases reported in the U.S media that several teenagers, who were or considered themselves as being gay, had committed suicide

Short Poll: Betty's Makeover

There is still time to vote in my other polls if you haven't done so as of yet, but like I planned a few days ago I will be holding some shorter polls that will each run for a maximum of 8 weeks or less.

This is the first of many to come, so please add your vote. If you want to, you can add a comment or a reason that supports your answer.

Please note that I will moderate all answers and comments, so any spam, vulgarity and abuse will be deleted and will not be posted on this site by me.

Cheers. :-)

Waiching 

Bernadette Peters Joins Twitter

Those who have Twitter would be interested to know that Bernadette Peters has just joined the micro-blogging social site last week Thursday.

Bernadette was famous for playing the hilarious-yet kooky Jodie Papadakis in Season 3 of Ugly Betty. 

I'm sure her updates will be of interest to many, especially to her own fans who are looking forward to her next public appearances, productions. Now, I'm hoping Patti Lupone- who played Marc's mother Jean in season 1, will be the next one in line to sign up! :-)

Anyhow, below is Bernadette Peters Twitter account:

http://twitter.com/OfficialBPeters

Was Betty's Makeover Something That Had To Happen On The Show.... Or Was It A 'Jump The Shark' Moment?

Posted on Sat, Apr. 17, 2010

Dave on Demand: How Betty lost her ugly - and her audience

By David Hiltbrand

For the Inquirer

Adios, Betty Suarez.

Ugly Betty, the show that arrived with such resounding verve four years ago, limped quietly into oblivion this week after a season in which it barely cracked the Nielsen Top 100.

The last episode retained many of the hallmarks that made Betty such a standout, including vivid characters, snappy plotting, clever visual transitions from one scene to another, and funny dialogue.
There was Suzuki, the snarky TV gossip, reporting, "[Wilhelmina] claims the shooting was an accident, which has fashionistas everywhere straining to lift their eyebrows."

And when Amanda asked her newly discovered father how a gay man had come to sire her, he responded, "It was the '80s. Studio 54. I got so blitzed out of my mind I thought Faye was Andy Warhol."

But the final instalment was also a reminder of why the show lost more than 60 percent of its audience over time: It wouldn't let Betty be ugly.

As her confidence and appearance blossomed, Betty's boyfriends got more and more princelike - from total loser Walter to handsome multimillionaire Matt. We tuned in for a soap opera and got a fairy tale.

In the finale, as she dashed around London in vibrant styles - one hat-toss away from a Mary Tyler Moore moment - Betty's longtime boss Daniel showed up, declaring, "I can't live without you!" We're to believe this shallow Casanova quit his prestigious job and flew overseas to beg Betty to have him? Surely, you jest.

Early in its run, Ugly Betty abandoned its fish-out-of-water charm. That was worse than jumping the shark.

Philly.com- Inquirer Magazine

America Ferrera Owes Her Success To Her Mum

What My Mum taught me

AMERICA FERRERA became a star in the lead role of TV hit Ugly Betty.

But the 26-year-old, who launched latest film The Dry Land at the Deauville film festival in France this month, credits her success to her mother.

Here, she reveals why, in the first of our regular series "What my mother taught me".

"MY mother taught me the importance of hard work - and education. She was born in Honduras and wanted better for her own kids. I was the youngest of six - and my mother, also called America, brought us up on her own.

My father, Gregorio, walked out on us when we were kids so it was all down to her. She never took benefits and worked all her life, right up to today.

She would tell me: "No one owes you anything. Work hard for what you get and stand on your own two feet." She believed if there was something you wanted in life, then work for it. Don't borrow money and never ask for charity. I was told: "Do well at school. No one can take away a good education.

So there were strict rules. Always do your homework. Do not miss lessons. Listen in class. She would also examine my school reports and expect the best grades. I always had A grades but they came because of my mother's rules.

She put the fear of God into us, with no tolerance of drugs, drink or boys. She kept us kids in line.

I was not allowed a boyfriend before the age of 17. Even then, there was an 11pm curfew. And I could not wear short skirts.

She also taught me to treat people well. There was a lot of respect for others - genuine respect, not this ridiculous thing you hear from street gangs about being "respected".

Mum was director of the housekeeping department at a hotel in Los Angeles. She worked very long hours and expected us to do the same.

Although we struggled with money, she is also a very charitable person.

Working during early morning shifts

I also worked as a waitress on the breakfast shift at weekends, to make money for myself. Aged 15, I had to be up at 4am to be on duty at 6am.

I did not rebel or ask questions - I just did it. I knew how hard it was for Mum to bring all of us up on her own and she was doing her best. We did not have the financial resources for me to go to summer camp or science camp. I would accept that I would be in the office of the hotel, helping with paperwork, in the summer.

Going to and succeeding at university 

There was no sense of entitlement. And I was encouraged to take every opportunity. So I worked really hard at school, because it meant I had a chance of improving my life.

I ended up with straight A grades and went to the University of Southern California to study international relations. It gave me great confidence.

When I started acting at school and got a couple of jobs professionally, that was just part of the working process.

Education means you are no longer at the mercy of ignorance.

So when I did have success as an actress, in Ugly Betty, I appreciated it for what it was. I had worked hard to get it and there was no sense of being superior to anyone. I knew it was not going to last for ever and I had to carry on working hard.

When I won a Golden Globe for best actress, I took my mother to the awards and said: "Thanks, Mum."

The Sun- Woman Homepage

Vanessa Williams On Being A Desperate Housewife And Wilhelmina

Vanessa Williams talks to AfterElton about joining “Desperate Housewives” and about “Ugly Betty”

By Greg Hernandez on Sep 24, 2010 10:47 am | Permalink | Comments (0) 

Loved former Wisteria Lane inhabitants Dana Delaney and Nicolette Sheridan but my bet is that Vanessa Williams will be the most exciting addition to Desperate Housewives in years.

The former Miss America and Ugly Bettystar talked to AfterElton.com about leaving Betty’s Wilhelmina Slater behind and stepping into the shoes of her newHousewives character of Renee Perry.

Here’s an excerpt:

AfterElton: How long did you make Marc Cherry beg before you agreed to join Desperate Housewives?
Vanessa Williams: [laughs] Oh, I didn’t make him beg at all. We had a meeting Thursday and the deal was signed by Monday noontime, so it came so quickly. It’s the quickest deal I’ve ever done, so I think we were both, you know, excited and happy.

AE: Now tell me about Renee and what is going to appeal to us gay guys about this character.
VW: Well, I mean, she ain’t no Wilhelmina. She’s a New Yorker who comes into the lane and comments on the difference between New York and the suburban life often. Her dress is certainly not Wilhelmina as well, but she tries to do her best in terms of bringing style and flair to the lane. And she’s a little bit passive-aggressive so she tends to ruffle some feathers.

She’s certainly not creating the amount of fear and trepidation and the amount of scheming that Wilhelmina had on a weekly basis, but she’s mixin’ it up. We’ve shot… we’re on episode seven now, so it’s been kind of tasty. I’ve been able to work with each woman kind of one-on-one for at least an episode or so, so it’s kind of nice to delve into each person’s world and stir it up.

AE: Now when did you realize that you, Vanessa Williams, had become a gay icon?
VW: The first time was probably when I heard people saying, “Have you seen Priscilla, Queen of the Desert? They sing “Saved the Best for Last” at the end, you gotta see it!”- and that was years ago.

But in terms of Wilhelmina and Ugly Betty and that persona, I don’t know. The thing about my career is, I’ve done so many things in terms of my recording career and Broadway, you know, I’ve performed in tons of different venues, doing “Running Back to You” at the AIDS Dance-A-Thon back in the day. I don’t think there was one pivotal moment where I said, you know, I’ve made it as a gay icon. [laughs]

http://greginhollywood.com/

Ugly Betty TV Current Airings Around The world

Australia: Ugly Betty Season 1 Reruns

The 7Two network are showing re-runs of season 1 at 6.00pm each week-night: with episode 7 'Lose the Boss' on Monday night.

Ice TV.Com

However, come Monday October 4th, Ugly Betty will be replaced by Head Of The Class in its timeslot.

Season 2 On Arena

Cable network Arena - Austar Television will be showing the second series with the season opener, 'How Betty Got Her Grieve Back' on Saturday October 2nd at 6.30pm.

Austar- Arena

U.K. : Season 4 Run on E4, Channel 4

E4 are currently airing Season 4 on Wednesday evenings at 9.00pm. Repeats can then be seen on Sunday afternoons at around 4.30pm on Channel 4.

U.S : TV Guide Network


The TV Guide Network who bought the syndication rights to Ugly Betty air the reruns on Cable. It is also shown on local stations throughout North America in the U.S and Canada.

Hong Kong: Season 4 


Hong Kong Free-to-air channel TVB Pearl, who air English language shows in the region is still airing the final season- 'London Calling' airs tonight on 11.55pm, Hong Kong time.


TVB Pearl

South Africa: Season 3 

Episode 21, The Born Identity airs on Tuesday 7.30pm on Subscription Channel, M.Net 

Ugly Betty Background 1: Marc!

Just created a Ugly Betty based Twitter background: this is the first in the series with Marc. This can be downloaded from my Deviant Art user page.

More details on this can be found by visiting the link below: Just click on where it says 'Download Image'.

Deviant Art- UB Marc Twitter Background

In Jpg format, dimensions: 675 x 450 
Size 182 KB - Twitter accepts backgrounds that are smaller than 800 KB
note: depending on how large your monitor or laptop screen is, you may see that the images will look smaller in size unless you adjust your screen size, as well as see how wide it looks on your monitor. There has been a study which revealed that the most used screen resolution is 1024 x 768

*tip: I recommend using this site to find out what your screen resolution is:

http://www.screenresolution.org/

I will be creating more and more Betty backgrounds- both with individual characters, as well as ships- i.e. Betty and Daniel, Betty and Gio, Marc and Wilhelmina, Amanda and Marc etc. If you would like your own Ugly Betty background for Twitter, Tumblr, Live Journal, Posterous or any other blogging site, free free to let me know by leaving me a message with your name, email address- so I can then send it to you as an attachment, the site you have- be it Twitter, Tumblr whatever, and your favourite characters or the characters you want on your background. Right below this post. And I will do it for free! No charges whatsoever!

Waiching

Lots Of Stuff Coming Up!

There is more to come on the Michael Urie and Ugly Betty Fan Blog, as well as the usual postings, there will be:

- A once a monthly look at what the ex-cast members of the show are all up to since Ugly Betty ended

 - More fan polls, which will be shorter this time in terms of the time given that you can vote in them

- I'll be taking an analysis look back at Betty's boyfriends/ relationships

- My pick of my favourite Betty moments from the past 4 seasons with You Tube clips to accompany each of them

-  Short essays on Ugly Betty analysing the impact of the show in terms of culture, identity

- More fan art - again from Deviant Art, I'll try and contract the original artists and try to get permission from them to showcase their work on this very site

-And last but not least, Ugly Betty related wallpapers, backgrounds for You Tube, Tumblr, Twitter in particular, which I will create and upload onto Deviant Art for you to download, along with the link as well.

There is little chance this will all be completed by the end of the year. But I'm still hoping to get a few of those done, as well as post a end of year review/summary- which in many cases will be mourning the demise of this show, given it's axe.

As ever, I am just grateful to and appreciative of each and every one of you who stops by at this site, since it launched last year in October- which is great also as in a week's time it will be the 1st anniversary of the Michael Urie and Ugly Betty Fan Blog since I first launched it back in 2009! Can't wait! Every day I come on here and see the world map and all these people from parts of Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, South America, Oceania visiting this site, it makes me happy to see that there are those who still care for Ugly Betty and still miss it as much as I do. I do have a message planned for all the followers of this site, as well as the Betty fans come Christmas time, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

I created this blog for fans of Ugly Betty and being a fan of the show myself, I wanted do something for you guys out there and yet at the same time appreciate all the comments you send in.

There are not many fan sites and blogs dedicated to the show nowadays, what with it being no longer on TV, and after the sad dissapearance of Ugly Betty News back in March, it must've been difficult for some fans to find an alternative website/outlet to keep track of the show's progress and cast member's whereabouts and other projects they are up to, post-Betty-wise. 

I am proud and happy that I created this site: it is a site for the fans of Ugly Betty by A fan, i.e. myself.

Thank you for visiting- you are truly keeping the Ugly Betty spirit alive! :-)

Waiching - Main writer of the Michael Urie and Ugly Betty Fan Blog

America Finds Facebook, Twitter 'Empowering'

Why America Ferrera Loves Twitter and Facebook

Posted by jkiesewetter September 23rd, 2010, 4:48 pm 
 

America Ferrera admits she had doubts about using Facebook and Twitter at first, but not any more. At the Digital Non Conference panel today, the Emmy-winning “Ugly Betty” star told how she loves social media  now despite her initial concerns. (She also talked about her new “Pedro & Maria” interactive series for MTV, produced with P&G. I’ll post more on that later today.)

She had Twitter and Facebook pages before she knew what they were. But she eventually decided to take control over her image and message. She learned the power of Facebook in April when she raised $44,000 to help build a new elementary school in Disassadeni, Mali, for Save the Children from Facebook fans who donated $1, $2, $5 or other small amounts on her birthday.

She also promoted “The Dry Land” — an independent movie she produced and starred in earlier this year with Jason Ritter and Wilmer Valderrama — with a live streamed talk on Facebook. “We had thousands of questions coming from all over the world about the film which had zero marketing dollars,” she says.

Twitter allows her to connect instantly with her fans. She recalled being back stage at “The Tonight Show,” and tweeting about being nervous and cold. She got 20,000 responses, most offering her encouragement. “They (her fans) want to hear from me, not the president of my fan club,” she says.  She says when she’s on Twitter and Facebook, she doesn’t do “anything that’s negative about me,” or respond to negative remarks or criticisms. “I believe my posts about me are more powerful. It’s such an incredibly empowering place to use your own voice.”

Cincinnati.com- TV Blog

Michael Urie To Appear In London In Celebrity Autobiography

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"Ugly Betty" Star Michael Urie to Make London Stage Debut

By Mark Shenton
21 Sep 2010

"Ugly Betty" star Michael Urie, who played Marc St. James in the recent ABC series, will make his London stage debut in Celebrity Autobiography, running at Leicester Square Theatre Oct. 4-9.

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First seen in the UK at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the show features a rotating roster of comic actors who act out superstar memoirs live on stage. Created and developed by Emmy Award-nominated writer-performer Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel, the show won a Drama Desk Award in 2009.
Urie has starred Off-Broadway in 2009 in The Temperamentals, receiving a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.

According to publicity materials, Celebrity Autobiography, answers questions such as "What makes a perfect night in for Katie Price and Peter Andre? How can David Hasselhoff play both Jekyll and Hyde? What does Stallone keep in his freezer?" The show includes extracts from celebrity autiobiographies that reveal the secrets of the love life of Burt Reynolds, the romance tips of Tommy Lee and the the love triangle of Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 847 2475, or visit www.leicestersquaretheatre.com.

Season 4 U.K .Ratings *Update*

Quick update on the viewing figures in the U.K for the final series of Ugly Betty, which airs on E4 on Wednesday nights at 9.00pm

The Butterfly Effect part 1-

August 11

E4 - 974 viewers
E4+1- 233 viewers

*Total no. of viewers 1,207

The Butterfly Effect part 2-

August 18

E4- 886 viewers
E4+1- 267 viewers

*Total no.of viewers 1, 153 ( down 0.54 viewers)

Blue On Blue  

August 25


E4- 867 viewers
E4+1 -188 viewers



*Total no.of viewers 1, 055 (down 0.98 viewers)

The Weiner, The Bun And The Boob

September 1


E4- 968 viewers
E4+1 - 209 viewers


*Total no.of viewers 1, 177 (up 112 viewers)

Source:


Ugly Betty- Season 4 UK Ratings

Vanessa: Ugly Betty Cast 'Constantly Mourning'; Talk To Each Other All The Time

Vanessa Williams moves onto 'Desperate Housewives'

By Bruce R. Miller

bmiller@siouxcityjournal.com

Posted: Friday, September 17, 2010 12:00 am

Matthew Rolston 

Matthew Rolston
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” stars Vanessa Williams as Renee Perry. (ABC/MATTHEW ROLSTON)

LOS ANGELES - Vanessa Williams was so convinced “Ugly Betty” would come back for a fifth season, she accepted a summer job - in the Broadway musical “Sondheim on Sondheim.”

“I didn’t have to commit to a year because I was employed,” she explains. “When we finished up, I could go back to the show.”

Unfortunately, that show didn’t get a fifth season. It was cancelled and Williams was left without a “regular” job.

Enter: Marc Cherry, the creator of “Desperate Housewives.” A fan of Williams’ work, he asked if she might be interested in joining the women of Wisteria Lane. “We had nothing,” Williams says. “No character. No script. Just a meeting.”

Williams said yes and over the summer Cherry and company crafted the role.

When she moves into the neighborhood, the former Miss America will play Lynette’s college “frenemy,” a troublemaker whose estranged husband is a New York Yankee.

“She and Lynette were competitive in college. She comes back after she has some issues with her marriage.”

That means she’ll be more than ready to welcome another newcomer (played by Brian Austin Green) into her home.

A rivalry? Oh, yes. Williams says she and Marcia Cross will fight over the same guy.

So how evil is the new character? “I’ve only seen two scripts,” Williams says. “I don’t think she’s evil at this point but I ain’t writin’ it. I just do the best I can with the material I’m given.”

The 47-year-old did such a great job playing bad in “Ugly Betty” she landed an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress. A reprise would be likely, but that’s not Williams’ way.

“I don’t think Marc would want to touch something that wasn’t his own,” she says. “It’s nice to mix it up.”

When she first got on the set of “Desperate Housewives,” Williams was understandably nervous. “It’s like being the new kid in school,” she explains. “But I’m a grown woman. It’s not terrifying. It’s not difficult. It’s just new. Everyone has been tremendously generous and welcoming. It’s not like I’m 20 years younger. We’re all peers.”

Williams laughs openly with her new co-stars but admits she still keeps in close contact with the “Ugly Betty” cast. “We’re constantly mourning,” she says. “We talk to each other all the time. It’s very hard for us to let go.”

“Housewives,” though, represents a new period in her life. “When it first came out, it was an opportunity to see women my age looking fantastic and having lead roles on television. It was trail blazing. It opened doors for women my age. At 38, you were either done being the ingénue or you were the mom or the district attorney.”

Now, there are plenty of meaty roles for older women to play.

Evil, Williams says, is particularly choice. “You don’t have to be nice. You don’t have to be contained.”

Could “Desperate Housewives” afford those freedoms? “I don’t know how wicked I’ll be able to be,” she says.

Difficult to play? “Not for me,” she says. Then after a pause, she adds a smile. A really big smile.

Sioux City central- Vanessa Williams Moves Onto Desperate Housewives

*many thanks to Jazmine aka @JNicole914 on Twitter for this!

America Ferrera 'Open' To More TV Roles

 America Ferrera 'open to TV return'

Thursday, September 16 2010, 12:04 BST

By Catriona Wightman, TV Reporter

 

WENN

 

America Ferrera has revealed that she would consider returning to television.

The former Ugly Betty star told Entertainment Weekly that she doesn't know what the future holds for her.

"I'd never rule anything out," Ferrera said. "If you asked me five years ago if I thought I was going to spend four years of my life on a television show, I probably would've never guessed that's what my future held."

She continued: "I think I sort of realised that whenever I make plans, life sort of has a way of making you laugh at your own self, so I'm just staying open.

"For me, it's about the next thing being as wonderful and incredible an experience and as dear to me as Betty was, and whether that's a film or a TV show or a play, I don't know. I'm just staying open to all of it."

Ferrera also revealed that she has "no news" about a possible Ugly Betty movie.

"I think that the rumour is well and alive," she joked. "It's always a possibility I suppose. But I don't know about any plans."

 

Digital Spy- America Open To TV Return

Ana Ortiz, Michael Urie To Celebrate Disneyland's 55th Anniversary

 

Michael Urie and Ana Ortiz will be both performing at the Disney Land resort in Florida on Sept 24 for its 55th anniversary celebration at the Disney Legends music concert. 

 

The Disney Legends music concert line-up also includes Disney legend Richard Sherman, Wilson Cruz (Rent, My So-Called Life), Tracie Thoms (Cold Case, Rent) and Melo-23 (of whom I have no idea who they are or what they are famous for).

 

They will pay tribute to some of the most memorable tunes from the Disney world.

 

If you are based in and around Florida, be sure to get your tickets for this one-off event. 

.

Broadway World.com

Vanessa Was Not A Fan Of Desperate Housewives Due To Handling Of Storyline

 

Vanessa Williams used to detest Desperate Housewives

September 13th, 2010 by Lisa McGarry.

Vanessa Williams has admitted that she almost turned down her role on Desperate Housewives, because she’d stopped watching the show in season two.

ABC have reported that the Ugly Betty star will play one of Wisteria Lane’s new housewives and will appear in almost every episode next season. However, her stint on the show almost didn’t come off, as she disapproved strongly of how the show handled their first African-American storyline with Alfre Woodard (who played Betty Applewhite).

 

She told Entertainment Weekly: 

 

“She had her son in chains in the basement. It was like, ‘Really? Do we have to go there with our first black character?’

“I honestly fell off the show after that. I think it was just so implausible and just an image that black folks don’t want to see – their child chained and shackled in the basement.” 

Unreality Primetime

Comment: Ugly Betty's Void To Be Felt Come Sept By Fans Everywhere

For the first time in 4 years since its debut on U.S TV and worldwide, there will not be a new airing of an episode; in fact, there won't be an airing of the fifth season of Ugly Betty, at all.

The last ever Ugly Betty episode aired in April, 5 months ago in America.

It is now September and usually for us fans of the show, we'd be looking forward to and anticipating season 5. But It won't happen.

It's hard to believe that a show as huge as Ugly Betty is and with the fanbase that it has, which consists of all four corners of the globe can only get 4 imperatively short seasons. It should've lasted more than that; WAY more. This was a show that touched the lives of many people, especially myself. It was warm, funny, heartfelt, entertaining; there was no other show quite like Ugly Betty.

Losing your favourite show can be for some quite hard to take in at first; believe me, having experienced the same type of thing with other TV shows that I was a fan of and of which later got cancelled, it hurts a lot. Yet the feeling is not so much mutual but personal. Personal in the sense that one grew up with the characters, that you have been on the same journey throughout and seeing out that journey right through to the end.  

Unfortunately, TV networks especially in the U.S are very fickle and impatient particularly in this decade where the likes of NBC, ABC, CBS to name have wielded the axe on so many sitcoms and dramedies over the years. Most of which rarely last as long as 4, 5 seasons and beyond that.

Like many shows, Ugly Betty underwent a transition of change ever since the first season as the show got more progressively drama-orientated and the writing became less funnier and amusing. As much as I still dislike ABC for what they did, to blame just ABC would be a tad unfair given that they are not the ones who are watching the show. It's the fans, or be it viewers who do that.

Ugly Betty did not get cancelled because it was a terrible show- far from it, although in its fourth season it was no longer funnier as it was back in season 1 and whereas season 3 was (undeservedly) maulled by the fans. And in spite of the inconsistent quality of the writing per se. It mainly got cancelled because so-called (ex)-fans of the show did NOT turn up and tune in; it got cancelled because not enough people or be fans were watching. True that at times, it didn't help when Silvio Horta managed to change things round and hence, made it unwatchable and so inconsistent.

It broke my heart every week during seasons 3-4 to see the viewing figures decline rapidly for each of the episodes. I knew then at point that if those figures did not improve, the writing was on the wall for Ugly Betty. And come January when news broke that ABC decided to severe ties with the show, I was pretty much disheartened.

With the show being moved about, fans didn't know when it was on and what time it would start on ABC; so much so, they would tune in online and watch the show there on.

To tell you the truth, the show was pretty much struggling ever since the middle of the second season- show-wise, not just in terms of ratings and thus, subsequent seasons of Ugly Betty failed to make that much of an impression and of which were stagnating. Needless to say, it is always difficult to match the level of success season 1 had.

I will miss the incredible cast, the humour, the writing- well not all of it, the performances come fall season. It was a combination of things- not just one that led to the demise of this show.   

Like I said in one of my other posts, Ugly Betty hit a nerve with fans because it was great at handling and addressing particular themes and issues relating to society and identity. Yet what really dragged this show down was the fact that high level of quality writing from season 1 did not continue throughout the remaining seasons. And that is a terrible shame because if it did, it could've been a massive, massive hit.

If there had been a fifth season, I would've gone about it by combining the best elements of the 4 seasons together, but also making it funnier. I would've certainly with the help of other writers made season 5 much more funnier and amusing than season 4. Like I said before, some of the drama in season 4 just dragged on and on and some of it was too much, whilst at the same time there wasn't enough comedy.

I'd long for a season 5, because TV right now is not as fun and enjoyable without Ugly Betty- it brought something different to the table and was a complete change from many other shows. For all the issues surrounding the handling of its storylines and inconsistent plotting thoughout, there can be no denying that Ugly Betty filled a void in TV land in America and throughout the world, and touching and approaching issues with sensitivity and heart.

Now we don't have much variety in terms of shows- that's why I am rewatching my favourite past Betty episodes on DVD. It should eleviate some of the pain from the loss of this show, as well as bring a smile to my face.

Waiching

America Ferrera To Host Upcoming PBS Documentary Show

September 7th, 2010 by Castina

Life after Ugly Betty is looking very attractive for newly-engaged star America Ferrera.

The 26-year-old star — who won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of Betty Suarez on the defunct ABC dramedy Ugly Betty — has been tapped to host the ninth season of PBS’ long-running documentary series Independent Lens.


In April, The Alphabet Network (ABC) pulled the plug on Ugly Betty due to poor ratings. However, America’s tango with unemployment was a short one. Ferrera will begin her stint as host of the award-winning anthology series when Independent Lens begins its new season of 27 documentaries on Oct. 19.

The actress now carries a torch previously held by past Independent Lens presenters including Susan Sarandon, Terrence Howard, and Edie Falco.

Popcrunch - America Ferrera PBS Indepedent Lens Host

Selma Hayek, Teri Weinberg

Given that Selma Hayek and Teri Weinberg were the co-producers of Ugly Betty, alongside Silvio Horta during the early seasons- the first season especially-, I and many fans wondered how much involvement and say they had with the third and final seasons of the show.

Fans were asking of Selma, whether she is or was at the time still associated with the show; she appeared in a few episodes during season 1 as Daniel's love interest, Sofia Reyes and had her hand with producing a number of other episodes. After all, the last I read, Selma Hayek's name is still mentioned on the list of producing credits for Ugly Betty. Teri wrote and co-wrote some of the season 1- 3 episodes but didn't get involved with the fourth season. I believed that she was either let go of by Silvio or left on her own accord after the end of season 3.

Their absence was somewhat felt in a way, as the fourth season suffered in the massive ratings war in the U.S and by the 7th episode, for the exception of many Betty fans, general audiences in America lost faith in the show for good. In spite of the writing, which many critics praised as being the best since season 1.

The role of a TV executive producer is often difficult to dissect but it is one where s/he is behind the original idea or concept for the series, as well as responsible for managing the actors contracts, set up, negotiate and make deals such as landing celebrities as guest stars through their agents, representatives and handling the financial running costs of the production.

As for Selma, last time I checked on IMDb her name was STILL accredited as being the executive producer of Ugly Betty.

Selma Hayek- IMDb Filmography

Let's just say that Selma was part of the Ugly Betty production team... how come we never read much of her during seasons 2, 3 and 4 in the show's related interviews on TV and the press? Why was it just Silvio and say America Ferrera that we saw representing the series and doing the interviews and discussing the plots for each season?

I think almost every Ugly Betty fan would be interested in knowing Selma's side to the story- this is her project also- and how and why the show had such a short lifespan, when it had the potential to last a few more seasons. 

Waiching

Ugly Betty Guest Wishlist- Part 3

Name: Raven- Symone
Date of birth: December 10, 1985
Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia USA
Most known to everyone as: The littlest kid, Olivia from the Cosby Show during the latter seasons of the show
Well- known fact: She voiced a character named Indessa in Disney's 2008 animated feature, Tinkerbell  alongside Kristen Chenowith, Lucy Liu, Jane Horricks, Anjelica houston and our America Ferrera to name!

Raven Simone has had quite a career- she has released a few albums to her name, appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Hangin' with Mr Cooper, The Cosby Show and her self-titled sitcom, 'That's So Raven'. And all before she turns 30!

She has a knack for comedy and based on her previous roles I think she would fit right in. One of the number of Generation- Y kids, who became famous during their early years and still going strong in their careers, in spite of show cancellations and lack of TV and movie appearances and roles .  

Raven would be ideal playing Betty's friend from kindergarten, of whom she meets up with 20+ years later.

Betty has always been almost friend-less since Christina left towards the end of the third season and given the writers direction for the show during season 4, she hasn't quite gelled together with Amanda and Marc. I think it would be good to have another friend for Betty- obviously this is not to replace Christina, rather to help even things out at Mode because it is mainly Amanda, Marc, Wihelmina on one side with Daniel, Claire on the other with Betty. Or be it for Betty to have someone she can hang out and converse with as a friend because she doesn't have many of them outside of work. Plus, this character that Raven plays, if I was casting her would be round about the same age as Betty. Another thing about this character is that she'd be someone who points it out to her, if and when Betty screws or messes up. She is firm but also strong-minded and has an almost 'bubbly' sense of humour.

In real-life, Raven is only a year younger than America Ferrera so the age gap difference isn't really an issue. Not to mention, they voiced characters on the Disney movie, Tinkerbell.

Therefore, those two should know each other well enough.

In all, for me she'd be a great reoccuring/guest star on Ugly Betty.

Hello Betty Kitty!

Designer Joseph Senior of Auckland, New Zealand took the popular Hello Kitty francise and mixed it with contempoarary and classic popular culture trends such as Star Wars, X-men, Robocop.

Here is Ugly Betty- a la Betty Suarez style and it's very cute! I love the 'Meow' magazine it is holding- that was a good idea!  along with the red poncho- very fitting! Sadly, this alongside the other kittens are not avaliable to buy online, which is a dissapointment because I think this will sell well.

I wish I owned something like this. Sigh.

To see this design and others, click on the link below:


Like Cool.com - Hello Kitty Model Kit

Ugly Betty Music

Ugly Betty always had great music to accompany the episodes with, as well as feature in. As well as the efforts of composer, Jeff Beal, there were also songs by many accomplished and lesser known acts.

You can visit Heard On TV- a place where you can view all the track-listings of songs from Ugly Betty and listen to You Tube clips of them.

Here are a few of my chosen favourites:

Junior Senior- Can I Get, Get, Get

From episode: 'Fey's Sleigh Ride' season 1- opening of episode with Betty, Marc and Amanda

Goldfrapp- Lovely 2 C U

From episode: 'In or Out' season 1- Marc takes photos of Amanda posing

The New Pornographers- Adventures In Solitude 

From episode: 'Back To Her Place' season 4 - end of the episode with Betty and Matt

Little Boots- New In Town

From episode: 'London Calling' season 4- scene with Betty, Christina, Amanda and Hilda hanging out in London

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers- American Girl
From episode: 'The Manhattan Project' season 3-  end of the episode with Betty dancing


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