554 replies to this topic

[jayseyfield]

Here's the futon critic's review of Ugly Betty (minor spoilers), it's not pretty...

And that's not even factoring in the simple fact that she's not funny or all that charming. Her only redeeming quality is supposedly her intelligence, which is limited to writing a proposal and putting it in a high school report binder. Again, this wouldn't be so bad if it weren't played so absolutely straight faced.

Edited by jayseyfield, Aug 26, 2006 @ 12:41 AM.

[magfreak]

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan sees some good things in her fall preview.

“Ugly Betty,” ABC (Sept. 28): This drama, one of fall’s most intriguing hours, is an adaptation of a popular South American telenovela, and America Ferrara’s performance as a would-be magazine editor, the sartorially challenged Betty, is so winning and nuanced you want this show - and Betty - to succeed (another plus: executive producer Salma Hayek’s hilarious cameo in a campy telenovela that Betty watches). ABC has taken a brave stand by giving the highly intriguing “Betty” a primo slot leading into “Grey’s Anatomy”; here’s hoping the network’s high-stakes gamble pays off.

[brokensword]

From nymag.com:

Ferrera proves remarkably adept at playing a stumbling, stammering wallflower. Which is fortunate, since without a genuinely homely heroine, the show wouldn’t work at all.

[jayseyfield]

From nymag.com:

Heh, I noticed they used the "America the Beautiful" headline too.

[PoiPounder]

10 to watch

Entertainment Weekly's Top Pic for Thursday Nights

Please include a link to the article

Edited by Mr. Kwan, Sep 6, 2006 @ 3:43 PM.

[dealan]

Why have we not seen more promos for this show yet? I mention this every so often to people and they have no idea what I am talking about. ABC needs to get on the ball, NOW.

[Midsommer]

In Canada it's going to be on CTV, and they have tons of promos for it.

[Mexicanguy]

The official Ugly Betty website is up. I got to say, I found it a little lackluster.

[TheNorth]

Yeah, not the most comprehensive site but maybe they'll add to it as the show goes on. It would be funny to have them include a dress like Betty or fashion do's & dont's section.

Also, thought I would mention that America Ferrara is going to be presenting the ABC daytime soaps on Friday, Sept. 22nd with Vanessa Williams. They are also going to be talking a little bit about the show!!

[jayseyfield]

ABC is airing a preview show showing clips of all their new shows today, UB will be in the first half hour in the reality and comedy part.

[mtlchickie]

In Canada it's going to be on CTV, and they have tons of promos for it.

It's going to be CityTV in Canada.

[Massena1]

Apparently Betty's hot tempered sister gets rid of a pesky neighbor by saying "Bitch! Out of my house!" hee. I love her already. As a Mexican-American, I have to admit, I have hopes that this could be a really good portrayal of smart, strong Latinas in pop culture. I hope Grey's and The Devil Wears Prada help draw an audience bc Betty has TOUGH competition.

Article in the Hollywood Reporter, called "Sweet, soapy 'Betty' eyes clean breakout" :

http://hollywoodrepo...t...23135&imw=Y

Edited by Jessica, Sep 18, 2006 @ 1:42 PM.

[jayseyfield]

I keep seeing this commercial for Oprah where she says "Salma Hayek wants to introduce us to someone" then Salma Hayek in that Salma Hayek-y way she has of speaking says how wonderful and talented this person is.

I think we can all tell who it is.

I expect nothing short of an hour of Oprah gushing over this show followed by a discussion of how good it is to have a show like UB compared to y'know all the other tv shows with stick women.

Edited by jayseyfield, Sep 20, 2006 @ 12:22 AM.

[TheNorth]

I saw the same promo!! I am so excited! I hope that they have America on and Vanessa Williams, but I also hope that the hour is for them and not how Oprah sometimes divvies the show into two topics!

[jayseyfield]

but I also hope that the hour is for them and not how Oprah sometimes divvies the show into two topics!

Forest Whitaker and John Legend are also on so it looks like the hour will be divided. Which I think it reasonable, UB isn't a hit yet so it hard to justify devoting a whole hour to it.

[TheNorth]

Yeah, thanks for the info...I saw the show and was disappointed to see them on for such little time. It wasn't even for 20 minutes, but a little is better than none I guess. Oprah didn't seem like she was too into the show, it seemed like she was pretending.

[PoiPounder]

ABC has a 8 min. clip of Ugly Betty up

Here

[MiamiGuy]

More good reviews:

http://www.dfw.com/m...on/15628498.htm

http://www.calendarl...0,3736239.story

http://www.miami.com...on/15618138.htm

ETA: More reviews

Edited by MiamiGuy, Sep 28, 2006 @ 8:30 AM.

[Kareny]

Betty's getting a little of the NYC marketing treatment the other ABC premieres have gotten - I ran into a couple Betties (dressed in South American garb to boot) passing out Ugly Betty compact mirrors and copies of Betty's resume in Columbus Circle this morning.

Her address is 437 89th St, Jackson Neights NY 11372, and she types 100 WPM.

Edited by Kareny, Sep 28, 2006 @ 11:24 AM.

[jayseyfield]

Did anyone watch The View today? Salma and America were on and the women of the View were wearing those atrocious looking guadalajara ponchos. (Not the same one like Betty, these were gray)

It really helps to have a producer like Salma to promote the show.

Edited by jayseyfield, Sep 28, 2006 @ 12:33 PM.

[Jessica]

Those Betties are working their asses off -- they were all over Fashion Week, too.

[bookish girl]

Wow, that's some impressive marketing with the Betties.

On the radio today, I overheard how they weren't sure how they were going to make Salma Hayek 'ugly enough' to be Betty.

Hello? She's the producer not the star.

[mrskitty]

Did anyone watch The View today? Salma and America were on and the women of the View were wearing those atrocious looking guadalajara ponchos. (Not the same one like Betty, these were gray)

Yeah, that was pretty funny. They were on GMA or Today Show before that. I forgot which one.

[dreago]

I work in a hispanic neighborhood so much of the media around me is in Spanish. I was wondering how they were going to advertise this show, now that my 'hood could have picked Colombia's Betty La Fea or Mexico's La Fea Mas Bella.

So, imagine my chortle when I drive under a huge billboard splashed all over the subway overpass. There is a big photo of Betty and next to it, in Spanish, the text read, "So ugly, we did it in English."

eta:because "hicieron" and "hicimos" totally changes the joke.

Edited by dreago, Oct 3, 2006 @ 9:43 PM.

[rss]

There was a pretty good review in the NYT today (sorry, don't have a link), and I believe it's the second time I've seen it reviewed there, which is interesting (I think the first one was actually a better review). This one had some interesting points, like how smart and good doesn't have to mean fashion-challenged. That doesn't express exactly what the article says, but it's the closest I could come. After seeing the episode, I'm inclined to agree with the article's sentiment.

[kostgard]

ABC has put up a website for "Betty."

Not a lot of information, but some cute/funny stuff about the characters.

[babelfish]

rss said:

There was a pretty good review in the NYT today (sorry, don't have a link), and I believe it's the second time I've seen it reviewed there, which is interesting (I think the first one was actually a better review). This one had some interesting points, like how smart and good doesn't have to mean fashion-challenged. That doesn't express exactly what the article says, but it's the closest I could come. After seeing the episode, I'm inclined to agree with the article's sentiment.

The link to the review is here. It's a fairly positive review, though it does raise its eyebrow to the idea that Betty, though not perfectly beautiful, is superlatively smart to make up for it.

[2MuchTV]

From USA Today:

Television:
Gorham jumps onboard with 'Betty'

Christopher Gorham is out of Practice and into Betty. The former Out of Practice star is about to launch an open-ended, multi-episode guest stint on ABC's Ugly Betty. His first appearance as Henry, an oblivious accountant who develops an interest in Betty, is scheduled for next week. But his first big episode arrives around Halloween, a holiday the fashion-challenged Betty was born to embrace.

Gorham says he'd be happy to stick around as long as Betty wants him. He loves the character he's playing, and like most viewers, he loves Betty herself, America Ferrera.

"She's going to be such a huge star in a minute, but she's going to make it very easy for everyone at the show because she's so down to earth," he says. "That's not always how it works out."

[kostgard]

Okay, so they've already got one former Popular cast member coming on board, would it be too much to ask them to Mary Cherry (Leslie Grossman) to pop up at Mode?

[mrskitty]

Who's the other Popular member? I think Mary Cherry would've played the British coworker character well.