Now in its fourth season, with declining ratings, Ugly Betty has become a pretty little bauble that should probably be wrapped up and put away. America Ferrera’s Betty has lost much of her original charm. It was inevitable: The character started out a brainy, ungainly girl, so it was only a matter of time before her intelligence and diligent work ethic, and the passing of time, made her a full-grown woman superior to just about everyone in the series except Vanessa Williams’ Wilhelmina.
Last night’s new episode, whose biggest laugh-grabber subplot was having Marc become Betty’s assistant (let’s try to forget about “sexy Lexi”), was typical of the tired problems the series is having these days. The camp humor has become labored (“Shee-diculous!”), and the attempts to keep things timely fall flat. The suggestion of a vampire on the cover of Mode because vamps are “in”? How 2007…
Ferrera runs through her lines so efficiently and rapidly, it’s beginning to look as though she knows she’s too mature for this stuff and just wants to clock out and go home. Eric Mabius’ Daniel seems lumpy and downright morose. The only sparks continue to emanate from Vanessa Williams: She’s somehow managed to keep her character’s waspish self-regard engaging and smart.
It was fun while it lasted… which was about mid-way through the second season. Ugly Betty, with its bright color scheme and rapid-fire yelping, lasted a lot longer than the similarly-hued and -paced Pushing Daisies — Betty benefitted from the underdog-sympathy viewers felt for its title character.
But I’d bet that even most of its diehard fans are ready to have Betty give her notice and move on.
Agree? Disagree?
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Now usually, I agree with Ken. But this time, not so much. America is great. Yes, her character is growing, but isn’t that what development is about. The rest of the cast is performing great. The major killer has to be the timeslot, but this season is going to be great.
I agree with you and I don’t care what ken likes one little bit. If he doesn’t like the show try a guy show and leave Betty to those of us who love her!
To be fair, it is Ken’s job to review shows, and this IS his opinion.
I think he’s right about the show losing a certain bit of its charm in the middle of the second season. It was turning into a great family epic soap, contrasting the Mead and the Suarez clans, but then they pulled back from that and focused solely on Betty. It was a mistake.
That said, I think the show has been remarkably great this season — a true resurgence, and I hope it at least gets to finish this season.
No, I like that they are having bettys character grow and change. I love it that they made her an editor and didn’t just leave her as daniels assistant forever. I still love the show just as much as when it first started.
Totally agree with this.
well, you’re wrong.
Explain to me how someone’s opinion can be wrong.
Me too – and I used to LOOOOOOVVVEEEE UB back in Season 1/2.
But it seems like the storylines are just getting lazy (no big plotlines to capture our interest), and boring characters.
And am I the only one who finds it weird how an “ugly” chick like Betty has so many men interested in her?
Amen Katie! I’ve often wondered the same thing.
It’s not just about the ‘looks’ you know. It’s not as though she’s unattractive – this season’s simple makeover and then later the braces off. Walter, Henry, Matt. They aren’t cover model material either.
I gave it up mid way through the third season.
I did too. However, I found it funny Ken would say putting a vampire on the cover of a magazine is so 2007 when how many EW covers this year have had vampires on it?
He was quoting the wilhemina.
Every time I open my mailbox, EW has a vampire staring at me. That “how 2007…” reference is ridiculous. Especially coming from a website with so many articles with typos you’d think that seventh graders were doing the transcribing.
I hate to jump on a pig pile (seriously, I do) but, yeah: You can’t work for EW and say someone else is lame for their vampire usage. At least Ugly Betty used it to mock it, whereas EW’s usage tends to be more Tiger Beat-ish.
I did too! What was it about that season?
I can agree with you there..the second half of season 3 disapointed BUT, it is SOOOOOOOOO much better now!! It feels like how it did in season 1. Watch it and you’ll see!
UGLY BETTY, ABC, FRIDAYS
What was it about the second half of S3 that had so many of us jumping ship? I think it had a lot to do with UB’s attempt to be ‘current’ with the economic climate and have Mode tank and the subsequent attempts to revive it. So many of us were scrambling in real life that we didn’t want to watch a show where others were doing the same thing- for laughs. We watch television, especially comedies, as escapism. Ugly Betty stopped letting us do that and when they did, we bailed.
Look, the third season was bad, but the cast is really great so I’m sticking around for another season. If this season fails, then I’m gone, but it’s worth watching because of the hilarious quips and the talented main (and supporting) cast.
That sucks, cus the end of the third season was great. Kinda like Lost, where the third season was eye-guagingly horrific, but the end made up for it (only instead of Bai Ling, we got Lindsay Lohan).
I still enjoy this show. Putting it on Friday night at 9:00 is going to kill it, though.
Completely disagree. This last episode wasn’t so great, but the show’s still got a lot left in it.
seriously? I thought last nights episode was hilarous!!! BEST ITS BEEN IN A WHILE!
Betty still has some of its charm and would still engage Thursday night audiences. With its move to Friday night and the loss of the brilliantly scripted Rebecca Romaine, it definitely needs to step it up to keep people’s attention. It still has at least one more season though.
I still love Betty! The plots were always stupid, but that’s not why I watch. Love the characters – if they’re still into it then I’m still into it! I just wish Gio would come back – I always thought he was the one for Betty.
Completely DISAGREE. While I had my issues with Season 3, the first few episodes have been popping!! While I haven’t loved some of the B Story Lines (Or the fact that no one gives Matt grief over how he got his job) I have found the first few episodes very enjoyable. If I don’t get at least 2 or 3 seasons of editor Betty I will be dissapointed.
I feel like no one gives Matt trouble (besides ragging on his ignorance re: Fashion, which is a throwback to Daniel in season 1) because they don’t want to get fired. Dude’s daddy is the bossy-boss. Whaddaya gonna do.
Long Live Betty!
YES! LONG LIVE BETTY! FRIDAYS ABC!
I have to agree with Ken. I loved this show initially, but it’s growing tired. I think this is going to be it’s last season. It just isn’t working anymore.
How long does one keep braces in? I thought it was a year….and she’s going on 4 years????
There’s no specific time frame. I had my braces for SIX years. (Drag!) But that was certainly unusually long. 2-3 years would not be at all unusual.
she’s getting them off later this season
I’ve met several people who had to endure that unpleasantness for an entire decade. Some people just have really unfortunate oral situations, I guess. I personally couldn’t imagine picking food out of my teeth and avoiding the gross mushy bread-remains after a delicious sandwich for 10 years.
As for Betty, her braces are coming off during sweeps.
and yet never has to leave work for an orthodinist appointment….
EXACTLY!! 2 years is normal. I had mine almost three, just because I moved to a new state.
Maybe her teeth were seriously snaggly before… I had a friend who had braces for 5 years, and another who is in his 30’s and just had to get braces!
well you’re wrong. This is the best season since season 1. Its getting better and better now. You must have bad taste in tv jennifer, if you arnt watching Ugly Betty. It is still one of the smartest shows around.
Wow. A fan of “one of the smartest shows around” who can’t spell or punctuate.
I used to love this show, but I am TIRED of seeing Betty continually humiliated and picked on for laughs. ENOUGH ALREADY. She needs to grow and stop being a doormat The show is DEPRESSING to watch. Suggestions: more Claire/Betty mentor stuff, more Wilhemina scheming, have Amanda head up a Shopping/Partying magazine for Meade that inexplicably does great, and bring back Gio.
I totally agree with you. Most of the time, it just makes me sad to see Betty still being picked on.
are you mentally retarted? Of course betty is going to be picked on, sheis the underdog. BUT if you look at last season, she was hardly picked on. HARDLY. She was accepted at MODE. She is getting picked on more this year because she sucks at her new job.
LONG LIVE BETTY
Betty’s underdoggedness never really bugs me. 99% of Betty’s tormenting usually comes from Marc and Amanda anyway, and their insults are more of a weird show of affection than anything.
I love your Amanda magazine idea though. If they weren’t going the Rachel Zoe path with that character, I’d be so down. Especially if the series ended with Marc and Betty getting fired from Mode, and then going to work for Amanda, of all people.
I totally disagree. I gave up on this show a couple of seasons ago, but now I’m totally hooked again. I think it’s funnier, wittier, and more camp (but the good kind). I think with the first few seasons I felt like they concentrated too much on the soapy drama and forgot that it was a comedy show. Each episode of this season has soooooo… many good one-liners. The time slot really sucks though :*(
YES! this season is amazing!!!
totally agree- the show is much better than last season- its now one of my favorites!
The first season was absolutely amazing. Then the show got rapped up to much in the whole gay thing and lost the bit about a close, struggling latino family. Killing off Bradford Meade was a huge mistake. He sort of grounded the show. Inserting Lindsey Lohan in the 3rd season was stupid. Maybe the producers need to bring in some young writers. And put some genuinely good looking men on the show that hetero women find hot not just one that gay men find hot.
It also started repeating itself with plots. Daniel’s man-whore was very interesting…but then they brought in Rebecca & the transgender subplot which ruined it for me.
Gosh. Can we talk about the repetition? And Daniel as a man-whore was only funny to me because Eric Mabius (sp?) is _so_ not hot. Not even a little bit. That’s the thing. There are zero hot men on this show. And it’s a very very gay show. Which is okay. But it’s not my genre. It should be on the gay cable network –whatever that network’s called. But I’m sure it will liveon there in reruns.
“Got ‘rapped’ up ‘to’ much in the whole gay thing”? Let’s see. Mark had a boyfriend for a whole 5 seconds and Justin likes musical theatre. That’s about it for the gay thing.
You sound like you’d be fun to hang out with,
There was ONE episode where Mark came out to his mother. So add twenty minutes to the gay agenda thing. Oh and soon we may not get beaten to a pulp as much.
I think Betty’s family was the weakest thing in the 3rd season. It was fun watching her spread her wings, sharing a NY apartment with Amanda.Having Ignacio and Hilda drag her back home back home again wasn’t fun, especially since her (formerly supportive) family used guilt and emotional blackmail to get her to return.
Betty isn’t as enjoyable as it used to be. It needs more scheming, more outrageousness, not less.
What are you talking about? Bradford Meade grounded the show? HAHAHAHAH he did NOTHING! He just walked around all day and cheated on his wife! The show is grounded by Betty’s family and the heart that story line always has.
Betty is better than it has been for a long time. Turn on your TV and see.
I totally disagree. If Ken actually watched the show last night he would see that the Vampire bit was just that- it wasn’t a serious suggestion, and Willie basically said what he said, that Mode doesn’t follow trends, they set them. And as for the declining ratings, I’m sure that has everything to do w/ the writing and comedic timing and absolutely NOTHING to do w/ the horrible time slot of Friday night @ 9. Come on Ken, if you’re going to write up a show, at least be honest about it!
Totally disagree!!! Still love betty & America Ferrara.
like Lost and Heroes it had one great season. it’s been over for two years.
Couchgrouch, indeed. I will give you Heroes, but Lost? Lost has had two undeniably great seasons, two pretty great seasons, and one mediocre one. Don’t throw it in the same boat as Heroes.
And for the sake of sticking to the point, I agree. I tuned in this week for the first time this season and remembered why I’d dropped it. It has lost a lot of the spark that made UB great.
Lost is like a big, sprawling novel and each season a chapter. Lost is the greatest show in the history of television.
Lost is probably the most brilliant drama on network TV, so I’m gonna have to disagree with this entire comment. Also, heroes has always sucked.
I’m still enjoying Betty. The characters have always been the best part of the show no matter how silly the plotting became. I still root for Betty. I live for Wilhelmina’s zingers and enjoy for the antics of Marc and Amanda. The Suarez’s are still a warm loving and supportive family that I want to spend my time with for a little bit longer. I would be happy if Ugly Betty just gets to finish out it’s 4th season and I can let it go .
Totally agree with u Ken. Gave up on Betty midway through season 2. Its just not much fun anymore. And thanks for making me shed yet another tear for Pushing Daisies :’(
I know, Pushing Daisies reminders always kill me. I wish ABC would have given Betty the boot instead. I would have taken PD on Friday nights with a smile, as long as it was still in my life, I would be happy. Sigh. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.
You are completely wrong. Ugly Betty may have paled somewhat since its “glory days,” but it’s still much more enjoyable than a lot of the other junk on tv these days. The writers obviously want to take Betty through character development and let us watch her grow up. If you’re just looking for a one-dimensional underdog character, maybe you’re the one who should move on.
My sister gave up on it last year and I hung in there. But after last week’s episode, I think I am on my way out. The fact that Betty ruined her interview, with the help of Hilda no less, was desparate and made no sense.
I’d suggest watching this week’s ep before you call it quits. It had some hilarious points, and wrapped up really sweetly.
I have to agree. It is starting to feel tired (and has for some time). Marc and Amanda together are wonderful but how many times are they going to plot the same thing, how many times is Wilhemina going to try to takeover Mode? betty getting and losing a boyfriend? daniel…well don’t get me started on daniel. With decling ratings and nowhere else for the show to go I agree they need to start wrapping it up. I do hope ABC at least gives them the chance for a proper final season and doesn’t yank them off the air.
I can’t imagine that the declining ratings might have to do w/the show moving to Fridays…
I dont understand how a show goes from the intense competition on Thursday to the scrap heap of Friday. Is there no middle level?
I completely disagree with this. Still adore the show. One of the only things I watch on TV, along with 30 Rock. Great scripts, performances and it’s so beautiful visually.
I think you missed the point on the whole “vampire thing”. As Wilhelmina said “Mode doesn’t follow trends, we set them.” It was supposed to be an old idea.
“…superior to just about everyone in the series except Vanessa Williams’ Wilhelmina”
Everything in this article is right. Especially what I quoted. My advice: End the show before it’s cancelled, and give Williams an Emmy.
I have been a fan of Ugly Betty since season 1! I think its a great show! I don’t think that season 4 should be the last season. Ugly Betty is growing as a show. Betty began as an assistant. She fell in love and got her heart broken. She got a makeover and is now an editor. I think the show is only getting better! The show is fun and entertaining. I can’t wait to see what happens next this season. I’ll definetely keep watching!
I disagree. I think the show is actually finding its footing again. I do get a little irritated at Betty’s ego, like last season when she got into that editors program because of her race and she quit. When it appeared she was having similar thoughts last night when she found out she got her current job because of a coin toss, it was aggravating.I think Daniel put it best last night, its not how you got the job. It’s what you do with it.
I love Ugly Betty but totally agree. This show’s plot lines are getting tired and recycled
how so? What part of last nights episode was recycled? It was new and fresh. Give me one example of tired and recycled from this new season.
Oy. Stop talking, Jenn. PLEASE.
I agree with Ken, I felt Ugly Betty lost its charm in second two when they decided to break up Henry and Betty who were perfect for each other and the plotlines have seemed desperate ever since. The lines are not as witty any more. And I used to love the styles for the characters, even Betty’s, it was stylishly quirky. But now it seems lackluster and tacky.
agree 100%. Show died when Henry left.
Henry and Betty had real chemistry at first, but Gio should have won the competition for her heart. They have much in common. I cannot post about recent episodes because I watch Monk.
I LOVE Ugly Betty and even if it hasn’t been as great as its first season, i still think this season has been soo funny and entertaining and I definitely plan to keep watching. Naturally the ratings aren’t going to be as good because its on a Friday night now! it needs to be moved back to a good TV night