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Ugly Betty is Beautiful

October 02, 2006

DeathWatch watchers thought the show would never make it. (See the DeathWatch Odds.) But the underdog, untraditional (one-hour sitcom?) has become the most-watched new series of the fall television season so far.

The comedy, about a plain Queens girl who pushed her way into the fashion world, was seen by 16.1 million people in its ABC debut on Thursday night, according to Nielsen Media Research.

All but about a half-dozen of the 24 new series the broadcast networks are introducing this fall have made it onto the air already, and so far ''Ugly Betty'' stands at No. 1.

The show did it without the advantage of a strong program airing ahead of it. Shows like ''Shark'' and ''Brothers & Sisters'' that have had strong debuts were helped because they followed ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' and ''Desperate Housewives.'' ''Ugly Betty'' opened the night at 8 p.m.

It was ABC's largest audience in the time period with a scripted show since ''Matlock'' in 1995, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Comments

Lynn wrote:

I LOVE "UGLY BETTY"....EDGY, A DIFFERENT TWIST TO CINDERELLA AND THE SMART GIRL WINS FINALLY!!! DON'T CANCEL UNTIL WE GET TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE!!! WE WANT TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE.

posted at October 2, 2006 11:35 PM

sassy wrote:

Ugly Betty reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada is it a copycat?

posted at October 3, 2006 08:57 AM

Maria wrote:

Uggly Betty came first it was Betty La fea at Colombia, La Fea mas Bella at Mexico. Colombia was with the original writer. Now they are making an option for the american audience. It is a very good, finally the smart and hard worker wins.

posted at October 3, 2006 10:59 AM

Dee wrote:

I don't get someone calling this show edgy. It's a circle. She is not bright enough to notice her surroundings and not dress like an idiot. Her boss is so stereotypical and was only edgy in the era from which he came 1970. I want to see what other ppl see and love this show but it is just so been there done that.

posted at October 4, 2006 11:01 AM

Marisol wrote:

well in the original spanish language novela there were reasons why 'Betty' dressed the way she did (ie. her father's domineering control over her). In this case it could be that once her mother died she really didn't care anymore or lost that feminine guidance. I think Ugly Betty is non-traditional in that its endearing and charming. It's not about slick crimes or sharky lawyers or other crap that is out three. It's simple, poignant and most importantly, funny! :-) YAY for Betty!

posted at October 4, 2006 01:48 PM

jessica wrote:

The verdict is still out for me. On the one hand, it's a tender little cinderella kind of story. On the other hand it's the melodramtic novella soap opera. First the show doesn't take itself too seriously, then it does.

It's like they can't quite make up their mind about what the show should be and don't push it far enough in either direction.

The show just feels a little too schizophrenic - disconnected and not quite sure what its personality is.

But I'll give it another shot...

posted at October 5, 2006 03:06 PM

Rachel wrote:

This show is a spin-off of the Devil Wears Prada, with predictable story lines and characters with not much depth, it's not going to last. The evil character Vanessa Williams plays is pathetic and too much like Cruella DuVille to be taken seriously. And of the course there is the mystery women secretly planning to take out the current owners of the magazine. It's all too screwy to be taken seriously. They took what could have been a brilliant character like Betty and misused her. Had they put her in a better scenerio with better people it could have gone somewhere. It's just too cute for it's own good.

posted at October 6, 2006 01:36 PM

Carmen wrote:

This show is horrible. I tried to watch it, but after maybe 5 minutes it became like some kind of punishment. I like America Ferrara, but when she did Real Women Have Curves. That was good, real, but this new proyect is a total failure.

posted at October 9, 2006 02:42 PM

Sasha-Nicole wrote:

Ugly Betty seems to have the same exact plot as the Devil Wears Prada. I don't see how this show can keep going. I think the only reason it made it past the Pilot epsiode was beacuse of pure curiosity. I'll give points though to the producers and directors for even having the guts to introduce Ugly Betty to prime time televsion when it was a cheesy spin off from the summer movie.

posted at October 9, 2006 06:40 PM

Diana wrote:

To all those dissing the show, the ratings are what matter, and the show is getting very good ratings, so obviously some people like it. Myself, I enjoy the show, it's nice to see something different on tv. I'm not saying it's the best new show out there (I'd pick Heroes for best new show), but personally, I am really sick of crime shows & lawyer dramas...enough of them! And no, it's not a ripoff of The Devil Wears Prada, it's an import.

posted at October 10, 2006 04:59 AM

Raul from Mexico wrote:

Well...i guess there are to many opinions about Ugly Betty !! A must to tell that this serie is not even seemly to the movie "The Devil wears Prada", in fact, doesn't have any clue of what are you telling for....Here in Mexico LA FEA MAS BELLA (which is the mexican version) is sooo famous and fascinating....i hope you can enjoy it like mexicans, americans, colombians and more latinos and any kind of person does !! Give it a change....

posted at October 10, 2006 11:40 AM

Lesley wrote:

This show is brutal. An insult to intelligence. Ugly Betty character is charming, as is her sister, but the plotlines are absurd. There's no way this can last and if it does, it speaks volumes about middle America and their skewed perception of beauty and beast.

posted at October 12, 2006 05:21 PM

betty rules wrote:

I think this show rocks. No, it's NOT a remake of the Devil Wears Prada, it's a remake of the Columbian telenovela "Yo Soy Beti La Fea." While it is somewhat cheesy, I really believe that a lot of latinos will connect with Betty's character on a number of levels. It's finally time for those of us with a latin american background to have someone we can identify with on T.V. in a positive way on.

posted at October 12, 2006 11:13 PM

Barb wrote:

I just love Betty !!! She is beautiful inside and out....you go girl !!!!!

posted at October 13, 2006 01:50 PM

Mark wrote:

I love the show!

posted at October 13, 2006 02:39 PM

Suz wrote:

It's gotten better and better. I'm hooked. Give us More more more...

posted at October 25, 2006 05:26 PM

Erika from Canada wrote:

I think is funny, fresh and different. Just like Diane wrote on Oct 10, I am sick of crime and law shows. Enough of that!!!! I love different cultures, and I think is great to have an american show that shows a positive image about women that are not blonde, pretty and skinny.

posted at October 27, 2006 03:30 PM

CEASAR wrote:

Uggly Betty is something diferent, it,s really good and all in home enjoy. This show is showing a reality that can not be ignored in America. Be smart and understand the funny drama.

posted at November 21, 2006 06:31 PM

CEASAR wrote:

Uggly Betty is something diferent, it,s really good and all in home enjoy. This show is showing a reality that can not be ignored in America. Be smart and understand the funny drama.

posted at November 21, 2006 06:33 PM

Henrik wrote:

I have watched all episodes of the show since some friends talked about it but it has not clicked. I don't think it because I'm male, swedish and have no connection with the south-american culture.
Can't say that I recognize any of my friends from this area either, feels more like the show insult them in that case.
The show is watchable but not more, the ingriedients are there but it could have been made better.

posted at December 2, 2006 12:25 PM

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