Ugly Betty: The Complete Second Season Review

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(More customer reviews)Warning! Some spoilers contained in the following review!
All in all, Season Two of UGLY BETTY was, like Season One, an utter delight. It certainly was not timid in its story telling, trying to keep true to its roots in telemundo by pushing storylines that beggared credibility, sometimes perhaps crossing the lines of believability, but all in all having a lot of fun.
There were too many plotlines to attempt any summarization, but suffice it to say that if you didn't care for one - and there were some that I definitely didn't care for (primarily Wilhelmina's theft of Bradford Meade's sperm upon his death and then having Christina carry Bradford and Wilhelmina's baby, though secondarily the storyline of having Gene Simmons temporarily feature as Amanda's supposed biological father [like most people I've talked to, I just find anything having to do with Gene Simmons to be more than a little distasteful]) - just wait a week or two and you'd find others you might like instead. That said, the one arc that extended the length of the season was the two men in Betty's life: Henry, who she loves and with whom she continues a romance that is fated to end as soon as his ex-girlfriend Charlie gives birth to their child, and Gio, who is deeply attracted to Betty and tries to engage her interest even while she remains with Henry. Both Christopher Gorham who plays Henry (who I previously loved in JAKE 2.0) and Freddy Rodriguez (who I loved in SIX FEET UNDER) do a great job of making both of their characters really interesting. I found myself wanting Betty to be happy with both of them, though obviously she could only end up with one.
But to be honest, the real appeal of the show lies less in the story arcs, which while good are not particularly outstanding, than in the fine ensemble cast and the great collection of characters. I perpetually found myself less than riveted by what was happening than in whom it was happening to. Ultimately, I think that might be the show's weakness. With its roots in telemundo, the show has an indelible and inescapable frivolity. By its very nature, it lacks any potential to become much more than a nice way to pass time. That being said, it is time that I do enjoy passing.
I am extremely anxious, however, about the show's future. Season Three is going to feature some absolutely massive changes to the show. Shortly after filming concluded on Season Two it was announced that the production was going to relocate to New York City. At the same time it was leaked that Rebecca Romjin, who has been delightful as Daniel's sister/former brother Alexis/Alex, was going to have a greatly lessened involvement in the series in Season Three. To make matters worse, there were rumors that some actors were unwilling to move to New York full time and might have their character's become less central to the story. The most worrying of these is Eric Mabius, who has young children and a home in L.A. After Betty his Daniel Meade is easily one of the most important characters on the show. Having him on less than a full time basis could significantly change the entire texture of the show, and I suspect not for the better. Also, while I believe having the show filmed in the actual city where the action is supposed to take place (though I suspect that the neighborhood in which Betty's house is supposed to be located will continue to be CGI) will be a great boon for the show, I fear that the changes could give it a very different feel from the first two seasons. This could very easily cease to be the show that we've all known and loved.
Fearful or not, I will try to be optimistic. Hopefully the cast will remain more or less intact with the move to New York. I will also hope that the producers reconsider the lessened role for Rebecca Romjin and that Eric Mabius stays with the show fulltime. And I hope that having the possibility of on location shots in New York outweighs any disruption leaving L.A. creates. Season Two ended, as with Season One, with some major cliffhangers, but this year not all of the anticipation was created by the story. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the show remains as much fun as it has been in the past.

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UPC:786936754230DESCRIPTION: Betty Suarez is smart, sweet and hard working. They only problem is that she s not thin and beautiful like all her co-workers at Mode, the high-fashion magazine where she works. The only reason the publisher hired her to be his son s secretary is that he thought Betty was someone who Daniel would never sleep with. Betty s hard work and determination earns Daniel s respect, as she helps him find his way through the shark infested waters of the fashion industry.

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Ugly Betty - The Complete First Season (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)In retrospect, the 2006-2007 television season debuted an unusually large number of first rate new series: HEROES, MEN IN TREES, 30 ROCK, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DEXTER, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, and UGLY BETTY. That is a remarkably strong group of new shows. UGLY BETTY occupied a unique niche among them. The new show it most resembled was MEN IN TREES. Both were light fare, intended to entertain and charm rather than challenge and rattle. It was unorthodox, but in comforting ways. It was, basically, a very nice show. One never came away from any episode shocked or dismayed as with the best episodes of DEXTER or FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, but to tell the truth, after a week of watching my favorite shows on TV--BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, LOST, DEXTER, and others that were sometimes exceedingly emotional affairs to watch, I found it a refreshing change of pace, never shocking, never emotionally taxing, never intellectually demanding. It managed always to be smart while also very easy to absorb. Most of all, it was great fun.
The plot was simple. Betty Suarez desires a job in publishing. After she applies at MODE magazine, where she has a disastrous interview, she finds herself mysterious hired as assistant to editor Daniel Meade, playboy son of Meade Publishing owner Bradford Meade. It turns out that Bradford had seen her leaving the building and ordered her hired for his son simply because she is as far from a fashion model in appearance as can be imagined. She has terrible hair, dresses horridly, has garish braces, thick glasses (and eyebrows), and carries more weight than your standard attractive woman. Father makes her employment mandatory for his rare-do-well son. Very quickly, however, she proves herself not merely necessary for Daniel's professional life, but a good friend as well. One of the most attractive aspects of the show is, in fact, their genuinely caring, completely platonic, friendship. Working at MODE pulls Betty into a world of interoffice intrigue and political infighting. To be honest, I could have lived without any of the stories. The appeal was just about 100% based on a large number of likable and adorable characters popping up each week.
America Ferrera, who had previously been amazingly effective in the cult-hit film REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES and the teen chick flick THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS (a sequel to the latter is due in 2008), simply steals this show as Betty. Though not a slender actress, America in fact has a beautiful face. They do a great make up job on her, however, putting a terrible wig on her each week (with very stressed looking hair), gluing thick, fake eyebrows on her, giving her thick-framed, brightly colored glasses, fake braces, make up to give her an unpleasant complexion, and an incredibly unflattering set of clothes. Despite this dramatic transformation each week, Betty manages to be utterly charming and adorable. A couple of people I've talked to feel it is a bit of a cheat to have an attractive woman play someone who is supposed to be "ugly," but I think it would be a bit cruel to take an unattractive person and have them play such a role. I would be surprised if she does not get an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy. Lauren Graham deserves to win in this category (as she does every year) for her genius work in THE GILMORE GIRLS, but since the Emmys year after year have ignored Graham (her show is on the wrong network), I will probably be pulling for America to win.
Ferrera is supported by an amazingly strong cast. Eric Mabius is wonderful as Daniel, consistently showing himself to be a decent guy despite his efforts to transform himself into a waste of humanity. I think there is a secret contract someone dictating that Alan Dale appear in every other show on TV in some capacity or other. He is his usual stern self as Bradford Meade (he also has a very occasional but ongoing role in LOST, the only show I've seen him on where he gets to use something like is native Kiwi accent). Vanessa Williams is a lot of fun as the scheming and unscrupulous Wilhelmina Slater, the fashion editor at MODE who would love to be the editor in chief. Ashley Jensen, who really is Scottish, plays the head of wardrobe at MODE and one of Betty's few friends at the magazine. But the people at MODE who make the show worth watching are Michael Urie and Becki Newton, who play Marc and Amanda, Wilhelmina's gay assistant and the mildly sluttish receptionist, both of them for most of the season Betty's mortal enemies (though by end of season she was making headway with both of them as friends, in particular Marc, inspiring him to come out to his mother). There is also Henry, winningly played by Christopher Gorham. He had previously played the title role in JAKE 2.0, on which UGLY BETTY executive producer Silvio Horta also worked. I suspect his appearing on UGLY BETTY has something to do with that connection. Gorham is a very good-looking guy who is somehow able to pull off completely nerdy guys, in this show an accountant.
But there is more than just the office. There is Betty's home life. Veteran character actor Tony Plana plays Betty's illegal immigrant father (one of the subplots deals with his attempt to get a green card). He is one of these actors who has appeared in literally hundreds of TV shows and movies, but has rarely had an especially prominent role. You love to see fine actors who have paid their dues get a great role like this one. Ana Ortiz is hysterical as Betty's garish sister Hilda, but the person who steals nearly every scene in the Suarez household is twelve-year old Mark Indelicato, who plays Betty's nephew Justin. We don't know that Justin is gay, but his effeminate swagger, his deep love of stage musicals, and his encyclopedic knowledge of fashion marks him with all of the stereotypes.
This show is too smart to be a guilty pleasure, but it is just as much fun as one. It doesn't go on my list of my absolute favorite shows. It isn't as sophisticated or as intelligent as FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, as engrossing as LOST, a fist-in-the-gut like DEXTER or THE WIRE, or as original or jaw-droppingly brilliant as BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, but sometimes you just aren't in the mood for something as heavy as these shows. Sometimes you just want to have a good time and relax. I promise there are few shows on television more perfect for that than this.

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Audiences are cheering for a vibrant overachiever with the spirit and the smarts to live her dream. America Ferrera stars as go-getter Betty Suarez, a true beauty in the skin-deep world of high fashion. Two very different cultures collide in this sexy and stylish series about believing in yourself regardless of the odds. Earning Golden Globe Awards® for Best Television Series* and Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series* in its very first season, Ugly Betty is a runaway hit with fans and critics. "Ugly Betty is a thing of beauty," raves the Boston Herald. Experience every episode of Season One in this six-disc DVD box set. Plus, join executive producer Salma Hayek and actor Eric Mabius for exclusive show insights, and see what it takes for America Ferrera to get Bettyfied – available only on DVD. You’ll find yourself falling in love with every minute of Ugly Betty.

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Ugly Betty: Season 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)"UGLY BETTY", a series that captured the attention of millions of viewers with its heartwarming and hilarious storyline and it helps that the series is an adaptation of the popular Colombian telenovela "Betty la fea" by Fernando Gaitan. The series revolved around Betty Suarez (America Ferrera, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" films, "Lords of Dogtown"), a woman with a kind heart and is always giving. The problem is that she is not fashionable, known for her thick hair, eyebrows and big glasses and braces.
Featuring even more celebrity guest appearances and exciting episodes, "UGLY BETTY - The Complete Third Season" features 24 episodes on six discs. Included are (spoiler-less summaries):
DISC: 1
* EPISODE 42 - The Manhattan Project - Wilhelmina is now Editor-in-Chief at Mode, while Daniel runs another magazine and Betty makes her return. While her father Ignacio get s a job at a fast food restaurant.
* EPISODE 43 - Filing for the Enemy - Daniel knows he is up to a custody battle for Daniel Jr., meanwhile Betty becomes Wilhelmina's assistant.
* EPISODE 44 - Crimes of Fashion - Christina is injured and Wilhelmina's baby is in trouble. But who at Mode Magazine is responsible for the accident?
* EPISODE 45 - Betty Suarez Land - With Gio's return, Betty thinks they can continue to be friends but she finds out that he doesn't want to have anything to do with her.
DISC 2:
* EPISODE 46 - Granny Pants - Kimmie visits Betty and asks for help to get her a job at Mode. But despite all the bad things Kimmie did to Betty in the past, maybe she's changed.
* EPISODE 47 - Ugly Berry - Kimmie has become Assistant Editor at Mode and steals Betty's spotlight.
* EPISODE 48 - Crush'd - Jesse becomes attracted to her neighbor/musician Jesse. Amanda needs a place to live after being evicted and lives with Betty temporarily. Can Betty stand her new roommate?
* EPISODE 49 - Tornado Girl - With the MODE Magazine upper management on a retreat, Betty is in charge but with a tornado on its way, Betty must avert a PR nightmare. Can she pull it off? Meanwhile, Marc must make a major decision.
DISC 3:
* EPISODE 50 - When Betti Met YETI - Betty and Marc apply to YETI (The Young Editors Training Program) and become each other's rival. Daniel starts to become more attracted to his friend's wife, Molly.
* EPISODE 51 - Bad Amanda - Betty and Amanda must work on an article "How I Blew Ten Grand Without Spending a Dime".
* EPISODE 52 - Dress For Success - Betty wants to impress her idol Jodie Papadakis, editor of YETI. Meanwhile, she meets her match with ELLE Magazine's Teri.
* EPISODE 53 - Sisters on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - Betty and Hilda have sister problems and Daniel and Molly, Wilhemina and Connor have an affair.
DISC 4:
* EPISODE 54 - Kissed Off - Connor tries to find out who is admiring his wife, Molly. And musician Jesse starts to distract Betty once again.
* EPISODE 55 - The Courtship of Betty's Father - Betty works on a video tribute for Claire Meade's 60th Birthday but by leaving the camera at home, she discovers something about her father.
* EPISODE 56 - There's No Place Like Mode - Wilhelmina starts to worry that this affair is affecting her job and a new face joins MODE Magazine.
* EPISODE 57 - Things Fall Apart - With YETI having Betty and Marc analyzing the magazine's budget, she discovers a surprising discovery. Meanwhile, Betty sees that Henry is trying to friend her on Facebook and we learn something surprising about Molly.
DISC 5:
* EPISODE 58 - Sugar Daddy - With the Suarez's landlord wanting to sell their house, they must find a rental home. Meanwhile, Ignacio takes part in a TV cook-off.
* EPISODE 59 - A Mother of a Problem - The Suarez family try to hook Hilda up with City Councilman, Archie from Queens.
* EPISODE 60 - The Sex Issue - Wilhelmina and Daniel decide to do an issue all about sex. Matt wants to take his relationship with Betty to a higher level.
* EPISODE 61 - Rabbit Test - The Suarez get an invitation to meet Matt's billionaire father at his Easter Egg Hunt event. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina thinks that William might not be her biological son.
DISC 6:
* EPISODE 62 - The Born Identity - Matt's billionaire father is willing to bail Mode Magazine, meanwhile baby William has been kidnapped.
* EPISODE 63 - In the Stars - Betty must work with Matt and Marc on their final YETI project. Meanwhile, Claire and Wilhelmina square off against each other. Someone gets married...
* EPISODE 64 - Curveball - Betty agrees to move in with Matt but while things go good in her new relationship, her former fiance returns to New York.
* EPISODE 65 - The Fall Issue - With the passing of an editor at Mode, this leaves a position open and Betty and Marc compete for it. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina has dirt on Claire and wants her to resign. Meanwhile, things go terrible for Betty and a someone dies.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"UGLY BETTY" is presented in Widescreen (1:78:1) and is enhanced for 16×9 televisions. Production for "UGLY BETY" is quite slick and for a drama series, picture quality is along the same lines as abc studio's other DVD releases. Which is pretty good and compression artifacts and low light noise is not as visible.
As for audio, "UGLY BETTY" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The series is front and center channel driven. Dialogue is clear, music is clear and overall, not a series to expect a lot of sound effects on your surround channels but for the most part, dialogue is understandable.
Subtitles are in English SDH, French and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"UGLY BETTY - The Complete Third Season" includes the following special features:
DISC 1:
* Mode After Hours: Six "Mode After Hours" episodes featuring Marc St. James (Michael Urie) and best friend Amanda Tanen (Becki Newton) in hilarious episodes featuring what they do at Mode after hours. Included are the following episodes: "Gwadalaharahh", "Friend-iversary Vlog", "Bowling for Cliff", "Slumber Party Secrets", "Sommer's Seance" and "Trapped in the Elevator".
* Deleted Scenes - Three deleted scenes are included on Disc 1: What Are You Doing Here?, Don't Let that Foam Fizzle, Lettuce
DISC 2:
* Audio Commentary for "Crush'd" with Executive Producers/Writers Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally and Co-Executive Producer/Director Victor Nelli Jr.
* Deleted Scenes - Five deleted scenes are included on Disc 2: A Bitch Never Changes Her Stripes, You are My Hag, The Roof, Go Get'Em, You Must Be Molly
DISC 3:
* Deleted Scene - Only one deleted scene Disc 3 titled "No Shoes!"
DISC 4:
* Deleted Scenes - Two deleted scenes on Disc 4: Either Way I'm Cool and Good Amanda
Disc 5:
* Look Who Keeps Popping Up - View "The Sex Issue" with video commentary hosted by Michael Urie & Becki Newton along with several surprising guests. We see two screens side-by-side, on the left there is commentary with the right screen showcasing the episode.
Disc 6:
* Coming Home to New York City - (12:43) We learn how "UGLY BETTY" is shot in Los Angeles but how the series moved to New York and how the cast found out that the show is moving to another location and how they all reacted. How New York is essential to "UGLY BETTY" and the best way to capture the city is to go back to New York. Interviews with the executive producers and cast members.
* Mode After Hours - Two "Mode After Hours" episodes featuring Marc St. James (Michael Urie) and best friend Amanda Tanen (Becki Newton) in hilarious episodes featuring what they do at Mode after hours. Included are the following episodes: "I Spy" and "Prank Calls".
* Deleted Scenes - Seven deleted scenes are included on Disc 6 which include You Can Wow Anyone You Set Your Mind To, Padded Walls, I Fell Like I'm Dating Daniel, To Be Terminated, It's Just a Nice Buff, Your New Trophy Wife and the Wedding Dance
* Betty Bloops - (8:39) Bloopers from "UGLY BETTY" Season 3.
JUDGMENT CALL:
"UGLY BETTY" continues to have another solid, stellar year with season 3. If there is one thing that is consistent with the series is that the writing has always been top notched since the very first episode and most importantly, the cast has been quite awesome for the series. The series has been nothing but a pleasure to watch and see Betty's journey as a professional but also in her personal life. Everything seems to come together and work.
With this third season, there is quite a bit of laughter, typical backstabbing but even more emotional, dramatic scenes. The season finale for this third season of "UGLY BETTY" was very well done and the best so far.
Of course, this season had a lot of hype with what went on behind-the-scenes between Lindsay Lohan and the cast and crew. Whether or not the gossip surrounding what took place behind-the-scenes were true or not, the gossip definitely made people want to turn in to see this rivalry between Betty and Kimmie. Another actor who brought some interest in the show was "Karate Kid" actor Ralph Macchio who played the city councilman that Hilda was interested in. Pretty interesting role and hopefully we see more of him.
The third season also had featured episodes that had focused on character development of Marc, Amanda and Claire's character. Also, the other characters...Read more›

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Join Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Award winner America Ferrera in the acclaimed comedy that will have you laughing out loud and cheering for TV's favorite fish out of water. It's a year of change for Betty and her friends at Mode. With the future of the magazine up in the air, a new roommate and the ever-changing carousel of office relationships spinning faster than ever, Betty's life is full of surprises. On top of it all, Betty's move to the big city has her wondering whether she truly belongs in her new fast-paced world. Dive into the vibrant scene of high fashion with the most charismatic cast on television. Experience every episode of Season Three, complete with never-before-seen bonus features, in this six-disc set. Full of fun and bursting with heart, you can't help but fall for Ugly Betty.

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