Did anyone catch the pilot episode of "Ugly Betty" tonight?

If so, what were your thoughts? Were you enticed enough to tune into next week's episode?

Drat I missed it!

I didn't see it, either. Not sure I could take this show.

Here's a taste of Ugly Betty.

We have this one set to be taped. Look foward to checking out. From what I saw of it, reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada meets "Freaks and Geeks"(now defunct show of a few years back), LOL!! I hope I like it. I'll report back on it later after seeing it!

Thanks, Tommaso. Some spinning of wheels, during those eight minutes. Not sure I care where they're going. Methinks it would take some mighty talented writers to sustain this 'ugly' theme, without making Betty over, so that she looks more like the rest of her coworkers, at Meade Magazine. Reminds me a little of TOOTSIE, with Dustin Hoffman . . . remember how 'Dorothy' ended up pursued by Jessica Lange's father, during the second half of that film? An outrageous, contrivance. I might watch next week, just to see if there's hope for a full, 'Ugly' season.

What are your thoughts, Tommaso?

Armanis, I have a feeling that UB is not going to make it into my starting lineup even though there's sure to be some rather high profile guest stars since Salma Hayek is the producer. Gina Gershon, who's a doll, is in the pilot which can be seen in its entirety here starting tomorrow.

BTW, TMC is replaying a 1972 Dick Cavett interview with Alfred Hitchcock at 11pm(Eastern).

Understood. And, thank you.

darn, I missed it! I really enjoyed the reviews and thought that America Ferrara looks like a very promising up-and-coming comedienne/actress. The part seems to have a heart-breaking pathos to it and could launch her as the Latina "Steve Urkel". BTW, Ugly Betty is pleasantly attractive in real life and pursuing a double-major at So. Cal U. while balancing a career as a bi-lingual actress and producer:

I watched it and really enjoyed it. It was light, funny, and sweet. It is an American attempt at the Spanish language telenovela "Betty La Fea".

There was outrage in the original when they did remake Betty in the last show. The fans felt betrayed.

I watched it, and enjoyed it very much because of America Ferrera (love her). I think this show has a lot of potential to be better than the pilot, so I'll probably watch it again next week.

The one thing I didn't like was Vanessa Williams. She's just trying so hard to channel Meryl Streep from The Devil Wears Prada.

Most of the people in this show were broad characterizations. Broad to the point of absurdity, but I guess that's intended.

America Ferrara...was she in "Real Women Have Curves"? She certainly looks like the actress I remember from that film..which was quite good.

I saw it last night and I loved it. Actually, I cried a few times because I feel her pain. It is definately a chick novella. Like Desparate Housewives, another chick show. Women will watch it more than men, that's my opinion. Will watch it next week.

Yes - same actress - she won several awards for her portrayal in that film.

The series Ugly Betty is based on a Columbian soap opera that aired on the Spanish channel about 6-7 years ago. It was such a huge sucess that recently another spin off was created with Mexican actors on the Spanish channel, this one is not as good as the original. When I saw this in ENGLISH, I couldn't believe it! I think it's great- I'm curious to see how it compares to the original.

EXACTLY!!!! That was my thought, too.

The first 20 minutes of the show or so I was thinking, "Is this show for real?"

Then I started to get into it... it's funny and "out there" but touches on somme fundamental problems that face many.

I quite liked the first episode all in all after watching the full hour. I will tune in next Thursday.

"Betty La Fea" was hilarious! I hate Colombian and Mexican telenovelas, but this one was suprisingly good. Great acting, too.
America Ferrera was great in "Real women have curves" and I guess she's great for the part, but for some reason, I prefer Ana María Orozco over Ferrera

I remember watching the original "Yo soy Bety, la Fea" produced by the Colombian television network. Colombian telenovelas have a reputation for being clever, witty, innovative, and often satirical in their portrayal of Colombian life. (another fabulous one is 'Escalona', a musical telenovela if you can imagine it! starring the famous Colombian singer Carlos Vives. I also liked "Las tres Marias")


As someone mentioned, the original Colombian version ultimately betrayed its honest themes revolving around feminism, human worth as well as social issues, with its fabricated fairy tale ending. There was also a bad sequel called "Ecomoda", taking the name of the fashion comany that Bety worked for. Mexico made its own version called "La Fea mas Bella" but it's not as witty and snappyaas the Colombian original. The original Colombian version has been sold around the world and also copied in many countries including India and Russia. It became quite the international phenomenon over the last 6 years.

The actress in "Ugly Betty", America Ferrari, is American of Honduran background, and other movies she played in are "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" and "How the Garcia Girls Spent their Summer".

I am curious to see what this new version is like.

I thought it was just OK. I'd heard such rave reviews, that it was popular in some form all over the world, that it's the best thing on TV this season. Eh. I love Ms. America, I think she's adorable. The boss man's son is cute. Vanessa Williams couldn't be more a cartoon evil villain if she tried. It seemed like a long hour. I'll try watching again next week, but I don't know ... It seems kind of bland and laid-back considering the catty over-the-top setting. Nothing wrong with that, lots of folks don't care for suspense, crude humor, or big 'splosions in their TV viewing, I just wonder if there will be enough of these folks to make it a success.

How many episodes are there of this? They went through half of a 2-hr movie narrative arc last night. I was in most respects pleasantly surprised. Why is the nice wardrobe woman British? The son is a bit too bland and / or subtle and he comes around too quickly. The dog kiss with the saliva string was gross. Demoted queen-"b"'s assistant is amusing. Salma Hayek in the show-on-tv is the most beautiful woman on the show. I assume this is deliberate.

OK, Scottish.

OK, Scottish.

As you may have heard, Salma Hayek was the one who pitched the idea and is the executive producer of Ugly Betty. She will be making guest appearance via telenovella that you saw in the show.

Does anyone watch Fashion House?? I think I am the only soul here at POL who watches it religiously. The designer, Michelle Miller, played by Natalie Martinez is a dead ringer to Salma Hayek. She was the model for J. Lo fashions.

Hee, scentual, I watch Fashion House most nights. I didn't know that Natalie Martinez was the model for JLo's fashions. She certainly is very lovely and has quite an ###### I've noticed.

Read their bio's at their webpage. A bunch of unknown actors except for 2, Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild. Gloria, Lance's mistress, I think her name is Donna Friedman(??) is a model presenter for the Oscars.

You noticed how the camera focuses on Michelle's back end?? Long and steady. She knows how to work it.

Can't wait to see this one tonight since we recorded it last night. Reporting my thoughts on it tomorrow!

So Salma Hayek had something to do with this show, cool. I just LOVE Salma Hayek . She's one of the most gorgeous creatures to grace the screen contemporary wise speaking today. Just a beautiful latina woman....ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Salma just makes Jennifer Lopez look dumpy, IMO! LOL

Mando, would it possible to put JLo's face on Salma's bod? That's sounds like a beautiful hybrid.

I think Salma's face is just as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than J Lo's. :)

Mando, what did you think of the show?

Hi Scentual! Yep, it was a winking irony to me that MS. Hayek, as exec producer and mind behind launching this new version was the most beautiful woman on it! I think Salma Hayek is stunning, incredibly gorgeous. I found the telenovella clips very funny.

(I've never gotten why people think JLo is attractive. To me, she is bland, not even pretty bland, but just ... bland, particularly with her hair pulled back. I do not get it. That's ok.)

Velvet, Salma may have a more beautiful face but for some reason I'm unable to focus on it. :)

You can see all of her in Frida.

I watched Ugly Betty on SoapNet. Glad I caught it, I was very careful to avoid the saliva-string-dog kiss {{{shudder}}}}

I liked it and will watch again for sure. Someone mentioned Vanessa Williams channeling Meryl Streep's role in TDWP, what about Gina Gershon channeling Donatella Versace?

I like that Betty speaks up for herself, even if she at first doesn't. The fact that she can communicate her feelings so clearly makes the premise bearable, INMHO.......

I think that both Jenn and Salma are just stunnigly beautiful women, but Salma seems more interesting, intelligent, oh, and her accent is just soooo sexy.

I watched it and I swear it's a rip off of "Devil Wears Prada", the movie. Almost in my many points of the show. All the bitchiness of the movie and the next storyline is about Betty having her hands on the "The BOOK" and losing it. Sounds vaguely familiar to me like DWP to me. But I thought it cute, funny and very easy to watch.

I nearly died laughing when she walked in the building with her emblazoned "Guadalajara" pancho, LOL!!!!!

I agree, the son, that took over the publication came around way too fast in the end, appreciating Betty and needing her help like he did. Very formulaic the story line (but what show isn't?) but I liked it. I'm willing to watch more of it.

YES! That was priceless!!!

And of course, when she walked into the glass wall on her way into the conference room. That had to take LOTS of practice to pull of so naturally.

That's right, Jeffery, Loved that scene too right thereafter, absolutely funny!! LOL!!!

There were also a few scenes where she was picking the food out between her braces.

HAHAHAHA!

The part that I didn't like was when she sacrified having to work for that a@@hole and missed her father's birthday party.

And then when the mother said that they saved her a piece of cake, and it's in the fridge... HOW MUCH MORE "DOWN TO EARTH AND REAL LIFE" can that get?!?!?!

I don't know about anyone else, but that was like scene from my family, as I'm sure it is for many on here. "We saved you a piece of cake."

VERY touching!

Second episode comments: I truly think the season would be better-paced if Boss had taken a few episodes lurching toward the relationship he has with Betty at the end of episode one. A lot of big payoffs happened in the first episode, and the next ones will probably be bled out over the season. This is not a fatal flaw in any way, but the second episode felt a lot more calmed-down and settled into a routine.

The "book" part didn't bug me. I've read it was a deliberate attempt to recognize and defuse comparisons to the came-out-later-than-the-telenovella Devil Wears Prada. The Gina Gambarro character spontaneously irritates me, in the "I'd fight her and I don't know why" way. She is made to look too good, too sleek and posh. She looks like she works at the magazine, and is somewhat implausible as a neighbor. The accent on the fashion tv woman - what region is that supposed to be? Is that accent supposed to be posh? On a number of words it sounded to my non-experienced-with-this ear to be quite the opposite. I wish Amanda had some of Charlotte Rampling in Georgie Girl's dashes of sullen neurosis and 18-going-on-30 mane-shaking. Amanda is too happy in her frustration. I'm not one for sentimental stuff in one's office space, or stuffed animals, but you don't mess with the bunny. Everyone weakly raising their hands was albeit very amusing.

Evil Mark and his eyes and ties RULE.

I was thrilled at Daniel's character development in the third episode, and the show now gels even more. The character reactions and indications through eyes especially of what people know and think are extremely intelligent, humane and sophisticated. The "sometimes change isn't always for the better" was very well set-up. Once it was happening it was obvious but not before. The Amanda character definitely needs something to me - more smarts, real smouldering resentment, a less annoying voice, something. Daniel looking at her in the restaurant was hilarious. Yes, drink a large glass of wine (does anyone ever order wine like that? That's hilarious!). At 8:14 I started a drinking game - a sip of scotch every time Evil Mark makes a face, gesture or comment that is absolutely PERFECT - and ended at 8:17 having consumed 1.5 ounces. Betty threatening him was quite amusing. "I can't hit my boss, but I can hit you ... " Oh dear. I'm really liking this program!