NBC Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey in "30 Rock." ABC America Ferrera Sci-Fi Channel Grace Park and Tahmoh Penikett from "Battlestar Galactica."
SCOTT GARFIELD
'Betty' turns viewers' heads with brains ontv
TV Goddess
Published: October 5, 2006
Last Modified: October 5, 2006 at 05:18 PM
Who would have thought this season's breakout hit would be based on a telenovela called "Betty la Fea" and star an unattractive girl making it in the world of fashion? Probably no one. Throw in a title change (the series used the literal translation, "Betty the Ugly" on early press materials), and the smart money was on the failure of ABC's "Ugly Betty."
But this is an all-too-rare instance when critics and audiences are in perfect harmony, and the show is as good as they say -- and it proves a few things:
1A series doesn't have to be star "beautiful people" to attract an audience, even in today's celebrity-obsessed world of the prettier -- and thinner -- the better.
Let's clear the air right away: Star America Ferrera is by no means ugly. She's actually quite lovely, but she dirties herself up a bit to play Betty.
She's still not as ugly as the show's shallowest characters seem to think, but the point is clear: Betty is a fish out of water working for fashion magazine Mode. She doesn't care a lick about fashion, and hopefully that won't change too much. But the girl is smart and a breath of fresh air in the brutal and often ugly world of fashion.
2Foreign programming remade for U.S. audiences can be even better than the original.
Fans of "The Office" might argue that the import is better than Ricky Gervais' groundbreaking British comedy, but that's debatable at best. The U.S. version is extremely funny, but the focus on Jim and Pam diverges from the U.K. version and, in doing so, actually lost some of the series' innovation.
"The Office" was original in that it didn't follow the traditional sitcom formula or any other standard television formulas. Turning the focus onto a love triangle-turned-unfulfilled desire story line is the oldest TV recipe in the book.
But even if NBC's "The Office" were better than its predecessor, it struggled its first season -- to the point of possible cancellation -- taking awhile to develop its audience. "Ugly Betty," on the other hand, premiered to overwhelming numbers, becoming the top-rated new show and barely losing to "Survivor" in its tough Thursday night time slot.
With repeats on ABC Family and the Soap network, those numbers could grow even larger in the coming weeks.
3Ferrera is long overdue for this star-making turn as the title character.
Anyone who saw Ferrera in "Real Women Have Curves" and then "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" knows this young woman can act. She expresses genuine vulnerability and toughness, a rare and surprising combination.
For Ferrera to get a weekly spot on television is good for this up-and-comer. She'll get a chance to become a household name, like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Garner, who made their breaks as TV stars.
And having Ferrera on millions of TV sets is also good for this country. She provides a realistic and relatable role model on a series with intelligent writing and witty dialogue. This new hit really is fun -- and good -- for the whole family.
• TV reviewer and Portland, Ore.-based freelance journalist DeAnn Welker can be reached at deann@tvgoddess.com. To read more of her TV ramblings, visit www.tvgoddess.com.
30 Rock
7 p.m. Wednesday, NBC: Tina Fey created and stars in this comedy about the making of a sketch comedy show. If it sounds a little like "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" ... well, other than the setting, it isn't. Not that it would be bad to have another show just like "Studio 60," but this one is worth watching for entirely different reasons: namely Alec Baldwin and Fey, who are both hilarious.
The Amazing Race
7 p.m. Sunday, CBS: One of the best teams, father-daughter pair Duke and Lauren, were eliminated last week after an unlucky break. The good news is that this season, there are still many teams to root for. Unlike the past several seasons, no pair this season is entirely hateable. Add in weekly challenges that have the ability to really shake things up, and this season could rate among the best.
What About Brian
9 p.m. Monday, ABC: Since we last saw Brian, he has changed a lot. He left town and nearly died, but he's back and over Marjorie -- or so he says. This little-watched drama begins its second season much like Brian is beginning it: hoping to start over. This season will offer pregnancy and marriage -- or will it? -- and new characters to join the crowded ensemble. It's pretty formulaic, but Barry Watson makes a charming lead as Brian.
Masterpiece Theatre: Casanova
8 p.m. Sunday, PBS: The new season of "Masterpiece Theatre" kicks off with this witty romp through the life of a lady's man. Sure, Casanova has been on the screen before but never paired with scribe Russell T. Davies, the brain behind "Queer as Folk" and the "Doctor Who" remake. It's PBS like you've never seen it!
Battlestar Galactica
5 p.m. today, SciFi: Never has a television show (or film, for that matter) taken the politics of our time and made them so personal. When we begin, we have the cylon "occupation" of New Caprica, where the human "rebels" and "insurgents" are resisting said occupation. Viewers probably won't know who to root for -- and that's a good thing. The acting and storytelling here are pitch perfect, and this show isn't just for sci-fi fans. It's for fans of serious drama of any sort.
-- DeAnn Welker Ugly Betty
airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on ABC, Channel 13.
Web: abc.go.com/primetime/uglybetty
