This Underrated Cult-Favourite Sitcom Is Even Funnier 15 Years Later

Soapy melodrama and Latinx illustration have by no means been as hilariously actual as in Ugly Betty. It’s been 15 years for the reason that airing of the collection finale and, upon rewatch, the present by no means stops feeling recent or humorous. The late Silvio Horta’s adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty, La Fea succeeded by taking one of the best parts of its supply materials and placing them right into a tighter serialized format. By airing on ABC, Betty’s story was informed this time round via mainstream media, singling it out as one of the memorable diversifications.

As America Ferrera’s Betty Suarez navigates the seemingly superficial world of trend, she discovers there’s greater than meets the attention to even essentially the most vapid individuals at Mode Journal. By exploring Betty’s skilled and private lives, Ugly Betty balances drama and humor completely. But it surely’s the latter that takes the highlight due to the present’s intelligent writing, paired with Ferrera’s interpretation, and the amazingly gifted supporting forged.

America Ferrera Crafts a Complicated Lead Character in ‘Ugly Betty’

The premise of the Betty multiverse, throughout its a number of diversifications in numerous languages, is having a central character that doesn’t match into the widespread pre-established magnificence requirements. By exposing the a number of Bettys to a hostile world, their qualities shine via by reminding us that there’s extra to them than meets the attention. The identical critique of beauty-based privilege can also be the spine of Ugly Betty. It’s via this uphill climb at Betty’s office — Mode Journal — that Ferrera masterfully crafts her personal model of the character.

The Betty Suarez we meet in Season 1 of the present is naïve and clumsy, however with a noble coronary heart. Her appears conflict with the established order of the individuals who work at Mode Journal, making her work tougher than everybody else. There may be an attention-grabbing and unlucky dynamic throughout the present’s first season, the place jokes are made at Betty’s expense. However, as an alternative of taking a toll on her, she holds up by acknowledging and demonstrating her true price. Because the seasons progress, Betty learns to battle again. By slowly increase her confidence, Betty not solely will get new alternatives at work, but in addition in her love life.

Gio (Freddy Rodriguez), Henry (Christopher Gorham), and Matt (Daniel Eric Gold) all fall for her at totally different moments in her life, successfully demonstrating there’s sufficient magnificence on the skin, as there’s inside her. All these experiences flesh out many sides of Betty, letting her evolve and never keep as a one-note caricature of an individual. It’s on this earned steadiness that the present, and Ferrera, construct Betty up as a troublesome however charming and lovable character.

Betty’s Work Life Is As Robust as It Is Hilarious in ‘Ugly Betty’

Mode Journal’s hostile workers not solely builds up Betty’s resilience, nevertheless it additionally lightens up the temper. Her coworkers, private assistant Marc (Michael Urie) and receptionist Amanda (Becki Newton), begin off as her essential bullies and antagonists. Their impolite remarks about her look make up the present’s humor. Thankfully, their relationship evolves via the seasons, holding the comedy sharp by finally remodeling into familial bickering. However not everyone seems to be towards Betty at Mode Journal, for she finds a fierce ally in Christina (Ashley Jensen). The Scottish seamstress serves as a job mannequin for Betty, whereas additionally instructing her to not take issues so private, making her profession path a bit smoother.

Worker drama apparently is Mode Journal’s general tradition, because the higher-ups additionally perpetuate it throughout the 4 seasons of Ugly Betty. Nepo-baby-turned-editor-in-chief Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius) finds himself in a relentless energy wrestle with inventive director Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams). It’s unusual to seek out this stage of comedy within the company relationship that Mabius and Williams painting, however by some means, they do. The primary, via his unearned job place that reinforces his confidence, and the latter via her deserved entitlement. This function is a specific standout for Williams, as she’s Miranda-Priestly-level hilarious with a robust character arc that ends along with her studying to understand Betty’s qualities and see her as an equal.

‘Ugly Betty’s Household Life Retains the Present Each Grounded and Hysterical

Picture through ABC

Whereas her work life is likely to be exhausting to narrate to at instances — due to her brushes with the likes of Naomi Campbell and Adele — Betty’s private life in the end retains her grounded. Coming from a household of Mexican immigrants, Betty’s actual wrestle is that of mixing each worlds. Not solely does she need to show herself at work, but in addition show to her sister Hilda (Ana Ortiz) and her father Ignacio (Tony Plana) that this job is a stepping stone to in the end fulfill her ambitions in publishing. It’s her household aspect that really turns into extra melodramatic over time, as Hilda faces the loss of life of certainly one of her boyfriends and Ignacio dangers being deported because of his undocumented standing.

Household drama however, the Suarez clan additionally gives most of the laughs in Ugly Betty, significantly due to the cultural and generational conflict. The primary is completely summarized within the very first episode of the collection when Betty, in attempting to suit into the world of trend, wears a poncho to work. Whereas this could make for an applicable accent, hers was a flashy and conventional Mexican one, with the title of town Guadalajara throughout it. The generational conflict is explored via Betty’s nephew, Justin (Mark Indelicato), who goes via an arc of self-discovery when he accepts his identification and orientation. Whereas the Suarez household tries to be supportive, they find yourself coming throughout as pushy. The surprising assist of Marc units them on the best path to offer Justin the correct quantity of backing — however all at his personal tempo.

On the time, Ugly Betty was a groundbreaking piece of comedy. Upon rewatch, it nonetheless is! However maybe its affect has been slowly fading away because the years move by. It’s essential to always remember what the present dropped at the desk at a time when variety in mainstream media was nearer to nonexistent. The way in which Ugly Betty efficiently meshed Latinx melodrama with sitcom techniques was the important thing to it being a stellar comedy, and thus, to its well-deserved success.

Launch Date

2006 – 2010-00-00

Administrators

Silvio Horta

Writers

Silvio Horta