A Review of Ugly Betty, ABC's New Hit Series

ABC's new hit Ugly Betty has defied all expectations this fall season. A brand new show with a less than A-star cast, it was not a guaranteed hit, even if you do have Salma Hayek backing it. In fact, Salma Hayek may be the only reason this show got made. It's based on a Spanish show called "Betty, la Fea" or "Betty, the Ugly". The Spanish version drips of cheesiness. It is pure entertainment. A remake of a Spanish show with no real media merit would never have been aired were it not for a generous benefactor like Salma Hayek.

The beginning of the season for Ugly Betty remained true to the original version, cheesy and full of caricatures instead of characters. It seemed that Salma Hayek's bet on a hit wasn't going to be rewarded after all. The show was too obvious: a skirt chasing, womanizing boss, the opponent that wants to be boss, the tense father-son relationship, the cold, mean co-workers, and the target of all their bitterness.... the frumpy secretary. It was incredibly typical and incredibly predictable.

That is, until they got a couple episodes in and we found out more details about our caricatures, or rather, characters. The evil opponent that wants to be boss, Wilhemina... has a kid that disappoints her and a father that she disappoints. She also... has feelings.... for a Texas retail discount mogul? What? The skirt-chasing, womanizing boss, Daniel Mead, also has feelings... that last longer than a one-night stand. He's also sensitive when it comes to his frumpy assistant, Betty. The mean co-workers, Amanda and Mark, have their own problems to deal with.

Luckily, the show was able to turn itself around and make what was originally a blow-off comedy into a comedic drama, worth of your time. The one thing I don't like is Salma Hayek's guest role and hopefully it is a guest role and not a permanent role. Her career has been anything but prolific in the last few years and commandeering a show she's producing to launch herself into the spolight again is low. Her acting also leaves quite a bit to be desired, even Amanda and Mark are more convincing than she is.