According to a blind item posted in the column of TV Guide gossip virtuoso Michael Ausiello, a beloved prime-time show has flip-flopped on the very principles that made it so popular with viewers due to a series regular's reps who feel those qualities would not make their client bankable in the long run. The readers seemed to have reached a consensus - it's "Ugly Betty"!
ABC's award-winning comedy has promoted the message one should not conform and change to meet the societal norms of appearance and fully enjoy their life being who they truly are.
America Ferrera who portrays "Ugly Betty" on the show has recently given an emotional speech about the girls from all across the country who write to her to thank her for helping them find new strength and confidence.
Four months into the show, the braces have come off, weight has been lost and even the color-mismatched outfits seemed to be more in sync with fashion trends of the show's fictional fashion publication "Mode Magazine".
The turnaround is gradual, but very noticeable. Although the producers have said they would not follow the path of the original series that the comedy was adapted from (the heroine becomes beautiful and marries her boss) and the network recently launched a "Be Ugly In '07" program to promote the series as well as its message, they seem to be flip-flopping on the initial plan.
If true, the intervention would not be the first of its kind. Late last year, the management of the actor who played a gay character on NBC's hit genre series "Heroes" demanded that the network alter the character's sexuality.
The network gave into the pressure and arranged the turnaround. The character has however been written off the show since.
Wow, I have totally mixed feelings on this one. But in general I think they are making a mistake. On the one hand, its not realistic to expect Betty not to be affected by working at Mode and have her fashion style influenced in simple ways, as well the braces HAVE to come off sooner or later! On the other hand if they make her too pretty, it defeats the purpose of the show. I hope that she still has the quirks, if they make her too pretty I'll probably stop watching!
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteEven though I love the show of "Ugly Betty" but if they're doing it to the point where it goes against the grain of what the show was originally conceptualized as...this show won't last past its 2nd season, sorry to say...doesn't matter how good the auxiliary regular characters are...it's really America Ferrara and her image as this ugly girl making it big in a beautiful world and making a big difference. She is an inspiration to lots of young girls out there. Her manager(s) need to get that in their heads.
KC
Maintainer of Luke MacFarlane Fansite