Ugly Betty - TV-PG

Underdog heroine is a model of charm and appeal.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: ABC Cast: Vanessa Williams, America Ferrera, Eric Mabius Genre: Comedy
Available on: DVDDownloadCell phone

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this hour-long comedy is set in the competitive, materialistic world of a high-fashion magazine called Mode. Several characters -- most of whom are pretty over-the-top -- consequently exhibit poor values and iffy behavior (scheming, corporate one-upmanship, petty meanness to those who don't fit in, etc.). By comparison, delightful main character Betty stands out like a cheerful, hardworking beacon. Unabashedly proud of her working-class roots and eclectic taste in clothes and accessories, Betty is a great role model for teen girls who worry about fitting in.

Families can discuss Betty's impressive optimism. How does she stay so positive in such a hostile environment? Besides her outward appearance, what else sets her apart from most of her Mode co-workers? What gave her such a good work ethic? What role does her family play in her life? What makes her a good role model for real girls and young women? How can you deal with tricky work situations (harassment, nasty co-workers) in the real world?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Lucy Maher

UGLY BETTY is sure to win fans among both teens and their parents thanks to its charming portrayal of a hardworking-but-not-particularly-glamorous girl from Queens, NY, who winds up working at high-fashion magazine Mode.

Executive produced by Salma Hayek and based on the wildly popular Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea, Ugly Betty stars America Ferrera as optimistic, focused Betty Suarez. After applying for an entry-level job at Meade Publications, Betty -- who wants to be a serious journalist -- accepts a job assisting Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius), Mode's playboy editor-in-chief. (He was handed the job by his father after the former editor died suddenly.)

At first, Daniel -- who has a habit of bedding his often-glamorous assistants -- is put off by Betty (which is precisely the point, since his father gave Betty the job because he knew she wouldn't tempt his womanizing son). He does everything he can to make her life miserable, including inane tasks such as providing him with cabbage-less coleslaw and having her fill in on an embarrassing photo shoot.

Betty is determined to succeed -- she's not a quitter, and her widowed dad (Tony Plana) relies on her income -- but even she has her breaking point. Fortunately, Daniel quickly realizes that he can't run the magazine without her, and the incongruous pair becomes a team.

Which is a good thing, because Daniel needs all the help he can get protecting his back from scheming creative director Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams). Furious about being passed over for the editor-in-chief job, Wilhelmina will do anything to bring Daniel -- and, by extension, Betty -- down. In her ring are toadying assistant Marc (Michael Urie) and evil receptionist Amanda (Becki Newton), who's sleeping with Daniel and wants Betty's job. Rounding out the cast are Christina (Ashley Jensen), the on-site seamstress who shows Betty the ropes and acts as her confidant and guardian angel; Hilda (Ana Ortiz), Betty's outspoken older sister; and Justin (Mark Indelicato), Betty's hilariously fashion-obsessed nephew.

Coming to TV on the heels of The Devil Wears Prada, Ugly Betty is wildly fun fare that takes the Prada premise and ups the ante -- unlike Anne Hathaway's Andy, Betty never bows to the pressure to turn herself into one of the skeletal, glam automatons who sashay through Mode's hallways.

The show's writing and acting are both top-notch, and there are giggles to be found at every turn. In one scene, for example, Betty admires a model's beautiful Dolce & Gabbana poncho and chummily tells the woman that her father bought her a similar one in Guadalajara ... only to show up the next day proudly wearing a gaudy, blanket-like garment that has "souvenir" written all over it.

Ugly Betty has enough ongoing drama to satisfy older viewers, but, unlike other soapy shows, it spends an equal amount of time on "everyday" storylines like Betty's heartwarming relationship with her father. Although the show has a few risqué scenes that might raise parental eyebrows, including one in which Daniel's receptionist is caught under his desk (presumably pleasuring him), Ferrara's stellar performance outweighs them. Betty is clearly the most admirable character on the show, and her positive qualities just make the other characters' failings more obvious -- even to younger teens.

Bottom line? Ugly Betty is a must-see. Fans might also like Project Runway, The Devil Wears Prada, and Everybody Hates Chris, which also features a likeable underdog main character.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Betty's boss, Daniel, is a womanizer who has no qualms about sleeping with his co-workers and getting sexual favors in the office -- but virtually all of his shenanigans are implied rather than shown (some scenes show him in a rumpled bed, another scene implies an indiscretion during work hours, etc.). Some female characters wear tight and/or revealing clothes. One character is transgendered.
Violence Back-biting and scheming, but no violence (except to a stuffed bunny...).
Language Pretty mild: "Bitch," etc.
Message
	Social Behavior Enthusiastic, dedicated, optimistic Betty is a great role model for girls. She embodies the idea that hard work will get you far and proves that determination and skills will eventually pay off. Despite other characters' scheming, in general, deception and greed don't go unnoticed on the show and are rarely rewarded. Betty's co-workers can be very petty and mean to her, but she rises above it all.
	Commercialism The world of Mode magazine is a very materialistic one, but most brands and designer names are fictional.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco