Watching Ugly Betty

Since Ugly Betty premiered their has been a lot of speculation about whether or not Betty’s effeminate nephew Justin is gay. The idea of seeing a child portrayed as gay has caused a verbal sparring match and much debate among fans of the show and its critics alike.

Some people have applauded the writers for making such a bold decision and some religious advocated have been up in arms at the perceived threat to traditional family values having a gay child on primetime television could cause. Honestly though I could care less, here’s why I think Justin’s sexuality is a mute point.

Justin is only 12 years old. Why attribute any sexual identity to him as this point? As a society we tend to put way to much pressure on children to act certain ways and to meet certain standards. By saying that any boy who likes musicals and counts calories is gay we stereotype him into that role. Watching Martha Stewart and loving musicals does not make Justin gay. It just makes him a young boy who is unafraid to just be himself.

Justin is well adjusted and has a great family support system. His mother allows him to be himself without fear or consequences. Betty, Ignacio, and even Santos are their to support Justin and allow him to fully be a kid without labeling him. In the warm comfort of the Suarez home Justin is not encouraged to act more “manly” or to tone down his flamboyant behaviors. Through their unspoken support Justin is able to explore his identity without fear of repercussions.

Why do so many people think the character of Justin is gay? Maybe the problem lies in societies need to label everyone. It’s true that Justin is an untraditional male character but what does that even mean? On TV portrayals of children fit nicely into little molds. The pretty little girls who play with dolls and the cute little boys who play with fire trucks. But in real life children fit into many more modes. If Justin is causing a stir for anything it’s for creating an interesting and unique portrayal of a child on television that breaks from the cookie cutter mold we’ve come to expect.

If Justin was a girl and liked to play with cars or tools no one would automatically assume he was gay. Female race car drivers are not assumed to be gay neither are female bodybuilders or young women who want to join the football team. Why? Because we as a society have realized how ignorant it is to label a woman’s sexual orientation based on what her interest and hobbies are.

Yet we don’t offer the same level of protection to males. If anything we as women have been allowed to explore our identities outside the norms of society’s expectations but males are still expected to only act within certain defined roles. If their is any reason we should be debating Justin’s sexuality its this - There is so much this young boy could teach us all about acceptance and being true to ourselves.

What do you think?

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bodybuilders, football, gay, Martha Stewart, musicals, race car drivers, sexual identity, sexuality, society, traditional roles, TV, Ugly Betty

Episode #9 “Lose the Boss”
What’s classic Ugly Betty you ask? Anything before episode 13! In this Ugly Betty classic, it’s the day after Thanksgiving but it’s not much of a holiday for Mode employees. Betty has to put together a photo shoot for a famous couple. Daniel is nursing a hangover and hangs out at the Suarez home while he deals with his rejection by Sofia. Wilhelmina and Marc are stranded in a bad neighborhood, and Bradford Meade takes a trip down memory lane. Salma Hayek guest stars.

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Last Thursday’s episode of Ugly Betty, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell took first place in Nielsen ratings for its hour! In a very close race Ugly Betty came in first with 7.4/12, with NCAA basketball taking a close second and FOX’s Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader? not too far behind. Ugly Betty helped ABC easily win the night over the competition.

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An Ugly Betty news roundup!

1. We already knew they were sexy! Now TV Guide weighs in with its list of the 40 hottest stars on TV. Ugly Betty has two stars at the top of the list, Rebecca Romijn and Eric Mabius. Check out the sexy photo gallery here, and read about how Eric Mabius gets his sexy shape. This issue is on sale at news stands now.

2. Out.com has an in depth feature of Ugly Betty and talks about how the show starring a plain Jane has become a gay icon. The April issue of Out features interviews with America Ferrera, Vanessa Williams, and Judith Light among others.

3. Entertainment Weekly (EW) offered Ugly Betty fans the chance to come up with plot twist for the show, the 3 best were taken to Silvio Horta. Ugly Betty’s executive producer and head writer for feedback.

4. EW’s newest issue available now also features an article on how Ugly Betty can keep from getting stale and turning off its viewers. A pitfall many other ABC shows have been unable to avoid.

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1. Ignacio: “I’m going stir crazy in here! Starting not to remember the feel of rain, the smell or freshly mowed grass…”
Hilda: “Papi we live in Jackson heights the grass smells like fried onions.” Hilda and Ignacio talking about how he’s going crazy being copped up inside

2. Marc: “I’ve been telling her you’re my girlfriend for three years now; she’s starting to pressure me to buy the cow.”
Amanda: “So you’re saying were over and I’m fat?” Marc on why he broke up with pretend girlfriend Amanda

3. Marc: “We’ll always have that fake pregnancy scare!”
Amanda: “Oh that was a real scare you idiot it just wasn’t yours!” Marc and Amanda talking about their fake dating

4. Betty: “Daniel, You’ve done a great job running this magazine for the last 6 months. I know you can win this race. It’s like the tortoise and the hare…”
Daniel: “Okay, okay I’m going to figure it out. You can cross my pep talk off your list for today.”
Betty: “Their will be more.” Betty encouraging Daniel when he begins to doubt his abilities to co-edit the magazine with his brother

5. Alexis: “I for one have much bigger dreams.”
Daniel: “Like what a uterus?”
Alexis: “You can say it, but can you spell it.” Alexis and Daniel when she claims she wants no part of the magazine

6. Wilhelmina: “Your father will die of shame. “
Alexis: “He wouldn’t die. Stroke maybe.” Wilhelmina convincing Alexis to make her stamp on the magazine
(more…)

I think I say it every week but Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is my favorite episode of Ugly Betty. This episode was quite bittersweet, a lot of comedy was involved but there was just as much dramatic moments and the ending was heartbreaking….

It’s the day after Claire Meade’s confession, and a reporter is outside the offices of Meade Publications. Bradford has just been released from prison; the reporter tries to interview Betty as she walks by. Betty says “no comment” but is so distracted she walks smack dab into the glass plated bus stop.

It’s the next day and in the Suarez home we see Justin is at home replaying the action of Betty bumping into the glass and Hilda is trying not to laugh. Betty shares with Hilda that she feels guilty because she talked Claire Meade into confessing. Ignacio is going crazy from being on house arrest, but still has 4 weeks t o go until his hearing.

Alexis has been fired by Bradford and goes to her office to pick up her things. Bradford is waiting for her and they share a touching father son/daughter moment as he finally gets a good look at his new daughter. They snipe at each other at first: “In the life I wanted you were behind bars” (Alexis) In the life I wanted you were a man” (Bradford)

Bradford shows Alexis the painted rock she gave him when she was six and tells he when she was dead he kept it in memory of the son he used to have, then he throws it into the trash because now it only reminds him of the son he never should of have. They both say their relationship is finished (and you can see just how much these two are alike).

Marc turns down Amanda’s invitation to a Prada fashion show his mother (Patti LuPone) is coming into town for a cat show. Amanda is informed that Marc dumped her as his pretend girlfriend because his mother, Mrs. Weiner was starting to hint at their getting married.

Bradford goes to see Claire in hospital where she’s receiving detox. Claire is handcuffed to the bed and scared of what’s coming. Bradford tells Claire she should have left him in jail and tells her he will always be there for her. Claire tells Bradford she hopes he’s still on her side when he finds out what she’s planning to do. Bradford doesn’t own Mode magazine (just Meade publications), and can’t fire Alexis. Claire rehires Alexis and makes her and Daniel coeditors.
(more…)

The Mode Divas: Part 1

In the offices of Mode Wilhelmina is the queen bitch. She is cold hearted, ruthless, and wiling to sacrifice anyone and do anything in order to get to the top. So far she has tried to buy Betty’s assistance into betraying Daniel, assisted in framing Bradford for murder and cost Christina the chance to have Sarah Jessica Parker wear her design. All this and the show is still in the 1st season!

But in last nights episode Wilhelmina raised the stakes! The diabolical diva pitted Meade against Meade without even putting a hair out of place and with a single perfectly arched eyebrow laid down the gauntlet. No matter what one might think of good old Willie you got to admit that the woman is smart and a true master at being evil.

Wilhelmina manages to turn Alexis against Daniel and makes Daniel once again doubt his ability to run a magazine. What makes Wilhelmina so diabolically clever at playing table tennis with the Meade clans hearts is their complete ignorance to the fact that they’ve been manipulated!!

No one seems to realize what she’s up to except Claire Meade. Wilhelmina tries to get Claire drunk so she would give her power of attorney but that plan failed. So Wilhelmina then decides to offer her self to Bradford instead! Is she really so obsessed with power that she would sleep with Bradford Meade? Does she really think he will marry her? Is she forgetting that alcoholic wife on his shoulder who has already murdered the last woman who stood between her and her man?

In her battle with Constance Claire Meade proved she is one woman that can not be intimidated. Yet Claire is in detox, how long can that iron will last out compared to getting the one thing she really wants? More booze! I’m sure that Wilhelmina is just waiting around the corner to see how low Claire Meade can sink before Willie’s offer gets too tempting to resist.

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Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Episode #18

Ugly Betty is all new tonight and finally it’s the kiss we have all been waiting for. No it’s not Betty and Henry, its Betty and Marc! Marc’s meddling mother comes to visit and apparently she doesn’t know or is completely oblivious to the fact that Marc is gay.

Marc asks Betty to pretend to be his girlfriend and Marc and his mother come over to Queens for dinner. We know it’s a good show anytime the Suarez home is invaded by Meade family members or Betty’s office workers. Is another brother sister showdown on the way? Alexis and Daniel are forced to be coeditor in chief of Mode magazine, and Alexis gets a sexy photo shoot.

What I want to know?
Bradford should be out of jail by now. Is a touching father daughter moment on the way? Doubtful both Alexis and Bradford are vindictive and great at holding grudges and that should make good TV for us!

Is that Wilhelmina in Claire’s hospital room? What could the diabolical diva be planning? Why is Claire even in the hospital?

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Ugly Betty fans can rest easy it’s already received early renewal over at ABC! In it’s time period Ugly Betty ranks number one among women 18-34.

Last Thursday’s ratings for Ugly Betty (episode #17) were down some from before it went on hiatus. Ugly Betty scored a 7.4/12, thanks in part to FOX’s Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? (which won the hour) and NCAA basketball coverage.

Another factor could be the continued interruptions. Even though Ugly Betty will be all new tonight once again the show will go on hiatus until near the end of April. Why you ask? So the show can end in May to help out for sweeps and in part because its traditional to end shows in May. Hopefully season two will be more consistent.

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Vanessa Williams Stands on Star at Hollywood Walk of Fame!

On March 19, Vanessa Williams was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (number 2,331 to be exact). Her birthday was March, 18 so not a bad present to get! Ugly Betty stars were in attendance as well as her family.

Both Rebecca Romijn and Salma Hayek attended the ceremony and spoke kind words about their Ugly Betty cast mate.

Vanessa Williams sits and poses with her star, and then poses with her entire family. Including her brother and felllow actor Chris Williams (grey suit) from Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Curb Your Enthusiasm fame.

I just love these shoes. What do you think?

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Icing on the Cake

Daniel: “A woman who likes sex 3 times a night and doesn’t want to cuddle. Where have you been all my life?” to Grace

Claire: “It doesn’t even have a park view. I might as well be tied to a chair having my ear sliced off.” to Daniel about her room in the Regent

Betty: “I got a new shower curtain” telling Henry and Charlie what she did on the weekend

Marc: “He’s like the it designer for all those actors whose faces you recognize but you never really know their names.”
Amanda: “Ooh like what’s her name”
Marc: “and that guy” talking about the designer who just sent Amanda a dress
(more…)

Daniel is lying in bed with Grace when he finds out she is going to meet with his mother in the morning and panics. Daniel lies and says his mother is having a relapse since her husband has been arrested and hiding out somewhere. Daniel then checks his mother into the Regent Hotel and tells her not to talk to anyone.

Betty is at her orthodontist’s office and gets new braces put in and flirts a little with her orthodontist (Gabe). Then she runs into Charlie and Henry at the office elevators and gets invited to Charlie’s birthday party. Henry tells Betty after Charlie leaves that she doesn’t have to come if she feels awkward, but Betty assures him she will be there.

Amanda and Marc are at her desk talking when she gets a package delivered from Oswald Lorenzo. Amanda was at a party the night before and shoved the girl he was talking to away so she could talk to him and thinks that impressed him. It’s a silver shrink wrap rubber looking dress called “The Amanda” she puts it on immediately.

Alexis tries to make peace with Wilhelmina over her betrayal by offering her a scarf. Wilhelmina isn’t willing to forgive and says the scarf will make a nice present for her cleaning lady. Alexis explains to Wilhelmina that Daniel turned his back on their father for her and she has to give him a chance. Wilhelmina tells her she has big man hands and completely dismisses her with pure divatude. While in Wilhelmina’s office Grace Chin comes on the news and Alexis finds out that she is the lawyer defending her father. As she leaves Wilhelmina tells Marc they will have to make sure Daniel disappoints Alexis.

Daniel is talking with Betty in his office and lets it slip that he is sleeping with Grace Chin. Daniel tells Betty she can’t tell anyone, and tells Betty to get Christina to send her the Katherine Maladrone dress.
(more…)

Our favorite Ugly Betty diva Vanessa Williams new movie came out this weekend. In it she plays a single mother (L’Tisha) raising two sons Isaiah and James. James suffers from down syndrome, and before her character passes away she makes Isaiah promise to always look after his brother. Most of her role in the movie is seen through flashbacks after Isaiah gets in trouble with some shady characters and faces a tough decision. The movie also stars Oscar winner Tatum O’Neal and Freddo Star. The movie is only in limited release, check out mybrotherthemovie to find a theater near you and see the awards the movie has already won.

down syndrome, Freddo Star, My Brother the Movie, new in theaters, Oscar winners, Tatum O’Neal, Trailer, Ugly Betty, Vanessa Williams

Following Salma Hayek’s news another Ugly Betty cast member has announced her marriage plans! Ana Ortiz who plays Betty’s older sister Hilda. Anna plans on getting married in Puerto Rico in June. Her fiancée is musician Noah Lebenzon. Cast member Rebecca Romijn is also engaged making 3 weddings and a baby!

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Icinng on the Cake
The previews for this all new episode of Ugly Betty looks great! Henry invites Betty to Charlie’s (Jayma Mays) birthday party and Betty asks her orthodontist if he wants to be her date. Wilhelmina uses Daniel’s hiring of Grace Chin (Lucy Liu) as Bradford’s lawyer to break up the happy family and prove to Alexis that Wilhelmina is the only one she can trust. Amanda is declared by a designer to be his muse and you have to see the dress she inspired.

What I want to know!
-Who is the mysterious woman who surprises a naked Daniel and Grace in bed?
-Will Grace find out that Daniel only pretended to call and apologize to all the women he used in college?
-Will Claire confess to the authorities?

birthday, birthday party, designer, Jayma Mays, Lucy Liu, lawyer, Ugly Betty