Who Is Your Favorite Ugly Betty Writer?
May 13, 2009 by Tom
Ugly Betty is a show with many actors, many directors, and many writers. Although there is a flow and consistency between and amongst the episodes, if you watch the show long enough, you get a feel for what you will get when a certain writer wrote the script.
Many of us long ago decided our favorite UB writer, and we excitedly await the next episode he or she will pen. No doubt, Brian Tanen probably has the most fans amongst Ugly Betty News commenters. Some are even, for lack of a better word, Brian Tanen goupies. 
But, let’s take a look at the major writers for the show, and highlight some of their work.
- Silvio Horta - The creator/developer has penned some of the most memorable episodes, including the Pilot, The Box and the Bunny, Sofia’s Choice (which some people loved, some people weren’t crazy about), and The Manhattan Project.
- Henry Alonso Myers – Petra Gate,Secretaries Day, Something Wicked, Burning Questions, Crimes of Fashion, Sisters on The Verge, Things Fall Apart. Not bad.
- Sheila Lawrence – Fey’s Sleigh Ride, A Thousand Words By Friday, Granny Pants, There’s No Place Like Mode, (and of course, this week’s In The Stars) Very impressive!
- Bill Wrubel - Giving Up The Ghost, Odor in The Court, Betty’s Baby Bump, Ugly Berry, A Mother of a Problem. Pretty danged good.
- Brian Tanen – Sugar Daddy, When Betty Met YETI, The Kids Are Alright (all solid, there)
- Peter Elkoff – The Courtship of Betty’s Father, Tornado Girl (an episode I really liked).
- Cara DiPaolo – The Sex Issue, Dress For Success
- Tracy Poust And John Kinnally – A Tree Grows in Guadalajara, Betty’s Wait Problem, Bananas For Betty, Crush’d
Since we’re dealing in the present tense, I only included writers credited at least once this season. Which leaves out several great writers, including Dawn DeKeyser, who wrote one of my favorite episodes, Zero Worship. If I missed any more, let me know.
So, do you have a favorite Ugly Betty writer? I think they are all wonderful, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Sheila Lawrence. I mean, she wrote my favorite episodes from season 1 and 3 (so far), and the episode with “Tap That” in it.
Image Copyright © 2008 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./ PATRICK HARBRON
I love whoever created/wrote/designed most of season One.
Something Wicked was one of my favorite episodes EVER — which was season 2? I think.. I also loved the episode Val Emmich performed @ the rooftop party. I can’t remember most of the show titles though =/ bummer!
Tracy Poust And John Kinnally (UB: the rooftop party (Crush’d) was written by these two)
Brian Tanen
Silvo Horta
These three always write the most heartfelt and funny episodes of Ugly Betty that always bring the heart of the show back which is something I have always loved.
This is an excellent post! I Finally get to know who wrote my favourite episodes!
Well, my favourite is Henry Alonso Myers!!!! (Tom, I knew it that you are a Detty fan!:))
He has written wonderful episodes!!!Especially I love “something wicked this way comes”!!
I also like Tracy Poust And John Kinnally, because “Crush’d” had that absolutely amazing Detty scene!!
I’m a Detty fan to the heart!!
Hello, my favourite is Sheila Lawrence, because episode Theres No Place Like Mode was on of the best. Becuse I am Detty fan I like Dawn DeKeyser and his episode Zero Worship. Also I can not forget Tracy Poust and John Kinnally and there amazing episode Crushd.
I think there are some mistakes in this post. Bill Wrubel wrote I See Me, I.C.U., not Giving Up the Ghost (which was written by Charles Pratt, Jr.) and Henry Alonso Myers didn’t write Petra-Gate (it was written by Harry Welksman & Gabrielle Stanton). If I had to pick my favourite writer, I would probably choose Horta himself, because, although “Jump” and “The Manhattan Project” weren’t exactly ideal, he has still written some of the best episodes ever: “Sofia’s Choice”, “East Side Story”, “A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding” etc.
Scadalam – it’s possible; my source was IMDB, and their “writer” section is hard to navigate. For instance Silvio Horta is listed as a writer for EVERY episode, but in parentheses they have “developer”. So, I had to look specifically for “written by” in the parentheses.
Two more things: I think that his name is Jon Kinnally instead of John Kinnally and moreover, one writer is not mentioned: it’s Chris Black, who was written 3 episodes this season (Betty Suarez Land, Bad Amanda, Rabbit Test).
Here’s my short list: Henry Alonso Myers, Dawn DeKeyser, Bill Wrubel, Tracy Poust and John Kinnally.
This is the kind of team that should write episodes together. They have that seamless flow of energy that really sparks what “Betty” is all about. Let me explain:
Henry – Secretaries Day was awesome. If I’m not mistaken that’s when Betty and Christina went to Medieval Times and Amanda was afraid of who might see her as a beer wench? Classic! That hit all the right buttons because Betty stood up for herself and Henry. Something Wicked was insanely funny. First we see that Gio isn’t just some punk guy that owns as Deli. He’s actually a considerate older brother who brought his kid sister to one of the hottest shows in town. See? Even he’s been stuck with a kid before. Haha!
Then there’s the fact that he had to pose as Betty’s boyfriend while she ignored him rudely to text Henry (who was already seeing Charlie and Daniel knew about it.) That’s class, imo. It shows that Betty isn’t a saint but also that the devil on her right shoulder saying to quit texting during show is really Pinnochia’s (no, that’s not a dirty word in spanish) ABC/Disney guardian cricket.
Dawn – Hero Worship is great. I love how Betty gives advice on how to bring up the sandwich shop and once again goes to Gio as her new boyfriend instead of Henry. It’s like come on! Give the poor guy a break. He doesn’t even ask for a tip when he gives her free sandwiches.
Bill – I love Giving Up The Ghost and Odor in the Court. These are sensitive episodes that work on two levels: First Giving Up The Ghost is fantastic because on one hand you can see that Mr. Meade made an impact on Betty that is sorely missed by her. Second, its a tearjerker because its saying goodbye to a great character but in a way that is fantastically classy and exotic. This shows what the show is in a nutshell just by having a stuffy white guy in his most comfortable attire… a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts with cocktail in hand. That is very honest to the character of someone like Bradford Meade on vacation. Thus explains the popularity of Tommy Bahama. Same goes for Odor in the Court: First its Amanda this time who has a hard time letting go of never knowing her true mother but eventually through Marc she sees the light. Second, its closure for the first season and we finally see how Claire feels about Betty by sharing with Betty her favorite perfume. After so much death and deceit the fun and games are ready to begin.
*** Comments continue after the rant***
(Optional Rant: If only we didn’t have so many hiatus to contend with. That’s just corporate stifling to me. What happens if Sledge Hammer kills Mode? Ugly Betty: The Early Years? No no, even better: Ugly Betty the WONDER years. =/)
Tracy and John – Wonderful job on both Bananas For Betty and A Tree Grows in Guadalajara. That was amazing! In Tree we first see Betty have visions (something Hispanic I had never seen on a sitcom before) and come across a Cunandera (spiritual healer.) Between that and the gossiping Tia that drinks too much I was dying from laughter. All that in a Soccer Mom sitcom? Wow! That’s *really* pushing the envelope in a wonderfully good direction! Its enough to get some people up and dancing. You two are the rock and roll writers of Ugly Betty. Bananas for Betty is even better. Betty gets the idea to start being true herself and even gives Henry the inspiration to take his shirt off and start breakdancing to show Gio he ain’t the only one with moves. This is where I was hoping Henry would move in with John Cho’s annoying co-worker that Alexis nailed with multiple paintballs. Sadly though, Henry left with Charlie and the baby that might not even be his but belong to that dentist Charlie slept with after Betty introduced them. She (Charlie) could be where Wilhemina got the idea to switch the DNA results on William.
Last but not least I have to say the Pilot was one of the best episodes of the entire series. Silvio outdid himself. The way he introduced the characters was spectacular. Justin telling Betty to dress fashionable which resulted her wearing an authentic poncho was niiiice, dude. Haha! The equivalent to Marc or someone scoffing on the football field and getting themselves flipped by Betty. Oh snap, you see that? Fool got knocked on his ass by that girl. She crazy! O.O;;; Bwahahaha! Take that country club.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3A9rLoz_0o
I guess I am a Brian Tanen groupie too- he writes the best episodes each season. His humor is the most original and witty and he gently adds heart to each of his story lines without it seeming cliche or saccharine.I hope we get many more episodes from Brian Tanen- this guy will have a huge career in tv- the critics and fans love his work.