What does she know about the role?  “They told me that Natalie is eccentric, spiritual and a little bit out-there. She takes [Daniel] on a wild night around Manhattan to break him out of his shell. And he ends up depending on her enough that he makes her his assistant. They also told me that, throughout whatever’s going to happen, her intentions are always pure. She has no [ill will], though at times it may seem so.”

So, I was wrong.  She won’t be “the bad guy”, but she may lead Daniel down the wrong path, I think.

Also, about that new haircut:  “The look, as we go on, is going to change. She’s going to have a bit of a transformation, not a big makeover, when she starts working at Mode, because I think she realizes what kind of place it is and what it stands for and maybe her look won’t necessarily fit in that well. So she does some adjustments to her look”, she says.

Of course, Sigler hasn’t proven me wrong enough yet, so how about this one, about a Natalie/Daniel relationship?  What does Sigler say?  

“No. They told me that from the beginning. This is not going to be a typical love interest role. Being a fan of the show, I don’t think it would be right so close to Molly’s death for him to meet a woman in a bereavement group and start dating her. All they told me was the plotline for the first episode and where it could go, which I think is more fun when you’re playing a character on episodic television. You can’t anticipate too much.”

(So, Maybe there’s something the writers aren’t telling Sigler )

Jamie Lynn also says that Bennett (from the Community of the Phoenix) will actually start hanging out at Mode.  She also confirms that Natalie has a five-episode arc (tonight is the third).

This is a great interview, and there’s more.  Go check it out, and come back and tell us what you think!

Image: Bauer Griffin

Post from: Ugly Betty News

You’ll recognize Stevens right away, because he always plays “that creepy guy”.  I remember a recurring role on CSI NY where Stevens was spectacular.  Then, of course, there’s the role he played on Lost (George Minkoski)

On Betty, he will play Mr. Z., a dry and sarcastic landlord.  When they cast the role, they were looking for a "New York actor who could go head-to-head with America Ferrera."

Personally, I love Stevens, and I think I’ll love what he brings to the show.

One thing we know his character will bring to the show is the fact that Betty will move back out of the house again.  We know this because Stevens cannot be the Suarezes landlord, because they bought their house last season.

I wonder, though, is this the apartment Amanda is living in (which supposedly Betty still leases), or will they get Betty another one? (I think she should get her own place in Queens). 

The whole “Betty moves back home” story line, I think was a mistake – especially since Ignacio was better and fooling around with his nurse a few episodes later.  I also believe that the production crew and writers did not all agree that this should happen.

Regardless, if Betty is going to get a new landlord, I can’t think of a better actor to play him than Fisher Stevens!

Image: Bauer Griffin

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Matt Newton, brother to Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton, will appear on Ugly Betty in a very interesting context.  According to TV Guide’s Mega Buzz (BIG hat tip to Sir Lizard):

What happened to Cliff? I liked him and Marc together on Ugly Betty. — Max
MICKEY: "Cliff" (David Blue) has been cast as Stargate: Universe’s tech whiz, and sources tell me he won’t be returning to Betty’s universe any time soon. Marc (Michael Urie), meanwhile, will remain single for now, but he’ll also mingle on the show’s upcoming Bahamas episode, during which he’ll hook up with a hottie played by newcomer Matt Newton, brother to Becki, aka Amanda, aka Michael/Marc’s bestie.

First off, let me say I’m very happy that David Blue is on another show.  He really seems to fit the whole “tech whiz” typecast, doesn’t he?  Isn’t that what he played on Moonlight?

As for Newton, how cool is that?  I wonder if this will be a one-episode thing, or if we’ll see more of Matt?

Newton is a relative newcomer, although he’s appeared in Comedy Central’s cult classic Strangers With Candy, along with quite a few other roles, from Gilmore Girls to Undressed.

There have been hints that Marc would have a new relationship; we don’t know if Matt Newton’s character is going to be that relationship, but I don’t see why not – that seems like a great idea.  The show already has a “family” atmosphere; why not make it official?

Image: Newscom

Post from: Ugly Betty News

According to TV Guide, Shakira will play herself.

Silvio Horta says the Colombian pop star happens to be in the Bahamas at the same time as the Mode crew and plays a pivotal role in helping save the day after things go awry.

And, it looks like Justin, will be in the Bahamas, too! "Justin’s the one who knows [Shakira's] alias," Horta reveals.  (That’s hilarious!)

Brinkley will actually have an acting part, playing Penelope Graybridge, the editor of a competing fashion magazine. Her character’s will not be going to the Bahamas, she’ll be based solely in New York.

TV Guide says the cast and crew are headed to the Bahamas to film the episode, which will air during November sweeps.  I’ll be watching for tweets.

Let me be one of the first to guess that Shakira’s pivotal role will be agreeing on the spot to do the photo shoot after something happens to the original model(s).  We’ll see.

Image: Splashnewsonline.com

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Much-acclaimed Redgrave will appear as Olivia, a jewelry designer whom Betty meets while Betty is working on a story as Mode’s new features editor.

Olivia, Redgrave’s eccentric character, designs beautiful ornaments that look like bugs. As she shares her story, Olivia inspires Betty to come out of her own cocoon and blossom in her appearance. 

It looks like Redgrave’s Olivia is going to be the catalyst for Betty’s transformation into a more fashionable woman.  I was wondering how they were going to handle this, considering the fact that Betty’s been happily oblivious all these years.

With Redgrave involved, I’m pretty sure it’ll be dramatic, inspiring, and intellectually satisfying (let’s face it – I would have loved for someone crazy like Heinrich to be the trigger for Betty’s change, but that would have just been silly and unbelievable).

However, as we know from the set pics, Betty’s braces will stay, at least in the short term.

Ms Redgrave is a real coup for the show, which has been on a real casting roll lately (Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Kristen Johnson, Yaya Dacosta (playing the new Nico) and The New Adventures of Old Christine’s Hamish Linklater, amongst a strong cast of regulars and one-shot guests).

Excitement is building for the Ugly Betty season premiere October 9th.  I, for one, can’t wait!

Image: SplashNewsOnline.com

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Adam Rodriguez

Rodriguez will play Bobby, an old flame of Hilda. "He’s an old high school boyfriend, and  [he comes] back into their lives," said Rodriguez.

Certainly, this is the character we’ve heard about – the one that is “mobbed up” and has a Hilda-related storyline, right?

"A little romance buds, and there’s some drama to go along with it.", he adds.

When asked which sister he would be involved with (Hilda or Betty), Rodriguez was purposefully vague. 

"Maybe a little bit of both," he said with a laugh. "We’ll see how it turns out, but it’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s really funny."

Rodriguez will definitely appear in five episodes, but his stay on Betty is likely to be extended, according to a source, TV Guide says.

Mr. Rodriguez was in New York promoting his role in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

I really believe that this is going to be one of the more fun story lines early in season four, if I am guessing right that there will be a “light” romantic triangle between Hilda, Bobby, and Archie (played by Ralph Macchio and ironically, last-named “Rodriguez”).

I don’t know why, but a love triangle involving Hilda promises to be more fun than one involving Betty, I believe. 

Image: SplashNewsOnline.com

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‘‘The Betty guys are amazing. I just love them,” he says. 

Bowler says the cast is the most ‘‘non-diva” crew he’s ever met. No one gets special treatment.

He adds, ‘‘Everyone in the Ugly Betty cast I have so much respect for, and that’s not kind of Hollywood talk. These guys consider themselves to be a bunch of East Coast theatre geeks who got lucky.

‘‘They have dinner together. They dance together. They hang out together. Everybody is over everybody else’s house at weekends. Amazing. I’ve never worked with a cast like it anywhere.”

That has got to be the best characterization of the Ugly Betty cast I’ve ever seen:  East Coast theatre geeks who got lucky. This is why they are such a fun group to write about (although that means there aren’t many juicy gossip stories like there would be with a more typical Hollywood cast).

Bowler also talked about his Australian show “Border Security”, and how he’s been caught up in our world’s heightened security atmosphere.

“I get stopped all the time,” he says. ‘‘I went through a run in the States when for two or three years every time I went in they put me through the secondary inspection process — stuck me in a little room and wanted to know what I was doing.

‘‘I just sat there and smiled benignly. I mean, you’re grumpy after 12 or 14 hours on a plane . . . I can’t afford to be grumpy or the guy who kicks up a fuss at the airport. I have to sit there with a stupid grin and tolerate them.”

Bowler also stars in the New Zealand show Outrageous Fortune.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Ugly Betty News

I see that the character Natalie, Daniel’s new assistant played by Sigler, will have some pretty wild tastes in fashion.  I’ll leave it to you fashionistias to judge her look, but I think it’s almost Betty-like.  I THINK Patricia Field does that to characters she wants to appear approachable and non-threatening.  (Think about it – the better dressed you are, the higher chance you’re up to no good on Ugly Betty).

Are those Lohan leggings?   

Regardless, Sigler still looks beautiful.  And she seems to have caught Daniel in a happy moment:

According to reports, Natalie is supposed to be “spiritual”, and meets Daniel in a bereavement support group.  As I’ve said before, I sincerely hope she’s not being brought in to be Daniel’s new squeeze, at least not until LATE in season four, if we get there.  Between Wilhelmina’s lunatic sister and his true love’s tragic end, Daniel needs a romantic rest, I think.

She IS supposed to have some kind of secret that might pit her against Betty, though.  I can’t wait to see what that’s about.

More pics after the jump.

Images: Bauer-Griffin

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Head Case is a comedy television show starring Alexandra Wentworth as, Dr. Elizabeth Goode, a Los Angeles psychologist who treats celebrities, though she has issues of her own.

From some of the other clips I’ve seen on YouTube, this is funny stuff.  Steve Landesberg is in it – that’s enough for me!  And the list of celebrities who line up for Dr Goode’s therapy in season three is impressive:  Jerry Seinfeld, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, SNL alum Kevin Nealon, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Playboy’s Hugh Hefner with one time girlfriend Bridget Marquardt.

Almost makes me want to add Starz back to my cable lineup

As for Macchio, it’s interesting, nobody on Ugly Betty has really talked about Archie’s age.  Is Macchio playing a character much younger than he is in real life?  Hilda is supposedly in her early 30’s – if Archie is Macchio’s age, he’s 47.  Not that the show hasn’t had its share of May-December romances.  But, it’s just funny that the writers have used Macchio’s boyish appearance to their advantage.  Hilda and Archie look like they belong together, and we never really think if there is an age difference between the two.

Anyway, I can’t wait to see what the writers do with Archie in season four!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Brooklyn Decker, the 22 year old model and wife of tennis star Andy Roddick is going to have an appearance on an upcoming episode of Ugly Betty.

According to Page Six, the beauty just signed to play Betty’s co-worker, Lexie, We have no further info on the role at this point.

This past Wednesday, Brookyln tweeted, “Working on an amazing set!! Can’t tell you guys what it is… Just yet. But I can tell you.. I’m loving it and can’t wait to spill the beans!”

Then, today, Brooklyn added:  “Secret’s out! Im shooting a guest role for UGLY BETTY! Can’t give any details. But this is so unreal.. I’m beyond excited!”

I have a feeling that, at least for a few episodes, Ugly Betty will be doing better in the male 18-54 demographic. 

Imagge: SplashNewsOnline.com

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