And the winner is….

Swan!

(BTW, Swan, be on the lookout for an email from me; we’ll work out the particulars and we’ll get the prize right out to you).

I had some time while the contest was going on to thumb through the book, it’s wonderful!  I love the style – written in historical style with a touch of irony.  It was well researched, and I learned many things I didn’t know.  It’s kind of sad, there were a couple of items from the 70’s and 80’s I remember well.

It’s a very fun read; if you’d like to get your own copy, check it out and the book’s web site.

Congratulations Swan!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

It’s a quirky collection of humorous short fiction: 28 never-before-told tales of doomed-to-fail faux fashion – all written in a tongue-in-cheek, history-book style. Mixing fictional designers, made-up muses, and totally imaginary trendsetters with real people and places, Forgotten Fashion traces the birth, life and death of faux trends such as the Body Muff (1905) Frigidaire Formals (1950) and Emotionally Distressed Jeans (1998). Each fashion is accompanied by original four-color illustrations, including some by Andraé Gonzalo of Project Runway (season two).

It is absolutely hilarious, IMHO, and fits in beautifully with the Ugly Betty theme.  But don’t take my word for it.  Here is what Betty’s Michael Urie has to say about it:

“Kate Hahn’s hysterical faux history is part Funny Face, part Mark Twain, with a little bit of Ugly Betty thrown in for good measure. Her wit sheds a light on the delightful absurdity of the “trend”, while always remaining a love letter to the world of fashion. Pop some cashew nuts, drink something fruity and enjoy!”

You can see more about the book at its web site.

Here’s how you can win: It’s quite simple.  Just leave a comment in this post between now and 11:59 EST October 3 (Friday).  I will then draw a name form the list randomly and announce the winner on Monday, October 6.  Please – US residents only (sorry).  If you win, I’ll get your contact info and we’ll go from there.

FYI – I have the book in my possession, so the prize will ship out next week. 

So, enter now, and good luck!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

She is partnering with Allstate Foundation’s “Tell a Gal P.A.L.” (www.clicktoempower.org) campaign, which encourages people to donate nearly new purses or professional bags to Dress for Success to help domestic violence survivors, or other women in need, get back on their feet with confidence. Purse donations will be accepted at select Allstate agency locations across the nation.

I was really lucky. My gal pal was my mom,” Ana tells Entertainment Tonight’s Thea Andrews in an interview airing tonight. “She recognized the signs and she was able to sit me down and make me understand that it didn’t have anything to do with me.

“It wasn’t my fault, but I did need to get out of it immediately,” she adds. “I was lucky enough to have someone to turn to, somewhere to go, and I worry that people don’t, that women don’t.”

To help kick off the campaign, Ana is donating her Onna Ehrlich purse to one lucky winner for telling gal pals about domestic violence. 

To enter the contest, visit http://www.clicktoempower.com/gal-pal-entry-form.aspx. For each person that you encourage to enter the contest, you’ll get an extra entry – increasing your chances of winning the purse!  The contest runs until Friday, October 31, so don’t delay!

Mucho kudos to Ortiz for speaking out, and helping this great cause.  Now, it’s your turn.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

The Entertainment channel will be supporting The Actor’s Fund, a charity that helps professionals in performing arts & entertainment when they are in need. 

How can you help?

You can support this great charity writing marathon in two ways: donate a post, or donate money.

Donate a Post - be a guest writer on any of the participating Entertainment sites, especially here at UBN. You can contribute an article to help meet the once-per-hour 24 article goal for the day.  I have been working my tail off getting as many posts ready as possible, but without your help, I’m not going to have the necessary 24.  Please help!

Sometime before the 20th of June, I need you to send any guest posts to me via email.  All I ask is that the post be at least two paragraphs, and on the Ugly Betty topic.  You can post trivia, lists of your favorite episodes, argue for your ship, anything!  And for every guest post you send, you’ll be entered into a contest to win $30!  (There are two $30 prizes to be won)

Donate Money – This IS all about raising money, after all.  You can help make a difference by supporting The Actor’s Fund. One-time donations in any amount are encouraged in any amount, but we’re also suggesting a pledge of $1 per post written on the Entertainment Channel or $10 to sponsor a participating blog. You can securely donate money here.

So, send me your guest posts (they don’t have to be novels!), and please donate!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

b5media’s Entertainment channel has teamed up for a 24-hour blog-a-thon to support The Actor’s Fund.

The Great b5media Blog Off will begin on June 20th at 12:01am (in each writer’s respective time zone – mine is CDT), to celebrate the summer solstice, which hasn’t occurred on any date other than June 21st since 1975 – this year it lands on June 20th. Writers for many of our sites (including me!) will be posting fresh news at least once per hour for a full 24 hours.

How can you help?

You can support this great charity writing marathon in two ways: donate a post, or donate money.

1. Donate a Post – be a guest writer on any of the participating Entertainment sites (But come on, you KNOW you want to guest post at Ugly Betty News!). You can contribute an article to help meet the once-per-hour 24 article goal for the day.* You can view the list of participating sites here.
2. Donate Money – you can help make a difference by supporting The Actor’s Fund. One-time donations in any amount are encouraged in any amount, but we’re also suggesting a pledge of $1 per post written on the Entertainment Channel or $10 to sponsor a participating blog. Information on how to donate will be provided closer to the Blog Off date.

A contest for you!

As an added incentive to help us raise money for The Actor’s Fund in the Entertainment channel, you will be entered to win $30 with each article you submit to a blog participating in the Blog Off.* There are two $30 prizes to be won!

To participate, send me your  guest post via email (shoot, some of your comments are worthy of being posts by themselves!).  You can argue for your ship, tell what you want to see on Ugly Betty in season , tell your favorite character – pretty much anything goes!  There are a few rules:

*Your article must meet minimum quality standards of 2 paragraphs to be posted. The article should be relevant news (not already covered), an opinion piece, a fan column, a trivia question, or other on-topic article related to the show(s) & its actors.

You can send me as many guest posts as you like (I mean, I’ve got 24 posts to put up!). 

So, y’all get to writing!  And thanks so much for helping this great cause.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Well, if you’ll pardon the autobiographical pause, I want to take a minute to brag on Ugly Betty News. Those of you who were reading here in February probably know that the Entertainment Channel at b5Media held its own Survivor contest. It started out with 36 – count em – 36 participating sites, divided into two teams.

Over the last two months, we were given some pretty tough writing/blogging challenges , many times, two in the same week. If you ever came here and saw a post, wondering, “Where the heck did that come from?”, it was probably something for the contest. (Go here to get the play by play of the entire contest) I figured I’d just have fun while it lasted; 90% of the contestants have more experience and are better, more prolific writers than I.

But, I’ll be doggonned if we didn’t go and win the whole thing…

I mean “we” quite literally.

The turning point, I think, came in the Who’s Hotter post. Our challenge was to get as many comments as possible, and the only posts at UBN that had previously gotten many comments were Benry/Getty/Detty posts, so I went there again. I got the comments I wanted (not NEAR as many as others, though), but something else happened.

I realized that Ugly Betty News has some of the most intelligent, well spoken readers/commenters around. Believe me, I’m going to be contacting some of you about guest posting. Shoot, some of your comments could be their own posts.

Anyway, congratulate yourselves – because you are just as much a part of this win as I am. I believe we’re building something special here.

As a very famous lady from my hometown once said, I’m just so proud to be here!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

TracyLynn has won the Mode Mug and Calendar from the ABC Ugly Betty Store!

Thanks to all who participated.  There will be more fun and games in the future!

Congratulations to TracyLynn, and here’s a shout out to everyone at Instant Connection .  And I’d especially like to thank my friends at the ABC Ugly Betty Store for the great prizes!  Y’all go over there and check it out, they really are top notch.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Here are my 5 Ugly Betty Christmas wishes:

1. End the strike. For the writers and producers to come to a quick agreement, and the WGA strike to come to an end.  There are many background employees who are still out of work.   I truly hope that the writers get as much of what they are asking for as they can.  I fear that we are approaching a point where this season may be cut short, and if the strike drags on much longer, next season’s pilots and premieres will be affected as well.  Many shows won’t make it (Ugly Betty, as a top 15 show with a rabid worldwide fan-base, is most likely safe). 
2. Bring back the catty duo. For Marc and Amanda to get back together.  It looks like they will, at least temporarily.
3. More sides, please. To see more Cliff, Kenny, and Nick.  I realise there’s only so much screen time, and many get confused because the show crams so many storylines into one episode (it ain’t a piece of cake writing full recaps   , I can tell you!).  But these three seem to make the main characters better (Cliff with Marc, Kenny with Henry, Nick with Amanda). 
4. A Love Gun.  Gene Simmons.  Just make him Amanda’s father, please!
5. Let’s break into song!  Please, oh, Santa, if you can give me one late gift, make it the musical episode!  I’ve been looking forward to it since last summer, and it hasn’t been filmed yet.

Just remember, you have till tomorrow at noon CST to enter the Ugly Betty News holiday Contest. You can win a Mode mug and calendar!  I know you wanted one for Christmas!

Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Ugly Betty News!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

In conjunction with our good friends at the ABC Ugly Betty Store, we are giving away a prize pack of a Mode Mug, and the Official Ugly Betty 2008 Wall Calendar. Here, you can find out more about the prizes:

Mode Mug

Calendar

This is a great prize pack!  Now, here are the rules:

• Leave a comment for this post, naming your favorite Ugly Betty character, between now and December 26 (12:00PM CST).  I will draw a winner at random at that time.
• Please put a valid email address in the email field when you create your comment, so I can get back in touch with you if you win and get your shipping information.

By the way, you’ll find some interesting,unique gifts at the ABC Ugly Betty store, and the SeenOn store (I can’t tell you how much I’d love to get my wife a Betty “B” necklace), and the ABC Ugly Betty store is right now offering free 2-day shipping if you spend $100.

So, drop a comment telling me your favorite Ugly Betty character!  Good Luck!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

The b5Media Entertainment blogs, in which Ugly Betty News is proud to be a part, are having a reader contest! 

The Prize: $30 Amazon Gift Certificate.

(Just in time for the holidays)

How to Enter: Simply leave a comment on this post before November 20, 2007 at 2pm PST, remembering to fill out the Email field with a valid email address. That’s all you have to do!

OK, lets get all legal and stuff:

Rules: The contest is open to US, UK, and Canadian residents. One entry per person only. You can leave your entry comment on any of the contest announcement posts on b5media’s blogs. The winner will be drawn randomly from a list of all comments left on all Entertainment blogs.

Did you know that UBN is also part of b5Media’s Entertainment portal: Spekked?  There you can find all the latest news from all our sites, including a special new section on Spoilers!  Check it out!

Reminder: leave your comment in this post (with a valid email address) to be entered into the contest!

Post from: Ugly Betty News