Michael and Becki celebrate making it to 20 webisodes (not too humbly, either.  )

Director Richard Heus sings their praises.

Also, Mark Worthington, who says that 80% of what the final product is comes from Michael and Becki’s ideas.

Michael and Becki recount the Wedding Episode, where MIchael had to catch a garter on his tongue (hilarious!)

Heus says that they need to use Becki and Michael’s tongues more. 

The two are just so funny together – I cant wait for the next “scripted” Mode After Hours!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

This one is mostly Marc and Mandy physical humor, but gives great clues where Amanda’s storyline is headed.

It starts with Amanda putting the final touches on an outfit on Marc (complete with butt grab).  Marc thinks the outfit is too plain, but Amanda says he looks good.  Amanda says he’s stressed.

She then starts to show him the relaxation program she’s designed to increase productivity at Mode.  Then she proceeds to almost kill Marc.

She first has both of them put on bright fedoras, and turns on relaxing ocean sounds, which Amanda has cranked up so loud neither one can hear the other speak.

She then uses an automobile buffer on his back.

Finally, Amanda puts electrodes on Marc’s face, and starts to hook them to a car battery – but Marc stops her before she can do any harm.

Then, Marc tells her, looking at the clothes they are both wearing, that her true talent is in being a stylist.

They hug, and he then grabs a lead from Mandy’s electrical contraption and shocks her butt.

This webisode gave me one of those “duh!” moments, and gave me a pretty good idea of where Amanda’s storyline is going.  I think she is going to get close to Matt, not to become his lover, but to get him to give her Christina’s job.  I mean, she would most prefer to marry a billionaire, or start out as a designer, but that’s not going to happen.  BUT, working in the closet can lead to a career as a designer, as Christina showed.

I assumed at the end of last season that Amanda would finally try to weasel her way into being Daniel’s assistant (she always wanted the job).   It never occurred to me that she might want Christina’s job, but she’s always in the closet anyway, knows her way around the sex room, and knows a thing or two about design. 

When you look at it that way, it does seem like a perfect fit (Amanda will have to develop a work ethic, though).

Post from: Ugly Betty News

This one is entitles “A Vlog To Remember”.  It looks like the “war” with Meade security is going to be a theme for a while – this one takes the conflict head on.  They even give the person behind the camera a name: Zander.

It looks like the security guard has been posting the most embarrassing antics of  Marc and Amanda on the internet.  (We then see some of last season’s greatest hits in black and white).

Marc and Mandy decide to post a rebuttal.  They introduce themselves, then attempt to give an explanation of Mandy’s two handed butt-grab of Marc in the last episode.  She says she was just debunking the rumor that Marc’s cheeks are uneven. (She whispers they are, much to Marc’s dismay).

Marc then addresses criticisms of their “abusive relationship”.  After giving himself fake tears, he says he would never hurt anyone (all the while violently pushing Mandy away, eventually biting her).

The two then address the camera directly, calling him Zander, and in the course of this discover that each of them had dated Zander in the past.  Well, Amanda didn’t actually date him. she had just given him an “Albuquerque Slider” in the stairwell.

They then threaten to Vlog about Zander himself.  At this point, the lights go out.  Mandy says they can still vlog through her phone if they can find it.  But, when Marc finally finds a flashlight, he looks to the floor and says “st that’s what an “Albuquerque Slider” is.

This one was very good, and sets up the war with Zander, which is beyond hilarious.  Seeing Marc and Amanda yelling at a security camera great comedy.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

IMO, this one could be the best ever.  Both Michael Urie and Becki Newton are on top of their game here, camping it up in the most ridiculous situations.

Here’s the setup: someone has anonymously filed a sexual harassment claim against Mode, so the staff is having to stay late and fill out a sensitivity questionnaire.  Marc and Amanda are both bored with the whole thing, so they spice things up by acting out the scenarios.

First, Amanda flirts with a nerdy "Eugene", played by Marc.  This is the first time I have EVER seen copier/toner maintenance have sexual connotations, but the two pull it off.  The look on Marc’s face when Amanda grabs his behind is priceless.

The next sequence is strange and funny.  Marc plays "the boss", and his entrance is hilarious, with unbuttoned shirt and cigar.  A bespectacled Amanda blows a dog whistle LOUDLY as soon as Marc asks her to do something.  This sends Marc tumbling backwards.

Amanda’s cell phone goes off, and the ringtone is a sexy "oooo baby!"   It’s a text from Mode security.  The texter admits he/she submitted the complaint.  There is then a hilarious sequence where Marc and Amanda yell something at the security camera, followed by a new text from security, complete with "oooo baby! ringtone".

Marc then declares "this is war" and proceeds to destroy the camera.

This one seemed a bit more scripted than some of the other MAHs, but the timing was so perfect that it was impossible not to laugh (especially during the texting sequence).

I’m looking forward to more Mode After hours episodes – hopefully they’ll all be this good!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

I know some there have been some mixed reviews on this one, but I loved it. Becki Newton really uses these Mode After Hours episodes to give us more comedy besides the one-liners she’s gotten recently on Ugly Betty.

She’s very funny in this one – a little strange – but funny.

Michael Urie plays the straight man, for the most part, and mostly sets up Newton to just go wild with Amanda’s craziness.

The webisode seems to be set sometime late last season while Mode was working on the Wedding Issue (the one that won them a MAMA Award). Amanda is fretting that all the wedding gowns and props at Mode are making her sad that she’ll never marry a rich old man with dimensia (a great Marc line, BTW).

Marc proposes they use the gowns and props on-hand to give Amanda a “wedding”. Marc officiates, and Amanda “marries” a mannequin (”Hunter Farlington”). Yes, it’s creepy, but funny.

Marc catches the bouquet (with only mannequin competition).

The two then party into the night (in a montage that brings back memories of episode 1.08, Four Thanksgivings and a Funeral).

In a later quiet moment, Marc mourns the fact that he can’t get married in New York, and that he’d have to take a train (a train!) into Massachusetts to get married. Amanda makes a pact with him that in 10 years, if they are both still single, they’ll be each other’s brides.

Amanda then, of course, shows that she totally misses the point of the gay mariage issue. The look on Marc’s face is priceless.

I’m so glad to see this series back!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

(Of course, since Ausiello has an exclusive on this, it’s not embeddable.  Dang, first Ausiello turns me down on a bro-date, then he won’t return my calls, then he won’t let me embed his exclusive Ugly Betty video – life is tough.  Just kidding.  I made the bro-date part up.  Although I’m sure it would be fun. )

Anyway, this video kind of shows you what they mean when the actors and producers say the show will be ramping things up closer to the edge.  It’s, shall we say, saucy.

Marc (Michael Urie) and Amanda (Becki Newton) are fretting the fact that someone filed an anonymous sexual harassment complaint against “us” (I’m assuming that means Mode).  As a result, Marc and Amanda (and I guess everyone else) have to stay after work and look at pamphlets and fill out an online questionnaire.   The whole time they are talking about this, Amanda is pawing at Marc and pulling him to her chest.

As an aside, Ugly Betty producers…I think this whole Marc/Amanda straight-curious shtick has diminishing returns.  It’s funny THIS time because of the circumstances around it, but I think you should choose your shots carefully.  Anyway…back to the episode…

Then the two role-play, and Amanda tramps it up while Marc plays a Henry-like nerdy character.  This scene is hilarious, especially with Newton throwing out double-entendres left and right.

This is just a snippet of the episode, which goes live on September 25.

Image: Bauer Griffin

Post from: Ugly Betty News

I love the over-the-top Betty-ness of it all.  Almost every British stereotype is employed, which in any other setting might be offensive to some, but it’s carried off so playfully that there’s no harm done.

Marc rushes up to Amanda in a panic because he has a YETI assignment he hasn’t completed – interviewing a person in his position at another magazine.  All New York offices are closed.  But Amanda comes up with the brilliant idea of calling the Mode London office.

They waste four hours till UK morning (Amanda eats Chinese food in a very loud fashion), then call the London Office.  Their British counterparts (Clark and Samantha) are caricatures: Clark has ridiculous sideburns and a very high collar, and Samantha has horn-rimmed glasses and bad teeth.  Samantha cannot understand a word Amanda is saying, and hangs up on her.

They call back, this time with Marc taking the lead.  Marc pulls rank and asks to speak to his London counterpart.  As Marc starts speaking to Clark, we see the form of an unfashionable girl, Felicia, pass by, and Clark and Samantha make fun of her.  Marc then tells Clark about Betty, and the two of them immediately hit it off, recognizing the cruel streak in one another.

They then have one of those long conversations young lovers do, and even have the “no, you hang up first” routine.  The females on either side of the Atlantic get bored (Amanda goes to sleep).  After the conversation, each goes to the computer to see the pictures they are sending to each other. 

Marc and Mandy see the pic of Clark and Sammie, and scream, calling them hideous.  Clark and Sammie have the same reaction, asking why Americans are so fat.

The only disappointment (at least to those of us who listen to Urie and Newton’s podcast), is they didn’t find a way to include the phrase “ThumbInMeBum”.

Listen to me, Ugly Betty producers and writers:  you HAVE to find a way to get Clark and Samantha into an episode!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

This one is probably the best one yet.  Urie and Newton use a Karaoke contest to do what they do best: over-the-top vamping.  On Twitter, Michael Urie says he’s doing his best Adam Lambert impression, but to me he looks like the lead singer from The Call back in the 80’s.  Or maybe that too-pretty-to-be-true guy from Aha.

Anyway, the Marc and Amanda are getting ready for a big Karaoke contest, and get into an argument over who is going to be the lead singer.  They decide to have a contest, with the security camera (and the person running it) as judge.

They start with a falsetto contest, and they are both good (and ear-splitting).  Amanda wins that round, but mostly because the security camera keeps zooming in on her boobs.  Marc warns the cameraman to stay classy.

Next, they have a lyrics contest (why, when it’s Karaoke, I have no idea).  Marc wins, but mostly because Amanda is singing her grocery list – which lists prunes more that once, prompting some curiosity from Marc.

Finally, they have a rock “moves” contest, which I think Marc won, but mostly because I’m old school and he did his best Motley Crue moves.  But, Amanda, with her sexy moves, ends up winning.

In the end, as Marc and Amanda are hugging, the camera zooms in on Amanda’s behind, causing Marc to remind the cameraman to stay classy.  He then turns to show his own butt.

I just loved this one – it’s so Marc and Mandy!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Amanda is worried, because she gained two pounds, and men “don’t even notice her” anymore.  As Marc says, unlike Betty, she’s mean (and fat) which is a bad combination. 

Marc suggests she get some exercise by roller skating.  Apparently, skating is one of Marc’s obsessions.  Not only that, but Mode Magazine had recently declared that roller skating is the new pilates.

Then, things get slapstick.  Amanda cannot stand on Marc’s skates.  Then, Marc dangles a chocolate bunny – hanging from a sting attached to a stick – in front of Amanda, as she skates around trying to catch it, like some chocolate-obsessed greyhound.

Later, Amanda is eating her prize, and Marc swats it away, telling her it is a “love repellant”.  Marc distracts her by flipping a switch, dimming the lights and turning on a hidden disco ball.  She enjoys the disco moment, but has plans of her own.

Amanda, undeterred, picks up the bunny off the floor and eats it anyway, as she continues skating to the music.

Marc notices the security camera is “following” Amanda.  Amanda looks seductively into the camera, and says “Call me”, with a piece of chocolate hanging out of her mouth.

This one wasn’t quite as good as the previous two, but still a hoot.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

This one starts out with Amanda’s hunger (which seems to be a theme with Marc and Amanda lately). Marc decides to help morale around Mode by playing April Fool’s pranks on Betty!

Amanda presents her idea first. She will put on a mask and pretend to be a Chupacabra, and jump out at Betty from under her desk. When demonstrating this, Amanda hits her head on the desk pretty hard.

Marc then reveals that he has replaced the icing on Betty’s desk-stash of donuts with mayonaise. But, before he can totally reveal the prank, Amanda eats one, and loves it. She makes him try it, and he loves the mayo donut, too. Foiled again!

At this point, Marc starts to think that karma is preventing their jokes from succeeding, so they should prank everyone else. Amanda then gets on the desk and makes an impassioned speech, convincing Marc that they MUST prank Betty to preserve truth, goodness, and the American way.

She then falls of the desk and makes Marc promise to prank Betty, then the two have a wonderful death scene. Another wonderful webisode.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go try a mayo donut.

Post from: Ugly Betty News