I was worried that this particular story line (Daniel/Renee/Wilhelmina) would bog down the flow of the show, but from the looks of this video, it’s going to be pretty fun to watch. Basically, Wilhelmina shows up at Daniel’s door to warn him about Renee and how she “gets” with men. Daniel doesn’t want to listen to her, but she plants a seed in his head about “Stonybrook“.

I’ll guarantee he’ll ask about it.

I love how Wilhelmina says “I know we’ve had our issues”, then Daniel lists her many sins, and she adds “…some bigger than others”. Too funny.

It’s almost here!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

 First of all, I want to make clear that last night’s Ugly Betty, episode 2.12, Odor In the Court, was one of my favorite episodes, ever.  Seeing Betty go berzerk was side-splitting funny.  I loved how, for this one episode, Micheal Urie, Marc Indelicato, Ana  Ortiz, and Eric Mabius all got to play the “straight man” to Betty’s craziness.  America Ferrera is one great comedic actress.  As EOnline’s Kristin (actually, Korbi) said: “These are the moments that Emmys are made of…”

Having said that, there were a few moments that made me say, “Yeah, but what about…?”  I’m not the type that demands realism out of my entertainment, mind you.  Especially shows like Ugly Betty.  But there were a couple of times where it was obvious the writers did not come in to help with tidying things up in the post-filming stage.  Let me list a couple, and you can tell me if I’m just being nit-picky.  Warning, these are major spoilers if you haven’t seen the episode:

• What happened to the charges against Claire for escaping prison? Maybe that’ll come up in a future episode, but only the murder charges were dropped, as far as I could tell.  I guess I’ve had too many years of watching Law and Order, but it bugged me a little.
• Why did it take Henry so long to call?  He called her while she was in the doctor’s office, and Betty seemed to drop being angry at him (granted, she was down from her high).  But, what was the reason he waited till the next day to call?  Did I miss something?
• How did Gio afford such a nice sandwich shop?  Maybe this was explained earlier in the year, but I expected his shop to be little more than a closet (like many of the office-based sandwich shops I’ve seen).  It just seemed a little nicer than I expected.
• Why didn’t Marc and Wilhelmina just keep the Jackie Kennedy dress?  Of course, the way it played out in the show was funnier, but it seemed strange that they had it in their hands and only needed to hide it, but didn’t.

One other thing I notice that wasn’t a nitpick, but was kind of a neat discovery: they’ve never shown Fey’s Sommer’s whole face.  She’s always had on huge sunglasses, or is obscured like in this picture:

I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong. But I’m pretty sure I’m not. 

Post from: Ugly Betty News

• Wilhemina’s “welcome mat”.  Ahem.  Took me a couple of days to figure it out, when Marc mentioned something about Wilhelmina having a “welcome mat” and she said, ”I haven’t had a welcome mat since the 90’s”.   Or something like that.  Naughty, naughty.  But hi-larious!
• Marc “comforting” Christina.  Christina, upset about being turned down by the insurance company for her husband’s treatment, rips an arm off a mannequin, and throws it.  It hits a hidden Marc.  They speak of Christina’s predicament, and Marc attempts to “comfort” her by stroking her face with the plastic arm.
• Bring It On – At the video store, Cliff suggests serious and art films, and Marc suggests each of the “Bring It On” movies.  This one was so funny because David Blue and Michael Urie had wonderful comedic timing.
•  12 year old Betty – This was such a touching moment; it was interesting that this week, Betty didn’t have a vision, Daniel did.  I hope they bring the little girl back, it was a nice touch.
• “You matter to me, Betty Gonzalez”.  Amanda, trying to befriend Betty, says a chain of statements to Betty that make it obvious she knows nothing about her.  Getting her last name wrong was the funniest.
• Amanda saluting Gene Simmons. Upon “discovering” that Gene Simmons is her father, Amanda sticks her tongue out at a photo of the Kiss rocker.  Based on spoiler photos from episode 2.12, we’re going to see more of this behavior.
• Secret Code Names. When planning the renegade fashion show, Henry and Betty adapt code names, and Daniel, although he says it’s silly, takes one himself.  Betty was “Princess Daisey”, Henry was “Black Dragon”, and Daniel was “Falcon”.

There were so many honorable mentions: Linda (Annie Potts) sensing that her daughter had a boy at home, Bow Wow liking “freaky” Betty, Daniel explaining why he’s win a “pissing contest” with Alexis, “Mr Wow”, Amanda saving a “black dawg”, “Inennendo”, Ignacio telling Hilda how he likes “junk in the trunk”.

So now is your turn  what was your favorite part of this past week’s episode?

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Plus, her melodramatic line at the end is priceless. And, Marc seamlessly switching in and out of a Scottish accent is hilarious.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

This episode was one of my favorites so far; Betty shined as the moral center (thank God she’s back!), and this was by far Daniel’s most sympathetic episode, but the night belonged to Marc.  He had more one liners than ever, and they were all funny!

Spoiler-filled recap after the jump.

At ModeThe elevator opens to reveal that it is full of very skinny supermodels.  One more model gets in, followed by Betty.  This causes the “Maximum Load Exceeded” alarm to go off.  All of the models look at Betty, and she says, “You don’t know it’s me!”  She says, “And I heard you snickering. Very mature.” (At which point she presses the button for every floor on her way out).

She runs into Christina, who is frantically running around; they discuss how skinny this year’s models are.  Christina says she “just fitted a spinal column with a tuft of hair”.  Betty runs into a succession of people who need her to do something for the big fashion show.  Then Henry comes in.  He gives her a bag that he had stuffed with things she will need for the show, then dips and kisses her.

Daniel shows Betty his new, fancy chair given to him by Alexis as a peace offering.    She shows him the graphic for the runway at the show, he is not impressed.  Daniel is very worried that the show will be too ordinary; it is the first fashion week show he is handling on his own.  Betty gives him a couple of ideas, but he shoots him down.  Betty excuses herself to give Justin’s class an educational tour of the magazine. 

Justin is walking in with his class, trying to impress the Alpha Girl, Lindsay.   Betty shows them the conference room; all are bored except for one girl (Hillary).  Justin is mortified at how “uncool” Betty is.  The teacher (Betty’s former teacher) tells her how impressed she is with her.  But, the teacher assumed that Betty was a writer, and living in the city.  She then asks if anybody has any questions.

The girls ask about Paris Hilton and how skinny she was.  Betty said she didn’t get into that side of things.  She asks if anyone has non-celebrity questions.  Hillary asks one about an article about fur, but her classmates give her that “you are so uncool” look.  She tells Betty “never mind”.

Betty tells them that Mode is about more than fashion, but they aren’t listening.  They ask about Gisele and what she ate for lunch.  Betty is disappointed, but from behind them, Amanda answers with all the scoop about Gisele.  The girls then fawn over Amanda, saying that being at Mode reminds them that they need to “so go on a diet”.  Betty has lost control, and seems devastated.

Christina is in The Closet, and Stuart surprises her and hugs her from behind.  He tells her he’s tired of being poked and prodded, that he won’t go to the doctor.  Christina insists.  As they are kissing, Marc sneaks in.  He is attracted to Stuart, until he finds out he’s Christina’s husband.  He sneaks into Fey’s love dungeon.

Amanda is staring at the wall of her “Dads”.  Marc tells her that he will help her out by “turning to a higher power.   Cut to a psychic’s office, Linda (Annie Potts).  She is on the phone, arguing with her daughter.  She then gets a “feeling over Amanda’s stomach and tells her she won’t be able to have children.  Marc says that’s not what they are there for.

They sit and Linda concentrates.    She says she’s “getting something”, and she hits speed dial on her cell and yells at her daughter to “get that boy out of the house!”.  She goes back to concentrating, but she’s obviously trying to get Marc and Amanda to give her clues about what they are looking for.  Linda tells her she’s going to rescue a dog.  A black dog.  She says that’s all she sees.

Back at Mode, Betty is finishing up with Justin’s class.  A group of skinny models pass, and Lindsay says “Oh my God, look at them!  I am such a cow!”  She then throws her lunch in the garbage.  All the other girls join her but Hillary.  After some heavy peer pressure stares, Hillary also discards her lunch.  Betty is mortified.

She storms into Daniel’s office and says “We need to totally change this magazine”.  Betty asks why they only show starving women in designer gowns.  Marc asks her why she’s surprised.  Betty recalls when she was 12 at Lesley Levine’s pool party.  She remembers how all the girls had bikinis, but she was in an oversized NKLB T-Shirt, eating chips with Lesley’s parents.  Daniel looks interested.  She pitches the idea of having regular sized models at the Fashion Week fashion show.  Daniel is very interested for publicity reasons.  He agrees to talk to Alexis about it.

Alexis has called a meeting of all the editors (Daniel didn’t know about this).  She has him sit on a very small table, and ignores him while she talks to the others about their ideas.   All the other editors thank Alexis for their new chairs.  Player Magazine’s editor says that this month, they have, “boobs, boobs, and meat” (too funny).  Alexis then goes to someone else, but Daniel insists he present his idea.  He does, and Alexis shoots it down.

After everyone leaves, Daniel argues with Alexis, she still says no, but he says he might just ignore her.

Daniel tells Betty that he has decided to go against Alexis’ wishes, and he will do the ‘normal’ fashion show.  He tells her that Alexis and he had gotten into “a little pissing contest, and we know who has the better aim these days”. J 

Betty is in the elevator, and Now Wow gets in.  She very uncomfortably talk to him about how he isn’t “L’il” any more.  The elevator comes to a stop; they are stuck.  She says “Don’t worry, Mr Wow, someone will come right away”, and she presses the alarm.  Amanda hears it, but ignores it.  Betty and Bow Wow get comfortable; Bow Wow performs his new song for her as they sit on the floor.  The elevator starts up, when they get to the top (after Bow Wow flirts with Betty), Amanda is there, congratulating herself for saving the day.  Then Amanda sees that Bow Wow was in the elevator, and convinces herself that he was the “black dog” and that she had rescued him.

Henry finds Christina; he has to tell her that the insurance will not pay for her husband’s experimental treatment.  She grabs an arm from a mannequin, and throws it.  It hits Marc, who was hiding behind a rack of clothes.  He tries to console her (hilariously using the arm instead of his own).  Christina tells him about the $100K she needs.

Daniel and Alexis are holding a press conference to announce their new healthier model fashion show.  They have a scale, and have the models each come and weigh.  As the models come in, Betty notices that the models are still ultra-skinny.  Justin, who has a gift for guessing weight, tells Betty that each is weighing in at 20 lbs over her real weight.

Amanda has gone back to see Linda.  Linda tells her the price has gone up.  Linda concentrates, and says she has to find a “B” that will lead her to a kiss that will lead her to her father.

In the ladies’ room, Betty leaves a voice mail for Daniel telling him he wouldn’t believe what Alexis did.  Alexis walks in and says “what did Alexis do?”  Betty then confronts her about the models.  Alexis tells Betty that rigging the scales was Daniel’s idea.

Betty walks by Amanda’s desk, looking for Daniel.  Amanda notices her “B” necklace, and realizes that Betty is her “B”.  She begs Betty for help, but Betty is desperately trying to find Daniel.

Betty confronts Daniel about rigging the scales.  He tells her that Alexis wan’t going to change the show, so rigging the scales was a compromise.  Daniel hangs his head while Betty gives him the “I’m disappointed” speech.  When he looks up, 12 year old Betty is staring at him.  She says “I guess I was wrong” [about Daniel], and walks away.  Daniel is almost in tears.

Cut to the a very short scene at the Suarez house, when Ignacio says the models are too skinny, that he remembers when women were proud to show a little Trostos en su tronko (junk in their trunk).  Hilda is grossed out by hearing her dad say this J.  The doorbell rings, Betty goes to get it.  It is Daniel, telling her he’s decided to put on a renegade, “normal model” show.  He also had invitations for Justin and his friends.  He says, “Come on, let’s go put on a big, fat fashion show!”  he is embarrassed right after he says this.

Daniel gathers the staff of Mode and tells them that this is a renegade show, and they have to keep it a secret.  They come up with code names, and work up a plan on how to pull it off.  He sends them off to the street to find “real” women.

On the way out, Amanda grabs Betty and takes her to the love dungeon.  She tells her about the psychic, and the “B”, and the kiss.  There is a hilarious moment when Amanda’s trying to be nice to her (but she can’t even remember her real name).  Then they share a tearful moment about their mothers.  On the way out, Betty notices one of the pictures from the wall has fallen.  She picks it up, and hands it to Amanda  It’s Gene Simmons of Kiss, and Amanda realizes she has her answer.  She sticks her tongue out at the photo (in Gene Simmons’ style).

At Wilhelmina’s Apartment

Wilhelmina is frantically looking for something in her refrigerator.  She finally finds what she’s after: rocky road ice cream.  Marc is behind her, preparing a syringe.  Wilhelmina is very emotional and weepy.  Marc reminds her of her plan to get pregnant with Bradford’s heir.  He says “I never thought I’d say this to a woman before, but, turn around and bend over!”  Wilhelmina screams, then recovers and weepily tells Marc she’s going to be such good parents.

Later, Marc is on the phone with Wilhelmina while she is being examined by a doctor.  The doctor tells her they’ll be lucky to get one viable egg, because of her age.  He asks about her surrogate, Wilhelmina is aghast.  He explains she has a “hostile womb”.  Marc, overhearing this says “aren’t they all?”

Wilhelmina is getting a pedicure, while she talks to Marc about her hostile womb predicament.  They are brainstorming about finding someone with a proven, accommodating womb, who Wilhelmina can contol.  They look at the pedicurist, Brandy, and ask about her kids.  She says she has 5.  Marc tells Wilhelmina: “Looks like you just found yourself a 5-star womb”.

Wilhelmina offers Brandy her choice of her furs, and tells her all expenses will be paid.  Brandy is a little apprehensive, but agrees to carry Wilhelmina’s child.

Later, Marc and Cliff are out looking for a video (this is hilarious – Cliff keeps choosing serious movies, and Marc, keeps choosing variations of “Bring It On”).    Marc talks Daniel into going to the porn section of the video store.  There, they find a surprise on the cover of an S&M themed DVD: Brandy apparently is on the cover as a dominatrix.

Wilhelmina and Marc summon Brandy, and tell her she can’t carry the child because there can be only one dominatrix in the relationship.  They send her away.  Marc then tells Wilhelmina about Christina’s predicament.

Mode Fashion Week Fashion Show

The show is going on, with skinny models.  Suzuki St Pierre reports the disappointment.  However, the mode staff is readying everything to surprise everyone with their renegade show.  Daniel comes up to emcee, supposedly to finish the show.  He instead announces that the healthy show is now going to start.  Henry starts the music, and they begin a fashion show with real women.  Alexis is obviously upset by this.  Bow Wow and Omarion come onto the stage, followed by succession of women of all ages who are definitely above a size zero.  Justin’s teacher is one of them, and her class takes all of it in.  Then Betty comes out in a beautiful designer dress.

Later, Alexis takes credit before the press for the very successful fashion show.  Betty asks Justin’s classmates what they thought.  Lindsay says that the models were fat and disgusting.  Everyone looks a Hillary, who thinks about it, then echoes Lindsay’s words.  It’s very sad.  Betty is devastated.  Daniel comes by and says the press is saying it’s their best show ever.  Justin comes back in with the Lindsey’s sidekick, who hurriedly admits that she liked the real girl show.  She didn’t want Lindsay to know, though.

Betty thanks Daniel, and they walk out arm, while Betty continues to make suggestions to Daniel about improving the magazine.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Amanda visits a psychic (guest star Annie Potts) for insight into her dad’s identity. Meanwhile, disturbed about the message Mode is sending to Justin and his classmates after they visit the magazine, Betty pushes Daniel to use “real” models during fashion week; and Wilhelmina gets some unexpected news about her latest plans for the Meade dynasty.

Annie Potts, a hormonal Wilhelmina, and a touching message all in one week – this one is going to be good. Reminder: we always have a live reaction thread on “New Show” night at Ugly Betty News, so please stop by and hang with us while the show airs. A full, spoiler filled recap of the show is then always posted as soon as possible after that.

Then, Friday night, Micheal Urie hosts the second episode of “Miss America Reality Check” on TLC. Hopefully, we’ll be introduced to the rest of the ladies this week, and see a little more Urie. This show has a lot of promise, and actually might make the actual pageant, well, watchable.

Then Sunday, barring any unforseen events the Golden Globes trainwreck awards news conference will be held. Regardless of how silly this all seems, America Ferrera is still up for Best Acrtess in a Comedy Series, so there will most likely be an America Ferrera sighting…somewhere.

I’ll keep you posted.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

•  Daniel: To keep working at being more responsible.  Daniel has made quite a turnaround this year, especially since Betty had her moments of going off the deep end.  But, he has a lot more work to do.  Wagering away a multi-billion dollar company in a sibling-rivalry paintball war isn’t exactly the height of maturity.
• Alexis: See Daniel.  Also, to see a therapist so she can finally work out those daddy issues.
• Christina: To be supportive of her husband in his time of need.  Unless, of course, he’s a lying, no good con man.  If that’s the case, it would change to “kicking him in the jewels, then kicking him to the door”.
• Amanda: To find her father, of course!  Oh, and to get Halston some decent sweaters, not made of paper clips.
• Marc: To find a way to get back to Mode, and be back with partner, Amanda.  AND – to try dressing like Cliff, just once.
• Wilhelmina: To wrestle control of Meade publications from the Meade siblings.  (Remember, if I were HER, I’d be an evil, conniving witch).  Also, to work out her various family issues.  Oh, what the heck: how about trying to be a human being for once?
• Ignacio: To continue being a good father, even when it seems like his daughters are losing their minds.  Also, how about finding love?
• Hilda: Speaking of finding love….To start dating for real.  Maybe giving that Gio guy a second look? (If he can take his eyes off Betty).  Also, to be responsible enough to get the salon off the ground.  And to be the best mother possible to Justin.
• Justin: To star in his school’s production of High School Musical.
• Gio: To get over Betty.  She’s just not into him, he needs to move on (hello?  Hilda’s HOT!).
• Cliff: To remain true to himself, no matter what Marc does.
• Kenny: To finally get that recording contract, and blow off accounting for good.
• Nick: To quit being a jerk.
• Henry: To get a lawyer  and sue Charlie for custody of the baby;  that way, he can be the father he wants to be, and still be with Betty.
• Betty: To follow her heart, no matter what.  To be a real writer for Mode or another Meade publication.  To always be there for Henry, and Daniel, and Hilda, and Justin (but think of herself every now and again).

Anyway, you might have your own ideas for resolutions.  And, I’m sure I forgot some characters, so add your own!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

I have no idea why ABC didn’t release one itself (I guess the same reason they haven’t used the domains they parked that were mentioned on the show, most notably SoCuteItsSick.com), but someone, just as in the show, went to the trouble:

Not bad!

Post from: Ugly Betty News

• The picture of Wilhelmina with Dick Cheney.  Ashley Jensen made this scene.  She was listing off Wilhelmina’s Lucifer-based nicknames when she just blurts out “Oh look – Wilhelmina and Dick Cheney!”, and there was the wonderful photo-shopped picture.  Or was it?
• Amanda’s Parents.  They were obviously surprised to see Amanda and Marc show up at their house.  They came down in bathrobes, and before long, another couple came downstairs in bathrobes.  The look on Amanda’s face, discovering her parents were swingers, was priceless.

More after the jump!

• The Slow motion paintball scene.  Rebecca Romjin has been absolutely hilarious this season – especially after Alexis regained her memory.  She’s playing the character differently now – as a man who just happens to have a knockout female body.  This came to a hilt in “Bananas For Betty” (the last new episode), during the paintball war with her brother.  When her team mates rolled her into the room, guns blazing, screaming, in slow motion, it was just too funny.  Romjin appears to be having so much fun!
• Amanda singing ‘My Milkshake’. – This one (and the next one) came out of left field.  Bradford has unexpectly left the room with Daniel in the middle of his wedding, and Marc gets Amanda up in front of the crowd to fill the void, and let Amanda seize the moment.  She chooses a quite … er … unorthodox song.  The scene cuts to Daniel and Bradford arguing, then it cuts back to Amanda, and the crowd is now into it; when the pipe organ plays along, it might just be the most surreal moment on television this year.
• Marc making thunder. Speaking of surreal – this was, to me the funniest moment of the entire season.  Wilhelmina has very threateningly summoned Betty to the roof of the Meade office building for a showdown about Betty’s finding out about her affair with the bodyguard.  The mood is ominous.  After each sentence spoken by Wilhelmina, we hear thunder.  The last time we hear it, the scene shows Marc off to the side, wiggling a piece of sheet metal to make a thunder sound.  Wilhelmina tells Marc he can leave.

The last is my favorite, because it was so out of the blue, and understated.  Except for that “Betty stare” that she always gives Marc and Amanda, no other recognition of the strangeness of the situation was given.  It reminded me of Monty Python.

Of course, there were many other hilarious moments; it’s almost impossible to whittle them down to a list small enough for a poll.  Alexis admiring her own boobs.  Kenny’s rap.  Mo’nique chasing Henry.  Betty saying “bowling sucks” (there was just something funny about the way she said it).  The fake web sites.  Christina getting male models to get sized for underwear.  Cliff’s “just a second” finger.  Wilhelmina singing folk songs.

Anyway, I’d love to hear from you.  What do you think the funniest moment of this season has been?  If it’s not one of the things I have in the poll, list it in the comments – I KNOW I’ve forgotten some.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

This was, on the whole, my favorite episode of the season. They played the entire show for laughs (there had been plenty of drama the last few episodes). Any show where Marc, Amanda, Kenny, and Gio get a lot of screen time, you KNOW it’s going to be funny. I wish I had the slow-motion Alexis paintball scene – that was the best of all. Check it out at ABC.com.

Note: because of the writer’s strike (which needs to end now, people are out of work at the holidays), there will be no more episodes of Ugly Betty shown this year (as actor David Blue (Cliff) confirmed here – thanks for commenting, Mr Blue!). But, y’all make sure to stop by here often – we will be having some really fun posts, contests, and maybe a few surprises.

I’m also going to need your help – I’m going to be working on a “Songs of Ugly Betty” sidebar page (that is the single most asked question after each episode, “What was that song…”?). Luckily, for season 1, there’s a DVD, but we’re starting from scratch on season 2. There are a few on I’ll need your help; y’all are incredibly knowledgeable, and I’m sure you can help with those last few that elude me.

Post from: Ugly Betty News