Fox announced the first wave of nominees for its annual Teen Choice Awards, and there was lots of love for Ugly Betty:

• The show was nominated for Choice TV Show - Comedy (along with Hannah Montana, How I Met Your Mother, iCarly, and The Office).
• America Ferrera was nominated as Choice TV Actress - Comedy (along with Miranda Cosgrove, Miley Cyrus, Jenna Fisher, and Eva Longoria Parker)
• Vanessa Williams was nominated for her portrayal of Wilhelmina in the Choice TV Villian category (along with Spencer Pratt, Zachary Quinto, Michael Rosenbaum and Ed Westwick).
• Michael Urie received a nom in the “Choice TV: Fab-u-lous” category.  His competition is Perez Hilton, Carson Kressley, Rex Lee and Miss Jay.
• Urie also recieved a nomination for Choice TV: Sidekick (along with Jake T. Austin, Allison Mack, Jennette McCurdy, and Emily Osment). 
• Tony Plana was nominated in one of my favorite categories:  Choice TV: Parental Unit (along with Billy Ray Cyrus,Rob Estes and Lori Loughlin, Molly Ringwald and Mark Derwin, and Matthew Settle).

I love it!  And this means I’ll definitely watch the awards show this year (Airing Monday, August 10 from 8-10 on FOX).

Of course, in the past, All the nominations for Ugly Betty had a hard time overcoming the lure of Hannah Montana to the target demographic, although based on my daughter’s taste, I’d say iCarly is stealing some of Miley’s thunder.

The best chance, I think, is Michael Urie’s nominations.  He really deserves the “Fab-u-lous”  win, if I’m reading the meaning of the category correctly.  I mean, hasn’t Marc been incredible this year?    He’s practically become a co-star, all the while retaining his, er, fab-u-lousness.

And Urie’s sidekick nomination is a no-brainer.  He’s deserved that since season 1.

Congratulations to all the Ugly Betty nominees!

Image:

SplashNewsOnline.com

Ugly Betty star America Ferrera is putting every spare minute of the show’s offseason to good use.  She’s in in LA, filming an as yet unnamed comedy film about two families who clash while trying to throw together a wedding in two short weeks.

It was just announced recently that Lance Gross is the leading man in the Fox Searchlight project.  The House of Payne star will apparently be the groom to Ferrera’s bride.

Already announced as part of the project are Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia.  I think it’s a pretty good assumption to say they are playing the fathers who don’t like each other.  This is some first rate talent!

I am really glad that Ferrera is FINALLY working on a comedic film.  I really do appreciate her more serious works, but we Ugly Betty fans are quite aware of America’s comedic talent (think Odor in the Court), and I think it will be wonderful that she’s giving comedy a go on the big screen.

With such a great cast, if this Rick Famuyiwa comedy could be a huge hit.  The theme is a time-tested one, and usually makes for great comedy.

It’s also funny that Ferrera is once again filming a scene with a baseball glove on her hand.  This is becoming a habit!

Image: SplashnewsOnline.com

There is an interesting take on Ugly Betty in this article at Soap Opera Digest (hat tip: Angel25).  The writer, Michael Karol, both loves the show and has major problems with it at the same time.

Let me tell you about my love/hate affair with UGLY BETTY. On the one hand, it’s colorful, often hysterically funny, beautifully shot (in high-def) on location in my favorite city, New York, and is set within the publishing industry, something I know a little bit about, having worked on magazines all my adult life.

On the other hand it’s infuriating: sad, bittersweet and repetitive. It’s lead character, Betty Suarez (America Ferrera), seems to have not learned a thing in her four years working at Mode magazine; she remains too trusting, unable to read others’ personalities, and thus too willing to help those who are only going to stab her in the back in return. She is frustratingly unaware of the fact that there’s a fine line between being a sweet naïf and being a doormat.

I give more credence to this argument than the one that says Betty should be a fashionista by now after being at Mode for 3 years (although the show is entering its 4th season, theoretically Betty’s only worked there for 3).  Some people just do not have ‘the eye’ for fashion, no matter how much they are surrounded by people who do.

But the mere passage of time should have ensured that some of Betty’s innocence should have worn off by now.

Don’t get me wrong - the writers have a very fine line to walk here.  Sure, they have to address concerns like this; the show does tend to get repetitive.  At the same time, to borrow a phrase from executive producer Silvio Horta, Betty must retain her “heart”, else the show will lose a major ingredient in the show’s original popularity.

Betty has to grow, yet remain likeable.  I think in the season 3 finale, the writers mostly succeeded.  Yes, Betty’s actions treated Matt badly, but at the same time she was human in a perfectly understandable way.  That’s life; sometimes that which we desire is not what is right for others we love.  It’s one of the conflicts grownups face all the time - and Betty’s getting old enough to qualify for that distinction.

Next season, Betty will finally have that editor’s job, and she’ll finally lose the braces. I think these will be outward signs of more subtle changes in her character.  We’ll see if that happens. 

Image: Newscom

Although Ugly Betty’s season finale was two episodes aired back-to-back, I decided not to post the recaps for them as one unit; it would have been far too long.  So here is the recap for episode 3.23, “Curveball”.

I mentioned in my “quick notes” that I liked “The Fall Issue” more than this part of the finale, but I should have mentioned that I really liked this episode as well.  I thought it was very good, almost great.

First and foremost, the Henry storyline was well done.  You could almost see how much the two of them had matured in a year.  Their knowing glances were romantic and sad at the same time.  It was very good to see Chris Gorham on the show again – I love to watch his reactions to Michael Urie and Becki Newton.

The Molly/Daniel storyline made me cringe.  Not that it’s not believable; it’s just the idea of a dying person joking about their spouse’s love life after they are gone.  Daniel’s surprise for her at the end was nice, though.

The YETI interviews storyline was a little intriguing; I love the thought of Betty working at The New York Review.  But Betty is like a modern-day George Bailey, stuck in her Bedford Falls of Mode Magazine.  Jodi stealing her job was quite believable (especially in this economy).

Vanessa Williams and Christine Baranski are very good together (both in acting and in song).  Maybe we can see more of that in season 4.

America Ferrera was quite good in this one.  Her voice-overs were nice comedic distractions from all the drama.

Look for a recap for 3.24, The Fall Issue, soon.

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Ugly Betty’s season-finale love affair with America’s national pastime, at least as far a season finales go, continues.  Lookie what’s hidden away in a small blurb in the NY Mets’ beat column in the New York Daily News today:

UGLY CITI: ABC’s "Ugly Betty" will be filming scenes for its season finale during Friday night’s game [tonight] at Citi Field. Characters Betty & Daniel are among those scheduled to be filming.

So, I guess we know, at least partially, what the “Curveball” episode title is all about.  I’m sure the other allusions will have to do with unexpected changes in our heroes’ lives (Henry returning?  Molly dying?).

Anyway, Citi Field is the home of the New York Mets (built as a replacement for Shea Stadium) in Flushing, Queens.

Do not be surprised if there’s some Matt connection (he is a sports writer, after all).  It would be pretty awesome, also, if a couple of players made cameos.

However, it’s being filmed during the game, so perhaps America Ferrera and Eric Mabius will be in the crowd?  But then again, how do you handle security and logistics for such an undertaking?  I can’t wait to see what this is all about.

This is quite a step up from last season’s season finale, which was filmed in a park in LA.  I love NY!

Image: Bauer Griffin

Today, Ugly Betty star America Ferrera turns 25!  Ahh, to be young and famous in New York!

She shares April 18th as a birthday with James Woods, Conan O’Brien, Melissa Joan Hart, and even Kourtney Kardashian.

I hope she takes it easy with partner Ryan Piers Williams, or parties it up with Becki Newton, or does whatever she wants today.  And hopefully, she’ll get back to filming the final episodes of Ugly Betty season 3 very soon.  I miss the NY set photos!

As many of you have noted in the comments here, this has been a very confusing year for Ferrera’s character Betty.  Her direction has been so scattered, almost schizophrenic, it has to be the result of a disagreement amongst the writers/producers. I can tell you this, if the show wants to survive season 4, the writers HAVE to come up with a direction and stick to it.

But, enough of my Ugly betty whining.  Today is Ferrera’s day, and I hope she enjoys it fully.

Image: Bauer Griffin

USC has opened a beautiful new complex at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and since George Lucas gave $175m toward the construction, he got to host a private party to celebrate the occasion, with a few of his friends.  Amongst the celebrities and Hollywood power brokers was Ugly Betty’s own America Ferrera, along with companion Ryan Piers Williams.

It sounds like a wonderful time, hosted not only by Lucas, but also Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg, and Mellody Hobson.

Attending were a who’s who of celebrity-dom: Sean Penn, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, Barbra Streisand and James Brolin, Diane Keaton, Robert Zemeckis, Jay Roach and Susanna Hoffs, Hugh Hefner, Holly Hunter, Christina Applegate, Rosario Dawson, Ron Howard,  Samuel L. Jackson, John Singleton, Viola Davis, Maria Bello and Peter Guber.

The guests toured the new complex, had dinner, then were serenaded by James Taylor and Carole King. 

Variety has a pic of Ferrera and Williams here (along with many of the other celebrities).  Yes, it’s the same dress America wore to the Kids’ Choice Awards. It was on the same day; she must have hopped from event to event!

IMDB still has Ferrera listed as “studying for a double-major in International Relations and Theater at the University of Southern California”.  That was a few years ago - I don’t know if she completed her studies.  Probably not; mega-success and the move to New York got in the way, I’m sure.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

Here are some recent photos from the set of Ugly Betty.  They involve a scene with America Ferrera and Ashley Jensen.

Here’s Betty running toward Christina.  Yeah, I know, the outfit is crazy.  Patricia Field usually has Betty’s outfits clash in color, but the patterns usually match.  In this case, the colors pretty well match, but we have stripes and florals and a big print (and a checked purse).   Ouch! 

She is running toward:

…Christina.  Who is getting to a car.  Other photos of this scene feature Stuart, and there are still others of Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina on the same street (but never in the same scene - she’s probably chasing them).  It culminates in this shocker, a photo I haven’t been able to get my hands on, but a spoiler nonetheless:

Go here.  Drink!

You guys certainly know by now, it’s a drinking game. Every time Betty gets fired, or quits her job, or gets arrested or otherwise detained, we take a drink.

So, is this going to be the cliffhanger?  Probably not, but these look like very dramatic scenes, anyway.

Images: Newscom

Here are some wonderful recent Ugly Betty set photos from filming in Gramercy Park in Manhattan.  They are so good, I had to post them all and break them up into two posts. 

The first set is heavy in MarcAmatty. (Marc, Amanda, and Betty for the uninitiated).  I’ve noticed that this season, especially lately, the trio are usually sent on some kind of mission each and every episode.  Well, usually it’s Marc and Betty, and Amanda finds a way to tag along.

The three of them (Michael Urie, Becki Newton, and America Ferrera) are so fun together. You can really see it in these photos, and I understand why the writers would make this a recurring theme.

Newton apparently has a little fall – I’m assuming it was part of filming, but if not, Kudos to America and Michael for catching her.

Look for the second set of photos (Becki Newton heavy) shortly.  More pics after the jump.

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The first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie will be on Lifetime Movie Network this Friday at 8/7c, with encores Saturday and Sunday.  Here is the Lifetime trailer:

This movie was the first major exposure for many to America Ferrera.  Interestingly, when this movie was made, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel were the “big” stars - they were white hot.  Ferrera and Blake Lively were relative unknowns.  It’s funny what a difference a few years can make.

The second movie was very good and well produced; I would definitely recommend it.  But, there’s something special about SOTTP 1. 

So, make your plans: watch Ugly Betty tomorrow night at 8/7c, then check out the Sisterhood this weekend on LMN!