This past Wednesday night, there was a special “Ugly Betty Is Back” event with many of the cast and crew of Ugly Betty.  There was an early screening of episode 3.20, Rabbit Test, and a Q &A session afterward.  Some folks you probably know - members of “The Getty Girls”, who post at Mode Girl, Sandwich Guy (a Gio/Betty “ship” and general Freddy Rodriguez fan site) - several of whom comment here, were in the audience. 

Pictured are Miss_T, the fabulous Becki Newton, and Meg.  Strike a pose, ladies!

Anyway, a LOT was revealed during the Q&A.  It’s all recapped nicely at the Futon Critic, but they requested that other sites link only (no quotes), and I always honor that type of request.  So I’ll only summarize what was discussed:

• Vanessa Williams will be singing “The Man that Got Away” with Christine Baranski in an upcoming episode.  Woot.
• The musical episode (according to Silvio Horta) will happen next season.
• The mode set was inspired by the iPod.
• We’ll discuss these in depth soon, but upcoming guest stars will be Rachel Dratch (as twins), Tommy Hilfiger , Billie Jean King, Rachel Maddow, Adele, and Antonio Sabato Jr.
• The wedding (which we now know will be Daniel’s) was filmed at The Planetarium.
• Tony Plana would like to release a cookbook entitled, “Ugly Recipes for Beautiful Food”.
• There will be a “new boss” at Mode, and it will be someone who has already appeared on screen.  I say it’s Betty.
• The braces will come off next year.
• Pat Field finds many of Betty’s clothes at consignment stores and Century 21.

There was, of course, much more.  I am told that the Getty Girls in attendance REPRESENTED, and that Silvio Horta knew of their existence.  How could he not?  The GG’s are nothing if not persistent. 

What an awesome night, and we’ll be discussing some of these things for months to come!

It would appear that at least one piece of the Ugly Betty love triangle is settled. One of the actors who plays one of Betty’s star-crossed lovers Henry and Gio, has told TV Guide that he won’t be moving to New York:

“The show is moving, I am not,” he said at the SKYY Vodka screening for “Sex and the City” on May 29.

I’ll tell you which one in a minute, after a jump.

I wonder what this will mean for the show, considering the nastiness that happened in May in every corner of the Ugly Betty web universe. People chose sides, and drew some pretty hard lines. The Benry/Getty wars made the US presidential race look like a campfire rendition of Kum-ba-yah.

One side is going to be very disappointed (although I’m pretty sure Betty is going to be single when we catch up with her in September).

So, who isn’t moving to New York? Answer after the jump.

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Oh, such sweet melancholy, this is the last Live Blog of an Ugly Betty episode for season 2! Come and join us for live reaction, polls, and big fun,as we watch this week’s episode: 2.18, Jump. Naomi Campbell and Lindsay Lohan guest star. And we’ll have a Benry/Getty cliffhanger!

Last week,we even had some west coasters (and someone from England) drop by to get spoilers (they just couldn’t wait!)

So, join us - I’ll be starting the live blog right before 8pm EDT.

Transcript, when available, after the jump.
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Well, Kristin from EOnline answers one of my Ugly Betty season finale questions:

Anna in Salt Lake City: I need some Ugly Betty scoop. I am personally a huge fan of a Betty-Gio hookup. Any hints as to when or if that is going to happen? I can tell you that Ugly Betty is taking the Henry-Betty-Gio triangle down to the wire. One of the boys proposes in the finale, and the other one invites her to travel with him. In true TV fashion, at the end of the episode, we have no idea whom she leaves with, and we’ll have to wait until next season to find out. Also, big stuff coming for Daniel in the UB finale. He’ll lose something very important to him, and in a cosmic, karmic exchange, rediscover a part of his life he never knew he had.

So, I guess this means we get the whole summer to discuss the love triangle. Gee, thanks, Silvio Horta.

Seriously, the love triangle between Betty - Henry - Gio is what generates the most heat in Ugly Betty discussion, so I’m not going to complain. It’s all in good fun.

The part with Daniel is what intrigues me. In the latest promo, it’s obvious that Alexis gives Wilhelmina Daniel’s job. I wasn’t expecting that; at the end of episode 2.17, everything at Mode was back to “normal”: Wilhelmina in her old job, Daniel as Editor in Chief. I wasn’t expecting this to happen so soon, but I guess it’s another product of the strike-shortened season.

He’ll [Daniel will] lose something very important to him, and in a cosmic, karmic exchange, rediscover a part of his life he never knew he had.

So, my hope that the boy is Alexis’ will turn out not to be. But, it’ll be interesting to see what the producers do with this next season. Will Daniel grow up a little? I guess we’ll have to tune in and see.

Believe it or not, there’s other things going on in the Ugly Betty season finale (episode 2.18 - “Jump”) than the hyper-reported appearance by Lindsay Lohan. (Seriously, if you doubt that the casting of Lohan will be a ratings bonanza, just pay attention to web postings; it’s unreal!).

Most importantly, it would appear that the GioBenry love triangle is going to come to a head in this episode. ABC released the synopsis today, and the hints we’ve had the last few weeks seem to be leading to a major cliff-hanger:

Just as Gio makes Betty an incredibly romantic offer, Henry pops back into her life with a proposal of his own. Meanwhile, Betty finds herself centerfield at the charity softball game of the year: Mode vs. ELLE Magazine. Can Wilhelmina strike out ELLE’s star player, supermodel Naomi Campbell? In other developments, an orphaned boy from France turns up at Mode with an amazing claim, and Hilda learns some shocking news about Coach Diaz.

Also of note to you fashionistas, ELLE Magazine Editors Joe Zee and Robbie Myers will appear as themselves.

This is going to be one humdinger of a season finale. Something tells me that the Lohan appearance will be just an introduction, setting up next year’s 5 episodes. Between the softball game, Naomi Campbell, and the “proposals” to Betty, I have no idea how they’re going to fit it all in!

Source: ABC
Image: Newscom

Image details: Fox Searchlight Pictures "Under The Same Moon" Screening - Arrivals served by picapp.com

There is a GREAT interview with America Ferrera in USA Today, in which she talks about her life the past few months, and the direction of the show. Apparently, it wasn’t just Silvio Horta who had been upset with the direction the show had been taking.

“I’ve always loved the show, but we went through some creative shifts,” says Ferrera. “Because so much was happening in each episode, there wasn’t enough time given to certain story arcs.”

I’ve felt this way for a while. I’m hoping that in season 3, now that Ugly Betty is pretty well established, the writers feel comfortable enough to spread the different story lines out - even skipping episodes. It looks like that’s actually going to start this year.

Silvio Horta says, “You’ll find there’ll be two or three story lines — the biggest one being Betty’s. And when we get into Marc, Amanda and Christina, there will be a little more interaction with Betty and her point of view.”

Bravo! Ferrera agrees. “I think the show’s journey is Betty’s journey. There’s a lot going on in these five episodes, but it’s very focused. An arc begins and kind of ends for Betty, specifically concerning her love life.”

Ahem. Just remember, fellow shippers: I’m just the messenger here.

But that quote from America sounds awful “final”, does it not? Benry folks, you might want to turn away before reading the next quote.

Ferrera describes Betty’s two-year romance with Henry as “the type of love that makes you sick.” Gio represents “the type of relationship where everything seems so easy…When Gio’s character got introduced, I found a whole other side of Betty,” she says. “He brings out the side of her that is the street-smart girl from Queens and dares her to be her most stripped-down, raw self.”

As for Henry: “They definitely have obstacles. And that’s definitely going to be confronted in these five episodes.” Horta refuses to reveal if both actors will be back next season).

Ferrera also talks about her looks, and how they’ve changed since the pilot episode of Ugly Betty. “My face looks different. My body looks different. I definitely feel like I’m growing up, which … means Betty will have to grow up, too.”

Apparently, Horta is accounting for these changes. He says, “There’ll maybe be a little something next season and down the line something more.”

There is much more in the interview, and an awesome video here. Check it out!

We’ve got a new poll up, and this one is pretty important, at least to me. This strike-shortened season of Ugly Betty has had two major story lines: Wilhelmina’s attempts to take over Meade Publications, and Betty’s romantic life. In the romantic department, most of the action has been between Betty and Henry, but Silvio Horta and the producers have not quite been subtle in presenting Gio as another option. (There have been a few moments between Daniel and Betty, but thinking they are anything but platonic is wishful thinking).

Now, Horta has said that we can “expect an expiration date” on the Betty/Henry relationship, but that’s pretty darned vague, if you ask me. There have also been hints here and there that the whole love Betty love triangle will be resolved.

…but when? We really don’t know what the producers are thinking, but what about you? We’ve got five episodes left in season 2; should the drama/romance continue into next season, or should it be decided, one way or the other? After the jump, I’ll list the main pro and cons to ending it this year (the poll is there, too!):

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Our favorite insider, TV Guide’s Ausiello, gives us the lowdown on spoilers we’ve previously told you about here at Ugly Betty News.

Wait, does that mean that we scooped Ausiello? I’ll be doggoned. You don’t see that very often. Of course, all we told you was some of the major plot points of the shows in the coming weeks. Ausiello gives us some concrete casting confirmation.

The question he answered:

Question: Any Ugly Betty scoop? Please? April 24 is so… far… away… [Wheeze, cough].— Meg

(This DOES seem like the longest delay in the history of work stoppages. But, I digress)

Ausiello’s answer after the jump!

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