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.

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But, what struck me as the show came to a close, was that it had topped off a truly remarkable night of TV.  While waiting for MARC to air, we decided to watch Carson Kressley’s How to Look Good Naked on Lifetime.  We weren’t sure if it was going to be stupid, or just plain silly like many reality TV shows.

We were suprised that the show was actually unbelievably compelling.

This was not a show about how to lose 25 lbs “to be the person you are supposed to be”.  It is, instead, a show where real, live women learn that they are beautiful.  They don’t have to DO anything – they just have to see it.  It was surprisingly touching.

Then came MARC, and the theme of the evening continued.  Besides the fact that Urie seems very comfortable as reality show host (is that a good thing or a bad thing?), what was striking was the tenor of the show.  The producers have basically told these girls: you must unlearn everything about beauty you’ve learned through a lifetime of pageants.  We will work you, embarrass you, even shame you into presenting yourself as a real, live woman.  The plastic facade must come off.

The show had its flaws (perhaps they needed a two-hour premeire; we only met a fraction of the girls last night).  They also seem to be setting up Miss Vermont as the one they want America to vote for.  That’s fine, reality shows often edit to make some contestants look better than others.  But anyway, as the show ended, thinking back on Naked and MARC, a thought came to my head:

Ugly Betty did this.

It looks like America is ready to embrace the real, live woman.  Betty has become a hero of sorts.  I didn’t realise this until the Glamour Magazine dustup earlier last year.  It as if the people of America told the style setters in LA and NY, “No”.

Do what you want with other, plastic celebrities, but you can’t have her.  Get your Photoshopping paws away from her.

I really believe that How To Look Good Naked, and maybe even MARC, could not have been possible without the success of Ugly Betty.  Across the country, women who are not size zero, but maybe 10, or 14, or 18 or above – see themselves in Betty, and they are amazed that the world has fallen in love with her.

Hopefully, my prediction will come true: this year will be the Year of the Real, Live Woman.

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Entertainment Weekly has a great interview with Urie.  He talks about “being” Marc, being ON MARC, and his adoration for Betty White.  We have some excerpts here.

EW: Do you find it hard for people to separate you from Marc?
It’s actually a really nice compliment. It means that I’m doing something right. People often assume that I’m mean and they want me to be mean, like him. Usually women want me to be their friend. They want to be my Amanda. That’s fun. But generally, I’m not like him in those ways. I’m not mean, and I’m not at all fashionable. Everything I’ve learned about fashion, I’ve learned from Marc.

I’ve also heard America Ferrera say these sort of things (about people not being able to separate her from her character).   As far as his duties on MARC:

So the reality show leads up to the live Miss America pageant. What will you actually be doing in your role as host?
I’m kinda like Seacrest: I present the challenges and I announce who’s doing well and who’s not doing well. I hang out with them. I don’t stay with them. I don’t sleep in the house with them! I offered, but there’s some kind of rule. [Laughs] Fifty-two girls and one guy…

He offered to stay in the house? 

 He also talks more about how the show is going to remake what it means to be Miss America:

What kind of challenges will the girls face? Does this prep them for the big night?
I can’t tell you what the challenges are, but every challenge has something to do with what’s going to be expected of them at the live Miss America pageant. They learn about the new style of Miss America. This year, instead of just parading across the stage, it’s all runway. When they come out in evening gowns, they’re runway models. And in their bathing suits, they’re runway models. There’s a big less-is-more feeling this year. We kept saying ”make-under” instead of ”makeover.” The advisory board stresses bringing down the hair and doing less.

I LOVE this exchange about Betty White!

Betty White was a guest star on the last episode of Betty that aired. Did you get to spend much time with her?
I did, and I, in fact, crashed a scene with her!  … I wasn’t originally scripted to be in that scene, but I crashed it because I wanted to work with her! It’s such a fun-loving group that the hair and makeup people will be like, ”Sure, yeah, we’ll get you done up. Whatever.” They pulled something for me to wear, and I just sort of waltzed on, and I said, ”What if I stand here?” The fashion TV correspondent is talking to Betty. ”Betty, you’re an animal activist, TV legend, friend to gays everywhere, I love you.” And I just said, ”I love you too!” or something like that. The writers were like, why don’t you just throw this in?

…She said at one point, ”Can you believe how lucky I am to still be working?” And we were like, ”You mean, how lucky we are that you’re working with us?” I mean, we’ve had some cool guest stars. But for me, that one sort of takes the cake. Betty White is a national treasure and a comic genius! To watch her rehearse a bit with a mirror, how fascinating! She’s such a pro. It was an absolute treat to get to work with her. Never before in a read-through has an actor gotten applause after a scene in the middle of the read-through.

There is so much more in the original interview.  Check it out!

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Micheal Urie (Marc) of Ugly Betty has a reality show that airs this starting Friday, Jan 4th: Miss America, Reality Check.  It just got a little more important.  According to a press release, the show will actually help determine an unprecedented 16th finalist for the actual pageant.

Normally in the Miss America pageant, 15 finalists are chosen by the judges.  This year a 16th will be chosen by result of MISS AMERICA: AMERICA’S CHOICE, an online competition that allows viewers to vote for their favorite Miss America contestant.  Beginning January 4th, fans can vote at http://www.tlc.com/missamerica after the first airing of MARC.  (Hey, isn’t that cool?  The acronym for the show is MARC!)

Voting will continue through the final episode January 26th, through 3am EST.  The contestant with the most votes, who is not already included as a top 15 finalist, will be chosen as “America’s Choice,” and revealed at the MISS AMERICA LIVE! finale.

Angela Shapiro-Mathes, President and general manager for TLC says, “As viewers watch MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK they’ll get to know the contestants in a way that they never have before.  The entire competition becomes more relevant to today’s audience as they vote and root for their favorites at the live finale.”

Of course, you’d expect one of the contestants from a populous state to get the most votes.  But, you never know.  Maybe there’s another Sanjaya waiting out there amongst the various state pageant winners.

I can’t wait to see Urie add his own style to the venerable institution this Friday.  MARC airs at 10 pm EST, Jan 4th.

Source: Fox Business.  Photo: TLC/Stephanie Diani/Getty Images

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I love the “very eligible batchelor” bit.

This is wonderful; TLC is going to let Urie use his comedic talents. I cannot wait for the first airing of this show on Jan 4th. We’ll keep you posted about the show before and as it airs.

Post from: Ugly Betty News

For the first time in history, MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK brings all 52 beauty queens together to live under one roof to undo everything they have learned about pageant basics and determine if their smarts, attitudes and looks hold up in contemporary society. Led by host Urie, the girls participate in an intense set of events and challenges designed to prepare them for the finale event, a renewed competition that will redefine what it takes to be Miss America, a relatable and individual ‘it girl’ who can connect with today’s modern woman.

This sounds pretty fascinating.  I love tradition and all, but the traditional Miss America ideal is pretty much an early 20th century thing.  Not that I’m dissing the swimsuit competition or anything.  There’s more…

There will be an element of “What Not To Wear” (a show, I’ll admit, I’m not very fond of – I prefer my cattiness on Ugly Betty):

MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK calls on tastemakers to lead the hopefuls through their journey as they learn the latest trends, newest hairstyles and how to represent themselves as role models in today’s modern world. Throughout the episodes, the girls will be critiqued on their progress by an elite advisory board comprised of celebrity stylist Jeanie Mae, Us Weekly editor Dina Sansing, and celebrity photographer Mark Liddell.

Additionally, special guests will share their area of expertise with the contestants including the current Miss America Lauren Nelson, Stacy London and Clinton Kelly from TLC’s hit show “What Not to Wear,” world-renowned make-up artist Napoleon Perdis, celebrity hairstylist Kim Vo, choreographer Fred Tallaksen, and fashion expert Randolph Duke.

But, cattiness aside, there is hope for the show:

“The Miss America of today is more than a pretty face,” says Brant Pinvidic, senior vice president of programming for TLC. “These are remarkable women who have made great contributions to their communities. We want to give America the chance to get to know these women and follow their journey as they strive to obtain the Miss America title on January 26 in Las Vegas.”

Now that seems pretty cool, when you think about it.  I can think of no other existing group of people who are tailor-made to be adapted for a reality show, besides maybe the US congress, for comedic value.

But, the show will be worth watching because Michael Urie is hosting.  If they could have paired whim with Becki Newton, it would have been irresistible.  However, they can’t spend every waking moment together!

Source: Elites TV

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