Adam Rodriguez

Rodriguez will play Bobby, an old flame of Hilda. "He’s an old high school boyfriend, and  [he comes] back into their lives," said Rodriguez.

Certainly, this is the character we’ve heard about – the one that is “mobbed up” and has a Hilda-related storyline, right?

"A little romance buds, and there’s some drama to go along with it.", he adds.

When asked which sister he would be involved with (Hilda or Betty), Rodriguez was purposefully vague. 

"Maybe a little bit of both," he said with a laugh. "We’ll see how it turns out, but it’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s really funny."

Rodriguez will definitely appear in five episodes, but his stay on Betty is likely to be extended, according to a source, TV Guide says.

Mr. Rodriguez was in New York promoting his role in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

I really believe that this is going to be one of the more fun story lines early in season four, if I am guessing right that there will be a “light” romantic triangle between Hilda, Bobby, and Archie (played by Ralph Macchio and ironically, last-named “Rodriguez”).

I don’t know why, but a love triangle involving Hilda promises to be more fun than one involving Betty, I believe. 

Image: SplashNewsOnline.com

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Head Case is a comedy television show starring Alexandra Wentworth as, Dr. Elizabeth Goode, a Los Angeles psychologist who treats celebrities, though she has issues of her own.

From some of the other clips I’ve seen on YouTube, this is funny stuff.  Steve Landesberg is in it – that’s enough for me!  And the list of celebrities who line up for Dr Goode’s therapy in season three is impressive:  Jerry Seinfeld, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, SNL alum Kevin Nealon, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Playboy’s Hugh Hefner with one time girlfriend Bridget Marquardt.

Almost makes me want to add Starz back to my cable lineup

As for Macchio, it’s interesting, nobody on Ugly Betty has really talked about Archie’s age.  Is Macchio playing a character much younger than he is in real life?  Hilda is supposedly in her early 30’s – if Archie is Macchio’s age, he’s 47.  Not that the show hasn’t had its share of May-December romances.  But, it’s just funny that the writers have used Macchio’s boyish appearance to their advantage.  Hilda and Archie look like they belong together, and we never really think if there is an age difference between the two.

Anyway, I can’t wait to see what the writers do with Archie in season four!

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The included Ugly Betty clip is hilarious, not only because Tony Plana does the exasperated father better than anyone, but also because he guessed that Hilda is pregnant, then Hilda quickly corrected him.  I don’t know, I just found it funny because Ana Ortiz really is pregnant.

I’m glad that Archie is going to run for Queens borough president, because that will make for all kinds of interesting story lines; and Ana Ortiz as Hilda is funniest when she’s out of her element, which she’ll be as a political girlfriend.

The interview itself reminds me what seems so odd about the entire cast of Ugly Betty: they just seem so doggonned humble.  Even Vanessa Williams, Bernadette Peters, and Macchio, who were celebrities in their own right before joining the cast, seem in interviews like someone you’d just love to go have a beer with.

I’d really love to see the feature film Macchio is developing.  When I find out more about it, I’ll pass it along to you.

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The Suarez family gets an invitation to meet Matt’s famed billionaire dad, Calvin Hartley (guest star David Rasche), at his legendary Easter Egg hunt. While Betty sees this as a chance to get closer to Matt, Daniel seizes the opportunity to get Mode a bailout. Meanwhile Wilhelmina suspects that little William might not be her biological son.

We’ll see, but I think this means that it will be Calvin Hartley who makes Daniel get into the bunny suit.  Score one for Ugly Betty News commenter Sir Lizard! 

Also, the story line involving Wilhelmina’s baby is going to get really moving along.  Important to note: Stuart (Derek Riddell) is in this episode (yes, he’s still alive), along with Dr. Erskine.

The episode was written by Chris Black (3.09, When Betty Met YETI) and directed by Richard Heus (3.18, A Mother of a Problem).

Info on episode 3.21 after the jump!

The title of episode 3.21 (airing May 7th) will be “The Born identity”.  Here’s the synopsis:

Just as it looks like billionaire Calvin Hartley (guest star David Rasche) is going to give Mode the bailout it needs so the magazine won’t go under, baby William is kidnapped – and Betty is dragged into the ensuing drama. Meanwhile Archie (guest star Ralph Macchio) asks Hilda to be part of his latest political campaign.

So, the kidnapping does happen.  This is how Christina will exit, apparently.  Stuart is in this episode, so we know he’ll be heavily involved.

And, of course, we have the return of Archie.  I love how they are going to get Hilda involved in Archie’s political life.  Including Ana Ortiz’s pregnancy in the story line really wasn’t an option because the timing was all wrong, but this is the next best thing!

The Born Identity was written by Steven Ross (3.04, Betty Suarez Land) and directed by John Terlesky (3.08, Tornado Girl).

I can’t wait for these episodes to air!

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He told the New York Daily News, “You never know with these things. I’ve always been a fan of the show. It’s one I can watch with my family, my kids. There’s a shortage of shows you can watch like that which are smart.”

He adds, about the next few episodes, of Ugly Betty, “These episodes coming up are really a focal point for the Hilda character. There will be some good juicy stuff out of that.”

Macchio, who will forever be known as “The Karate Kid” star, lives in Long Island with his wife and two teeneage children (ouch!). He was born and raised in the area, so the Ugly Betty role appealed to him.

Plus, he’s discovered how easy it is to work with the Ugly Betty cast and crew. “This [role] sort of fell in my lap,” he said. “It sort of has reinspired and relit the fire of what I do well. The cast makes you feel like you fit. You have the freedom to fly and not carry all that extra burden.”

More after the jump!

He also told TV Guide, “Archie and Hilda are heating up.” About the two characters, he says, He’s very structured and by the book. And she’s very knee-jerk and passion first, think later. That dynamic does play into these episodes, but in a good way. With both of the characters you begin to see flaws that work together like puzzle pieces. It’s really endearing, charming and very funny with where it goes and how they figure out a way to hit it off.”

And this is gratifying, for me and all the other fans who screamed “Bring Back Archie!” :

“There has been a decent amount of feedback of people wanting to see more of these two characters and where it can go,” says Macchio. “I think the folks that were waiting for me to come back through the door will be pleased. You never know with these shows. It starts out with an episode or two, and they call you back and want you to do a run for a character.”

He also adds, “Funny thing is, I’ve never taken my kids to an audition, but I took my son — he’s 13 — to this one because I was in the city at the time. I got the part, so now he wants 10 percent of anything I get,” the actor laughed. “And he always rushes to the last page of the script to see if I’m coming back or if I’ve been hit by a bus!”

We agree with his son!

Image: Newscom

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Daniel and Wilhelmina hope that an issue of Mode devoted to sex will turn their fortunes around. Meanwhile, when Matt seems a little shy about taking his romance with Betty to the next level, Marc and Amanda team up to give Betty a sexy makeover, and Hilda is uncertain she wants to continue dating Archie (guest star Ralph Macchio).

Remember, in episode 3.18, A Mother of a Problem, the Suarez family is going to attempt to set up Hilda with Archie.  I’m holding out hope that the writers are going to run with my idea of incorporating Ana Ortiz’s pregnancy into the story lines, and making Archie the father (with the resulting political scandal that would ensue). Or not – either way, it would be nice to see them have a good run together.

The whole Sex Issue thing is classic, and let’s face it, realistic, if you pay attention to magazines, even fashion magazines.  And, something tells me that Marc and Mandy’s makeover of Betty is going to be similar to what Hilda did in episode 1.03, “Queens For a Day”.

Here’s the lineup for the rest of March:

March 5, Episode 3.17 – Sugar Daddy

March 12, Episode 3.18 – A Mother of a Problem.

March 19, Episode 3.19 – The Sex Issue

Looks like a pretty good lineup to me!

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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Betty meets Matt’s mother (guest star Christine Baranski) but things don’t go as she expects. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina gets creative to solve a cash flow problem, Daniel deals with the latest wrinkle in his relationship with Molly, and the Suarez family conspire to set Hilda up with Archie (guest star Ralph Macchio), the promising city councilman from Queens.

Not only is Ralph Macchio returning as Archie, the Suarez family is setting his character up with Hilda!  Many of us will get our wish, it appears.

It also appears that by the time this episode airs, whatever is going on with Molly will be out in the open; Daniel will know about it.  My guess?  I don’t think she’s pregnant.  I think she’s got a grave illness.

Wilhelmina “gets creative” to solve a cash flow problem.  Hmmmm.  Should I read a lot into the fact that Connor isn’t mentioned here?  He’s the CFO.  I guess he’s going to turn evil, and he might have already departed by this episode.

I can’t wait to see what they do with Matt’s mom.  She either won’t like Betty, or she’s extremely dysfunctional in some way.  Christine Baranski will be wonderful no matter which direction they take.

Updated schedule:

February 26, Episode 3.16 – Things Fall Apart

March 5, Episode 3.17 – Sugar Daddy

March 12, Episode 3.18 – A Mother of a Problem.

It looks like some big stuff is going to happen at Mode in the next few weeks!

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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Kelly West of Cinema Blend ran into Macchio at the 7th Annual Ray-Ban Visionary Award ceremony and party. He was in town for the Slamdance Film Festival where he’s among the cast of the film Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead and was on the red carpet tonight to support this year’s Visionary Award honoree, Ewan McGregor.

West asked Macchio about Ugly Betty, and he replied that the producers had asked him back for at least one episode (maybe more).

When asked about a possible romance with Betty’s sister Hilda, Ralph said that he couldn’t say for sure, but he admitted what we all knew: the two had some chemistry. He didn’t know if Ana Ortiz’s pregnancy would be written into the show (although all indications are it will not).

Macchio didn’t know the date of his return, but it’s good to know it’s at least in the works!

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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