Ugly Betty -- Thoughts anyone? Here's mine

[Laura_B]

Hi. Anyone have any thoughts on Ugly Betty. I very rarely watch TV outside of Jeopardy but the premise of Ugly Betty sounded good. I’ve always been a sucker for Ugly Duckling stories (having been one myself) and so I was looking forward to this show.

While the premise was good and the over-the-top atmosphere at the magazine was fun to watch, I doubt if I’ll be watching it again. For one, the preview for next week’s story seemed pretty lame. But most importantly, for an 8 p.m. ET slot, there was waaay too much cleavage, underwear and “adult situations” for my taste. The boss had back-to-back visits by two woman who made sure they showed off their underwear and garters to him (and us) and at the very beginning of the show, an assistant comes out from under his desk (yes, he had been sitting there with a dazed look on his face).

I have kids ages 15, 13 and 5 and the older ones were embarrassed to watch it. The youngest is my girl and I certainly don’t want her thinking this behavior or mode of dress is the norm. Betty herself is appealing and the boss actually became a human being at the end of the episode, but my family’s morals come first.

So, sorry Betty, but no.

What did you think? (I happened to mention this on another website’s forum and someone actually replied that she saw no adult situations in the show, which apparently will be rebroadcast on the FAMILY (?) Channel tonight.

 

[CathCentrist]

Though cleavage, underwear and adult situations can usually get my attention … I dont care about the world the plot inhabits and its on at a time when Supernatural and Smallville, as well as Earl and The Office are already presenting timing issues for me.

 

[Jennifer_G]

Though cleavage, underwear and adult situations can usually get my attention

That’s what makes me not watch a show, especially the series if it’s in the pilot episode. Speaking of underwear, I really hate it when I’m looking at CNN’s website, and this huge Victoria Secret ad appears on the side.

 

[leaner]

I liked the show alright, but I tend to watch more dramatic shows – deeper dramas, I guess – I like 24, CSI, Prison Break, that sort of stuff. I would suggest tho, taking Ugly Betty as a teaching opportunity – explaining to the kids why Betty is the true hero of the show, and how the less sincere (yes, that’s a nice way to say it) sex-obsessed people are really just hollow shells without any moral fiber…or fortitude, that is. The situations that occur, while dramatized quite a bit, and embellished etc. really do happen in the real world more than we’d like to admit – people sleep their way up the corporate ladder, takeovers get dirty, and sex sells in today’s world – so instead of just banning it, you could use it as an opportunity to point out that Betty, while unattractive to the fashion world, is a beautiful person in so many more important and relevant ways; in the end, it was Betty who turned out to be the most valuable asset to the team, and she KNEW what the others were doing was wrong – the conflict she saw in helping her boss be a scumbag; any or all of these things will be present when they leave your house to enter the real world – instead of being shocked and appalled, they could use the tools to act as Betty – true to herself, and honest and good…and no, I don’t have teenagers yet, and if I did, I’m not sure I’d follow my own advice either, but I feel like we spend so much time (myself included) looking for the bad around us, that we miss out on some great opportunities to show our kids what can happen from those bad decisions and immoral actions – at someone else’s expense rather than their own (the characters on tv have to suffer from the bad decisions; not your child, if that makes any sense)

Again, just some thoughts

 

[whatevergirl]

Hi. Anyone have any thoughts on Ugly Betty. I very rarely watch TV outside of Jeopardy but the premise of Ugly Betty sounded good. I’ve always been a sucker for Ugly Duckling stories (having been one myself) and so I was looking forward to this show.

While the premise was good and the over-the-top atmosphere at the magazine was fun to watch, I doubt if I’ll be watching it again. For one, the preview for next week’s story seemed pretty lame. But most importantly, for an 8 p.m. ET slot, there was waaay too much cleavage, underwear and “adult situations” for my taste. The boss had back-to-back visits by two woman who made sure they showed off their underwear and garters to him (and us) and at the very beginning of the show, an assistant comes out from under his desk (yes, he had been sitting there with a dazed look on his face).

I have kids ages 15, 13 and 5 and the older ones were embarrassed to watch it. The youngest is my girl and I certainly don’t want her thinking this behavior or mode of dress is the norm. Betty herself is appealing and the boss actually became a human being at the end of the episode, but my family’s morals come first.

So, sorry Betty, but no.

What did you think? (I happened to mention this on another website’s forum and someone actually replied that she saw no adult situations in the show, which apparently will be rebroadcast on the FAMILY (?) Channel tonight.

I have a problem with the title of the show. Betty is not ugly, and I don’t like how unless a girl is showing everything…she is considered ugly? Betty looks like a lot of plain girls out there…

I thought the show was cute…but not enough substance for me.

 

[DancinTea]

This was based on soap that originally aired on Spanish stations. Spanish soaps apparently go for a few years and all the loose plot ends are tied up by the last episode. It was a cute Cinderella story. In that version, Betty is looked down upon for her lack of style but starts being respected by some folks who recognize that she has a lot of good business skills and sense. Of course there are some bad folks trying to take the business away from Betty’s boss and they give Betty a hard time in the process. The boss is always going after the wrong kind of girl and doesn’t notice that his Cinderalla is right under his nose. Despite everything, Betty remains a good person and ends up a hero of sorts.

From what I saw in the previews, it looks they took a melodramatic Spanish soap and kicked up like 5 notches. The braces and way out of date styles that Betty wears are over the top as well as having the models run-around in underwear every 2 seconds. In the Spanish version the models wore some pretty short skirs and some low necklines but it wasn’t underwear.

I used to watch it with a friend who was learning Spanish and who would translate the parts that I didn’t understand (understood some because of having lived in France and studied Latin).

 

[davy39]

I had thought about watching the show, but I won’t now if it’s just another sex and slease program. Buy the way, has anyone been noticing the almost R rated commercials lately? I know we’re not in the fiftys anymore, but they are getting worse every year. Even on the kids channels.

 

[TheGarg]

if you want to see someone really funny named betty, go to google.com and the to videos and search for “betty butterfield” …it is flippin hilarious lol.

 

[ssejllenrad]

I’ve watched a similar show called “Betty La Fea”. It’s in Spanish… But the plot is almost the same… Does the two shows have a connection?

 

[YinYangMom]

I’ve watched a similar show called “Betty La Fea”. It’s in Spanish… But the plot is almost the same… Does the two shows have a connection?

It’s the American version.

from IMDB.com:

Based on the popular Colombian telenovela “Yo soy Betty, la fea” (1999) (I’m Betty, the Ugly), which has been dubbed and broad casted in countries such as Brasil, China or the Philippines and has been adapted in some other countries. Local versions like “Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin” (2003) (There’s No One Like Jassi) in India or “Verliebt in Berlin” (2005) (Smitten in Berlin) also have been immensely successful.

from New York Times

Salma Hayek, an executive producer who will also appear sporadically on the show, adapted “Ugly Betty” from a Colombian telenovela called “Yo Soy Betty La Fea.”

 

[Maryam]

The Colombian version of “Betty La Fea” was the most popular version of it and the best one in my opinion. Right now you have a Mexican version being shown called “La Fea mas Bella” (The most beautiful Ugly Girl) that is kinda funny at times.

I HATE the American version of it… its too much sleaze for me please. lol The Spanish versions were more comical and not looking for shock value like the American version. What made the original Colombian version great was that despite being comedic it really humanized Betty as a character.

Anyways… seems like the 3rd time is not a charm in terms of remakes.

God bless

 

[JezuUfamTobie]

The Colombian version of “Betty La Fea” was the most popular version of it and the best one in my opinion. Right now you have a Mexican version being shown called “La Fea mas Bella” (The most beautiful Ugly Girl) that is kinda funny at times.

I HATE the American version of it… its too much sleaze for me please. lol The Spanish versions were more comical and not looking for shock value like the American version. What made the original Colombian version great was that despite being comedic it really humanized Betty as a character.

Anyways… seems like the 3rd time is not a charm in terms of remakes.

God bless

I saw La Fea Mas Bella, not the original Betty la Fea… but I have to say that after having seen dozens of Spanish novelas, I really can’t imagine that Betty la Fea didn’t involve a lot of things done just for shock value. When it comes to novelas, it seems like that’s the biggest premise of the genre. If it’s not female models walking around in ridiculous Barbie-like getups, it’s my sister’s cousin’s uncle having an affair with his butler’s daughter while disguised as a paraplegic postman.

I guess I’m not surprised, but I am kind of disappointed to hear that the American version is stooping to the same slapstick/shock-value stunts. The story idea is neat and it could’ve easily been carried out in a more family-friendly way.

 

[4HisChurch]

I have a problem with the title of the show. .

I do too!! I was surprised to read on a forum recently, how many of the young women there liked the show, and no one mentioned the offensive title. It bothers me that the entertainment industry seems to exploit people who are not considered physically beautiful merely for our entertainment.

I do like the little I saw of the show because Betty seems to take up for herself. But the way she was abused by those around her brought back too many bad childhood memories for me to watch it on a regular basis.