14 DAY TRIAL // Since 2006, when it was released, “Ugly Betty” has been one of the most popular shows on TV, permanently having huge stars as guests and enjoying steady, if not actually blooming, ratings. Just the other day, ABC announced that it was putting the show on pause to make room for new ones, while speculation that it might even be considering pulling the plug on it slowly gained momentum.
The official line is that ABC is putting “Ugly Betty” on a hiatus to allow two new shows to run their course with no competition. What the fans are saying is exactly the opposite of that, meaning that the network is actually thinking of pulling the plug altogether, and is using this “pause” excuse to make the separation easier on the audiences.
Starting March 26, “Betty” will go off air to make room for “Samantha Who?” and “In the Motherhood.” Sadly, no specific date for when the hiatus might end has come with the announcement, which makes it very likely that “Betty” will return sometime in June, just in time to complete its current season as scheduled, with no repeats. Quite understandably, fans of the long-running and successful series are not happy about the decision, and have already taken to dedicated forums to vent their frustration.
“'Ugly Betty' will return to Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m. following the run of 'In the Motherhood' and 'Samantha Who?' The Thursday night block is a good opportunity to launch these comedies. That said, 'Betty' is a solid performer, and there is no question that it will definitely be back to complete its season, just without repeats.” a spokesperson for the network told the media concerning the extended pause.
Starring America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Vanessa Williams, Ashley Jensen, Becki Newton, Judith Light, Ana Ortiz, Tony Plana, Michael Urie, and Mark Indelicato, “Ugly Betty” is actually a remake of the Spanish “Betty La Fea,” which enjoyed almost the same success as this one. Its appeal to the public is mostly derived from the fact that it approaches the topic of beauty in a way that was unseen in TV shows until it came along.