Ugly Betty...

ROXRAN · 02-05-2007, 12:40 PM

...O.K., I admit, this is not a show for guys, but I will admit my wife got me watching this show, and the point of it being successful has a lot to do with the storylines and more importantly the comedy...

What I do appreciate is that the show embraces the "ugly" look, or moreso the typical average gal that is more in line with most women,...and for a father of two young daughters that is a good thing...The shift away from the beanpole look of Paris Hilton, and her even thinner friend (what's her name?) is a welcome thing despite a womens' show has caught my attention...

OldManBernie · 02-05-2007, 12:45 PM

This maybe should go into the "Confession" thread, but I watch the show. For a show that embraces the "ugly" look, they sure have a lot of beautiful women on it.

macalu · 02-05-2007, 12:46 PM

eh, this would have been a great post if that picture was of Salma Heyak.

SwoLy-D · 02-05-2007, 01:19 PM

Just wanted to throw out there that this is a remake of a Colombian show named "Bety la Fea" in the late 1990's... it was an original story, and now it has been remade in the United States and even in MEXICO. I mean, they're milking this "beauty is on the inside" crap like hot bread.

I am also disappointed that Salma Hayek n' Friends couldn't come up with something original for the United States public.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macalu

eh, this would have been a great post if that picture was of Salma Heyak.

What, you don't like América

? She looks a lot thinner than in her first few movies. I, for one, dig the chubs

. She looks like a fit chubby girl, if that makes any sense.

**Jeff** · 02-05-2007, 01:29 PM

I personally think it is one of the best shows on television. Of course it is a remake. But, so is the Office and I still laugh my head off at that.

The show is really well done and the cast is excellent. I'm glad they are doing a "beauty is on the inside" show. Then again, I'm just glad to see something that doesn't have to be about cops, doctors, lawyers or people I could care less about (ahem...the OC) in a non-reality TV show. It doesn't hurt that it is also extremely clever.

As an aside, I love how quick Hollywood is to pat itself on the back for doing a show about an "ugly" girl who isn't really all that ugly working with a bunch of supermodels. That "she's not attractive, but all the people around her are and her inner beauty and skill makes everyone respect her even as they make fun of her behind her back displaying their shallowness" isn't exactly a cliche, but it's pretty damn close to one.

BMoney · 02-05-2007, 01:39 PM

I think the show is pretty dreadful. I read all the glowing reviews and watched it expecting something much better.

rrj_gamz · 02-05-2007, 01:42 PM

I've watched a couple, yes, I should have confessed this too, and it was ok...Betty isn't a betty, but I'd still hit it...

When Salma 1st came on the show,

Daddy likey...

SwoLy-D · 02-05-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

I personally think it is one of the best shows on television. Of course it is a remake. But, so is the Office and I still laugh my head off at that.

Well, then it's a fair deal... since you never saw the originals, which were much better with much better writing and superb actors, and the comedy was dead on.

macalu · 02-05-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwoLy-D

What, you don't like América

? She looks a lot thinner than in her first few movies. I, for one, dig the chubs

. She looks like a fit chubby girl, if that makes any sense.

she's not ugly, but she ain't no Salma.

**Jeff** · 02-05-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwoLy-D

Well, then it's a fair deal... since you never saw the originals, which were much better with much better writing and superb actors, and the comedy was dead on.

The reality is that a LOT of American shows were remakes of shows from other countries. Friends was a take on "Coupling," which NBC tried to fully remake a couple years back and it flopped. All in the Family was a take on a British sitcom. Game shows, sitcoms, dramas, news programs - everyone steals ideas from everyone else.

The other shows you mention were in Spanish, no doubt, and since I can't understand the language, I'm guessing I'd prefer Ugly Betty anyway. And, personally, I love the American version of the Office, but I didn't like the British version at all.

**Jeff** · 02-05-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macalu

she's not ugly, but she ain't no Salma.

Who is?

I have a friend who is related (by marriage) to Robert Rodriguez and knows Salma fairly well though he hasn't seen her in quite a few years. I always joke that he shouldn't even tell me that because it makes me only two degrees of separation from her and that's not fair. :D

Mr. Brightside · 02-05-2007, 02:04 PM

I personally think she is not attractive enough for television. Reality tv, maybe, but not sitcoms.

**Jeff** · 02-05-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Brightside

I personally think she is not attractive enough for television. Reality tv, maybe, but not sitcoms.

I think that is exactly the point they are trying to make.

DaDakota · 02-05-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

The reality is that a LOT of American shows were remakes of shows from other countries. Friends was a take on "Coupling," which NBC tried to fully remake a couple years back and it flopped. All in the Family was a take on a British sitcom. Game shows, sitcoms, dramas, news programs - everyone steals ideas from everyone else.

The other shows you mention were in Spanish, no doubt, and since I can't understand the language, I'm guessing I'd prefer Ugly Betty anyway. And, personally, I love the American version of the Office, but I didn't like the British version at all.

From British TV.

Americn Idol
Threes Company
Friends
The Office
Ali G

Those are just off the top of my head.

DD

Mulder · 02-05-2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaDakota

From British TV.

Americn Idol
Threes Company
Friends
The Office
Ali G

Those are just off the top of my head.

DD

Coupling is a great British comedy that absolutely tanked here...

thewaterox · 02-05-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulder

Coupling is a great British comedy that absolutely tanked here...

I don't know what's not to like. She's nice and thick just the way I likem! What was that line from Sir Mix a-lot's song? I keep my women like Flo-JO! :D

**Jeff** · 02-05-2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulder

Coupling is a great British comedy that absolutely tanked here...

Technically, the idea for Friends was taken from Coupling in England. NBC then tried to do the ACTUAL show, Coupling in the US and, as you said, it tanked.

m_cable · 02-05-2007, 03:47 PM

I'm pretty sure Coupling is a take-off on Friends and not the other way around. Friends came out a few years before coupling did.

Oski2005 · 02-05-2007, 04:10 PM

Coupling started in 2000, I'm going to assume it was a take on Friends, but it was a lot better.

But, there are american comedies that have been remade in other countries, I'll see if I can find a comprehensive list. I was surprised the other day when surfing through all these spanish stations from central and south america we get that there is a remake of Married with Children from Argentina called Casados con Hijos. Their house looked really nice though.

EDIT: Here's a list from wiki, mostly game shows though. According to them, since most american shows are just shown over there, there's no need to remake them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...British_market

Khal80 · 02-05-2007, 04:30 PM

they make a show about "beauty on the inside" yet the title is UGLY Betty.....not sure how thats suppose to be taken