Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I was sitting at my dentist's office waiting for my appointment. The dentist have difficulties and I had to wait a bit more, the TV was on, and then pops that horrid show.I saw an entire episode: OMG Am I in hell? That show is a remake of a south American soap opera. Betty reminds me a nerd girl from school. That was weird. This show is a total dull. I ask my dentist's clerk if I could chance the channel and she answers: "the TV control is missing." Then I ask her her again: "manually?" She answers: the TV button's not working. My cell phone battery was off and I have no choice but see that crap. So I had a headache when the show is over. And believe me: no one was watching that.After that horrible nightmare, I never visit that dentist ever.

This long time New Yorker had an instant connection with this program. When Betty first told Marc that she had just graduated from Queens College, I had to laugh at his sarcastic reply, "That's a terrific value school." From that moment on this fellow grad of the very same "value school" had felt a kinship with Betty.Of course the plot twists were often over the top, but I was fascinated by it; and my wife and I looked forward to the days that it popped up on our recorder. Sure it was preposterous, but the affection of the Suarez family, along with everyone who set foot in that little house in Queens, was as genuine as television can get.I had a bet with my wife that in the final episode Daniel would go to London and ask Betty to marry him. I should have recognized that the quality of the writing, the human reality under the wackiness would not allow such a clichéd ending. He did go to London, and he was going through just enough of a personal transformation that one could very well anticipate that over time, things could end with them being together.But then again, maybe not. Ugly Betty is a program that didn't make it in Germany and other countries. But this Country, with all it's failures, all its faults, has gone through a monumental social revolution over the last half century, that happens to coincide with my adult life. So, it could portray a young man whose entrance into adulthood is a dance with another boy; no longer an absurdity, but while still a stretch in a Mexican ethnic household, not so much to be unacceptable to a large audience.The country has changed, and this program, one that I will sorely miss, chronicled this transformation.

I only recently discovered this little gem of a show - and I found that it has some of the most hysterical writing ("have you been smoking your ponchos?") and clever acting that I have ever seen – not only in prime time network television – but of all time. America Ferrera is simply a natural and the comic duo of Amanda Tanen (Becky Newton) and Mark St. James (Michael Urie) rival some of the best in entertainment history; I would be surprised if a spin-off is not in their future. Vanessa Williams is flawless (disturbingly so!) Judith Light is fabulous and the rest of the case should not be left out - especially Octavia Spencer with her short role as Ignacio's immigration counselor - I swear I almost wet myself. The only thing that bothers me about Ugly Betty is that it pushes the irrational theory that it is best to tell young girls that beauty doesn't exist. Or, should i say, that the ubiquitous images of thin, pretty women emblazoned on magazine covers and television screens is not a "realistic" representation of "real women." I hate to be the one to say it - but this sort of "conventional" beauty DOES exist and most often young woman need not look further than their homeroom or gym class to see this for themselves. Yes, actresses and models are airbrushed and photo-shopped - and have access to 24-7 primping and priming - but it doesn't mean that they weren't naturally endowed. It's confusing to tell girls that the type of beauty they see is wholly contrived, but this is an essay for another forum. What is relevant here is that Ugly Betty, in one sense, makes things worse by suggesting to young girls that they need not even brush their hair, remove their braces or pluck their eyebrows to be attractive to men. It is just a little irritating that they allow Betty a posse of hot, rich (albeit awkward) guys begging for her hand in marriage. The only guy Betty didn't score right away was the self-absorbed, cutesy guitar player - but even he found himself being dumped after finally kissing her and taking her out for meatloaf. They do a fine job of demonstrating to young women that there are things equally as important as looking your best - and that ambition, individuality, intelligence and passion count for a lot, but they fall short when it comes to presenting something with any true substance. As far as "idealized unreality" goes, I am fairly certain that I can round up more slender women with striking features and flawless skin that I can women who look like Betty who have their pick of the litter. It's a great show and I tend not to ascribe too much social responsibility to television shows, but if they are trying to ride the empowerment train, they are short a few rails.SPOILER ALERT ONLY IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN SEASONS 1-3.Also, if I may, are we supposed to know who the "woman in the shadows" from season one was supposed to be? I am so confused and have seen them all several times on DVD. At first I thought it was Alexis - because that is who became "unwrapped" after her surgery - but if you look back, this person had some weird British accent and kept talking about Fae Sommers. We also see Fay Sommers lurking around her crypt, so I am just curious if this is something that is supposed to be settled already, or something that is supposed to come out later. Also - I assume that Fae was put under contract by Bradford but that Claire got to her first?Please advise. Thank you!

As yet, I've only seen the first season (I rented the DVD and watched it over the period of about four days). If the first season is any indication, "Ugly Betty" is a really good show. It shows how the fashion world consists of people always ready to slit each other's throats, and meanwhile the mildly naive Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) is just trying to make an honest living! As with any good show, the characters evolve. Also - as is the case with "Six Feet Under" - you have to watch the episodes in chronological order, as stories develop in Betty's work life and her home life; to be certain, the first season ends in a real cliffhanger.All in all, this is definitely a show that I recommend. And frankly, I don't consider Betty ugly at all. She's very attractive (of course, I realize that the title refers to the fact that she's not ultra-thin model material). Really good.