Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part Four

Last Friday saw the UK tv debut of Ugly Betty. Another reason to be pleased.

It's all about a sweet but satorially challenged young woman, Betty Suarez, who goes to work as a PA to the editor in chief of Mode fashion magazine. Most of her fellow workers are far more fashionable and attractive than she is (well, it is a fashion magazine) and often humiliate and insult poor Betty because of her appearance. To make matters worse, Betty's boss, the suave Daniel Meade, dislikes her from the offset and does everything in his power to get rid of her. (It also transpires that Daniel's father, who owns the business, insisted that Betty was hired as he knows she won't be a sexual temptation to Daniel!) However after a particularly humiliating incident for Betty, she quits. Daniel realising the error of his ways, agrees to re-hire her and more importantly, take onboard her ideas to help with one of the magazine's important promotional campaigns ...

This was a very entertaining opening episode with lots of humorous situations and characters. The set-up is similar to "The Devil Wears Prada" i.e. all about a nice but slightly naive girl going to work in the high-powered world of magazine publishing / fashion and all the superficiality, bitchiness and obsession with appearance that goes with this territory. But, unlike poor old Andrea in "Devil", Betty is at least valued for her work and input ... eventually! I found Daniel's personality turnaround a little unconvincing (would he really decide that Betty was worth re-hiring?) However what was most refreshing was that Betty wasn't your average, straightforward geek. Sure she's dentally challenged and is obviously destined to make lots of faux pas in future episodes, thus leading to further comedic situations. But I liked the fact that Betty isn't a pushover. Rather, she comes across as someone who is keen to promote herself and her own ideas, is assertive and knows how to stand up for herself when push comes to shove, as she did with Daniel. Go Betty! It's just a pity she doesn't have the world's greatest dress sense.

There were some good performances from the rest of the cast too, especially Ashley Jensen as Christina the wardrobe assistant and (seemingly) the only genuine and friendly member of staff at Mode. In case you didn't know she was last seen as Ricky Gervais' acting sidekick in "Extras" and it was nice / strange hearing a Scottish accent in an American sitcom. Gina Gershon was also wonderfully trashy as Fabia, a Donatella Versace look-a-like.

Friday nights are now worth stopping in for!