The new US shows have now been running in the fall season and we’ve been investigating what’s hot and what’s not, without giving too much away. Get to know these names: Ugly Betty. Heroes. Studio 60. And how are Desperate Housewives, Lost and Prison Break faring? Minor spoilers follow….if you dare.
Title: Ugly Betty
Network: ABC (US) / Seven (Aus) 2007
Format: 60 mins. Comedy / Drama
Summary: An unattractive young Latino girl wins her dream job on the staff of high fashion magazine, Mode. Caught up amid warring personalities, a sexed-up young executive, jealous workmates, she has to draw upon all her spirit and uncorrupted charms to prove herself. Meanwhile at home life is equally manic, between her lazy dad, loud, abrasive mother and oh-too-flamboyant little brother.
Verdict: One of the season’s biggest new hits, Ugly Betty is hard not to love. Think The Devil Wears Prada meets Welcome to the Dollhouse. Cast includes Australia’s Alan Dale as the Managing Editor of Mode, Eric Mabius as his rich-kid son forever chasing secretaries and America Ferrera (yes that’s her name) as the lovable, buck-braced loser, Betty, hired so her boss will curb his philandering ways. Support and cameo roles include Vanessa Williams, Salma Hayek (an executive producer) and Extras’ Ashley Jensen. This is a character comedy from the Hispanic point of view, based on a Colombian telenovella. Holding it all together is a confident performance from America Ferrera. It is stylish, lively and camp.
Score: 8 / 10
