Ugly Betty (season 3)

infobox tvseason
season_name = Ugly Betty (season 3)


caption = "Ugly Betty" 's innertitle
dvd_release_date =
dvd_format =
country= USA
network =ABC
first_aired =September 25, 2008
last_aired =Spring 2009
num_episodes =
prev_season = 2
next_season = To be determined

Season 3 of the American dramedy television series "Ugly Betty" has been confirmed in the ABC lineup, which was picked up for a full season on February 11, 2008 [ [http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003709560 ABC Announces Scripted Show Renewals ] ] . The Season premiere aired on September 25, 2008.

Cast

Most of the main cast from the show's second season returned for the third season, with the demotion of main characters to recurring regulars for the characters Alexis Meade (played by Rebecca Romijn) and Henry Grubstick (played by Christopher Gorham).

tarring

* America Ferrera as Betty Suarez
* Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade"'
* Judith Light as Claire Meade
* Vanessa L. Williams as Wilhelmina Slater
* Becki Newton as Amanda Tanen
* Ana Ortiz as Hilda Suarez
* Ashley Jensen as Christina McKinney
* Tony Plana as Ignacio Suarez
* Michael Urie as Marc St. James
* Mark Indelicato as Justin Suarez

Recurring guest stars

* Freddy Rodriguez as Gio
* Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade
* Val Emmich as Jesse
* Lindsay Lohan as Kimmie Keegan
* Julian De La Celle as DJ

Production

Plans for a musical episode and having Lindsay Lohan onboard for a storyline will now be in the third season. [ [http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/02/ugly-betty-show.html 'Ugly Betty': Plans for musical episode and Lindsay Lohan cameo on hold | Strike, TV Biz | Hollywood Insider | EW.com ] ] The two proposed ideas were already in the planning stages during the second season, but were put on hold due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.

Shooting of the episodes will move from Los Angeles to on location shooting in New York City, where the show takes place [ [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Story?id=5870394&page=1 "'Ugly Betty' is the New Kid on New York City Block" from ABC News (September 24, 2008)] ] . The last time the show was shot in New York was the Pilot. [ [http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Ausiello-Scoop-Ugly/800039043 Ugly Betty's Move to New York: "It's a Done Deal"] ] In addition, the series will have more physical elements, especially for Betty [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2008/07/17/2008-07-17_stuntman_manny_siverio_makes_sure_everyo.html Stuntman Manny Siverio Makes Sure Everyone's Safe in "Ugly Betty"] from New York Daily News (July 17, 2008)] .

Already the cast members, especially Ana Ortiz, Vanessa Williams and Marc Indelicato, have begun to feel at home with the relocation as the three, along with Becki Newton and Judith Light, are originally from the East Coast [ [http://tvwatch.people.com/2008/07/19/ugly-betty-stars-feel-at-home-in-new-york/ Ugly Betty Stars Feel At Home in New York] from People.com (July 20, 2008)] .

Production could be halted because of the possibility of a Screen Actors Guild strike. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080619/tv_nm/actors_television_dc_3 TV Networks Brace for Potential Strike] , "Yahoo!", June 19, 2008]

Plot

As the events of the previous episode has passed, Betty's decision about going to Rome with Gio or marrying Henry had taken its toll on her, so she made her decision of her love triangle by deciding not to choose either Gio or Henry as we learn (via a confessional to her mom's tombstone) that Betty refused both Henry's wedding proposal and Gio's Rome date because she wasn't ready for a serious relationship and had to find out who she was. With this free time away from the two love interests, Betty travels the country alone to gain more experience and come back refreshed, along with a idea binder which outline her goals.Unfortunately, as Betty returns to New York City, she discovers that a lot has changed. First there's a newly redesigned Mode done up in black, white and chrome fixtures, Marc and Amanda welcoming back their favorite frenemy and of course, Wilhelmina at the helm of editor-in-chief. And as Betty walks into a nursery for the unborn Meade, she sees Wilhelmina telling the construction crew about putting a mirror there.The second thing that has changed is Daniel, who is now downstairs heading up sister publication Player magazine. Nevertheless, she gets assigned to head up their Harley event, which has been plagued by a prankster spraying silly string on one the models, so she tells Daniel that she will take care of the situation by filling in for the injured biker. And as she does, Betty sees Daniel Jr., who then sprays silly string on her helmet, resulting in a major catastrophe, and Marc and Amanda are delighted to be on hand to soak up the hilarity.The third thing that has changed is her place of residence. It appears that the apartment-hunting Betty just got duped by a savvy realtor after she buys an overpriced apartment, sight unseen. Ironically, this place seems to have issues, among them a "Sexy View" spot that reveals a elderly nude couple. The Suarezes band together, however, and clean and decorate Betty's pad. At the same time, Betty meets her next door neighbor Jesse, who is very attractive.Betty also gets a chance to see Ignacio's boss at Flushing Burger, which turns out to be managed by Kimmie Keegan (Lindsay Lohan)...Betty's long-time nemesis since childhood. When Betty and Hilda confront Kimmie over Ignacio's working hours (among other things), Kimmie waste no time at all reviving their feud, leading to a food fight which had to be broken up by police and Betty's idea binder getting deep-fried in the fat fryer. However, Kimmie decides the make things right with Betty after she reveals about being jealous of Betty's success.Meanwhile, Alexis and Wilhelmina promote the next issue of Mode on Live with Regis & Kelly, but somehow that interview took on a different twist when Wilhelmina revealed on the show that she had funded money for Claire's magazine Hot Flash. It also looked like that Wilhelmina's plans to divide the Meades may be succeeding a lot better than expected, for Alexis is unaware of Wilhelmina manipulating her one-time ally.

Proposed storylines

Other hints in addition to the ones mentioned this season includes Amanda's past and her continued search for her father and more romantic action for Marc and Cliff [ [http://buzzsugar.com/1825466 From Buzz Sugar (July 30, 2008)] ]

In an interview about the new direction the series will be taking, Silvio Horta told E!'s Kristin Dos Santos at a ABC press meeting for its show runners, "This season is going to be about growing up. We aren't going to be doing anymore child-like storylines. It's going to be about moving Betty forward [ [http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=8e63c310-a001-447b-8239-1e3ea3214068 ABC's Big Bosses Dish on Grey's, Lost, Desperate and Betty] from E! Online (July 18, 2008)] ." He then added more details to MediaWeek about the changes: "On Ugly Betty I think we started to veer a little too much into the romantic storyline, where it started to really become the show. And it started to just get away from what I originally wanted to do and where we originally started, which was about a girl making it in the city and her work life. So we're trying to refocus that back. But there's always temptation and you want to explore it. You want to have the opportunity to explore it. And the second you start getting too involved in it, it's like any plot line. You go in; it's very hard to get out and it takes a little longer [ [http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/national-broadcast/e3i7d21992b375a28c6b80fcf041a5428c8 TCA: ABC Dishes on Ugly Betty, Private Practice, and More] from MediaWeek (July 18, 2008)] ." He later revealed that we could see a more evolving Betty: "Betty will solve a crime. Inject Botox. Get attacked by an animal. Throw a Wilhelmina mannequin down a flight of stairs. And that's just the first three episodes." [ [http://community.livejournal.com/uglybetty/421237.html From Community.livejournal.com/uglybetty] ]

Casting changes

It was recently announced that Rebecca Romijn's character of Alexis Meade, Daniel's male-to-female transsexual sister, will be demoted to a recurring character because of Romijn's dissatisfaction with the direction the writers have taken her character. [ [http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/unhappy%20romjin%20to%20quit%20ugly%20betty_1066726 ABC - UNHAPPY ROMIJN TO QUIT UGLY BETTY] ] Also, this may be because of Romijn's impending pregnancy. There is also speculation that the move might also result in another regular opting to stay in California because of family and/or other personal commitments, although TV Guide's Michael Ausiello reported that it might be a ploy to ask for a salary increase [ [http://www.tvguide.com/ask-ausiello/ugly-betty/080514-19 From TV Guide (May 19, 2008)] ] .

In addition, Victoria Beckham will return as herself in a few cameos. [ [http://www.thedailygoss.com/gossip/posh-is-hit-with-the-ugly-stick%E2%80%A6.again!/0002779/ POSH IS HIT WITH THE UGLY STICK - AGAIN!] ] Also, the season opener will feature Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa doing a cameo in which Wilhelmina and Alexis appear on Live With Regis and Kelly, which in turn comes on the heels of Ripa's husband Mark Consuelos having signed up for a multi-episode run in which he'll play a police detective [ [http://www.accesshollywood.com/article/10655/regis-and-kelly-to-guest-star-in-ugly-betty-premiere/access-hollywood?__source=related-headlines From Access Hollywood (August 4, 2008)] ] . And theres already talk that Ralph Macchio will have a recurring stint beyond his appearance in the fifth episode where he will play a city official [ [http://tv.hollyscoop.com/greys-anatomy/new-cast-members-for-greys-and-betty_1223.aspx From Hollyscoop.com] ] .

Christopher Gorham (Henry Grubstick) revealed to TV Guide recently, in his own words, "The show is moving, I am not." [ [http://spoilertv.blogspot.com/2008/06/thanks-to-trinity-for-following.html SpoilerTV] ] But several days later after Gorham made those comments, TV Guide's Matt Webb, in his video blog, says that he has a different version of the story coming from ABC, which claims that Gorham is still part of the cast [ [http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Tv-Mattrs/Ugly-Betty-Bones/800041742 From TV Guide (June 17, 2008)] ] . On July 11, 2008, TV Guide confirmed that Gorham and Rodriguez are moving on from "Betty" as the two actors will make their last appearances due to other commitments, especially Gorham, who might be headed to CBS' "Harper's Island" [ [http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-News-Blog/Todays-News/Ugly-Bettys-Henry/800043074 From TV Guide (July 11, 2008)] ] . However, in a Q&A submitted to Ausiello at his webpage at Entertainment Weekly, he asked Ferrera about the absence of the two actors after they were no-shows at the Season 3 premiere party in New York City on September 12, 2008: "Betty's decision at the beginning of this season is not an ending to anything," Ferrera insisted. "It's more about huge beginnings for her. Christopher [Gorham] , who we love and adore, and Freddy [Rodriguez] , who is wonderful and so great on our show, are not gone [forever] . You'll never know when they'll pop in or pop out, but they'll be around [ [http://spoilertv.blogspot.com/2008/09/ugly-betty-latest-from-ausiello.html From Spoiler TV] ] ."

Webisodes

For the third season, a spin-off online series called "Mode After Hours" will accompany the main series. The program will follow Marc St. James (Michael Urie) and Amanda Tanen (Becki Newton) having fun around the "Mode" offices when they are not working [ [http://community.livejournal.com/uglybetty/436853.html#cutid1 From community.livejournal.com/uglybetty] ] [ [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080924abc02 ABC.COM LAUNCHES ORIGINAL WEBISODES TODAY FOR "UGLY BETTY" WITH PREMIERE OF "MODE AFTER HOURS" From The Futon Critic (September 24, 2008)] ] . There will be six episodes lasting 5 minutes in length, with two airing in same week. Here are the scheduled listings:

*September 23, "Gwadalaharahh" - Amanda and Marc make fun of Betty and Daniel respectively
*September 25, "Friend-iversary VLOG" - It is the "friend-iversary" of when Marc first met Amanda, but Amanda completely forgot about it
*October 9, "Bowling for Cliff"
*October 16, "Slumber Party Secrets"
*October 23, "Summers Sance"
*October 30, "Trapped in the Elevator"
*October 30, Behind The Scenes Extras and Making of "Mode After Hours"

Episodes

References