Ugly Betty

I watched the pilot episode of Ugly Betty this evening. It has the makings of being something to veg out in front of on a Sunday afternoon (when they show the repeat).

If you haven't heard about it, or seen it, its basic premise is that the young girl (Ugly Betty), who isn't the prettiest thing on the block, gets her first job as Assistant to the Editorial Director of a high-ranking fashion magazine. She's hired by the ED's boss, who is also his father, in an attempt to stop him sleeping with any of the pretty young things that want the job. In a world where how you look is all, you can see the irony of the story line and it's a bit of a swipe at the vainess of the fashion industry by the programme makers when ugly girl prevails over the fashionistas.

But even more ironic to me is that it's blindingly obvious that the actress playing the part of Ugly Betty, isn't ugly at all. She's just made to look that way. Because in television, where how you look is also all, a less than pretty actress is never going to make it as an actress in the first place.

The old adage "people in glasshouses" springs to mind. But hey, we all like a good "underdog makes good" story don't we!?