What I’m Watching: Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty: Season 4, Episode 17 “Million Dollar Smile” (B-)

As we’re fast approaching the end of this show, a fantasy episode hardly seems necessary or appropriate. It’s not nearly as unforgivable as a clip show, a sin committed recently by “The Office” after a hiatus of a few weeks earlier this season. At least there are a few enjoyable and clever moments in this alternate reality, and it certainly is fun to see all of the characters in their slightly different situations. It’s absolutely a great way of having Daniel and Betty sleep together without needing it to actually happen. This was a wonderful opportunity to finally give America Ferrera a chance to look good, and it’s also a great audition tape for her. The performance she turns in here as bitchy Betty makes it clear that she’s capable of playing more than just ugly Betty, and it’s likely that she’ll have another great role after this show. Back to reality I did enjoy the other happenings of this episode, including the development and speedy end of Amanda’s budding romance with Tyler. Marc seeing him standing in the apartment with his pink shirt made for a funny interaction, and I enjoyed Amanda emphasizing that she was telling the truth by affirming “honest to Prada.” Betty is really gaining more confidence these days, and I liked her “Betty: one, giving up: zero” moment. Wilhelmina’s call to cut Betty apart when it was suggested that the bra be cut apart was hilarious. I enjoyed seeing Austin come to the door at the end of the episode, but what’s going to happen there? We have to wait a whole week to find out? My favorite part of this episode was Marc’s delight at asking Betty if, in four years, he had ever gotten tired of making fun of her. It’s just the unfettered enthusiasm with which he says it.