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This afternoon, the cast received notification that it’s the last season for Ugly Betty — and that ABC has cut its order by two episodes for this season and the show will now wrap at the end of March. This sad news comes after ABC twice moved Ugly Betty‘s time slot. The one-time award-winning hit show had been Thursdays at 8 PM, but then switched to the “Friday night death slot” of 9 PM during this 4th season, then settled into Wednesdays at 10 PM in the former Eastwick spot. As an insider told me at the time, “We’ve been getting great reviews for the season but horrible ratings, and hopefully we’ve got a shot at lasting one more season with the move.” Instead, ABC pulled the plug today and even pulled it early — though the network hinted at a fan-satisfying big finale.
But the show will be remembered for more than just a fashion storyline, or a remake of a Colombian telenovela. Instead, Ugly Betty’s 2008 move from LA to Gotham for New York’s tax breaks prompted the California state legislature to finally offer $500 million in new tax credits to help stop runaway showbiz production. Even though the first credits aren’t applicable until 2011, applications are already flying out the door. That’s because the so-called Ugly Betty law aimed at big movie productions with budgets up to $75 million, new TV series willing to relocate to California, and independent films with budgets up to $10 million. The credit, for up to 25% of production budgets spent in the state, is capped at $100 million a year. This, combined with the Los Angeles City Council’s new business tax breaks, could persuade Hollywood to start filming close to home again. (But, more likely and more cynically, the studios and networks will pit states and their financial inducements against one other.)
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Same as Conan, you don’t make the grade and your out. Disney isn’t a charity operation, those employees knew 2 years ago that it could end anytime. ABC & Disney tried Friday night, then Wednesday night last season they let it stay on Thursday nights. It’s sort of reverse of Conan, his people moved from NY to Hollywood, UG people moved from Hollywood to NY.
The pilot was cast out of and shot in NY with the intention of shooting the series there…the cast was actually almost unanimously excited when the show moved back. LA crew took new jobs in LA and the writers didn’t relocate so all told about four people moved east with the production.
One of the finest and most underrated casts on television. Sad to see them go. At least most of them were originally from NY; Maybe Urie and Newton can take this opportunity to get themselves the Broadway gigs they’ve always wanted.
What I don’t get is how it lasted four seasons.
Ratings Suck. Demos are weak. ABC has been more than patient with these guys. Time to go….See ya Betty…!!
Had ABC just left it on Thursday nights it would have been on for 10 years. People are creatures of habit. Ugly Betty on Thursday night was a constant. I would go over friends house, we’d make dinner and sit down and watch the show. (even though it was on DVR we watched it that night.) When will the networks learn that no one is going to go chasing after shows they keep moving around, i.e. Law & Order when it was moved to Fridays. If you keep moving a hit show around to a different night and time, people are going to tune out and just say F it. It’s why I stopped watching Lost.
it’s too bad as it was a show with a lot of heart, fun scripts, nice performances and excellent production values. it was unlike anything else on TV! Everyone’s entitled to their opinions about liking it or not, but I watched all four seasons and enjoyed the ride. (for the record, I mainly watch original series on HBO and Showtime…so that’s my usual taste.)
it’s a business and that’s that…if the ratings aren’t up to snuff, then it’s gotta go. but the masses don’t always get it right! I’m glad it’ll go out, though, with a proper series finale.
What Laura said.
Plus it’s time. The show is stuck. The Betty character is annoying. She’s not growing at all and the show seems very repetitive.
I am not surprised Ugly Betty had problems with ratings — it’s competing for the same kind of audience that Mercy, Desperate Housewives, LOST, etc. all do. A night-time soap. I am shocked it lasted that long.
As for the tax breaks, how sustainable are they in the nation-wide crisis affecting State’s revenues? EVERY State faces a huge downturn tax revenues, and most states have fairly bloated public sectors that will require more bailout money to keep going, its questionable how long and for how much Congress/Obama can shovel money to the States to plug budget gaps. NY is taxing sodas and everything else to close budget gaps, California is what, $6 billion plus in the hole in its projected budget?
States can’t play the “get film-making here” game because EVERY possible tax is going to be raised, and spending will STILL have to be cut. [Its made worse by the Stimulus funds that mandate expansion of State benefits for welfare, education, unemployment, etc. that increase spending without permanent revenue -- the Stimulus funds run out after two years.]
I would be shocked if all those laws were not rescinded given how all States are under the gun fiscally. A tax break to Hollywood while discretionary spending on libraries, parks, public safety, etc. are cut? And secondly, that’s tinkering on the margins. California/LA can only win by having a lower total cost compared to say, NZ, Canada, Australia, and the like. Which means not tax rebates but a swift permitting system, lots of skilled people, services, and money to be made. The subsidies were a dumb move anyway.
I liked UB for the jokes and somehow interesting plots, but the show has been getting lamer lately. it’s repetitive, and the only evolution of Betty consisted in her getting rid of her bangs and becoming an editor after 3 seasons. worst thing is her character has become more boring than ever!
it was nice having all the fabulous guess stars.
It all went downhill after Henry left. New boyfriend Matt was the most boring thing ever. Watching him and Betty kiss was like watching grass grow.
The studios and networks have been pitting states and their incentives against each other for years. It’s a great strategy to get the tax payers to ultimately pay for part of the production while the studio execs keep their big payday!
Ugly Betty and Lost are ending… wouldn’t be surprised if Desperate Housewives and Grey’s end late ths yr./early next year. ABC’s losing their warhorse lineup…
NO WAY are Grey’s and Housewives ending anytime soon! They have huge audiences still and TPTB don’t want them to end. They’ll both be on for years more. It’s pretty obvious you don’t follow the ratings at all.
Sorry that this groundbreaking television show is coming to and end.
This was one of the few shows my wife and I both enjoyed together. We knew it was just a matter of time when they moved the show to “Death Friday.”
It’s a shame. There aren’t too many shows out there with as much heart and sweetness that UG had.
you will be missed Ugly Betty!
I love Ugly Betty and am sad to see it go. It’s one of the few network shows I watch and it’s been consistently well-written, well-directed, well-acted and funny. Looking on the bright side, maybe Betty will finally get her braces off, show off her real hair, and get together with Daniel!
And yet low rated critical darlings like Friday Night Lights continue. (Sorry, but there is nothing about football, Texas or small towns worth watching); While the Uglier-than-Betty Kristen Bell is being shoved down out throats again.
I was on a top ten show, part of the “CBS MONDAY NIGHT!!” resurrection-from-the-dead-phenomena that the SHOWS made happen for CBS in the early ’90′s.
So, what did CBS do? They moved us to Friday night, along with another of the Monday night line-up, the other shows on the night scattered as well, then, it all fell to shit, we were canceled, the other shows were canceled, and, CBS had the fucking balls to blame it on the shows “not the strategy.”
These people are morons who need to justify their salaries, so they sit around wondering how they CAN look a gift horse in the mouth, and then they fuck things up EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Outside the L.A. bubble, the observation that TV watchers are “creatures of habit?”
You can take that to the bank. It works, and you have the sense of a fifth grader to leave it there? You’ve got a night of TV that can last a decade – or more.
You put on your “moron TV exec hat” and try to be clever? You’re fucked, and you’re left grasping for excuses, and the excuse is ALWAYS the same “it’s the show’s fault.”
The ironic thing is, despite the ass-covering, these executives get fired with such regularity themselves, it’s a wonder they even bother making excuses. Their days are numbered anyway.
As to “Ugly Betty” moving to L.A. from N.Y.?
Here’s another reason I can’t STAND the NY SAG, corrupt union shop. They piss and moan, then block any and all reform that they, in their mouse-like hysteria, fear will alienate producers from doing work in NY, then the producers fuck them anyway! EVERY SINGLE TIME.
And they all get on the bus up to Albany for the tax incentives and Albany says, “great to see you, enjoy the bus ride home.”
For all their chest-thumping: “this-is-OUR-town” bullshit, the bottom line on the NY SAG division?
THEY SUCK.
They suck at bringing work to NY. They suck at KEEPING work in NY, and yet they will sell their MOTHER’s to fuck with L.A. because they are such jealous, vindictive rats, and they feel looked down upon by L.A. – its dominance in production, it’s dominance in generation of revenue, so, along with the RBD – what is their governing philosophy?
“FUCK L.A.”
That’s it folks. Constructive, huh?
And I’ve been a NY-based actor for 22 of my 28 years as a professional actor. But, see, my time in L.A. on a series and doing other work, enlightened me as to the wisdom of working TOGETHER out of ONE power base for the GOOD of ALL.
Why am I in NY? I HATE L.A. – that’s why. I went there to do a job, I go there to do jobs, but I LOVE NY. I just wish the NY SAG division would get their HEADS OUT OF THEIR ASSES.
Instead, NY and RBD throw their “electoral” weight around, but, what do they ACCOMPLISH? Where’s the WORK?
It’s in L.A. and Canada. PERIOD.
If it’s in NY, it’s soaps, or some commercials, the rare film, lots of “hey, I’ll pay YOU” indies, or theater (good luck making a living there) or shows that go AFTRA – mostly cable, but now creeping into former SAG network jurisdiction as well – TERRIBLE one-off deals on cable that AFTRA will make public when it rains in hell, they’re so bad, but they justify it as, “otherwise they’d go to Canada and shoot non-union!”
WHAT?
“Rescue Me” was NOT GOING TO CANADA and shooting non-union. Instead, it got a sweetheart cable deal from AFTRA on FX with incredible free exhibition windows, low up-front salaries for all but Leary (who deserved his money), and, now? Instead of being a part of a long running, critically acclaimed series, with residuals rolling in? EVERY SINGLE OTHER REGULAR on that show realizes they got FUCKED, and, once the show is gone?
It’s back to the grind, because none of the other regulars really made any money, not REALLY, and the residuals, when they DO come, after all those free exhibition windows?
SUCK.
Why do you think the woman who played the female firefighter in the early episodes split for an L.A. NETWORK SAG show, where she was the third detective from the left on a show that couldn’t tie “Rescue Me’s” shoes creatively?
BECAUSE SHE WASN’T MAKING ANY MONEY ON RESCUE ME IN NY with a one-off AFTRA cable deal with FX – and in L.A? – she’ll happily say dumb crap for as LONG AS THEY WILL HAVE HER on whatever show she went to, because she GETS PAID and gets RESIDUALS. REAL RESIDUALS. Like, “I can make this money last if I don’t give it to Bernie Madoff for the rest of my freakin’ LIFE” salary and residuals.
Thanks to SAG L.A.
NY? The SAG and AFTRA big-shots run closed, corrupt shops, that do NOT serve the best financial interests of their members, and UNTIL those members realize that – they deserve what they get.
Wise up NY.
Tell us how you really feel. Wow!
I don’t know about unions or labor laws or tax breaks, but Ugly Betty takes place in New York, so it stands to reason that it should be shot in New York and only in New York. Since the move, the producers have done an excellent job of using the city as a backdrop. As for the ratings, its a transparent case of networks taking a show for granted and shuttling it around the schedule. Everyone should know by now that you can’t get away with that anymore, and yet networks keep doing it. It’s a cleverly made show with an fine cast and exceptional production design that is almost a separate character itself. ABC should have taken better care of this show.