Comments on: Exclusive: Despite rumors, Ugly Betty's fate likely not decided until May

By: juna

juna — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:52:28 +0000

Ugly Betty is my favorite show. Please renew it!

By: TesserT

TesserT — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:30:21 +0000

Robert, I liked how you slipped in that ML data! and you’re right – TV is more about advertising and advertising sales than content creation – something has to pay for all those production costs.

By: ABCFanaticIn1973

ABCFanaticIn1973 — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:26:14 +0000

I don’t think any of the new sitcoms of ABC will be a hit and Samantha Who will be no good too. The show has only 6 million viewers without a leadin from DWTS! That’s is such a big problem for the show. Ugly Betty doesn’t have a lead-in and its been very consisted this season.

Bring back Betty!

By: Rob R

Rob R — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:52:57 +0000

When Samantha Who and the Motherhood sitcoms sub for Ugly Betty, the resultant Nielsen ratings will gave ABC a whole ‘nother appreciation for our dear Betty. Betty will be renewed in a heartbeat……just a prediction, no inside info here.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:21:39 +0000

Robert, I’d figure they’d say “18-34 females,” to me rather than “a target demo,” but if I was guessing it would be Latina viewers. I wasn’t that interested so I didn’t press it and instead tried to get the lowdown on LOM. Which isn’t going to be renewed. That decision seems nearly final. I’ll let you know the day they let the producers know if I hear it like I did with PD and DSM.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:08:30 +0000

would that be the YOUNG FEMALE demo?

Of COURSE it would be.

let me cover my mouth so nobody hears the gasping.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:03:31 +0000

I checked into it, and was told it fits a “demo,” that they’re interested in. I wasn’t told what demo. They are in talks for renewal now, but talks are talks and negotiations break down all the time.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:16:04 +0000

I didn’t mean that it would be sent to Lifetime for new episodes, but instead in syndication. These types of shows don’t do well in off-network syndication, unless ABC studios wants to cut each episode down to 1/2 hour (which they very well could).

By: Average Joe

Average Joe — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:26:39 +0000

Fugly Betty needs to die. Send her to the LOST Island. Maybe the smoke monster will “disARM” her like it did to that one guy last night.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:25:05 +0000

I love how people don’t even read the post or else just completely disregard what it says and then comment.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:12:12 +0000

There gonna renew Ugly Betty. The show still does pretty decent during its timeslot plus its getting close to Syndication numbers. Also remember, ABC pretty much got rid of almost all there shows. 3 them are canceled while 2 are in there final season and ofcorse Boston Legal ended to. Plus we can tell that LOM is gonna get the boot to. Plus I think ABC really likes Ugly betty alot. Just make it to season 5 betty…

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:32:05 +0000

One of the reasons Betty will be renewed is because they have no breakout hits this season, nor last season. The shows likely renewed for next season are Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters, Private Practice, and Samantha Who?. ABC may as well keep Betty around.

By: S.

S. — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:11:51 +0000

@Doug

The problem I see with UB going to Lifetime is that they already streamlined costs to have S3. Moving to NY, and cutting a regular character. Unless talent is willing to take pay cuts, it is not likely.

On the other hand, Anna Ortiz, Betty’s sister, announced she is pregnant. She could become a recurring. That would mean that Betty’s nephew would probably phased out. That is another way to cut costs. They would call it creative decision, like the termination of Nicolette Sheridan in Desperate Housewives.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:41:32 +0000

UB’s numbers have been sinking like a rock this season and continue to go lower. If it touches a 2 in the demo, I’d be shocked at a renewal and at this rate, it looks quite possible later in the season. If the show does get renewed (and I hope it does – it’s a generally good show that need some work), it won’t wind up back on Thursdays, that’s for sure.

ABC is tough to predict because they’re in yet another season without a new break-out, and their big guns are registering big declines. None of ABC’s new series will be renewed, and it’s pretty much starting from scratch on Tuesdays and Wednesday yet again this fall. And yes, I know they will likely air DWTS there, but that show has yet to show a positive impact on whatever follows it.

Oh, and I highly doubt that UB will be stripped. It will wind up on Lifetime, if anywhere.

By: Fin

Fin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:34:18 +0000

I think UB will be renewed (or do i hope?) because Samantha Who? Which takes its place did terrible in the FALL without DWTS. Plus i think Cupid and Surving Suburbia will flop, In the motherhood will get Kath & Kim numbers: so will flop but not as bad as the previous but i think CASTLE will do well along with The Goode Family. Not sure about The Unusuals. Finally Ugly Betty i think has been given the harsh end of the stick with a long haitus: bad ABC!

By: cool

cool — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:22:33 +0000

I hate when Kristin from E! or Ausiello make the word EXCLUSIVE like a big deal.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:36:57 +0000

So if they cancel UB, i’ll be the only Jesse here? Interesting.

Seriously though, I don’t see it going anywhere. At least not this year.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:15:49 +0000

Betty will be renewed. It seems like one of the bubble shows, but its always reliable for ABC since they don’t have anything else. And ABC has canceled a lot of shows this year, (mostly sophomore shows) so it seems likely that Betty will be back.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:30:09 +0000

I do believe that “Exclusive” has come to mean “told to me while no one else was listening, as far as I know”. We should use that term a lot more on the site!

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:07:56 +0000

I’m sticking with salesmanship. I speculated about the IP interest in the comments yesterday and that does make some sense to me, but interested in IP isn’t the same thing as “here’s an order for 13 episodes!”

While they can’t cancel every show there are already at least six scripted shows that won’t be cancelled, and I don’t see that playing a huge factor in the decision making with UB.

Again, I won’t at all be surprised if they cancel it or keep it. I will be surprised if we know anything anytime soon.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:00:50 +0000

Robert, ABC can’t cancel every show. I think LOM is dead, dead, dead. It’s a rotting corpse. They also aren’t going to like CASTLE much either when its numbers premier and I’m guessing CUPID will flop about worse than the first run. UGLY BETTY isn’t great, but for some reason a deal is being negotiated. I don’t know what the REAL reason is, but the reasons they’re bandying about have been repeated by Ausiello and others.

For whatever reason they like BETTY or maybe they want to placate one of the producers who has an IP they’re interested in (this is likely the real reason, which if so will come to light by May).

You’re definitely right that it isn’t good business. Then again, we’re talking about ABC. They renewed PUSHING DAISIES despite the signs that the show was dying in Season 1.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:37:17 +0000

That actually made me laugh out loud, Jesse. Thanks!

By: I Am Jesse

I Am Jesse — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:30:37 +0000

If Ugly Betty dies, I die.