Off to Mexico

• Apr 18, 2007 03:00 PM ET
• by Christopher Gorham

So, I've noticed that the kind folks at TVGuide.com have moved me to the "Featured Blogs" section of their website. I wonder if this is because a lot of people are reading these entries, or because they're not. And then I figure, well, it's probably because I write such an amazing blog week after week. But then I remember last week's short, sad exercise and decide that I probably have little to do with the honor. Anyway, I've noticed, and I think it's nice.

Now, there is ( finally) a real, honest-to-goodness, brand spanking new episode of Ugly Betty this week. I'd tell you all about it - well, a little bit about it - but I'm not in it so I haven't seen the script. Sure, they would have given me one if I'd asked, but I kind of like not knowing. It reminds me of the beginning of the season when I was as much a fan of the show as I was a part of it.

In fact, in this case, I'm glad I'm not in it. As a fan, I really feel like Betty needs a little time away from Henry. And since Henry isn't, really, friends with anyone else at "Mode," there isn't anything else for him to do. Don't get me wrong, I love Betty and Henry together, but I think they need a little space. The quirky, nerdy flirtations have been fun to watch (if I do say so myself), but, honestly, it's about time to get this show on the road. Their relationship needs to grow in a new direction. Like, maybe the direction in which it might grow next week... maybe.

This past week we were shooting in "Mexico." I use quotations, of course, because we were actually just a few miles northeast of Six Flags Magic Mountain. In fact, the little fake town we shot in has recently been frequently used as "Iraq." So while we were there we called it, "Iraxico." Now when you see it in the episode, you'll know that just on the other side of that fake panaderia is a fake mosque.

The two days we spent out there were particularly fun for me, because I spent most of the time riding around on a scooter. Now, I won't spoil it by telling you what the thing looked like; that's not important and you'll find out soon enough. What is important (relevant, anyway) is how I felt: cool.

Now, I've ridden a motorcycle before (off-road even), so I know the differences between a bike and a scooter. The pedals used to start this particular scooter helped bring those differences into stark relief. But there's just something about riding a motor with two wheels, even a teeny tiny little motor, that brings something out of you, the little dare devil in all of us. So, maybe I didn't get it over 20, OK 15, miles per hour, but I felt like I could have.

And that brings me right smack up to Episode 23. We start shooting the season finale this week, but I haven't seen the script yet so I can't tell you very much about it. Well, I may have read it by the time that you're reading this, but as of this writing I have not. What I can tell you is that, as a cast, we're having a hard time believing that we're almost done with Season 1. It seems to have, at once, taken so long and gone too fast. Thankfully, it won't be the last.

I swear to god I didn't mean to rhyme like that, but I completely understand if I lose my "Featured Blog" status because of it. There's just no excuse for that.