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Episode Recap: Zero Worship
Welcome back all you UB fans out there! It looks like we've got a few more glorious weeks to enjoy with our homely heroine before the writer's strike takes hold. Lets try and make the best of the short time we have with her. First off, I should explain that though I'm a first time blogger for this show, I've been a fan since day one and I've been known to comment on here every so often. I think I've got what it takes to keep this blog going though I hope nobody holds it against me that I'm rooting for Betty and Gio over Betty and Henry. Anyway, here goes.In Betty's first outing of the new year, fashion week was underway once again at Mode which means two things: Loads of stress for the Mode employees and plenty of guest stars for us viewers at home. Remember Katherine McPhee's cameo from last year?
While Betty was helping Daniel prepare for the Mode fashion show, she also played the cool aunt for Justin and his classmates by guiding them on a tour of the office. As she led the kiddies around, it became apparent to her how seeing size zero models everywhere was starting to affect the impressionable young minds. Recalling her own weight issues as a child, Betty set out on a mission to prove that being skinny isn't the only way to be beautiful. Betty seemed to gain support from Daniel who was eager to prove his abilities as a leader. When Alexis quickly shot down his idea, he resorted to rigging the scale at the weigh-in to appease both Betty and Alexis. When Betty figured it all out, she convinced him to go behind his sister's back and cast real women in the fashion show. Although the show was a success, Betty wasn't quite as successful at getting through to the girls in Justin's class.
In the mean time, Wilhelmina and Marc continued on their quest to get Bradford's bun in Willie's oven. Unfortunately, Willie's doctor informed her of her hostile womb which causes her to be infertile. Time to find a surrogate! At first, it seemed that Willie's manicurist was the perfect woman for the job until Marc and Cliff uncover her big secret while perusing the porn section of their local video store. With the manicurist no longer an option, Willie needed to find someone who was so desperate for money they'd do anything. Enter Christina...who had just received word that Mode's health insurance would not cover her husband's experimental procedures. Poor Christina always seems to end up in these situations! However, it looks like we'll be getting more on that storyline next week.
Over at the reception desk, Amanda continued her search for her father. Even with a private detective on the case, she was no closer to finding out her father's identity and was about ready to give up hope. As a last resort, she takes up Marc's offer to visit with a psychic (played by Annie Potts) whom he swears by based on the fact that she knew he was gay when he met with her for the first time. I loved Amanda's response to that: "Is that the doctor who delivered you?" Annie Potts did an amazing job with the role leading Amanda on a scavenger hunt trying to find the clues that she mentioned in the reading. The whole thing amounted to Amanda finding a picture of Gene Simmons from Kiss and believing him to be her father. While I'm sure it won't end up being true, the very idea of it made me cringe. They better get us someone so much better to fill those shoes. I'd rather not see some cast-off from Celebrity Apprentice.
By the end of the hour, Betty walked the runway during fashion week, Bow Wow and Omarion performed a song from their new album, and it looked as though Willie found herself a surrogate. Did I mention how glad I am this show is back? Even if its just for a little while. This show is a perfect blend of over-the-top drama and hilarious one-lines which makes it pretty tough to catch everything and fit it into one little blog. As I've stated in previous comments on this blog, I love any scenes that pair up Marc and Amanda and this episode is no exception. I was completely content with the minimal screen time given to Ignacio though a little more Hilda would have been nice. Betty and Henry's relationship has run its course for me and I'm waiting for Henry to leave so Betty can have other love interests (even if it's not Gio.) Before I go, I also need to mention how much I miss Judith Light as Claire. I'm so psyched for next week when her trial for Fey's murder begins. It's gonna be a great one folks! I leave you this week with a few of my favorite little tidbits from this week's show.
-The cheesecake/heroin diet
-Amanda feeling close to Jimmy "JJ" Walker, Dy-no-mite!
-Marc turning everything into sexual "inenendo": "Dick Tracy" was "shooting blanks"
-"They're New York teenagers. If they can sorta read and they don't kill me, I'm happy!"
-Bow Wow likes em freaky
-Amanda's dog is a little racist (but adorably ugly)
-Marc wanting to watch "Bring It On" or "Bring It On 2: Bring It On Again"
-The secret fashion show code names: Princess Daisy/Betty, Black Dragon/Henry, Falcon/Daniel
-Willie referring to Christina as a Scotch on the rocks
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Jan 11, 2008 1:38 AM
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The funniest part of the episode was not the episode itself: it's the timeslot. At 8 PM, we learn that Gene Simmions may be Amanda's father. At 9 PM, we learn that Gene is a misogynist on Celebrity Apprentice. The irony is overwhelming.
The rescue of the "dog" (or "dawg") was so horribly punny that it was awesome. Amanda forgot to mention that she was told it would be a "black" god...
"Hostile Womb." Hehe.
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Jan 11, 2008 7:08 AM
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Ok, I've never heard music by Bow Wow, although he has grown up nicely. When they started playing the song he & Omarion sang, before they came out, I was thinking, Oh My God, they've got LL Cool J SWEET! Then they showed up. The music to his song is an old LL song, Going Back to Cali, loved that song. Yes, I'm an 80's girl, might be why I've never heard music of Bow Wow's (or Omarion's either, I would have never known who he was unless it was put in the original blog.
I too don't care for Betty & Henry, there's just soemthing about him, (not that he has a baby with another girl, just something). I am glad to see that he'll be back next week, question I have from the previews, it shows Betty in the doc's office & her whole family is there & Gio & you hear the voice over "you're pregnant", what the devil is her whole family & Gio doing in there with her if they were all actually in there or if it was a splice to make it sound better, they do that with previews to get you to watch it, helloooo the show sells it self, you don't have to dr it up any.
I sooo hope that Gene Simmons is not her daddy. I mean ewww. Cracked up at her face when she tried to do the signature Gene Simmons tongue thing. HI-Larious.
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Jan 11, 2008 8:03 AM
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"Is that the doctor who delivered you?"
Actually, I think the line was..."So did the doctor who delivered you!"
But other than that...great recap and GREAT episode! I love that Betty was the final model!
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Jan 11, 2008 8:35 AM
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My favorite scenes are always the ones with Amanda and Marc, and Willie and Marc so last night delivered on both teams - I loved Marc injecting Willie with her drugs and then she had one of the best lines of the night, "I'm hormotional!" The "hostile womb" bit is a riot but I'm so sorry that poor Christina is in such a bad financial position with her husband's health issues that she just MIGHT have to serve as the surrogate - that will be great when Willie approaches her about it!
Great scene when Marc was meeting Amanda for lunch in the not-so-secret sex dungeon and, after being told by Christina that he shouldn't be there because he didn't work at "Mode" anymore, he found out that she and her husband had taken their turn in there - also laughed when Marc was comforting Christina and stroked her cheek with the mannequin's hand...I guess I also love scenes with Marc and Christina, too!
I really enjoyed the plus-size models in the fashion show - the students reactions when they saw their teacher on the runway was funny and I LOVED when Betty got the chance to strut her stuff...you could see her pride in herself and it was also touching that you could clearly see the same pride on the faces of Hilda, Ignacio, Christina and especially Daniel...I teared up when we saw little Betty in her oversized tee-shirt walk out of Daniel's office. It's those kinds of poignant touches that "Ugly Betty" does so well.
Finally, so glad to see that we have more episodes to come...I mistakenly thought last night was the last of the new episodes so I'm psyched for next week, and CLAIRE MEADE! I miss her too!
Oh, and Adam - thanks for your first ever official blog - great recap!
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Jan 11, 2008 8:46 AM
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Great episode last night! I think it's one of my favorites so far.
My 2 favorite parts:
When Daniel was acting like using code names was ridiculous, then declares himself "Falcon." I cracked up.
2nd: When Daniel "sees" Betty as a cubbly little girl. Just about broke my heart. He has so much respect for her. He's now seeing things through her eyes and understanding her feelings.
Oh, and we need more Cliff and Marc!!
Another part that was hysterical was when Henry and Betty are talking romantically on the monitors and Daniel chimes in that they're all on that line. Sooo funny!
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Jan 11, 2008 9:18 AM
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Okay, no one has mentioned my favorite line of the night. Slightly naughty, but here goes. Marc was talking to Willie about getting the egg implanted and said something about her "welcome mat" and Willie said "Oh there hasn't been a welcome mat since the 90s" and Marc just sort of went "ewwww." It took a couple of beats for me to get it and then I laughed out loud! You almost need to watch twice to catch all the hilarious one-liners, especially from Marc and Willie. They get all the best lines, like Jack and Karen used to on W&G. Who knew Vanessa could be a more beautiful, classier Cruella DeVille?
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Jan 11, 2008 9:24 AM
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Loved the scene with the young Betty walking out of Daniel's office. That was awesome and really moving.
So many good lines last night. The "Scotch on the Rocks" was my favorite but the runner up definately belonged to Mark and Amanda.
Amanda: "Hey Lady"
Mark: "Hey Tramp"
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Jan 11, 2008 9:36 AM
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One line that made me laugh out loud was Amanda telling Betty "You matter to me, Betty Gonzalez."
I'm guessing Christina will become Willie's surrogate. I still don't trust her husband. I'm not convinced he's really sick. I'm afraid he might run off after he gets the $100K.
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Jan 11, 2008 9:38 AM
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OK, I know that I'm anal retentive, but one thing stood out to me last night: when Daniel gave Betty the invitation to the underground fashion show, it said, "Fashion Get's Real". One thing that really annoys me is the inability to discern when an apostrophe should not be used.
Okay, grammar rant over. The show had its trademarked mixture of humor and poignancy last night, often at the same time. The conversation between Amanda and Betty, for example. I laugh at her (and Marc's) bitchy comments, but I really like it when we get a glimpse of the human beings beneath their facades.
I love how much Daniel has grown since the first episode, although sometimes it takes a while to kick in. I would like to see Alexis give Daniel more of an equal footing; she might have the killer instinct, but he has the heart, and both are important, IMO.
As much as I hate Willie's machinations (although I do love seeing Daniel and Betty foil them) I miss Marc being around Mode. If (or more likely, when) Willie succeeds in having Bradford's baby, and manages to weasel her way into Meade Publishing, I see Daniel being marginalized even more. I don't want the show to lose its theme of the underdog "winning", because that's a big part of what makes it so appealing to me.
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Jan 11, 2008 11:07 AM
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Bring on Gio! I'm with you about H/B running its course. The fact that he's cheating on the mother of his child kinda negates his wholesome image, doesn't it? Besides, all he wants to do is sit around and watch movies. Betty needs more excitement in her life, and
Gio can provide that.
Fave line, from Willy telling the doctor to hurry up: "The last time I was in stirrups this long, I won a ribbon at Palm Equestrian."
How many episodes are left??? Anyone know?? I think it might be only 2...
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Jan 11, 2008 11:08 AM
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Adam - nice recap job!
So glad Betty was back.
Off topic a little but I caught Christina on Graham Norton over the holidays. They definitely downplay her looks on the show becasue if you think she's pretty on Ugly Betty, you shoulda seen her on GN. And she was hilarious!
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Jan 11, 2008 11:41 AM
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Great episode. I hope this show does help end the worship of the skeletol model... but I doubt it.
Question: I dont understand why Willie thinks just having Bradford's illegitmate child will help her get part of the Mead fortune. They weren't married!!!! The child won't have any legal standing. Why would she think Alexis or Daniel would care... and it will be obvious they didn't conceive it together when there is a surrogate. this plotline just doesn't make sense to me. any input?
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Jan 11, 2008 11:58 AM
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M ythoughts were A: either Christina will have to hide it (and eventually be hidden away) and Willie will fake it (this show is SO wonderfully over the top) or B: she will say it was planned before Bradford died and I'm sure there is something in his will that recognizes all heirs (unborn grandkids, etc).
Whatever they do, it will surely be fun!
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Jan 11, 2008 12:31 PM
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There were SOOOOO many great lines!
I love when Willie hugged Marc and said "we're gonna make such great parents." The look on Marc's face was fabulous!
Justin telling his friends not to hate because he was a boy and burned 21 calories - when they all threw their food away.
Bow Wow trying to mack on Betty in the elevator!!!!
And finally does Charlie not care that Henry is dating Betty? In what planet is it okay to let your baby's daddy date someone else then have him come back to you once the baby is born? She has to know he's with Betty - I don't see Henry as a great liar plus we know that Betty sleeps over...
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Jan 11, 2008 12:36 PM
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