After four years on the air, ABC has decided to pull the plug on Ugly Betty. There won’t be a fifth season but will longtime fans get a true series finale?
Ugly Betty debuted in 2006 and follows young Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) as she navigates her way through the world of high-fashion, working at the trendy magazine Mode. Others in the cast include Eric Mabius, Tony Plana, Ana Ortiz, Becki Newton, Mark Indelicato, Michael Urie, Vanessa Williams, and Ashley Jensen.
After being a modest hit for its first two seasons, the series’ viewership dropped to an average of eight million viewers and a 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demo last year. That would usually put a series “on the bubble” but ABC gave it an early renewal. It was pretty clear that the network wanted to try to keep it going to accumulate more episodes for the syndication package.
The network assigned the series to a Friday night timeslot this season, hoping that the loyal fans would follow it there. Not many did. After cancelling Eastwick, they moved Ugly Betty to a better slot, on Wednesday nights. The ratings haven’t been very good there either.
The show’s fate seemed essentially sealed by Ugly Betty’s syndication deal. While episodes of The Mentalist and NCIS: Los Angeles sold for about $2.2 million each in syndication, Ugly Betty episodes have been licensed to the TV Guide Network for “a low six figures.”
Today, the network and production team made a joint statement, saying, “We’ve mutually come to the difficult decision to make this Ugly Betty’s final season, and are announcing now as we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion. We are extremely proud of this groundbreaking series, and felt it was important to give the fans a proper farewell.”
What do you think? Are you surprised that the show’s been cancelled? What would you like to see happen before Ugly Betty goes off the air?
More about:
Ugly Betty
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i am one of the biggest fans of ugly betty. i have followed every single episode. this is very dissapointing to hear that it has been canceled… please bring back one of the best tv series i have ever watched, with all the same characters. ugly betty is related to most young people out there with career orientated minds, making there way as she did… very inspirational… not only do i like betty but daniel is dam hot and they do make a gud couple… so plzzzzzzzz bring back betty…
yes it certainly reflected my career mind n decision
Daniel and Betty are each others destiny! Corny I know but hey the show is pretty corny. There are too many loose ends and the show has such a great story line it’s ridiculous to end the show now! c’mon at least do another season and give the show a real chance at getting the publics attention. Why not make a movie? After all it is the epitome of the original Pygmalion story… Make us happy!
im from trinidad…& i luv ugly betty
wud like 2 c betty an daniel get 2gether….
Hi!! Im from South Africa, please do another season!!! The Series cant stop here!!!! Please! Please!
Hi!! I’m from Holland and I love Ugly Betty don’t stop here! Please make another season! PLEASE!! PLEASE!!
please oh please ….do not i plead with you, turn us down…if desperate housewives is still running..why shouldn’t ugly betty…please continue with season 5 of this fantastic story…
Hi, I’m from South Africa and I’m defenitely
one of the biggest betty heads out there.
for the past few weeks I have been watching
all the series over again. I was was devastated
to hear that it has been cancelled. Please don’t
stop here, there are so many things were left
Unresolved(betty and daniel).
omg please make more ugly betty!!!!! dont stop now! we want moreeeeee!!
Guys honestly if you feel like you have done a bad job and your ratings are not high enough then trust me by NOT ending the series properly and by NOT bringing proper closure you will have an even worse reputation. There are plenty of Ugly Bety fans out there and just because it didnt go so well on the ABC channel doesnt mean that it doesnt have success in the rest of world. I come from Russia and live in Cyprus and Ugly Betty is LOVED in BOTH countries.
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