Pilot (Ugly Betty episode)

"Pilot" (also known as "I Am Not Going to Sell Herbalux") is the debut episode for the dramedy series Ugly Betty. It is the first episode in the series, which debuted on September 28, 2006.

1 Plot
2 Production
3 Reception
4 Ratings
5 Awards
6 Also starring
7 Guest stars
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Plot

In this episode we are introduced to Betty Suarez, an unglamorous woman in her 20s who starts work for a fashion magazine called "MODE", and in the process introduced to the harsh treatment she'll have to deal with from her more beautiful co-workers. She also meets with her boss Daniel Meade, who was just named the new publisher by his father. Daniel succeeds the revered Fey Sommers, who was killed in a hit-and-run that reeks of foul play. The announcement of Daniel being named editor-in-chief did not sit well with Wilhelmina Slater, the magazine's assistant editor, who greets his first day by giving him a gift with the "Danny" being misprinted (on purpose).

Daniel isn't so keen about having Betty working with him because she is homely, so he plots to have her quit by giving her difficult and outrageous tasks. When Betty gets wind of this from the company seamstress Christina, she tests him by standing in for a modeling shoot to see if it is true. Her theory proves correct, resulting in Daniel being the one made to look the fool.

Daniel later regrets his mistake when he realizes that he is danger of losing the Fabia cosmetics account. He is unaware that he is being sabotaged by Wilhelmina and his best friend, a photographer who has been known to plagiarize other people's work (after Betty mentions a layout he did) and is responsible for the aforementioned shoot that Betty was in. Sensing this and after seeing a new cosmetics layout proposal created by Betty, Daniel decides that he needs her. So he convinces her to come back and in the process not only saves the campaign but also his job.

In her personal life, Betty has to deal with her sister Hilda, a single mother who thinks that her college-educated sister isn't cut out for work in the fashion world and wants Betty to join her in selling Herbalux. Betty takes responsibility for her father by phoning his HMO to get treatment for his health condition.

In this episode, Betty's boyfriend Walter dumps her for Gina, her next-door neighbor. After going to Gina's house to complain about her dating activities, and walking in on her making out with a man that isn't Walter, Betty learns that Gina was using Walter in order to get a discount on a plasma TV. Fuming, Betty storms out of Gina's house, accidentally destroying the TV in the process.

Meanwhile, Wilhelmina pays a visit to a person whose face is partially wrapped up and it is discovered that the two are already discussing behind-the-scenes sinister plans to take over Meade Publications. While she looks in the mirror, she also says that they should keep a close eye on "...that ugly assistant..."

[edit] Production

This episode was the only one to be actually filmed in New York City. However, in an effort to save costs ABC suggested that production be done in Los Angeles instead. In addition, most of the stock footage would be used for the most of the backdrops from the second episode onward. Also, most of the sets were recreated in Los Angeles.

In this episode the character of William Abadaide was supposed to be a series regular, as he was featured in the series' early promos and pictures, but has not been seen since.

[edit] Reception

There were excellent reviews about the pilot episode. In USA Today critic Robert Bianco gave it 3 and a half stars^[1], while Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described it as "Pretty Good"^[2]

[edit] Ratings

The pilot is so far the highest-rated episode in the series, where it pulled in a 16.9 rating and 15 share, with more than 16 million viewers in the United States tuning in. The episode also pulled high ratings overseas in the United Kingdom, where it attracted 4.5 million viewers.^[3] and in Australia, where it pulled in 2.03 million viewers^[4].

[edit] Awards

The episode won a DGA Award on February 3, 2007. It was also submitted for consideration in the categories of "Outstanding Comedy Series" and "Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series" for the 2007 Emmy Awards. America Ferrera and Kevin Sussman also chose this episode for consideration of their work in the categories of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series" and "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series" respectively. Richard Shepard won an Emmy at the 2007 Award's Show for directing this Pilot episode. ^[5]