Check out all our lists for BuddyTV's Top 7 of '07 to relive the best and the worst of the year in television.
Don Williams ranked Ugly Betty 6th. He says...
While certain shows about people dealing with superpowers earned a lot of press this year for skidding into miserable sophomore slumps,
Ugly Betty entered its second season with all the poise and grace of a high fashion model. I've rarely seen a show that successfully blends so many different tones in each episode. From scene to scene, the series jumps from uproarious comedy to campy soap to emotionally touching character drama. Despite these wild tonal shifts, somehow it never misses a beat.
The glue holding it all together is
America Ferrera's performance as Betty, which deservedly earned her an Emmy this year. Betty is surrounded by some of the most colorful supporting characters, as well as some of the most colorful sets, on television, and it would be easy for her to be overshadowed. Thankfully, Ferrera brings a down-to-earth charm and irresistible sweetness to her character, making it impossible not to root for her even as you laugh madly at the villainous characters attempting to bring her down.
Speaking of villains,
Ugly Betty features some of the best on network television.
Vanessa Williams gets most of the bitingly catty quips as power-mad fashionista Wilhelmina Slater, and she delivers each with a casual venom that stings even as it makes you laugh.
Michael Urie is a nonstop force of hilarity as her eternally loyal assistant Marc, and the plotline this year that gave his snobby character a schlubby boyfriend was particularly inspired. Mark's number one gal pal Amanda, played by
Becki Newton, rivals only Wilhelmina with her bitchy zingers. I crack up just thinking about her performance of Kelis' "Milkshake" song at Bradford and Wilhelmina's aborted wedding.
Aside from the flawless cast and addictive, soapy plotlines, the other thing that makes the show a must-see experience is the inspired direction. Not only does each episode move at a gloriously fast pace, but the scene transitions are always extremely clever and well done. Even if you somehow don't enjoy the sharp dialogue and wonderful performances, you'll never get bored looking at the screen as the eye-popping visuals fly by.
The show also features a hidden sex dungeon, a frozen sperm scandal, paternity problems, nerd love, a woman who used to be a man, and the occasional talking head in a refrigerator. Really, what more could you ask for in a series?
(click here to read Don Williams' complete Top 7 list)
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(Image courtesy of ABC)