Earlier I posted the ABC schedule for the week of 11/16-11/22. Attentive Ugly Betty fans noticed that Ugly Betty and Supernanny were not on the schedule for Friday, November 20, instead being replaced by the movie Shrek The 3rd.
Ah, November sweeps. This doesn’t strike me as terribly different than FOX deciding to air Bones and House repeats rather than Dollhouse during November sweeps. I know it’s a downer for UB fans to think ABC airing a movie from 2007 will rate better than UB, but given the recent Ugly Betty ratings (a 1.2 preliminary adults 18-49 rating on Friday), you probably can’t blame ABC for trying this, especially less than a week before the Thanksgiving holiday.
It has seemed all along this year that Ugly Betty was brought back and put on Fridays to get more episodes for syndication, so our take, as with pretty much any show, really, has always been enjoy it while it lasts. While anything is possible, moves like this strengthen the opinion that this will be UB’s final season.
I agree this will be Betty’s final season and all episodes will be burned off. My real wonder is will the series end early or last until May. It will probably finish up all 22 episodes repeat free and then replaced by Wife Swap.
I am really sad for Ugly Betty, because I don’t think it’s a bad show. It’s a different show that deals with social issues in a ironic and fun way without losing its characteristic melodrama and cheesiness. And also we have America Ferrera’s great acting, please.
Robert,
I’m pretty sure airing SHREK THE 3RD on November 20th in place of SUPERNANNY and UGLY BETTY has nothing to do with ratings performance for either. This is typical holiday programming as Thanksgiving is the beginning of the Christmas Holiday season. Typically, ABC and a number of other networks air movies geared toward holiday/family audiences towards the end of November. I wouldn’t put too much stock into this. Also, keep in mind that ABC is bumping MODERN FAMILY AND COUGAR TOWN (their biggest Wednesday shows) in place of the COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.
UB is a great show that deserves better treatment from it’s network. ABC made an error in shunting it to Friday’s instead of starting off the less-competitive Wednesdays and leading into the rest of the night.
Errol, though I agree about the holidays, they did previously have episodes of UB and SN announced for 11/20.
Ah, then we have a problem.
Personally, even though I’m somewhat biased. As Ugly Betty is heading into syndication soon and it probably will be its last season anyway, I’d just cancel EASTWICK (which isn’t an ABC Production) and replace it with BETTY (which is an ABC Prodution), but if Wednesdays at 10 is where LOST ends its run then the next best option is Tuesdays at 10. It can’t do any worse though it’ll be without much lead-in support from SCRUBS and BETTER OFF TED. We all know “the forgotten” will be just that once those two comedies come into play.
Errol, I agree. But, at this point will not be surprised if all 13 episodes of EASTWICK and THE FORGOTTEN air as part of “the revenge of the accountants“
Errol, you’re never going to see Ugly Betty airing at 10pm. My guess is they’ll be keeping it on Friday for the remainder of its run. Moving it to another night at this point won’t benefit the show or ABC.
and..I agree with Mike more
Mike,
I know it won’t move. ABC is stubborn to the bone, but a move to another night will benefit ABC as it is certain that Scrubs and Better off Ted will have 4 million or less viewers each week. With Betty on Friday getting more than that, I’m sure she can top them both. Additionally, with Betty entering syndication soon she’ll be more attractive if she ends on a somewhat good note (better than now) ratings wise. Her demos can be 1.5’s and the show will make more money for ABC than the forgotten and its 1.9’s (though it gets that after a 14 million/3.0 demo DANCING WITH THE STARS lead-in). If SCRUBS can return for what, it’s 9th season? Anything can happen. Besides, UGLY BETTY wasn’t even expected back after last season and surprise, it’s here.
UB dropped to 1.1 in the finals, so sad with what happened to the show’s ratings.
Well, I’m just hoping all episodes for this season will be produced and they prepare a finale because unless there’s a dramatic change in the rating, the show is done.
Why waste Shrek on a Friday?
Does “ABC FRIDAY MOVIE OF THE WEEK” imply they’re going to start airing movies once a week?
What is wrong with ABC?
The few times I watched Ugly Betty, I thought it was imaginative. It’s far better than many of ABC’s commercial successes. Just think, Outer Limits had one year, really, and its still a TV legend. And you have DVDs and syndication nowadays.
Good God, ABC is so stupid. Ugly Betty can do better on another night and it has. I dont think this really means anything though. Whatever, networks do this all the time. I really dont think its anything to be worried about. I am confident that ABC will let Ugly Betty finish its season fully. Plus, Betty usually gets a week break earlier than Nov so this is normal.
I dont think this is anything major. But anyway, ABC needs to give Ugly Betty a better timeslot or something because it is the only creative show on ABC right now other than the crap they keep spilling out. Modern Family is the only good new show. I love Courntny Cox but Cougar town is so mediocre. Eastwick isnt amazing. Grey’s is over rating, Housewives is getting boring, Bros and Sis is the same old. Ugly Betty is the only refreshing and smart show on the network and its a shame this will be its last season..I deserves the 100 episode mark.
I wish Ugly Betty would do better, it deserves better than this lousy time slot…come on ABC!
Betty hold on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nooo!!!
I think that Ugly Betty is a GREAT Show!
I’ve seen it mentioned a lot of times that ABC should’ve started off Wednesdays with UB, instead of shunting it off to Fridays, but what I really don’t get is why they didn’t put it at Tuesdays at 8, instead of Shark Tank (which was already failing when the fall season began). I think it would’ve been a nice lead in to the Dancing With the Stars results show and could’ve kept that time slot doing some decent business for the whole year. It’s almost like ABC doesn’t care what happens on Tuesdays at all whenever DWTS isn’t on… I know V is coming into that slot too, but that’s also quite temporary, so I really don’t get why they didn’t give UB that slot for the whole year.
“Ugly Betty” needs a better time slot. It should get the Wednesday 8pm hour with “Hank” being cancelled and one of the other three comedies paired with “Better Off Ted” on Tuesday nights. I agree with others here that “Desperate Housewives” has gotten boring and the storylines are getting repetitive and without Edie stirring up trouble the show just flat out sucks. I watched “FlashForward” for its first 3 or 4 shows, but the last straw was the episode where it turned more into “The L Word” instead of a sci-fi show. I am sorry ABC shoved Betty off to Friday nights in favor of that mess.
Ugly Betty started out with 16 million viewers and a Peabody award. Season 2 ratings averaged 10-12 million. It was after the writer’s strike, after key writer/producers were fired, that Betty’s numbers nosedived. Season 3 numbers and now 4’s show Silvio Horta obviously couldn’t produce the quality the majority wanted. Bottom line: The wrong writers got fired. I used to love this show, thanks Horta.