Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Ugly Betty: Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 28, 2006
  • Season #: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 29
  3. Negative: 1 out of 29
view
per page
  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    100
    [A] delicious over-the-top comedy. [2 Oct 2006, p.45]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    100
    This juicy comedy-drama recaptures the fun of Desperate Housewives in its first season.
  3. Detroit Free Press
    Reviewed by: Mike Duffy
    100
    As Betty Suarez, a beautiful dreamer with a heart full of soul, America Ferrera gives the breakout new star performance of the season. And "Ugly Betty," fizzy, smart and colorfully styled, is looking fine.
  4. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    90
    A show and a heroine larger than life, twice as colorful and infinitely more adorable.
  5. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    88
    There is no new show more likable, but that affection may waver if Betty can't give Ferrera the scripts and support she deserves.
  6. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    88
    The driving force behind the show's appeal is Ferrera, who gives a pitch-perfect, killer performance in the opening episodes.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    80
    One of the season's best new shows.
  8. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Storm
    80
    You've never seen anything quite like Ugly Betty.
  9. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    80
    "Ugly Betty" may be the fall's best new series.
  10. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    80
    It's sweet, touching and deliriously cheerful -- the best new show of the year and a great big blast of happiness.
  11. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Diane Werts
    80
    This fall's most satisfying series delight.
  12. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    80
    I have no interest in fashion, little inherent fondness for soap operas, and I'm absolutely not the gender this show is targeting. And based on the two episodes I've seen, I'm going to be watching "Ugly Betty" every week. It's that much fun.
  13. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Doug Elfman
    75
    The execution is cute, silly, heartfelt and sweet (not saccharine), plus it's shot at the cinematic level of a moderately funded romantic comedy movie.
  14. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    75
    Even though "Ugly Betty" tends to go for very broad humor when subtlety would serve better, it is easily watchable.
  15. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    75
    Lots of fun, lots of laughs, lots of good, heartwarming plots.
  16. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    75
    "Ugly Betty" is worth checking out. It retains a charm that far outstrips expectations. And Ferrera's performances are small wonders to behold.
  17. New York Magazine
    Reviewed by: John Leonard
    70
    Everybody... will love Betty as much as her widowed father does.
  18. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    70
    "Betty" walks a fine line between satire and drama and, astonishingly, it doesn't fall off that razor's edge very often.
  19. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Virginia Heffernan
    70
    "Ugly Betty" is a sweet, funny show. It's worth watching. And we'll see.
  20. Time
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    70
    Like its endearingly flawed protagonist, Ugly Betty is promising but not perfect.
  21. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Nancy DeWolf Smith
    70
    "Ugly Betty" shines because Ms. Ferrera is luminous and credible as a character surrounded by caricatures. It's a strange mixture, but it works.
  22. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    70
    America Ferrera is instantly and consistently likable as Betty.
  23. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Barry Garron
    70
    This is a warmhearted dramedy, which gushes charm and family appeal.
  24. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    70
    Ugly Betty has high spirits, camp, couture, charm and heart.
  25. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    70
    In a season crowded with quality dramas that all seem to come from very dark places, ABC's plucky "Ugly Betty" shines as bright as the honking big braces young Betty Suarez wears.
  26. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    60
    Ferrara... is consistently endearing, bringing heart and soul to a character that could easily be a cartoon. Too bad that doesn't extend to the rest of the series, which oscillates from screwball comedy... to florid soap elements.
  27. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    60
    As enjoyable as this first episode is, its premise may be too slight to sustain a long-running series.
  28. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    50
    Calling it ''good'' might be a bit of a stretch, but Ugly Betty's comic-melodrama formula is so cannily executed that audiences may find it irresistible.
  29. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Ed Gonzalez
    38
    Week in, week out, Ugly Betty subjects its audience to the same recycled crisis.
prev next
Page:
  • 1

Recommended Products

  1. Desperate Housewives

    • Start date: Oct 3, 2004
    Desperate Housewives Image

  2. CSI

    • Start date: Oct 6, 2000
    CSI Image

  3. Private Practice

    • Start date: Sep 26, 2007
    Private Practice Image

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 143 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 96
  3. Negative: 13 out of 96
  1. carlos28200
    10
    i only like this series because is originally colombian, viva colombia hpta
  2. cinderella
    5
    Entertaining at times, but the show is so predictable and cheeky. I have to *face palm* every time the writers use some cliche, ridiculous and over-used scene in the show. Plus the conflicts are often unimaginative, overworked and juvenile. Sometimes I laugh, other times I shake my head in agony and turn it off. I also can't handle Betty's naivete and social intelligence; her character is one of many that's shallow and inconsistent. I'm watching season 4 on Netflix. I don't want to finish it, but I feel like I've already put this much time into (which I'll never get back), so why not finish and say I watched the whole God-awful thing. But it is sorta funny sometimes.… Full Review »
  3. waichingliu81
    10
    It started off strong but after the first season, it had a mixture of good and bad writing in it. the lack inconsistency in terms of character development was evident throughout. season 2 began well, but by the middle of it and onwards descended into a silly, childish farce with an irritating love triangle involving the main protagonist. it was my most disliked season out of the 4. season 3 was disliked by many, but i enjoyed it a lot; probably more-so for the developing friendship between Betty, Amanda and Marc. season 4 i thought was ok at best; first half didn't impress me very much, second half was a slight improvement. however, the laughs, humour were absent throughout that final season. where was Marc and Amanda? compared to my other favourite shows that i like, this isn't my absolute favourite, due to the sloppy writing, inconsistent levels of writing and for it not being utterly funny. which it wasn't. ugly Betty was great at highlighting social, moral, cultural issues as a show, but in terms of the story lines, writing, sadly it just didn't hit the mark. the series ended a little dissapointingly for me; nonetheless, i would be lying if i said the series didn't make me think, question things about appearances and looks. because it did. in all, ugly Betty will live on in memory in fans hearts- great performances by the cast members throughout; if only the show was handled a bit better than it was by the writers, producers, this would've lasted a few more seasons, and perhaps we'd get a better conclusion to the series too.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »