Pilot (Ugly Betty episode)
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| “Pilot” | |
|---|---|
| Ugly Betty episode | |
 Betty. |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
| Guest stars | Gina Gershon Salma Hayek |
| Written by | Silvio Horta |
| Directed by | Richard Shepard |
| Production no. | 101 |
| Original airdate | September 28, 2006 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "None" | "The Box And The Bunny" |
| List of Ugly Betty episodes | |
"Pilot" (also known as "I Am Not Going to Sell Herbalux") is the debut episode for the dramedy series Ugly Betty.
Contents |
[edit] Summary
In this episode we are introduced to Betty Suarez, an unattractive 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, 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 (continues in episode 2).
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] Trivia
- The fictional company Herbalux shares its name with a Polish-based company of the same name, a rarity in the television business.
- The pilot episode of the show also has an actual episode title as well (which is also rare in television).
- Although this episode was shot on location in New York City, this is the only one to be shot there, as the rest of the shows are filmed in Los Angeles.
- The telenovela scenes featuring Salma Hayek features real-life telenovela stars, including the woman who confronts her in one of those scenes, which was played by veteran telenovela actress Lupita Ferrer.
- The episode won a DGA Award on February 3, 2007.
[edit] Quotes
- Betty: Hilda, I am not going to sell Herbalux.
Hilda: Well I wasn't saying that...necessarily
- Betty: Oh and what are yours, Daniel!? [Referring to his "problems"] Which restaurant you're going to eat at? Which model you're going to sleep with?
- Daniel: Well the idea was actually-
Betty: His best one.
- Justin: I hate telanovelas. I wanna watch fashion T.V.
Hilda: You can watch fashion T.V. later when your Aunt Betty is babysitting. Okay? Come have some flan.
Justin: I don't want flan...I'll get fat.
Hilda: Justin, you're a boy. It doesn't matter if you're fat or not.
- Betty: I can't believe people actually buy this stuff.
Christina: I can't believe they wear it.
- Christina: Hey you.
[edit] Also starring
- Cicily Daniels - Zelda
- Kevin Sussman - Walter
- Stelio Savante - Steve
[edit] Guest stars
- Gina Gershon - Fabia
- Salma Hayek - Actress on telenovela
- David Jenkins - HR Guy
- Fumi Desalu - fashion model
- Jill Latiano - Blonde
