Ugly Betty Has Been Canceled

It’s an ugly truth for Ugly Betty.

The show’s network, ABC, had confirmed that the series will be canceled after this season. The network has also cut back this fourth season’s episode order from 22 hours to 20.

ABC Entertainment Group President Stephen McPherson and show runner Silvio Horta released a joint statement explaining the call, “We’ve mutually come to the difficult decision to make this Ugly Betty’s final season, and are announcing now as we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion. We are extremely proud of this groundbreaking series, and felt it was important to give the fans a proper farewell.”

The warmhearted dramedy that was based on a Colombian telenovela, stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, an ambitious but style-challenged young woman out to build a future at a New York fashion magazine. The show made its primetime debut in 2006, airing before Grey’s Anatomy. A very success show at first, Ugly Betty has struggled in recent years with audience erosion.

It was moved to Friday nights at the start of the 2009-2010 season, replaced in its usual primetime slot by FlashForward. ABC had tried to ramp up the show’s viewership by moving it to Wednesday nights at 10 PM, but apparently the ratings are still dropping off, although many called the show’s most recent season one of its best.

Ugly Betty had its best year in 2007, when the show won three Emmys, including a best actress in a comedy series award for America Ferrera and two Golden Globes for best comedy series and best actress in a comedy. That year, Ferrara also won a Screen Actors Guild award — making her the first to win a SAG, Globe and Emmy in a single season. It also has been saluted with Golden Globe and Peabody awards, among others.

The series finale has yet to be scheduled, but it is predicted will air this spring, around April. Besides Ferrera, Ugly Betty has helped to develop the career of other actresses and actors, such as Vanessa Williams, Becki Newton, Michael Urie, Eric Mabius, Ana Ortiz and Mark Indelicato.

We’re sad to see you go, Betty. But you’ll remain in our hearts!

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