BuzzSugar

Bad Idea of the Week: "America the Ugly"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:30:00 -0700

Here's an idea that just makes me sad: VH1 could be developing a reality show called "America the Ugly," following unattractive women who get thrown into the glamorous world of fashion and modeling. The show is said to be a real-world version of "Ugly Betty," starring Becky Southwick, the acerbic model manager from "The Agency."

Now, I actually enjoyed Becky's cutting comments on "The Agency" - when she was dealing with models, also known as people who are judged on their looks professionally. But I wouldn't want her giving me a head-to-toe assessment before I headed to work each day - and I certainly wouldn't want her to humiliate other relatively normal-looking young women who might not be too high in the self-esteem department in the first place.

I know we live in a judgmental, Hollywood-obsessed society, but when did it become outright OK to make fun of "ugly" people? I'm still reeling from these yogurt ads that reimagine classic movie scenes with chunkier women in the roles, and this show seems even more offensive. Other than proving that reality TV once again lacks original ideas, it also ignores the major lessons of "Ugly Betty" - that the supposed beautiful people are often nasty on the inside, that your mind and heart matter more than your looks, that the underdog can come out on top.

This especially bugs me because right now, male nerds - many of whom are far from being Hollywood lookers - are being not just accepted but celebrated in entertainment: "Flight of the Conchords," "The IT Crowd," "Chuck," Dwight Schrute. Why can't our brainy, beautiful (if not model-gorgeous) girls get their due, too?

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:50:43 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
Bravo has Legally Blonde
E! is new with The Soup
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress and Battle of the Wedding Planners
MTV has repeats of Southpark and Jackass, and has Kill Bill: Vol. 2
VH1 has Cocktail and a repeat of Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew
Late-night highlights include Terrence Howard and Sheryl Crow on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Mariah Carey on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Reese Witherspoon, Danny DeVito, and Kris Allen on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Diddy on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Harry Connick Jr. on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Amanda Peet on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Emmy Rossum on Last Call With Carson Daly on NBC

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:50:28 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
Bravo has Legends of the Fall
E! has repeats of Leave it to Lamas, Wildest Dating Show Moments, and The Girls Next Door, and is new with The Soup
FX has Shallow Hal and Grandma's Boy
MTV has repeats of South Park and Real World/Road Rules Challenge
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
VH1 has Rock Docs NWA: The World's Most Dangerous Group
Late-night highlights include Ricky Gervais on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Elizabeth Banks on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; The Pixies on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Ted Danson, Khloe Kardashian, and Lamar Odom on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Rosie O'Donnell and Ian Somerhalder on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Ewan McGregor and Regina Spektor on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:50:03 -0700

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has a repeat of House
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
AMC has Young Frankenstein
MTV is new with MTV Ulalume: Howling at New Moon
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
E! is new with The Soup
VH1 has The Jacksons: An American Dream
Late-night highlights include Regis Philbin and Weezer on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; John Cusack on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Alice in Chains on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Paris Hilton and Slipknot on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Lauren Graham on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Wanda Sykes and Andrew Bird on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Masi Oka on Last Call With Carson Daly on NBC

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:50:00 -0700

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX is new with Brothers, 'Til Death, and Dollhouse
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
MTV is new with My Super Sweet Sixteen and My Super Psycho Sweet 16
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress
USA is new with Monk
E! is new with The Soup
Late-night highlights include Amy Poehler on a repeat The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Colin Firth and First Lady Michelle Obama on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Robin Williams on a repeat of The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Catherine Keener on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Julia Louis-Dreyfus on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; and Kristen Wiig on a repeat of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC

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BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:30:00 -0700

Here on Buzz, while we can't cover every TV show that airs, the same can't be said for the BuzzSugar Community! Each day, new groups pop up for shows that I'm not recapping (or not extensively recapping), but a devoted fan is. And if a show you love isn't being talked about in the community one yet, you can start your own group!

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What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:50:00 -0700

ABC is new with Ugly Betty and 20/20
CBS is new with The Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has Major League Baseball
NBC is new with Law & Order and Secrets of the Lost Symbol
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
Bravo is new with 13 Scarier Movie Moments
MTV has repeats of Pranked and Nitro Circus
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress
E! is new with The Soup
Showtime has a repeat of Dexter
USA is new with Monk
VH1 has repeats of My Antonio and Real Chance of Love 2: Back in the Saddle
Late-night highlights include Uma Thurman and Tim McGraw on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Rachel Griffiths and John McCain on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Dashboard Confessional on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Michelle Monaghan and Toby Keith on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Serena Williams on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; and Gina Gershon on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC