CELEBRITY STYLE SPY: See all the latest celeb photos

Vanessa Williams 'devastated' over axing of Ugly Betty

By Megan Conner on Thursday 4 February 2010

Print
Share
Comment

Marie Claire Celebrity News: Vanessa Williams

Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams has spoken of her devastation after hearing the award-winning show has been axed.

The 46-year-old, who plays bitchy magazine chief Wilhelmina Slater in the comedy, told journalists: 'I gotta be honest, we're devastated. We're sad, we're not ready for it to end.'

US network ABC called for the show to be cancelled last week after four series. Although Ugly Betty was a critical success when it started in 2006, there has been a drop in viewing figures recently, with ratings in America falling from 8.1m to 5.3m viewers between the third and fourth series.

Adamant that the standards of the show have not slipped, Williams attributed its dip in popularity to scheduling changes, adding that loyal viewers had lost touch with Ugly Betty after it stopped airing on a Thursday.

She said: 'Our season this year has been the best we've ever had. But numbers and ratings were a concern. A lot of people couldn't even find us.'

Thursday 4 February 2010

Have your say ...

Add your own comment

U B used to be zany and zippy and over the last year it has 'lost the plot'
I guess that we are goin go get the longtime coming makeover of all makeovers in Betty??
Used to be glued to this show..dont know what happened..they got desperate with the scripts.
Comment by anon on February 04 13:41

All of my aunts and cousins have stopped watching it because the said it got dull and nothing really happened...i havent missed an episode tho!!
i think if you keep it on and bring something really exciting then you will get more viewers.maybe advertise it more on tv!just please please PLEASE dont axe ugly betty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(from every girl i know)
Comment by Amaal on February 04 16:36

I cant believe it. There is so much crap on TV for the family to watch, and now they take off another good show "Ugly Betty" because of ratings. Get rid of the reality shows, no thought process there, no script, people getting rich for NO REASON.
Comment by Jeanne on February 04 18:14

Are you kidding me?! This show has "meat" and substance. I have to watch it on Hulu because I work 2nd shift. It moves me deeply every time - it's not fluffy, shows people as they really are and always seems to end "right" with the mess cleaned up properly. Love it, never miss it....
Comment by John on February 05 17:09

How unfortunate to see such WONDERFUL talent all across the board go to waste by pulling the plug! I am at a lost with the manner in which networks now have gone "Reality TV" over true talent! Perhaps my age is starting to catch up with me. lol. I would love for the show to remain on air. I would also love to see the "Stunningly Beautiful" and "Talent" Vanessa Williams someday be on "Dancing with the Stars" however. She would leave everyone in the dust!
Comment by Abraham on February 05 17:41

Ugly Betty is one of the best shows on TV and the series continues to get better each episode. We tape the show so we can thoroughly enjoy it. Maybe the net work should reconsider why it put Ugly Betty up against three other decent shows on other net works. Ms. Williams it was fabulous hearing you sing -. Everyone in the cast, keep up the great work, even though your network can't keep up with you. Five stars!
Comment by Joan on February 06 01:17

this is so sad! ugly betty is one of the best things on tv. the characters are amazing. i guess they stayed too long at mead and betty needed to grow. without that, people stopped being interested. would have been interesting if they'd taken a real risk and given the magazine a serious rival. with spies stealing covers and insiders selling tips etc. or maybe if willy took a new job - and took betty and mark with her. let's face it, daniel, as a character, is no longer interesting. we know how he ticks, we can predict what he will do. amanda's selfish pranks are funny, but she also stopped growing. the boyfriend? forgettable. the family still rocks - but the characters aren't being tapped anymore. give justin a crush - on a boy. or a part on broadway as an understudy. and stage fright. give hilda an opportunity to compete in a massive hair competition - against a hilarious rival. or the dad has a twin brother who shows up. i don't know. i guess they got comfortable and the show did get a bit boring. but it could be saved! the characters are solid!!
Comment by nina on February 07 09:49

Bring Betty back, there was so much confusion to what day it was on, and over here people just began watching it on a sunday in the end. Such a great show axed which has left alot of big fans like me disappointed :(
Comment by CJ on March 03 15:39

NO ugly betty needs to go back on :/ im devastated myself
Comment by katherine on April 18 03:27

Read all 9 comments