"Ugly" Attraction

Growing up in the late 80's-90's era Philippines, afternoon telenovelas were a staple for me. Don't ask me to enumerate which ones were my favorite, else you'd never hear the end of it. From neverending local rags-to-riches, warlord-cum-damsel-in-distress plotlines to Spanish high society melodrama, I breathed it all in.

Spanish telenovelas have always been popular, even stateside. In fact, one of their more recent hits was eventually pirated into its own Hollywood version, "Ugly Betty". That one, I didn't really catch on to. I was already in college and into the indie hype when it hit Filipino national TV. I tried to watch a few bits and pieces of the american version every now and then. I figured, hey, if it won Emmys and Globes they must be getting something right. But quite honestly, I found the show a little bit too -- er -- orange.

But I caught a season 2 rerun of one of the later episodes aaand, you know, it wasn't all that bad. The charm really came from the character of pregnant Charlie and how Betty simply wanted to strangle her. Don't ask me to retell the story. This is not THAT kind of blog. I found that I did, too! I would've quite happily strangled her and skipped on to the nearest mall and shopped for a cute new pair of shoes. I tried going regular from that episode hence (tried being the operative word) and found myself getting caught once again by that treacherous web telenovelas spin upon their audience. Granted, the american version is more of a comedy/drama -- once famously known as a "dramedy" popularized by the late great show "Ally McBeal" of the same creator as "Grey's Anatomy" -- than the telenovela of its Spanish mother and therefore could not be expected to be quite as spellbinding, but it does make its audiences happy.

Particularly addictive is that traitorous love triangle abruptly brought on by the unwanted return of Betty's former beaux Henry. If you're a fan of the show, I don't have to tell you who I'm rooting for. Ass. Whoever said happy endings are overrated? Do you know how long it's been since I've HAD a happy ending? Jeez, man. I felt for Betty, through and through, at the same time wanted to scream into the telly to CHOOSE GIO, DAMMIT! I honestly, can't believe that Henry still had the gall to comeback, and with a Ring, mind you, after everything that's happened between him and Charlie, and him and Betty and Charlie. For a nerd, he really isn't all THAT smart.

Now, see, here is where I admit I have a problem.

My life and all the grey hairs it has afforded me has faded into a teeny little pinhead compared to Betty's love problems. Her life has now become mine. Her insecurities, mine. Her heartaches, mine. I have gone ORANGE.

I, honestly (for now, anyway), don't care. AS LONG AS YOU CHOOSE GIO! Don't ask me why. Go watch the reruns yourself. Or get to another blog. I'm not like THAT. Which is, quite frankly, pretty pathetic and sad really.

But the cherry that tops it all off really is that in spite of Betty's horrible sense of overwhelming nonfashion and frighteningly dangerous mouthful of metal, two incredibly cute guys are after her whereas I, who have neither a masochistic sense of self-image nor armed and dangerous chompers, have none. Maybe there's something to all of that colorful clothing and shiny metal that blinds cute men. I dunno...