Telenovela Love Garden

Meet 10 Richest Nollywood Actresses

2012-01-27T09:53:00.003+01:00

Below are the Top 10 Richest Nollywood Actresses of All Times Culled from PEACE FM. Though they have a humble beginning, they have quietly made it to the top as compiled by naijan.com

1) Kate Henshaw-Nuttall –67 Million Naira

By 2006, she had earned N10 million and the following year, she reached N12 million. The warm and beautiful star is also a model, a former Glo Ambassador, and face of Onga (brand from Promasidor) and has since earned a whopping N20 million between 2008 and 2010.

2) Genevieve Nnaji – 64 Million Naira

By 2009, she raised the bar and she was paid $25,000 in the blockbuster international hit movie ‘IJE’ produced by Chineze Anyaene. A model and also a singer, she became the Face of Lux in 2004 and was subsequently involved with Pronto beverage and Omo detergent.

Between 2004 and 2006, she earned a whopping N31.3 million.

N14.7 million came from her two-year deal with Lux ($100,000). With no great interest in real estate, she decided to dive into the fashion industry. She launched her clothing line St. Genevieve in 2008 which is presently being managed by fashion icon Zizi Cardow and is reportedly worth N20 million.

There is no doubt that she would have been topping this list with a great margin if she eventually got the Glo deal. She became the first to be contacted by Globacom, but she demanded N50 million while globacom wanted to sign her on for N30 million. She’s reported to have tried later to salvage the deal, but she had already lost it.

3) Ini Edo – 60 Million Naira

She has five buildings to her credit and another one to be completed by the end of the year. Most of the buildings are being rented to tenants. By 2007, she had earned N15.7 million from movies and her businesses.

She has just produced her latest flick ‘Memories Of The Heart’ which will be premiered in the United States. She is part of the Glo pride pack and is also part of the project to move Nollywood to another level. She is fully involved with Nollywood USA.

4) Rita Dominic – 58 Million Naira

In 2004, she won the City Peoples Award as the Most Outstanding Actress. The face of Nokia and the Glo ambassador is also a business woman. Rita has done well both as an actress and a model. Her assets include landed properties and two homes estimated to be worth over N40 million. Between 2008 and 2009, she earned N16million (most of it part of the money coming from Nokia and Glo.) She is about to launch a book and produce her own films.

5) Mercy Johnson – 55 Million Naira

By 2008, Mercy Johnson had appeared in fifteen movies and earned N11.4 million from movies alone. The following year, she earned N13 million and she featured in the Emen Isong hit movie ‘Guilty Pleasures’. She is also an investor in properties and she is about to complete two houses at the moment. She also owns about six landed properties in Lagos.

6) Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – 53 Million Naira

In 2007, she grossed N9 million. Omotola takes it easy with her life and also has great passion for cars. She drives more expensive cars than any actress in Nollywood and her garage is estimated to be worth N20 million. The mother, model and musician has recently stepped up her game in the music industry.

Her first album ‘Gba’ was her first introduction to the music industry but her sophomore album ‘Me, Myself & Eyes’ has defined her as truly talented. The production and promotion of her album cost her a whopping N13 million.

7) Patience Ozokwor – 51 Million Naira

The Enugu star is nicknamed ‘Mama G’ in Nollywood. She is the oldest on the list and is notable for her tough roles in movies. ‘Mama G’, who is also a musician, has been consistent in the industry and her roles have been raw energy. She is very diverse in her investments but also has several landed properties. She also started business very early.

Uche Jombo – 49.5 Million Naira

In 2008, she pocketed N10 million for her slick performances in several movies.

The Glo ambassador and model, who earned more than N11 million in 2009, seems unstoppable at the moment. The year 2011/2012 could see her top this list, since some of her movies are not yet released and the ones being shown in cinemas are still enjoying sold-out status across the continent.

9) Monalisa Chinda –50 Million Naira

Between 2004 and 2008, Monalisa Chinda earned about N25 million. The actress and producer is about to release her movie which is already in its final stages. She also owns landed properties in choice locations in both Rivers State and Lagos.

10) Chioma Chukwuka – 46 Million Naira

The absolutely scandal-free actress in Nollywood has featured in about 70 movies and has raked in millions for herself and family. She earned N8 million from movies in 2007. In 2008, she also earned a whopping N9 million. She owns two houses and various properties in Lagos and her home state.

Until My Last Breath Telenovela, Welcome!

2009-01-28T05:46:00.005+01:00

Last night, the AIT began a new telenovela TV Azteca series called "Until My last Breath!". What a break from the drag though interesting "Wicked Games" of Tatum O'Neal.

This new telenovela promises to be a BAM! It is all about the story of estranged lovers - Maria and Hector. The man migrated abroad (USA) for greener pastures, and sure he found them there, but lost something more treasured than greenbucks. He lost contact with the only love of his life - MARIA and his three tender daughters in Mexico, in his chase of the golden goose in America. Many Nigerian couples are not finding this funny because it is a reflection of their own realties... separated couples!

Then came the great temptation for both Maria (poor single parent but still beautiful), and Hector (stupendously rich but lonely on the inside). Its a choice between beaking marital vows and holding on... to that love covenant even when everything points to the burial ground of love.

But destiny is going to bring them together again not as reunited lovers, but as adversaries in a bitter battle over a housing project which Hector wants to knock down, but which Maria defiantly defended.

I was laughing when I saw Luis Alejandro Montero of Gardener's daughter fame, playing the role again of a villain, as a treacherous brother to Hector. Some people are just too good playing villains and Fernando Ciangherotti - that's his real name - is just one of such few. Saul Lizaso, Tommy Dunster, Paola Nuñez are also great stars starring in the telenovela.

A reviewer describe the telenovela as "... hope dies last in a city where survival is a daily battle..."

Christmas Bell

2008-12-27T14:41:00.008+01:00

Christmas Bell
THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel ofHis life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God’s child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God

Do you know
Who you are?
‘The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
And give you peace…

Keep this bell ringing…pass it on

Numbers 6:24-26

Merry Xmas

2008-12-27T03:33:00.002+01:00

This Xmas, I would like to put up a tree in my heart, and instead of hanging presents, I would like to put the names of all my friends. Close friends and not so close friends.

The old friends, the new friends. Those that I see every day and the ones that I rarely see. The ones that I always remember and the ones that I sometimes forget. The ones that are always there and the ones that seldom are.

The friends of difficult times and the ones of happy times. Friends who, without meaning to, I have hurt, or without meaning to have hurt me. Those that I know well and those I only know by name. Those that owe me little and those that I owe so much.

My humble friends and my important friends. The names of all those that have passed through my life no matter how fleetingly. A tree with very deep roots and very long and strong branches so that their names may never be plucked from my heart. So that new names from all over may join the existing ones.

A tree with a very pleasant shade so that our friendship may take a moment of rest from the battles of life. "May the happy moments of Christmas brighten every day of the new year". These are my sincere wishes.

Merry Christmas and very best wishes for the year 2009!

Episode 52 - ugly Betty Helps Daniel Wins Sofia back

2008-12-06T14:34:00.003+01:00

He asked Ignacio to tell him how to say “I love you and can't live without you” in Spanish. Ignacio told him and wished him luck, patting him on the cheek like a son.

Betty was still outside with Sofia, telling her that it seems Daniel had a winning idea after all. Sofia looked at Betty and shook her head, telling her that she was wasting her time at Mode because she was always giving the credits to Daniel. That she was never going to be appreciated there and asked her work for her magazine, with her own assistant! Betty was confused and lost for words.

Inside the house, she told Daniel to go talk to Sofia, that she was still outside. Out there, in the snow-covered background and with snow flakes still falling sparingly, he told her that he wanted another chance. He blotted out his Spanish love declaration. Sofia laughed and told him he just said he love his camera (He had mixed it up instead of what he intended to say). He smiled and gave her an ornament he made and asked her to pick come pick a tree with him if it was okay be her. They then kissed.

Wilhelmina and Marc were safety back at the office. While she was pacing to and fro, livid that the photo shoot had been moved to Queens, Marc was on the phone with Amanda, telling her that she was off the “Thanksgiving break-in” hook but that it will cost her plenty. Amanda was ravaging a Christmas cake (in form of a house) at Betty’s house, while this conversation was going on.

Inside the Suarez house, Daniel told Betty that he had talked Sofia into staying and encourage her to take the job she offered. Betty told him that she couldn’t leave him but he said she deserved more and that he didn’t want to stay in her way. Betty was moved by this and she hugged him.

Marc picked up a call, it was the mystery woman. Marc marched to Willy’s office to announce that she has a call from an old friend from college, "which you never went to”! She asked Marc for privacy but he said there is no more secrets between them and Willy told the mystery woman that she’ll call her back.

She then asked what Marc wanted now that he knew she didn’t go to college. He keyed into this opportunity and replied that in return for keeping her secret, he wanted job security and a company credit card.

Daniel had left and the family were discussing excitedly about all that had happened and Betty told them about the other job offer. The door bell rang just then, and Ignacio standing up to answer it, told Betty not to spill the whole story until he got back. The opened the door to two immigration officers, who have come to inform him that he was under arrest! (ooh, no!)

Episode 51 - The Photo Shoot At Queens!

2008-12-06T14:32:00.001+01:00

At Mode, the Boss, Betty was busy getting things together, with the costume and meeting with staff in the conference room, trying to create a concept – she wanted to depict Tim and Chloe as a 21st Century Adam and Eve in a jungle setting.

Marc and Willy trekked the streets not knowing where they were. Willy scolded Marc for not have any cash or ATM card on him. She, against Marc’s advise asked a pair of prostitutes for money, she introduced herself as Wilhelmina Slater of Mode but they didn’t seem to have heard that before.

The prostitutes looked at the white fur she put atop her suit and started feeling it greedily, telling themselves that it feels real and Willy, snatch it from their grip. Marc cleverly stepped in between them and they responded by reaching into their bras; maybe for knives or other weapon. They quickly took off at a sprint-pace!

Daniel was having a cosy moment decorating-tree with the Suarez family. Justin gave him the honour to hang a stocking on the tree and as he did that, his face became emotional and kept staring at the tree.

Then Hilda and Justin left Daniel and Ignacio alone. Daniel apologized to Ignacio, according to Daniel, for stepping in where he was not supposed to, but Ignacio thanked him for being there and told him that he’s going be a good father some day.

Betty called Daniel to update him with her concept and with how thing were going on at the office. As the spoke on the phone, he was watching, Justin, Hilda and Ignacio as they decorated the Christmas tree with so much love and dedication. Daniel suggested something simpler. He told Betty to get the whole crew (including Tim and Chloe) down to her house, that they were using her house for the shoot. Betty voiced out her thoughts to Christina, who was standing ear-to-ear with Betty, “I think he has started drinking again”. Daniel told her that “I heard that” and insisted that she get them down to her house, that he had an idea.

Betty and Sofia met again in the elevator and Betty asked her for a ride home.

Wilhelmina and Marc eventually found themselves in a church. Wilhelmina, was worried about how the photo-shoot was going and Marc told her Bruno was handling it, that she hired the best. That, didn’t stop her from still whinning about not being able to do her job anymore because she spend the whole time covering for Daniel all the time and accidentally (had a slip-of-the –mouth. Happens when one talks to much) said blotted out her plot to take over Meade Publications! She tried to cover up when Marc asked her what she just said and he gave the looks (y’know? Gotta).

Marc told her to stop being hard on herself and as he moved around touching things, he accidentally switch on a light beside a table on which an offering box was placed. Willy “Amen” and used the heel of her shoes to break the lock and as they peeped inside, Willy said, “Atleast that will take us back to civilization”. They stole all the money in the box – Marc stuffed some in both pockets while Willy stuffed the remaining inside her fur. They then looked at each other feeling guilty at what they just did and Wilhelmina dropped one of her diamond earring in the box.

They arrive at the Suarez's and they both still sat inside the car. Betty told Sofia that she didn’t want to be the one to tell Daniel that the next time he’ll see Sofia, she'll be someone's wife. Sofia looked at house and prepared herself to tell Daniel; she sprayed her mouth and looked somewhat sober that Betty asked if she was alright.

Inside Betty's house, everything was being prepared. Daniel gently pushed the curtain aside to peep at Sofia and Ignacio came behind him to have a look and to ask him, “Is that her?”. Daniel nodded and he told Daniel to go to her.

Episode 50 - Wilhelmina & Marc, Lost

2008-12-06T10:47:00.003+01:00

Meanwhile, the Taxi driver has gotten lost in the streets and when Willy began insulting him, he pulled over and threw them out of his Cab. She and Marc got out in a hurry because the driver did as if he was going to bring out a gun or something, and in the process Will forgot her bag in the back of the cab. The Cab zoomed off and they were back where they started, even worse - stranded.

Betty was trying to get to Willy on the phone and she wasn’t picking it because she had forgot her bag int he Cab! Sofia tried to help Betty but Betty, in a spirit of loyalty declines and when Sofia didn’t let her be. Betty couldn’t take it anymore and busted her bubble by telling Sofia that because she had broken Daniel's heart, he had got himself drunk, and was now sick and her house. Amanda hurried in just then, interrupting this confrontational scenario, to announce that Baby Chutney had arrived and Betty said she’ll be with them in ten minutes.

At the Suarez house, Justin was seated on the rug with Daniel making miniature Christmas decorations and chit-chatting. But Santos was uncomfortable where he sat, he tried to get Justin to come out and play football, that he wanted him to be a “normal kid”, to get fresh air. But Justin wasn’t game and Daniel said Justin is a great kid and that he should be allowed to do what he enjoyed doing. But when Santos insisted, Hilda stepped in and they started arguing. She told Santos that Justin is comfortable with who he is and so is she, that he had no right castigating anyone now, not after raising him without him for three years. Santos was angry and upset, he said 'adios' (meaning goodbye in Spanish) and walked out. Ignacio watched the whole scenario, worried as he looked at the pain on his daughter face (He has feared this was going to happen).

Daniel felt guilty for speaking up for Justin. He stayed with Justin, feeling sorry for him but Justin didn’t utter a word after what transpired between his parents, (poor Justin) he just keep on making ornaments for the Christmas tree. (He masked his pain well, this boy has a grown mind already).

Episode 49 - Ugly Betty Vs The Stylist

2008-12-01T16:36:00.007+01:00

He told her that she had always wanted more responsibility and that she could take care of things.

Betty hanged the phone, arms akimbo and proclaimed to herself and Christina, “I am the man”.

Wilhelmina and Marc got into a taxi. Wilhelmina, still in a bad mood told the taxi driver that she needed to get to JFK fast. And, when the driver didn’t start the Cab she yelled, let’s go! Marc explained he opted to spend thanksgiving at the office because his mum was trying to hook him up with a girl who plays organ at her church; that was why he came to the office to watch the parade from a safe place. (oops)

Wilhelmina didn’t reply a word as she stirred on with an angry look on her face. Marc pleaded, please say something. She said “You know the name of the hospital, you know the frequency of my calls”; you’ve stepped way over the line this time, Marc”, I don’t think I can protect you any more”. Marc, was frozen with fear as he asked, “protect me from who?”. “The person you were trying to call is not abused”.

Betty went to the stylist with confidence this time around and he told her he just received a photo of the baby and it was ugly (this guy is mean). He actually said it was hideous! That got to Betty and she lashed out at him. She told that he had a problem if he not could see any thing adorable and beautiful in baby than drowning them, then maybe he was not the right person for the job.

He retaliated by telling her that he’s been working with mode ever before she wore her first pumps and asked if she was firing him. She said if he couldn’t change his stand then there was nothing she could do. The ego-deflated stylist angrily took his stuff and left, not without telling her that she should look for something else who do designs for zoo to do the job.

As he was going out, he met Sofia (who had been watching the exchange and admiring the way Betty handled the stylist) by the door and asked her “Who is that woman?”. Sofia replied, “For today, she is the boss”.

Episode 48 - Daniel, Tree-Decorating!

2008-12-01T15:14:00.004+01:00

At Mode, Betty tried to get Daniel (who was holding a pack of ice to his throbbing head) to come down to the office while Sofia used every kind of trick to get information about Daniel from Betty to no avail.

While Bruno was show casing different types of baby outfits to choose from, Betty looked at the designs and disagreed with it. Bruno was simply livid. The arrogant stylist could handle an ugly girl questioning his taste.

At the Suarez home, Daniel was having the time of his life as he (looking better now) watched the family rummage through a treasure box and choose ornaments to decorate the Christmas tree. Mr. Suarez took a reindeer, which he told Daniel was made for him by his late wife. The next was a miniature size baby in a cot which Hilda told Daniel that she made when she was pregnant with Justin. Justin warned everyone with “Here come tears”. They joked and had fun while Justin handed the ‘baby in cot’ to Daniel, to so the hanging. He stood up but felt awkward and got emotional, he had never decorated a Christmas tree as a child.

At the Wardrope, Christina was going through costumes to pick for the baby photo shoot and Betty was her mannequin. She complained about Christina’s choice and called Daniel to see if she could get him down to the office. She asked if he was feeling better and he answered, “a little”, while stringing beads for decorating the tree and watching the family flocking around the tree. He enjoyed the whole tree-decorating and confessed to Betty that it was a new experience for him. The Christmas tree in his home always got done by professionals! (Can you beat that?)

Christina was still a mass of confusion while this conversation was going on.

Betty wanted his opinion on the photo-shoot but he seems to care more about the tree-decorating.

Episode 47 - Ugly Betty In The Cover-Up

2008-11-24T15:47:00.003+01:00

Daniel got a Christmas tree for Betty’s family which Betty had earlier told him (on their last phone conversation) he didn’t have to do. Justin reeled on to Daniel about the Mode issues he had while Ignaco cornered Hilda and asked her how long Santos was staying this time after their night together. She told him to back off and allow Santo the chance to be a father! (woah)

Bruno, the stylist that was to handle the photo shoot came to Betty’s office with Amanda. He asked for Daniel and Betty tried to cover up with excuses. The guy just kept interrupting her and looking down on her. When Betty asked what he had in mind for the shooting, he looked at her disrespectfully and started explaining his idea to Amanda.

He then told Betty to get him hot coffee! He could not place Betty into the role of an Assistant (by her looks). He is arrogant, rude and so full of himself, while Amanda stood beside him with puppy dog eyes, loving the treatment he was meting out to Betty.

In the mean time, Wilhelmina and Marc were in town being chauffeur driven and worrying sick at what was going to happen to the photo shoot. Marc briskly sent Amanda a text message notifying her that Wilhelmina already knew that someone called the hospital from her office. Amanda swallowed a croissant within the blink of an eye. Wilhelmina, pissed by the way Marc was giving apt attention to his cell phone, took it from him and read the message and then, threw it out the car window!(they were on an overhead bridge by this time)

Marc began to gasp (as he usually does when tense or afraid) but that didn’t faze Willy and she demanded to know why he called the hospital. She proceeded to lash the hell out of him but just then one of the car tyre went flat!

Episode 46 - Daniel's Sofia-Hangover

2008-11-20T10:41:00.003+01:00

Sofia replied that she didn’t think it mattered to Daniel, “so many women, so little time ” Meade. She asked Betty if she it mattered, but the loyal Betty did not want her to know that Daniel was still smarting from her choice of Hunter over him replied that she didn’t know in an unconvincingly way. Sofia then left after informing her that she had a plane to catch.

At Betty’s house, Daniel came slowly down the stairs and wanted to leave quietly but he waited a moment when he heard the family chatting at the breakfast table. Ignacio saw him and invited him to join them for breakfast. He declined but when Ignacio saw that he wasn’t okay, refused to allow him leave. He helped Daniel, who managed to walk on wobbly legs, to the table. The family stood up to as he joined them, Hilda and Justin staring at him like an idol while Santos introduced him self as Justin’s father. He also praised his exploits with women but it seems Daniel was not really in the mood for talking. Ignacio served him food but he got nauseated and ran for the bathroom.

Betty was in Daniel’s office, scrolling through names on his Laptop when Bradford came in to ask if Daniel had worked on the instruction he passed to him earlier -the photo shoot for 'baby Chutney', the new born baby girl of Tim and Chloe, a celebrity couple. Sofia volunteered to write the article for the shoot.

Betty promptly made an S.O.S call her house to speak to Daniel. Her father was taking a thermometer from Daniel's mouth as he spoke, telling her that he had 'fever' and wasn't even fit to go out. She then spoke to Daniel and told the situation in the office. He told her that she had to hold forth for him because he was drunk, sick and wasn’t prepared to face Sofia yet. Betty was not prepared for this and she tried to convince him that he had to be at the office but he hung up while Betty was still yelling his name. Sofia, who happened to have appeared from nowhere, overheard Betty calling Daniel on the phone and asked about Daniel’s whereabouts. Betty quickly lied that he was on his way.

Get Your Free Copy "30 DAYS" MOVIE For Yuletide Now!

2008-11-19T07:36:00.009+01:00

Remember in June this year when we reviewd the trailer of "30 DAYS" Movie? Now here is the announcement on the launch of the movie for Nigerian Nollywood lovers. The producers of 30 DAYS MOVIE from Nollywood are offering One Thousand (1,000) movie lovers a Yuletide gift: an opportunity to watch the "30 DAYS THE MOVIE" for free.

To be eligible for this FREE screening, you must register at 30 DAYS MOVIE WEBSITE in the next 11 days, before 30th November, 2008.

... and what is the catch? Just pay a one-time, nominal non-refundable shipping and handling fee of $4.99 after you have registered at 30 DAYS MOVIE WEBSITE. The producers guaranty that you and your family would be very satisfied with the quality and message of "30 Days Movie", and if after enjoying the movie you are not satisfied, just return it to them -- No questions asked!

BE WARNED, NOT ALL PRETTY GIRLS HAVE LIPSTICKS IN THEIR HAND BAGS, SOME OF THEM CARRY GUNS! "30 DAYS" IS A TERRIFIC THRILLER SET IN MODERN-DAY NIGERIA. - By Joy Bewaji, Founder of FestacBreed Magazine.

Starring: Genevieve Nnaji, Joke Silver, Segun Arinze, ... Grab your free copy now among the lucky first 1,000 movie lovers to register, and don't miss this golden opportunity of the Yuletide.

TERMS OF SERVICE: Upon completion of registration, a one-time, non-refundable zhipping and handling fee of $4.99 will be charged. If themovie isnot returned within 30 days of the date of your registration, your credit card on file will be charged $10.00

RETURN POLICY: Movie must be in its original packaging and its original condition. Postage and shipping for returning movie shall be the responsibility of purchaser.

Re; Ugly Betty Snippets

2008-11-15T13:15:00.002+01:00

Hi Fans,

Pardon our inability to update you with snippets of Ugly Betty.

Watch out next week for fresh updates.

Thanks for tuning in.

Cheers

Snippet 45 - Daniel in Ugly Betty's Bed!

2008-10-20T17:05:00.005+01:00

Daniel woke up the next day in Ugly Betty’s bed! He at first thought something had happened between him & Betty when she joked that she spent the night in his arms! But, she allayed his fear when she said it was a joke. He grumbled to her about Sofia and her boyfriend, how he wasn’t the guy for her and so on. He was down because he had lost her. Betty gave him a pep talk and told him that everything could change in a short time. He tried to get up but realized that he had a serious hang-over.

Wilhelmina was in her office with Marc grilling him about who barged into her office during the holiday. He denied being in the office at the time and asked what really happened. Wilhelmina told him that they ate their way through 6 gift baskets, rumbled through her drawers and made phone calls from her desk.

Marc with pretentious righteousness said, “What’s wrong with people? Couldn’t they be satisfied with watching the Parade”. But, the smart Wilhelmina could read through his pretence. She showed him the Cashew nut she found and he had a flash-back of what happened. She asked him that which of the staff eats something with a high fat content as Cashew, handling the nut to him. Marc, dumfounded kept mumbling without any forthcoming answer. (He knew that Wilhelmina knew it was Amanda and that he was her best pal and the she couldn’t be in her office if Marc wasn’t there).

The phone rang and he wanted to attend to it as an escape but Willy answered it, it was Bradford. He just stood there looking at the Cashew nut.

At the Suarez house, Betty told her father to allow Daniel stay in bed longer to get over the hang over.

She got to the office and met Sofia dropping a note on Daniel’s desk. Sofia told her she was getting married that weekend. Betty congratulated her but didn’t seem so enthusiastic about it. Sofia confided in Betty that she was in love with Daniel and that got Betty’s attention. Betty couldn’t hide her anxiety and she asked if Sofia had told Daniel how she felt.

What is Sofia playing at? I hope she is not the same case at that of another fascinating telenovela – Rubi.

Snippet 44 - Thanksgiving, In Various Shades on 'Ugly Betty'

2008-10-17T17:30:00.007+01:00

She told Daniel that she found a ring in Hunter’s dresser that morning. Daniel asked if that was what she wanted and she said she was an old-fashion girl who wanted marriage, white elaborate wedding and lots of babies. That Hunter was offering her that but she doesn’t think Daniel was ready to commit yet. He responded that she didn’t know him well enough. She challenged him to stop her from going back to the club if he was ready but he just smiled as she took her leave.

By the time Wilhelmina changed and came back to the kitchen, she met Nico lighting the candles. Wilhelmina asked, “What’s all this?” Nico told her that it she wasn’t going out for a while, so, she thought she could have a snack. (Simply Charming, right?) She asked her mum to join her but Willy said she already had plans in a not-too-convincing tone. She didn’t need much persuasion before she pitched in. Nico, with a charming smile told her mum that she didn’t believe she cooked for her. She said it was nothing. Nico thank her mum and they both settled down to enjoy their meal while catching up.

Betty was making their mum’s favourite dessert while Hilda blamed herself for not checking Leah out. Betty comforted her that it could happen to anybody, that she was trying to help. Hilda told Betty that it was time for her to have time for herself life and that they had to stop relying on her too much. Betty’s phone rang and it was Daniel’s number, again.

Marc and Amanda ransacked Wilhelmina’s desk and the found the number of the mystery caller. Amanda dialed it and when the mystery woman was put through, they dropped the receiver out of fear and rushed out of the office. Wilhelmina learnt what happened when the woman called her at her dinner table, she was shocked.

Betty got to the pub and enquired from the bar man. He handed Daniel’s phone to her; he actually dialed Betty’s number from Daniel’s phone when he saw that he had gotten beyond control. Betty had to support Daniel out of the pub, he was dead-drunk.

At the cemetery, Bradford’s private eye whom he wanted to be rid of was in Fey’s coffins alive, crying for help but there was no one around - it was Thanksgiving night!

Snippet 43 - Ugly Betty & Family Duped

2008-10-17T17:22:00.003+01:00

At the Suarez’s’, Lear was leaving, so Hilda and Ignacio saw her to the door, they both told her how much they needed her help. Betty was sitting on the couch with Walter fidgeting. When she couldn’t stand it anymore, she rushed to the door and confronted Lear. Lear told Betty that the woman was alcoholic and she wasn’t interested in helping alcoholic person gain custody of children who she had often times abandoned at home while clubbing. And, that the money she accused her of stealing was only sufficient for filing the case that was before she opted out. Betty apologized and left, embarrassed. Lear pretended to return the money but Hilda and Ignacio insisted that she wanted her to handle the case, that the needed her. They even invited her to join them for Thanksgiving dinner that night and she promised to be there.

Bradford called his private eye and told him to meet him at the cemetery that night that he had to find out if Fey was really alive.

That evening Hilda and her family including their guests, Christina and Santos, were all at the well-laid Thanksgiving dinner table waiting for Lear. Betty got a call from Daniel requesting her to teach him how to dance Salsa on the phone! She tried her best and taught him the basic step. Daniel got to the men’s toilet and retreated when he saw Hunter already there but he called Daniel back. This Hunter guy is really getting under Daniel’s skin. He even peeped at Hunter in the bathroom!

The Suarez’s and their guests, all hungry, were still waiting for Lear to show up. Hilda was getting very nervous.

At the Mexican club, Daniel asked Sofia for a dance, displaying the steps he JUST learned from Betty. Hunter (like his name implies) moved in from behind Sofia and swept her off her feet in a swirl of fascinating dance moves – Salsa. Daniel looked on with wide eyes and mouth – he just realized he was no match for Hunter in every aspect. The dance ended and Sofia told Daniel he was next as she moved on to the ladies I presume. Hunter laughed with satisfaction, having enjoyed the dance. Daniel asked, “What the hell was that? I thought you are a lousy dancer?” Hunter told Daniel he was a Ballroom Dance Champion in 1988 and that really got to Daniel.

Bradford got to the cemetery where Fey’s coffin was, with his private eye, he accused him of not doing a good job of investigation whether she was really alive or not. Bradford opened the coffin and it was empty. The man asked where the body was and Bradford accused him of working for Fey the whole time which he denied. Another man (whom Bradford called earlier) showed up, who Bradford has hired to clean up his mess – the private eye. Bradford left the men there and walked out.

At Betty’s house, she was in the kitchen stirring the gravy on the stove when Hilda walked in to tell her that she had called all Leah’s number and they were disconnected. She admitted that Betty warned her.

Daniel got into his car and told the driver “get me the hell out of here”. Sofia opened the door and told him that they needed to talk. Daniel told her to forget it and he wanted to shut the door on her but she restrained him and pushed him in so that she could sit beside him in the car. Before she could say anything, Daniel started kissing her and asked her to tell him that didn’t mean anything. She said she couldn’t. He then asked her way she was with Hunter and she told him that she loved Hunter.

Snippet 42 - Daniel Competes In The Love Game

2008-10-15T13:13:00.004+01:00

He man introduced himself as Gordon Levee (hope my spelling is correct), an editor of a magazine and Daniel’s confidence faded away.

Sofia then said “Hunter’s over there”, pointing to where Hunter was – talking and laughing with guests. Daniel turned to look at Hunter…… he saw a tall, blond, gorgeous guy! Ted gushed, “Men how are guys like us supposed to score with someone like him around”. I bet that added salt to Daniel’s injury because his face was a picture of total defeat.

Wilhelmina tried cooking in her kitchen but had a challenge with the Turkey. She gushed “desperate times calls for desperate measures”. So, she called a lady chef to help her out, explaining to her that, “the bird still had its luggage inside”. The lady did not believe that Slater was actually cooking but gave her instructions which Slater didn’t find funny at all.

Hunter got the whole guests entranced by his story which made every one laugh – Daniel forced himself to laugh too. Daniel asked where they met and they both looked at each other like two love birds and they narrated their meeting on a plane from Kenya. She had gone for a photo-shoot while he was returning home from working for the Peace Corps. They reminisced on sharing each other’s notes and kissed. Daniel wanted to know more. So, Hunter told him that apart from modeling and racing with sport cars, he wanted more from life, so, he set up an irrigation program in Africa to help kids have access to fresh water. He got teary and Sofia held him to comfort him, everyone was taken by his story. But, Daniel was not going to be left out; he also wanted to look like a hero. So, he cooked up a story about helping some kids on 76th Street to open a fire Hydrant and that when they saw water, woah….. (Oh no!). That was as far as he got. Every one looked at him; they knew that he was lying. He succeeded in making a complete fool of himself.

Bradford went to the buffet table to get himself more wine. As he was about pouring serving himself, a woman dressed like Fey passed by the door through of the room (through which he came in), making sure he saw her before moving away. He called, “Fey?” but got no response. He quickly went to his wife to tell her that he say Fey. Claire pleaded with him not to do this to her but he insisted that he saw her. Claire got him a drink and when Daniel enquired about what was going on, she told him that Bradford had had too much to drink as she led him away carrying a glass of drink which Daniel tried to retrieve from her but she cleverly move away from his reach.

Nico got home and met Wilhelmina in the kitchen wearing an apron. She asked if her mum was lost because she never cooked. Nico wished her happy thanksgiving, blew her a kiss and said she was on her way to a concert. She lied to her mother that that was why she was in the city because she assumed that her mum already had plans. Wilhelmina said she had a thanksgiving to attend but looked disappointed and Nico asked her if she was okay. She said she was fine, that she made Nico some snack in case she got hungry. She then said she needed to go and change. After she left the kitchen, Nico move towards the set table and saw that it was a thanksgiving dinner, set for two!

Marc and his accomplice, Amanda were still in the office. They had changed into different outfits and were drunk. Marc told Amanda that he thinks Wilhelmina is a lesbian because she was always calling a woman on the phone. They both got curious as to who the woman was.

Hunter helped Gordon to put his neck back in place, it shifted, and his exclaimed “you are amazing!” All these were having adverse effect on Daniel. Sofia asked her boyfriend to take her to “that place I love but you never take me to” but he replied that he doesn’t know how to dance. Daniel quickly quipped, “I can dance, I’m good at dancing, I love dancing; I think the three of us should go dancing”. Sofia agreed that it was a great idea. Daniel smiled with accomplishment as if saying “you’re not getting rid of me so easily”.

Snippet 41 - Ugly Betty's Thanksgiving Tainted

2008-10-14T17:46:00.006+01:00

After that, she told him he was smart and handsome, an amazing person, wondering why he was so insecure around Sofia. This was the only woman that gotten under his skin so far. Betty then choose the purple shirt and left.

Hilda and Ignacio did the cooking while Justin helped to lay the table. He was excited that his father was coming and when he heard the door bell, he quickly rushed to the door. His father gave him the present he bought him and Hilda came to welcome him with a kiss, which Justin made sure he took in. Ignacio also came and stood at a little distance until Hilda gave him the “say hello dad” look. He then walked to Santos and shook his hands saying “Glad you could make it”.

Betty went to confirm from the woman Gina mentioned to her, that was defrauded by Lear and found out the truth.

Betty got home and was surprised to see Santos in her house. After exchanging pleasantries, she rushed to the kitchen and another surprise – Lear was already there! She was nervous as she watched Lear and did not hear what her father was telling her. She pulled Hilda by the hand and hurried her to her room to tell her what she just discovered. Hilda refused to believe Betty because the source was Gina Gambarro. She told Betty that she couldn’t handled it because she (Hilda) tackled the whole problem all by herself, the money and the lawyer and that she even helped her father with the cooking. That, Betty wasn’t the golden child anymore and that maybe they don’t need her help any more!

Amanda and Marc wore female costumes and danced as if they were in an opera. They then sat on the floor to talk and she got teary and said “Daniel”, Marc put his arms around her to comfort her. She blamed herself for being stupid, that she knew what the rules were and still fell in love with him even though she didn’t mean for it to happen.

Daniel got to his parents home and was welcomed by his mother with a kiss. The chit-chatted and his father joined in to wish them both happy thanksgiving. Daniel remarked that his father was being supportive by drinking Soda like his mum. Claire and Bradford clinked glass and wished each other happy thanksgiving but Daniel’s attention was already diverted. He saw Sofia just a little distance behind his father. She was talking and laughing with a balding man of late-forties in age. He answered that “I think it just got happier”, as he moves towards Sofia with a confident smile on his face. Sofia greeted with a “hey you” but Daniel who was more interested in getting rid of the man (he though he was Hunter), said “You must be Hunter, I’ve heard so much about you” (Sofia looked down, smiling knowingly), but the man said, “No, no”.

Snippet 40 - Ugly Betty - In The Spirit of Thanksgiving

2008-10-14T16:15:00.005+01:00

At the Suarez house, Ignacio was watching a telenovela in which a reverend sister uncovers the lies of a wanted thief and murderer who pretended to be a reverend father. Lear was at the dinning with Hilda talking about Hilda’s single-mother status when Betty rushed in full of apologies for being late. Justin accused her of not being at his school’s concert which he said was ‘awesome’. She told him she will hear all about it as soon as she was back from shopping. She rushed into the kitchen and saw that Hilda had already done the shopping. Hilda, who wasn’t too happy that Betty was giving her job too much time but Betty reminded her that she was still going to do the cooking with her dad. Hilda responded that, that was possible if she wasn’t called from Mode for a fashion emergency. She complained about having to buy the last turkey and why Betty had to keep preparing a particular snack every year when no one eats them. Betty insisted that their mum made it every year, and that it was a tradition.

At Mode, the last to leave were the pairs of Wilhelmina and Christina, Bradford’s Assistant and another lady who were behind Slater and Christina as they waited for the lift. The women talked about their children and Bradford’s assistant couldn’t hide her delight at having her three grown-up sons with their girlfriends home for Thanksgiving. Christina and Wilhelmina exchange looks as they listened in. The lift opened and the women got in leaving Christina and Willy still standing outside the lift. Christina kept giving her the look but Wilhelmina snatched her dress from her, told her to stop looking at her as if she were a thanksgiving ghost and pushed her towards the lift with a “Good night”. But Christina, always one to speak her mind, looked up while gesticulating as if she was seeing a vision, “I see an old woman, all alone at a Thanksgiving table set for one” emphasizing “One” with her uplifted finger for Willy to see as the lift closed. The message was obviously driven home as Willy, looked around. She was standing there all alone. She felt the impact of Christina’s words. So, she brought out her cell phone and cancelled her engagement on the premise that Nico was coming home for Thanksgiving.

It was Thanksgiving morning. Betty rushed home from doing shopping and Gina Gambarro (you remember her neighbour with the flat screen?), who was also out for last-minute shopping, double-crossed her and enquired about her father’s immigration situation. Betty denied that she didn’t know what she was talking about. Gina told her that everyone in the neighbourhood already knows. She warned Betty to beware of the lawyer – Lear, that she was a fraud. She told Betty that she usually deceives people into believing she wanted to help and after collecting their money, she disappears!

Betty got inside her house and she got a call from Daniel saying he needed her, that it was an emergency! Hilda wasn’t happy as she reminded Betty about the cooking with her dad, Betty apologized and rushed off.

A parade was passing by Mode building while Marc and Amanda watched from Wilhelmina’s office – they had a table laid out with assorted food and wine, just for the two of them. They even saw Betty from there! Betty did not believe that Daniel called her to help him choose between a purple and a lemon green shirt to wear to his family’s thanksgiving (all because Sofia & her boyfriend was going to be there!). Betty asked why Daniel said it was an emergency and made her leave her family on a thanksgiving day because of his frivolous indecision, she was irritated. But the spoilt brat continued to insist that it was important. Can you believe that? Betty got up in a hurry to leave and Daniel told her that she hadn’t told him which shirt to wear and she let him have it – that she had her own life too and had family problems to attend to, who already think she is putting him ahead of them. After that, she told him he was smart and handsome, an amazing person, wondering why he was so insecure.

Snippet 39 - Daniel Suffers from Sofia Fever on Ugly Betty

2008-10-13T17:04:00.002+01:00

Betty was at her desk playing solitaire when the phone rang, it was Hilda. She told Betty she was supposed to be home an hour ago and that the Thanksgiving shopping was yet to be done (Betty usually did it). Amanda came by prancing and looking at Daniel. Betty asked her about her the plans she had with her new boyfriend. She told Betty he called her an hour ago to say that he had to spend Thanksgiving with his wife & children. So, it was over between them.

Christiana came by to confirm the time Betty and her family would be having the Thanksgiving dinner because Betty invited her. After Christina left, Betty looked at the time and stood up with an frustrated sign and went into Daniel’s office. She asked if she could leave and he said okay. But, as she turned to go, he asked if she had seen Sofia or if she left any message for him. Betty replied that she was sorry, that there were no messages and that she had not seen Sofia. He complained to her about Sofia not telling him that she had a boyfriend. Betty who had been in a hurry, had to come back and asked Daniel if he was okay. She sat down and listened as he let out his frustrations about waiting all day for Sofia’s call and checking his e-mail time and time again.

Marc and Amanda agreed to meet at the office to celebrate their Thanksgiving there since they are both dates-less. He walked into Willy’s office to tell her that Nico was coming home for Thanksgiving. Wilhelmina said she already had plans and could not cancel it just to sit at home for a Thanksgiving. Christina, who had been fitting her with an outfit pricked her with the needle while Marc’s face showed displeasure at her response.

Betty finally left Daniel lying on the couch in his office. She told him he had to go to his family’s Thanksgiving but he said he was not going. Just then, Sofia popped her head by the wall and Daniel hurriedly pushed Betty out wishing her a nice Thanksgiving. Sofia apologized to Daniel on what transpired between them. She said what happened was unexpected and that they should be friends. Daniel nodded unconvincingly and they hugged and as he hands moved from her waist down, she extricated herself with “friends’ hands don’t go that far”. She asked if he would be at his family’s thanksgiving, that she was bringing her boyfriend, Hunter along. Daniel agreed that he’ll be there “of course”. She added that in a weird way, she feels Hunter and Daniel would get along fine. Daniel said “Yeah, Hunter, Hunter” as if he is already taking to him but he sounded unconvincing. Sofia then left and Daniel flopped down of the couch disappointed.

At the Suarez house, Ignacio was watching a telenovela in which a reverend sister uncovers the lies of a wanted thief and murderer who pretended to be a reverend father.

Snippet 38 - Sofia Stuns Daniel

2008-10-13T16:58:00.007+01:00

Ted and Willy talked about Nico and parenting, being a father of teenage children himself. He advised her to try to make it up to Nico - try being a mother.

Betty got home and met Walter on the front porch. She gave him the fries & Burger. She made him understand that he was not going to lose her, that she was still a Queens’ girl, she only needed him to support her. They held on to each other as the sat there.

The next morning, as Betty and Ignacio left the kitchen to go to work, Hilda told Justin she had a surprise for Justin; she told him that his father was coming for Thanksgiving. He looked disappointed and told his mother that he’ll believe it when he sees him. She tried to cover up for him, saying he still loves him and that he came through for them with the money for his grand father’s case. Justin reluctantly agreed with a “Yeah, I guess”, but told her that Martha Steward would have been a better surprise.

At Mode, Daniel met Sofia in the conference room and he couldn’t keep his hands off her but she kept wriggling out of his grip. He asked her what she had been up to and she replied with a shocker, “I’ve been busy, with my boyfriend”. That left him standing there, perplexed.

Wilhelmina came in from shopping for the things Nico’s requested and a gift from Ted was already waiting for her – a white cow-girl boots. She packed Nico’s things and included the photograph of both of them that had been in her office, smiling thoughtfully to herself.

Daniel told Betty that her review was very good but he couldn’t use it. Why? Because it was “really you, not Mode”. She left his presence disappointed and went to tear-up in the bathroom. Sofia tracked her to the bathroom. She encouraged and boosted her moral. She then told Betty that she loved her article and that she was running it in her magazine. Betty was over the moon as she did a dance step in the bathroom.

(Anyone knows what it is called?).

Snippet 37 - Daniel & Sofia Tango in Ugly Betty

2008-10-13T16:31:00.001+01:00

Daniel and Sofia were still at their game; playing and flirting while making small talks. Daniel asked her why she thinks he is a sexaholic, she declined answering him and gave up the game, that he had won. Daniel was not interested in winning as he asked her the question again and she replied that she never said it. The next thing… she started kissing Daniel and they moved to a discreet place part of the pub.

Hilda was upset and frustrated by being made to wait in vain. She vowed to grab Santos by his hair and drag him out if he ever showed up, she then left the house. Ignacio and Justin looked at each other, they knew she was only barking and would never bite.

Betty and Walter were served another course of their meal, he looked at it suspiciously as he had done the previous ones. He could not take it anymore, so he declared that he was not eating it and yelled, “I want real food, Betty!” Betty told him to keep his voice down because he was drawing attention to them but he called back the waiter as asked if he could get Burger and Fries! Betty couldn’t believe what he did and she told him so. He let out his pent up frustrations, and told her that he didn’t like the place and that he hated pretending to be somebody he was not. Betty realized he was indirectly addressing her and she angrily that he didn’t want her working in Mode and that maybe he didn’t belong there. He got up, removed the shirt he had been wearing, leaving the only t-shirt & jeans. He told Betty that he liked the Betty from Queens not the one from Mode, that Betty should tell the Queens’ Betty to call him if she sees her. Betty was embarrassed and unhappy at his outburst.

Betty was back in her hotel room putting together her review. She had ordered Fries & Burger. She thought Walter would be back as he usually does after such tantrums but he didn’t. So, she called his phone and left him a message.

Hilda got home late that night, dropped her bag on the kitchen table and once again checked. Santos was outside the back door, standing in the darkness. She told him he was late (Justin was already asleep) and that she had been all over the place looking for him. She asked him what he excuses were this time and he moved into good light – he had bruises all over his face – he had been beaten up by thugs because they wanted the money he gave to Hilda.

Wilhelmina took a mini glass of drink from the mid-riff of a club girl, with her mouth and upturned her head to empty it into her mouth like her guest had done earlier. He was impressed and clapped for her gleefully (Marc was no where to be found). Nico called and Willy asked if she got the care-package she sent her. She needed some other things which she wanted her mother to get for her and when Wilhelmina mentioned that she’ll sent Marc to get the things for her she hung up.

Hilda attended to Santos bruises and he apologized for letting his son down, that he didn’t want him to see him the way he was. Hilda said it was just a couple of bruises and little blood, that it’ll be gone before Thanksgiving and he could see him then. That was an invitation?

Snippet 36 - Ugly Betty In Mode Format

2008-10-13T16:17:00.002+01:00

Betty answer was a “No, Walter, I have to eat here, this is my job”. She immediately turned Mode – she authoritatively informed the lady that she was from Mode and was there to review the hotel. That got it settled. The lady, after talking in whispers with another staff told Betty it was her mistake and led Betty to her table. Walter told transfixed for a few seconds still surprised at the ‘Mode’ attitude Betty just displayed. (She was dressed in her High School Prom dress!)

Hilda and her father were in the kitchen, at home. Ignacio asked what she had to do to get such money from Santos. She told him that he asked to see his son in exchange, that night. Ignacio replied that she was just asking for trouble.

Dinner was brought in for Sofia & her crew and on enquiry, none of them knew who ordered it. She knew it was Daniel. So, she served place both hers and Daniel’s on a tray and took it to his office herself. They ate together while making small talks. Daniel only took a spoon and went straight for a bottle of water. It was Mexican food and was pepper-hot, but Sofia ate it with relish because she is Mexican.

At the hotel restaurant, Walter looked through the menu and everything seemed strange to him he complained and decline helping Betty on the basis that he knew nothing about ‘Places like this’. He suggested they go back up stairs, order Burger & Fries and watch Cable but Betty refused, she had a job to do.

Willy & Marc were still keeping their guest company even though they seemed harassed by the display of outlandishness and wildness in the pub.

Daniel and Sofia went to a pub after their meal to play Poker. Sofia challenge him to a game which they betted on with money.

At the Suarez house, a telenovela was showing on the TV and Justin was seated on the couch. Hilda kept walking to and from the door, nervous and getting herself worked-up. Justin told her to forget about his father, that he was not coming. Ignacio, handed a bowl of food to Justin agreed with him, that it was best to forget it. Hilda was somewhat sad and could not stop pulling aside the curtain to peep outside; she obviously is still in love with Santos.

"Wicked Games" Movie... Just Another Game by Wicked Hearts

2008-10-11T20:50:00.005+01:00

Early this week, Televista began showing on Africa Independent Television (AIT) a thriller movie called "Wicked Games". I waited a whole week to review and give my opinion on this movie. In that one week, many of our telenovela and soap oera fans began to voice out their desire that we should serialize the summary of this movie.

If I had a fantasy that this movie would be another block burster, my fantasy has been dashed. This movie falls into 'another one' of those predictable films, which removes the mystery and suspense that herald and accompanies telenovelas.

Woven in a revenge plot, from begining to the end, this 75-episode, 2006 movie has many lessons for those vengeful and non-forgiving ones among us.

Starring Blythe Hunter (beautiful Oscar-winning actress Tatum O'Neal) who was jilted by a former lover - Theodore Crawford (charming Actor Clive Robinson), over twenty-five years ago... Imagine the boiling rage cleverly concealed and schemed from a wicked heart...

She married another man by whom she had two great and wonderful sons. One (JOSH, a medical doctor), was the good boy of the family, while she raise the second son (Aaron) as a pervert killer and most dagerous.

Wicked Games is just another game played by wicked hearts, because of the easy-to-predict nature, it is not and can never carry the entertainment weight of telenovelas. I hope to enjoy the thrills as the movie unravels.

We at the Telenovela Love Garden would help out in serializing the snippets of the full story of Wicked games, as is our tradition to satisfy your entertainment hunger.

Snippet 35 - Ugly Betty Enjoys 3-Star Massage

2008-10-09T17:40:00.005+01:00

Betty was seated on her bed in a bathrobe. She wanted to watch the TV but mistakenly channel she didn’t was and when she couldn’t change it she closed the remotely controlled door (hiding the flat screen) manually! The doorbell rang and the massage guy came in. Betty was expecting a lady but he was told they were all booked! She was wide-eyed when he told her to disrobe while he set up the table!

Daniel was still at his desk at night reading Sofia’s book (Girls Like it On Top) and watching Sofia who was busy in the Conference room. He saw her touching another lady’s breast and he quickly jumped from his desk, hid behind the wall to watch. He then bumped in on them and started blabbering that if they needed a man’s perspective….. Sofia at first ignored him, then she informed him they were doing a write up on breast reconstruction for recovering women (who had their breast removed due to cancer, I presume). He looked totally stupid and quickly made his exit.

Betty was undergoing her massage with her glasses on, still taking notes. She covered herself from shoulder blades down while taking her massage! Just then, the door bell rang and the tall, good looking guy opened the door to Walter. He had flower in one hand, a bottle of wine in the other and a smile on his face which quickly disappeared the moment he saw who was at the door. “What’s going on here?” was the next thing Betty heard.

Hilda went in search of Santos to ask him for help with the money reminding him that she had never asked him for a cent before. He did give her half of the money right there but requested to see his son in return.

Betty explained the situation to Walter who was winning “I don’t like strange, tall, muscle guy touching you”. Betty finally convinced her jealous boyfriend, thanked the massage guy as he left. She asked Walter about Atlantic City and he said he changed his mind because he wanted to spend time with her no matter where. He even complimented her hotel room. Betty had to change for dinner and told him to change into something more cultured than the jeans & t-shirt he was wearing but he didn’t see anything wrong with it.

Meanwhile, Wilhelmina was giving Ted a low-down on Mode while giving him a tour. (Even Mode’s lobby was decorated with figures of animals) Wilhelmina told him that she had made reservations for them but the wild Texan had a favourite spot he wanted them to go to. It was a rowdy, noisy bar. Wilhelmina in an exasperated tone said, “We are in Kansas” as she and Marc stood at the entrance still wondering at the wildest they were seeing. Someone threw a bra which landed on Marc’s shoulders. He quickly plucked it away as if it was a poisonous spider.

Betty and Walter got to the dinning 15 minutes late and they were told by the lady in charge that they were fully booked. Walter, who was obviously not comfortable in the settings, suggested they go back to the room, order room service, snuggle-up and be romantic.

Snippet 34 - Ugly Betty Reviews A Hotel

2008-10-09T17:06:00.004+01:00

On Betty’s arrival at the hotel, the staff at the front desk ignored her at first but on learning that she was from Mode, his attitude towards her changed. She (being the eater), picked an apple on the front desk thinking it was real and he politely told her it was not. She kept looking round and as she sat on decorative chair in the hotel lobby, she went spirally inside it.

Daniel got off the lift at Mode; he didn’t look where he was going because he was so caught up with the book he was reading. He bumped into a guy and one of the books fell to the floor. As he bent to pick it, a lady in black suede high heels planted her feet in front of him in such a way that the book was in the middle of both feet – it was Sofia Reyes. On her enquiry, Daniel told her he was doing a research on women who tease their way to the top and the he had quotes! She replied that he didn’t know her at all; that he was a presumptuous ass……, the rest of it was in Spanish (she was obviously angry). Daniel laughed quietly, happy to have punched her back for once.

Betty looked around her suite after and threw herself on the bed saying she was in heaven.

Wilhelmina was at Christina’s trying to choose what to wear to receive the Ted Labow (hope I got the spelling correctly, the Texan Mode wanted her to host. She condemned the clothes on display.

Meanwhile, Betty got busy observing her room and the view and making notes. She called room service and ordered for a message while happily savouring a strawberry.

Wilhelmina and Marc were in her office waiting to receive their guest. Wilhelmina was still checking out the skirt suit she wore, while Marc was scattering Texan decorative items around the office. Amanda called to inform her that Ted had arrived and she instructed Marc to go and lead him in. While Wilhelmina was laying a beautiful mat on the floor, Marc led Mr. Labow in. He was taken by Wilhelmina’s beauty and he held on to her hand, complimenting her style. He looked around the office admiring the decorations and they talked for a little while, flirting with each other.

Snippet 33 - Ugly Betty - Daniel vs Sofia

2008-10-08T17:29:00.002+01:00

At Mode, Betty was in Daniel’s office delivering his water –soaked Bagel which she was trying to dried a bit with tissue paper. She was dripping also, with Mascara running around her eyes (funny) having being caught under a sprinkler while trying to get Sofia’s autograph on one of her books which gave to Betty as a complimentary gift. Daniel looked at it – it was titles “Girls Like It On Top” and he made snide remarks about it. Betty then told him that the freelancer that was hired to write a review for a new hotel turned down their offer. Just then, Daniel heard Sofia’s voice giving instructions in his conference room. He confronted her for taking over his conference room without his permission. She told him to take up the issue with his father because he gave her permission to use it. They exchange sarcastic remarks and it seemed a battle line has been drawn between these two.

Wilhelmina was raging at Bradford for proposing to her to host a prospective client. (Marc stayed closed by and listened in as is his usual habit). Her grouse was what that, it wasn’t her job but Daniel’s. Bradford told her that she was the best person to handle the job because she landed almost every account for Mode and she, sarcastically chipped in, “And I’m still JUST the Creative Director”. Bradford, in a complimentary persuasive way added that the Texan man would not be able to resist a beautiful woman. She eventually agreed.

Hilda walked into their house sober than usual and sat at the dinning after declining her father’s offer of a sandwich. Ignacio was apprehensive and told her that the last time she was THIS quiet – when she was about to inform him that she was pregnant! She replied that she had figured out where they were going to get the $5,000 Lear charged to handle his case. Ignacio he told her that he wondered what they both must be thinking of him, having murdered a man (as if he didn’t hear what she just said). Hilda came over to him and told him that they weren’t judging him, that he was simply defended their mother and that it was all in the past. He caressed her face with a sad smile and thanked her. He then asked her where they were going to get the money. She told him from Santos (Justin’s father). Ignacio vehemently refused but Hilda reiterated that they had no choice and walked away.

Betty was seated at her desk chewing gum and playing with it when Sofia walked to her (she quickly got rid of the gum). Sofia had brought her another copy of the book she gave her earlier which was dry because the first one got wet. She had penned on it “To Betty, a girl like no other. Love, Sofia”. She asked Betty to help her write a review on topic that had to do with Sexaholics, that she wanted a fresh view on it that was different from the view of Fashionists around them. Betty told her she wasn’t qualified to do it but Sofia said she was more than qualified. Daniel, who had been reading a newspaper in his office with feet on his desk, saw Sofia talking to Betty and he immediately flew there and asked what was going on. Sofia explained that she needed fresh views on an articules and decided to make use of Betty’s intelligence. Always the one to throw the first punch, she added that she was sure he uses Betty’s intelligence on daily basis. Daniel said he had had enough of her hijack; first the conference room and now, his assistant. He told Betty that he had a lot of things for her to do and moved towards the door of his office. He stopped mid-way and called Betty again, waiting for her to follow him. Sofia apologized and remarked in a sarcastic way that she didn’t know he was the jealous type. Betty apologized to Sofia and went after Daniel.

In Daniel’s office, he told Betty that Sofia wanted him, but Betty didn’t get it. She told him he was reading too much to the whole thing. He then analyzed that the article on Sexaholics that Sofia gave Betty was about him and that if she wanted to play games, he was game.

He had to cook up a list of ‘Things to do” for Betty when she asked him. They were all irrelevant things; this irritated Betty and she stalked to her office in annoyance. Daniel quickly followed her and told her that she could do the new hotel review (to get her out of Sofia’s way) that weekend! Betty couldn’t believe her ears! She quickly rushed to Christian’s lair to get outfits, excited at the opportunity given to her. Amanda came in and warned Betty to lower the “Betty” knob a bit in her review.

There was a problem. Betty and Walter had already made plans to go to Atlantic City together that weekend. So, when Walter came by, Betty tried to explain why she took up the review offer. She even offered that they go together but this irregular guy just sulked and grumbled like a child, refusing to be pacified and stormed out of the Suarez home. Hilda wasn’t happy about the development and told Betty she could loose her boyfriend.

Snippet 32 - Ugly Betty's Father A Murderer?

2008-10-08T16:55:00.003+01:00

“I am your mother” stated Wilhelmina. “Mother? then maybe you should act like it” replied Nico. She continued with her onslaught, “But I guess you don’t have a clue where to start”. “I mean, have you ever even called the Senator Dad? Never huh? Is that armour so thick that you can’t even feel anything anymore? Was that the goal? (She was almost crying now), “Then congratulation. You are putting together your Must Mode Issue and things you Must do. You know what MUST should be? Learning how to be a mother! And, she walked away leaving Wilhelmina looking disgruntled and standing there alone while the remaining spectators who had been listening averted their eyes (including Daniel, Amanda & Betty) as she looked around until Marc came to her rescue and walked her back inside the building.

Betty places the cheque on Wilhelmina’s table as she walked in. Betty told her that she appreciated her kindness but that she could not cash the cheque. Wilhelmina wished Betty luck in her family’s situation, telling her that family problems were never easy. As Betty was walking out (Wilhelmina tore the cheque), Nico came in. She said she wanted to say goodbye (I think she was still trying to reach out to her mother) but Wilhelmina, still smarting from Nico’s earlier display, told her she had already said enough downstairs. She added that her flight to Paris was leaving that night. Nico said she’ll go to the apartment to pack her things. Her mum stopped her in her tracks with “Nico, contrary to what you think, I still do love you and I only want what’s best for you”. Defiant Nico’s reply was “you want what’s best for you” and left.

Amanda walked into Daniel’s office and confessed to him (trying to rein-in her tears) that it was at her apartment that he forgot his watch. She told him that he should find whatever he was looking for because she finally realized that it wasn’t her. Daniel opened his mouth in shock and stood up to apologize to her but she just turned and cat-walked away!

Bradford and his private eye met in an alley at night (as usual). The guy told him that he couldn’t have seen Fey because she was dead but Bradford wouldn’t be convinced insisting that he saw what he saw. The guy was obviously tired of the way Bradford was pestering him about confirming Fey’s death. He told Bradford that he had gone crazy and walked away. Bradford, while still standing in the alley, made a phone call to someone (who he had obvious discussed with before) about getting rid of the private eye.

Wilhelmina returned home to a dark, lonely house. She retrieved the box of Nico’s Captain Crisp that she had earlier thrown in the bin, sat at the dinning and began eating it with her fingers. She face showed a picture of mixed emotions that were running through her – loneliness, sadness, and e.t.c.

At the Suarez house, Hilda and Ignacio were cooking when Betty walked in soberly and apologized to her father for the way she lashed out at him the day before. She told him that she forgave him for whatever it was that he didn’t want tell them. Hilda watched with a smile on her face as they hugged. Ignacio then opened up to his daughters. He told them that the man in the picture was married to their mother and he worked with him as a chef. He fell in love with their mother and she eventually she noticed and reciprocated. Betty told him that if it was hard for him, he should stop. But, her father said he could no longer keep it from them, that they need to know the truth. He continued his narration; that on a particular day, his boss was beating his wife as he usually does and he could not help but defended her. The man pulled out a knife and he totally lost it, hitting him again and again. They had to run away and never looked back. He made them realize that he never applied for green card or Amnesty because he entered America illegally was afraid he’ll be sent back to Mexico, which meant facing jail term for killing the man.

Snippet 31 - Ugly Betty & Wilhelmina in Battles of Wills

2008-10-04T14:29:00.005+01:00

She yelled “talk to you? Why don’t you talk to me”, bringing out the enlarged photo of her mum (the one in which she was wearing a wedding band). She asked him why their mum was wearing a wedding ring in the photo and who the guy she was with was. Ignacio looked at the picture and then at Betty with a pained expression on his face. “There you go” Said Betty with an air of resignation, she turned and walked towards the stairs. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, I’m your father” he said raising his voice too. “Then act like it” Betty told him, “I have always looked up to you Dad, right, wrong, I could just take your lead”, snatching the picture from him, “now I’m lost” she added and storming up the stairs to her room while Ignacio looked on with sad eyes.

Betty was dozing at the dinning table the next morning when she was startled by Hilda banging a mug on the table and serving her coffee. She told Betty that their Dad left the house early that morning and she heard all that she said to their father the night before. Betty apologized but Hilda told her it wasn’t going to change anything now. She then asked Betty what happened as work after their Herbalux sales at Mode. Betty told her she was punished and gave her the cheque. Hilda excitedly told her to cash it but Betty told her the conditions behind it – selling Daniel out. Hilda said they would explore other possible source and if they couldn’t raise the money, Betty would have to cash it.

Nico having her usual cereal for breakfast (I think so did this on purpose because she realized that it annoys her mum) when Wilhelmina walked in, picked the cereal pack and threw it in the bin and left without saying a word. Nico dialed a number and requested for Fashion TV with a sly smile on her face.

The next morning Sofia met Daniel in the lift (alone) and she put on this slighted look, got in and stayed behind him on the right corner of the lift. The lift stopped abruptly. Sofia accused Daniel of setting it up to get back at her for yesterday’s incident (at the gym) and that she’ll take the stairs next time. Daniel couldn’t believe she could accuse him of this. She tried her phone there was no reception and she asked Daniel “what now?” He said they are stuck between two floors. He volunteered to climb to the roof if Sofia would help him up, to lift the roof of the lift and pry open the door to the floor above so that they could climb through. He removed his coat but Sofia said “God forbid that you should ruin your Jacket”. She told Daniel to help her up taking him by his tie and in a commanding tone said “on your knees”. Daniel asked if she was serious and she climbed on his shoulders warning told him not to look up because she wasn’t wearing any underwear. Daniel told her not to flatter herself but while she was trying to push open the lift roof, he looked up….. She fell right on top of him while Daniel was flat on his back on the lift floor. She looked at him for a while and then when the lift chimed the arrival bell she asked him “you looked didn’t you?” She slapped him, got off him and hurried out of the lift, stopped briefly outside to look back at him and then walking away. The lift closed on Daniel still on the floor staring after her.

Hilda was outside the shop that she met Lear (remember the lady lawyer that rescued her the other time), and as soon as she showed up Hilda told her she had an immigration case. Lear then led her away so that they could talk about it.

Betty was at her desk still confused and unhappy at the myriad problems besieging her and the tempting offer from Wilhelmina. Talk about the devil! Wilhelmina walked to Betty at that moment to remind her that she hadn’t cashed the cheque yet. Betty lied that she hadn’t got the time to but Wilhelmina told her that she had not made up her mind on it yet and that it was the way to survive. Just then Amanda came running to Wilhelmina that Nico was in the lobby causing a scene there.

Nico was dressed in what looked like rags barely covering her breasts and a very short one for skirt. She was staging a one-girl protest against the use of fur in the fashion industry, particularly against Mode and Wilhelmina Slater. Fashion reporters (which she had called earlier) were there, over a dozen of them, taking pictures and notes.

Marc tried to cover her up but she threw his coat back at him and said with a smile, “can’t wait to see how Wilhelmina Slater will handle this one”. Daniel, Betty, Amanda and other Mode staffers had already joined the growing spectators, wondering how Slater was going to handle this.

Shocking! Shocking! Wilhelmina appeared with “so sorry I’m late, thank you so much for coming”; she was covered in only fur. The spectators made way for her and she walked to her daughter putting her arm around her, said “Nico darling, so good to see you, step into good light”. She then continued her speech (as if the whole protest was pre-planned), that the first issue of Mode for 2007 will be featuring “Animal Rights vs. Fashion Rights, just who is right?” Marc started clapping and other Mode staff and spectators joined in, this infuriated Nico. She further said “well, you would have to wait for the Mode issue in January 2007. Thank you so much for coming, goodbye”. Marc quickly shepherd the reporters away and most of the spectators dispersed leaving a few of them including Daniel, Amanda and Betty.

Nico told her that she had won, that she’ll go to school in Paris or anywhere she wants but that she was not going quietly. Wilhelmina tried to take her hand that “we’ll take up stairs” but Nico resisted and yelled “No, we’ll talk now”.

Snippet 30 - Ugly Betty Tempted

2008-10-03T16:16:00.007+01:00

I seize this opportunity to say 48 cheers to my beloved country Nigeria on her Independence Day Anniversary Celebration.

Hip! Hip!! Hip!!! Hurray! God bless Nigeria.

I sincerely apologise to our fans out there, my internet connection had problem hence the break in Ugly Betty updates. But, it has been resolved now. So, have a delightful time reading.

***************

Wilhelmina and Betty were in her office talking. She told Betty that Daniel does not need to know what happened, that secret should stay between friends. She told Betty that she considers every one at Mode as family and that family sticks together through the good and bad times. She even told Betty that Rodrigo, their stylist, went through design school on the largesse of an anonymous donor. She told Betty that strong people are the ones who ask for help. (Is Willy now a psychologist or what?) She really got Betty there because she nodded her head in agreement and opened up to her about the legal problem her father was going through a legal problem for which they need $20,000 (while Wilhelmina looked on sympathetically) to pay for the attorney’s fees. Wilhelmina, smiling gladly brought out her check book (on which she had written Betty Suarez) and wrote $20,000 and signed it, saying that she had a daughter whom she would do anything for just like Betty was willing to do anything for her father. She handed the cheque to her but Betty asked her what she wanted in return. Wilhelmina cleverly replied that it wasn’t something anyone asks family. Betty looked at the cheque as if it was a hang man’s noose.

It was Fey’s birthday, so Bradford, flowers in hand, went to the morgue where Fey’s body was laid in a casket. He was confessing how much he missed her when a lady dressed like Fey passed by, behind him. He turned, called her name and rushed outside but no one was about.

Betty told Christina about the cheque Wilhelmina gave her in a bar they went to after work. She advised Betty against selling herself to Wilhelmina by cashing the cheque and told her to loosen up for once in her life. With that, Christina downed a glass of drink in one sip and Betty too ordered for the same thing.

ico got home and went for the Captain Crisp cereal which Wilhelmina has earlier thrown in the waste bin. She told her mum that fur was murder and recalled sarcastically, how her mum missed her 11th birthday because she had a photo shoot which she never showed up for.

(To me, Nico craves to spend time with her mother which had been denied her while growing up. She resents her for this and seeks to make her feelings known by being rude and engaging in scandalous behaviours to get her mother’s attention) – Parents Take Note!

Wilhelmina, in a sober tone told Nico that she was just as rebellious when she was her age. She told her that she went through seven schools before she finally understood that “being away from home, being away from the ones you love makes you strong, build you up, ‘cause in the end the only person in this world that you could depend on is herself – the greatest lesson senator (her father) ever taught me”. This revelation sobered Nico a bit (she realized her mum went through he same thing she is going through) and she wanted to tell her mother something from her heart, I believe, but Wilhelmina, back to her diva self, told her to brush up on her French that she was leaving for the boarding school in Paris the following night. Nico was surprised and couldn’t say a word.

Daniel and Amanda were in bed. He was unusually quiet. He asked Amanda how she felt when he sent her the necklace after their first night together and she said it was sweet. He was obviously disturbed. So, he got up and move to the bathroom, revealing the reason behind it as being Sofia Reyes whom he sent a necklace to as an apology and she refused to accept it. Amanda then realized it was all about Sofia and not her. She said she wasn’t feeling too well and had to go. She then left with tears in her eyes.

Ignacio was at home watching a telenovela as usual and waiting up for Betty when she stumbled in through the back door (drunk maybe). Her father asked why she was sneaking in, that they need to talk but she replied that she was going to bed. Her father pulled her hand to restrain her but she yelled at him to let her go. He asked what was wrong with that she should talk to him.

Snippet 29 - Ugly Betty Sells Herbalux!

2008-09-27T12:08:00.004+01:00

Hilda thanked her but she brushed it aside. They introduced each other and Lear handed Hilda her card telling her to call her if she needed an attorney. Betty’s call came in. She had been investigating that picture of her mum instead of selling Herbalux - she had scanned it and blown it up on her computer. She informed Hilda that their mum had a wedding ring on in the picture. Hilda asked her how she was doing with her sales and had so far made only $10. A disappointed Hilda told Betty that she was coming over to Mode to show her how to do it. Betty protested but Hilda had already cut off the connection.

Wilhelmina in a phone conversation with the mystery woman told her that things were fine between her and Nico. The mystery woman told her she had something planned for Bradford on his ‘special’ day (It was Fey’s birthday and Bradford always celebrated with her). Wilhelmina asked if there was anything she could do to help. She declined and said it was a birthday date for two only. She then told her that she was more concerned about what Wilhelmina was planning for Daniel because he seemed to be getting his footing. She added that it will be impossible for them to take over the company is Daniel got full control. Wilhelmina agreed that she had tried every thing short of taking a bat to his knees. She however, told the mystery woman that the one possible way to get him was to explore the one person who had been propping him up all the time – Ugly Betty.

Marc rushed into Wilhelmina’s office with news that Nico had gotten into shop-lifting and burgling.

Daniel complained to Betty about the way Sofia Reyes treated him and reminded Betty that he told her to get him details about her. Betty apologized that some things came up. She told Daniel that Times Magazine did a profile on Sofia Reyes as a best selling author and that BBC carried the rumour about the new magazine launch the week before (I bet Daniel didn’t know because he spent his time doing other things). He complaining and said he did not pay attention to ABC and BBC news (Whose fault was that?); that she thought he was unqualified for the job and only got it because of his father. Betty wanted to say something but he told her “Don’t say anything”.

He told Betty that she was smarter and always steps ahead at every point, nothing like he ever met. Betty told him to just apologize to her but he said he had to be skillful and more profound (insecurity cropping in?). He as usual sought the cowardly way out. He told Betty to call a Fashion Jeweler and have the ‘usual’ sent to her, Betty just nodded knowingly with a ‘I thought you knew better’ look and left without saying a word.

The shop Manager came in (after obviously settlilng the issue with Marc) decided to forget the whole thing, saying that Nico’s mum was one of their dearest friends.

Nico saw Marc coming in and said, “O! She sent her b.......! (what's that name for a female dog?)

Hilda was at Mode, at Betty’s desk ready to do business but Betty was more interested in their mum’s picture in which she was wearing a wedding ring. Hilda convinced her that, that was in the past and that the most important thing currently was raising money to help their father. They set up their stuff in the cafeteria and pinned the ‘secret weapon’ badge on. Soon they were crowded with models falling over each other to buy their products. They made a lot of money and had a ball doing it until Wilhelmina walked in and asked, “What the hell is going on”. Betty quickly walked towards her to explain but Wilhelmina cut her off with “Do you realize how many rules you’ve broken?” Hilda, always the fighter, replied “Oh yeah!” and quoted the article of the constitution for ‘freedom of assembly’, (as she heard for the lady lawyer earlier) but Wilhelmina told her it was a private property and the she should pack her stuff and get out. She then ordered Ugly Betty, “And you, in my office, “Now”.

Sofia Reyes was in the Mode's gym working out and talking with a lady when Daniel came in. She acknowledged his entry with “Daniel, my new friend”. He brought out the jewelry box which he had earlier had Betty sent to Sofia as a peace offering. She said the necklace was “absolutely lovely” but insisted that she could not take; that it’s the kind of gift he gave to the girl he just slept with of the one he is planning to sleep with. Daniel responded that she clearly had the wrong impression about him. Sofia then called the lady she had been talking to (who had been quiet all the while) by her name, Laura, and the lady showed Daniel the necklace on her neck. (I’m sure he probably had forgotten he even slept with Laura) Daniel’s reply was “I thought I recognized you” and smiled sheepishly.

Snippet 28 - Daniel Plays the Hunter in Ugly Betty

2008-09-26T17:20:00.010+01:00

The next day, Betty and Hilda packed and got ready to sell Herbalux at Mode. Hilda quickly gave her a crash course on marketing, pinning the badge with ‘lose 10 pounds in 10 day’ boldly inscribed on it, onto her outer coat wishing her “happy Herbaluxing”.

Betty got to work and Models kept walking past her without even looking at her. She saw Marc at Amanda desk. She took a deep breath, smiled and went to him. Marc took off immediately she called his name. She briefly told him about Herbalux but he wasn’t interest. By this time, she had followed him to his desk.

Wilhelmina, stood by the door of her office and reminded Marc that he had phone calls to make. Marc then suggested to Ugly Betty that she introduce herself to the ‘diet diva’ (Wilhelmina) who was still standing by the door of her office and when Ugly Betty smiled at her, she turned and waited inside her office for Marc to come in while she shut the door saying, “I don’t like it when she smiles, it so metallic”. She asked Marc what Ugly Betty wanted and he told her it seemed she wanted to lose weight which Wilhelmina said was interesting. Marc gave his boss some messages and then added that Daniel was having a meeting in Bradford’s office with the other Editor-in-Chiefs. Wihelmina said he was surely holding his own now.

Daniel walked into Bradford’s office with a dozen people in corporate outfits already having tea or coffee and discussing. He looked around and eyes rested on the elevator lady, she was standing by the tea table and handed an elderly man a tea cup on saucer. This dazzling telenovela actress looked smashing in an oxblood, sleeveless, below the knee length dress. He walked straight to her stood at the other end of the table. He stylishly let her know he was an editor too at Meade publications. She at first, she pretended not to know him and told him she was new at Meade Publications. The next minute, she told Daniel a bit about himself and he got confused.

Bradford summoned them and they all took their seats except the elevator lady, she was still by the tea table. Daniel took his seat still in a thoughtful mood. Bradford introduced her as a best selling author, who would be the Editor-in-Chief of a new magazine they were planning to launch the following year. She moved towards them and handed Daniel a cup of tea which he took with deflated ego.

Hilda was busy selling her products outside a shop but the owner didn't want her there. He came out and was about throwing her things away, when a woman in track-suit came to her rescue. She confronted the man and quoted one article of the constitution after the other, that made him guilty of what he was doing. He quickly changed his mind and left Hilda alone.

Snippet 27 - Ugly Betty in Deportation Battle

2008-09-25T16:47:00.011+01:00

NB: We would like fans to know that these Snippets are written episodes as they were aired. Some are a bit shorter than the others but we assure you of regular updates. Happy reading..

Ugly Betty, Hilda and their father went to see an attorney who told them that he could be deported back to Mexico. Betty and her sister tried to let him know that he paid all his statutory dues and the rest but he told them his case was bad and was being investigated by the government. The attorney asked Ignacio why he hadn’t applied for citizenship all the years he had been in the U.S. Ignacio was a bit upset by this question and with a little attitude, said he was a little bit busy providing for his family. He then requested for the attorney’s fees and he gave them a bill of $20,000, which he said was a considerate fee because of Hilda’s relationship with his wife who is one of Hilda’s customers. They were stunned at the amount and wondered where they were going to get such an amount of money.

The next morning at Mode, Daniel and Amanda were walking towards the elevator together (they obviously spent the night together), when he spotted a beautiful lady walking by. She looked straight at him, smiled and got on one of the elevators. Daniel cleverly told Amanda that they should take separate elevators so that Mode staff does not begin to get ideas into their heads. So, he got on the same elevator with the lady.

While on the elevator, they were both stealing glances at each other. The elevator stopped at some point and every other person got off and the man directly behind her bumped into her elbow and the coffee she was carrying spilled on her shirt. Daniel was the only person left in the elevator with her. So, she told him to hold her coffee and suit; and she removed the shirt in the full glare of Daniel. He offered to give her a change of clothes from Mode's wardrobe but she misunderstood him and thought he wanted to bed her and asked him if he thought that was possible right there in the elevator. Daniel then said she smiled at him before they boarded the elevator and she replied that it was the way he was playing 'that poor girl' (Amanda) that amused her.

With her coat on now, she touched the button that’ll take her to her floor and while the elevator was in motion, she started telling him to picture both of them together on the elevator floor while moving very close to him, teasing him. Just then, the elevator arrival bell chimed and she said; “so much for that fantasy” and left him standing in the elevator, confused and challenged.

Wilhelmina in meeting with staff about the up-coming year, when her daughter called with a request which she turned down.

With so much high hopes for the coming year, she said Mode will not tolerate late-comers and that they must each solve their unanswered questions and unresolved issues in their lives and move on to the next phase.

Amanda and Daniel sat beside each other and she teased him with her leg under the table, Daniel was not game and he moved his legs away from her reach.

She also said there are fashion must-haves for 2007 that it will not include poka-dots while looking straight at Ugly Betty and then at a female staff that self-consciously looked down because she was wearing a black dress with white and red poka-dots. The meeting ended with that.

As Daniel and Betty walked to their offices, he told her about the “smoking hot” girl on the elevator, describing her and instructed Betty to get him details about her. Betty, wondering what he was up to again said “Must hunt down Daniel’s babe”.

Bradford was watching Fey on TV interview saying: “Whatever Bradford does, he can’t get rid of me”. His secretary (I presume) came in asked wondered out loud that he was still there.

Wilhelmina got home and met her daughter having cereal for diner. She had got something better for her and served her. They argued about the boarding school Wilhelmina intended sending her to (the same school she attended) which she stated had far better education, people and food than what she was eating. Her daughter went against everything her mother said. These two are simply Pararell lines or rather, like contestants, they both were not willing to give in to each other.

Betty, Hilda and Ignacio were gathering documents that would be required for their father to seek Amnesty. He apologized for all that he was making them go through. Hilda and Betty argued again about Mode job. Hilda’s point was that Betty’s job was taking too much of her time and if she agreed to sell Herbalux she could patronize the model there and get quick money. Their father said it was a bad idea, supporting Betty as usual. Betty found a photograph of their late mum which had the other part torn away. She asked her father and he said the torn part was of their mum’s old boyfriend. Betty was puzzled and told her father that she thought they were each other’s first love. Ignacio got upset and said she should stop the ‘damn’ questions! He removed the apron on him, said, “Its okay, Betty” and went out. He was really upset it showed.

Hilda asked Betty why she kept pestering him with questions knowing that he is sensitive about his past. Betty said she was only trying to help, that there was something he is not telling them and that they deserved to know what it was. Hilda told her getting him upset is not helping matters; that he had been there for them and it was their turn now to be there for him. Betty’s replied that she’ll sell Herbalux at Mode (Hilda smiled on hearing this) and do anything to help him but that she wasn’t going to let him off the hook until he tells them the truth. She held the picture and continued looking at it and getting emotional herself.

Snippet 26 - Secrets Unveiling on Ugly Betty

2008-09-25T15:53:00.005+01:00

Marc, Wilhelmina and younger date were about going out when her daughter, Nico arrived, totally catching her off guard (Amanda couldn't keep her away). She looked at her mum and said said "Hi mum". Her date was surprised. He asked Wilhelmina "You are a mother?" Wilhelmina was tongue-tied and embarrassed that she caught she red-handed with a younger man.

Daniel confronted his father about his affair with Sommers. He admitted to making a mistake and apologized to Daniel that he never intended to hurt him or Claire. He told Daniel that Fey Sommers wouldn’t back away, that she wanted to become a Meade. Daniel asked him why he killed her and brought out the burnt plate number and glasses. Bradford told him that he loved her. He than asked if he loved his mother and Bradford cleverly dodged the query and said he had many lovers. He however denied having anything to do with her death, saying it was probably blackmail from one of his many estranged lovers. He pleaded with Daniel to settle down, that if he being his father could not teach him by example, he should at least learn from his mistake.

Betty and Henry in the elevator talking about their lunch date. Betty thanked him for the lunch date and when Henry apologized for what happened between her and Walter she told him it wasn’t his fault and apologized to him.

Daniel with so much on his mind with his recent discovery met Amanda by the elevator as he came out of his father’s office. She offered to keep him company but he declined and told her that he needed to be alone.

Betty got home and threw the remains of her butterfly wings in the trash can outside her home. Hilda (made up like a cat) and Justin (still in his sailor’s outfit) on their way to the Halloween party, while Walter was waiting outside her house, she apologized to him. Walter blamed himself for pushing her into it. They then kissed and made up.

Wilhelmina was with mystery woman discussing how her daughter ruined her outing (she was still in that red dinner dress. I bet she lost interest in partying when her daughter appeared). They also talked about Daniel and Bradford. Wilhelmina told her that when Daniel came out of Bradford’s office, all seemed well, contrary to what they expected. She asked the mystery woman what they should do next. She replied that it was time Fey Sommers emerge from seclusion.

Betty came into her house and Ignacio, dressed like a Vampire, appeared behind her in a bid to scare her but she wasn’t sold on that. He asked her about her lunch date with the Henry (Walter had obviously been harping about it all day) and she said she just wanted to try something new. She then asked him about their pending problem (the false Social Security number) but he just looked at her exasperatedly and Betty said alright, knowing he didn’t want to be interrogated and left for her room. She took a few steps up the stairs when he finally said; “I was trying to protect you”, and Betty stopped to listen and re-traced her steps. He continued; “I had to use someone else’s because you can’t get one if you’re in this country illegally and I am”. Betty looked at him in shock. The door bell rang but none of them moved to open it.

Snippet 25 - Ugly Betty Recovers Daniel's Watch

2008-09-23T13:54:00.001+01:00

Amanda handed her the watch without saying anything and ran to the ladies with Betty hot on her trail.

Betty didn’t find it funny at all. She scolded her for letting her run around the city looking for the watch when it was in her possession all the time. Amanda started crying and said the reason why she did not say anything was because she hoped that, that was the one night she thought Daniel would remember. Betty asked her if Daniel knew the way she felt about him? Betty told her she was sure he feels the same way too. Amanda said she had to endure taking messages from ladies from him and now she is sending them flowers. Betty asked why she did not let him know and she said she thought he would one day get tired of serial dating. Betty asked her that what if he doesn’t and Amanda said he will, that she’ll just wait. Betty gave her the watch to take to him herself and let him know how she felt about him but she declined. She composed herself and told Betty that, that conversation never happened. She then cat walked to her office.

Wilhelmina had tried on the dress and it fit perfectly. She was however not convinced that Christina ordered for the actual size she requested for the label and Christina lied that she ate it. Wilhelmina was in the end able to get the truth out of her and at loss on what to do she sat down and the gown rip at the back. Christina wanted to take a look and suggested fixing it but she told her to leave it. Wilhelmina confessed that “it has happened”. That she could not deny that she has gotten to that age where she could not compete with younger women anymore and that she wasn’t going to the ‘stupid’ party (so much for the excitement) anymore. She was angry that it was a crime to age in the fashion business because she set the standards and that Christina could say it served her right. Rather, Christina told her that a lot of them were looking up to her and that she had paid her dues. But Wilhelmina's eyes were on Christina’s sandwich which she asked if she was still going to eat; Christina readily offered it to Wilhelmina who bit into it hungrily, having starved herself the whole day.

Daniel came into his office and met Betty standing by his desk displaying a boxer and two pairs of socks on his desk labeling them ‘treasures’ from her watch-hunt adventure. When Daniel asked if she had found his watch and when she handed over, he asked where she found and she asked “does it matter? And when he said no really, she replied “I don’t think so”.

He asked if the flowers had been sent, she told him Amanda had still hoping he’d remember. Betty couldn’t resist being sarcastic – she told him he was an adult and could do as he wished; moving from one person to the next leaving a string of broken hearts behind. She asked if there was anything more that he needed, he said “that’ll be all”. She turned to leave and he told her that he had a lot on his mind and that he had had a rough week. Her response was that she hoped he would deal more directly with what he had on his mind than he did with this (referring to setting her to do his dirty laundry), then, she left, leaving Daniel sitting dejectedly at his desk.

Snippet 24 - Daniel Investigates Fey/Bradford Relationship

2008-09-23T04:51:00.002+01:00

Walter interrupted her to enquire about Betty. Amanda told him she had gone for lunch at the Sushi restaurant across the street.

At the restaurant, Claire told Daniel that she couldn’t explain how she felt seeing Fey holding her Christmas present in front of the magazine, that Fey called the house several times playing the music box in front of the phone. Daniel asked why his father didn’t end the relationship then. She said it was only then that she realized that he had been going out with Fey for 20 years. (she discovered only 6 weeks ago and became alcoholic as a result of that heartbreak).

She told him that what should bother Daniel was the philandering habit he inherited from his father, that it destroyed their family. She blackmailed him to give her a drink and that she’ll tell him everything. He told her to take a sip but being deprived for a month, she drank the whole content at once. She told him that she and Fey confronted Bradford in his office to make a choice between the two of them and when Daniel asked who his father choose, she replied that one of them was still alive while the other was dead.

Henry and Betty were enjoying their lunch and just when Henry was feeding her the Sushi, Walter busted in and caused a scene, embarrassing Betty and when she told him he was embarrassing her he interpreted it the other way round (looking himself over) and left.

Wilhelmina was in her office undergoing punitive beauty procedure in hands of a slimming therapist all in a bid to loose weight fast so as to fit into her dress. Marc brought her salad for lunch but she declined it desparate that she had only 6 hours to look 10 years younger and 5 pounds slimmer!

Betty was in the elevator on her way to her office, full of regrets because of the lunch date with Henry and that she may have lost Walter forever. Christina however refused to agreed with her on that. She has changed Wilhelmina’s dress to a size 4. Marc came into the elevator and told Christina that Wilhelmina must not know that the size was a 4 and Christina said she had the designer take the size out.

Daniel took his mum back to the rehab, the receptionist stared at her maybe from the obvious fact that she looked drunk. She told Daniel to be careful that she was stuck there and would not be able to stand it if anything should happen to him. He asked her if his father was capable of murder and she confirmed the mystery woman’s claim; that his father was capable of anything.

Betty got on the lift and had the strong temptation of going to Henry department but instead ran to Christina and told her she was afraid she was becoming like Daniel and soon will be able to juggling people’s heart like fruits. Christina told her they were two different people, that Daniel could not even remember who he was with on Monday night where he forgot his expensive watch.

The hint Christina dropped helped Betty figure out the whole puzzle and she realized that Amanda was Monday’s girl because she sent herself flowers. She quickly rushed out of the 'Wardrobe" to confront her.

Snippet 23 - Ugly Betty in Watch Hunt Adventure

2008-09-22T17:48:00.000+01:00

Betty sought Christina’s advice on Walter’s proposition. Christina’s opinion was that she should not condemn herself to just that one relationship until she has given herself the chance to experience other relationship first. Betty did not totally agree with her and left on Daniel’s watch hunt. The first lady was angry and rude at her because Daniel failed to call her back nor answered her calls. She however, flunged his boxers which he forgot at Betty and it hunged on her butterfly antennas.

Daniel went to visit his mum at the rehab centre.

Betty called Daniel to update him with how unsuccessful her search had been and he instructed her to send a dozen roses to all the ladies. (Walter called in the middle of their conversation but Betty told him she'll call him).

Marc and Wilhelmina were looking through pictures of older men to find a suitable partner who will escort Wilhelmina to Halloween party. She wasn’t interested in any of them, according to her they were old. Christina came in with the red dinner dress she ordered for, for fitting.

Claire gave Daniel a tour of the rehab. She was bitter about being deprived of her perfume and how she now smelled like ‘people’. She asked why he had come and he said to talk. She said she had been there all the time. He gave her the excuse that he had been busy that was why he couldn’t come to visit, she cut him off that it was almost weeks now. Daniel couldn’t contain his curiosity anymore. He told her he wanted to talk to her about Fey Sommers and immediately Claire’s pain at even hearing that name was evident. She requested he take her out.

Betty was still on her mission and the lady she met this time around thought she was sleeping with Daniel and wanted to sabotage their relationship. She was obviously smitten by him and told Betty she wasn’t going to let Daniel go without a fight. She ripped one of Betty’s wings right in the middle.

Marc was still on his man-searching mission but the photograph that was sent was also of an old man. Betty asked Amanda about the addresses she asked her to get; she said she was working on it. Betty asked for stapler to patch her wings and Henry came in just then helped nervous Betty staple her torn wing together even though she declined at first. Walter called just then but she didn’t want to take the call in Henry's presence. He asked her out for lunch and she was confused at first; said no and then yes!

Amanda asked Betty who Daniel said his Monday date was and Betty told her he didn’t remember. She was upset by this and crumbled the paper on which she was writing the addresses she had been gathering for Betty, opened her drawer where she kept Daniel watch and threw the crumbled paper into it.

Wilhelmina had instructed Christina to order a size 2 evening gown for her with did not fit. The seam mistress hinted that she was too big for that size (ignoring Marc’s silent warning not to say a thing) and Wilhelmina screamed at the top of her lungs.

Daniel and mum were at the restaurant she requested he take her to. The Manager brought her wine in a wine glass as a complimentary gift, commenting that it had been a while since she visited. Daniel quickly took the drink from her front. She kept looking at it. She then asked him to give it to her and set fire to her when she was done drinking it. Daniel asked her about the last Christmas that his father bought her a music box, he wanted to know why she was happy one moment and the next she was raving made and set fire to a thousand copies of Mode.

Betty and Henry at lunch date. Betty was nervous because this was her first date with another guy besides Walter, also she had never been to a Chinese eatery. She discovered they had more than one thing in common (their spectacles), he also dressed up in Super man costume under his shirt.

Hilda got home from shopping for groceries and asked her father (who was still playing Halloween in a bid to evade owning up) why the HMO said he was dead and why they said the social security number he had been using was not his. Instead of owning up he got defensive and she decided to drop the subject.

Amanda, pretending to be a medical provider for Daniel and under his instruction, started making calls to all the ladies he had slept with to warn them that he had Scabies and that they should check with their doctors. Her intention was to sabotage his chances with them and raise her own stakes!

Snippet 22 - Ugly Betty Celebrates Halloween

2008-09-20T13:31:00.000+01:00

Marc, dressed like Betty, stood in front of Amanda’s desk saying “Hola! Happy Halloween” and every one reeled in laughter. They were cut short by Wilhelmina’s presence and she said “That's the absolute cruel thing I have ever seen” (Marc, was embarrassed while the others just pretended not to be there), then, she jokingly said it had earned him a raise.

At the Suarez house, Betty confronted her father about the social security issue (Ignacio had decorated the house with scary objects) but he cleverly evaded answering her. Justin dressed up as a sailor and performed a song for them. While Betty and Hilda were discussing about their father’s social security number, he was busy cutting through a pumpkin and pretended he had cut his hand, blood (fake) gushed out and he fell to the floor. His daughters just looked at him with this “you are up to one of your tricks” look. He cleverly changed the subject and Hilda said she was out, Betty left too but, not without telling her father to get to the HMO office to check things out.

Wilhelmina was just telling Marc about how she enjoyed her date with a younger man and that they were going to the Halloween ball that night. Just then it appeared on the Fashion TV, she was called a robber of the cradle. Wilhelmina watched with anger building up inside her. Marc tried to switch it off the flat screen to no avail; the poor thing had to remove the plug from the wall (to prevent Wilhelmina from breaking it into pieces like she usually does in moment of anger). She immediately told Marc to call her date (Jason) to tell him their date for that night was off (oops) and she irritatedly told Marc to take off the ridiculous costume as she could barely stand the original.

For the Halloween, Betty dressed to work as a butterfly. Walter waited for her on the streets and cut her with a net - he was dressed like an explorer. He presented with a pumpkin-like bucket of sweet or chocolates, maybe.

When Betty got to Mode she realized that she was the only one dressed in a costume. Daniel was surprised to see her in a costume. He had a difficult assignment for her: to find his wrist-watch which he forgot at a girlfriend’s apartment. Problem is, he could not remember which of his girlfriends! He gave her a list to work with and told her to ask Amanda to help her.

Bradford met with his private eye in a dark alley as usual. He told him that an anonymously caller had been calling and giving Daniel details about his investigations.

Amanda came by Betty’s desk and she asked for her help in tracking Daniel’s watch but she declined and started digging into Betty’s sweets and eating greedily as usual. Betty handed over the list to Amanda to call them each lady to ask for the missing watch. Henry from the account department came by and paid Betty compliments on her choice of costume. The exchanged pleasantries (as if Amanda wasn’t there) and he invited her to come down to his department later.

Amanda found a small gift box inside the bucket of sweet and when Betty opened it was a note with a key inside. The message was “Betty, will you move in with me? With love, Walter”.

Snippet 21 - The Storm is Over!

2008-09-20T12:35:00.000+01:00

Marc on the other hand started making that stifling sound again out of fright and Amanda? She could not eat the candy she had been nibbling on, she just stood there like a mannequin blinking her eyelids fearfully (oh my, this is funny!). There was silence as Wilhelmina walked round the three of them making them very afraid. She then stopped behind them, watched them for a while and said they could go. There was a “what?” in unison as they were surprised at being left off and Amanda asked if Wilhelmina was not going to fire Ugly Betty. She replied that if she were to fire Ugly Betty, they would all have to go too.

Somehow, Wilhelmina had done her investigation. She told them she knew exactly what happened – they each leaked a portion of the spread but ‘fat’ Carol slept with Carlos and spilled the whole bean intentionally. They were surprised and disgusted at the same time but relieved that their jobs were still intact. So, ‘fat’ Carol gets the axe.

Betty took Justin to the photo shoot and he was pleasantly amazed. Daniel asked Betty if Wilhelmina told her what happened and she nodded and apologized for what happened. He was glad for not losing her.

Bradford came in and was surprised that, that was not the concept he approved. He added that he had the final say on the every holiday spread for the past 20 years. Daniel told him issues arose at the last minute that couldn’t be avoided and Wilhelmina added that their job was to fix problems and not to burden him with them. Bradford was not pleased with the idea and he said “you two are so full of crap”.

Wilhelmina signified that they were ready to roll. Daniel quickly brought out his mother’s music box and placed it on the sleigh in honour of his mum. He opened it and the music started playing. That draw Bradford’s attention, he moved closer and he asked where he got it from. Daniel replied that he got it from the attic, that he remembered his mother had it.

He then said “it looked like the one Fey had, don’t you think?” (The inscription “To my Claire with my undying love’ on the inside of its lid) Bradford answered “yes, it’s almost identical”. And, with that he said “Good job son” and left, leaving Daniel more confused and Wilhelmina watching from the corner of her eyes.

Justin rushed to Wilhelmina that there was no snow for the photo shoot and she told him to say ‘snow’, and snow came down. (It was a beautiful sight) Then she said “snow is a magical blanket, it hides what is ugly and makes everything beautiful.” Betty who was behind Justin and Wilhelmina looked sideways at her and looked on thoughtfully. Daniel on the other hand, was a picture of torment and pain.

Betty went to the HMO and she discovered that her father had been using someone else Social Security number, a person that was supposed to 117 years old and dead. Betty was shocked.

Wilhelmina and the mystery woman on a phone conversation were delighting in the fact that Daniel and his father had grown further apart.

The next scene was surprising: Carlos came into Wilhelmina’s office obviously responding to her summons. She lashed at him; “You are an underhanded bastard. A despicable, slimy weasel, you have no moral corpus, without scruples and would use anyone in your part to get what you want!” She then asked “How can I entice you to work at Mode? Or rather spy for Mode".

Just sat on a couch with a puppy-dog look while his mother listed his punishment for ditching school; she wants him home at 4 o’clock every day, no TV for a week, (Betty came in just then) and no Fashion TV for a month”. When he wasn’t moved his mother asked if he wasn’t upset, he smiled and said “it was worth it”. Hilda repeated “it was worth it?” and said “thank you” to Betty (as if she caused it). Betty just looked at her with this “I have more important things in my mind” look and went to the dinning table where her dad met her and asked how her day went. He offered her one of her favourite snacks but she declined and said she was going to bed but as she left the dinning area she heard someone singing outside there front door. She got outside and it was Walter singing ‘Beauty & the Beast’, Betty’s favourite movie. She sat down and began to sing with him.

Snippet 20 - Ugly Betty In The Slayer's Den

2008-09-17T16:34:00.000+01:00

Marc, Amanda and Betty were still seated at the dinning table talking, seeking a way out of the whole problem. Marc and Amanda agreed to blame it on ‘fat’ Carol (Amanda was still eating through this) but Betty thought it was unfair. She refused and told them that lying will only get them into more trouble. These geeks convinced her by telling her they were doing it for her (oh yeah, you’re right?), that they could easily get another job but that for Betty…..

Amanda asked Betty for more of whatever she had been eating and Betty went into the kitchen. Her father made a comment about Amanda’s appetite and when he saw the look on his daughter’s face, he told her that, “some times we have to keep secrets to survive.”

The next morning, Marc (holding a paper pack to his nose), Amanda (eating what looked like cake with butter/cream icing) and Betty were in the lift when ‘fat’ Carol stopped the lift to join them. She immediately started saying nasty things. First of all she said it was too bad about their Wilhelmina meeting, that ‘they’ would be missed. Amanda told her to shut up but that only ignited her more. She then said she does know if there is a re-hap for what it was Amanda and Marc were addicted with, that they should consider starting a job-hunt. She also saucily said she admired Betty the most and that at least there is someone fatter than she is, and then exited the lift. Well, she succeeded in infuriating them and they each got out of the lift one after the order saying the word ‘fat’ Carol.

Betty entered Daniel’s with the usual morning coffee and met him standing before his desk listening to the music from the music box that was on his table. Betty saw the mood he was in and asked where he got the box from and if he was ok. He told her when he was twelve years old and it was Christmas, his father just got back from Switzerland. His father bought his mom a music box exactly like the one on his table. A few days later, his mom hid the box in the attic and set fire to a thousand copies of Mode magazine without telling him why. As he narrated the whole story, it was glaring that this evoked painful memories for him. Now, it was apparent that his father box 2 boxes; one for his wife and the other for his mistress. Daniel then explained to Betty that that was why Fey appeared in the centre spread with the box. She was flaunting her relationship with Bradford before Claire. This resulted in Claire losing her mind and she had to be confined. (Poor Daniel!)

Betty said she was sorry to hear that and asked if there was anything inside the box. Daniel said no and Betty (inquisitive Betty!), removed the top layer and……… behold, inside the box was a broken part of Fey’s car registration plate – the part that carried ‘Fey’ and her burned sunglasses. Betty then said the mystery woman was trying to connect his father to Fey Sommers but Daniel said she did more than that; that she is connection his father to Sommer’s death. Vincent Bianci came into Daniel’s office with a request and Daniel had to go with him. Betty stopped him on his way out and told him she would be meeting with Wilhelmina in five minutes. Daniel came back in and closed the door. He asked her if she knew what she was doing and when she moved her head from side to side in a “no” response, he told her to be careful with what she says.

As she got to her desk, she say Justin coming towards her with Marc and when she asked him what he was doing there, he said he came to do more research on his paper work. Just then Hilda called and asked if Justin was there and when she found out he was there, she said she was going to kill him. She said knew it was going to happen like that and told Betty that there was no paper work. Justin made it up to ditch school to spend time in her world. She asked Betty to tell him that he is in big trouble when he gets home.

Betty scolded Justin for skipping school and told him that Mode and what transpires in the fashion industry was not good for kids. While on this was going on, Marc was still sitting close by using his Inhaler incessantly and trying to compose himself. (He obviously escaped Wilhelmina’s presence to put himself together and possibly his group) Then, Amanda came running and announced that Wilhelmina called for them! Betty instructing Justin not to move from her seat. And the three of them, glittery and panicky, their future at Mode hanging in the balance, left for Wilhelmina’s office.

In the Slayer’s den, she asked if she should throw questions at them or if they would just tell her what they know. Marc responded by saying they were all there and they all saw ‘fat’ Carol talking with Carlos Medina. Amanda supported his claim that it was ‘fat’ Carol that leaked the spread. Wilhelmina, not one to be made a fool of, was studying each of them as they spoke. She then asked Betty if that was what she saw. Betty hesitated, fear was written all over her face. Marc and Amanda almost had a heart attack just watching her, not knowing what she was going to say. Betty finally said “No”, that it was her, that she told Carlos everything!

(What! Do you see what fear can do to one? She only leaked a portion of the spread and now she is confessing to the whole thing!)

Snippet 19 - Ugly Betty In Uneasy Alliance

2008-09-17T12:56:00.001+01:00

Hi Telenovela fans,

I hope you have enjoyed the story so far.

Forgive my inability to update you for some days now, I got caught up with official duties but, I back with sizzling snippets for your reading pleasure.

From where I stopped.... enjoy this hilarious snippet

Naïve Betty said Mode could not fire all of them but fell silent when Amanda told her about a similar incident in the past that had a whole department fired. They told her that she was one of them now, “The Assistants’ Club” and that they have to protect each other. She finally agreed, albeit reluctantly.

Walter was at Betty’s house discussion with her father on his relationship with Betty, how everthing changed and was at loss on what to do. As they were discussion, he was seeing to the Suarez TV and each time he stood or looked away, Ignacio sipped from his coffee (he was not supposed to take coffee!). This continued until he finished the whole cup without Walter realizing it because he was so engrossed in the discussion. Ignacio advised him to go romantic on her, citing an instance of a similar situation with Betty’s mum and how he got romantic and won her over. Walter was not optimistic about this. He feared that it may not work on the ‘new’ Betty but her father insisted that there was no ‘new’ Betty, that she was still the same.

The phone rang and Ignacio picked the phone and when he realized where the call was from his HMO (A Health Maintenance Organization - is a type of managed care organization that provides a form of health care coverage in the United States) to confirm his appointment. Ignacio said there had been a mistake and that it wasn’t necessary. The lady said it sounded like a legitimate claim and that a Betty Suarez has called her at least 25 times. Ignacio just thanked her and hung the phone (it seems he is hiding something)

Daniel and Wilhelmina met on the elevator this morning and while riding to their offices, Wilhelmina asked Daniel what he was going to tell Bradford and he in turn, asked her the same question. Wilhelmina suggested to Daniel that they should not tell Bradford about the leak. She said even though it was not their fault that there was a leak, they would be blamed for it. That, it was better they protect each other and work at getting it fixed. Daniel got off the lift, and hesitated, he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or if it was a set-up again. He got back on the lift and then agreed that it will be ‘our’ secret. Wilhelmina then said they’ll work together to fix it, “we’re in this together” she said.

As soon as Daniel got to Betty’s desk, he instructed her to call the agency to inform them that the concept was changing. When he saw Justin seated on her seated, he asked; “do you work here?” His reply was a smile and a sing-song “some day”. Betty quickly introduced her nephew to him. Daniel told Amanda to get snacks and lunch for staff because they had work to do, that no one was leaving the building. She foolishly asked that who was going to answer the phone but Daniel did not dignify her with a response.

The phone on Betty’s desk rang and it was the mystery woman for Daniel but he refused to talk to her unless she revealed her identity. So, she left the message with Betty that: His father has been acting very strangely, that he is a man of many secrets and that Daniel should pay close attention to what was inside the music box.

Wilhelmina was still drilling staff members about the leak department by department (they were sweating) and as soon as each were cleared, Marc in a panicky state, quickly informed his alliance, Betty and Amanda.

It was snack time and Amanda arranged the snack on the reception’s table. A horde of staff rushed there and grabbed whatever they could, in the end, Amanda managed to grab a box of snack and engaged in a tug-o-war with a colleague before she got it. (In addition to all that she had stocked for herself.

Meanwhile, work continued in full force as department tried to meet up with the set deadline. Betty and Justin were busy working with the models. Marc kept calling to update them. The culprit had not been caught. Knowing that the investigation was still going on, Amanda kept up with her eating binge which stemmed from nervousness.

Justin and Betty were shown with the seam mistress. Justin was suggesting to Christina to put belt on the dress she made to make it look better.

Betty came out of a food store where she went to get Daniel’s and Wilhelminar's dinner and was walking along the side-walk when Bradford's car stopped and he asked her about the mystery woman. (I think he had been watching her and waited to speak to her outside the office environment not to arose his son’s suspicion) Betty told him all she knew and Bradford asked her if the woman said anything about the whereabout of the music box. Betty told him she didn’t say and with that, he said she was wasting their time and drove off.

When she got to the office, Amanda and Marc were waiting for her and reminded her that she MUST keep quite. He took a pack of salad from the package Betty was carrying.

Betty gave Daniel his dinner and he told her to call it a day. She wanted to tell him about her involvement in the leak saga but he told her that he didn’t have the time to listen at that moment and didn’t want to hear something that might lead to losing her.

Marc served the salad to Wilhelmina, (who was on the phone) with so much pomp. When she was through with her call she asked Marc, “Was Carlos Medina of Isabella at the Bar last night?” Marc could only make stifling sounds (as if he could not breath) and left her presence.

At the Suarez house, a telenovela was on air and as usual, Ignacio was giving it rapt attention when the door bell rang. Neither he nor Hilda who was engaged with Justin (who was showing his mum the cosmetics he brought home from Mode) stood up and Betty had to come down from her room to open the door. Surprise! It was Marc and Amanda. They informed her that Wilhelmina knew their secret and she wanted to see them at 10.00am the next morning. Amanda was eating wildly as usual.

Betty did the introductions and Justin came in to show a lotion to his aunt when he saw March and Amanda. He wanted to start socializing but his mum cut him off and sent him to do his homework.

When Amanda wanted to eat a plastic decorative item which Betty promptly retrieved from her, Ignacio took her to the kitchen to serve her snacks.

Back at Mode office, Daniel, Wilhelmina and Bianci were still working! They were brainstorming and it they still seemed not to have arrived at a desirable conclusion until Wilhelmina showed them the December centre spread for 1986 which featured Fey Sommers on the cover sitting on a red sleigh. She said her appearance on the spread sent a shock wave around the fashion world because no editor had ever appeared on a centre spread. She added that being the year of her death; it would be a nice tribute to her. Bianci fell for it and Daniel (although a bit emotional at sighting the spread) also agreed.

Snippet 18 - Ugly Betty - In The Eye of 'Leak' Storm

2008-09-13T13:50:00.000+01:00

The following scene showed all staff of Mode in the conference room with Daniel and Wilhelmina presiding. Daniel explained the negative effect and what this leak could do to Mode – they would loose advertisers and their sales will drop catastrophically. Wilhelmina said that was precisely the reason why Mode does not tolerate leaks. She gave the culprit one chance to own up. Betty was about raising her hands but Marc quickly held it down with his hand while Amanda kicked her under the table.

Wilhelmina asked them again if any of them spoke to anyone at Isabella, while looking at each of them in the eye. She then said they were all guilty and would be treated as such until there was a confession.

Bradford was with his private eye in a dark place where their face could not be seen, telling him about the missing music box. He told him the only person who knew about it was his wife, Claire.

Still at the meeting, Wilhelmina informed Mode staff that they were embarking on creating a new concept and Daniel added that if they have any plans, they should cancel it. Wilhelmina explained that no one was leaving until they were done with the concept and she yelled them off to their posts.

Marc and Amanda grabbed Betty and hijacked her to the Ladies. They both tried to convince Betty to keep mute to protect their jobs. Fat Carol came out of one of the toilets and Amanda asked her if she didn’t have reasons to be nervous to which her reply was about something she ate and she left. They all recalled their discussion with Medina and discovered that each leaked a portion of the concept. Betty then decided that what was left was for them to go to Wilhelmina and confess but Marc tried to convince her that what they individual told Medina were bits of a giant concept and that there was no way they could have put that together to arrive at the whole concept, that there had to be someone else. Amanda told her that they have to keep quite and let the real culprit be caught. But Betty disagreed that, she would at least confess what ‘she’ did because she doesn’t like lying. Marc and Amanda stopped her from leaving and told her that if she confessed, it would be linked to them and would all get fired.

Snippet 17 - Ugly Betty in 'Feature Spread' Leak Dilemma

2008-09-12T16:38:00.001+01:00

In this telenovela episode, Mode was hosting a “Networking Night” get-together and Betty got there with Marc and Amanda. They told Betty to ‘circulate’ the room and introduce herself that they want everyone to meet her. Naïve, Ugly Betty, was elated and smiling broadly asked them to wish her luck and as soon as she turned, she bumped into a guy and the wine in his glass poured on his shirt. Marc and Amanda quickly brought out their cell phone and took the shot of the scene.

The first lady she first introduced herself to – Fat Carol (also worked for Mode) asked her how long she thought she’ll last and Betty said she didn’t know that unless the lady knew something she didn’t. Fat Carol looked all over and left. A guy walked up to her and introduced himself to her and said he knew Betty, that she was a legend.

At Bradford’s office, he was searching through his office for the music box (the one he took from Fey Sommers apartment) which Wilhelmina Slater had stolen from his office earlier. His Secretary reminded him that Daniel and Wilhelmina were waiting for him. He put on his suit and left telling her to keep looking.

He got to the studio, Wilhelmina and Daniel showed him the concept they intend to use for the December spread. It looked like a war zone with amour tanks on the background and models dressed in camouflages holding toy AK47 rifles. The concept was Wilhelmina’s idea. Bianci told Bradford that everything was ready and Daniel wanted him to see the Mock-up for approval before they proceed for the shooting. He just said “sounds good” (looking troubled and distracted) and that he was going back upstairs. Daniel and Bianci were bewildered at his strange behaviour but Wilhelmina knew what she was doing.

In the next scene, Wilhelmina was relating the incident to the strange woman. She told her Bradford looked very disturbed (obviously because of the missing music box). The woman responded by saying that he got sloppy. Wilhelmina then said “we’ve got a music box”, the music box was opened and playing.

Betty rushed into the house, late for dinner. She approached the dinning table and saw Walter seated at the table with her family. She wasn’t happy to see him and ask what he was doing at her house. He told her that it was Tuesday, Tamale night. She told him they had broken up but Justin said Walter always joined them on Tamale night. Betty was not ready to let go and she said he cheated on her and he could not just jump back in. Ignacio stood up, pulled out a smaller chair beside Walter and told Betty to take her seat, that he did not bring her up to be rude to guests. She thanked her father and quickly took her seat saying that she was starving.

She told them she had fun at the Networking party and Walter remarked that she had started drinking. She ignored him and continued recounting details of the evening she spent chatting and giving out her call cards. We were taken back to the party. The guy that approached her, Carlos Medina, of Isabella Magazine, was showing gave her credit for saving the Fabia layout on her first week but Betty would not accept it saying she was just doing her job. He bought her a drink and was flattering her lavishly while ladies around started flocking around them as a bee is drawn to a flower.

Amanda was with Daniel in his bedroom undressing and complaining about the attention Betty got at the party.

Betty attributed the Fabia layout success to Daniel, by this time there were about 5 ladies and 3 guys around them. Amanda, jealous of the way things were turning out, stepped in between Betty and the guy and started flirting with him. Betty however continued her conversation, telling the guy that she was the lucky one with a good boss.

Marc was also shown detailing how Betty conducted herself to Wilhelmina. Betty was surrounded and she gave her cards to everyone around her. Marc was disgusted by her attitude. (I think those who sat and listened to Betty were simply amused by her. You know seeing someone different from them. Someone new to their false world, who was so simple and naïve). Marc himself was engaged in a chit-chat with another of his kind.

Wilhelmina barked at Marc and said that was not what she wanted to her but ‘choice gossip’ or ‘dirt’ that could help her destroy the lesser magazines. Marc, frightened by her outburst (hiccupped) and promised that he’ll do better next time. She told him there were so many guys like him waiting to take his job and that he should not make her call them. He quickly got up hiccupped repeatedly as if he was having an asthmatic attack and escaped with his coat.

Betty continued recounting the last night’s details to her family, telling them that it was an amazing night. Walter just kept interjecting and interrupting her. (I think he is jealous) Justin told Betty that she’ll be perfect for his school project. On his mother’s enquiry, he explained that they were given a day off (the next day) at school to observe a person whose job they admire for a class project. He asked Betty if she could take him to Mode. Betty said “of course, if it is okay with your mum. Hilda responded in a voice that had an angry undertone to it that the fashion world was not so great and that it is filled with selfish, self-starving tramps that only care for expensive things and clothes that anyone with self respect would not put on. Justin, not one to back away easily asked his mum if he could still go. His mother could only say “don’t say I didn’t warn you”.

The next day, Betty and Justin happened to be on the elevator together with Marc and Amanda. Amanda in her usual way made a sarcastic remark when Betty introduced Justin to her and Marc. Justin who was knowledgeable about fashion took a peek at Amanda’s shoes and commented that it was a 2004 piece. Amanda was embarrassed because she had already lied to Marc. Marc looked at her and said “so you lied.”

When the got to Mode, they saw Wilhelmina and Daniel with Bianci in the conference room already. The latter was furious that another Magazine, Isabella, had stolen their entire feature spread. He was livid with rage that all his work and effort were now worthless. He tore off the posters on the wall, scattered the photographs all over the place while Wilhelmina and Daniel were speechless. He told Daniel that some one from Mode leaked the idea to the other magazine.

Betty, Amanda and Marc stood there perplexed. Betty remembered the guy who approached that night and said “he bought me a drink”.

Gov. Sarah Palin And "Ugly Betty"

2008-09-11T02:36:00.000+01:00

I am most grateful to my wife, Philomena, who sent me this comparative pix of our darling Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, (Republican VP nominee), as she compares favorably with the thrilling telenovela character - Ugly Betty, starring America Ferrera.

From the obscurity of small town Wasila, bespectacled Governor Sarah Palin rose to become the "ASSISTANT" to Senator McCain. Ugly Betty too followed a similar pattern: from the humble family background, Ugly Betty rose to the position of ASSISTANT to the Daniel Meade of the MODE fashion magazine. The striking similarity did not end there, Ugly Betty was the miracle behind the revival and success of Mode magazine after the 'death' of the erstwhile editor, Fey Sommers.

Governor Sarah Palin has brought an unending enthusiasm and irreversible revival to the lack-luster presidential campaign of John McCain. She has injected and electrified the sagging fortunes of the Republican Party with the ingenuity of ordinary Americans who have revolted in this year of change and new beginnings, against every make-believe manipulation of typical politicians.

Ugly Betty had this granny goggle behind which lain one of the smartest brains of the corporate fashion industry. Though the beginning of Sarah Palin may be ugly and rough, with Barak Obama & co looking to dig a political pitfall for her, but behind her bespectacled visage is one dynamic and intelligent mother that would save America from prostrate political cancer which the last 8 years of Bush administration has ran hit aground.

I am happy that what was 'stolen' by the "Obamista Change Revolution", from Hillary has been restored by Sarah Palin, who is an epitome of real change. I shed tears twice in the last two weeks, each at the national convention of the two parties, Denver and Minnesota.

When Hillary Clinton rose to deliver her historic speech. The tumultuous sea of white placards bearing her name that ushered and welcome her to the podium made me to ask with a tear-soaked voice, "... and all these for a defeated candidate? Then, who won the primaries?"

At the Republican Convention, I could not bear it any longer when I heard the frenzied chants of USA! USA!! USA!!! by the delegates. I cracked into tears for my motherland Nigeria. The pure fervor and patriotism of the chanting delegates moved me to ask: "... when will dedicated men and women arise with similar patriotic fervor to save Nigeria?"

I believe in merit and excellence. That was why I supported a female presidential candidate - Juliet Southey-Cole, against a male (papa Chris) in the students union elections of over two decades ago in Unilag. The phenomenal emergence of Sarah Palin evokes similar and memorable emotion for excellence and merit which I believe she would bring to bear on the American elections. Memories that wont go, of articulate Ngozi Iwere (nee Ojidoh), former fiery PRO of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS in 1982! Epitome courage and spartan discipline, from Bayero University, Kano (BUK). Hail!

I salute the system that could throw up this ordinary woman to the stage of history for accomplishing extra-ordinary things for the destiny of her nation. If this 44 year old woman knew she would be in the limelight today, maybe she would not have taken in 13 months ago and gave birth 4 months ago.

She was just a normal mother and wife, and the least of all Governors in the U.S.A, her State, Alaska, is the 47th among the 50 federating American states. Some people here in Nigeria crookedly prepare all their lives, with ambitions running high, to become governors, ministers and presidents. It is not so with Sarah, destiny just thrust this sweet and great responsibility on her shoulder.

Don't get me wrong, I love Obama and respect him. My sympathies are with the Democratic Party. But the last ten years in America has witness the rise of bipartisanship. That is why the last two elections won by bush were almost disputable narrow margins. the swing independent voters tip the balance and they would also tip the balance of this election on November 4 too, in favor of Sarah Palin.

Snippet 16 - Ugly Betty Came Through for Mode

2008-09-10T11:59:00.000+01:00

The Senator Wilhelmina was expecting turned out to be her father. He looked round her office (Wilhelmina was obviously pleased with the face-lift she gave her office for this occasion and thought that he would be impressed) and remarked in a disappointed tone “So, you are still JUST the creative Director”. “Yes Daddy”, she answered in a not-too-confident voice.

While Daniel was discussion with Bianci on the concept he had it mind for the new Mode, Amanda was busy flirting with him. Bianci asked Amanda what her father did for a living now. She goofed again, saying he is a banker (non-chalantly). Daniel corrected her that he is an Investment Banker. She continued flirting with him and Daniel could take it any more - he let the cat out of the bag.

He apologized to Bianci and while he was still talking, he overheard Betty trying to convince one of the staff at the restaurant to allow her see her boss pointing in Daniel’s direction. He turned and saw that it was indeed Betty. Bradford remarked that he didn’t know why Daniel thought she wouldn’t fit-in. Daniel quickly saved the situation and introduced Betty to Bianci who told him that meeting him was an honour.

Daniel apologized to Bianci that their meeting happened the way it did but noted it’ll be great opportunity for both of them if he agreed to work for them. He also gave him his word that he’ll let Bianci have a free reign at the shooting.

Bianci, looking thoughtfully, told Daniel that he was nothing like his brother - Alex. Daniel answered in the affirmative looking less confident (he thought Bianci was not impressed), excused himself and left. Betty immediately bade Bianci farewell and left too.

They arrived at the office and Daniel once again apologized to Betty for thinking that she would not fit-in. Betty also apologized for backing-down.

Shortly after they arrived at the office, Bradford came in also and handed the proposal to Daniel – Bianci had agreed to work with them again. Daniel instructed Betty to send an e-mail to all staff in Creative Department informing them about it. Daniel then asked his father about the Bayonne Salvage yard but Bradford denied having any knowledge of it.

As soon as Wilhelmina saw the mail, she went nuts, breaking every breakable in her office – all that she instructed Marc to get to decorate her office (you should have seen her, she totally lost it – it was sooo funny). Marc quickly moved in to save the recently acquired expensive flower vase and flowers out of her reach.

Betty got home that night just in time for dinner. She was very happy at how the day eventually ended. She told her father and sister that Mode landed Vincent Bianci for their December spread because of her. Her father hugged her, telling her how proud he was of her. When Betty saw the look of resignation on her sister’s face, she told him that it was Hilda’s make-over that helped her and he included her in the embrace and said he was so proud of them both.

Justin turn on the Dance Revolution just then and Betty ignored dinner to join him in dancing to the demo on the TV screen. Hilda and her father also joined in dancing in the gentler waltz.

Ugly Betty - Fresh Episode

2008-09-09T17:46:00.001+01:00

Hi friends,

I'm sorry for not posting any update yet.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for a fresh episode.

Cheers

Ugly Betty Encircled By 'Friendly' Enemies

2008-09-09T17:46:00.000+01:00

Snippet 11: "You can take my bunny, but you can't take my spirit!"

Daniel arrived at Mode and entered the lift but as he heard Wilhelmina's voice telling him hold the elevator, he reacted by quickly hitting the ‘close door’ button, he didn’t want to be in the elevator with her. She however managed to get to the door just in time and squeezed herself through. She asked Daniel if he had looked through ‘The Book’ yet, that they couldn’t go to press until he approved it. Daniel told her to be ready for a meeting for 10 o’clock and he then remarked on the untouched photographs of Whitman that were in the mock up, that he was surprised she missed it.

Wilhelmina pretended she didn’t know this and Daniel told her not to sweat over it that she’s probably reaching the age where she needed to worry about getting glasses, that it happens to everyone (he was pleased with himself to have gotten her into a corner this time) and with that comment, Daniel left the elevator. Wilhelmina’s face showed disappointment at her failed plan.

Christina was in her office (the closet), and was talking to Betty on the phone. Betty told her the whole story and that she wasn’t comfortable like lying and felt she was probably going to get fired and also that she didn't fit in. While in the car, Betty found a photo of her bunny all tied up with tape. The driver overheard the conversation, and sent a text message to Wilhelmina that “Betty’s neighbour stole The Book”, Wilhelmina was pleased at this.

Daniel was at his office pacing up and down waiting for Betty to arrive. The board members were seated in the conference room waiting for him. Amanda floated in to remind him that they were still waiting for him. Betty arrived then and told Daniel the whole truth about The Book. Daniel was angry and scolded her for lying to him. He told her sternly never to lie to him again. He made her understand that they would be in done with if those pictures ever got out.

He told Betty that they should get to Queens to retrieve the book, that he was going to pay Gina her money. Betty then reminded him they were still waiting for him at the meeting. Daniel went into the conference room, and Wilhelmina seized the opportunity to ask for the The Book to which he replied that it was in his office. She then requested for it but he cleverly said that he needed to look through it one more time to make sure everything was perfect. He adjourned the meeting to three hours. As a parting remark, he said “it’s great to see every one and asked Jeff “how the wife?” Jeff answered “we are getting separated” and Daniel said “great to hear it”. (Oops?)

Betty got to her desk and found another picture of her bunny on her chair; the bunny was stuffed down a toilet. Betty was mad, she forgot about The Book for that moment, climbed her chair, and yelled “who put the bunny in the toilet to which they all laughed and she said it wasn’t funny but they all thought it was. She knew then that someone was trying to break her and she said: “you can take my bunny, but you can't take my spirit."

Daniel then signal at Betty and they headed for Queens. When they got to Gina’s house, she opened the door and appraised Daniel. He requested for The Book pulling Betty to his side. Gina then moved so that they could see Walter setting up a new flat screen television in Gina's room. She told Betty and Daniel that someone else came by and gave her enough money for a new TV, describing the person to them.

Walter was quick to tell Betty that he was there only on a professional visit but she told him that she didn't care. He asked if she got his gift, and she said “thanks, it will come in useful during hurricane season”. Walter and Betty got caught up as they relived their first date but Daniel interrupted them by telling Betty that they needed to talk. At that very moment, Gina's flat screen TV tuned to Fashion TV was airing the news about the untouched photos of Natalie Whitman that was lost by Mode.

The blond news reporter poured salt onto their injury by adding “Remember, We only make others feel bad to make you feel good” with a promise to show the pictures on screen as soon as they appear. Daniel and Betty stared at the TV screen petrified.

Wilhelmina was in her office telling Bradford on the phone, that The Book was not in her possession when it got missing, trying to make sure Daniel get the blame. Marc arrived dressed in an oversize tracksuit, with large sunglasses on his face. He opened the front zip of the tracksuit top to reveal The Book he hid inside. Wilhelmina was delighted. She told her accomplice that she would not let the pictures leak but that while the rumours continue to go around and everyone is worried, she'll just produce The Book and become the hero.

Daniel and Betty were in the back seat of his car still discussing what to do and what to say. Betty suggested that they tell the truth, and that he should blame her but that if he could twist the truth one more time and give her a good recommendation, she would really appreciate it. Daniel looked at her and told the driver to take them back to the Meade building. Betty looked at him with apprehension.

At the Mode’s conference room, Natalie's manager was pacing around, fuming while Natalie sat there looking unhappy. Daniel, seated with other staff at the other end of table, apologizing profusely but Natalie’s manager was not accepting any of it. Daniel assured him they were doing all they could at the moment to track The Book. Natalie had to calm her manager down and asked Daniel how the whole thing happened. Daniel saw Betty looking through the window of the conference room and his eyes spoke volumes to her. She left to her desk depressed and filled with guilt only to find Amanda already seated there.

Amanda advised Betty to quit honourably instead of enduring the humiliation of being fired. She had already packed all Betty’s possessions into a box which she now handed to her, and her torn Bunny was right on top of it all (It was Amanda all along). Realizing this, Betty told her that she belonged there more than she did and that she truly hopes that Amanda gets all that she deserved.

Betty ran towards the lift, shouting the person on it should hold the elevator. She found herself inside with Natalie Whitman, who remembers her as the empanada girl. Natalie asked Betty if she was moving offices, and was surprised to find she's quitting. Betty revealed that it was her fault, that The Book was in her care when it got missing. Betty apologized to her for any damage it may cause her and told Natalie that she really liked the untouched photographs and with that she got off the lift.

Daniel was in his office explaining everything to his father, taking the whole responsibility on himself. He admitted that he was careless and promised never to let The Book out of his sight again. He had thought that his father was going to be disappointed but rather he was impressed and commented that that was the first time Daniel was being honest with him. Natalie barged in disrupting their discussion. She told Daniel that Betty inspired her with a solution to the whole mess and told Daniel not to fire her.

Wilhelmina was in her office, flipping through a magazine, she told Marc to put her through to Bradford. She announced to Bradford that The Book had turned up but Bradford told her that it didn't matter, that she should watch the latest report on it on the Fashion TV channel. Marc quickly turned on the TV. The same female presenter on the case announced that Natalie had given Mode the rights to publish her photographs untouched! (woah!)

Wilhelmina was still reeling in shock when Daniel showed up in office to rub the good news in her face and the retrieve The Book which she claimed was dropped off anonymously which he obviously didn’t buy. He told her he wasn’t going to let The Book out of his sight again and wished her and Marc a good night.

Our dear Betty was back at her desk typing away. She had re-decorated her table with possessions. Christina brought back Betty’s bunny, repaired as best as she could. She also gave Betty a bag which Betty took to Daniel. Daniel showed her the masthead which had been corrected - her name now spelt correctly. Daniel told her that he bought himself another day to go through The Book properly. Betty brought out a pair of shoes from the bag, made from a sweat shop. He told her that she could go home that he was going to be in the office a while longer.

As Betty was leaving, she told Amanda know that it was going to take a lot more than what Amanda did to get rid of her from Mode. Dump Amanda said, “whatever, I'm still prettier”.

Daniel was still in his office working when he received a phone call from a mysterious person telling him to be that it careful, that his father is a man of many secrets and that he was capable of practically anything. (The mysterious masked lady with whom Wilhelmina plotted to take over Mode was the person making this call).

The photograph of Bradford and Fey Sommers which he took from her house was burning while Bradford watched. The music box which he also took was in his hands. He then opened it and listened to the music while the photograph turned to ashes.

Catch you next week for more gist. Do enjoy your weekend.

Google At 10: My Internet Revolution and Inspiration

2008-09-08T07:20:00.001+01:00

about this season last year my wife wrote a love poem for Google on this blog to mark the 9th birthday anniversary of Google Inc. Don't get me wrong, I was not jealous, I was happy because we both share some unparalleled passion for the web, and Google is the King of the web.

Today, 7th September begins the 10th anniversary of this web giant and I want to pay homage to industry, zeal and vision of Google's co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

I serve you the story from ABC, on how the internet search engine, rose from a garage with $10,000 to $200 Billion today.
Read on:

The world's leading internet search engine Google is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its existence.

Google began life in a garage and now has a market value of nearly $200 billion.

Today Google is one of the most recognised brands on the planet, with its core business as the world's number one search engine boasting 70 per cent of the market.

That leading position has spilled over into the lucrative world of online advertising of which Google claims a 40 per cent share.

In the last decade, Google has constantly expanded and diversified with products like g-mail, Google docs for word processing and spread sheets, Picasa for picture editing, YouTube's video sharing service, Google Earth and maps and the launch just last week of a new internet browser called Chrome.

Ugly Betty Battles For The Book

2008-09-08T07:20:00.000+01:00

Snippet 10:

Bradford used his key to enter Fey Sommers house and was looking for anything that may link him to her. At the same time, Gina broke into Betty's house looking around. Bradford saw a photograph of him and Fey when they were younger and took it. At the Suarez house Gina was still snooping around and then saw The Book on the coffee table while Justin was still lying on the sofa beside it. Bradford picked up a musical box and listened to its music for a while, he then put it in his bag. At Betty’s house, just as Justin rolled over and turned his to Gina, she picked up The Book.

The next morning, Betty came downstairs in her pajamas and noticed that The Book was no longer on the coffee table. She was horrified and in frenzy started rummaging through the bin in the kitchen. Her father and sister came into the kitchen and she told them she was looking for the book. They both volunteered to search other parts of the house while Betty continued searching in the pantry of the kitchen making a huge mess all over the place. Hilda then found a note under the door in which Gina state that she had The Book and will swap it for a new flat screen TV.

At Daniels apartment, Amanda came out of the bathroom saying that showerhead could pay her bills, she would marry it! (Dumb thing to say). Daniel was checking the messages on his phone and he got the message Betty left him letting him know that she took The Book home for safe keeping. Daniel phoned Betty's house immediately, and Hilda told her to lie, and promised her that they will get The Book back. Daniel not happy with this development questioned why Betty took the book home (look who’s talking). She told him that the book was totally safe (Hilda was in front of her encouraging her). While Daniel was on the phone with Betty, Amanda was telling him to fire her that she would be a better assistant but Daniel responded that she should get dressed.

Betty then commended Daniel for his bravery by using the original photos of Natalie Whitman. Daniel replied that he never approved the untouched photos and that he will send a car over right away, to pick up the book. Betty was terrified and said she was in big trouble.

Ignacio and Hilda walked into the living area talking about the book Gina stole and Ignacio told Betty to give the phone to him that he was going to call her parents. Hilda said there was no need for that that she was going to go teach Gina a lesson she won’t forget. But, Betty refused their offer of help, and said she was an adult and could fight her own battles.

As Gina refused Betty entry and she had to force her face through the gap that the safety chain could allow and was begging. Gina told her she wasn’t giving up the book until she gives her $4000. She even pretended to be ripping up the pages; Betty pleaded even more telling Gina that she didn’t have that kind of money.

At that moment, Hilda busted in through the back door, let Betty in, and started fighting with Gina. While they were fighting, Betty was quickly looking through the room for ‘The Book’. A car’s horn was heard, an indication that the car Daniel sent had arrived and Betty exasperated ordered them to stop fighting but their hair was caught in each other’s jewelry. They tried separating from each other a large piece of Gina's hair got pulled out and she angrily told Hilda that she was going to pay for it.

Ugly Betty Humiliated

2008-09-06T12:47:00.000+01:00

Snippet 15

She reminded him that he asked her to dress up for their lunch-appointment and swirled around for him to see. He replied, “and dressed up you did”, dumbfounded and not too pleased with her looks. He then told Betty to call the restaurant and tell them to change their table to a private one at the back for the privacy they need with Bianci. (Oh no!) He went back to his office totally forgetting what brought him to her office in the first place. When he got to his office he peeped at her, amazed at her lack of fashion sense, while Betty stood there, hands on hips enchanted by her new self.

At the board meeting, Daniel presented his ideas for a make-over for Mode while Betty unveiled the idea Mode cover displayed on a mobile board. He informed them that he had Vincent Bianci in mind to do the Photo shoot because he was one of the best. His father voiced his doubts but Daniel assured him that he could convince Bianci to work with them again. But, Wilhelmina didn’t allow him to finish his presentation. She got up, cat-walked to where they were and stood beside Betty (Daniel was standing beside the board on one side while Betty was on the other side). She saucily remarked that change was a positive thing but that sometimes it could spiral out of control and could transit from simple designs to bold new colours and daring new looks while gesticulating at Betty’s hairdo, make-up and outfit (comparing Daniel’s make-over with Betty’s new look).

Daniel called Wilhelmina with a warning note to this voice but that only spurred her on. She finally nailed the coffin by saying that the truth was that he hadn’t improved on a thing (still looking Betty all over), and that in some cases, change makes a bad situation worse.”

(You see why I call her The Slayer?)

While Wilhelmina was putting on this show at Betty’s expense, Marc look at her, admiring her combat skills – talk of birds of same feathers.

Oh! Poor Ugly Betty. To say she was embarrassed was an understatement. Every other attendee beside Daniel and his father were trying hard to keep themselves from giggling. She escaped to the ladies room to cry. Daniel showed up there to make sure she was alright. She told Daniel that she could not go with him to the lunch appointment, that he should take Amanda. Daniel tried to persuade her but she refused. So, he had no choice than to take Amanda who was to pretend to be Betty Suarez! Bradford decided to go along (I think because Bianci). When they got to the restaurant, Vincent Bianci was already at the table waiting for them. He and Daniel shook hands but he refused to take Bradford’s hands saying he remembered him.

Meanwhile, Betty composed herself and left the ladies to her desk, all around her, everyone mocked her. She got to her desk and discovered that Daniel had forgotten to take the contract documents along. She quickly wore her coat and asked Marc to come with her to the restaurant to help deliver it but Marc took it from her that he would deliver it by himself. Betty got angry, yelled at him and snatched the document from his hands, putting him in his place.

Bianci asked Amanda about one of the teachers at the school they both (supposedly) attended and Amanda flopped, saying that the teacher died in her usual seductive manner.

The 'New' Ugly Betty

2008-09-06T12:19:00.000+01:00

Snippet 14

Daniel was in his office with Amanda and four other ladies checking out two mock prints of Mode’s cover page and he was seeking their opinion on it because he wanted it to attract ‘the fashion conscious woman’. Betty walked in with pie for Daniel but he wasn’t interested in it, Betty then looked at the print-outs and remarked that she really like the gown, that it was very Cinderella, which put Amanda and Daniel off while the other ladies just laughed. With that, Betty just left them and went back the way she came. While Daniel continued by saying he wanted something cool and sexy, Amanda stayed so close to him distracting him.

Just then, the phone in Betty’s office started ringing but she ignored it and walked past her desk which made Daniel pick up the call. He called Betty and told her that Bianci was on the line for her. Betty’s low-sunked spirit immediately spring to life again. She quickly snatched the received and exchange pleasantries with him, they spoke a little and he requested to speak with Daniel. Daniel then rushed to his office to pick the call. They agreed to a Lunch meeting to discuss what they were proposing. He requested that Betty came along so, Daniel told her to make the reservations for the three of them and to dress up a little for the appointment.

Betty went to Christina to get help with what to wear for the important appointment. She wanted to look more ‘Mode-ish’ but she wasn’t much of a help. So, Betty was in the bathroom at home the next morning trying the made-up eye of a model she cut from a magazine on her own eye to see how she’d look. Her father came in and asked what was going on. Although, she quickly removed it, she confessed to her father that she worked in an office where the ladies where tall, slim and beautiful looking and she felt like was the odd one out.

Her father told her that she was beautiful and with a big heart but Betty told him that that lecture of his wasn’t going to help her. Hilda listened in on their conversation and as soon as their father left she walked in and stood by the door, arm akimbo, telling Betty, “You see? I told you”. Betty told her to shut-up and just help her. Hilda then rushed Betty to the salon to make her over!

Meanwhile, Wilhelmina also went to the salon to get her hair done. She told the stylist to do something different; something befitting an Editor-in-Chief. Wilhelmina was having her usual beauty routine – having her hair and eye-brows done, having a message while sipping wine.

Ugly Betty was also undergoing beauty routines that were strange to her. First and foremost, the local beautician was removing part of her bushy eye-brows and she screamed. Secondly while her hair was getting done, her feet were being manicured and the poor thing just kept giggling because it tickled her. Finally her hair was sprayed and she coughed as it she just caught the flu or something.

When Wilhelmina’s stylist was through her hair, she was pleased with it and said ‘perfect’.

Betty was also through and the stylist convinced her that her hair looked like the one on the model in a magazine cut-out Betty had with her. All the ladies in the salon applauded and Betty smiled broadly (pleased with the outcome), showing off her red-coloured manicured acrylic nails.

On her way to work that day, she walked confidently dressed in ...do I describe her? Ok.

She walked by the store where Walter worked. He and his colleague came out to have another look to be sure it was her, they were simply amazed. She passed by a group of men (obviously Latinos) who were working on the drainage system who whistled at her and she stopped and asked it they were whistling at her. They nodded and she said ‘Really? Thanks’, pleased that she was getting noticed. As she walked on more confidently now, she lost her footing, managed to compose herself and walked on with measured steps.

Inside the lift to her office she was busy because when the lift opened she was re-painting her lips when Bradford joined her. It took her a while to notice that the new entrant was Bradford Meade because she was so pre-occupied with her new look. She said hello and had to introduce herself to him because he didn’t recognize her! He also told her she had changed and she said 'Thank You'.

When she got to Mode’s floor, walked confidently along the corridor but tripped a little and had to remove a shoe from one foot. Marc who was already on the look out for her, called Wilhelmina on his phone to fill her in, while following Betty to her office like a paparazzi. He bumped into someone in the process, called Betty and as she turned to face him, he took a shot of her on his camera phone, saying he just found his new screensaver!

The phone of Betty’s desk ranged just then and she received a mysterious call. The caller refused to identify herself and insisted on speaking with Daniel. She called Daniel and informed him about the caller. He, at first asked her to get rid of the caller but changed his mind and took the call putting it on speaker-phone. The woman told him she just finished reading his first issue and paid him compliments. He asked for her name but she said it was not important at that moment and said the real issue was how well Daniel knew his father! Daniel immediately picked up the receiver asking the woman to excuse him but she interrupted him and asked him to do her a favour – he should ask his father what he had been up to at Bayon Salvage Yard and she ended the call. Daniel dropped the receiver and marched purposefully to Betty’s office.

He got the shocked of his life at the sight of the ‘new’ Ugly Betty. The only thing he managed to utter was "look at you".

Ugly Betty In The Make-Over Quest

2008-09-05T11:57:00.000+01:00

Snippet 13

As usual, a telenovela was showing on the TV and Ignacio, standing by a wall (obviously hiding), was drinking coffee while he watched. Betty caught him, collected the coffee and forced him to take his pills while telling him that he should take his heart problem seriously. By the time Betty poured milk for him to wash down his pills, he had already washed it down with coffee! His excuse? He had to wash it down with something!

Back to Mode, Bradford went to Wilhelmina’s office to ask if she stayed long at the party to which she answered ‘no’, that someone had to hold the back seat together. She told him that Daniel was trying but that some people were just naturals. She told Bradford not to worry that she had Daniel’s back covered. (What!)

Betty got on the lift carrying a box filled with old editions of Hudson magazine which she had retrieved from the store. Amanda (I think Anaconda is more suitable), remarked that she looked sweaty and asked her why she wasn’t at the party. Betty answered that she couldn’t get in and Amanda in her usual way mocked her and got off the lift.

(While this conversation was going on, there were two ladies standing behind them in the lift who were also finding the whole scenario funny)

Daniel and Betty were in his office talking, having looked through past episodes of Hudson for an idea or lead. Daniel wanted to prove to his father that he was also capable of turning Mode around like Alex did with Hudson.

Wilhelmina was in her office standing before the mirror checking herself out. She was dressed in a white designer suit and wore a purple ribbon on the left Lapel which she explained to Marc that it had to with the breast Cancer 'thing'. Marc told her that he saw something in the conference room which he wanted her to see.

Daniel and Betty were in the conference room brainstorming, noting their observations, searching for that lead that will give them a headway into the quest to ‘make over’ Mode. And, Betty discovered several albums of photographs shot by Vincent Bianci which were used by Alex in Hudson magazine and brought these to Daniel. Daniel told her that Bianci vowed never to work for Mode again because he and Alex had a huge disagreement. Betty innocently asked why Daniel couldn’t use Bianci since he was not Alex and Daniel got all emotional but checked himself just in time.

Meanwhile, Wilhelmina and Marc stood at a distance watching Daniel and Betty while making awful and mocking remarks about Daniel stealing from his dead brother’s work.

Bradford met his private eye in a field on a dark night, to get updates of his investigation. He told Bradford that the Police had brought in Sommers car but he didn’t know where it was kept. Bradford scolded him for taking too long in finding the salvage yard where the car was kept and ordered him to find it quickly.

Wilhelmina visited the mystery woman with champagne and while she poured the wine into glasses, the woman asked her what they were drinking to? Wilhelmina said: “to a father who realized that his son will never replace the one he lost and, to a son who would never measure up no matter how hard he tried. She added that as long as this wedge was between them, the relationship between Bradford and Daniel was doomed. The mystery woman then said that perhaps it was time she drove the wedge even deeper between them by tipping Daniel off as to what his father was capable of.

Daniel and Betty were still in the conference room, worn out from working, empty packets of Sushi were all over the table. Daniel was lying on his back on the conference table while Betty was sitting with her head on the table. He was still talking and when Betty didn’t respond, he stopped. She said after 5 hours of working she couldn’t get anything anymore. Daniel then told her that Alex should be doing this job not him. He told her that since they were kids, his father used to take Alex to the biggest college football games but he never once invited him and that he thought that after Alex’s death he’ll invite him. He told Betty that all fathers favour one sibling above the other and that it may be in a small way but she would see it; Betty disagreed with him though.

The next morning at the Suarez house, Betty was sitting at a table still going through albums, she yawned as if she had not slept at all. Hilda stormed the kitchen yelling for Justin to come down so he could get to school on time. Betty then asked Hilda is she ever felt that their father had a favourite among the two of them and she said yeah in a jiffy, “you” but that she wasn't going to kill anyone over it. Ignacio came into the kitchen and asked why Betty came in late the night before. Betty told him the reason was because her boss was trying to make some changes in the magazine and they had to work longer hours. Her father said they are making her work too hard and that she should ask for a raise. He then looked at the one of the albums with the name Vincent Bianci on it and told Betty that he knew the kid and that he grew up just four blocks away! Betty couldn’t believe her ears. Her father also told her he even went to the same school with her. With this information, Betty quickly packed the albums and left for work.

She got to her desk and placed a call to Bianci. Fortunately for her he picked the phone himself, referred her to his agent and was about getting off the phone but she quickly told him that he went to the same school with her and even grew up in the same neighbourhood; this pricked his interest. They chit-chatted about school and the famous hero sandwich shop which was the favourite of students then and he was sort of, getting to like the person on the phone. She then told him that the magazine she worked with wanted him to work with them but as soon as she mentioned Daniel Meade, he cut her off the phone.

Wilhelmina was busy preparing for her meeting with a senator. She gave Marc instructions in preparation for the important occasion.

After work, Betty went to Sal’s Dell, the famous Hero sandwiches shop to satiate her appetite which was activated by her discussion with Bianci.

Bradford Meade received a phone call from his private eye informing him about the Salvage Yard where Sommers car was kept and told him he sent him an e-present which Bradford had already opened on his laptop – an online bid for Sommers car with the minimum set at $10,000, to be sold to the highest bidder.

Daniel Shines without Ugly Betty

2008-09-04T17:24:00.000+01:00

Snippet 12

Betty was outside the club where Daniel was celebrating his first issue of Mode since he became Editor-in-Chief. The Body Guard outside did not allow her in because he did not believe she was Daniel Meade’s assistant. More over, it seems she got her I.V mixed-up somewhere inside her bag. Amanda arrived, saw Betty but pretended not to know her and just went in. Betty eventually found the card but she was still denied entrance and had to return home dejected.

A male fashion reporter outside the Manhattan club, informed us that this was Daniel’s cover party to celebrate his first issue of Mode and more many eyebrows were raised when he was chosen as the Editor-in-Chief instead of the experienced Creative Director, Wilhelmina Slater.

Inside the club, it was all glitz and glamour. Wilhelmina breezed-in majestically and Marc who was on the look-out, handed her a glass of champagne while filling her in on happenings at the party.

Daniel was the enclosure of all eyes. He was in the midst of reporters who were interviewing him. To say the least, Wilhelmina was bitter about this and made sarcastic remarks about reporters wanting to get a quote from Daniel. She and Marc raised their glasses to Daniel with their signature 'fake smile' on and Daniel also raised his glass to them with a knowing look in his eyes.

The party then began in earnest.

(Albeit he forgot about Betty while he basked in all that glory!)

At the Suarez house, Walter was in front of the TV set dancing (like a puppet) along to a demo playing on it (Ha ha ha! he is such a dork!).

Betty came in and on seeing Walter, asked him what he was doing in her house (Justin continued with the Dance). The first thing Walter asked her was why she was at a club with her boss at 9.45pm. She told him she was at her boss’ Cover party and then realized that she owed him no explanation. Walter tried justifying his reason for being to the fact that he got her the Dance-Revolution package at 20% discount, but, Betty was not buying any of it and instead held the door open for him to leave.

The party was in full swing and the celebrant, Daniel, was talking a young lady. His father walked up to him, silently, and whispered loud enough for the lady to hear “she is just twelve.” The lady promptly took her leave. Daniel and his father then engaged themselves in a chit-chat about Mode. The Paparazzi soon zoomed in on them and Bradford put his right arm around Daniel’s shoulder in a son-father pose. Daniel was a bit uncomfortable and emotional at this display by his father and after the shots were taken Bradford removed his arm (too quickly).

Wilhelmina (The Slayer), who had obviously been watching the scenario flew to their side commenting (maliciously, Daniel knows) about their pose; that they were the shinning stars. She complimented Daniel that the issue was a big hit and that Alex would be proud of him (hey! this is a sensitive subject) but Daniel said he didn’t do anything, that Mode sells Mode: “right Dad?” asking Bradford for confirmation.

Wilhelmina reminded Bradford about the Alex's cover party, being the Editor-in-Chief of a sister publication, Hudson. She told Daniel how he walked into the party with a Tuxedo shirt, Wilhelmina’s coat and a poker dot boxers. Bradford and Wilhelmina smiled as they remembered. Bradford said it was the top story on all the newspapers and that sales of Hudson went up by 38%. Daniel didn’t find it funny at all. He told his father that would have appreciated if his father had told him, that he would have gladly dropped his trousers for him; he then walked away from both of them.

Let me give you a little background story to help you understand why Daniel reacted this way. He had a brother, Alex, who was late (supposedly), who he had struggled all his life to measure up to. To his father, Alex was the good one while Daniel was the irresponsible one – Daniel knows this. Since he became Editor of Mode, he had one thing in mind; that was to change his father’s opinion about him. He knew being chosen as Mode’s new Editor-in-Chief was an acid test which he must pass. When his father put his arm around him, he got emotional because he felt that finally, my father is beginning to accept and trust me that I can get things done just like Alex. So, when Wilhelmina mentioned the Alex's cover party, he felt he was back to where he started - a failure and Alex won again. Wilhelmina did this on purpose to hurt Daniel because he got the publicity and status quo she believed should have been hers.

Back at Betty’s house, sat at the dinning table seeking for solace in food while Justin bombarded her with questions about the party and she got somewhat upset and asked him to stop. Hilda handed Justin his books with the instruction to do his homework and he didn’t leave without a comment about reading the editor’s page of the Mode’s current issue. Hilda joined Betty at the table but she stood up and said she had to go but Hilda wasn’t taking any of it and asked Betty to sit down. She told Betty to stop hurting herself and started with one of her usual lecture on ‘Betty not being cut out for the fashion industry’ but Betty told her to stop. Hilda (Oh, I just love Hilda) wasn’t backing down, she volunteered that if it was really important to Betty, she was willing to help her out. She told Betty that she was the 'Top' sales person for Herberlux in her district because she knows how to market herself - the hair, the clothes, e.t.c., but Betty wasn’t in on it.

Hilda then gave her the raw truth that, “those people” were not going to change and that Betty had to change to fit in.

The BOOK Controller's Blackmail

2008-09-03T03:41:00.000+01:00

Snippet 9:

Betty was waiting by the microwave for her plate of empanadas to warm up and when it was done picked it up but while walking through the cafeteria to her seat, all the fashion-compliant (staff) looked at her food with disgust but it seems she didn’t notice any of them. She got to a table where her friends were and they all couldn’t wait to have a piece each except the vegetarian among them. They talked how fashion was not about accepting great looking people but altering pictures to make them look perfect.

Amanda came and stood by Betty complaining about her food and Betty even offered her some but she said the smelt disgusting. They were all surprised when Natalie Whitman rushed to them and asked Betty if she could have some, proper food, she called it, that she was starving and might as well eat the whole thing and still end up looking like Nicole Ritchie (which was joke poked at Mode alterations of photographs). Amanda responded with a fake laughter but Natalie looked at her ignored her and sat with Betty's and her friends at their table chatting with them. Amanda retreated to another sit behind Betty’s looking at her with an evil eye.

Wilhelmina was back with the strange woman in their dark room, wrapped all over as usual looking through newspaper cut-outs. The woman its strange observing from the outside when everybody though you are dead. They both felt that Bradford was behind the car crash, but they needed to get enough evidence to put him away. They also talked about getting Daniel out of the picture so that he would not be able to hold fort in Bradford's absence. Wilhelmina said that to get to Bradford, they will have to use Daniel.

Bradford was on a park bench reading a newspaper when his hired investigator arrived with information for him. He gave him a magazine that showed Fey Sommers Estate with for sale on it. Bradford told the man that he does not hate Fey and the he will enter her property with his spare key and removed any evidence that may incriminate him.

Back to Mode, Betty received an email with a picture of her bunny hanging in a noose with it's eyes crossed out with black cello tape. Betty was disturbed to see this. Just then, Marc appeared with The Book but refused to give it to Betty and insisted on giving it to Daniel himself. Marc placed The Book on Daniels desk, with a brief comment from Wilhelmina in an attempt to sidetrack Daniel from the pictures of Natalie. As he starts to look through it Amanda enters, and asks him to go to the opera with her. Daniel decides to go, leaving The Book on his desk, stating it can wait until the morning.

Daniel and Amanda walk past Betty's desk, and Amanda told her to keep working Betty goes into Daniel's office and notices The Book still sitting on his desk, after attempting to phone him and getting no answer, she decides to take The Book home for safe keeping overnight.

At the Suarez house as usual, a telenovela was showing on the Television and Ignacio was sitting in front of it, watching. Betty was told her father about what happened at work relating Natalie Whitman and that she brought ‘The Book’ home. Justin yelled with delight and grabbed from his aunt in his excitement. Betty was surprised that he knew what the book was. He even showed Betty her name of the masthead spelt ‘Betsy Suarez’.

Hilda came home from work and gave Betty a gift she found at the door from Walter which was a packet of 9 volts batteries. Betty was not bought by it. Her sister told her to be a bit more forgiving as Walter cares for her. Betty said he should have thought of that before dumping her.

Hilda told Betty that Gina is predatory and that Walter didn’t stand a chance against Gina. Justin asked if that was why Gina was called Hyena. It was our fashion guru, Justin, that noticed that the photograph of Natalie Whitman in the book was not altered, which he said was awful as she was still fat. But Betty said it was great.

Just then, someone knocked at the door. Betty thought it was Walter but Gina, their neighbour, busted into the house asking Betty for $4000 (ransom?)to replace her flat screen that she broke. Gina intimidating Betty and the big sister, Hilda defended her by threatening to hit Gina with The Book. Betty quickly retrieves The Book from Hilda and in the process Gina noticed that the folder was Mode’s and written on the front were the words ‘Important and Confidential’. Gina then told Betty and Hilda that she did a year at Juvenile prison meaning that she’ll get even her own way... What way? We shall soon see...

Hear Ugly Betty: "You and Me, We Are A Team"

2008-09-03T03:24:00.001+01:00

Snippet 8

He ended his intimate call and he told Betty that he had no idea who he just spoke with (talk about uncountable flings!). Betty said "Good Morning Daniel" cheerfully and asked if she could get him a cup of coffee, but he asked if she had seen an article in the newspaper in which she confirmed he was wearing a Dior Suit, Gucci Tie and Vergini Shoes. The latter was the problem because the pair of shoes was made in a sweat shop.

But Betty reminded him that he had told her that those shoes were the most comfortable pair of shoes he ever had. Daniel said it is best if people don’t the brands of shoes he wore because the press have a way of twisting things and that they also have to twist the truth as a way of protecting themselves against the them. Daniel then told her he had a meeting with Natalie Whitman – a popular actress who Betty admires. They talked about how the actress put on about 30 pounds each time she starred her recurring film role, and how she doesn't seem to lose the weight again afterwards. Daniel then asked Betty if she wanted to be part of the meeting. Betty was excited as she accepted the offer.

Daniel reminded Betty that they, “You and me, we're a team”, and that he was ready to take the coffee Betty offered.

A TV screen airing fashion news anchored by a blonde female Fashion Reporter was asking viewers if Wilhelmina Slater, the Creative Director of Mode, had gotten over her humiliation of Daniel Meade, the son of the owner of Meade publications named the new Editor-in-Chief instead of her. She reminded viewers that the power change was because the former Editor-in-Chief, Fey Sommers died of car accident after being haunted by animal rights activists because she loved wearing fur.

A video clip showed Sommers in a brown fur, while activists carrying placards with ‘Fur is Murder’ written on it lined up by the side of the road and as she walked by one of them poured a red liquid substance on her, face, fur and all. Then another clip showed the accident that claimed her life - a fiery car crash that occurred when she lost control of her car after being chased by angry animal activists.

The television was switched off as Daniel entered Bradford's office. He gave his father an update on the magazine and that it was going for printing the next day. Bradford reminded his son of the importance of succeeding and that he expect him to one day run the company by himself. Bradford then asked Daniel where ‘The Book’ was but Daniel didn’t seems to know what he was talking about.

His father was exasperated but he explained to Daniel that the book was the mock-up of the entire magazine, to which each department submits their pages. As he explained this, we get to see how the book moves from one department to another and at each point the finished job of each department is place on its page in the book until the total package is then handed over to Wilhelmina. Bradford reiterated that whoever controls the book controls the magazine. He then told Daniel that if he wanted to succeed and be where he (Bradford) is someday, he had to control the book, that it was his responsibility.

Then, we see Wilhelmina in the conference room, with Daniel, Natalie Whitman, the actress and another lady looking at Whitman’s pictures on a laptop. They were editing a photograph to the flabby areas. Whitman was not pleased with the editing that has been done to her image; her under-arms were reduced, her bust was elevated. (Betty looked horrified seeing all the changes)

The actress complained about all the adjustments made to her image and said she thought she looked….”normal” said Wilhelmina. Who went on to explain to Natalie that other magazines would have been okay with the photos that that was Mode and they weren’t about looking normal but “aspirational” and that she should give herself the chance to look as stunning as she possibly could. Natalie then asked for Betty’s opinion of the photograph. Betty’s eyes brighten up and was about to say the photographs looked beautiful (I think), but Daniel’s (don’t talk) look stopped her, and he intercepted and said “Natalie, as editor-in-chief I say why not take something that's hot, and make it Super Hot?” Natalie's agent agreed with Daniel, and persuaded Natalie to agree to the touch-ups.

Daniel then told Wilhelmina in front of the staff that he should be getting The Book from now on, since his was now the Editor-in-Chief. Wilhelmina tried to play her usual tricks by saying that with his present responsibility, he would be too busy to look through the book but Daniel stood his ground that it was part of his ‘responsibility’ and she said as he wished smiling but as soon as she turned her back she was as mean looking as ever.

While Betty and Daniel walked from the conference room to their offices she commended that he was strong and editorial in the way his stood his ground with Wilhelmina. Daniel was obviously pleased with himself and said that it was his responsibility. He advised Betty that when faced with a decision that has to do with the magazine she should go with the vibe in the room and Betty said “even though I don’t agree?” Daniel said if it was best for the magazine and he sent her back to the conference room to get his PDA which he forgot there. As she walked by her desk, she noticed that her pink bunny wasn’t on her desk anymore. She asked the other staff around her but they all looked at her and went back to what they were doing, ignoring her.

In Wilhelmina's office, Marc was seated on the floor in front of her luxurious couch on which she was seated, massaging her feet. She complained bitterly about the way Daniel embarrassed her before all the staff. Wilhelmina then cooked-up a plan to leave the untouched, normal photograph or Whitman in the book because she knows that Daniel would not notice them and if it is printed in the magazine the way it is there would be chaos that will result into loss for the magazine. Marc commended his boss for her cleverness.

Back to Betty again, as she got to the conference room, she saw Natalie Whitman sitting by the laptop looking very unhappy. She was reducing her image to become thinner and thinner until there was just a vertical line left.

Fabia Cosmetics Glory For Ugly Betty

2008-09-03T02:52:00.001+01:00

Snippet 6

Ugly Betty asked Daniel what he was doing at her house and he said he wanted to talk to her.

Daniel apologized to Betty about the way he treated her, that she did not deserve what he had put her through. Betty appreciated the apology, but pointed out the fact that she was still out of work, and dealing with problems that Daniel would never be able to understand.

Daniel told Betty in confidence that he lost his brother a while back, who was the good one and that he still feels he'll never be able to measure up to what his brother was.

He then told Betty that he saw her idea for the Fabia supplement and he thought it was smart and beautiful. He asked to take the idea to Fabia, giving Betty credit, and giving Betty her old job back. He promised her that things would different if she came back.

Betty was confused and said that she need time to think about his offer. He told her that she had the night to make up her mind because he'll probably be out of the job himself by the next morning. Daniel then left without saying another word.

Ignacio, Betty's father, came in through the back door saying he heard every word.

The next morning at the conference room, Bradford, Wilhelmina and Fabia were waiting for Daniel. Wilhelmina got up, apologized to Fabia, and was about to present her own ideas to her when Daniel and Betty’s arrival cut her off. He apologized for being late and started his presentation immediately. He told Fabia that he is presenting the rough idea due to lack of time for a photo shoot. Betty set the laptop on the table, and accidentally clicked on the wrong photo showing a picture of her and Walter eating hotdogs, that amused Wilhelmina and Marc.

Daniel then started his presentation, talking about the concept of Mothers and Daughters as a selection of pictures were shown of Betty as a child with her own mother. The pictures show typical childhood scenes of riding bikes, cooking, pinning clothes – the small special moments that were usually taken for granted. The final image was of Betty trying on lipstick in the mirror while her mother watched.

Fabia asked why this concept would appeal to her customers, and Betty (bailed Daniel out) explained the statistics, and analytical data that if mothers use Fabia cosmetics there was a high possibility that their daughters would continue with that tradition. Fabia agreed to the concept even without a photo shoot!

Bradford congratulated Daniel, and when he tried to give the credit to Betty, she jumped in to say the idea was his best one. Wilhelmina also congratulated him sarcastically. Daniel and Betty were happy with their achievement.

Wilhelmina went to see a woman in a darkly lit room, this strange woman was reclining on a chair (that look like the one dentists use), and her face and body were covered with cloth. Only her eyes are visible. She said she was unhappy, but Wilhelmina said it was only a setback, that once “he is out of the picture’ (I assume she was referring to Daniel) the company will be theirs for the taking. She told Wilhelmina that considering the way every thing played out, they should keep an eye on that ‘damn’, ‘ugly’ assistant. She asked for her name and Wilhelmina told her it was Betty.

When Wilhelmina called Betty's name, then Gina was shown calling Betty’s name, then Amanda, then Walter, and finally Daniel who called her over to the car he was standing by on the street. Betty was standing outside the building with Christina thanking her for everything as she was leaving.

Daniel asked Betty why she did not let him tell his father that the idea was hers, she said he should not worry that she would let him next time. Daniel then thanked her. She started reminding him of the next day’s appointments but he interrupted and told her that it was okay, that it could wait till the next day.

The lady waiting for Daniel in the car coughed and Daniel said good night to Betty. He watched as she crossed the road in front of him, smiling. She tripped before continuing across the road with a big smile on her face.

Make it a date with me next week as we continue to enjoy this story, have a wonderful weekend!

"Sure, Tosin, we would!"

It's A Draw For Ugly Betty

2008-09-02T04:23:00.001+01:00

Snippet 5

Tosin Emmanuel told us of how Ugly Betty was humiliated one day, and was honored the next day by the same man who humiliated her yesterday. This episode also revealed how the secret enemies of daniel scored a revenge goal against him, a goal which humbled him and made him running for help from ugly Betty whom he had despised before now. The telenovela scores are even now, this is getting lnteresting...

Ugly Betty did not let him say a word. She told him that that was what he wanted – to humiliate her until she quit because he did want to work with the Ugly girl his father forced on him. She congratulated him that he succeeded in doing just that.

Daniel watched as she left, he looked guilty and upset.

The next morning, Betty's was sitting on the front steps of her house at Queens, and Justin, her nephew brought a cup of chamomile tea for her. Justin apologized to betty for her job not working out, and said that his mom (Hilda) wished Betty would be more realistic, and said that jobs like that don't happen for people like them. But Justin said he disagrees with her.

Just then, Betty heard noises coming from Gina’s apartment and saw through her window that she was making out with a guy. She promptly handed the cup of tea to Justin, marched to Gina’s doorsteps and stormed into the house. She told Gina that it was unfair, living two doors down the street and that she could see them from her house. When Gina pulled back from the guy, he was not Walter. When Betty asked where Walter was, she said it was over between them after he gave her 30 percent discount off the Plasma TV. Betty then realized that Gina used Walter. She slammed the door as she left and the effect on the wall made the Plasma fall to the ground damaged.

Back to Mode, Fabia was in the conference room (accompanied by her small dog) with Philip, Wilhelmina, Marc and Daniel. Daniel (confidently) played the slide show of the pictures taken at the photo shoot; the accident scene – showing crashed burning cars, models posing as dead bodies, Police, ambulance and medics all dressed in leather outfits.

Fabia stopped the slideshow and asked if it was a joke and Daniel replied that it wasn’t. She shouted that all the photographs were "Stupid" and threw a handful of sweets at Daniel. She stormed out of the meeting very angry. Daniel was shocked and asked what happened. Marc took pleasure in explaining to him that about a month ago, Fabia backed her SUV car into 12 people and had not gotten over it yet.

Daniel was surprised that no one had told him about this; even Philip said he was not aware of this. Wilhelmina responded to Daniel’s complain by saying that he didn't include her in the concept and that she thought he knew what he was doing.

(Wilhelmina, Marc & Philip deliberately planned to sabotage Daniel’s effort by keeping this info away from him. If only, he had listened to Betty, who had gathered info about Fabia to assist him.)

Daniel knew just then that he was in BIG trouble.

His father Bradford Meade (while exercising) told Daniel that Fabia was not just considering canceling the Mode supplement but she that she wanted to withdraw her adverts from all Meade publications. He asked why Daniel did not carry anyone along on his idea. Daniel explained that the reason why he didn't confer with anyone else was because he had strong feelings that Wilhelmina was trying to sabotage him. He apologized to his father for letting him down and begged to be given another chance that he would to come up with something else by the next morning to fix the damage.

Wilhelmina was in bed when she received a call from Marc that Daniel was still trying to contact her. She asked if Daniel had any problem understanding that she was unavailable. Just then Philip, who had been in bed with her showed up with glasses of champagne to celebrate their victory. Wilhelmina told Philip that if Daniel had come to her earlier, she still would have sabotaged him. They toasted, Wilhelmina said to team-work and Philip said to revenge. (remember Daniel slept with his girlfriend) They sipped the wine and kissed.

Daniel was in his office, trying to come up with a new concept for Fabia. He had thrown photos all over the table and floor. Then, he closed a large binder from which he viewing photos, and saw Betty's concept lying underneath it in. He took the folder and started looking through the pictures.

In the Suarez house, another telenovela was showing of the TV and Betty’s father, Ignacio, was in an apron, standing in the living room watching, he then moved to the kitchen where Betty was on the phone talking to someone about her father’s prescription (he had a heart condition and needed to take pills which Betty couldn’t pay for at that time). She hanged up the phone when she was told to hold on again. Betty's father thanked her for being so good to him and for helping him out.

Someone knock on the door and Betty opened to see Walter. He apologized for dumping her, saying he made a terrible mistake. Betty asked him when he realized it, before or after Gina dumped him. He said he broke up with her because he realized it was wrong and wanted to make it up to her. He was cut off by Daniel’s arrival (the door was still opened all this time) and on seeing Daniel, Walter accused Betty of dating Daniel; she ignored him and asked him to leave.

Ugly Betty: Stand-in Model

2008-09-02T04:11:00.001+01:00

Snippet 4

Ugly Betty was really sorry, and Hilda said she hoped that Betty's job was really worth it. Betty slumped on the sofa tired.

(I wonder what must be going on in her mind right now. Guilt? Confusion? You know, when you are finally living your dream and it’s beginning to affect your family, it’s not a situation you want to be caught in)

She then happened to look in the direction of a picture of her mother and herself as a child. An idea stuck her mind and she quickly brought out her notepad and pen and wrote on it ‘Work Idea.’

The next morning, Betty and Daniel were walking though Mode’s corridor on their way out to a photo shoot and Daniel was talking on the phone, Betty tried to keep up with him and in the process dropped the files she was carrying. Inside the lift, Betty tried to strike up a conversation with her boss but he ignored her. She was looking for a way to show him the idea she had written down on the Fabia Cosmetics but he just walked out of the lift without acknowledging her.

They got to the streets and Betty attempted to once again present her idea but as he got to his ride he told her to go back into the building and get an outfit they forgot.

(Jerk! Why didn’t he say this while they were still in the building? He’s trying to frustrate her to quit, remember?)

Betty went to Christina’s office (the wardrobe for all Modes’ outfits) and was looking at a dress when Christina joined her. She asked Betty how her job was going and although Betty tried to cover-up, Christina noticed. Betty opened up on how Daniel had been treating her and how he wouldn’t even listen to an idea she had about the Fabia Cosmetics.

Christina had to let Betty in on the reason why she was hired. She told her that it was Bradford, Daniel’s father that hired her. The reason being that he wanted someone his son will not be tempted to sleep with because he didn’t want him to be sleeping with his assistants anymore.

(Remember, his father caught him with his assistant and he is currently sleeping with Amanda, the Receptionist)

As hard as that was for Betty to swallow, she tried looking at the positive side of it, and said she was at least grateful for getting her break-through by getting that job and that maybe that was the way it was supposed to happen for her. She then left quickly with the outfit, leaving behind the folder that contained her idea. Christina felt sorry for her. (Me too.)

When she left, Christina picked up the folder and saw that it was ‘standby’ idea for Fabia Cosmetics.

At the Photo Shoot, the set was like that of an accident scene – with three of four cars in an accident-like set-up with fire (fake) burning in the background and models lying about with blood-like substance here and there.

Amanda, Daniel’s current fling, showed up and told him she stopped by in case he needed anything.

There was one problem though, one of the models failed to show up and Philip was looking for a stand-in. Just as he was relating this to Daniel, Betty showed up staring at the whole set-up wide-eyed. Philip sighted Betty and told Daniel to ask Betty to be the stand-in. His rationale being that, she was unlikely to consent to it and this could be their opportunity of making ugly Betty quit.

Betty helped herself to a piece of donut, took a bite only to spit it out when Daniel approached her. He told her he was glad to see her and explained the situation to her and that he wanted her to help them by standing-in. Betty looked at what the models were wearing and asked Daniel if that was what he wanted her to do. He said yes and Betty, with a mixture of anger, resentment & frustration showing on her face, walked away. Daniel watched her go (looking disappointed) and thought he had finally gotten rid of her.

(Oh! How mistaken you are Danny?)

He went to Philip to tell that she had finally quit, only for Philip to look up and his face expressed surprise. Even Amanda’s face showed “I can’t believe it” look and the other models around were amused (at this fat model). Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Betty emerge in the costume (Picture a plump girl of medium height, in a tight red high necked, sleeveless mini-top, opened in the front to reveal cleavage and black leather hot pant, with thigh high silver boots and elbow length red gloves). She summoned courage and walked-up (self-consciously) to Philip, the photographer, and asked him where he wanted her.

Daniel looked uncomfortable seeing Betty in the outfit.
Philip placed Betty in between two tall, thin models and started shooting. He told the girls to give him sexy poses and Betty tried to imitate them but looked ridiculous and all that resulted in hysteric laughter from all around her. Daniel was looking upset watching Betty humiliated before him. He walked over to Philip and asked him to stop.

Betty was close to tears. She just walked out, straight into the streets, still wearing the costume. Daniel, feeling guilty, went after her and asked her to wait.

The Plot To frustrate Ugly Betty

2008-09-02T04:05:00.000+01:00

Snippet 3

Philip then told him (Daniel) to keep his ideas away from other staff as they were all loyal to Wilhelmina. Betty interrupted their conversation, and asked it she could get him lunch to which Daniel said no, and that she should go ahead. She then told Philip that she was a big fan, but inadvertently accused him of stealing another photographer’s idea. Philip denied it and Betty, embarrassed left quickly. (Loud mouth Betty!)

Philip asked Daniel if ‘this’ (Ugly Betty) was who he wanted to represent him. Daniel told him it was his father that hired Betty and that he could not fire her. Philip said she was too ugly to be working at fashion magazine and suggested that if she could not be fired, they could get her to quit.

At the Cafeteria, while Betty walked through the lunch area looking for a table, all the staff looked at her with contempt. Even Amanda, as Betty approached, deliberately placed her bag on an empty stool beside her because she didn’t want Betty to sit by her and lower her fashion class. (ooh, vain, vain Amanda).

She finally found an empty stool and as soon as she sat down, Christina, the Scottish in-house seamstress who was also dressed differently from the fashion enthusiast around them, joined her and introduced herself. Nancy and Zelda, who were also not part of the fashion elite, joined them. Christina did the introductions and they both welcomed Betty warmly.

(This was the first time anybody was been nice to her)

Daniel’s father, Bradford Meade was sitting on a park bench feeding pigeons when another man joined him. He told Bradford that ‘she was gone’.

(Want to take a guess at who this could be?)

He reminded Bradford that he attended her funeral but Bradford wasn’t sure if she was really gone, he had the feeling she was not dead. He told the man to double and triple-check what Fey Sommers knew about him, and his company.

Back in Daniel’s office, he began hatching his plans on frustrating Betty into quitting.

First of all, he asked her to pick the cabbage out of his coleslaw. (Can you imagine that? What is coleslaw without cabbage?)

Secondly, he called her at 3.23 am in the morning disrupting her sleep.

Then, he sent Betty to get him and Philip coffee from a coffee shop on the street while they waited for her, that done, he handed the leash of great Dane for her to walk on the street! Poor Betty, the dog was so out-of-control and was pulling her along, making her run all over the street.

Later, Daniel had the affront to tell his assistant, (or slave? That’s exactly how he’s been treating her) Betty, to remove chewing gum for the sole of his shoe while he walked the length and breath of his office discussing the Fabia supplement with Philip. (the evil genius)

The official hours ended and he still would not let Betty go home. He had her sit outside, in front of his house while he was with Amanda in his bedroom. Hilda called her to inform her that she was missing their father’s birthday party and Betty told her that she forgot because she was still working. At that moment, a young woman got out of a cab and Betty quickly ended her call and called Daniel to tell him that ‘the red turkey was on the move’.

Daniel answered her call while still on his bed in his boxes with Amanda in her briefs, he told her the call was ‘work stuff’ and that she had to leave. Amanda asked him when the assistant position would be open and he said very soon. She then put on her coat and left.

Meanwhile his call was still on and Betty asked if he needed anything else (she wanted to leave desperately) but he said ‘why don’t you stick around a little bit to make sure everything is okay’ and she said ‘no problem’. She watched her through the large glass window and for a moment felt sorry for her but unfortunately, the ‘red turkey’ came in just then and showed Daniel what she had under her coat and that distracted him.

Betty got home late that night, and as she walked by Gina's house, she heard Gina and Walter’s voices, they were making out and she could see their shadow through the window. (What a day? Poor Betty!)

Inside the Suarez home, it was all quite, the party was over and Hilda was clearing-up. She told Betty that their father was already asleep and made her realize that, that was the first time since their mum passed away that they hadn’t been together on his birthday.

Mother Luck Smiles At Ugly Betty

2008-09-02T04:01:00.001+01:00

Snippet 2

Back in the house, Betty got a phone call from Meade to say that she had got a job working for Mode, the fashion magazine, as assistant editor-in-chief. Betty was surprised and excited at the same time because she never expected this, not after the way she was treated by the Interviewer. Justin told Betty that she needed to dress fashionably and asked if she had something that she could wear for her first day at work. She said she did.

Betty arrived for work the following morning in a grand style looking like a telenovela star dressed in a large red very unfashionable cloak with ‘Guadalajara' splashed in yellow across the front of it.

The receptionist, Amanda’s first words on sighting her were: ‘Oh my God! She greeted her and asked for her reason of being there. Amanda was surprised and at the same time angry that Betty had been given a position she had been eyeing.

She led Betty to the door of the conference room where Daniel was in a meeting with Mode's staff. (Amanda, So much for cat-walking!)

Betty took a few seconds to prepare herself to join the meeting. She encouraged herself with a few words;"You are a beautiful, smart and intelligent business woman" and walked confidently supposedly into the meeting but, oop! She walked straight into the large glass door, causing confusion in the meeting.

Betty quick gathered herself together and entered, Daniel asked if she was ok, she was embarrassed and quickly made her way to the corner of the room (all eyes were on her), where the other assistants were seated.

Daniel continued addressing the staff when, Wilhelmina Slater (remember? The Creative Director who had the ambition of being the Editor of Mode?) arrived the meeting late and sarcastically commented that Daniel had started the meeting without her. She told Marc, her assistant to give Daniel the gift she got for him – the name "Danny" was engraved on it. Daniel corrected her that it’s Daniel not Danny but she brushed this off and she took over the meeting, talking about the Fabia cosmetics supplement for Mode magazine. She explained that as the editor had changed, Fabia needed to agree to the supplement before it could be printed. Wilhelmina went on to say that everyone was there to help Daniel succeed, and she promptly wrapped up the meeting and told all present to get on to their tasks.

(Daniel realized at that moment that he had a formidable enemy in Wilhelmina Slayer, oops! Slater)

Betty went to introduce herself to Daniel and he asked who exactly she worked for. He was unimpressed to learn that she was his new assistant.
In Wilhelmina's office, Marc was injecting Botox (age reducing beauty injection) into her face while she lamented that after all she had put into the magazine, Bradford gave a job that should have been hers to his son, Daniel, who knew next to nothing about fashion.

Her gossipy assistant, Marc, added that his new assistant who didn’t fit into Mode will soon be his downfall.

Wilhelmina got a phone call and she waved Marc away. From her conversation, the person with whom she was speaking was in a hospital recovering, this made Marc (who hanged around to listen in) suspicious.

Betty was at her desk gathering information about Fabia for Daniel. Amanda (another gossipy act) came to gossip about the photographer, Philip that was in Daniel’s office. She told Betty that Daniel once slept with Philip’s girlfriend. (ouch!)

Meanwhile, Daniel was confiding in Philip. He told him that he knew he wasn’t welcome as Mode's new editor and that he felt Wilhelmina was trying to sabotage him on the Fabia account with the design layout.

(Is someone with me? How could Daniel be so daft as to think that Philip could be his confidant at this crucial time after sleeping with his girlfriend? Someone correct me.)

Ugly Betty Opened Door of Double Disappointment

2008-09-02T03:56:00.000+01:00

Tosin continues the serial review: Snippet 1

In the first scene of this telenovela, Betty Suarez was sitting in the lobby of the Meade building waiting to be interviewed. She was nervous and expressed it with the movement of her mouth in different directions. She then smiled at someone, showing us her wired teeth and made space to accommodate a lady who was a model, dressed in a cloak.

She tried having a conversation with the lady by telling her that she liked her “Poncho” (cloak), and that her father got one for her from Guadalajara. The model looked at her in a belittling way and said huh, Milan (Italy), Gucci.

Just then the Interviewer, who was descending the staircase behind where Betty was seated while she was taking to the model, called out her name. Betty turned on the seat, smiled and said Hi, but the Interviewer looked disappointed on sighting her. She quickly got up and told him she had a hard copy of her resume if he needed it and if she should follow him. The Interviewer, while still mesmerized by her looks said there had been a mistake and that all entry positions were filled, that he was sorry (mockingly).

Betty absorbed the shock for a few seconds. This was not the first time this happened to her and she knew he was lying (obviously). She quickly recovered and went after him trying to persuade him to change his mind. She told him about how working in the fashion industry had been her dream as a young girl and that Mode was a good to start her career. But, he took her by the hand and led her down the stairs but she followed him again on his way up and even stumbled in the process. She also told him she that she had tons of ideas, etc. This (mean, mean) guy got to the top of the stairs, said goodbye and shut the doors against her.

(I felt for her at this early stage – it was like the door of her dreams had been shut against her).
Unknown to both of them, Bradford Meade was watching the whole scenario from the floor above.

In the next scene, a television screen was showing a telenovela scene in the Suarez house. Justin, a boy of about 10 (Betty’s nephew), was standing before the television complaining that he hated telenovelas and that he wanted to watch fashion TV.

Hilda, his mother, seated at the Dinning Table with her father, told him that he could watch fashion TV when his aunt Betty was baby-watching him. She told him to come and eat something which he declined with the excuse that he was going to get fat but his mother said he was a boy and that it doesn’t matter if he got fat or not.

(Justin is obviously a fashion freak or elf? Whatever?)

Hilda then asked Betty if she ordered their father’s birthday cake, and Betty replied that she had ordered the same as the one they had last year. Betty joined them at the Table and her father asked Betty how the interview went. She tried covering up by saying it was really good, and that they were impressed but Hilda wasn't fooled.

Her father was infuriated because she was smart, intelligent and qualified, that they should have begged her to work for them. He did not just understand the reason why his daughter was been treated this way. Hilda, in her own way of helping out asked Betty if she had thought of exploring other options and Betty said she was not going to sell Herbalux, which was what Hilda markets for a living. Betty's father had to come in before an argument ensued and told Hilda that this was Betty’s dream job and she should be allowed to pursue it.

Hilda then said she was not the only one with dreams and she asked Justin to tell them what he overheard. Justin told them he overheard Betty's boyfriend on the phone telling someone that "she's the one." The family assumed that he was going to ask Betty to marry him. While Betty was still reeling in shock by this exciting news, the door bell rang. It was Betty’s boyfriend. He came in and was greeted with excitement, as he took Betty outside to talk.

Justin tuned the TV from the telenovela to fashion TV, which was airing the news that Fey Sommers, the Editor of Mode Magazine, had died and that Daniel Meade, Bradford's son, had been named Editor rather than the more experienced Creative Director, Wilhelmina Slater.

Back to the Meade building, and floor which the offices of Mode Magazine occupied. Daniel was seated behind his desk, in a relaxed mood and was startled when his father walked into his office. His father asked him if he liked his new office to which he answered nervously that he (his father) scared him and that he should give a few minutes to get himself together.

Bradford then found a lady’s underwear (just as he suspected that his son’s nervousness meant something) in a flower arrangement on Daniel’s desk, which prompted the lady under Daniel’s desk to emerge from hiding. Daniel introduced her to his father as his Assistant. Bradford obviously not pleased, told Daniel that, that was not the way to run a magazine.

Back to Walter and Betty, he told her he was in love with Gina, a neighbour who lived just 2 houses away from the Suarez! Betty couldn’t understand how the only person who she thought was totally into her was quitting on her.

Ugly Betty: The Guest Stars

2008-09-02T03:16:00.000+01:00

The Guest Stars in this Episode are :

1. Ava Gaudet staring as Gina Gambarro

2. Gina Gershon staring as Fabia

3. William Abadie staring as Phillippe Michel

Kevin Sussman as Walter

2008-09-02T03:13:00.000+01:00

Kevin Sussman as Walter
Betty's weird boyfriend Walter, dumped her for her neighbour Gina but later realized that she only used him. He now wants Betty back.

Mark Indelicato as Justin Suarez

2008-09-02T03:11:00.000+01:00

13. Mark Indelicato as Justin Suarez
Hilda's son and Betty's Nephew. A fashion devotee who know more about fashion than his mother and aunt put together.

An adorable and smart kid who had his grandfather as the only father figure and just when he thought his dream of having his father by him was coming to pass, lost him tragically.

Ana Ortiz as Hilda Suarez

2008-09-02T03:09:00.000+01:00

12. Ana Ortiz as Hilda Suarez

Betty’s sister. A single mother who believes in practical living and not dreams.

She feels her college graduate sister isn’t cut out for the fashion world and wanted her to sell Herbalux like she did for a living. She wished Betty will be more realistic because she thinks fairly tale fashion career doesn’t happen to people like them

Tony Plana as Ignacio Suarez

2008-09-02T03:05:00.000+01:00

11. Tony Plana as Ignacio Suarez
Betty’s father. An upright and devoted father who is proud of his daughter and believes that she can do whatever she set her mind to do. He thinks she is smart, intelligent and beautiful.

He loves and cherishes his children and has looked after them single-handedly since their mother passed away.

He entered America illegally then and now out of a job, is faced with the consequence of his action after so many years.

Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade

2008-09-02T03:02:00.000+01:00

10. Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade
Daniel's brother who underwent a sex exchange to become a woman. She plotted to get even with her father (Bradford) who disowned him before the sex exchange.

He also wanted revenge because he (now she) never forgave Bradford for making Claire become alcoholic because of his relationship with Fey Sommers by presenting evidence that will send her father to jail for the murder of Sommers.

Alan Dale as Bradford Meade

2008-09-02T03:00:00.000+01:00

9. Alan Dale as Bradford Meade

The Mogul of Mode. Daniel's father and Claire's husband. Became haunted by Fey Sommers even after her death. Later fell for Wilhelmina's feminine wiles and went ahead with preparations to marry her because he thought she loved him.

He found out too late that she wanted him because she wanted Mode magazine (which belonged to Claire). He realized that Claire was the only woman who truly loved him on his hospital bed.

Judith Light as Claire Meade

2008-09-02T02:57:00.000+01:00

8. Judith Light as Claire Meade
Daniel's unpredictable mother. She loves her husband (Bradford) whole-heartedly and became alcoholic as a result of his relationship with Fey Sommers which the latter, flaunted in her face for over 20 years.

She decided to hand herself over to the authorities for the murder of Sommers so that her husband can be freed from detention.

Later, she escaped jail and disguised to see her children and husband before eloping to France. But when she learnt that her husband was in a serious condition and in the hospital threw cautions to the wind, disguise herself to see him one last time. She was caught and taken back to prison.

Christopher Gorham as Henry Grubstick

2008-09-02T02:46:00.000+01:00

7. Christopher Gorham as Henry Grubstick
He is Mode's Accountant. He and Betty fell in love that was not meant to last as his girlfriend, Charlie arrived just in time to spoil their fun.

Against all the odds they still managed to spend time together even though they knew it was for a short while and that their departure would be a painful one.

Ashley Jensen as Christina Mckinney, Ugly Betty's Friend

2008-09-02T02:43:00.000+01:00

6. Ashley Jensen as Christina Mckinney
Betty's friend and ally. A warm and friendly woman. The first person to treat Betty like a human. She is the seamsmistress of Mode.

Was once married but ran away from her husband because of his life style to start a new life in New York.

Becki Newton as Amanda

2008-09-02T02:37:00.000+01:00

5. Becki Newton as Amanda
She is Mode's Receptionist and Daniel's current fling. A cotton-head who thinks she is fashionable but has an upside knowledge of it. She is covetous of anything related to a fashion label and is addicted to junk food.

She hates Betty's guts because she had her eye on the Assistant Editor-in-Chief job even though she doesn't have the qualifications, a really confused girl. Marc's ally.

Michael Urie as Marc St. James - Ugly Betty Cast

2008-09-02T02:26:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Tosin for this serial:

4. Michael Urie as Marc St. James

Wilhelmina’s assistant. Her most loyal ally and accomplice. He
is manipulative and cunning just like his boss and does her utmost bidding. He shares all of Wilhelmina’s secrets until he found out about the strange woman Wilhelmina had been plotting with.

He detests Betty until he was forced to asked her for a favour - to cover up his gay lifestyle from his mother. Amanda’s best pal and also a fashion freak.

Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater in 'UGLY BETTY'

2008-09-02T02:21:00.000+01:00

Tosin digs further into the Ugly Betty cast

3. Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

The pronouncement of Daniel as Editor-in-Chief did not augur well with Wilhelmina Slater, Mode's Creative Director, an ambitious woman who had her eye on the position given to Daniel.

She became his arch-enemy and plotted endlessly, sabotaging his every effort in order to prove to his father that he was incompetent to handle that office.

She is ruthless when it comes to getting what she wants and went to great lengths all in a bid to get Mode.

Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade - UGLY BETTY CAST

2008-09-02T02:16:00.000+01:00

Tosin Emmanuel continues with her narrative...

2. Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade
The is the Cassanova son of Bradford Meade. On the demise of former The Editor-in-Chief, Fey Sommers, who died in a mysterious hit-and-run car accident, Daniel Meade was assigned this position by his father because he was a Meade and not because he was experienced in the business.

A pure Casanova; who wasn’t keen on working with the Ugly assistant his father hired for him. So, he gave her ridiculous and humiliating tasks to frustrate her into quitting.

align="justify">It was after he almost lost the Fabia Cosmetics account that he realized that he needed her to win the account and also to save him from losing his own job.

Ugly Betty, The Box and The Bunny

2008-08-27T17:06:00.000+01:00

Snippet 7

Guest Stars for this episode are: Lucy Davis (Fashion TV hostess) , Scottie Thompson (Photo Editor), Cicely Daniels (Zelda), Ava Gaudet (Gina Gambarro) , Sarah Jones (II) (Natalie Whitman)

Ugly Betty was back to Mode and she had a BIG smile on her face as she walked through the corridor to her office carrying a box to her desk. She placed the box on her desk and took out various personal decorative items and arranged them on her desk. Her colleagues looked on from across a transparent glass that divided their office and hers and were laughing.

The last item to be placed on her desk was a pink and green stuffed bunny, wearing a mortarboard and holding a certificate in its paw. Betty placed the bunny and facing the same direction as her PC. Marc walked towards her and on seeing the bunny, he stopped, closed his eyes and opened them again before moving towards her desk. “Great bunny”, he said with a fake smile on his face. “Ah! Thank you, my sister gave that to me when I graduated from Queens’ College”, said Betty.

Marc said “Ah! One of America’s best value colleges” and Betty said “Yeah! That’s the one”. Betty told him that it’s like her good luck charm and here she was where she always wanted to be - magazine publishing. He congratulated her for her accomplishment and for personalizing her desk, saying it was so different and “so you”.

Wilhelmina called Marc away with a sharp tone of voice. Betty looked up and saw Daniel through the large glass window that divided his office and hers. He was on the phone as he beckoned Betty into his office.

EPISODE 1 – Pilot

2008-08-23T12:59:00.000+01:00

Join Me in appreciating Tosin Emmanuel. I call her 'the Nigerian Betty' (LOL).

For some time now you would have noticed that she took the UGLY BETTY Project with vigour, and she has revived our telenovela blog here by spicing El Cuerpo del Deseo (Second Chance) Telenovela with UGLY betty revolution.

Tosin is an outstanding blogging scholar, a product of our BLOGGING TO THE BANK SEMINARS. She is one great woman with a style and and zeal that gets the job done! Mark my words, she has carved an enviable pathway to counting wads of Dollars and Nairas with her passionate writing gifts.

No wonder, my web business partner from California who recently visited Nigeria showed a keen interest in her amazing writing talents. TOSIN would go places, wait until her overflowing testi"monies" begin to explode on your screen soon.

Once again, help me to welcome Mrs. Tosin Emmanuel, soon-to-be Work-At-Home-Mom, blogger and prolific writer, as she blessed us with the reveiws, and serialization of the 'ugly revolution', the most popular and globally acclaimed UGLY BETTY TELENOVELA:

Hear Tosin Speak:
"Ugly Betty is a movie you will love the moment you start reading this episodes. It's plot is quite different from the usual telenovela that we are used to but I assure you that you'll fall in love with the character - Betty. I must warn you though, an episode of this movie consist of six chapters - equivalent to 6 episodes of a normal telenovela. Enjoy it...

Ugly Betty - The Cast

2008-08-22T10:12:00.000+01:00

Hello, Telenovela Lovers out there!

We are back to sharing gist of the American version of 'Ugly Betty'.

My blogging sister, has written about the protagonist - America Ferrera who starred as Betty Suarez. Check her post on Ugly Betty.

I want to appreciate my blogging Sister, Philomena Ojikutu and my Mentor, Mr. Aderemi Ojikutu for the privilege given to me to be a guest contributor on this widely known blog. Your kind-heartedness is deeply appreciated. Thank you and God Bless.

So, I'm taking off from where she stopped. The next in line is: Eric Mabius

Justin Timberlake - A Star’s Down-To-Earth Trait

2008-08-08T10:47:00.000+01:00

There is something about Justin Timberlake that I’d like to share with telenovela lovers. I know most of us are lovers of the entertainment world (b’cos that’s our niche). I'm a fan of Timberlake since NSYNC, I espcially love their song titled 'This I promise You' from the album 'No String Attached'.

I took special interest in him because of his mannerism and way of life in the real world (sorry, I'm not going to discuss his personal life here), which is somewhat different from what is expected of a successful pop musician like him.

I mean, he has been successful since the time of NSYNC but still remains his humble self.

Just to share the lastest two of his (I think genuine) characteristics. Before now, this guy said he had not used scent for a decade. Why? Because he realized he wanted to smell like himself and not something else.

News has it that it took a lot of persuasion to get him to agree to making a deal with Givenchy.

His signature scent ‘Play’, which has a fresh scent fragrance, was launched in Paris in June this year.

Want to hear the latest?

Recently, he revealed that he grooms his hair by himself.

This fact humbles me.

Hello? This is JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, an Award winning artiste!

Reasons? He prefers cutting his hair himself rather than spending hundreds of dollars on grooming and also, he does not want to indulge in unnecessarily beauty routine just to feel good about his appearance.

He hoped that revealing his down-to-earthiness will prove that he is more real than other celebrities.

Want to hear his parting comment? I quote: “I don't like divas and I don't want to be one. People have a perception that I might be that way."

This news has caused a lot of argument between my colleagues and I, dividing us into three opinion groups.

The first group (which I belonged to) agreed that he is real to have remained himself even after money and fame came. We feel this should be appreciated and emulated by other celebrities.

The second group said, What? He is only pretending (you know) trying to play the role model, and that he’ll soon get bored of it.

The third group said, Men? This guy’s problem is stinginess.

So, there you go Telenovela Lovers, what do you think?

Some of you probably know about Justin Timberlake more than these debaters (I'm not saying anything more).

Share your own opinion with us. (pictures courtesy of people.com)

Happy 232nd Independence Anniversary To America From Telenovela Love Garden!

2008-07-04T09:41:00.000+01:00

What a way to open up the 7th month JULY (PERFECTION). Today marks the 232nd independence Anniversary of the United States of America. The bulk of the 25 million Nigerians in the Diaspora are located in God's own country, and I know as we celebrate this holiday with America, we are celebrating it with our kinsmen and women yonder.

I choose to celebrate this anniversary because, I am a netpreneur. America is the land of free enterprise. Despite the gridlock of poverty in Nigeria, the commercial internet, which America gave birth to, about 16 years ago, opened up the gate of financial freedom to me four years ago and I have never looked back since then.Today many gifted writers, intellectuals and journalists, still languish in lack because they are not yet opened up to the explosive power of the internet.

The internet is the truest expression of Freedom (either of speech or of choice). I am immensely grateful to God for the day I found the intellectual treasure which the internet represent to humanity. Nigeria is still in slumber on the web, blogging and search engine optimization is still 'greek' to corporate Nigeria. The problem here is not just about declaring 'power emergency' in the electricity sector, but we need to also declare 'knowledge emergency'. How can you be truly wealthy, when you wallow in, and celebrate digital ignorance, in this new millennium.

If you are one of those who bombard us daily with requests for full story of SECOND CHANCE TELENOVELA, please, Go TO: El Cuerpo del Deseo, to read get the full gists about the second chance telenovela.

If you have not yet subscribed to keep up with daily updates for telenovela stars and celebrity gists and opportunities from our Mega Telenovela Blog, Please, click and fill this form now, leaving your email address

To our American friends and brothers and sisters in the diaspora, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY!

Gulder Ultimate Search V: 2 Days To GO!

2008-06-19T14:04:00.000+01:00

Nigeria's Premier TV reality show is running to a close of registration for the Gulder Ultimate Search V in the next two days, closing on Saturday 21st 2008. This is one other TV program that crazily got fanatics and large following after Telenovela in Nigeria is The Gulder Ultimate Search The Season V is here now, You know the rules, if not, quickly visit The Gulder Ultimate Search Season V website for the details:

Thou must be aged between 21 to 30 years.
Thou must possess demonstrable skills in vital areas like endurance, confident, strength, physical and health fitness, etc
Thou must have carefully read through and agree to the terms and agreement of participation
Thou must fill out the online-entry form and upload your recent photograph online unto the space on the form. As well as download and read carefully the Terms and Conditions form while awaiting your qualification or selection to be sent to you by email within 24 hours of filling and submitting the form.
Thou must not forget that one of your two referees must be your parent, and also a reputable member of the society.
Thou must not engage in double registration, else thou shall be disqualified.

This time around, the candidates and 'soldiers' of 7 million Naira fortune would be searching for a lost CHRONICLE in jungles and mysterious terrains. We pray that no mishap or tragedy shall befall the young seasrchers... Never again!

Joke Silva Tango Genevive In "30 Days" Movie!

2008-06-19T12:39:00.000+01:00

Yes, Genevive Nnaji and Joke Silva-Jacobs are the prime movers in a Nollywood movie coming soon on the your TV screens.

The fireworks are on, and a partnership is in the brew between us (TELENOVELA LOVE MEGA BLOG)and the producers of "30 DAYS" to bring you the rave reviews and snippets of the movie very soon.

I was touched yesterday reading the fervent sincerity of a Nollywood movie producer and director on Comment number 138 of El Cuerpo del Deseo Second Chance on our Mega Telenovela blog, when he said

"... i am a movie writer producer cum director. honestly Niga is still far behind. Salvador is the best but Andrea is my kind of artiste... "

Well, well, Wait until you watch the "30 Days" movie, then you would judge if Nollywood has dramatically improved. For me I can't wait to see the "30 Days" live! Be on the look out for more breaking news.

MTN: MISS NOTHING CAMPAIGN

2008-06-16T11:12:00.000+01:00

You know that my two passions are telenovela blogging and making money, and two things that struck a responsive chord caught my fancy this morning, and I chose to bring it to your reading and curious investigating pleasure.

I was browsing through my mails on Yahoo! this morning and caught a glimpse of MTN "MISS MOTHING!" advertisement. This is novel and would go a long way to push the frontiers of infotainment for the 10.5 million internet users from Nigeria.

The First Bank was until recently the only corporate player that advertises consistently through Yahoo! MTN MISS MOTHING campaign would bring pleasure to you from the web to the confines of your palms even while you are on the move, not necessarily when you are seated in your office or home.

All those telenovela and other soap operas you missed either because you are held up in the traffic in Lagos megacity or you were indispensably absent from the TV room can now be watched, as it were, ONLINE through the MTN Miss Nothing Campaign. How I wish that all the Second Chance telenovela El Cuerpo del Deseo episodes which most of you had missed would be recorded and watched through this MTN MISS NOTHING campaign!

Nevertheless, you can read all (full story), of the episode snippets from our Mega Telenovela Entertainment Blog.

These days, MTN has gone deeply into corporate governance by providing capital for entrepreneurs to start small and medium scale businesses through her MTN SME ASSIST Programe. A click on those two MTN images above would lead you directly to read more about the pleasurable offers.

Spending Honeymoon: Beyonce-J.Z Way!

2008-05-30T22:23:00.000+01:00

I love Beyonce beyond your imagination. But when she got hooked up with rapper J.Z, I had to adjust my affection to accommodate him too. The last 12 months have been a racy matrimonial one, as the impossible has become 'the possibles', stars whom you would never imagine would ever settle down have been doing so with an amazing speed.

Not only that, they are all getting pregnant and giving birth to babies, twins, and so on... J.Lo, braced the tape and others followed.It's so sweet to watch Beyonce and her husband (Courtesy OMG Yahoo!) enjoying their honeymoon at the Monaco Grand Prix. The next news about them is to go the baby-boomer way. Over to you guys, let's see the bulging tummy, (like telenovela actress Gaby Espino) and thank God for baby cries. Don't return from Monaco empty. Be full Be filled!!! (lol)

Fresh and radiant, wish them a blissful matrimony.

I wonder why some fans never get to seeing the site map of the snippets of the full story of 'Second Chance' at El Cuerpo del Deseo. My automated mail sends out over 150 mails daily to all the "send the full story of Second Chance to my mail box" requests.

So, Go To my telenovela Mega entertainment TV Blog now to get the full gists about the second chance telenovela.

If you have not yet subscribed to keep up with daily updates for telenovela stars and celebrity gists and opportunities from our Mega Telenovela Blog, Please, click and fill this form now, leaving your email address.

Equipment Hall: Living A Dollar-Denominated Lifestyle In A Nairaland

2008-05-24T20:52:00.000+01:00

I was quite amazed last week when I went to renew my internet connections with my ISP, STARCOMMS. I found out that since the beginning of the month of May, Equipment Hall had partnered with Starcomms to bring you and I closer to the fortune present on the Internet 'gold mine'. Hold it, and hear from me, I investigated and found out that they are one of the most credible player in Nigeria's IT industry.

It is a season of promo. Suddenly, the frenzy to make money is no longer the exclusive preserve of Forex seminars scammers and MLM 'gurus'. Nowadays we see newspapers joining the ‘Want-To-Be-A-Millionaire’ bandwagon, in order to save their once flourishing circulation from extinction. They are promising to make weekly and monthly millionaires out of you and I, that is, if we buy their papers daily (that is a minimum monthly budget of =N=3,000). No wonder the gsm originator of that millionaire program has begun to fight back, to prevent her trademark from being hijacked by 'get-rich-quick' imitators.

I have always refused the lure of easy money through lottery and gambling. Over 200,000 Lagosians pay =N=100 (one hundred Naira only) daily, to play lottery in the pitiable hope that with that sum, they might win 1,000 times what they had ‘invested’. Let me show you a better investment than lotto and newspapers.

This is where the opportunity partnership between Starcomms and Equipment Hall come to the rescue. That partnership is prepared to give you a brand new DELL laptop connected to the internet through (EVDO Broadband and Starcomms One), for prices worth about TEN THOUSAND NAIRA MONTHLY for the next 12 months!

The 80GB HHD, 1GB RAM, 1.8GH Speed DELL laptop connected to EVDO for FREE 120 hours in 60 days would cost you =N=127,000 (One hundred and twenty seven thousand Naira only), if you want to pay all at once. The other option is DELL plus Starcomms One, and it costs =N=118,500 (One hundred and eighteen thousand, five hundred Naira only), if you want to pay at once.

My joy however lies in the pleasant offer by Equipment Hall, when I made phone calls to enquire, and was told that there is a flexible (instalmental) payment. Upon paying the initial deposit of =N=25,000 (Twenty five thousand Naira only) you would only have to pay a little below or above =N=10,000 (Ten thousand Naira only) monthly, to become a proud owner of a DELL laptop from this moment, till you finish payment in 12 months time!

I am a dutiful housewife and devoted family woman. After I left teaching in 2003, I never knew I could live a Dollar-denominated lifestyle in a Naira-denominated land. (I saw Dollars only when my brothers and sisters abroad sent me one during Christmas, and that, not every Christmas o). For more than two years now, I have been tweaking the keyboard. When I ventured into blogging as inspired by my husband and mentor, Aderemi Ojikutu, I never knew I could earn so much online with my writing skill and passion unleashed online.

The combination of Starcomms and Equipment Hall could trigger similar blessings for the blogging and telenovela community on this blog. That is why I am excited to alert you about this offer and opportunity. If you subscribe to the Starcomms/Equipment Hall offer, you could be on your way to a 5-figure annual earnings (in Dollars) like me. My domiciliary bank account proves that over the last 12 months. The internet is an information gold mine, and a solid laptop offered by Equipment Hall, and internet connection by Starcomms, is an unbeatable combination that could make that wish (dream) come true!

CONTACT
If you want more details, you can go right away and press phone buttons 01-8797501 or 0702-8098-512 ask for Abiba or Bimbo for further details. OR you hit your keyboard right away and write to: equiries@equipmenthall.com

If you are the seeing is believing type, you can take a bus or a drop to visit Equipment Hall at 2, FirstAvenue, Ismail Estate, Maryland, Lagos.

For our Port Harcourt telenovela and blogging fans, (believe me, Port Harcourt [3,788 fans] is the 3rd most popular internet telenovela city in Nigeria, after Lagos [14,391 fans] and Abuja [9,052 fans], where telenovela fans come from). Port Harcourt address of Equipment Hall is: Suite 3, Chief Aguma Street, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt. The Port Harcourt Phone Numbers are 084-230447 and 084-57388

Other product catalogue by Equipment Hall includes: Desktop computers, Display Screens (monitors of various brands), Flash Drives of various capacities, Hand held devices like PDAs, Hard Drives (Both desktop and laptop), Memory card devices of various capacities, Notebooks (laptops of various brands), PC Accessories like: Keyboards, Mice, Trackpads, Laptop Bags etc, Portable sized printers, office PSCs. Various types of Dell projectors at varying resolutions, Server machines, Workstations, XPS Gaming Machines (Dell systems customized for gamers).

How I dearly wish that the promo could be extended for another month, till June ending. But for you who know how to sniff out opportunities, the door is still opened, head straight for EQUIPMENT HALL.

New Telenovela Mega Blog Takes The Shine

2008-05-12T07:38:00.000+01:00

The week that just ended saw a big leap in telenovela traffic to our new telenovela mega blog. The global tool for measuring websites' traffic popularity - ALEXA, showed that three new websites broke into the TOP 20 league in the indigenous Nigerian web space. Yours truly was the miracle and biggest web news according to ALEXA Charts for the past three weeks. I saw this on WEB EXPLOITS, and felt we should be proud to shout it loud:

The Three new web whizkids emerged in the last three weeks on the Nigerian scene. The first in the list of movers and shakers is Telenovela Love Stories, which leaped from 401,000 to 39,000 (15th position), followed by Naija E Cash, and a new forum based in U.K called New Nigerians, it is patterned after our Noble Nairaland Forum. How far the New Nigerians would go cannot be determined now, as people felt it was just a carbon-copy of Nairaland. The web has a way of punishing duplicates though... NewNigerians, Naijaecash and Telenovelastories.tv are the three new web whizkids emerging on the web space.

This is good news that we must not rest on, until we become numero uno site with 5 million page views monthly (or daily LOL) ... There are 2 Billion people out there on the globe who daily watch telenovela drama on television ... Nigeria is no exception to this new trend. The plausible reason for the successes of Telenovela Blogging is because, there are less than five English language blogs out there (what a vacuum), and there are over 3,000+ great telenovela soaps.

Of the 2 Billion Watchers of telenovela soap opera, about 1 Billion are online. So if 1 Billion people are searching for telenovela stories to read, there are few choices beside the five notable blogs of which we are number one.

How I wish more gifted writers and passion-ladden bloggers would join me in starting a telenovela fire on the web that would warm up every of the 1 billion telenovela fans online. The harvest is indeed plenteous, but I am praying for more telenovela harvesters to help with this great burden to serve delicious telenovela menus.

Mother's Day Heroine - Linda LaBrecque

2008-05-11T11:24:00.000+01:00

Most of the nations on earth celebrate Mother's Day today. Unfortunately, Nigeria is not even on that maternal map. It's either we are too busy grappling with poverty to remember a 'fad' called mother's day. The real poverty is our ignorance of the capacity of the womb and her amazing 'products'!

On this special day I am dedicating to one woman in obscurity. Many of us don't even know her name, we only know her as the mother of that teenage internet millionaire, Ashley Quails. She is Linda LaBrecque.

A single working-class parent who believed in the potential power of the internet and who lent her 14-year old daughter (Ashley Quails), EIGHT DOLLARS ($8), four years ago to register a domain name and start a website - Whatever Life dot Com, which today has grown more popular than Ophrah Winfrey's website, and is grossing over a million dollars annually.With over a million unique visitors per day and 6 million daily page views to her website, the money soon began rolling in, first, a Google check of $2,700 then $5,000 and then $10,000... then, the explosion started. He he hee..

The first victim of that breakthrough was the crammed one-bedroom rented apartment where Linda and her two daughters (Ashley and Selby) lived in. Ashley bought a brand new $250,000 four-bedroom apartment and waved goodbye to poverty. She compensated her mom by 'employing' her to manage her new busines of webdesign, blogging and internet entrepreneurship. (she was still under-aged [at 17], to manage it by herself).

What have I learned from this inspirational story of Linda and her daughter? I am a visionary mother and I should invest in my children's potential; which would definitely outshine mine. My first daughter would be 10 this week, and I would buy her a gift of desk top computer, to begin to prepare her for that inevitable future of a florishing web career.

I said this because, my children love computer. Their home work were done mostly from Wikipedia and Google searches. Even things assigned by their class teacher to them, which I am not sure of. I always ask them to 'hit the buttons'. My children have learned a precious lesson that the Computer is the totality of human wisdom packaged into a machine.

By the time they are fifteen, I want to see some web whizkids out of them. This is the inspiration I got from Linda LaBrecque, and that is why I am dedicating this mother's day to her and to all visionary mothers out there.

Happy Mother's Day to you all telenovela fans!

Who Is Ninel Conde? Help Me Out, Pls...

2008-05-06T21:26:00.000+01:00

I got me worried when I was researching the Seven Sins of Telenovela this afternoon. I was more than a little confused when I struck 'Patricia' ... Patricia Who? Remember her? She was the best and closest friend of suicidal lover, Silvia, in "Catalina y Sebastian". Silvia was Eduardo's possessive girlfriend in that novela.

Look again at the picture above, the media called her real name as Ninel Conde. That picture above resembles 'Patricia', the best friend of 'Silvia' (Kenia Gascon) in 'Catalina y Sebastian'. She was the sober and rational lawyer friend and confidant who always applied the breaks of reason on her emotionally impulsive friend, Silvia, who was always paranoid of Eduardo abandoning her for young Catalina.

That is not where I am going, but follow me to look over the second pix below:
Internet media splashed this photograph all over the web, among Spanish bloggers, but I was surprised to learn that the first and the second pictures are one and the same person - NINEL CONDE!

This is what got me confused, and led me to voice out my ignorance, asking for your help, particularly those of you who watched 'Catalina and Sebastian' telenovela last year 2007. If it is true that the two pics above are same person, then, I would say that Ninel Conde has come a looong way from the obscurity of role which she played in 'Catalina y Sebastian', and into the fame and fortune that visited her afterwards.

She had steadily climbed from the obscured platform of 'Catalina' into prominent roles in 'La Revancha' (The Revenge). She later again crashed out on Day 43, of the third edition (2004) of the popular Mexican Reality TV Show called: BIG BROTHER VIP.

Undaunted by this set-back, she rose from the ruins and ashes of this defeat, and was further energized and propelled to play prime roles in the world's two most-acclaimed telenovelas: 'Rebelde' and 'Ugly Betty', rubbing shoulders with the calibers of award-winning America Ferriera. This Mexican actress moved on into singing, and released a successful album titled after her name: Ninel Conde.

Her meteoric rise to stardom is an inspiration to many of you out there in our Nigerian Nollywood, who are currently playing obscured roles in home videos. There is hope for a breakthrough for you. Who would have imagined a single-mother 10 years ago, during the filming of 'Catalina y Sebastian', would rise above her circumstantial set-backs, and march on into fame and matrimonial bliss ten years later.

She was like an emotional 'drop-out' in 1999 during the production of 'Catalina y Sebastian'. She had just suffered a heartbreak and was like, left stranded with a 1-year old daughter (Sofia) then. Perhaps that was why they did not give her any prominent role in that novela. She was written off. They wrote her off. She however did not write herself off.

At the height of stardom, she got hooked again and this time, there aint no breaking up. She walked to the altar with businessman Juan Zepeda (47), last December 9, 2007. Interestingly, Juan was not just a 'free bird', he abandoned the winner of Miss Ecuador beauty pageant, to walk to the altar with 37 year old Ninel.

This was not without its own scandalous furor by the press, but she weathered the storm to enjoy a beauty and bliss with her hubby and daughter today. She promised to soon join the celebrity baby boomers 'club' of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Gaby Espino... very 'soon'... he he he heee...

Don't forget to read the snippets of the full story of 'Second Chance' at El Cuerpo del Deseo site map. If you have not yet subscribed to keep up with daily updates for telenovela gists and opportunities from our Mega Telenovela Blog, Do so now with your email here.

Happy Novelatainment friends.

BODY of Desire - Mario Cimarro

2008-05-05T16:36:00.000+01:00

He could even have been classified as a slim actor with a handsome mien. But that was 5 years ago when he played the role of Antonio Rodolfo, beguiled by two women, one a tender lover, the other a murderous Jezebel. That was in La Mujer de Mi Vida (The Woman of My Life).

Suddenly, last year, Actor Mario Cimarro re-appeared, not with a slim body as we all knew, but with rippling the muscles of a body builder. Except for his face, the old slim body had gone, paving way for a 'new' body, in El Cuerpo del Deseo, (Second Chance) telenovela, which 'coincidentally' interprets to mean: "BODY OF DESIRE"
That was one body that set hell loose on that telenovela. That body melted the 'Iron lady' Isabel Arroyo, making her breathless every time she was alone with him. The seductive fire in that body, (which he delights in showing off), warmed up frigid Valeria, and boiled over cantankerous old lady Rebeca.

Like I said in another post on the telenovela mega blog earlier today, that body was a bundle of Controversy, even in the soap. Everybody that encountered him knew and felt they had met or known him before then. Only he knew that he stole the body of a poor peasant to return back to his house, even as a chauffeur, in order to conquer another body, whom he paid dowry for but never lived long enough to 'possess'.

Unveiling The New Mega Telenovela Stories dot TV

2008-05-05T13:11:00.000+01:00

This morning, I unveiled my new Telenovela Mega Blog (pix above). That is one project that would catapult mega entertainment and joy into many homes and offices this year.

So far,only about 50% of the 'effects' coded for the blog is in place, but I told my husband that I can't wait any minute longer, there is a great hunger for telenovela entertainment out there, I can't keep my fans continually in suspense. That is what gave birth to the unveiling of the new site this morning.

Imagine what it would look like when the job is 100% completed! I love what I am seeing so far. Please, fans go visit the blog and look it over, and also give me your critique, that would help modify any hitch you may notice while we are still test-running it.

Some 'crazy things' would happen over there between now and December which would drive a traffic of over 5 million pairs of eyes to watch it. I keep that up my sleeves as we release them piecemeal unto you. It was John Wesley who was quoted as saying:

"... when I set myself ablaze, people would be driven to come and watch me burn ..."

alluding to preaching the gospel with powerful annointing that would convict sinners and save their souls.

Well, a different kind of irresistible fire would be ignited on the new mega telenovela blog between now and December, fasten your telenovela seat-belts! That entertainment conflagration would be so great, even you, would come there to watch, (... wait a minute, not telenovela but...), to watch those who are watching it. A strange case of - When "watchers" become "the watched"!

It means that there would be an entertainment contagion that would be injected like adrenaling into readers' system by visting the blog multiple times daily, to the point that many would also stumble into their stardom through participation on the blog.

The greatest driver of popular traffic for any site is INNOVATIVE CONTENT! That is what I am preparing to 'unleash' (that is one favorite choice word of my husband, uhh - unleash!) mega content like food to the hungry. I pray God would bless me with the energy to make it happen as I have dreamt it. Just make sure you subscribe now by your email address, to keep up with the daily download of stories and opportunities from the telenovela mega kingdom then I would be sure that you are on board the cruise.

In my three years on the net, I have also learnt that there is a king called FREE! I am going to diligently court that the favors of that king on your behalf, to visit us on that blog with his 'royal majesty'. A time would come on that blog that you would not know what you came there to do. Whether to read snippets of telenovela stories, or to date 'stalk?', or participate in many games/quiz/competitions that bring so many free gifts into your bosom. I am excited, wait until it hits you the way it has been hitting me these past few days and weeks.

Happy Novelatainment friends!

Welcoming Pinoy Telenovela Fans

2008-05-03T15:39:00.000+01:00

Since three weeks ago when Second Chance (El Cuerpo del Deseo), Telenovela began to air in the Philipines, Our blog has become a beehive of Pinoy telenovela fans as they continually feast on the salacious delicacy from Telemundo.

I checked through our sitemeter this afternoon and found to my surprise that Filipino fans occupy the second position (with 17%) after Nigerian fans (38%). You can imagine what it is like when the world's 12th most populous nation beseige your blog.

The United States have been pushed to 5th position back from her traditional 3rd position. Welcome again to all fans from yonder. Thank you for celebrating hunk actor, Mario Cimarro and Lorena Rojas and Martin Karpan with us.

While the feasting continues ensure to lessen my daily burdens by helping to refer others to the site map of the summaries of the full story of SECOND CHANCE, El Cuerpo del Deseo here.

Happy Novelatainment.

Digital Products for Your Telenovela Pleasure

2008-05-03T09:03:00.000+01:00

Now it is your turn Nollywood! That was the impression registered in my heart when I visited the website of our latest sponsor, all the way from Hollywood, California- DV Warehouse, which is an avid provider and reseller of Used Mac, that is, macintosh computers used for "... Digital Video Solutions for Broadcasting, Editing and Production ..."

Our Telenovela Blog was recently promoted to the status of a 3-star Blog. That means higher pay, and the advertisers have been coming in droves. This particular post is sponsored by DV Warehouse, an Hollywood firm that has been online since 2001, with a large inventory of used Apple computer parts.

At times I wonder about the poor quality of home video being churned out in their hundreds, weekly from our Nollywood. What was missing is the professional touch. I have always believed that the reason why majority of people prefer telenovelas to home videos is because of superior production quality and equipment used in production of the telenovela, as compared to Nollywood videos. The proof of this abound in the latest Second Chance telenovela.

If you are looking to save up to 50% to 75% off new & used Mac equipment prices, (far below the price you can get from the Computer village here in Lagos), DV Warehouse is the place to shop from.

DV Warehouse's used Macs division fulfills a need within the Apple community for a single source for used Mac and used Macintosh computers parts.

35,000 Telenovela Fans, 220,000 Pages In April

2008-05-02T04:04:00.000+01:00

Apparently a telenovela revival has broken out both on the web and in our African continent! In the month of April, across our telenovela blog networks, 35,395 visitors registered their presence, reading over 220,501 pages of snippets and episode summaries. This was't our best, but it is better than any result since November last year to date.

The entralling but epileptic show of Marrio Comaro's epic, SECOND CHANCE - El Cuerpo del Deseo, by Africa Independent television - AIT TV, pushed many telenovela lovers unto the web, seeking for websites that published the synopsis or reviews of the full stories and they found us ready, and waiting since November last year. (You know, the audience is not homogeneous, European soccer freaks are different from telenovela fans).

This spark of revival would graduate this new month (May 2008), into a conflagration, as three new telenovela stories reviews ravage the web. I know of (TE DIRE ADIOS - I'LL NEVER SAY GOOD BYE) and (DAME CHOCOLATE - GIVE ME CHOCOLATE), which according to my husband, would be "unleashed" on our Mega telenovela Blog. I also know of (LA HEREDERA - THE HEIRESS), which has begun serialization by Biola on her People's Telenovela Blog.

'Prophetically' speaking to the telenovela 'congregation' and 'church' on the web (have fun, and don't be too serious with this), the month of May shall be a deluge of telenovela celebration, as these shows rave reviews are read accross the web, bringing entertainment without measure into the homes and offices.

Last month did not flicker out without its temptations too. Some 'big guys' approach me to collaborate to help bring these entertainment in a great dimension to you fans. I pushed my husband out of his normal routine trainings and SEO consultations to negotiate 'man-to-man' with them.

Apparently, they had another motive in mind. I had to tell him to break off relationship with them, after discovering that they wanted to appropriate my 20 months telenovela labour as theirs. We did not climb to become the third most popular indigenous website in Nigeria, after Nairaland Forum and Punch Newspapers for nothing.

Yes, I know of many of my friends and blogging colleagues, who sold their blogs last year for prizes ranging from $20,000 and above. Those friends could not match my labor and traffic results. If I must sell my blog, (pls don't be afraid, I ain't selling anything now), I know I would sell higher than those figures.

But to come to me in the guise of partnership and begin to tell me to yank off my name and contact address from my own blog, because you want to be my partner (not a buyer), is not morally admisible! That is a fox and usurper in sheep's clothing. My take on this for them: "TECHNOLOGY PLUS JOURNALISM MINUS PASSION IS NOT EQUAL TO SUCCESSFUL BLOGGING"! That is a recipe for failure!!!

Happy and prosperous new month of May. One of my friends call it a month of MUST! Saying that our lives must move out of uncertainties to divine certainty. I agreed with that! See you soon, friends. You Bet.

If you have noticed a new theme and design on our new mega blog, this is just the begining, wait to see what comes up in the next few weeks when all things would be ready... he he hee!

Breaking News: Kiyosaki Becomes A Blogger!

2008-04-24T02:20:00.001+01:00

ATTENTION: For those of you seeking to read the summary of the full story of SECOND CHANCE, EL CUERPO DEL DESEO Telenovela, visit the new site map at: New MEGA TELENOVELA BLOG. I have been recently bombarded by deluge of requests by close to 50 letters daily, from SECOND CHANCE telenovela fans, asking for where to find the full story.

Now, here is the breaking news: I was quite amused to see the 'footprints' of my multi-millionaire mentor, Robert Kiyosaki, author of that famos book- "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" on my blog yesterday.

When I investigated further, I found out that he just started a personal blog last week Wednesday, 16th April 2008, with a tale of his two fabled Rich and Poor Dads.

"ROBERT has left a new comment on your post "So Long, Story-Story dot Com": Good Day,I,ve search for those who read RICHDAD books, I saw that you already did and I Thank you for that. I would like invite you to read some of my posts about my current views..Thank you."

This is a great opportunity to those of you who long for practical ideas for financial success, (not the kind of Forex lectures without treasures, being peddled by some internet predators out here in Nigeria).

There are 6,200 blogger fans of the RICH DAD POOR DAD on blogspot and I guessed he is rapidly networking with them with his new Rich DaD blog. I am happy to be one of the first contacts he networked with. That was obviously because, we run a very successful telenovela blog here, thanks to you all telenovela fans out there.

In 2004 I, along with my husband launched a RICH DAD CLUB in Opebi, Ikeja, in the heart of Lagos. After reading his liberating book, I began to practice the principles therein. The mistake many 'dreamers' made is that Nigeria and African local economies are far different from American setting, what Robert Kiyosaki preached has no direct bearing in our epileptic economy.

You can only creatively appropriate his principles to local situations here, like the stock market. There are no real estate system here to apply his formular. Some of our founding members in the RICH DAD CLUB, have progressed in their lives to other nations and even gone ahead to set up similar clubs in Muscat in Oman, and Dubai in UAE.

After the Holy Bible, the two other book that greatly influenced my life radically are: George Clason's "THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON" and Robert's "RICH DAD, POOR DAD" both of which I read in 2001. I had set a target of 10 years then to attain the explosive income envisaged by Kiyosaki. Seven years down the line, Kiyosaki connected with me through my blog, and I still have 3 years to Countdown. I am not doing badly at alllll!

The Lesson I learned from this is that, as the American Economy enters into a slow recession, many venture capitalists and dot Com investors would seek an outlet through emerging Asian and African markets like Nigeria. This smart investor is reaching out to network. Google latest quarterly Q1 revenue of over U$D 5 BILLON Dollars defied the recessionary American economy because of offshore earnings.

It is a pleasure ride to own a website or blog in this season. That is how to position oneself for the great oppotunities abounding in the current American economic tribulation. Internet entreprenurship (not Yahoo-Yahoo scam letters), can lift Nigeria out of her economic famine.