On last night’s Ugly Betty (yes, apparently there are still fresh episodes despite the strike! Who knew?), Betty is giving a tour to Justin’s class during Fashion Week, and after seeing how the girls are inspired to skip lunch after seeing a flock of size zero models float by, she makes a case for Daniel to use regular women as models for the show. Hijinx ensue, as they always do on that show (gee, Wili needs a vacant surrogate womb and Christina needs $100K, I wonder what will happen?), and in one brilliant line, Rebecca Romijn states that designers want people to look at the clothes, not hangers, and the clothes don’t look as good on fat hangers. Poor Alexis, if she were a real person, you’d almost wonder if she had schizophrenia, because she bounces from being written as a kindred spirit to a six-foot-tall Uber Villian, glowering from the backrow on Bryant Park when her plans for runway domination fall through. Ah well, sometimes I forget it’s a television show.

But Betty brings up a good point. I sort of rolled my eyes at the level of naïveté they’ve heaped upon America Ferrera’s capable acting shoulders, because seriously, Betty’s worked for a fashion magazine for what, two years now? And she’s shocked that designers want thin models? Welcome to the real world, folks. Yes, models are unnaturally tall and thin, and for all of the Size Zero backlash, no one ever pouts about the fact that the 5'2" cheerleader-type is losing out on a role model. They aren’t role models. They’re fashion models. Okay, I’m playing devil’s advocate. You caught me.

The show pulled it around nicely, having a great feel-good moment with Betty up on the runway, looking stunning, and several average and totally gorgeous women strutting their stuff on the runway. I probably put too much pressure on the show and should just watch for my favorite parts, mostly anything with Mark (who is TOTALLY my fantasy bff. That tramp Amanda just doesn’t deserve him). I want it to be more than just a pseudo-soap opera. I keep wanting there to be a deeper message, and yet, they keep making Betty do silly things, make out with the dorky geek boy (although VERY studly, and during the dance scene a few eps ago, when Henry had his shirt off, I think I might have licked the television) and fall down at the first opportunity to show that she’s the one we should be laughing at here. But maybe I'm asking too much.

What do you guys think? Does Ugly Betty ever seem a little too pandery? A little too much like it's pushing the PC After School Special message? Or am I becoming too jaded after surfing through countless gossip Websites? Clue me in, guys. —Weetabix