Say it Ain't So!

What do you mean Ugly Betty is cancelled?

After the news broke this week that Ugly Betty is no more, I thought it was only right to pay homage to the episodes of the show that I love the most. In random order, here goes:

• Fake Plastic Snow, Season 1

The office holiday party, need I say more? So much unrequited love is revealed. Amanda loves Daniel, Daniel loves Sofia, Betty loves Henry — and all is brought to the surface in, oh, the last three minutes of the episode.

• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Season 1

Marc isn’t ready to tell his mom that he’s gay, so Betty subs in as his girlfriend when she comes to the city for a visit. A dinner party in Queens delivers some of the best one-liners the entire season has to offer, and introduces a softer, more forgiving side of Marc.

• Derailed, Season 1

This episode is filled with lots of Daniel/Betty goodness, but the scene-stealer for this one is Justin. An impromptu rendition of “Good Morning, Baltimore!” on the Subway reunites Hilda and Santos and solidifies their relationship for good.

• East Side Story, Season 1

Why is Ugly Betty fantastic? It all comes down to the last few minutes of this episode. While Justin plays Bernardo in a school production of West Side Story, Santos, Hilda, Betty and Henry get caught up in their own version of the acclaimed musical. The songs of WSS provide the perfect backdrop to Betty’s campiness and create a dramatic conclusion to the show’s first season.

• Something Wicked This Way Comes, Season 2

Betty and Henry’s romance continues with a secret date to see Wicked on Broadway. A love triangle between Betty, Henry and Gio unravels, all juxtaposed with the best songs from the hit Broadway show.

• Bad Amanda, Season 3

Amanda and Betty tag-team an article for Daniel about how to have a fabulous night out in the city without spending a dime. The pair’s love-hate relationship grows deep in this episode, as they each discover qualities about the other person that were previously overlooked.

• In the Stars, Season 3

As part of a final project for YETI, Marc, Betty and Matt team up to produce an important photo shoot with Grammy Award-winning singer Adele — and a breathtaking wedding for Daniel and Molly. This epitomizes what I will miss the most — how surreal meets real in every episode of the show.