Let me just say this about that: I’m glad I don’t blog for ABC. Otherwise, my byline would probably get sent through a dozen or so focus groups, bandied about by some corporate attorneys, and sanitized into something like "BlogPerson." And then, how would anyone be able to make fun of the similarities between my surname and the moniker for a certain breed of 1970s sci-fi creatures?
The reason I bring the subject up is that in the last couple weeks, ABC has tinkered with the names of two of its new fall series — and not for the better. The show formerly known as Let’s Rob Mick Jagger (which was developed as Let’s Rob Jeff Goldblum) was shortened to Let’s Rob…, which was ultimately scrapped for Knights of Prosperity, a title that makes me think of the Seth Green sitcom that died on NBC last year. (I would’ve gone all the way and changed the title to Prince’s symbol, which I can’t type, because my computer doesn’t have a New Power Generation drive.) Worse still, the highly promising Betty the Ugly is now Ugly Betty, an alteration that the Orlando Sentinel’s Hal Boedeker points out lacks poetic flair and the acknowledgment of "the show’s roots as a telenovela. The title change makes it seem the network finds its heroine ugly. Not nice, ABC." I couldn’t have said it better myself.
But rather than griping, here’s what I’m thinking: Why don’t we peruse the titles of new shows from ABC, NBC, CBS, and The CW, and then cook up more enticing alternatives. I’d change ABC’s Sunday night drama, Brothers & Sisters, to Sibling Revelry, while NBC’s John Lithgow-Jeffrey Tambor vehicle, Twenty Good Years, would be labeled more accurately as Canned Hams. Drop your suggestions in the comments section below.
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Is it just me or is the title “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” a mouthful? You know people are just gonna say “Studio 60″ so why not call it that already? Or just “Studio.” Maybe even “Stu” when you are really in a hurry. If you have to pause for a breath in the middle, your title is way too long.
Ray Liotta’s “Smith” program on CBS should be “Watch this show or I will kill you with my icy blue eyed stare.” Too long??????
All the Law & Order shows should drop the SVU, Criminal Intent or whatever they call them and just call them all Law & Order. Or L&O. Or considering their audience, Murder They Wrote.
I do not care what you call it…I cannot wait for Canned Hams-20 Good Years! PS: Networks are stupid.
Well, Betty is ugly, so I don’t mind that chenge too much. I also agree with Donna – it should just be called “Studio 60″ since that is what pretty much every article about the show seems to shorten it to.
I’d rather re-name old shows:
Desperate Housewives/Desperate Viewers
The View/The Obstruction
Lost/I’m Lost
LMAO!!! I cannot believe that you went there Michael. Ugly Betty = Slestack. lol! The title was changed because the English language does not usually use “the” when describing a person in a title.
The problem with Studio 60 and Heros is that like Threshold, the concepts are drawn out like movies. They are ideas that can be wrapped up within two hours. Studio 60 looks too intelligent for the average American audience anyway. Good Night and Good Luck would have flopped as a television show and this might too. Sports Night was the only successful program with a similar concept, but even that fizzled within two years.
That “B” necklace is awesome. I want one.
the reason that “betty the ugly” makes no sense is because it would literally translate to “betty, the ugly girl” — which mind you, slezak, is why what mr boedeker says makes no sense. yes, it would lose the “roots” to the telenovela, but so does turning it into a sitcom.
To the people suggesting that the phrase “Betty the Ugly” makes no sense, or isn’t normal English-language construction, you’re wrong. It’s just a more “poetic” way to say things in English. You’ve never heard of “Alexander the Great”?
Yeah or Catherine the Great, or Judy Blume’s Shelia the Great. “The” is poetic but it is not commonly used to describe someone negative in a title, and if it has I have not seen it. I have seen it used in Spanish titles because it is more descriptive.
How about these (you may connect them to your favorite shows at will):
a) Pandering Titty Show that Drives Up Ad Revenues
b) Pandering Military Booyah Show that Brings in the Key Demo
c) Pandering Procedural that Gets Mangled Into Unrecognizability During Sweeps
d) Pandering Makeover Show that is An Only Thinly Veiled Ad
e) Pandering Reality Crapfest that Kills on Overnights
f) Pandering Half-Hour Comedy that Skews to the Poopy Humor Crowd
You are a very funny man Selzak. But, why don’t you have a New Power Generation drive? It powerful enough to handle all ABC’s dammage.
Stephanie – how about “Conan the barbarian”? Title? check! Positive? don’t think so.
In recent history. In past history “the” was used. Conan was a Sci/Fantasy character but the story took place in ancient times. Gees. Chill.
How about changing Fox’s “Justice” to…anything…whatever, it doesn’t really matter, because that’s the worst, most generic title I’ve heard since “Knights of Prosperity” (even last year’s “InJustice” had a slight play on words). I mean, “Justice”…they’re not even trying.
If I see one more movie/show about a woman who magically gets everything she wants when she loses weight and/or gets a makeover I’m going to hurl!
the problem isn’t with “the.” “the” is fine. the problem is that when “la” is used with the femenine adjective “fea” it is used to serve as reminder of who “betty” is, not describing her as ugly. like a nickname.let’s put this in the context of a conversation:
“you remember betty, right?”
“betty, who?”
now, as an answer to this, would it be correct to reply “betty, the ugly!” no. people would say “ugly betty.”
or better yet, let’s all take a cue from the show’s title “yo soy betty, la fea” and try introducing yourself. ” i’m betty, the ugly”. doesn’t quite work, does it?
now, what about “alexander the great,” “conan the barbarian”? The reason these work is because “great” and “barabarian” can be used as nouns.
and as far as “betty, the ugly” being more poetic. fine! the problem is that mr. boedeker and slezak over here seem to be worried that abc is calling betty ugly. she is. that’s the point. that is what her co-workers refer to her as. even after she has her “she’s all that” makeover they call her that.
Ok, what about “Ivan the Terrible?” Are you gonna tell me that “terrible” can be used as a noun, or is a positive way to describe someone? The original title of this show was grammatically correct, but old-fashioned, way to describe someone — so it sounded whimsical. “Ugly Betty” loses all the whimsy; it just sounds blunt and crude.
I agree with “Ed.” I also want to re-name existing shows:
“Desperate Housewives” = “The Jig Is Up” or “Desperate Hags”
“Without a Trace” = “Anthony LaPaglia’s Fat Face”
“Faith and Hope” = “Hopeless and Kelly”
“America’s Got Talent” = “America’s Got No Taste”
“Grey’s Anatomy” = “Young Doctors in Heat”
They should call it Betty! with an exclamation point!
In Mexico, the novela was called “Yo Soy Betty, La Fea.” “I am Bett, the Ugly”
oh, man. ivan the terrible is hacked up english translation of the russian word “gronzy” (which was ivan’t nickname) and it actually translates better to “one who inspires fear”.
Ugly Betty is fine.
Hope and Faith was cancelled with a big CAN, Freddie got the finger and Rodney was give his walking papers.
Grey’s anatomy as much as I like the show is a rip off of two shows: Ally McBeal and the old NBC Soap Opera Doctors which featured a young actress known as Kathleen Turner.