The fourth and final season of the American

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

television series '' Ugly Betty'' was picked up for a full season on April 23, 2009. The season premiered on October 16, 2009 and ended with the series finale on April 14, 2010. Outside the United States, Season 4 began airing on digital channel 7TWO on April 13, 2010, in Australia, and on August 11, 2010, on E4 and Channel 4 in the UK. The season had been shifted to the

Friday night death slot The "Friday night death slot" or "Friday evening death slot" is a perceived graveyard slot in American television. It implies a television program in the United States scheduled on Friday evenings (typically, between 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. ET) ...

and ratings for the first 8 episodes were extremely low (especially the seventh which became the all-time lowest rated episode). On December 2, 2009, ABC confirmed that '' Ugly Betty'' would be moving to Wednesday nights after Christmas 2009, due to '' Eastwicks cancellation. However, ratings did not improve and ABC lowered the episode count from an original 22 to 20.http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/412823_tvgif2.html On January 27, 2010, ABC announced the show would not be brought back for a fifth season.

Cast

Most of the main cast from the show's third season returned for the fourth season, with the exception of Ashley Jensen.

Daniel Eric Gold Daniel Eric Gold (born September 19, 1975 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actor. He attended Lee Strasberg's Theater Institute as a teenager, and went on to graduate from Penn State in 1996, with a degree in Theater Arts. Career ...

was promoted to the main cast as Matt Hartley, having appeared in a recurring capacity during Season 3. Yaya DaCosta took over the recurring role of Nico Slater, who was played in the first season by

Jowharah Jones Jowharah Jones (born 1982) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her television role as Nico Slater, daughter of Vanessa Williams' character, on the series ''Ugly Betty'', which she played in the first season (that role was pl ...

. The fourth season saw guest appearances by the brothers of two of the show's stars. Becki Newton's brother Matt Newton took on the recurring role of Marc's new boyfriend Troy, and Vanessa Williams's brother Chris Williams played drag queen "Wilheldiva Hater".

Main Cast

* America Ferrera as

Betty Suarez Beatriz U. Suarez is the protagonist of the American comedy-drama series ''Ugly Betty''. She is portrayed by America Ferrera, who won a 2007 Golden Globe Award and 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of the character, as well as the ...

Vanessa L. Williams Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. She gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She resigne ...

Wilhelmina Slater Wilhelmina Vivian Slater (born Wanda Slater) is a fictional character in the American dramedy series ''Ugly Betty''. She is played by Vanessa Williams, who received a supporting actress award at the 2007 and 2008 NAACP Image Awards, a Best TV Vil ...

* Eric Mabius as

Daniel Meade Daniel Meade is a fictional character in the American romantic drama-comedy series ''Ugly Betty.'' He is portrayed by Eric Mabius. Background Daniel (born in 1974) is the second child of magazine publisher Bradford Meade and Claire Meade. After ...

* Judith Light as

Claire Meade Claire Meade is a fictional character in the American dramedy series ''Ugly Betty'', portrayed by Judith Light. Light's performance as Claire has resulted in a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at t ...

* Michael Urie as Marc St. James * Becki Newton as

Amanda Tanen Amanda Tanen (born Amanda Sommers) is a fictional character in the American dramedy series ''Ugly Betty'' and spin-off web-series '' Mode After Hours''. She is played by Becki Newton. Like Henry Grubstick, Amanda shares a last name with a real-lif ...

Ana Ortiz Ana Ortiz (born January 25, 1971) is an American actress and singer. Having pursued a career in ballet and singing from a young age, she eventually attended University of the Arts. Ortiz began her acting career in theatre, in early 2000s starred ...

Hilda Suarez Hilda Suarez-Talercio is a fictional character in the American dramedy series ''Ugly Betty'', portrayed by Ana Ortiz.Silvio Horta has said that Hilda is based on his older sister who according to him was "outgoing and popular" Background Hilda ...

Tony Plana José Antonio Plana (born April 19, 1952) is a Cuban actor and director. He is known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC television show ''Ugly Betty'' and for voicing Manuel "Manny" Calavera in the video game ''Grim ...

Ignacio Suarez Ignacio Suarez is a fictional character in the American dramedy series ''Ugly Betty'', portrayed by Tony Plana. Background Ignacio Suarez is the father of both Betty and her sister Hilda, and grandfather to Hilda's son Justin. Ignacio used to be ...

Mark Indelicato Mark Indelicato (born July 16, 1994) is an American actor, singer, fashion blogger, and photographer best known for his role in the ABC comedy series '' Ugly Betty'', as Justin Suarez, the fashion-obsessed nephew of series protagonist Bett ...

Justin Suarez Justin Suarez is a fictional character on the American comedy-drama series ''Ugly Betty'' (2006–2010). Portrayed by actor Mark Indelicato, Justin is raised by his single mother Hilda, both of whom live with his aunt Betty and grandfather Ign ...

as Matt Hartley (episodes 1-11)

Recurring Cast

* Dylan Baker as Bennett Wallis * Neal Bledsoe as Tyler Venton *

Grant Bowler Grant Bowler (born 18 July 1968) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and television presenter who has worked in American, Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian film, television, and theatre. He is known for playing the role of Constable Wayne ...

as Connor Owens *

Smith Cho Smith Cho is an American actress and realtor of Korean descent. She has appeared in movies, on television and in commercials. Career Acting Cho has appeared in such movies as ''Bad Boys II'', ''Norbit'', '' Fired Up'', and ''Blades of Glory'', a ...

as Megan * Yaya DaCosta as Nico Slater *

Kristen Johnston Kristen Angela Johnston (born September 20, 1967) is an American actress. Best known for her work on television sitcoms, she twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sally Solomon in ...

as Helen * Ralph Macchio as Councilman Archie Rodriguez * Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre * Piter Marek as Jonathan Vieja *

Ryan McGinnis Ryan McGinnis is an American actor and dancer, known for his role in the ABC comedy series ''Ugly Betty'' as Austin Marley. He also appeared as Glenn Childs Jr. in two episodes of the second season of the CBS drama series ''The Good Wife''. Bi ...

as Austin Marley *

Matt Newton Matthew Newton (born May 11, 1977) is an American actor, filmmaker and acting coach. Personal life Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Newton was raised in Guilford, Connecticut. He is the son of Thomas Newton and Jennifer Newton (nee. Chase), who ...

as Troy * David Rasche as Calvin Hartley *

Adam Rodriguez Adam Michael Rodriguez (born April 2, 1975)"Adam Rodriguez" (2006). ''Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television''. Vol. 71. Detroit: Gale. Accessed via ''Biography in Context'' database, August 7, 2016. is an American actor, screenwriter and ...

as Bobby Talercio * Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Natalie

Guest Cast

* Christie Brinkley as Penelope Graybridge * Brooklyn Decker as Lexie *

Christine Ebersole Christine Ebersole (born February 21, 1953) is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in film, television, and on stage. She starred in the Broadway musicals '' 42nd Street'' and ''Grey Gardens'', winning two Tony Awards. She has co-s ...

as Frances * Tovah Feldshuh as Mrs. Varner *

Jesse Tyler Ferguson Jesse Tyler Ferguson (born October 22, 1975) is an American actor. From 2009 to 2020, he portrayed Mitchell Pritchett on the sitcom ''Modern Family'', for which he earned five consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding ...

as Dr. Gabe Farkus *

Christopher Gorham Christopher Gorham (born August 14, 1974) is an American actor who is best known for the ABC series ''Ugly Betty''. He has also appeared in such series as '' Insatiable'', ''Popular'', ''Odyssey 5'', '' Felicity'', ''Jake 2.0'', '' The Magicians ...

Henry Grubstick Henry Grubstick is a fictional character portrayed by Christopher Gorham and featured in American comedy-drama ''Ugly Betty''. It is known that Grubstick has Dutch ancestry, due to the episode " Betty's Wait Problem", so that Grubstick is a Du ...

Dana Ivey Dana Robins Ivey (born August 12, 1941) is an American actress. She is a five-time Tony Award nominee for her work on Broadway, and won the 1997 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her work in both ''Sex and Longing' ...

as Roberta * Ashley Jensen as

Christina McKinney Christina McKinney is a fictional character on the American dramedy ''Ugly Betty'', which aired on ABC between 2006 and 2010. Christina was portrayed by Ashley Jensen. Introduced as a seamstress for the fashion magazine ''MODE'', she is a close fri ...

Carol Kane Carolyn Laurie Kane (born June 18, 1952) is an American actress. She became known in the 1970s and 1980s in films such as '' Hester Street'' (for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress), ''Dog Day Afternoon'', ''Annie ...

as Lena Korvinka * Lainie Kazan as Dina Talercio * Sarah Lafleur as Molly Meade * Hamish Linklater as Evan Grant *

Brian Stokes Mitchell Brian Stokes Mitchell (born October 31, 1957) is an American actor and singer. A powerful baritone, he has been one of the central leading men of the Broadway theater since the 1990s. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2000 for ...

as Donald Jones * Donna Murphy as Eve * Kathy Najimy as Dr. Frankel * Lynn Redgrave as Olivia Guillemette * Freddy Rodriguez as Giovanni ‘Gio’ Rossi *

RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960; stylized as RuPaul) is an American drag queen, television personality, actor, musician, and model. Best known for producing, hosting, and judging the reality competition series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' ...

as Rudolph * Rich Sommer as Jimmy Wilson * Fisher Stevens as Mr. Z * Aaron Tveit as Zachary Boule *

Lauren Vélez Luna Lauren Vélez (born November 2, 1964) is an American actress and the identical twin sister of actress Lorraine Vélez. Her most notable television roles are as María LaGuerta on Showtime (TV network), Showtime's ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter' ...

as Elena Sanchez * Chris Williams as Wilheldiva Hater In addition, the final season featured cameo appearances by singer Shakira, designer Brian Reyes, and drag queens

Varla Jean Merman Varla Jean Merman is a character originated and portrayed by Jeffery Roberson, an American actor, singer and drag performer. Varla's fictitious pedigree boasts that Ernest Borgnine is her father and Ethel Merman is her mother. Merman is perhaps be ...

, Candi Shell, and

Hedda Lettuce Hedda Lettuce is an American drag queen, comedian and singer who lives and works in New York City. The New York actor Steven Polito debuted his character Hedda Lettuce in 1991 on the Manhattan Cable TV show ''The Brenda and Glennda Show''. Lett ...

as themselves.

Episodes

Notes: * Episodes 66–74 aired on Fridays (October 16, 2009 December 11, 2009). * Episodes 75–85 aired on Wednesdays (January 6, 2010 April 14, 2010). * Season 4 was originally slated to have a total of 22 episodes but was reduced to 20 episodes.

DVD release

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released ''Ugly Betty'' Season Four, subtitled "From Poncho, to Honcho", on August 17, 2010 in the United States and Canada. All 20 episodes were included in the set, along with additional bonus tracks. Among the features: *Betty Goes Bahamas – Follow the hilarious misadventures of Michael Urie and Becki Newton as they search for their fellow cast members during a location shoot in the Bahamas. *'' Mode After Hours'' – Webisodes **"Stress-Orcism" **"Role Playing" **"Queenseeker" **"Harassment of a Sexual Nature" *Betty Bloops *Deleted Scenes *Audio Commentary

US Ratings

UK Ratings

The fourth season was broadcast on Wednesday nights at 9 pm on E4, and an hour later on E4 +1. ^a Viewers in thousands.
All viewer figures and weekly ranks are from BARB.BARB
scroll to relevant week.

Production

Production for the fourth season began in July 2009. The cast headed to The Bahamas in October 2009 to shoot the episode " The Bahamas Triangle" on location at the Atlantis Resort and Casino. The series wrapped up filming in the United Kingdom in April 2010.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ugly Betty (Season 4) Ugly Betty 2009 American television seasons 2010 American television seasons