ABC is known for having some hits on its hands. Remember Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Lost, Modern Family and Scandal? All of these shows not only dominated ratings but also became cultural touchstones that fans still talk about. In fact, one of the shows just listed is celebrating a huge milestone today, giving fans a perfect reason to revisit the series and relive its iconic moments.
Can you guess which one it is? Here's a little hint: it's quirky, heartwarming, and hilariously over-the-top in all the best ways. There's really only two out of the five that match this description, and it's not Modern Family. It's none other than the beloved comedy-drama, Ugly Betty!
On Sept. 28, 2006, Ugly Betty premiered on ABC and viewers were instantly hooked. Given that today is Sept. 28, 2025, the show is celebrating its 19th anniversary. That's a pretty significant achievement if you ask me. I mean, that's nearly two decades. Talk about impressive!
ABC's Ugly Betty celebrates big today
From the moment Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) walked through the doors of Mode magazine with her signature braces, colorful outfits, and unstoppable optimism, it was clear that this show was going to be something special. There was simply nothing like it on television at the time, and that's what made it so unique.
For multiple seasons, we watched Betty navigate the chaotic, glamorous, and sometimes downright ridiculous world of high fashion. Every office meltdown, over-the-top boss, and quirky coworker encounter made the show feel like a front-row seat to the most entertaining, unpredictable, and heartwarming workplace imaginable. What was also so great about Ugly Betty was its relatable protagonist. We might not have all worked in high fashion, but for some of us, we’ve felt that feeling of being out of place, underestimated, or like the odd one out at some point in our lives.
It's not a good feeling at all, but through Betty, viewers learned the best thing to do is stay true to oneself, embrace one's quirks, and face challenges with optimism, humor, and courage. This is something Betty demonstrated time and time again, and it helped her tremendously while working at Mode and in any tricky situation she found herself in.
The thing with Ugly Betty is that yes, it was entertaining, but it also taught us something much deeper. I don't know many shows that can make you laugh out loud one moment, tear up the next, and then leave you feeling genuinely inspired about your own life. Ugly Betty did that for four seasons, and it still hurts to this day that it ended so soon. Sadly, ABC decided to cancel the comedy-drama series in January 2010, largely due to declining ratings.
But just because the show wrapped up doesn't mean fans haven't been hoping for a revival or reboot. While there's been rumblings over the years about a potential Ugly Betty reboot, nothing has officially come to fruition. It might not be as easy to bring everyone back together with busy schedules and other projects, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that one day we’ll see Betty back on our screens, braces and all. Well, she'll probably be much older by then with no braces. But you understand what I mean!
Ugly Betty stars Ana Ortiz and Mark Indelicato are set to host a new podcast where they rewatch and discuss episodes of the show. The podcast is set to launch on Thursday, Oct. 2, which is just a few days from today. Who knows? Maybe they'll provide us with more updates on a potential Ugly Betty return. We can only hope!
You can stream the entire Ugly Betty series on Hulu.