The Witches are out, Betty’s in. Ugly Betty, ABC’s one-time Golden Globe-winning smash, is expected to take over the timeslot vacated by the recently cancelled Eastwick, AfterElton.com reports.

The dramedy has consistently truggled in the ratings since it was moved to Friday nights for its fourth season last month. Earlier today, Eastwick — which starred former Ugly Betty actress Rebecca Romijn — was cancelled by the network. Sources say ABC are hoping to fill the spot left open by Eastwick with a restructed Betty beginning Jan. 10.

No word on how the move would affect the sixth season of Lost — which is likely to air at 9PM on Wednesdays when it returns to the air early next year.

Ugly Betty returned to its lowest ever ratings in its new Friday night slot, according to preliminary figures.

The two-hour season four premiere on Oct. 16, logged an average of 5.09million viewers between 8pm and 10pm, leaving ABC in fourth place for the evening, early ratings data suggests. The audience is a significant decline on the 9.77million who tuned in for the third season premiere on Sept. 25, 2008.

The cast of Ugly Betty has partnered with the United Nations to shed light on a campaign to stop the spread of malaria — a major killer of child in Africa.

ABC’s award-winning dramedy became the first comedy shot inside the UN’s New York City headquarters when the cast lined up for a special malaria-themed episode, which will kick off the fourth season of Ugly Betty next Friday night.

The season opener will feature the UN’s Nothing But Nets Initiative, a campaign revealing the role mosquito nets play in preventing the disease.

She Wolf star Shakira and legendary swimsuit model Christie Brinkley will guest star on an episode of this season’s Ugly Betty.

Shakira and Christie drop to help a Mode photoshoot get back on track after things go haywire while the magazine is on location in the Bahamas, TV Guide has learned. The episode, titled “The Bahamas Triangle,” is scheduled to air during November sweeps.
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Kristen Johnston will replace former American Idol judge Paula Abdul in the recurring role of Helen, Mode Magazine’s new thirty-something office temp, on the third season of Ugly Betty.

The former star of NBC’s 3rd Rock From The Sun landed the role after contract negotiations between Paula Abdul and Betty producers fell through earlier this month.

“I’ve always considered myself a poor man’s Paula Abdul,” Kristen tell Entertainment Weekly.

“[Helen is] Amanda in 10 years,” she says. “She’s still trying to get into the right clubs, wearing tight dresses… tragic. I think [Helen] sees herself as Samantha from Sex and the City. Except, of course, she’s a temp.”

Kristen Johnson makes her Ugly Betty debut on the show’s two-hour season opener, airing Oct. 9 on ABC.

Paula Abdul won’t be guest starring on Ugly Betty after all.

The Los Angeles Times’ Showtracker Blog is reporting that discussions between Abdul and the network have fallen apart. The former American Idol judge had been courted to play a temp who befriends Mode receptionist Amanda on the third season of Ugly Betty, premiering this fall.

Paula Abdul might just be the most employable woman in America. Since announcing her departure from American Idol one week ago, the former reality personality has been courted by Idol’s sister series, So You Think You Can Dance, and even ABC’s ballroom reality hit, Dancing With The Stars.

Now Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Paula is in talks to guest star on the upcoming third season of Ugly Betty.

Details of Abdul’s role are being kept under wraps but an Ugly insider tells me that she’d be playing a new temp at Mode who bonds with Becki Newton’s Amanda, according to industry informant Michael Ausiello.

Ugly Betty is turning into Well-Dressed Betty…

Television’s frumpiest New Yorker has received a slightly-classy makeover to go along with her new gig as associate editor of fashion mag Mode in the dramedy’s upcoming fourth season.

This week, Golden Globe-winning actress America Ferrera was snapped on the New York City set of Ugly Betty wearing outfits that are distinctly different than what fans are used to seeing from Ms. Suarez.
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Reps for Liza Minnelli have been forced to debunk rumors that the stage legend will make a guest apperance on the upcoming fourth season of Ugly Betty after she was spotted having dinner with show creator Silvio Horta, executive producer Richard Hues, and casting director Geoff Soffer in New York last week.

But alas, it is not to be.

“Liza is not scheduled to appear on ‘Ugly Betty.’ She is, however, going to be appearing in an episode of ‘Drop Dead Diva’ that airs on Lifetime on Sept. 6. Hope that clears things up.”

Television’s Betty Suarez may be getting a new look.

Now that America Ferrera’s fashion-challenged Latina is officially a Mode editor, ABC is reportedly asking focus groups to weigh in new looks for Ugly Betty’s big fourth season, premiering later this year.

Possible plans for the new B. include ditching the braces, and even glamming up her cringeworthy wardrobe.

Please let them do something with those eyebrows. (We suggest threading, it works miracles.)