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.

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.

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.

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.

“We’re huge fans of Shakira,” Ugly Betty creator Silvo Horta told PEOPLE Wednesday. “We had a very memorable moment in the third episode where Betty has a makeover that goes wrong and she struts down the street to ‘Hips Don’t Lie.’ We’ve mentioned her several times over the course of the series and have always wanted to work with her. She’s an enormous Latina icon, as is Betty, and we thought it was a perfect fit.”

The third season of Ugly Betty premieres Fri., Oct. 9 @ 8/7c on ABC.

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.

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.

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.

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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ABC is using the focus groups to measure how audiences will react to Betty’s transformation and whether they feel it’s too drastic. So far, the response has been positive.

“There’s going to be a progression in her look overall [in season four],” Ugly Betty executive producer Silvio Horta tells Entertainment Weekly. “It’ll still be Betty, but you’ll see some growth in that direction.”

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.)