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.