Beyond the reality shows, fictional TV is proving adept at addressing certain social considerations relevant to fashion. In the midst of the latest controversy about skeletal models on runways, along comes ABC's Ugly Betty. In that hour, America Ferrera plays a smart, determined, “plain” girl (she's not anorexic, she wears glasses, braces and un-chic clothing) who confronts the divas at a snooty fashion magazine. Of course, she's a beauty on the inside.
Ugly Betty is one of the few certifiable hits of the fall TV season.
As it exposes vanities, superficialities and plain meanness in its slick-glam characters, it's just possible Betty could be good for our souls the way Project Runway has been good for fashion.
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