Hollywood Reporter's reporting...

We’ve mutually come to the difficult decision to make this Ugly Betty’s final season, and are announcing now as we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion. We are extremely proud of this groundbreaking series, and felt it was important to give the fans a proper farewell.

Edited January 27, 201015 yr by Sylph

Ausiello:

This is about as ugly as it gets, folks. ABC has just informed Ugly Betty producers that the show’s current fourth season will be its last. What’s more, the network has trimmed the show’s episode order from 22 to 20.

Although not a complete shock given the show’s heinous ratings, the news is nonetheless a total bummer — particularly in light of Betty’s creative resurgence this season.

The good news is that ABC has given Betty’s bosses enough time to craft a satisfying series finale. Exec producer Silvio Horta and ABC president Steve McPherson confirmed as much in this joint statement: “We’ve mutually come to the difficult decision to make this Ugly Betty’s final season, and are announcing now as we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion. We are extremely proud of this groundbreaking series, and felt it was important to give the fans a proper farewell.”

But back to the bad news: Betty is about to hang up her poncho for good. The comments sections is currently accepting heartfelt eulogies…

It's sad to see a show go, but they're still more fortunate than a lot of shows. Numb3rs over at CBS, which has not had as many chances to prove itself, got its episode order cut by about 5-6 shows, but I haven't heard about Auseillo hand-wringing over them.

Edited January 27, 201015 yr by CarlD2

I think it was time for Betty to go.

Hopefully something better will replace it.

Sad news. I'm still a bit behind, not having watched either season 3 or 4, but the first two were great.

I watched during the first season and I think half the second season and it just stopped being interesting for me.

I think CBS have Numb3rs as many chances as ABC gave Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty started in 2006 and Numb3rs started in 2005. I don't think it was ever a ratings winner but CBS still stayed with it.

I watched during the first season and I think half the second season and it just stopped being interesting for me.

+1

Same thing happened to me.

I think CBS have Numb3rs as many chances as ABC gave Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty started in 2006 and Numb3rs started in 2005. I don't think it was ever a ratings winner but CBS still stayed with it.

Numb3s is just so... Awful. Unbelievable and too expository.

Another New York show bites the dust.

So sad

I loved the show.

I think CBS have Numb3rs as many chances as ABC gave Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty started in 2006 and Numb3rs started in 2005. I don't think it was ever a ratings winner but CBS still stayed with it.

Numb3rs has generally been a strong performer in the ratings, until this season.

I won't miss the show, it had its run, but I just think it's an odd contrast to UB, which had so many different timeslot changes and publicity bursts to try to help, and yet he's so shocked and upset at cancellation and 2 episodes being cut.

I just hope Betty's gay nephew finds love and happiness. I only catch it every once in awhile and he is probably my favorite character.

Everyone else can eat sh*t and die.

Here are some Ugly Betty quippy gems: http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20332752,00.html

My favorites are number 6 and number 7.

I've been enjoying it a lot this season, more than expected. On the positive, I think it's better for the show to go during a well done season than to just run on, and I'm not really sure how many more seasons the show could have lasted, creatively (I wish they'd announce an end date for Desp Housewives, for instances, that's the only thing I think that could give it a creative kick in the pants).

Numb3rs has generally been a strong performer in the ratings, until this season.

I won't miss the show, it had its run, but I just think it's an odd contrast to UB, which had so many different timeslot changes and publicity bursts to try to help, and yet he's so shocked and upset at cancellation and 2 episodes being cut.

Well it's a fave of his--you can call it biased reporting, but Ausiello isn't Nelson Branco--he admits where his loyalties lie and that he runs a gossip blog, nothing more. And frankly UB was much better than Numb3rs which has a decent cast and nothing else going for it (you'd think betwen tem the Scott brothers would come up with something at least more interesting...) Also, I'd argue not one of the time slot changes was done to benefit UB--it was more that ABC had a time slot to fill, thought UB had a decent fanbase and ratings so could work in those unfillable time slots--besides moving it to Wednesdays this month of course. (Is it getting better ratings than Eastwick did?)

That said I stand by what I said above, I think maybe 4 seasons is as far as this show should go,and I'm glad that the current season has been a lot more fun to watch than the last couple.

I just hope Betty's gay nephew finds love and happiness. I only catch it every once in awhile and he is probably my favorite character.

Everyone else can eat sh*t and die.

HAHA that made me laugh out loud

Edited January 28, 201015 yr by EricMontreal22

As soon as Boston Legal was canceled, Betty took its place as the "OMG that show's still on?" show on ABC.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

The news of the cancellation of ABC's "Ugly Betty" had barely hit the Internet on Wednesday when the phones of the reps of co-star Eric Mabius started ringing off the hook.

With broadcast casting executives again in the hunt for good-looking thirtysomething leading men for pilots, Mabius' sudden availability made him instantly a hot commodity.

The early cancellation of "Betty" was done mostly to help the dramedy's producers give it a proper ending, but the timing of the announcement also releases into the pilot talent pool a strong cast just as networks are starting to assemble this year's crop of series hopefuls.

"Betty" co-star Becki Newton, also in a sought-after category of beautiful 30-year-old comedic actresses, has additionally been inundated with calls, and Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie and Ana Ortiz also are in demand. It is not clear whether star America Ferrera would be open to another series as she is considering focusing on features full time.

To accommodate the "Betty" cast, which collectively landed two best ensemble SAG nominations , the producers of the show are trying to wrap production before the previously scheduled March 25 date so the actors can do pilots. Broadcast pilots generally film from the beginning of March through the end of April.

The "Betty" cast is among a couple of dozen actors from recently canceled and on-the-fence series that have development executives salivating.

"The networks and casting directors in Hollywood are looking very closely at the casts that have or will become available on shows like 'Dollhouse,' 'Ugly Betty,' 'Nip/Tuck,' 'Three Rivers' and 'Lost' and bubble shows like 'Scrubs' and 'Better Off Ted' to cherry-pick actors," casting executive Marc Hirschfeld said.

Networks often cast actors from bubble shows on pilots in second position, betting that those series won't return.

Expected to be in demand in second position are Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi and Andrea Anders from "Ted," Eliza Coupe from "Scrubs" and Matt Long from "The Deep End."

Meanwhile, Sarah Chalke of the original "Scrubs" cast already is fielding multiple offers, as are three other lead actors from shows that recently wrapped their runs: Michael Chiklis from "The Shield," Christina Applegate from "Samantha Who?" and "Battlestar Galactica" alumna Katee Sackhoff, who is co-starring this season on Fox's "24."

Speaking of "24," the prospect of the real-time drama coming to an end is intriguing to casting execs.

"I'll put Mary Lynn Rajskub in a comedy in a heartbeat," a casting director said of the cult "24" co-star who recently showed off her comedic side on John Oliver's stand-up series on Comedy Central.

Alex O'Loughlin of the now-defunct "Rivers" is already being courted for new shows. But getting actors from ABC's "Lost," which is ending in the spring, could prove problematic. The hit show doesn't wrap production on its final season until April, making actors largely unavailable for pilots to the disappointment of network executives who would love to get Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway or Terry O'Quinn for a project.