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Ugly Betty Season 3 Episode 1

The Manhattan Project

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8.5

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 9/25/08

Now that Wilhelmina has reestablished herself at MODE, Daniel must make some changes due to her manipulations. Meanwhile, Betty makes an important decision regarding her life, and Ignacio gets a job at a fast food restaurant.

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

A great start to the third season!

10

By amazing_race, Nov 10, 2009

The third season of Ugly Betty commenced with this episode, "The Manhattan Project", and I thought this was a very good opening to the new season.

This episode had a lot of funny moments and quotes that you can't forget. It was really odd, at times, and the concepts were sometimes weird.

I would've thought that Betty of all people wouldn't have rushed in to purchase that apartment without actually looking at it first.

I also loved the new design of the Mode Headquarters, complete with Wilhelmina's nursery.

To conclude, I loved the humour in this episode and I am glad the new season has finally started in Australia! Hopefully there is more to come!moreless
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It's finally back in the UK...

9.0

By super_friend21, Jun 25, 2009

God its been a riduculous eight months since the season two finale and Ive been wondering where the heck is this fabulous - yes I know I said fabulous - show? Anyway, after a rushed 2 minute explanation of the reasons Betty effectively dumped both Gio and Henry, this premiere was really good. The changes in the production as well as the on-screen changes like Mode, Betty's new lease on life - which I don't think will last long are highly enjoyable and Im looking forward to seeing Daniel at Player Magazine and as a father. Wilhelmina is just wrapping Alexis around her finger in superb fashion. I actually love Wilhelmina. She is the best and underused character on the show. Christina, Hilda and Justin were all great in this one as well as Marc and Amanda when they were takin the mic out of Betty as always. This season should be very interesting....moreless
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Emotionally Entertaining

9.0

By mobbs456, Jun 25, 2009

I first started watching UB on C4 a while ago, but then it disappeared. Now its back and better than ever! I was so happy to watch this again.

Betty has moved up in the world. Our little Ugly Duckling has become a woman. She has moved into her own apartment and has taken ahold of her complicated life. America Ferria is such a wonderful actress - the opening scene of her at her mother's grave is highly emotional - my throat got kinda lumpy here.

That's not to say the rest of the episode is bad - its highly entertaining; from the new MODE to the new Daniel; Betty's apartment (Christina: I wonder if anyone heard about the murder here?) and the great food fight with Kimmie. I was glad Betty apologised first - it showed she had become an adult now. And her family helping her out was another happy moment. Oh and Betty's new neighbour is nice!moreless
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Back to its best here! Wasn't perfect but was far better than early season two. Really enjoyable.

8.5

By stewie1423, Nov 06, 2008

I really enjoyed this premier and it seems that Ugly Betty is getting back on track. Thought the whole Betty going away on her own was a huge way to get out of the Henry/Gio choice it still worked. Betty was amusing throughout the episode and she usually annoys me a small bit. The dark or 'new' mode was interesting to see and I liked how they compared it to the bright old one.

Amanda and Marc were very funny as they were desperate to watch Betty do something funny - they didn't wait long. Daniel is still the weakest character on the show and it's properly because of the actor...he just gets on my nerves. The son thing is very sudden but was good enough. I think the highlight was Betty getting that new city apartment.

It is a great idea to develop Betty more and throw her into even more crazy situations. It was funny too, the naked old couple across the way, the loud music and Hilda's reaction was classic. Cristina added a few amusing lines as well. The guy living in the apartment opposite Betty actually didn't bother me, he already seems far better than Henry anyway, Gio was alright.

This Jesse will obviously be a love interest for Betty and even she seemed to cop onto that. Ignacio getting a job was good enough but I loved the scene where Hilda and Betty were fighting Kimmie (Lindsey Lohan) in the burger bar. Hilarious! Kimmie actually turned out well and the acting was strangely good.

The ending with Betty dancing in her apartment was just a tad soppy but a fitting end to the great season opener. Also: The coach and Hilda...well I'm not sure about this, I am interested to see his wife though. Plus Alexis and Wilamenia were good too, the latter being good her new power position. I really liked the scene on the TV show.

Overall a great season premier, I now have high hopes for season three!moreless
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This episode was great but it had it's cutbacks.

8.5

By alen76ers, Oct 02, 2008

The premiere was ok. It wasn't anything special though. I thought it will be something more. After all those episode with Henry and Gio, we find out that she decided to stay single and everything happened so quick! Only in 2 minutes! They should have worked on that for a bit longer. There were a couple of funny scenes which include Mark, Amanda and Wilhelmina. "Like taking a candy from a tranny!" lol! or "You put the gei gay into geisha)!" from Wilhelmina. It's so sad they're not at mode anymore. That Player magazine is so boring. And Daniel Jr. is so annoying! Lol! But all in all, I can't wait for another episode! :)moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Tony Plana	Ignacio Suarez
Vanessa Williams	Wilhelmina Slater
Ashley Jensen	Christina McKinney
Ana Ortiz	Hilda Suarez
Eric Mabius	Daniel Meade
Becki Newton	Amanda Tanen

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Val Matt Emmich	Jesse	Guest Star
Jordan Gelber	Uno	Guest Star
Kate Reinders	Ginger	Guest Star
Rebecca Romijn	Alexis Meade	Recurring Role
Freddy Rodriguez	Giovanni "Gio" Rossi	Recurring Role
Eddie Cibrian	Coach Diaz	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- This is the first episode of the series where a character (Kimmie Keegan) refers to Betty as "Ugly Betty". It's also the first episode where the title card doesn't appear until we have a close-up of Betty, unless you count 'The Lyin' The Watch And The Wardrobe', where the close-up was of Marc disguissed as Betty.
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QUOTES (7)
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- Wilhelmina: You give me Japanese kimonos!
  Marc: More like, kino-nos.
  Wilhelmina: And thank you Rodrigo for the gift of white-faced Kibuki make-up. You really put the gay in Geisha.
  Marc: You should all kill yourselves!
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- Ignacio: Morning Kim.
  Kimmie: That's your daughter? The one that works at Mode and went on that big trip.
  Ignacio: Yeah, Betty, and now she's even planning on getting an appartment in the city.
  Kimmie: OK Jose, we don't get paid to chitchat. Corporate's been all over my grill about hygienes, so get your gloves on and clean those nasty toilets.
  Ignacio: But I thought I was on fryer today?
  Kimmie: Change of plan. Urinal cake's in the back.
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- Marc: Like taking candy from a tranny.
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- Alexis: So, I'm confused. Is this the budget for the new Mode launch or the next Harry Potter film?
  Wilhelmina: I know the marketing numbers are teensy bit high, but we are pulling Mode out of a dark cloud.
  Alexis: Meaning my brother.
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- Hilda: (to Betty) What's up with your hair it looks like a bird's nest.
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- (on seeing the bad condition of Betty's new apartment)
  Hilda: Oh, wait a minute, you didn't see it before you rented it?
  Betty: It was occupied.
  Hilda: By a corpse?
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- Amanda: Betty! It's like a long-lost teddy bear!
  Marc: So furry...
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NOTES (5)
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- Rebecca Romijn ("Alexis") is credited as a "Special Guest Star", which is the first time an actor has received that credit since 'Icing On The Cake'.
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- Featured Music:
  "Roam" by The B-52's.
  "Rump Shaker" by Wreckx-N-Effect.
  "All The Way" by Able To Fly.
  "American Girl" by Val Emmich ("Jesse").
  "American Girl" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
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- International Airdates:
  Denmark: October 21, 2008 on TV2
  Sweden: November 4, 2008 0n Kanal 5
  Norway: January 7, 2009 on TVNorge
  The Netherlands: February 3, 2009 on Net 5
  United Kingdom: June 24, 2009 on Channel 4
  Australia: November 3, 2009 on 7TWO
  Latin America: February 17, 2010 on Sony Entertainment Television (a.k.a. Canal Sony)
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- Christopher Gorham ("Henry") and Rebecca Romijn ("Alexis") were removed from the opening credits.
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- This episode was formerly known as 'Nights in Rome or Tuscon'.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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