Pilot (Ugly Betty)

The pilot episode of Ugly Betty, an American comedy-drama television series based on the Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea, premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006. The episode introduces Beatriz "Betty" Suarez, an intelligent but aesthetically unconventional young woman from Queens, New York, and sets the stage for her unlikely entry into the world of high fashion.

The pilot establishes Betty's character and her supportive family, including her sister Hilda, nephew Justin, and father Ignacio. It portrays her initial interview and hiring at MODE, a high-fashion magazine owned by Meade Publications. Bradford Meade, the company's CEO, hires Betty at the insistence of his son Daniel, the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief, primarily to serve as a buffer against his womanizing tendencies.

The episode showcases the contrasting environments of Betty's home life and the cutthroat world of MODE, highlighting the challenges she faces in navigating the superficiality and backstabbing inherent in the fashion industry. Key characters introduced include Wilhelmina Slater, the ruthless Creative Director of MODE who seeks to undermine Daniel's authority; Amanda Tanen, the sarcastic receptionist; and Marc St. James, Wilhelmina's loyal and often cruel assistant.

The pilot establishes the central conflict of the series: Betty's struggle to be taken seriously in a world that values appearance above all else. It also introduces the ongoing storyline involving Daniel's complicated personal life and Wilhelmina's plotting to seize control of MODE. The episode concludes with Betty demonstrating her intelligence and resourcefulness, suggesting her potential to succeed despite the obstacles she faces.