Secretaries' Day (Ugly Betty)

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"Secretaries' Day"
Ugly Betty episode
Ugly Betty S01E21 Snap.png
Betty riding the bull to win money for her fathers flight ticket
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 21
Directed byVictor Nelli, Jr.
Written byHenry Alonso Myers
Production code121
Original air dateMay 3, 2007 (2007-05-03)
Episode chronology
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"Secretaries' Day" is the 21st episode from the dramedy series Ugly Betty, which aired on May 3, 2007. The episode was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Plot[]

Betty and Hilda struggle with a dilemma; Ignacio needs to return to Mexico and apply for his visa so he can re-enter the country legally and apply for citizenship. However, the cheapest fare they can find is $1200. Betty is also juggling with the task of planning MODE's big assistants' week, "Administrative Professionals' Day", as she prefers to call it, since "Secretaries' Day". Betty has planned the party at The Middle Ages, a medieval-themed restaurant. Hilda has problems with the teacher at the cosmetology school, who tells Hilda to take off the engagement ring and cut her long nails since they are an impediment to doing the job.

Later, at MODE, Betty receives a badly made "World's Best Secretary" trophy. Betty also talks to Daniel about his problems with his sexual addiction and tries to recommend ways for him to seek help. Betty brings in Tyler, a writer for Psychology Now, to help him, but Daniel refuses to accept he has a problem. Frustrated, Daniel turns to Tyler, whopasses him some pills to take every time he is tempted to have sex.

Everyone is looking forward going to The Middle Ages. Amanda, however, is not interested and shows her displeasure by making the MODE staff miserable. She tells Marc she is not going since she used to be an actress and worked in an embarrasing commercial for The Middle Ages. The ad is played on a loop near the entrance, and she is afraid the other assistants will make fun of her. But when they arrive, Amanda sees that she has been replaced in the video by a new younger actress. Amanda gets upset and goes on an eating binge. The young actress later appears, telling her that her performance is a homage to Amanda's.

Meanwhile, Betty tells Christina that she has to get the money for Ignacio's ticket after getting a call from Hilda, who says Ignacio is flipping out and Betty needs to come home. Betty is going to ride the mechanical "steed", but Henry decides he wants to do it for her. He is distracted by a phone call from Charlie, whom Henry had been arguing with during the day. Henry cannot hear his name being called so Betty takes his place. When she is close to winning the money, Nick throws something at her and she is knocked out. When Henry comes to her rescue, he sees Nick laughing and challenges him to a joust. Unfortunately, Henry looses and says "I love you" to Betty right before passing out. Betty slaps Henry to wake him up, asking him what he said. Charlie arrives and sees Betty comforting Henry, which makes her upset. She tells Betty to back off and takes Henry home. Christina tries to console Betty, who is certain she heard Henry say he loved her, but Betty wonders how he can say that and then choose to leave with Charlie. Betty is upset because she feels like it was nice to have someone come to her rescue for a change. Christina tells her that she can take care of herself. Nick yells "Secretaries' Daaaaaay!", which Betty sternly corrects. He asks her where her "dorko in shining armor" is; Betty hits Nick hard upside the head with a jousting staff, saying, "I can defend myself!" The following day at work Betty gets a lot of respect from everyone at work after putting Nick in his place.

The same night of the party, Alexis ponders about whether she should start taking up Rodrigo's offer, as she starts falling hard for him. Seeking advice, she visits Claire at the correctional institution, where she gives her daughter her blessing to follow the man she loves. When Alexis asks Claire about a bruise on her face, Claire says that she got it from "Yoga", though she does not tell Alexis that Yoga is the name of one of the inmates. Later on that evening as Alexis visits Rodrigo, she overhears him talking to Bradford about their deal. After Rodrigo returns, she tells him she heard him on the phone with her father. He claims Bradford and he were just talking business, but she tells him she knows Bradford paid Rodrigo to seduce her and get her out of the country. Rodrigo tries to stop her from leaving, but she twists his arm behind his back and tells him that although she may be a woman now, she still knows how to hit like a man. As the door to Rodrigo's hotel room shuts, she collapses, sobbing, on the floor. The next day, Alexis makes a phone call to ask about a problem she needs "eliminated", as she tears up a picture of Alex and Bradford.

Meanwhile, Hilda prepares for her final exam to determine her future at cosmetology school as her teacher criticizes her techniques, which prompts her to quit. But thanks to advice from Justin and Ignacio, she returns to school, faces her teacher for her exam, and passes.

Finally, Wilhelmina prepares for her future plans to take over MODE and Meade Publications, so she also visits Claire at the prison, until Claire threatens her as she now knows about Wilhelmina sleeping with Bradford by looking at her well-done feet. Later in the evening Wilhelmina takes advantage of Claire's threats by calling Marc to come to the Meade Building. In the stairwells she asks Marc to punch her until she gets bruises so Bradford can divorce Claire and thinking that she is a terrible person. At first, Marc is unsure, until Wilhelmina admits that she is the one who cut his vacation time, denying him raises for two years and finally hacking into his computer and cancelling his subscription to DudeCruse.com. Marc punches her very hard. They scratch each other, which ends when Marc punches Wilhelmina, causing her to tumble down the stairs. The next day, she tells Bradford what happened, with the story that Claire had hired three thugs to beat her up. Bradford decides to divorce Claire.

The day after the party, Daniel surprises Betty with first class tickets to Mexico for her whole family, saying he was a thoughtless boss. Betty tries to give the tickets back, but Daniel refuses, saying she is always there for other people, and wants to be there for Betty now. Betty is overcome with emotion and thanks Daniel with a hug. After Betty tells the family the good news, a model arrives, and smiles at Daniel, who takes a pill, as it appears that he may have moved on to a new addiction.

Production[]

This is the second episode in which stuntperson Anna Mercedes Morris would appear as a stunt double for America Ferrera's character in the scene when Betty was riding the mechanical bull. In addition, viewers hear Henry's last name, Grubstick, for the first time. Also, Lorraine Toussaint starts her recurring role as Amelia "Yoga" Bluman in this episode.

The episode also offered another showcase for actress Becki Newton who was interviewed in TV Guide the week this episode aired.[1] Another clarification would be her character's last name. Originally thought to have been 'Tanner', Amanda's last name is revealed to be 'Tanen', as shown on the computer screen during her acting reel that she shows Marc. In addition, The Middle Ages restaurant commercial is also a reference to Newton appearing in an Olive Garden commercial, which she did before joining "Ugly Betty." The Middle Ages is also a spoof of the Medieval Times chain.

Reception[]

In a review from Entertainment Weekly, Tanner Stransky wrote "Week after week, Ugly Betty continues to top itself. I mean, you gotta love an episode that features an Administrative Professionals Day party at a medieval-themed restaurant in Times Square (complete with a robotic horse); footage of Mandypants (a.k.a. Amanda) as a phone-sex operator, a bar wench, and a slutty nurse; and Claire Meade dishing with her transsexual daughter about the hotness of Brazilian men. It's like the guts of three Lifetime movies smashed together. But witty! And pretty! And addictive!"

The Recapist also echoed the same sentiments in their review.[2]

Ratings[]

The episode was watched by 10.7 million viewers in the United States, an increase from the previous episode.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ From TV Guide (April 30, 2007)
  2. ^ From The Recapist (May 4, 2007)
  3. ^ From The Futon Critic (May 4, 2007)

Also starring[]

Guest stars[]

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