Almost 15 years after Ugly Betty went off the air, Michael Urie and Becki Newton are giving the present the podcast therapy… once more.
The pair lately reminded Deadline they had been early adopters of the rewatch pattern, recapping the ABC sitcom with a “pioneering podcast” throughout its authentic four-season run from 2006 to 2010, earlier than launching their new Nonetheless Ugly podcast later this month.
“We talked about each single episode,” recalled Urie. “So, this was inevitable. After which as we’ve gone to the forged to ask them to come back be on it, we’re like, ‘We’re, as you may think, doing one other podcast.’ It simply feels so prefer it simply looks like driving a motorbike being collectively once more.”
Developed by Silvio Horta as a U.S. adaptation of the Colombian telenovela, Ugly Betty adopted the awkward titular author Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) as she takes a job because the assistant to Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius), editor-in-chief of the snobbish Mode trend journal.
Urie and Newton shined as Marc St. James and Amanda Tanen, two bitchy assistants who bond over their love of trend, celeb and teasing Betty, offering loads of hilarious quips by means of the years. However that bond was unwritten, because the pair was a contented accident for Horta.
Becki Newton and Michael Urie in ‘Ugly Betty’ (Patrick Harbron/ABC/Courtesy Everett Assortment)
“There was no plan for Marc and Amanda to be a duo,” Urie famous. “And it wasn’t till it was like Episode 3 or 4 the place Becki and I had a like a three-line alternate in a scene. There was identical to a facet alternate, not an necessary a part of the scene in any respect, and we turned it into like a 10-line alternate, and a producer clocked it and mentioned, ‘OK, these two, that is one thing. Let’s hold going again to this effectively.’”
Years later, Urie and Newton’s careers have taken them to totally different exhibits. But it surely was truly their respective present runs on the Apple TV+ collection Shrinking and Netflix’s Lincoln Lawyer that allowed the podcast to occur.
“I’m grateful that every one these years later, Michael and I — by the best way, are each taking part in attorneys on TV. Who would have seen Amanda turning right into a lawyer? — however that we nonetheless one way or the other collectively are on this loopy journey of showbiz,” mentioned Newton. “And I discover that fairly nice that we nonetheless get to snigger about it and luxuriate in it and name one another with humorous set tales.”
Newton joined us in between digital camera assessments for Season 4 of Lincoln Lawyer. In the meantime, Urie Zoomed in from the consolation of his New York dwelling whereas getting ready to return for Season 3 of Shrinking subsequent week.
Learn on about Michael Urie and Becki Newton’s reminiscences from the set of Ugly Betty, in addition to particulars from their upcoming rewatch podcast Nonetheless Ugly.
DEADLINE: Ugly Betty is low-key the explanation I needed to turn into a author, so it’s cool to be sitting right here speaking to you as a result of Marc and Amanda had been just like the bitchy homosexual and funky imply woman that I’d by no means had in life.
MICHAEL URIE: Come on! We hear this on a regular basis and it’s all the time particular. And the explanation that we’re doing this podcast is as a result of the the present nonetheless is so significant to folks, and younger folks. … however then, we meet people who find themselves undoubtedly too younger to have watched the present when it was on, and so they’ve found it on Netflix or their dad and mom have confirmed it to them or no matter. And it’s ringing true, and it’s significant to love a brand new era of individuals. Each time a very younger individual says they love the present, I feel you, “You imply you weren’t thrown off by flip telephones? That didn’t hassle you?” However It nonetheless works.
BECKI NEWTON: It’s candy. To your level although, one factor that I’ve heard again and again is folks say, Marc and Amanda, they really feel so deeply related to this friendship. These two, everybody wished that they had a buddy, like for Amanda, who was imply and possibly misunderstood, she had Marc, who liked her a lot. And conversely, Marc with all of his faults, the whole lot about Marc, Amanda embraced. And I feel there was one thing about how a lot these characters liked one another and watched out for one another and related and simply merely wanted one another, that’s one thing that I feel has resonated with folks, even all these years later. Not solely do folks wish to hear about, after they speak to me, about Marc and Amanda, they wish to discuss Michael and Becki. They usually wish to know that in actual life, we’re pals. So, I inform them that he’s considered one of my greatest pals, he’s the godfather of my one baby, however principally all my youngsters love him a lot, that it warms their coronary heart to know that that connection that they may really feel was very actual. And it was actual for us as effectively.
Vanessa Williams and Michael Urie in ‘Ugly Betty’ (John Clifford/ABC/Courtesy Everett Assortment)
DEADLINE: So are you able to inform me your first reminiscences of like auditioning for these characters? Did they put you collectively at first to be sure to had that chemistry?
URIE: No, our chemistry is what introduced Marc and Amanda collectively within the present. As a result of they’d write us collectively sometimes, however we weren’t meant to be — I imply, my character wasn’t even meant to be in Episode 2. I used to be solely alleged to be within the pilot, and Vanessa [Williams] was gonna have a brand new assistant each episode as a result of she was such a demanding boss. However fortunately, as a result of she and I had been good collectively, and he or she was beneficiant sufficient to let me go nuts with my function, whereas she might have been like, “Relax, Mary, and get out of my shot,” she was as an alternative like, “Stand near be within the shot.” And so I used to be within the pilot greater than I ought to have been, and by the top of the pilot shoot, they put me within the forged photograph. So, there was no plan for Marc and Amanda to be a duo, and it wasn’t till it was like Episode 3 or 4 the place Becki and I had a like a three-line alternate in a scene. There was identical to a facet alternate, not an necessary a part of the scene in any respect, and we turned it into like a 10-line alternate, and a producer clocked it and mentioned, “OK, these two, that is one thing. Let’s hold going again to this effectively.” And so no, I wasn’t even actually conscious of the character of Amanda after I auditioned. I used to be only a toadie, a lackey — I had a few auditions in New York, and It was the scene the place I’m injecting Botox into Wilhelmina’s head.
NEWTON: I bear in mind the breakdown [for Amanda] referenced “supermodel, about 6′ one thing, bitchy supermodel trend woman,” and I’m 5’3. I learn the script and immediately I assumed, that is the funniest factor I’ve ever learn, and I assumed, effectively, no person’s gonna purchase that I’m a supermodel, however wouldn’t it’s humorous to play virtually like — I feel I used to have a Jack Russell terrier canine who thought he was approach greater than he truly was — and I assumed, wouldn’t it’s actually humorous to play somebody who’s overcompensating and thinks she’s a supermodel? In order that was form of how I went in to audition as this woman that had no proper to have that angle, however I used to be like, “Yeah, I’m a supermodel.” And there’s one thing immediately that I latched on to concerning the overcompensating that Amanda is doing always. She’s strolling an excessive amount of, she’s carrying an excessive amount of. Every thing’s simply an excessive amount of, and I immediately understood that that was a part of her desperately making an attempt to slot in. And there was this form of typical Mode woman, however I don’t assume Amanda was. I feel she truly was simply making an attempt so very exhausting, and that explains plenty of the habits, the imply woman habits, the bullying. She simply was making an attempt tougher than anybody to slot in. And in my audition, I learn for Sylvio, it was the scene, “Are you the earlier than? The earlier than and after the photograph shoot? Are you delivering one thing?” All of that. And I did my audition, and I bought a name just a few days later to please come again and sound much less like a Valley woman. I didn’t know actually what that meant, and I used to be making an attempt to determine, I used to be like, “I didn’t even assume I appeared like a Valley woman, however OK.” After which I imagine that I used to be supposed to return for an additional audition and so they canceled it. And I assumed, meaning I didn’t get the half. I assume I sound an excessive amount of like a Valley woman. After which I bought a name that they needed me to come back display take a look at in opposition to another person. And at that time, I knew in my coronary heart, I’ve to get this. I liked the undertaking a lot. I liked the half already, and my tackle it actually was somebody who was desperately overcompensating. And the place that leads into Marc and Amanda, I feel when somebody is that insecure, and so they discover a buddy that they’ll latch onto, they latch. And I feel when Amanda discovered Marc, and when Becki discovered Michael, I discovered a soulmate. Somebody who, aside from all that overcompensating and all that, they genuinely understood one another, related with one another and made one another really feel much less alone, and I feel that was actually apparent. I feel Michael and I, individually, had been simply so new to being on TV, by no means thoughts being at award exhibits. We’d go to award exhibits in matching outfits. We had been so completely happy to have a buddy to undergo all of this with, and I feel that was each our characters and us personally. And I feel Amanda stayed on the present due to her friendship with Marc. He noticed her as extra of a human. Marc might snigger at Amanda and immediately it’s like, “Oh, it’s humorous, versus simply form of icky or imply.” And everybody wants a buddy irrespective of who you’re, and that basically is what sort of led us to this podcast. It makes everybody really feel much less lonely when even Marc and Amanda have actually good pals.
URIE: We’ve each had plenty of jobs since Ugly Betty and I’ve had different work wives or work husbands, you recognize, folks that you just work with that turn into your number-one individual at work, however I’ve by no means had one other work soulmate.
NEWTON: Michael, you’re my soulmate for positive.
URIE: And all these years, we’ve tried to work collectively, we now have labored collectively, we did a musical collectively, we did a cabaret collectively, we tried to do a pilot, it didn’t shoot as a result of the pandemic. We’ve accomplished so many issues collectively through the years that this felt form of inevitable. And after we did the primary run of the present, after we did the present, we had a pioneering podcast that we hosted, the place we talked about each single episode. So, this was inevitable. After which as we’ve gone to the forged to ask them to come back be on it, we’re like, “We’re, as you may think, doing one other podcast.” It simply feels so prefer it simply looks like driving a motorbike being collectively once more.
NEWTON: And I feel in all of these initiatives that we’ve explored, we form of simply wish to hang around with one another. I feel that’s actually what it was, like, “How can we spend time collectively at work once more?” And the expertise of doing this podcast and going to work on daily basis and seeing Michael Urie, that’s what I’ve been lacking in life. It doesn’t ever really feel like work after I’m sitting with Michael anyplace, and nothing’s ever boring after I’m sitting with Michael anyplace. So, I’m actually grateful for this time that Michael and I’ve been in a position to put aside collectively on this context.
DEADLINE: Aw, that’s candy. Do you might have any particular episode or possibly a visitor star that you just’re wanting ahead to revisiting on the podcast?
URIE: Properly, what’s attention-grabbing is the primary a number of episodes, we’ve solely accomplished a handful to date, and people from the early days had been so vivid. These reminiscences are so vivid as a result of we had been so younger, we had been so recent, we’d by no means been on TV earlier than, we’re watching issues over and over. And so I bear in mind them actually, actually vividly. And I don’t understand how lengthy that’s gonna final. I don’t know at what level it grew to become extra of an informal factor. So, I feel ultimately there’s gonna be some surprises. And I’m actually wanting ahead to that. I’m wanting ahead to turning on an episode and never instantly saying, “Oh yeah, that is the one the place I did this and I did that, and I wore plaid and I had that and this ascot and that blah blah blah.” So, we’ve interviewed America and Eric Mabius and Tony Plana and Chris Gorham. So ,there’s lots of people we now have but to interview, and we intend to interview all of them. So that’s gonna be actually thrilling. I feel the factor I’m most excited for is what I don’t bear in mind, the surprises. I can’t wait to see the issues that we did, that we had been an important second in our life then, that I’ve forgotten about. We’ve got these three segments on each episode. One is, “When did you cry?” One is, “What’s your favourite look of the episode?” And one is, “What did Ana Ortiz do that episode that was good?”
NEWTON: And Ana Ortiz could be very exhausting as a result of she’s a genius on a regular basis.
Michael Urie, America Ferrera and Becki Newton in ‘Ugly Betty’ (Karen Neal/ABC/Courtesy Everett Assortment)
DEADLINE: I do know you in all probability get requested this on a regular basis, however what’s the discuss a revival or a reboot? After the present ended, I needed there to be a derivative with Justin working at Mode, however that by no means occurred sadly.
URIE: We had spinoff concepts. We had plenty of — we needed to do Mode UK, we needed to do the the The Becky and Michael Present, we had plenty of concepts. And so this podcast, it’s so significant to return and revisit these episodes, and we’re so fortunate that we now have this report. It’s such a privilege to have the ability to return and see 4 years of your life that’s completely maintained on this lovely little bow. And so it’s very nice to try this, and it’s actually lovely to reconnect with followers and reconnect with the forged members. However yeah, we wish to do a reboot. Yeah, we wish to do one other.
NEWTON: Everybody says that each time. It’s like, when are we gonna do reboot? We’re like, I don’t know, however we should do it. I feel all of us wish to. All of us liked it, and I don’t assume there’s any forged member that will say, “No, I don’t really feel like doing that.” All of us had an awesome expertise. So who is aware of the place the highway will lead? However I feel there’s a lot extra to debate with these characters, and it might be a lot enjoyable to see the place they ended up of their lives.
DEADLINE: That’s just about all I had about Ugly Betty, however is there something you needed to tease about Lincoln Lawyer or Shrinking?
NEWTON: I really feel so fortunate that every one these years later I’m nonetheless on TV, and I’m nonetheless speaking to Michael. So, one factor Michael and I’ve had in widespread ever since this journey started is we love what we do. We discover nice pleasure in it, and we’re nonetheless so fortunate each time we get to stroll on a set. So, I’m grateful that every one these years later, Michael and I, by the best way, are each taking part in attorneys on TV. Who would have seen Amanda turning right into a lawyer? However that we nonetheless one way or the other collectively are on this loopy journey of showbiz, and I discover that fairly nice that we nonetheless get to snigger about it and luxuriate in it and name one another with humorous set tales. It’s fairly wonderful.
URIE: Or that we’re taking pictures in the identical metropolis on the identical time, which is nice.
NEWTON: And that it’s taken this a few years for that to occur. That’s the craziest half.
URIE: Yeah, that’s true. And that’s form of how this podcast was in a position to work, was that we’re in the identical place on the identical time with the identical breaks. So, we’re very fortunate and really grateful for that. We’re beginning Season 3 very quickly, subsequent week, of Shrinking. They usually’ve simply began Lincoln Lawyer this week, so we’re on precisely the identical schedule. And I’ve solely seen a bit of little bit of Shrinking, the brand new season, and it’s superb. I make it some extent to not attempt to guess what they’re gonna do, as a result of it’s all the time approach higher than what I assume. And I’m very fortunate to have this huge break in TV, and on the identical time to be exploring our first huge breaks… re-exploring.
