Million Dollar Smile
Encyclopedia
"Million Dollar Smile" is the seventeenth episode of the fourth season
of the American television comedy series, Ugly Betty
, and the 82nd overall episode of the series. It was written by Henry Alonso Myers and Chris Black. The episode was directed by Paul Holahan. It originally aired on the ABC
network in the United States on March 24, 2010. Guest stars in this episode include Neal Bledsoe, Halley Feiffer
, Ryan McGinnis
, Donna Murphy
and Kathy Najimy
.
In the episode, Betty Suarez
(America Ferrera
) finally has her braces removed, but only after she enters a dream sequence in which she sees what her life would be like if she had had perfect teeth. At the same time, Justin Suarez
(Mark Indelicato
) tries to contact Austin (Ryan McGinnis), who he kissed in the previous episode and Daniel Meade
(Eric Mabius
) secures the Million Dollar Bra for a MODE cover shoot. Meanwhile Amanda Tanen
(Becki Newton
) reveals that her relationship with Tyler (Neal Bledsoe) is getting serious.
According to the Nielsen ratings
system, the episode was watched by 4.63 million households during its original broadcast, and received a 1.7 rating/5 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic.
Betty
(America Ferrera
) wakes up in a good mood as today is the day she is finally having her braces removed an she can get her first ID picture without them. At her orthodontist's office, Betty tries to hurry along Dr. Frankel (Kathy Najimy
) and just as she stops her from talking, the fire alarm goes off. At MODE, Betty is depressed that her braces haven't been removed, so Marc
(Michael Urie
) photoshops her image into a blond haired and braceless woman on her ID.
Justin
(Mark Indelicato
) tries repeatedly to call Austin who seems to be hiding from him after they kissed. Claire
(Judith Light
) has come back from France and Daniel
(Eric Mabius
) is cold towards her as she lied to him about Tyler. Amanda
(Becki Newton
) later tells Daniel that she is getting serious with Tyler and Daniel tells her to leave. At the editors meeting, Daniel announces that he has secured the 'Million Dollar Bra' for a cover shoot. Wilhelmina
(Vanessa Williams
) is surprised that Daniel's done something right for a change, until she reads the itinerary for the bra and tells Daniel that the Bra is due to be shipped to Cairo at the same time as the shoot.
Betty tells Daniel she will contact her friend, Alison, who works for Eve, the president of the company that owns the Bra. Betty goes to the Guggenheim Museum
to meet Alison, but is stopped by security and when she produces her ID, the security man doesn't believe it is her. Her braces then set off the metal detector and Betty yells at the guard. She then gets tackled to the ground by security and hits her head. When she wakes up, Betty finds that she is in a It's a Wonderful Life
-type dream sequence and she beautiful and rich. She no longer has braces and is working at MODE as Wilhelmina's right hand woman. Dr. Frankel is her guardian angel and explains that because she had perfect teeth, everything is different. Hilda
(Ana Ortiz
) is the ugly sister, Justin was never born, Ignacio gambles and Daniel and Amanda are married. When Betty finds out that she and Wilhelmina had planned to sabotage the 'Million Dollar Bra' shoot, Betty tries to change the course of events, but ends up hitting her head again. She wakes up to find herself back in the real world and thinking Wilhelmina is going to steal the Bra, Betty rips off Wilhelmina's shirt before backing into the Bra and getting her braces stuck to it. Dr. Frankel then arrives and removes Betty's braces.
Daniel apologizes to Amanda and says he is okay with her and Tyler's relationship. Tyler sees them hug and confronts Amanda, who tells him that Daniel has given them his blessing. Tyler isn't happy and Amanda tells him they need some time apart. Back at the Suarez house, Betty is celebrating with her family and eating the foods that she couldn't eat before with her braces. The doorbell rings and Justin opens the door and finds Austin standing there.
"Million Dollar Smile" was directed by Paul Holahan, and written by executive producer Henry Alonso Myers and co-executive producer Chris Black. The episode originally aired on ABC in the United States on March 24, 2010, as the seventeenth episode of the show's fourth season
and the 82nd overall episode of the series.
During "Million Dollar Smile", Betty finally has her "over-exaggerated" train-track braces removed after three seasons. In April 2009, series creator Silvio Horta
told Michael Ausiello
of Entertainment Weekly
, that Betty's braces would be removed by the end of the fourth season. He explained "Next year, there’s going to be a progression in her look overall. It’ll still be Betty, but you’ll see some growth in that direction." Following the series' cancellation, it was announced that Betty was to undergo a make over and her braces were to be removed during "Million Dollar Smile". Broadway theatre
actress Kathy Najimy
joined the cast of Ugly Betty in February 2010, as the orthodontist who would be removing Betty's braces. Najimy's role would also see her act as Betty's guardian angel during a dream sequence. Najimy succeeded Jesse Tyler Ferguson
, who played Betty’s first orthodontist, Gabe Farkas, in season 1
.
Donna Murphy
appeared in this episode as Eve, an "ice queen lingerie executive." Other guest stars included Halley Feiffer
as Betty's friend, Allison, Ryan McGinnis
as Austin and Neal Bledsoe in his on-going role of Tyler.
system. It received a 1.7 rating/5 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic, meaning that 1.7 percent of all people in that group, and 5 percent of all people from that group watching television at the time, watched the episode. This was an increase from the previous episode, "All the World's a Stage
", which was watched by 3.3 million American viewers.
Television website TV Fanatic said the episode "was entirely far fetched, but, it was highly entertaining nonetheless". The website also praised how the writers marked Betty's braces being removed, saying "job well done". Tanner Stransky from Entertainment Weekly
called "Million Dollar Smile" "a stunning episode" and added that it was "truly heartwarming". However, New York magazine
called the dream sequence "a downer" and labelled it "downright uncomfortable".
Ugly Betty (season 4)
The fourth and final season of the American Comedy-drama television series Ugly Betty was confirmed in the ABC lineup, which was picked up for a full season on April 23, 2009...
of the American television comedy series, Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
, and the 82nd overall episode of the series. It was written by Henry Alonso Myers and Chris Black. The episode was directed by Paul Holahan. It originally aired on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
network in the United States on March 24, 2010. Guest stars in this episode include Neal Bledsoe, Halley Feiffer
Halley Feiffer
Halley Feiffer is an American actress and playwright.-Education and family:Feiffer graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007...
, Ryan McGinnis
Ryan McGinnis (actor)
Ryan McGinnis is an American actor and dancer best known for his role in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty, as Austin, the love interest of Justin Suarez, the nephew of series protagonist Betty Suarez...
, Donna Murphy
Donna Murphy
Donna Murphy is an American stage, film, television actress and singer.Murphy has won two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her roles in Passion as Fosca and in The King and I as Anna Leonowens...
and Kathy Najimy
Kathy Najimy
Kathy Ann Najimy is an American actress, most notable as Olive Massery on the television series Veronica's Closet, Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act and the voice of Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill. Prior to her film work, she was best known for two Off Broadway shows...
.
In the episode, Betty Suarez
Betty Suarez
Beatriz "Betty" U. Suarez is a central fictional character and heroine of the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is portrayed by America Ferrera, who won a 2007 Golden Globe and 2007 SAG award for her portrayal of the character, as well as the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy award for the role...
(America Ferrera
America Ferrera
America Georgina Ferrera is an American actress, best known for playing the lead role in the television comedy series Ugly Betty...
) finally has her braces removed, but only after she enters a dream sequence in which she sees what her life would be like if she had had perfect teeth. At the same time, Justin Suarez
Justin Suarez
Justin Suarez is a fictional character on the American comedy-drama series Ugly Betty which is an adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Betty la fea. He is portrayed by actor Mark Indelicato. Justin lives with his mother Hilda, his aunt Betty, and his grandfather Ignacio...
(Mark Indelicato
Mark Indelicato
Mark Indelicato is an American actor, singer, fashion blogger, and photographer best known for his role in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty, as Justin Suarez, the fashion-obsessed nephew of series protagonist Betty Suarez....
) tries to contact Austin (Ryan McGinnis), who he kissed in the previous episode and Daniel Meade
Daniel Meade
Daniel Meade is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. He is played by Eric Mabius.-Background:Daniel is the second son of magazine publisher Bradford Meade and Claire Meade in 1974...
(Eric Mabius
Eric Mabius
Eric Harry Timothy Mabius is an American actor known for his work as Daniel Meade on the ABC television series Ugly Betty. He also worked on the Showtime series The L Word and in the films Resident Evil and Cruel Intentions....
) secures the Million Dollar Bra for a MODE cover shoot. Meanwhile Amanda Tanen
Amanda Tanen
Amanda Tanen Sommers is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is played by Becki Newton. Amanda's character is a combination of Patricia Fernandez and Marcela Valencia, but her appearance is similar to Marcia Villarroel from the Columbian adaptation...
(Becki Newton
Becki Newton
Rebecca Sara "Becki" Newton is an American actress known for her role as Amanda Tanen on the television series Ugly Betty.-Early life:...
) reveals that her relationship with Tyler (Neal Bledsoe) is getting serious.
According to the Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
system, the episode was watched by 4.63 million households during its original broadcast, and received a 1.7 rating/5 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic.
Plot
Betty
Betty Suarez
Beatriz "Betty" U. Suarez is a central fictional character and heroine of the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is portrayed by America Ferrera, who won a 2007 Golden Globe and 2007 SAG award for her portrayal of the character, as well as the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy award for the role...
(America Ferrera
America Ferrera
America Georgina Ferrera is an American actress, best known for playing the lead role in the television comedy series Ugly Betty...
) wakes up in a good mood as today is the day she is finally having her braces removed an she can get her first ID picture without them. At her orthodontist's office, Betty tries to hurry along Dr. Frankel (Kathy Najimy
Kathy Najimy
Kathy Ann Najimy is an American actress, most notable as Olive Massery on the television series Veronica's Closet, Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act and the voice of Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill. Prior to her film work, she was best known for two Off Broadway shows...
) and just as she stops her from talking, the fire alarm goes off. At MODE, Betty is depressed that her braces haven't been removed, so Marc
Marc St. James
Marcus "Marc" St. James is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama series Ugly Betty. He is played by Michael Urie...
(Michael Urie
Michael Urie
Michael Lorenzo Urie is an American actor, television producer and director, best known for his portrayal of Marc St. James on the ABC dramedy series Ugly Betty.-Personal life:...
) photoshops her image into a blond haired and braceless woman on her ID.
Justin
Justin Suarez
Justin Suarez is a fictional character on the American comedy-drama series Ugly Betty which is an adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Betty la fea. He is portrayed by actor Mark Indelicato. Justin lives with his mother Hilda, his aunt Betty, and his grandfather Ignacio...
(Mark Indelicato
Mark Indelicato
Mark Indelicato is an American actor, singer, fashion blogger, and photographer best known for his role in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty, as Justin Suarez, the fashion-obsessed nephew of series protagonist Betty Suarez....
) tries repeatedly to call Austin who seems to be hiding from him after they kissed. Claire
Claire Meade
Claire Meade is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is played by Judith Light.Light's performance as Claire has resulted in a nomination for outstanding guest actress in a Comedy series at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, when Claire was a recurring regular in season...
(Judith Light
Judith Light
Judith Ellen Light is an American actress. Her television roles include Karen Wolek on the soap opera One Life to Live, Angela Bower on the sitcom Who's the Boss?, Claire Meade on ABC's TV series Ugly Betty and Judge Elizabeth "Liz" Donnelly on Law & Order Special Victims Unit.-Early life:Light...
) has come back from France and Daniel
Daniel Meade
Daniel Meade is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. He is played by Eric Mabius.-Background:Daniel is the second son of magazine publisher Bradford Meade and Claire Meade in 1974...
(Eric Mabius
Eric Mabius
Eric Harry Timothy Mabius is an American actor known for his work as Daniel Meade on the ABC television series Ugly Betty. He also worked on the Showtime series The L Word and in the films Resident Evil and Cruel Intentions....
) is cold towards her as she lied to him about Tyler. Amanda
Amanda Tanen
Amanda Tanen Sommers is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is played by Becki Newton. Amanda's character is a combination of Patricia Fernandez and Marcela Valencia, but her appearance is similar to Marcia Villarroel from the Columbian adaptation...
(Becki Newton
Becki Newton
Rebecca Sara "Becki" Newton is an American actress known for her role as Amanda Tanen on the television series Ugly Betty.-Early life:...
) later tells Daniel that she is getting serious with Tyler and Daniel tells her to leave. At the editors meeting, Daniel announces that he has secured the 'Million Dollar Bra' for a cover shoot. Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina Slater
Wilhelmina Vivian Slater is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is played by Vanessa Williams, who received a supporting actress award at the 2007 and 2008 NAACP Image Awards, a Best TV Villain award at the 2007 Teen Choice Awards and a supporting actress...
(Vanessa Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
) is surprised that Daniel's done something right for a change, until she reads the itinerary for the bra and tells Daniel that the Bra is due to be shipped to Cairo at the same time as the shoot.
Betty tells Daniel she will contact her friend, Alison, who works for Eve, the president of the company that owns the Bra. Betty goes to the Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
to meet Alison, but is stopped by security and when she produces her ID, the security man doesn't believe it is her. Her braces then set off the metal detector and Betty yells at the guard. She then gets tackled to the ground by security and hits her head. When she wakes up, Betty finds that she is in a It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
-type dream sequence and she beautiful and rich. She no longer has braces and is working at MODE as Wilhelmina's right hand woman. Dr. Frankel is her guardian angel and explains that because she had perfect teeth, everything is different. Hilda
Hilda Suarez
Hilda Suarez Talercio is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is portrayed by Ana Ortiz. Hilda's character is the American adaptation's equivalent to Julia Solano Galindo de Pinzón, Beatriz Pinzón Solano's mother, and is loosely based on creator Silvio Horta's older...
(Ana Ortiz
Ana Ortiz
Ana Ortíz is an American actress and singer. She is a native of Manhattan, but was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a regular cast-member on the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty, in which she plays the title character's older sister, Hilda Suarez...
) is the ugly sister, Justin was never born, Ignacio gambles and Daniel and Amanda are married. When Betty finds out that she and Wilhelmina had planned to sabotage the 'Million Dollar Bra' shoot, Betty tries to change the course of events, but ends up hitting her head again. She wakes up to find herself back in the real world and thinking Wilhelmina is going to steal the Bra, Betty rips off Wilhelmina's shirt before backing into the Bra and getting her braces stuck to it. Dr. Frankel then arrives and removes Betty's braces.
Daniel apologizes to Amanda and says he is okay with her and Tyler's relationship. Tyler sees them hug and confronts Amanda, who tells him that Daniel has given them his blessing. Tyler isn't happy and Amanda tells him they need some time apart. Back at the Suarez house, Betty is celebrating with her family and eating the foods that she couldn't eat before with her braces. The doorbell rings and Justin opens the door and finds Austin standing there.
Production
Ugly Betty (season 4)
The fourth and final season of the American Comedy-drama television series Ugly Betty was confirmed in the ABC lineup, which was picked up for a full season on April 23, 2009...
and the 82nd overall episode of the series.
During "Million Dollar Smile", Betty finally has her "over-exaggerated" train-track braces removed after three seasons. In April 2009, series creator Silvio Horta
Silvio Horta
Silvio Horta is an American writer and producer most notable for adapting the hit Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea into the ABC series, Ugly Betty. Horta serves as head writer and executive producer on the series....
told Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello is an American television industry journalist and actor. He was a Senior Writer at TV Guide and its companion website, TVGuide.com. On May 28, 2008, Ausiello left TV Guide for Entertainment Weekly and posted his first blog for Entertainment Weekly on July 2, 2008...
of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, that Betty's braces would be removed by the end of the fourth season. He explained "Next year, there’s going to be a progression in her look overall. It’ll still be Betty, but you’ll see some growth in that direction." Following the series' cancellation, it was announced that Betty was to undergo a make over and her braces were to be removed during "Million Dollar Smile". Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
actress Kathy Najimy
Kathy Najimy
Kathy Ann Najimy is an American actress, most notable as Olive Massery on the television series Veronica's Closet, Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act and the voice of Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill. Prior to her film work, she was best known for two Off Broadway shows...
joined the cast of Ugly Betty in February 2010, as the orthodontist who would be removing Betty's braces. Najimy's role would also see her act as Betty's guardian angel during a dream sequence. Najimy succeeded Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is an American actor who portrays Mitchell Pritchett on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. Previously he played the role of Richie Velch in the CBS sitcom The Class. He is openly gay.-Life and career:...
, who played Betty’s first orthodontist, Gabe Farkas, in season 1
Ugly Betty (season 1)
The first season of the American dramedy television series Ugly Betty began airing on September 28, 2006 and concluded on May 17, 2007....
.
Donna Murphy
Donna Murphy
Donna Murphy is an American stage, film, television actress and singer.Murphy has won two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her roles in Passion as Fosca and in The King and I as Anna Leonowens...
appeared in this episode as Eve, an "ice queen lingerie executive." Other guest stars included Halley Feiffer
Halley Feiffer
Halley Feiffer is an American actress and playwright.-Education and family:Feiffer graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007...
as Betty's friend, Allison, Ryan McGinnis
Ryan McGinnis (actor)
Ryan McGinnis is an American actor and dancer best known for his role in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty, as Austin, the love interest of Justin Suarez, the nephew of series protagonist Betty Suarez...
as Austin and Neal Bledsoe in his on-going role of Tyler.
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "Million Dollar Smile" was watched by 4.63 million households, according to the Nielsen ratingsNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
system. It received a 1.7 rating/5 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic, meaning that 1.7 percent of all people in that group, and 5 percent of all people from that group watching television at the time, watched the episode. This was an increase from the previous episode, "All the World's a Stage
All the World's a Stage (Ugly Betty)
"All the World's a Stage" is the sixteenth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama series, Ugly Betty, and the 81st episode overall. It originally aired on ABC in the United States on 17 March 2010.-Plot:...
", which was watched by 3.3 million American viewers.
Television website TV Fanatic said the episode "was entirely far fetched, but, it was highly entertaining nonetheless". The website also praised how the writers marked Betty's braces being removed, saying "job well done". Tanner Stransky from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
called "Million Dollar Smile" "a stunning episode" and added that it was "truly heartwarming". However, New York magazine
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
called the dream sequence "a downer" and labelled it "downright uncomfortable".
External links
- "Million Dollar Smile" at ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...