The Ausiello Files: 'Ugly Betty' Scoop

Ugly Betty Braces for Big Changes as End Nears
Talk about deadline pressure. ABC’s decision to not only cancel Ugly Betty but also reduce the show’s episode order from 22 to 20 has left producers racing to tie up four years’ worth of story lines in just a handful of episodes. The first order of business: straightening out Betty’s unresolved dental issues.

”The braces are coming off,” reveals series creator Silvio Horta of the March episode, which will find America Ferrera’s Betty being whisked off on an It’s a Wonderful Life-esque journey. ”There’s a big fantasy element to it. We’ll ask the question, ‘What if Betty had perfect teeth?”’ Change will also come to Betty’s professional life via a new job opportunity that ”may take her away from Mode,” teases Horta. ”We’re going to see how that impacts the people she works with as well as her family.” Elsewhere, questions surrounding the sexuality of Justin (Mark Indelicato) will be addressed (spoiler alert: He’s gay!), Wilhelmina’s (Vanessa Williams) first love (played by Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell) will resurface, and a major character will get hitched in the series finale. In possibly related news, rumor has it Christopher Gorham has been approached to reprise his role as Betty’s ex-love Henry — something Horta would neither confirm nor deny.

For his part, costar Michael Urie (Marc) is of the opinion that his onscreen frenemy should end up single. ”I don’t think the right guy has come along yet for Betty,” he offers. ”Besides, I don’t think [fans] would be truly satisfied if she ended up with anybody.”

SCOOPLETS

Big Bang Scoop: Sheldon Jailed!
A traffic infraction lands Sheldon in court in the March 1 episode of The Big Bang Theory, but it’s what Jim Parsons calls his ”lack of delicacy with the English language” that prompts the judge to throw him in the pokey (thus causing him to miss meeting his idol, comic-book legend Stan Lee). His stay is cut short when the supernerd ”realizes he doesn’t [have] a private bathroom, at which point he’s ready to apologize,” reveals exec producer Chuck Lorre. ”He’s not willing to urinate in front of other felons.” That’s our Sheldon!

Office Mates Set a Date — Finally!
The Office is getting serious about an Andy-Erin romance. Next month, Dunder Mifflin’s newest crushing co-workers — played by Ed Helms and Ellie Kemper — will finally embark on their first date. ”The wrinkle is she gets sick, but they attempt to push on anyway,” says Office costar-slash-showrunner Paul Lieberstein (Toby) of the March 11 episode. The duo will face an even bigger obstacle in the coming weeks as Erin’s backstory begins to emerge. ”We reveal that Erin is a foster kid,” says fellow producer/star B.J. Novak (Ryan). ”Andy went to Cornell, so they had extremely different upbringings.” Speaking of Office hookups, Lieberstein confirms that Michael (Steve Carell) will ”start dating someone” new later this season — although he won’t know it at first. ”It’s one of those [things] where a bunch of people go out and you don’t know you’re being set up.”