TVSquad

Okay, now that it's behind us, we can say that Lindsay Lohan's turn on Ugly Betty was pretty lame. However, I have hope that other guest stars will do much better. Therefore, the news that Broadway star -- multiple Tony winner -- Bernadette Peters will appear on Ugly Betty is a good thing. Just the name of the character she's playing, Jodie Papadakis, is funny.

Please, please, let this be a sign of good things to come, because Ugly Betty could use an injection of good stuff. So far this season, the show has lurched around searching for its comedic soul.

Anyway, the Papadakis story sounds promising. Jodie is a magazine diva with a reputation to rival Wilhelmina. She's a role model to Betty because she's worked her way up the corporate level, from lowly underling to editor-in-chief. She comes to Mode and heads up a contest to see who will be chosen for the editor-in-training program. The top two assistants with their eyes on the prize are Betty -- natch -- and Mark. Heavens to St. James, what will Willy think of her lackey have some ambition beyond kissing her tootsies?

If this story sounds vaguely familiar, it is. In 2007, Betty was also dazzled and tempted to leave Mode when Sofia Reyes, Selma Hayek's character, gave her a chance to move up the ladder, albeit at a different magazine.

Betty also had a taste of what it's like to see a peer move ahead of her in those Lindsay Lohan episodes when Kimmie jumped right over Betty because she got the magazine mentioned in the tabloids.

Back to Bernadette; her appearance on the show is set for early 2009, and thus far is only one episode. If the character's fun, I hope they keep her around. She's a great comic actress. She could be Claire's confidante. Claire needs someone to hang out with these days now that Bradford is dead and Alex is behind bars.