TVSquad

Ugly Betty definitely avoided the sophomore slump, but something was missing from the show's post-strike episodes. Elements that made the first season great were left out of the second part of season two. Fortunately, Ugly Betty only needs to make some small changes to return to its former glory. Feel free to add your own suggestions to my list.

Bring Cliff back - It's nice to see Marc do something besides taunt Betty or do Wili's bidding. Season one's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" proved that Marc has a heart, and his relationship with Cliff continued to explore that sensitive side. Marc found love by looking beyond surface beauty, which is what the show is all about. The post-strike episodes favored Betty's love triangle at the expense of the other characters' relationships. Why have so many well-written relationships if you're only going to focus on one or two? The fantastic ensemble cast had better get more screen time in season three.

There hasn't been a new episode of Ugly Betty since January. Can you believe it? If you're like me, and need a refresher course on all things Meade and Suarez, ABC.com has a few options available. Fashion TV's rhyming reporter, Suzuki St. Pierre, summarizes the first two seasons in a four-minute video. I had forgotten how much had happened in the last few Betty episodes.

Even more entertaining is the show's first video podcast, led by co-stars Michael Urie and Becki Newton (Marc and Amanda). In addition to recording a hilarious song about season two's storylines, the actors interviewed Jeff Beal, the show's composer. Beal discussed his professional background and told some of the stories behind fans' favorite original Betty songs. The podcast can also be downloaded for free on iTunes.

Oh, Marc St. James, how are you so fabulous? Do your multiple layers of plaid infuse you with superstar powers? Does hanging around all the beautiful people of Ugly Betty automatically make you awesome by association? Ah, the real fabulous answer most likely lies in the fact that fabulous Marc is portrayed by the fabulous actor, Michael Urie.

It's tough to shine on-screen when one's partner is often the ultra-glamorous superstar Vanessa L. Williams, but Urie manages to hold his own just fine. Dare I say it, he even manages to outshine her every once in a while. I guess the folks at TLC saw something in him too, because he will soon be on the channel as the host of their new reality show, Miss America: Reality Check (premiering January).

(S01E22) Before we get started, I need to get something out of the way.

"A boy like that. He'll kill your brother."

Who wants to live in America? Rita Moreno does! I'm just one big fag haggis experiencing her inner theater queen. We all know that there's a Betty musical episode in the works, but I think we might be in for a preview next week. The episode is called "East Side Story," guest stars Kristin Chenoweth and is timed perfectly for Justin to save the day for middle school-aged thespians everywhere. Until then, let us reflect on tonight's mystical Mexico tour.