Ana Ortiz plays Hilda Suarez on Ugly Betty
While things were not looking good for the future of ABC’s Ugly Betty in September when the show began its fourth season on Friday nights when overall viewership is extremely low, there’s hope that Betty will be around for many years to come with it’s move last week to the prime Wednesday night lineup. In fact, ABC just renewed the three sitcoms (The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town) that lead into the Emmy nominated series starring America Ferrera as underdog Betty Suarez. After talking with series creator Silvio Horta last week, I was able to talk with Ana Ortiz (Hilda) and Tony Plana (Ignacio) to get their impression on the show’s new timeslot and the love lives of each of their characters.
Tony Plana plays Betty & Hilda's father, Ignacio
Jim Halterman: So when I talked to your boss last week, he was definitely relieved to be on Wednesday nights. What did the two of you think when the show was put on Friday nights last fall?
Ana Ortiz: We did feel a little bit like it was the long goodbye and fading us out. But this is a testament to our fans and everybody really rallying around the show.
Tony Plana: It’s also a testament to the writers. They really took the challenge of coming out with the best episodes ever and they did. They’ve integrated the show beautifully, balanced it and every show this season has been superb. I think that’s what precipitated the change and the kind of re-introducing us back into the mainstream of the lineup.
Adam Rodriguez and Ortiz as Bobby and Hilda
JH: I have to agree with you because I’ve loved all the episodes this season. Ana, tell me how difficult it is to work with Adam Rodriguez. He’s so homely!
AO: It’s such a chore. You have no idea. [laughs] When Silvio told me, he said ‘So, I don’t know if you know this actor Adam Rodriguez…’ and I literally started squealing like a teenager!
TP: I was embarrassed for her, actually.
JH: And he’s completely different from what he’d been doing on CSI:Miami.
AO: Yes! How funny is he? It’s so great to see him really do this completely new role.
TP: He said he’s never been able to do this kind of character before. It’s a new adventure for him.
AO: He really fit in with us, too. He just came on the set and it was like ‘Oh, he’s been here the whole time.’ He just seamlessly walked into the show. And he loves the show and that really shows and helps a lot.
TP: He’s smiling all the time on the set.
Ortiz, America Ferrera and Plana in last week's BETTY episode
JH: What are the chances we’ll see a happy ending for Bobby and Hilda?
AO: You never know!
TP: I’m hoping!
JH: Tony, you had a great spark with Lauren Velez last season. Any chance she’ll come back now that Dexter is on hiatus? [Velez plays Lt. Maria LaGuerta on the Showtime series]
TP: I keep sending her postcards to keep her on the hook! [laughs] I’m hoping that that is the case although I’m having a great time with Faith Prince.
JH: Both of you have experience on the stage. Any chance you’ll be returning any time in the future?
TP: Yeah, I’m thinking about doing a play at the Goodwin in Chicago.
AO: Definitely. We all started in theater across the board in our cast and we’re all theater geeks so I think any of us…we try to jump onstage as much as possible.
TP: And being in New York makes it much easier and we’re all hoping to reconnect with the theater community in New York and be able to balance both worlds.
JH: Ana, how have you been doing adjusting to juggling motherhood and work?
AO: It’s been amazing. I’m really lucky. My Mom is there with me and she comes and takes care of Paloma when I’m on set and everyone in the cast has really adopted this child.
TP: Your mother retired to become a grandmother. Isn’t that beautiful?
AO: She’s the best. And so she’s there and Vanessa Williams and America [Ferrera]…
TP: That child has nine nannies! It’s an embarrassment of riches and we all have her on our desktops on our computers.
JH: Ugly Betty really has changed the image of Latinos on television but is there still further to go?
AO: Definitely. I don’t think there’s any question that we do but I think it’s a great start and it’s such an honor to be a part of it.
TP: Even though, I think, we are a wonderful representation of Latinos on television we are the only ones on television. Considering the fact that we’re the largest minority in this country, we should have more presence on television not only in the amount of characters but also the amount of shows that feature us. I’m hoping Betty will inspire or spawn more incarnations of shows that are grounded and centered on Latino families.
Ugly Betty now airs every Wednesday night at 10/9c on ABC.
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Jim Halterman is a freelance writer who spends his days interviewing the top tier of talent and creative forces in the entertainment world and then, because he's that kind of guy, he brings it all to YOU! And, because we all like free stuff, check back on Fridays for the best giveaways!! (Photo: With SMASH star Megan Hilty at TCA Winter Press Tour, Pasadena, CA, January, 2012)
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Great interview, Jim! This season has been so good, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the move to Wednesdays will help bring the show back for another season!