Salma Hayek News Archive Part 2

Salma Hayek's On Camera Snake Scare: What Really Happened

"It was complete and utter chaos!" Seymour tells TV Guide Magazine. "Salma just started screaming — she has a real snake phobia — and jumps onto the arm of her director's chair in high heels!"

The actresses were able to avoid the serpent long enough for it to slither into the lake, but Hayak — who was "hyperventilating and terrified" according to Seymour — had to take a break and call it a day after the scary situation.

"I've never had a snake or a creature slither into my interview and I've definitely never had three actresses balancing on top of each other," says Seymour. "It was quite a picture!"

Salma Hayek Chooses Motherhood over the Moon

"I reserved my place with the Virgin [Galactic] expedition. And then I got pregnant. And now I'm a mother. So, I'm not going to go," Hayek, 43, tells InStyle in its June issue.

In fact, anything risky is off the radar now that she has Valentina, her 2-year-old daughter with fashion tycoon Francois-Henry Pinault. "I love scuba diving and used to dive where the sharks were, and now? No more sharks," she says. "Everything becomes about the baby. You are in second position, or third."

Not that she's forsaken herself entirely. It's important to feel young and sexy as a mother, she says. "You have to balance everything in your life and while, yes, your children and husband must be important, you have to dedicate time to yourself," she says. "The mother of today needs to find ways to be comfortable and stylish at the same time."

One fountain of youth she isn't drinking from – cosmetic surgery. "No surgical tweaks. No Botox either," she says. "I think it is terrible, these girls in their late 20s injecting their faces and lips. One told me, 'If I kill my muscles now, I'll never get wrinkles.' Can you imagine?"

Hayek gave up space dreams for baby

The actress insists she's "not much" of a risk-taker since she welcomed daughter Valentina in September 2007, with her husband, French fashion executive Francois-Henri Pinault. And she's given up many dangerous thrill-seeking adventures - including a once-in-a-lifetime chance to orbit the planet with the Virgin boss' spaceliner, due to launch next year.

She tells U.S. magazine InStyle, "I love scuba diving and used to dive where the sharks were, and now? No more sharks. Everything became about the baby. You are in second position, or third... My dream was to go into space. I reserved my place with the Virgin (Galactic) expedition. And then I got pregnant. And now I'm a mother. So I'm not going to go."

Salma Hayek debuts Gucci gown at Cannes film fest

The fashion house said in a statement that Mexican actress' deep maroon hued sheath, with a single beaded strap, was from the label's exclusive Gucci Premiere line.

Couture gowns are made-to-measure by but a handful of mostly Paris-based houses. They are wildly expensive, often costing as much as one or even several cars.

A Gucci spokesman said the gown Hayek donned Wednesday to the premiere of Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" was part of a capsule collection of gowns made for the label's designer Frida Giannini by French couture ateliers. The label did not provide any further information about the gown or the new line.

Salma Hayek's Daughter Is Already Tri-Lingual

“She speaks three languages,” the actress said at the A Bid to Save the Earth Green Auction, held Wednesday at Christie’s.

Hayek’s husband François-Henri Pinault added, “She’s [speaking] fluently — English, Spanish and French. She can have a conversation,” the PPR CEO told PEOPLE Moms & Babies.

The couple’s toddler isn’t the only one benefiting from a love of language — Hayek is as well. “It’s amazing how fast it comes,” Pinault notes. “She’s teaching French to her mother.”

Although Valentina has yet to begin writing down the words she’s learned, she certainly has a way with crayons!

“She draws faces now,” Hayek, 43, explains. “The eyes, nose and the mouth … she tries different ones.”

With her little girl keeping her on her toes, the actress admits she savors the quieter moments with her daughter.

“I love it when she wakes up, even if it’s from a nap,” notes Hayek. “She’s still confused and a still little bit sleepy before she goes full on with the energy!”

Bye Bye, Ugly Betty - See You on the Big Screen?

The ABC show’s finale aired Wednesday night, but that doesn’t mean it’s over for good. Ortiz, who played Betty’s sister Hilda Suarez, said the series may have the big screen in its future.

“There may be a movie,” Ortiz tells Latina.com. “It’s something that we’ve been talking about and it’s something that [Ugly Betty star] America Ferrera would really love to do. That woman has so much determination that I can’t imagine anything she puts her mind to not getting done.”

And Ortiz, 39, is totally up for playing Hilda again.

“Ugly Betty has been the most important thing I’ve ever done, easily,” she says. “I was able to do more with one character than I can ever imagine doing again — Hilda was hilariously funny and emotionally deep.”

ABC's 'Ugly Betty' broke ground for Latinos, gays

It turned America Ferrera, who played the plucky but style-challenged Betty Suarez, into a household name. And it landed a prestigious Peabody Award.

As the credits roll on the wacky dramedy's last episode April 14, Latino, gay rights groups and fans are lamenting more than the loss of Betty's cringe-inducing outfits and the melodrama of the Meade family — owners of the show's fictional fashion magazine Mode. The hourlong show was also among the rare network programs to tackle such controversial issues as gay teens, body image and illegal immigration.

The show contrasted Betty's career at Mode with her working class, Mexican immigrant family, including her widower father Ignacio, her impulsive older sister Hilda and her theater-loving, fashion expert nephew Justin, who came out as gay in this last season.

"Having this family at the center of the show made it normal to watch a Latino family in a non-stereotypical way," Ferrera said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Lisa Navarrete, a vice president for the National Council of La Raza, said the show's absence will leave a void.

"You don't have a lot of Latino-themed shows on TV, so when we lose 'Ugly Betty,' we will have a major loss," she said.

Navarrete noted that George Lopez paved the way for "Ugly Betty" in 2002 with his Bill Cosby styled family sitcom, but she called "Ugly Betty" edgier.

The brainchild of producer Silvio Horta and actress and producer Salma Hayek, "Ugly Betty" was based on a Colombian telenovela that became so popular it was copied in Mexico, Germany and elsewhere.

The English version also proved a global hit. More than 10,000 Facebook fans from as far as England, the Philippines and Bangladesh have begged ABC not to cancel the show since it announced this season would be its last, following a decline in the show's ratings an ever-changing schedule.

Shortly after the height of the immigration debate, the show followed Betty's father as he confessed to his American-born children that he had been living in the U.S. illegally.

Even with comedic turns, "the plot line illustrated the complexity of the lives of many undocumented immigrants who are otherwise integrated into American life," Navarrete said. "You have a lot of families like 'Ugly Betty' where you have U.S. born children whose parents have undocumented status."

More groundbreaking was the show's handling of its gay and transgender characters, said Jarett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Although initially played for laughs, "Ugly Betty" provided a sympathetic portrait of Meade scion Alex who transforms into the stunning Alexis. And it followed the bumpy love life of Mode's gay fashion assistant Marc St. James.

But most of all, it showed how Betty's family accepted without fanfare Justin's love for musicals and the latest fashion trends, a tacit acceptance of his sexuality. Then, in this final season, Justin got his first kiss with a boy.

Barrios said too often gay characters are depicted on TV as adults without families.

"A gay teen is also a son, a nephew, a grandson," he said. "As a man who is both Latino and gay (and a father), I liked the show because it depicted really my own experience and that of so many others in the United States."

Barrios said the show paved the way for network depictions of gay teens and families in shows such as "Glee," "Brothers & Sisters," and "Modern Family."

"There are certain things that people just don't expect anyone on television to talk about and whenever we dared to go there, it would make some people uncomfortable. But the only way to really make an impact and to inspire people to think is to venture into risky territory," Ferrera said.

In leaving the show, Ferrera says she's a little sad but looks forward to future projects. She currently voices a Viking bombshell in the DreamWorks animated feature "How to Train Your Dragon."

"I think from the beginning I had a concern that we wouldn't get enough time to kind of complete her transformation," she said in a recent interview with the AP. "Could it keep on going? Maybe. But you know, I think we found a really good sort of peace with the character in her journey and now that it is the way it is, it feels like it was always meant to be."

UGLY BETTY: Hello Goodbye -- SERIES FINALE (4/14)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio, Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler, Alex Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Bryan Batt as Spencer Cannon, Ryan McGinnis as Austin, Matt Newton as Troy and Daniel Gerroll as Lindsay Dunne.

"Hello Goodbye" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY: The Past Presents the Future (4/7)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Bryan Batt as Spencer Cannon, Lauren Velez as Elena, Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler, Ryan McGinnis as Austin, Daniel Gerroll as Lindsay Dunne, Kelli Barrett as Trista and Matt Newton as Troy.

"The Past Presents the Future" was written by Jon Kinnaly and Tracy Poust and directed by Paul Holahan.

UGLY BETTY: London Calling (3/31)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Ashley Jensen as Christina McKinney, Freddy Rodriguez as Gio, Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler, Ryan McGinnis as Austin, Daniel Gerroll as Lindsay Dunne and Matt Newton as Troy.

"London Calling" was written by David Grubstick and Sheila Lawrence and directed by Mark Worthington.

Ugly Betty (3/24)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Donna Murphy as Eve, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler, Halley Feiffer as Allison, Ryan McGinnis as Austin, and Kathy Najimy as Dr. Frankel.

"Million Dollar Smile" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and Chris Black and directed by Paul Holahan.

Bill Clinton's Hollywood love fest

Ugly Betty (3/17)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Carol Kane as Lena Korvinka, Dana Ivey as Roberta, Aaron Tveit as Zachary Boule, Ryan McGinnis as Austin, Jordan Baker as older actress and Michael Genet as Dr. Thompson.

"All the World's a Stage" was written by Abraham Higginbotham and David Grubstick and directed by Andy Wolk.

Ugly Betty (3/10)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Lainie Kazan as Dina Talercio, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Don Jones, Rich Sommer as Jimmy Wilson, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler and Nestor Serrano as Anthony Talercio, with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio.

“Fire and Nice” was written by Erika Johnson and directed by John Terlesky.

Ugly Betty (2/24)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler, Faith Prince as Jean, Nadia Dajani as Denise Ludwig, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio.

The episode “Be-Shure” was written by Gail Lerner and directed by David Dworetsky.

'Grown Ups' trailer, now with more Salma Hayek

That's part of what you'll be asked to accept in "Grown Ups," a comedy due out this summer about five guys (Sandler and his buddies Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Kevin James and David Spade) who reunite after 30 years at the funeral of their youth-league basketball coach. Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph also star.

The film's international trailer hit the web recently, and for the most part it plays like the domestic one that's been out for a couple months now. It does, however, add a sequence featuring Hayek in a bikini (why this was not also included in the stateside trailer is a mystery; seems like Sandler fans might appreciate that sort of thing).

Have a look for yourself here.

'Ugly Betty' finale set for April

The show, which the network has decided to end after four seasons, will close its doors on Wednesday, April 14. That's 10 weeks from now; as the show has only seven episodes remaining on its order for the season, expect a few reruns mixed in with the last batch of originals.

ABC announced earlier this week that the mystery "Happy Town" would fill "Betty's" spot on Wednesday nights starting April 28; there's no word yet on what will take the week in between the "Betty" finale and "Happy Town's" premiere.

Series star America Ferrera has hinted that the end of the season might bring on new relationships for the plucky heroine, "or old relationships that become new and kind of change a little bit." That led to increased speculation that Betty might end up with Daniel (Eric Mabius), similar to the controversial ending of "Betty La Fea," the telenovela on which the show is based.

Weak ratings led to "Ugly Betty's" demise. The show has averaged just a little over 5 million viewers a week this season and didn't improve when it moved from Friday to Wednesday in January.

Ugly Betty (2/17)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in “The Bahamas Triangle” are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Christie Brinkley as Penelope Graybridge, with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio, Matt Newton as Troy and Shakira as herself.

The episode was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Ugly Betty To End This Season

"We've mutually come to the difficult decision to make this Ugly Betty's final season, and are announcing now as we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion," series creator Silvio Horta and ABC Entertainment Group President Stephen McPherson said in a joint statement. "We are extremely proud of this groundbreaking series, and felt it was important to give the fans a proper farewell."

The announcement comes on the heels of the series' move to Wednesdays at 10 /9c following a dismal showing on Fridays earlier this season. Betty's most recent episode on Jan. 21 brought in 4.56 million viewers and a 1.6 rating in the 18-to-49 demo.

Betty's fourth season bowed — at its new Friday at 9/8c timeslot — to a disappointing 5.1 million viewers and a 1.4 demo rating after attracting 6.16 million viewers and a 1.8 demo rating for its Season 3 finale in its longtime home, Thursdays at 8/7c.

Based on a Colombian series, Ugly Betty won three Emmys, including a best actress in a comedy series award for star America Ferrera and two Golden Globes for best comedy series and best actress in a comedy, all in 2007. That year, Ferrera also won a Screen Actors Guild award — making her the first TV actress to win a SAG, Globe and Emmy in a single season.

Ugly Betty's series finale has yet to be scheduled.

Ugly Betty (2/10)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Kristen Johnston as Helen, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, John Tartaglia as Paolo, Brian Reyes as himself, Katrina Bowden as Heather, Aubrey Dollar as Marisa with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio.

“Smokin’ Hot” was written by Brian Tanen and directed by John Scott.

Ugly Betty (2/3)

Note: This episode was originally scheduled for January 27. It now replaces “Smokin’ Hot,” which moves to February 10.

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Kristen Johnston as Helen, Chris Williams as Wilhediva Hater/Robert, Carlos Leon as Diego Martinez, Patricia Velasquez as Victoria Velez, Anjelah Johnson as Wendy, Danielle DiVecchio as Callie, RuPaul Charles as Rudolph, Ali Ahn as Fiona, Candi Shell as herself, Jeff Hiller as man, Justin Bond as Manna Wintour, Hedda Lettuce as herself and Varla Jean Merman as herself.

“Chica and the Man” was written by Gail Lerner and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Highlights of Hollywood's 2010 movie lineup

Winter and spring:

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Johnny Depp is the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's take on the Lewis Carroll adventures of a girl who goes through the looking glass.

THE BACK-UP PLAN: A woman (Jennifer Lopez) meets the right guy — just after she gets pregnant through artificial insemination.

THE BOOK OF ELI: Denzel Washington whups some butt as a prophet protecting a critical text in post-apocalyptic America.

THE BOUNTY HUNTER: Jennifer Aniston is a bail-jumping reporter pursued by her bounty-hunter ex-hubby (Gerard Butler).

CLASH OF THE TITANS: Ancient Greek hero Perseus (Sam Worthington) takes on Hades, lord of the underworld. With Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes.

COP OUT: A stolen baseball card sets two detectives (Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan) on the path of a memorabilia-obsessed mobster.

CREATION: Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany) copes with grief over a lost daughter as he struggles with his theory of evolution. With Jennifer Connelly.

DATE NIGHT: A weekly night out turns into a wild ride for a suburban couple (Steve Carell and Tina Fey) whose romance has become routine.

DEAR JOHN: A soldier (Channing Tatum) and a woman (Amanda Seyfried) carry out a seven-year romance from a distance while he's on assignment.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL: Crazy things happen at a family patriarch's funeral. With Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Danny Glover.

DISTRICT B13: ULTIMATUM: Martial-arts heroes return to try to quell unrest in a walled crime ghetto in this follow up to the French thriller.,P>EDGE OF DARKNESS: Mel Gibson is a homicide cop whose daughter's murder takes him into a dark world of corporate and government conspiracy.

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES: A father (Brendan Fraser) teams with a maverick doctor (Harrison Ford) to find a cure for his kids' fatal illness. With Keri Russell.

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE: A trigger-happy spy (John Travolta) and his inexperienced partner (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) try to crack a crime gang.

FURRY VENGEANCE: Animals fight back against the housing developer (Brendan Fraser) whose project threatens their habitat.

GREENBERG: A man (Ben Stiller) searching for meaning finds potential romance while house-sitting for his brother.

GREEN ZONE: Matt Damon goes searching for weapons of mass destruction in a thriller set in Iraq as the war there heats up in 2003.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: The world of the Vikings gets a makeover in this animated story of a misfit teen and his dragon.

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS: A con man (Jim Carrey) finds his soul mate (Ewan McGregor) while doing prison time.

KICK-ASS: A youth with no superpowers dons a costume to fight crime as a superhero. With Nicolas Cage.

THE LAST SONG: Miley Cyrus is a teen whose estranged father (Greg Kinnear) tries to reconnect with her through music.

LEGION: The archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) and a group of strangers are humanity's last hope for salvation.

THE LOSERS: A Special Forces team seeks revenge after its members are betrayed and presumed dead on a mission. With Zoe Saldana, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

MACGRUBER: The "Saturday Night Live" bit about a hapless special-ops man (Will Forte) gets big-screen treatment. With Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: Freddy Krueger (Jackie Earle Haley) is back to terrorize people in their dreams in an update of the 1980s slasher franchise.

PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF: A teen demigod is caught up in a potential war among the gods of Olympus, alive and well in modern times.

REMEMBER ME: "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson and "Lost" co-star Emilie de Ravin cope with romance amid adversity. With Pierce Brosnan.

REPO MEN: In a future where mechanical organs are repossessed for lack of payment, a former repo man (Jude Law) becomes the prey of his old partner (Forest Whitaker).

SAINT JOHN OF LAS VEGAS: A compulsive gambler (Steve Buscemi) fights temptation while trying to change his life. With Sarah Silverman.

SEASON OF THE WITCH: A medieval knight (Nicolas Cage) is assigned to escort a peasant girl the church suspects of bringing on the Black Plague by witchcraft.

SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE: An average guy (Jay Baruchel) scores big when a super-babe inexplicably falls for him.

SHUTTER ISLAND: Leonardo DiCaprio reunites with director Martin Scorsese in a tale set at a hospital for the criminally insane.

THE SPY NEXT DOOR: Jackie Chan balances his day job as a spy with baby-sitting his girlfriend's three kids.

TOOTH FAIRY: A mean-spirited hockey star (Dwayne Johnson) is sentenced to do time as a tooth fairy, with magic wings and wand. With Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews.

TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?: Filmmaker Perry co-stars with Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba and other cast mates for this relationship sequel.

VALENTINE'S DAY: A superstar cast copes with the trials of love. With Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher.

WALL STREET 2: Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas bring corporate raider Gordon Gekko out of mothballs in a tale of today's financial fiasco. With Shia LaBeouf.

WHEN IN ROME: Passions are magically aroused when a tourist retrieves coins tossed in a fountain of love. With Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Danny DeVito.

THE WOLFMAN: Benicio Del Toro is a man who finds the curse of the werewolf haunting his family when he returns to his ancestral home.___

Summer season:

THE A-TEAM: The TV action series goes big-screen as former Special Forces troops set out to clear their names. With Liam Neeson, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper.

CATS & DOGS: REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE: Cats and dogs unite to take on a nutty feline bent on global domination. With Christina Applegate.

DESPICABLE ME: Steve Carell leads the voice cast in an animated tale of a villain whose plot to steal the moon is sidelined by three orphan girls.

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS: A young exec (Paul Rudd) finds the perfect buffoon (Steve Carell) for his boss' monthly "dinner for idiots."

EAT PRAY LOVE: Julia Roberts plays a divorced woman on a worldwide journey to find meaning in her life. With James Franco, Javier Bardem.

THE EXPENDABLES: Sylvester Stallone directs and stars in a thriller about mercenaries betrayed on a mission. With Jet Li, Jason Statham.

GET HIM TO THE GREEK: A record company intern (Jonah Hill) has to escort an unruly rock legend to the first concert of his comeback tour.

GROWN UPS: Childhood pals (Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Rob Schneider and David Spade) reunite as adults. With Salma Hayek, Maria Bello.

INCEPTION: Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a science-fiction thriller from director Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight").

IRON MAN 2: Robert Downey Jr. slips back into his metal suit to face new foes. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke.

JONAH HEX: A disfigured bounty hunter (Josh Brolin) battles a villain aiming to unleash hell on Earth. With Megan Fox, John Malkovich.

THE KARATE KID: Jackie Chan imparts kung fu wisdom to a Detroit youth (Jaden Smith) uprooted by his family's move to China in an update of the 1980s hit.

KILLERS: An ex-assassin (Ashton Kutcher) and his wife (Katherine Heigl) go on the run after he's targeted for a hit in this action comedy.

KNIGHT AND DAY: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are a fugitive couple on a jet-setting adventure around the globe.

THE LAST AIRBENDER: M. Night Shyamalan adapts the animated TV show about a young savior with the power to end warfare among four nations with mystical powers.

LETTERS TO JULIET: An old letter to the doomed heroine of "Romeo and Juliet" sparks romance for two women (Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave).

THE LOTTERY TICKET: A ghetto dweller (Bow Wow) fends off greedy neighbors after he wins $370 million in the lottery. With Ice Cube.

MARMADUKE: Owen Wilson provides the voice of the Great Dane in a family comedy based on the canine comic strip.

MEET THE PARENTS 3: Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro find new ways to test their in-law relationship in the "Meet the Fockers" follow up.

THE OTHER GUYS: A detective more interested in paperwork and a street-tough cop (Mark Wahlberg) are partnered up. With Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson.

PREDATORS: Hardcore human killers become prey for alien hunters in a new take on the sci-fi franchise. With Adrien Brody, Topher Grace.

PRIEST: A renegade priest (Paul Bettany) tracks a gang of vampires that have abducted his niece.

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME: The video-game adaptation stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a fugitive prince who finds a dagger of enormous power.

RAMONA AND BEEZUS: The pesky young heroine of Beverly Cleary's best sellers comes to life in an adaptation of the children's books.

ROBIN HOOD: Russell Crowe reunites with director Ridley Scott for a fresh take on the 13th-century soldier turned folk hero. With Cate Blanchett.

SALT: Angelina Jolie is a CIA operative on the lam after she's accused of spying for Russia. With Liev Schreiber.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD: To win his dream woman, a slacker musician (Michael Cera) must vanquish her seven evil ex-boyfriends.

SEX AND THE CITY 2: Sarah Jessica Parker and her Manhattan mates return for more fashionable urban romantic angst.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER: Mike Myers' ogre is hurled into an alternate reality where he and his true love never met. With Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas.

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE: An ancient wizard (Nicolas Cage) recruits a protege (Jay Baruchel) to battle an evil foe (Alfred Molina).

STEP UP 3-D: Street dancers and a college freshman square off in a competition against world-class hip-hop dancers.

TAKERS: A detective (Matt Dillon) pursues a gang of bank robbers (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Tip "T.I." Harris, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy).

TOY STORY 3: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and their plaything pals face abandonment after their kid grows up in this animated sequel.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE: Danger comes calling again for a teen (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire and werewolf suitors (Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner).

____

Fall and holiday season:

ALPHA AND OMEGA: Two wolves relocated halfway across the country try to return home. The animated tale features the voices of Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere.

THE AMERICAN: A hit man (George Clooney) finds romance and friendship in Italy while awaiting what he hopes will be his last assignment.

BURLESQUE: Christina Aguilera aims for stardom with a musical revue at an aging theater. With Cher, Stanley Tucci.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER: C.S. Lewis' young heroes land aboard an incredible ship as the fantasy series resumes.

DUE DATE: Robert Downey Jr. stars as a first-time dad who has to hitch a ride with an actor (Zach Galinianakis) to get home in time for his baby's birth.

FLIPPED: Rob Reiner directs a story of first love following a smitten girl and unwilling boy from grade school to junior high.

GOING THE DISTANCE: A couple (Drew Barrymore and Justin Long) struggle to make their bicoastal romance work.

THE GREEN HORNET: A rich party boy (Seth Rogen) turns to crime-fighting as the masked Hornet. With Cameron Diaz.

GUARDIANS OF GA'HOOLE: A young owl battles to save his kind from evil enemies in this animated family adventure.

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: Jack Black does a modern take on the world-traveling hero who encounters a race of tiny people on his sojourn.

HEREAFTER: Paths cross for three people around the world who are touched by death. Clint Eastwood directs, Matt Damon stars.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS — PART 1: The young wizards (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) aim to destroy the crux of evil Voldemort's power.

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT: Mismatched godparents (Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel) must team up as guardians for their orphaned goddaughter.

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS: Romance develops between a free spirit (Anne Hathaway) and a dauntless Viagra salesman (Jake Gyllenhaal).

MEGAMIND: A supervillain flirts with virtue after his superhero opponent turns to the dark side in an animated tale featuring the voices of Brad Pitt and Will Ferrell.

MORNING GLORY: A TV morning-show producer (Rachel McAdams) copes with a clash between her tough newsman (Harrison Ford) and his new co-host (Diane Keaton).

RAPUNZEL: Mandy Moore provides the voice of the long-haired fairy-tale princess locked away in a tower in this animated musical.

RED DAWN: A group of youths forms a guerrilla army to fight back against military forces that have invaded America.

SAW VII: The horror franchise returns for part seven in the diabolical games initiated by killer Jigsaw.

SECRETARIAT: A housewife (Diane Lane) and trainer (John Malkovich) team to raise the 1973 Triple Crown-winning racehorse.

THE TOWN: Ben Affleck directs and stars as a bank robber who falls into romance with his former hostage (Rebecca Hall).

TRON: LEGACY: Jeff Bridges reprises his 1982 character, whose son (Garrett Hedlund) is pulled into the digital world where his dad has disappeared.

UNSTOPPABLE: A railway engineer (Denzel Washington) and a conductor (Chris Pine) race to stop a runaway train carrying toxic cargo.

YOGI BEAR: The smarter-than-average bear of the TV cartoons comes to the big screen in a live-action and animation combo. With Dan Aykroyd.

YOU AGAIN: Rivalries are renewed after a woman (Kristen Bell) learns her brother's marrying her high school nemesis. With Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis.

YOUR HIGHNESS: A black sheep knight (Danny McBride), his perfect brother (James Franco) and a fierce warrior (Natalie Portman) embark on rescue mission.

ZOOKEEPER: A kindly zookeeper (Kevin James) gets romantic advice from the animals in his charge.

Ugly Betty (1/27)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Kristen Johnston as Helen, Chris Williams as Wilhediva Hater/Robert, Carlos Leon as Diego Martinez, Patricia Velasquez as Victoria Velez, Anjelah Johnson as Wendy, Danielle DiVecchio as Callie, RuPaul Charles as Rudolph, Ali Ahn as Fiona, Candi Shell as herself, Jeff Hiller as man, Justin Bond as Manna Wintour, Hedda Lettuce as herself and Varla Jean Merman as herself.

“Chica and the Man” was written by Gail Lerner and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Ugly Betty (1/20)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Frank Whaley as Mr. Sparks, Minglie Chan as Vickie, Ryan Spahn as Gus, Tovah Feldshuh as Mrs. Varner, Chip Zien as Frank and Sherry Skinker as the doctor, with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio.

“Blackout!” was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by John Putch.

Ugly Betty (1/13)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Fisher Stevens as Mr. Z, Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, John O’Brien as Joe of Happy Homes, Deanna Dunagan as Lee, Ezra Knight as guard, with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio.

“Back in Her Place” was written by Abraham Higginbotham and directed by Richard Heus.

Ugly Betty (1/6)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Dr. Farkas, Christine Ebersole as Frances, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Nadia Dajani as Denise Ludwig, Matt Newton as Troy, Nathanael Maini as art gallery patron, with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio.

“The Passion of the Betty” was written by David Grubstick and Chris Black and directed by S.J. Clarkson.

Ugly Betty Moves to Wednesday

Salma Spent Thanksgiving in Morocco

"It's sad to be away from America on Thanksgiving," Aniston, who stopped in London before arriving in Marrakesh, told PEOPLE. "But I actually had my meal last week in L.A. with friends." She added, "I was last here 10 years ago, so I am happy to be back."

As Aniston, who wore a gown by Celine, approached La Mamounia's red carpet, a throng of photographers knocked over a large lamp, giving the actress a bit of a scare. She later joked, "What am I thankful for? After that, I’m happy to be alive!"

Paltrow, who attended the gala without husband Chris Martin, was less sentimental about missing Thanksgiving. "It's fine," she told PEOPLE. "I mean, my mom is in Los Angeles, my brother is in New York, and I am in London, but it's not a holiday there. My kids don't get off from school, so I figured I would take off for a few days, and it's wonderful to be here. It's my first time in Morocco."

Hayek also celebrated the hotel's reopening without her other half, husband François-Henri Pinault, who remained in Paris with their daughter Valentina. But he was close to her heart – literally: She wore a gown from Gucci, part of the French luxury and retail group PPR SA, which owns the designer label, and of which Pinault is the chief executive.

On the other hand, Bloom arrived with girlfriend, model Miranda Kerr. "Miranda and I spend so much time apart, she's working hard, I'm working hard, so we have to grab time together whenever we can," Bloom said. "A weekend here, a weekend there."

As for ongoing engagement rumors, he said, "We are just enjoying our time together now." Bloom, who flew from the U.S. but changed planes in London, where he met up with Kerr, then looked at her, and said, "But doesn't she look lovely tonight."

Ugly Betty (12/11)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Neal Bledsoe as Tyler, Faith Prince as Jean, Nadia Dajani as Denise Ludwig, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio.

The episode “Be-Shure” was written by Gail Lerner and directed by David Dworetsky.

Ugly Betty (12/4)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in “The Bahamas Triangle” are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Christie Brinkley as Penelope Graybridge, with Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Talercio, Matt Newton as Troy and Shakira as herself.

The episode was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY: Level (7) with Me (11/27)

Note: This program was originally scheduled to air November 20.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "Level (7) with Me" are Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Natalie, Dylan Baker as Bennett Wallis, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Sarah LaFleur as Molly, Yaya DaCosta as Nico Slater and Piter Marek as Oskar Castelar.

The episode was written by Chris Black and directed by John Fortenberry.

UGLY BETTY: Backseat Betty (11/13)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "Backseat Betty" are Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Natalie, Yaya Dacosta as Nico Slater, Piter Marek as Oskar Castelar, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Dylan Baker as Bennett Wallis, Bonnie Dennison as Ava, with Adam Rodriquez as Bobby Talercio.

"Backseat Betty" was written by Jon Kinally and Tracy Poust, and directed by John Putch.

Step right up for 'Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant'

The crowd of misfits he hangs with is a rowdy, outlandish and strangely droll bunch.

Into this universe of freaks come a pair of teen geeks, and the union of these two worlds is celebrated with gusto and dark humor by director Paul Weitz (American Dreamz).

Weitz has taken several of the popular children's books in the series by Darren Shan and unified them into one tale, adding an edgier tone to this part horror film, part comedy and part teen romance. And given how overexposed vampires have become, Cirque du Freak wisely takes a mocking approach.

The limits of friendship are tested and familial bonds are torn asunder when Darren (Chris Massoglia) foolishly steals a large, multihued spider he spies at a traveling freak how. His actions kick off a series of events that result in Darren becoming a half-vampire and an assistant to the sardonic Lartan Crepsley (Reilly).

Intrigued by the possibilities, Darren and best pal Steve (Josh Hutcherson) sneak out to attend what is billed as Cirque du Freak. Things go awry from the minute they arrive. Darren inadvertently destroys a centuries-old truce between warring vampire factions. And he and Steve find themselves on opposing sides.

Director Weitz often works with his brother, Chris. But Chris was busy directing his own vampire movie, the second installment in the Twilight series, due out next month. Vampire fascination must be in their blood.

Though this genre hybrid is uneven, it offers quite a few laughs, if not all-out scares. Quirky members of the freak show are not given enough screen time: Salma Hayek is a kind bearded lady, Patrick Fugit plays a green-skinned Snake Boy and Orlando Jones is Alexander Ribs. The cirque is run by the fair-minded and lanky Mr. Tall (Ken Watanabe).

Reilly does a fine job, switching with agility from deadpan to smirking to outrageous in a role that requires him to go from jocular to menacing.

Cirque du Freak encompasses those dualities. Family ties are valued but broken. The world Darren chooses is dark but colorful. But, perhaps best of all, the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. It's creepy but tinged with sarcasm and infused with silly fun.

"Cirque du Freak" looks creepy, delivers few chills

"Freak," bowing Friday (October 23), might open well thanks to interest in the books and bloodsuckers in general. But audiences might get lost in this unwieldy mixture of the undead, teenage antics, failed comedy and circus freaks. One of the film's bigger burdens is to establish characters and subplots for potential sequels. Based on these results, the likelihood of such a series is unduly optimistic.

The director is Paul Weitz, and he appears miscast. Because comedy is his forte, with such hits as "American Pie" and "About a Boy," the tone is comic. But nothing in the script he wrote with Brian Helgeland is remotely funny. And turning the vampire's fights and their warp-speed travels into opportunities for special-effect slapstick undermines the creepy darkness you crave in any vampire tale.

As with the "Twilight" saga, the next chapter of which will arrive shortly from Weitz's brother Chris, teen angst mingles with traditional vampire fare. The hero is young Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia) -- yes, the novelist names his protagonist after himself -- whose best friend, the unstable Steve (Josh Hutcherson), talks him into attending a freak show that has come to their unnamed town.

There, the duo encounters a 220-year-old vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly, who seems to be playing every one of those years). Steve, a fan of vampires, instantly recognizes the dude for who he is -- something about seeing his picture in a book once -- and the two, rather unconvincingly, become involved in the lives of Crepsley and the freak show.

Mixing vampires with freaks certainly has no tradition, but for a while, the film picks up a little energy from this twist. The freaks are entertaining CG-enhanced characters, ranging from Ken Watanabe's Mr. Tall, who runs the place, to Orlando Jones' Alexander Ribs, Frankie Faison's two-bellied gourmet, Jane Krakowski's woman with detachable limbs and Jessica Carlson's monkey girl. But these creatures are but dress extras, with the exception of Carlson's Rebecca, who becomes Darren's love interest. The story has the two boys trigger a war between clans of vampires that destroys a shaky truce. But this is dull and uninvolving. Nor is there any reason for their participation in this political strife. What's at stake for them?

The trouble is, too many characters must be introduced in the interest of future episodes without having much to do in this one. These include Salma Hayek, a bearded lady whose beard mysteriously disappears most of the time, and Willem Dafoe's vampire with a John Waters pencil mustache who literally does nothing.

Miscalculation runs through the entire movie. The tone is all wrong, the effects are poorly used, and the acting styles range all over the place. Actors playing one-note minor characters are encouraged to exaggerate, and the youngsters would not be out of place in a Disney film. Sets and cinematography emphasize the story's creepiness, but the action runs counter to any chills or thrills.

Making a vampire movie without any bite is like removing guns from a Western.

Sightings

UGLY BETTY: Plus None (11/6)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "Plus None" are Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Natalie, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Yaya DaCosta as Nico Slater, Piter Marek as Detective Oskar Castelar, Smith Cho as Megan, Andrew Friedman as Andy, Jordan Carlos as speech writer and Joan Poust as Mrs. Watkins.

"Plus None" is written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Paul Holahan.

UGLY BETTY: The Wiener, the Bun and the Boob (10/30)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "The Weiner, the Bun and the Boob" are Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Natalie, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Yaya DaCosta as Nico Slater, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Jr., Brooklyn Decker as Lexie and Dylan Baker as Bennett.

"The Wiener, the Bun and the Boob" is written by Brian Tanen and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

Ugly Betty Encore Telecasts Coming to TV Guide Network

The network also invited fans to share their comments and reactions to the new season by uploading them to a new YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/uglybettyfans. Some of the YouTube video posts will air on TV Guide Network leading up to each Thursday Ugly Betty encore telecast. The episodes will first air on Fridays on ABC at 8/7c, beginning Oct. 16.

On Saturday, Oct. 17 between 1:00 and 3:00 pm, Los Angeles-area Ugly Betty fans are invited to meet in the second floor courtyard area of the Hollywood & Highland Center for a chance to be interviewed about the show. The network encouraged fans to dress as their favorite characters and come prepared to talk about their favorite episodes and stars. Fan interviews will air on TV Guide Network Thursdays before the encore airings.

TV Guide Network will air special Ugly Betty-themed programming leading up to the Oct. 22 encore telecast, including a behind-the-scenes look at the set, cast interviews, a series overview, scoop on the new season, and fashion tips on how to emulate the characters' styles.

Sightings

UGLY BETTY: Blue on Blue (10/23)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "Blue on Blue" are Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Natalie, Hamish Linklater as Evan York, Adam Ferrera as Sammy and Wass Stevens as Bounty Hunter.

"Blue on Blue" is written by Abraham Higginbotham and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY: The Butterfly Effect, Parts 1 & 2 - SEASON PREMIERE (10/16)

In "The Butterfly Effect," Part 2 (9:00-10:00 p.m.), Betty gets to run her own Mode photo shoot at the United Nations to promote their anti-malaria initiative, "Nothing but Nets," but her big opportunity becomes a baptism by fire when Daniel's neediness takes its toll, and Matt openly demoralizes her. Meanwhile, Amanda does some soul-searching when she bonds with Daniel's new temp, Helen (Kristen Johnston), a career receptionist as fabulous as Amanda is. Wili makes it her personal mission to protect a loved one, and Hilda reaches out to Marc to figure out how to help Justin.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Becki Newton as Amanda, Michael Urie as Marc, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest-starring in "The Butterfly Effect," Part 1 are Lynn Redgrave as Olivia, David Rasche as Calvin Hartley, Smith Cho as Megan, Yaya DaCosta as Nico Slater, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez and Judy Gold as Joan. This episode was written by Henry Alonso Myers and Sheila Lawrence, and directed by John Terlesky.

Guest starring in "The Butterfly Effect," Part 2 are Kristen Johnston as Helen, Smith Cho as Megan, Yaya DaCosta as Nico Slater, Piter Marek as Oscar Castelar, Rob Bartlett as Security Guard and Matte Osian as Dmitri. This episode was written by Henry Alonso Myers and Sheila Lawrence, and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

"Ugly Betty's" executive producers are Silvio Horta ("Urban Legend"), Academy Award-nominee and Emmy Award winner Salma Hayek, Jose Tamez, Richard Heus, Victor Nelli Jr., Jon Kinnally, Tracy Poust, Henry Alonso Myers and Sheila Lawrence. Co-executive producers are Chris Black, Gail Lerner and Abraham Higgenbotham.

Sightings

Stars to Be Pampered at ET Emmy After-Party

It's the sixth time the celebrity news sources have teamed up on TV's biggest night to celebrate the stars – confirmed guests include Salma Hayek, Ryan Seacrest, Stephen Moyer and Vanessa Williams – and this year's event, at downtown L.A.'s Vibiana, promises to dazzle.

Perks will include: Maybelline make-up artists giving touch-ups and beauty products to celeb guests; low-cal drinks from a Vitamin Water 10 bar; a Cole Haan bag designed exclusively for the party and stuffed with goodies; a special menu created by celebrity chef Susan Feniger of the restaurant Street; and desserts by L.A. dessert shop/bakery/caterers MILK.

The entertainment will be headlined by Mary J. Blige, with music spun by DJ Samantha Ronson for the pleasure of Stephen Colbert, Jon Hamm, Glenn Close, Hugh Laurie, Kathy Griffin, Jerry Bruckheimer and Sarah Silverman, among many others.

Sightings

2009 ALMA Award Nominees

COMEDY

Actress
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, ABC
Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty, ABC
Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives, ABC
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Entourage, HBO
Jessica Alba, The Office, NBC
Joanna Garcia, Privileged, CW
Judy Reyes, Scrubs, ABC
Lupe Ontiveros, Reaper, CW
Maria Canals-Barrera, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL
Nadine Velazquez, My Name Is Earl, NBC
Rosie Perez, Lipstick Jungle, NBC
Salma Hayek, 30 Rock, NBC
Selena Gomez, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL

Special Achievement Honorees: Salma Hayek, Executive Producer, Ugly Betty

Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence: Salma Hayek

UGLY BETTY: The Fall Issue (9/11)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "The Fall Issue" are Christine Baranski as Victoria Hartley, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Rachel Dratch as Penny and Mindy Meadows, Antonio Sabato Jr. as himself, Nigel Barker as himself, Rachel Maddow as herself, Robert Verdi as himself and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"The Fall Issue" was written Silvio Horta and directed by Tom Verica.

UGLY BETTY: Curveball (9/4)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "Curveball" are Christine Baranski as Victoria Hartley, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Bernadette Peters as Jodie, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Joy Behar as herself, Elisabeth Hasselbeck as herself, Billie Jean King as herself and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"Curveball" was written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally and directed by Victor Nelli Jr.

UGLY BETTY ENHANCED EPISODES TO AIR AUG. 14 - SEPT. 11

The enhanced version episodes are:

Friday, August 14 - "Rabbit Test" (OAD: 4/30/09)
Friday, August 21 - "The Born Identity" (OAD: 5/7/09)
Friday, August 28 - "In the Stars" (OAD: 5/14/09)
Friday, September 4 - "Curveball" (OAD: 5/21/09)
Friday, September 11 - "The Fall Issue" (OAD: 5/21/09)

The award-winning series returns for a diva-licious fourth season on ABC Fridays this fall from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET, with a special two-hour season premiere on Friday, October 9, 8:00-10:00 p.m., ET.

UGLY BETTY: In the Stars (8/28)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Adele as herself, Christine Baranski as Victoria Hartley, Bernadette Peters as Jodie, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Lauren Velez as Elena and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"In the Stars" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Paul Holahan.

UGLY BETTY: The Born Identity (8/21)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley, David Rasche as Calvin Hartley, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"The Born Identity" was written by Steven Ross and directed by John Terlesky.

UGLY BETTY: Rabbit Test (8/14)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley, David Rasche as Calvin Hartley, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Brennan Brown as Miles Foster and Adam Grupper as Dr. Erskine.

"Rabbit Test" was written by Chris Black and directed by Richard Heus.

ABC's fall 2009 primetime schedule

TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Shark Tank"
9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show"
10:00 p.m. "The Forgotten"

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Hank"
8:30 p.m. "The Middle"
9:00 p.m. "Modern Family"
9:30 p.m. "Cougar Town"
10:00 p.m. "Eastwick"

THURSDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Flash Forward"
9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
10:00 p.m. "Private Practice"

FRIDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Supernanny"
9:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"
10:00 p.m. "20/20"

SATURDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Saturday Night College Football"

SUNDAY:
7:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
10:00 p.m. "Brothers & Sisters"

UGLY BETTY (5/21)

In "The Fall Issue" (9:00-10:00 p.m.), the sudden death of a Mode editor leaves Betty and Marc competing for the same job. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina demands that Claire tender her resignation at a big awards ceremony . . . or she'll reveal Claire's dark secret to Cal Hartley; Matt lets his jealousy over Henry get the best of him; and Justin nervously waits to see if he got into performing arts school.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring in "Curveball" are Christine Baranski as Victoria Hartley, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Bernadette Peters as Jodie, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Joy Behar as herself, Elisabeth Hasselbeck as herself, Billie Jean King as herself and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre. "Curveball" was written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally and directed by Victor Nelli Jr.

Guest starring in "The Fall Issue" are Christine Baranski as Victoria Hartley, David Rasche as Cal Hartley, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Rachel Dratch as Penny and Mindy Meadows, Antonio Sabato Jr. as himself, Nigel Barker as himself, Rachel Maddow as herself, Robert Verdi as himself and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre. "The Fall Issue" was written Silvio Horta and directed by Tom Verica.

Johansson tops best breast poll

The actress beat newlywed Salma Hayek for the booby prize as part of a new poll compiled by TV show Access Hollywood.

The top five actresses on the new list are:
1. Scarlett Johansson
2. Salma Hayek
3. Halle Berry
4. Jessica Simpson
5. Jennifer Love Hewitt

UGLY BETTY (5/14)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Adele as herself, Christine Baranski as Victoria Hartley, Bernadette Peters as Jodie, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Lauren Velez as Elena and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"In the Stars" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Paul Holahan.

Salma Hayek's Wedding Reception an All-Star Song Fest

The music kicked in during the ceremony, when the 150 guests – among them Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Ed Norton, Woody Harrelson, Charlize Theron, Stella McCartney and Ashley Judd – serenaded the couple with a Hawaiian-style version of the sentimental classic from The Wizard of Oz, "Over the Rainbow."

Later at the elegant reception, Hayek, Theron and Harrelson joined Bono and Damien Rice on stage for a rendition of something bouncy: "Stand By Me."

While guests danced to a 14-member band inside the opera house, Theron and companion Stuart Townsend, along with designer McCartney, took a break outside. At one point, the two women sang "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," from Evita, before Hayek – who had exchanged her Balenciaga wedding gown for a knee-length fuschia dress– joined them for the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

By 3 a.m. the reception was winding down as one of the last guests, Lucy Liu, departed on foot.

"It was all about love, family and friends," says a wedding guest. Not to mention song.

Salma Hayek and Husband Have Romantic Italian Wedding

The actress and her husband, French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, tied the knot – for the second time – Saturday in a star-studded ceremony in Venice, Italy, PEOPLE has confirmed. They originally got married in a civil ceremony at the 6th Arrondisement City Hall in Paris on Valentine's Day.

This time around, Hayek, 42, went all out. She wore a Balenciaga wedding gown by Nicholas Ghesquiere as she exchanged vows with Pinault, 46, at Venice's opera house La Fenice. The bride, who wore her hair in a bun with a long veil, held a bouquet of orchids and stephanotis with crystals.

The couple's daughter, Valentina Paloma, 19 months, was a flower girl, along with Francois-Henri's son and daughter from his first marriage, Francois, 10 and Mathilde, 8. Valentina wore a dress by Bonpoint for the ceremony, which started around 7 p.m. At one point in the ceremony, the guests sang "Over the Rainbow."

About 150 friends and family members were in attendance, including Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton, Woody Harrelson, Olivier Martinez, Luis Miguel, Ashley Judd, Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Bono, Gael García Bernal, Enrique Murciano, David Blaine, Ziyi Zhang, Anna Wintour and former French President Jacques Chirac. The wedding was a black tie affair. Guests wore black and gold masks as they arrived for the nuptials.

A Masked Ball

The weekend celebration kicked off Friday evening with a carnival-style masked ball at the Venice's historic Punta Della Dogana. The structure, which is leased from the city by Pinault's father and has undergone a $70-million renovation, will open to the public on June 6 as the Pinault Foundation Centre for Contemporary Art.

The couple's guests have enjoyed the sites of Italy's most romantic city since arriving Thursday. Woody Harrelson and wife Lucy Louie were spotted hand-in-hand taking a stroll around Piazza San Marco on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Hayek told PEOPLE, "I think a wedding is about love, friends, family and fun." And she certainly got that during the celebration surrounded by loved ones.

The actress and Pinault, the CEO of luxury-goods company PPR, met in spring 2006 at a gala party at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, a white marble palace built in 1748-1772 and owned by the Pinault family.

SALMA PARTIES BIG AFTER ALL

Guests Arrive in Venice for Salma Hayek's Wedding

Despite cloudy skies, actor Woody Harrelson and wife Laura Louie enjoyed a twilight hand-in-hand stroll around Piazza San Marco, while other guests – including Hayek's ex-boyfriend Ed Norton and actor Olivier Martinez – were seen enjoying the sites of the city.

The wedding weekend kicked off Friday with a rehearsal dinner at the Punta Della Dogana, one of Venice’s most historic buildings, which guards the south entry of Venice’s Grand Canal. The Carnival in Venice-style masked ball was held inside a white tent in the courtyard with many guests, including Charlize Theron and boyfriend Stuart Townsend, wearing black Venetian masks. Also in attendance were former French president Jacques Chirac and wife Bernadette. Others expected at the celebration are Penélope Cruz, Ashley Judd, Luis Miguel and Lucy Liu.

The site of the rehearsal dinner has been used by Venetian merchants since the 15th century. After the buildings fell into disrepair, the city awarded the lease to Pinault's father, who has since spent $70 million on renovations. The structure will open to the public as the Pinault Foundation Centre for Contemporary Art on June 6.

Earlier this month, Hayek, 42, told PEOPLE, "I think a wedding is about love, friends, family and fun."

The actress-producer and Pinault, 46, the CEO of luxury-goods company PPR, are parents to daughter Valentina Paloma, born in September 2007.

Salma Hayek Planning a Weekend Wedding in Italy

Salma Hayek and new husband François-Henri Pinault will say "I do" again this weekend in Italy, according to People. The ceremony comes after a quiet Valentine's Day marriage at the 6th Arrondisement City Hall in Paris.

Word first got out when Antonio Bandera announced at a press conference in Spain that he and his wife, Melanie Griffith, would be attending the ceremony in Venice. Other celeb guests include Penelope Cruz and Luis Miguel.

The celebration will kick off Friday with a rehearsal dinner, according to People en Español. The ceremony will be held Saturday at the Palazzo Grassi, a 18th century white marble palace owned by the Pinault family since 2005. The couple first met at that location during a gala in 2006.

Tom Brady and Giselle Bundchen also had two wedding ceremonies earlier this year. Hayek, however, said this "wedding is about love, friends, family and fun."

ABC ANNOUNCES EARLY PICK-UPS FOR NEXT SEASON

Season to date, ABC claims 4 of the Top 10 highest-rated TV series in Adults 18-49, including the Top 2 scripted shows with "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy." During the fall, the Net finished No. 1 in the November Sweep among Adults 18-49 for the fourth year in a row. Most recently ABC is generating mid-season momentum in 2009, delivering across-the-board gains over the same point last year: Total Viewers +6%, Adults 18-34 +14%, Adults 18-49 +8% and Adults 25-54 +6%.

Salma Hayek Says, "I Do" to Wedding Redo

The Oscar-nominated actress, who officially married on Valentine's Day, is scheduled to hold a wedding celebration with her husband François-Henri Pinault this weekend in Italy.

Sources have confirmed to E! News that Hayek, 42, and celeb pals, including Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, have already started to arrive in Venice for the event, which was organized so that they could celebrate with friends and family since their wedding earlier this year was a low-key affair attended by few.

Hayek had previously shot down rumors that she planned on spending $2 million for the party, not that the ultra-loaded Pinault, a tycoon whose company runs Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, couldn't afford to bankroll such a lavish affair.

The couple, who split briefly last summer despite a long engagament, have a 1-year-old daughter, Valentina.

UGLY BETTY (5/7)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley, David Rasche as Calvin Hartley, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"The Born Identity" was written by Steven Ross and directed by John Terlesky.

UGLY BETTY (4/30)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Daniel Eric Gold as Matt Hartley, David Rasche as Calvin Hartley, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Brennan Brown as Miles Foster and Adam Grupper as Dr. Erskine.

"Rabbit Test" was written by Chris Black and directed by Richard Heus.

'Ugly Betty' returns to ABC one week early

The comedy starring America Ferrera will return with the episode "Rabbit Test," airing on Thursday, April 30, a week earlier than previously announced.

In addition, an airdate for "In the Stars," the episode guest starring singer Adele has been set for May 14.

Finally, on Thursday, May 21, back-to-back episodes of "Ugly Betty" will air -- "Curveball" at 8 p.m. ET/PT and the season finale "The Fall Issue" at 9 p.m.

Salma Hayek Denies Plans for $2 Million Wedding

The actress, who quietly wed Francois-Henri Pinault at City Hall in Paris on Valentine's Day, is debunking reports that she's planning a lavish follow-up ceremony and reception at the end of April.

"I think a wedding is about love, friends, family and fun," Hayek, 42, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I think spending millions of dollars on a wedding is ridiculous and it has never been my dream. I would never do that."

The actress-producer and Pinault, 46, the CEO of luxury-goods company PPR welcomed daughter Valentina Paloma in September 2007.

Sightings

Salma Hayek Spills the Secret of Her Signature Beauty Line

Salma Hayek joins Adam Sandler comedy

Salma Hayek has signed on to play the comedian's wife in Adam Sandler's next (and as-yet untitled) comedy, sources say. Colin Quinn and Maya Rudolph will also co-star.

Sandler's character will reunite with his former high-school friends, played by Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade. With that crowd, hilarity is sure to ensue.

Rudolph will play Rock's wife.

Hayek, 42, has had a recurring guest role on "30 Rock" and last starred on the big screen in 2007's "Across the Universe."

Salma Hayek's Billionaire Hubby Moonlights as Her Stylist

"François was my stylist," Hayek, 42, tells InStyle for its April issue about the champagne Bottega Veneta gown she wore to the Golden Globes. "It was Christmas and I was just overwhelmed with so many things to do. He said, 'Let me help you. How can I help?'

"And I said, 'Well, I have to pick a dress for the Golden Globes,' " Hayek continues, recounting her conversation with hubby François Henri-Pinault, whose company PPR oversees Balenciaga, Gucci and YSL. "So Bottega Veneta sent swatches and sketches, and François worked with the designer Tomas Maier, and he took care of everything."

The two wed in a Valentine's Day ceremony at City Hall in Paris after the InStyle interview was conducted. When asked about her feelings for her husband, the actress was succinct, saying simply: "He's the best."

They couple have an 18-month-old daughter, Valentina, for whom Hayek has equally glowing words.

"She is unique, magical – definitely the most colorful person I've ever met," the actress says. "I feel so connected to her, but at the same time, we are completely different. I discover something new about her every day."

Salma Hayek and Husband Shine at Paris Fashion Week

Making their first public appearance together since their Valentine's Day wedding, the actress and her billionaire-businessman husband arrived at the five-star Hotel Crillon for the Balenciaga show.

Not only does Pinault own the design house, but the couple re-ignited their on-and-off relationship at last September's Balenciaga show. In addition, Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquiere is one of Hayek's favorites.

As the couple arrived at the hotel, press photographers – who had been shut out of their secret wedding – shouted out in a chorus of, "Congratulations on your wedding!" Replied a smiling Hayek: "Thank you very much."

"She was kind of amused by that," one of the participants told PEOPLE, adding about the bride and groom, "They seemed very content."

After the Balenciaga show, the Pinaults headed back to their Left Bank Paris apartment – trailed by no less than about a dozen paparazzi.

UGLY BETTY (3/19)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Ralph Macchio as Archie, Lawrence Saint-Victor as James and Heidi Marnhout as Felissa.

"The Sex Issue" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Sightings

Salma Hayek Parties But Stays Mum on Wedding

The actress hit Robert Vetica's Good to Great Hair book launch at Beso. And while she was wearing her blinged-out wedding band along with her engagement ring, no questions were allowed about her Valentine's Day vows to billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault.

However, she did dish about another new project in the works—her own recession-proof cosmetics line!

"I am trying to develop a line with a drugstore so that it's affordable for everyone," she said. "I've been doing research for two or three years. My whole approach is, how can we get the essence of the really expensive ones but for everyone to be able to use?"

Nice to know marriage to one of the world's richest men hasn't changed her.

Also at the party: Debra Messing and Rose McGowan, who said Vetica may style her hair for her upcoming wedding to Robert Rodriguez. "It's going to be private, with a nice big party!" she said.

Sightings

UGLY BETTY (3/12)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Christine Baranski as Victoria Hartley, Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Lauren Velez as Elena, Brennan Brown as Miles Foster and Dan Ziskie as Dr. Simon.

"A Mother of a Problem" was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Matthew Diamond.

Salma Hayek's Surprise Wedding!

In the Salles des Mariages in the famed City Hall of Paris's Sixth Arrondissement, the bride shed a few tears as she said, "Oui," before a dozen guests, including mother Diana Jimenez, her brother Sami (who also served as her witness) and 17-month-old Valentina, her daughter with Pinault.

"The bride was extremely beautiful," an attendee tells PEOPLE, "even when she was crying tears of joy. They were extremely happy."

Introduced by Pinault's stepmother in 2006, the couple embarked on a romance that spanned the globe.

In March 2007, the actress, 42, and the Paris-based mogul, 46 (who runs PPR, a luxury-goods company founded by his father and which owns such brands as Balenciaga and Gucci; his family is worth an estimated $16.9 billion) announced both their engagement and Hayek's pregnancy.

Continued Together

But in July 2008, 10 months after their daughter Valentina's birth, the couple abruptly called off their engagement.

Yet they continued spending time together with Valentina and, by last fall, after they were spotted looking cozy in L.A., vacationing in Ibiza and taking in a soccer game in France, headed for a reconciliation.

"He's the sweetest guy when he's around her," a Hayek source says. "He's good to her, always with her. They take the baby everywhere with him. They're happy together, totally in love."

For more on Hayek's wedding, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Salma Hayek Weds Ex-Fiancee in France

The actress married French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault this past Saturday, Feb. 14, in France, reports the Le Point newsmagazine.

Hayek, 42, and Pinault, 46, exchanged vows in the City Hall of the Sixth Arrondissement in Paris.

The couple first met in Venice in May 2006 and announced their engagement in March 2007. Together they had a daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, in September that year, but then called off their engagement in July 2008.

Apparently, they had rekindled their romance.

Pinault is the CEO of PPR, a luxury good firm that own Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Balenciaga, a french department store and national music chain. He has two other children from a previous marriage.

Hayek received an Oscar nomination for playing the titular role in 2002's "Frida." Her other credits include "Desperado," "Fools Rush In," "Wild Wild West," "After the Sunset," "Bandidas" and "Ask the Dust" (which won her Mr. Skin's top honors for best nude scene of 2006).

She's also a Golden Globe-winning producer on ABC's "Ugly Betty," for which she made guest appearances, and has been guest starring on the current season of "30 Rock."

UGLY BETTY (3/5)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Steve Schirripa as Frankie Burrata, Mo Rocca as the host and Teddy Coluca as Mr. Delima.

"Sugar Daddy" was written by Brian Tanen and directed by David Warren.

Hayek fires up for 'Freak' with facial hair

"It's one of those vampire movies. It's very funny. It's me with the beard," Hayek says.

The kid-friendly fantasy, which arrives later this year, tells the story of a boy (Chris Massoglia) who breaks a 200-year truce between two warring bloodsucker factions. It co-stars John C. Reilly as vampire Larten Crepsley.

Hayek had a great time making the film, her first since having daughter Valentina in February 2007. She's looking at other scripts but says that "being a mom and having a long-distance relationship (with Francois-Henri Pinault), it's a lot of work."

Salma Hayek breastfeeds another woman's baby in Sierra Leone

The sultry "Frida" actress breastfed another woman's baby during a trip to Sierra Leone in front of "Nightline" cameras.

Hayek, 42, discovered the child, who's mother was unable to produce milk, during a tour of a hospital in the war-torn country.

"The baby was perfectly healthy, but the mother did not have any milk," she later recalled to USA Today. "He was very hungry - I was weaning my daughter Valentina, but I still had a lot of milk, so I breastfed the baby."

"You should have seen his eyes," she said. "When he felt the nourishment, he immediately stopped crying."

Hayek took the trip to Sierra Leone in September as part of her work with UNICEF and Pampers to help mothers and their children fight tetanus in developing nations.

One in five children die before their fifth birthday in Sierra Leone, which has the world's highest child mortality rate.

Salma Hayek Kisses Alec Baldwin, But Thinks About Her Boyfriend

"I keep telling Francois, 'I Imagine I was kissing you,' " Hayek, who is doing a guest stint on 30 Rock as Baldwin's girlfriend, said on The Rachael Ray Show for a segment that airs Wednesday.

Hayek, 42, otherwise kept mum about Pinault – they called off their engagement in July though still remain a couple – but had plenty to say about her onscreen love interest.

"I have so much fun with him," Hayek says of Baldwin. "He is just so precious, I love him."

Daughter Sees Ghost

The actress also has her hands full with Valentina, her daughter with Pinault. At 16 months, the girl already is trilingual – she speaks English, Spanish and French – and seems to have developed a sixth sense.

"Last night she saw a ghost. I'm convinced," says Hayek, "Last night she woke up and her eyes were open. And she's looking at one specific point and she's going, 'No no no no, au revoir,' which means goodbye in French ... And she's looking at someone, but there's no one there.

I was so scared, and I'm like, 'Yes, au revoir, whoever you are, get out!' And then she started saying it in English: 'Bye bye, bye bye!' I guess she was trying in different languages to see what nationality this ghost was to go away. It was terrifying!"

UGLY BETTY (2/26)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Bernadette Peters as Jodie, Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Lauren Velez as Elena, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Laura Heisler as Jenny and Chris Northrop as the blonde Modie.

"Things Fall Apart" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Tom Verica.

Salma Hayek Sets No Time Limit on Motherhood

"When you turn 40, it's a lost easier than 30," the actress, 42, tells USA Today. "They lied when they said you get old when you're 40. The best is the 40s."

Hayek, who gave birth to daughter Valentina in September 2007, says she'll "maybe" expand her brood, adding that she won't let her age determine whether or not she'll have more kids.

"I had her at 41. I don't sleep because she doesn’t sleep, but I have a lot of energy," she says. "I don't feel like, 'Oh my God, this is too late.' "

Helping Children in Need

On Thursday the actress launched the second annual Pampers/UNICEF program, a campaign aimed at eradicating tetanus in mothers and their children around the world. For her work with UNICEF, she recently traveled to Sierra Leone.

"We went to a hospital, which was shocking. The conditions … there was nothing to administer the vaccinations – they don't have alcohol, clean water or electricity," she told PEOPLE Thursday. "There was a child that was the age of Valentina that was half the size of Valentina … it is just heartbreaking."

Seeing the conditions made Hayek even more grateful for her life and her daughter, she tells PEOPLE. "I appreciate everything in my life more. I want to be a part of making a difference for them," she says. "I appreciate that my little baby is healthy. I thank God everyday that she is healthy."

Speaks About Her Ex

As for ex-fiancé and Valentina's father, Francois-Henri Pinault, "[He] is the best father. I was meant to have this baby with this man," she tells USA Today about the French billionaire. The two called off their engagement in July but remain a couple.

"I am so happy I didn’t settle and I waited for him," she says. "Had I not, I don’t know what my life would be like. You always have to believe there's a greater future and you have to recognize it when it comes."

UGLY BETTY (2/19)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Bernadette Peters as Jodie, Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Lauren Velez as Elena, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre and Michael Stuhlbarg as Heinrich.

"There's No Place Like Mode" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Bethany Rooney.

Penélope Cruz & Milk: Go Inside the Star-Studded Soirees

Hayek and the Weinstein Company threw a party to toast Cruz and her Oscar nomination for her work in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

The guest list was pretty impressive...

First up, Cruz's VCB costar Scarlett Johansson. She now has dark red hair. Nope, she didn't change the color for anything like work. "She just said she wanted an autumn color," her rep tells me.

Now, back to the rest of the guest list.

The celeb-studded bash included Johansson's hubby, Ryan Reynolds, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Drew Barrymore, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Eva Mendes, Aaron Eckhart, Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Adrien Brody, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Josh Groban, Bob Balaban, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Quincy Jones, Penny Marshall, directors Paul Haggis and Brett Ratner and execs Harvey Weinstein, Steve McPherson, Ryan Kavanaugh and über-agent Kevin Huvane.

Hayek served tapas and sangria. The party decor resembled a photographer's darkroom, with pictures of Cruz clipped onto wires suspended from the ceiling.

And Ms. Johansson wasn't the only one with a new 'do. Sexy man Colin Farrell had a newly shaved head. He chopped it off for his work in The Way Back, director Peter Weir's film about a group of soldiers who escape a Siberian gulag in 1940.

UGLY BETTY (2/12)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Lauren Velez as Elena and Liz Smith as herself.

"The Courtship of Betty's Father" was written by Peter Elkoff and directed by John Terlesky.

UGLY BETTY (2/5)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Lauren Velez as Elena and Val Emmich as Jesse.

"Kissed Off" was written by David Grubstick and directed by Rose Troche.

UGLY BETTY (1/29)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Freddy Rodriguez as Gio, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Julian de la Celle as Daniel Jr., Barry Bostwick as Roger Adams, Christian Hoff as D.A. Blackman, Jacques Pepin as Gerard Chainet and Nikki James as Marie Chainet.

"Betty Suarez Land" was written by Chris Black and directed by Michael Spiller.

THE 40th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS NOMINATIONS

UGLY BETTY (1/22)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Lauren Velez as Elena and Val Emmich as Jesse.

"Kissed Off" was written by David Grubstick and directed by Rose Troche.

UGLY BETTY (1/15)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Kevin Kilner as Dr. Mervin Farber, Tina Benko as Collette and Alexander Chaplin as Fabian.UGLY BETTY (1/8) "Dress for Success" - Betty juggles work and family without much success as she struggles to impress her idol, Jodie Papadakis (guest star Bernadette Peters), the editor running YETI. Things go from bad to worse when she encounters Teri (guest star Nikki Blonsky), an assistant at ELLE magazine, just as the long-running Mode/ELLE rivalry heats up, on ABC's "Ugly Betty," THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. ELLE magazine Editor in Chief Robbie Myers and Creative Director Joe Zee appear as themselves.

Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Bernadette Peters as Jodie Papadakis, Nikki Blonsky as Teri, Thomas Sadoski as Ryan the caterer and Elaine Kussack as Mrs. Bowen. ELLE magazine Editor in Chief Robbie Myers and Creative Director Joe Zee appear as themselves.

"Dress for Success" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Matt Shakman.

J. Lo, Salma Hayek, Seth Rogen, Amy Poehler Will Present Golden Globes

Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Poehler and Seth Rogen have been named hosts of the 2009 Golden Globes Awards presentation. The 66th annual Golden Globes are scheduled to air Sunday, Jan. 11 on NBC.

Rogen, 26, was busy in 2008 with films including "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" and " Pineapple Express." "Saturday Night Live" star Poehler, 37, appeared in "Baby Mama" and " Hamlet 2."

UGLY BETTY (12/25)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Mark Consuelos as Det. Averaimo, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Julian de la Celle as Daniel Jr., Heather Tom as Holly and Rob Bartlett as the security guard.

"Crimes of Fashion" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY (12/18)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Derek Riddell as Stuart, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Julian de la Celle as Daniel Jr., Kate Reinders as Ginger, Florencia Lozano as Penelope Del Rios, Heather Tom as Holly Wright, Michael Mandell as laughing security guard no. 1, Chuck Bunting as laughing security guard no. 2 and Lisa Masters as the crying museum curator.

"Filing for the Enemy" was written by Joel Fields and directed by Michael Spiller.

Alec Baldwin Calls Salma Hayek 'The Most Fabulous Woman Ever'

UGLY BETTY (12/11)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Lindsay Lohan as Kimmie, Regis Philbin as himself, Kelly Ripa as herself, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Julian De La Celle as Daniel Jr., Val Emmich as Jesse, Jordan Gelber as Uno and Kate Reinders as Ginger.

"The Manhattan Project" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY (12/4)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Toks Olagundoye as the salesgirl, Aaron Lazar as Claudio, Mercer Boffey as Luka, Matt Wilkas as the manager and Nicole Roderick as the temp.

"Bad Amanda" was written by Chris Black and directed by John Putch.

Sighting at New York's FAO Schwarz

UGLY BETTY (11/20)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah LaFleur as Molly, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Max Ehrich as Randy and Mark Badgley and James Mischka as themselves.

"When Betty Met YETI" was written by Brian Tanen and directed by Victor Nelli Jr.

Salma Hayek Cozies Up to Her Ex Once More

But the two high-profile spectators only had eyes for each other.

"They were very together," said one fan who sat near the couple as local team Rennes FC took on rival Sochaux. "They talked a lot during the match and exchanged tender looks. ... They seemed very much in synch with each other."

Hayek and Pinault, a luxury goods mogul, have a 2-year-old daughter, Valentina Paloma. They called off their engagement in July, just 10 months after her birth.

But in recent weeks, it seems the very private pair make be moving toward a reconciliation.

Just last month, Pinault and the 30 Rock guest star were spotted looking cozy in L.A. and back in his native France. (They spent a long weekend in Paris, and even attended a fashion show together.)

Their soccer outing in Rennes marked the couple's first public appearance in Pinault's hometown – a city of extreme importance in his family's billion-dollar empire.

UGLY BETTY (11/13)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, David Blue as Cliff, Sarah LaFleur as Molly, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Lenny Venito as Phil and Ralph Macchio as Archie Rodriguez.

"Tornado Girl" was written by Peter Elkoff and directed by John Terlesky.

UGLY BETTY (11/6)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Val Emmich as Jesse and David Blue as Cliff.

"Crush'd" was written by Tracy Proust & Jon Kinnally and directed by Victor Nelli Jr.

'30 Rock' Rolls with Salma Hayek

The Emmy-winning comedy series has signed Hayek for a two-episode arc later this season. She'll be playing a character named Elisa, a new love interest for Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy.

"Salma is smart, funny and gorgeous," "30 Rock" creator-star Tina Fey says. "I think she'll be a great, strong presence opposite Jack Donaghy."

For her part, Hayek says she's "been a fan of Tina's talent, both as an actress and a writer, since working with her years ago on 'SNL.' I am so excited to be part of such an intelligent, funny show."

Hayek's guest role will be her first TV series appearance since she recurred on ABC's " Ugly Betty" -- of which she's also an executive producer -- in the 2006-07 season. She'll next appear on the big screen in "Cirque du Freak," which is scheduled for release next year.

The new season of "30 Rock" premieres Thursday, Oct. 30. "Will & Grace" Emmy winner Megan Mullally guest-stars in the premiere; Winfrey's guest spot is set for the following week, and Aniston will also appear later in the season. NBC hasn't set an airdate for Hayek's appearances.

Salma Hayek Loses Bet, Dons Oktoberfest Outfit

In Salma Hayek's case, it was almost too much of a good thing for family viewing.

The actress, 42, donned a "dirndl" on Saturday night as part of a lost bet on Wetten dass..?, the most popular program in German-speaking Europe.

During the live variety show, Hayek got about as close to a wardrobe malfunction as you can get before the censors come rushing in. "I was surprised at what all came out of the dirndl," TV host Thomas Gottschalk told the newspaper Bild.

A spokesman for the show told PEOPLE that wardrobe crew sprung into action right away. "When the camera was off her, we had someone take a look to make sure that Salma's dirndl was in place."

Tricky things, those dirndls.

About 11 million viewers were apparently delighted by the actress's $3,700 outfit, which Hayek chose herself and reportedly wants to now buy.

"Salma had five dirndls to choose from," designer Lola Paltinger told Bild "and the particular dress she chose was altered on location. Salma is a petite woman, but she has a big bust."

Or, as the spokesman for the show clarifies it: "Salma has a dirndl figure."

UGLY BETTY (10/23)

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Lindsay Lohan as Kimmie Keegan, Max Ehrich as Randy, Ashley Morris as Harmony, Bridget Megan Clark as Julia, Shari Albert as the casting associate, Nathanael Maini as the photo editor, Ted Sod as the driver and Jabari Gray as the door guy.

“Granny Pants” was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Fred Savage.

Salma 'Rocks'

Salma Hayek Leads Fight Against Tetanus

Recently back from the West African nation of Sierra Leone, where she met with tetanus victims, Hayek, 42, a paid spokeswoman for Pampers' tetanus vaccine program, told journalists at United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday, "One of the things that was very moving about the trip was to see 15-year-old girls, really young, taking responsibility for their lives and their children before they're born by saying 'I am going to be healthy, I am going to take this vaccination.' "

The actress and mother (of daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault, 1) added, "I had no idea how much this was going to really personally move me."

The Pampers-UNICEF partnership has already provided more than 50 million vaccines to mothers and babies in developing countries, where tetanus kills up to 140,000 infants and 30,000 women each year, according to U.N. figures, the Associated Press reports.

Salma Hayek Steps Out With Her Ex - Again!

Salma Hayek hit the Balenciaga fashion show in Paris Tuesday morning with a very special guest. Her escort? Ex-fiancé Francois-Henri Pinault, the owner of the fashion house and father of her one-year-old daughter Valentina Paloma.

"[They were] very friendly together, looking happy," said one attendee. "They weren't holding hands but were definitely side by side."

The couple's public outing comes just weeks after they were spotted together in Los Angeles. It also caps a low-key week in Paris during which Hayek, 42, and Pinault, 46, have spent a great deal of time together privately. (Sources tell PEOPLE Hayek was introducing her daughter to Pinault's French relatives.)

On Thursday, Hayek and "F.H.P." (as friends call Pinault) had afternoon tea in the gallery of the Plaza-Athénée Hotel. "They seemed very comfortable," said an onlooker, "with Valentina playing on the couch between them."

And on Saturday, Pinault chauffeured Hayek and his young daughter away for a weekend outside the city.

After Tuesday's runway show (featuring works by Hayek's friend Nicolas Ghesquiere), the two returned to the Plaza-Athénée – where Valentina was waiting in the lobby.

"She came walking over and kissed Mommy and then she kissed Daddy," said an eyewitness. "It was very sweet."

UGLY BETTY (10/16)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Freddy Rodriguez as Gio, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Julian de la Celle as Daniel Jr., Barry Bostwick as Roger Adams, Christian Hoff as D.A. Blackman, Jacques Pepin as Gerard Chainet and Nikki James as Marie Chainet.

"Betty Suarez Land" was written by Chris Black and directed by Michael Spiller.

Hayek brings family comedy "McToms" to Fox

Fox has a track record of success with that sort of show, having scored with the multicamera "Married ... With Children" and single-camera "Malcolm In the Middle."

Written by Boyce Bugliari and Jamie McLaughlin, "McToms" centers on a conservative matriarch who must face the reality of her three children's ethnically diverse marriages.

ABC Studios, where Hayek's Ventanarosa has an overall deal, is producing the project.

"McToms" carries the trademark ethnic flavor that is featured in most projects on Hayek's TV slate, including the ABC comedy-drama "Ugly Betty," which she executive produces.

On the reality side, Hayek is developing a wedding-themed reality series with Merv Griffin Entertainment.

UGLY BETTY (10/9)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis.

Guest starring are Mark Consuelos as Det. Averaimo, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Julian de la Celle as Daniel Jr., Heather Tom as Holly and Rob Bartlett as the security guard.

"Crimes of Fashion" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY (10/2)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Derek Riddell as Stuart, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Julian de la Celle as Daniel Jr., Kate Reinders as Ginger, Florencia Lozano as Penelope Del Rios, Heather Tom as Holly Wright, Michael Mandell as laughing security guard no. 1, Chuck Bunting as laughing security guard no. 2 and Lisa Masters as the crying museum curator.

"Filing for the Enemy" was written by Joel Fields and directed by Michael Spiller.

JIMMY KIMMEL'S BIG NIGHT OF STARS (9/21)

In this hour-long special, Jimmy steps out of his studio to spend one-on-one quality time with each celebrity -- delving deep to pose the hard-hitting questions few broadcasters dare to ask. With a rare introduction from Barbara Walters, Jimmy's primetime show goes on-location with the stars, including finding Michael Phelps making a rare cameo appearance on the set of hit show "Grey's Anatomy." Plus, with the help of numerous celebrity friends, Jimmy answers the age-old question of just how Emmy Award nominees get notified of their honor.

First-Time Mother's Day at Women in Hollywood

First time new mommies Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Salma Hayek and Isla Fisher are among the eight women who will be honored by Elle magazine next month at the 15th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute.

Other honorees include Jane Fonda, Sigourney Weaver and Catherine Hardwicke, director of the upcoming big screen adaptation of Twilight.

The festivities happen Oct. 6 at a VIP dinner at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills.

Women in Hollywood was started by movie magazine Premiere, but was taken over by Elle when it folded last year.

UGLY BETTY (9/25; SEASON PREMIERE)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Lindsay Lohan as Kimmie, Regis Philbin as himself, Kelly Ripa as herself, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Julian De La Celle as Daniel Jr., Val Emmich as Jesse, Jordan Gelber as Uno and Kate Reinders as Ginger.

"The Manhattan Project" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Salma Steps Out with Her Daughter - and Her Ex

The couple announced the end of their 16-month engagement in July, but the two stuck close together – and were all smiles – as they attended a birthday party on Saturday.

"She stayed by his side almost the whole time," a party guest told PEOPLE of Hayek, 42, who also brought along Valentina Paloma, her 11-month-old daughter with Pinault, to the celebration for Stevie Wonder's 7-year-old son Kailand Morris. "It was so cute – Francois-Henri was carrying the baby, smiling, and playing with her. He obviously adores Valentina."

Pinault was spotted relaxing on a yacht with a woman in Italy late last month, but the French billionaire, 46, looked comfortable and happy to be back by Hayek's side as the two noshed on sushi and fruit salad in the sunshine.

The party had a tennis and Olympics theme and was thrown at a country club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., by Kailand's mom and Stevie Wonder's wife, Kai Milla Morris, who even sprang for a very special birthday surprise: The Jonas Brothers made a brief appearance to serenade him with "Happy Birthday."

All three Beckham boys – Brooklyn, 9, Romeo, 6 and Cruz, 3 – enjoyed the party sans their famous parents, with Brooklyn spending hours on the tennis court hitting balls while Cruz put on another break-dancing show during a kids' dance-off.

UGLY BETTY (9/18)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Naomi Campbell as herself, Joe Zee as himself, Robbie Myers as herself, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Julian de la Cell as Daniel Jr., Torill as Madelon de Bie and Lindsay Lohan as Kimberly.

"Jump" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Sightings

Sightings

UGLY BETTY (9/11)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gene Simmons as himself, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Larry King as himself, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre and Jasmine Anthony as Antonella.

"The Kids Are Alright" was written by Brian Tanen and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

Costar: Salma Hayek Is 'Inspiring'

"I’ve never seen her happier," Hayek's Ugly Betty costar Ana Ortiz told PEOPLE.

The couple, whose daughter Valentina Paloma was born last September, announced their split last month, but Hayek, an executive producer on ABC’s Ugly Betty, was all smiles Sunday at the ALMA awards in Pasadena, Calif., where she accepted the show’s award for Outstanding Television Series.

"I think this is really just a whole new evolution of who she is," Ortiz, who wore a red Angel Sanchez dress to the event, added. "For me it’s inspiring because it goes to show you, you really can have it all. She’s handling everything with grace and dignity and she’s still kind.”

Ortiz, who took home her own award for best supporting actress in a television series, recently celebrated her one-year anniversary with husband Noah Lebenzon. Cchildren are definitely in the future for them, but they’re not in a hurry.

"When it happens it happens," she said. "We’re seeing. We’re leaving it up to fate," adding that Hayek is a "wonderful influence" as a mother.

Hayek hasn’t made an appearance yet on the Betty set since the show moved production to New York, Ortiz said. But when she finally does, the actress has a request:

"Hopefully she’ll bring the baby!"

Salma Hayek develops wedding reality series

Hayek came up with the idea, whose format is being kept under wraps, and brought the concept to the company.

"The format is steeped in reality -- it's not contrived," said Roy Bank, president of television at Merv Griffin Entertainment. "It's a unique storytelling angle on weddings that has never been seen on television before."

The hour-long project is being shopped to both broadcast and cable networks, said Bank, who will executive produce with Hayek.

The actress and Francois-Henri Pinault, the father of her baby daughter Valentina Paloma, canceled their 16-month engagement last month.

UGLY BETTY (8/28)

"Project Runway's" Nina Garcia and Christian Siriano appear as themselves.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gabrielle Union as Renee, Nina Garcia as herself, Christian Siriano as himself, Ava Gaudet as Gina Gambarro, Daniel Davis as Dr. Morgan Remus and Jeff Clark as Larry Goldfarb.

"Burning Questions" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Matt Shakman.

Cruise, Hayek Offices Threatened With Anthrax

For the second time this week, Los Angeles' MGM Tower, a professional complex housing the production companies of both Cruise and Salma Hayek, has been hit with a security threat, this time over an anthrax scare.

Sources confirmed exclusively to E! News that a building-wide memo has gone out informing all tenants of an anonymous threat phoned in to the building's main switchboard stating the deadly virus would be placed into the building's ventilation system, starting on the 20th floor.

The Cruise-run studio United Artists is housed on the tower's 11th floor; Hayek's Ventanarosa production company is located on the second.

It was not immediately clear whether either star was at the office building today.

A memo circulated earlier today claimed that "due to lack of credibility of the threat, the building, LAPD and MGM are not recommending that we take any actions." Despite the assurances, Los Angeles police have since been called to the Century City site.

An updated notice confirmed that the building's management had dispatched engineers to examine the ventilation system and that no signs of tampering were found.

Nonetheless, the management is still taking precautions, blocking outside air from entering the building and tightening security on the complex's heat- and air-control rooms by prohibiting tenants or guests from entering the areas. Any contractors on site today are being escorted around the premises by security.

Additionally, several companies located within the MGM complex have issued a list of symptoms indicative of anthrax poisoning.

It's the second big scare this week.

On Tuesday, the tower was evacuated for roughly four hours after an anonymous bomb threat was called in to one of the building's tenants (though not to the companies of Cruise or Hayek).

The LAPD was called to the scene and determined that it was a hoax.

Cruise, Hayek Offices Evacuated in Bomb Scare

E! News has confirmed that the headquarters of United Artists, the production company Tom Cruise resuscitated with longtime business partner Paula Wagner, was evacuated earlier this morning when another tenant in the building received an anonymous bomb threat.

In addition to Cruise's United Artists, the MGM Tower complex, which received the anonymous phone call, is also home to Salma Hayek's production company, Ventanarosa, and the talent agency ICM. All were among the offices evacuated at about 11 a.m.

Turned out to be a false alarm.

The bomb scare, first reported by Defamer, was triggered when an unidentified office worker in the building received an anonymous phone call, claiming an explosive device would blow up the tower at noon.

A memo was subsequently circulated to the complex's occupants, stating that the premises had been thoroughly searched and that no explosive or otherwise suspicious devices had been found.

Los Angeles police have tentatively given the all-clear for workers to reenter the building at 2 p.m.

It's unclear whether Cruise or Hayek, who just last night appeared at the L.A. premiere of pal Penélope Cruz's new movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, were present at the time of the evacuation.

UGLY BETTY (8/21)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gabrielle Union as Renee, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Anthony Cistaro as the waiter and Liz Montgomery as the worker.

"Twenty-Four Candles" was written by Veronica Becker & Sarah Kuscerka and directed by Michael Spiller.

UGLY BETTY (8/14)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gabrielle Union as Renee, Paul Hipp as Phil Roth and Gene Simmons as himself.

"A Thousand Words by Friday" was written by Henry Alonso Myers & Sheila Lawrence and directed by Matt Shakman.

UGLY BETTY (8/7)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Anne Bellamy as Judge Heller, Caroline Aaron as Judge Biotch, Paul McCrane as District Attorney Weitz, Barry Bostwick as Roger Adams and Louis Giambalvo as Dr. Squazzi.

"Odor in the Court" was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Salma Hayek, Pinault call off their engagement

The couple announced their plans to wed in March 2007, and welcomed a daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, several months later.

"We are sad to announce the engagement of Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault has been canceled," publicist Cari Ross said in a statement. "There will be no further comment."

Hayek, 41, has starred in films such as "Frida," "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over" and "After the Sunset." She is one of the executive producers of ABC's "Ugly Betty" and the chief executive of Ventanazul, a production company she formed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Pinault is the chief executive officer of the luxury goods company PPR SA, which owns high-end labels such as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Puma.

UGLY BETTY (7/31)

Bow Wow appears as himself and performs with Omarion.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Bow Wow as himself, Omarion as himself, David Blue as Cliff, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Wendy Benson as Veronica, Juliette Goglia as Hillary, Annie Potts as Linda, Carol Ann Susi as Mrs. Galeano, Elizabeth McLaughlin as Lindsay, Hannah Marks as Taylor and Rob Brownstein as Dr. Weiss.

"Zero Worship" was written by Dawn DeKeyser and directed by Ron Underwood.

UGLY BETTY (7/24)

Betty White appears as herself.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Betty White as herself, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre and John Cho as Kenny.

"Bananas for Betty" was written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally and directed by Michael Spiller.

Costar Finds Salma Hayek's Baby 'Outgoing, Colorful'

"[She's] outgoing, just colorful," actor Josh Hutcherson, 15, told PEOPLE at Sunday's L.A. premiere of Journey to the Center of the Earth. Hutcherson costars with Hayek in the upcoming film Cirque du Freak. "She's just really great."

"I got to hang out with the baby some," Hutcherson says. "She was always very caring to her child, Valentina."

Hayek gave birth to her first child, Valentina Paloma Pinault, with businessman fiancé Francois Henri Pinault last September.

Hayek doesn't quite look herself in Cirque du Freak, which also costars John C. Reilly and Willem Dafoe. "She was in makeup for an extra few hours, this whole crazy long beard put on," Hutcherson said.

Asked whether Valentina wore the beard, Hutcherson joked, "I never caught her on with it, but I'm sure she's dying to."

UGLY BETTY (7/17)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Eliza Dushku as Cameron Ashlock, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Ileana Douglas as Sheila, David J. Steinberg as Harvey Milfree, Ron Canada as the senator and Wendy Benson as Veronica.

"Giving Up the Ghost" was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Gary Winick.

UGLY BETTY (7/10)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, Mo'Nique as L'Amanda, Ossie Mair as Dr. Fryktman and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"I See Me, I.C.U." was written by Charles Pratt, Jr. and directed by Rodman Flender.

Hot Mama Sightings

Salma Hayek: This Is 'The Best Time in My Life'

"I'm 41 now," she said while being honored at Tuesday's Women in Film Crystal+Lucy Awards. "And I have to say, it is the best time in my life."

That prompted Jada Pinkett Smith – who was also being recognized, along with her costars from the upcoming chick flick, The Women – to shout out, "You look good!"

Hayek – who gave birth to daughter Valentina Paloma last September with billionaire fiancé Francois-Henri Pinault – said she is finally coming into her own.

"I have learned to enjoy time to be a woman. I have learned to enjoy how to do the most that I can with what I have," the Ugly Betty producer explained. "It is a good thing to be a 41-year-old Latina woman in America."

She also gave a shout out to fellow Latina Eva Mendes (another star of The Women), who responded with a loud, "I love you, Salma!"

And when it comes to balancing motherhood and her busy career, Hayek has already learned the most important lesson. "I delegate a lot more," she told PEOPLE at the L.A. event. "I'm very lucky because I have great people around me."

UGLY BETTY (7/3)

Fashion designer Vera Wang, who designed both Vanessa Williams' and Victoria Beckham's gowns for the episode, appears as herself.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Victoria Beckham as herself, Vera Wang as herself, Rick Fox as Dwayne, David Blue as Cliff, Vera Wang as herself, Derek Riddell as Stuart and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" was written by Silvio Horta & Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (6/26)

Scenes from the episode were filmed on location at the Pantages Theatre with the Los Angeles production company of the hit musical "Wicked."

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Marlo Thomas as Elaine Winthrop, Bailey Chase as Becks, David Blue as Cliff, Jasmine Anthony as Antonella, Juliette Goglia as Hillary, Casey Margolis as Duncan, Megan Hilty as Glinda, Eden Espinosa as Elphaba and Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY (5/22)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Naomi Campbell as herself, Joe Zee as himself, Robbie Myers as herself, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Julian de la Cell as Daniel Jr., Torill as Madelon de Bie and Lindsay Lohan as Kimberly.

"Jump" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY (5/15)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gene Simmons as himself, Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Larry King as himself, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre and Jasmine Anthony as Antonella.

"The Kids Are Alright" was written by Brian Tanen and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

UGLY BETTY (5/8)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Eddie Cibrian as Coach Diaz, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Rob Brownstein as Dr. Weiss, Kari Matchett as Dr. Wallace, Brandon Johnson as the paramedic and Jennifer Say Gan as the instructor.

"Betty's Baby Bump's" story written by Dawn DeKeyser from a teleplay by Bill Wrubel. Linda Mendoza directed.

UGLY BETTY (5/1)

"Project Runway's" Nina Garcia and Christian Siriano appear as themselves.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gabrielle Union as Renee, Nina Garcia as herself, Christian Siriano as himself, Ava Gaudet as Gina Gambarro, Daniel Davis as Dr. Morgan Remus and Jeff Clark as Larry Goldfarb.

"Burning Questions" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Matt Shakman.

UGLY BETTY (4/24)

"Twenty-Four Candles" - Betty's plans to spend a romantic 24th birthday with Henry are sidelined when his Baby Mama Charlie (guest star Jayma Mays) drops in unexpectedly. Will Gio be able to salvage Betty's big day? Meanwhile, Wilhelmina does her devious best to spoil Renee's (guest star Gabrielle Union) blossoming relationship with Daniel by hinting there's some dark secrets in her sister's past, on the return of ABC's hit comedy series, "Ugly Betty," THURSDAY, APRIL 24 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gabrielle Union as Renee, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Anthony Cistaro as the waiter and Liz Montgomery as the worker.

"Twenty-Four Candles" was written by Veronica Becker & Sarah Kuscerka and directed by Michael Spiller.

Wanted A Boy

Donna's The Dominos Queen

Hollywood goes green at pre-Oscar party

The event, held Wednesday at Avalon nightclub, featured earth-friendly furniture and lighting, organic cocktails and performances by Michelle Branch, Damien Rice and the Oscar-nominated stars of "Once," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

Hayek, who serves on the local Global Green board, said she is more focused on environmental initiatives since becoming a mother. Her daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, was born last September.

"I get a bigger fear of what kind of world she's going to live in. Is she going to run out of water? What kind of water is she going to drink?" the 41-year-old actress and producer said on her way into the party. "It's really scary and it's not that far away if we don't do something about it."

The event raised $420,000, said spokesman Ruben Aronin.

But doesn't a big Hollywood bash leave a sizable carbon footprint?

Yes, said Aronin, but it's worth it.

"As a fundraiser, the dollars that are raised are helping us dramatically to reduce carbon footprints across the country through our work to green New Orleans and create a green-building infrastructure here in Los Angeles," he said. "We have the unique opportunity here in Hollywood to use the megaphone of celebrity to inspire and educate hundreds of millions of people around the world."

Global Green USA, the national branch of the worldwide environmental organization founded in 1993 by Mikhail Gorbachev, aligned itself with celebrities in a big way when it established its Red Carpet/Green Cars campaign five years ago. Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Tom Hanks and Susan Sarandon are among those who have opted to take fuel-efficient vehicles to the Oscar ceremony.

Brad Pitt is also involved with the group, working with Global Green to build sustainable housing in storm-ravaged New Orleans.

Global Green's Red Carpet/Green Cars effort will continue Sunday at the 80th Academy Awards.

More 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Lost' in April

The network announced its post-strike plans Wednesday afternoon, becoming the last of the big broadcasters to slot the return of its scripted series. Seven shows are going back into production and will air between four and seven new episodes each starting in April. (The network also has new seasons of "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Bachelor" debuting Monday, March 17.)

First up is the comedy "Samantha Who?," which will return for six episodes on Monday, April 7, in the post-"Dancing" spot that served it well in the fall. "Boston Legal" airs the first of six new shows the following night.

Also returning are "Brothers & Sisters" on Sunday, April 20 and "Ugly Betty" on Thursday, April 24. "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost," which will move from 9 to 10 p.m., also come back on the 24th; all three Thursday shows will have five new episodes. "Lost" fans will have to wait about a month between the final pre-strike episode and the debut of the new installments.

"Desperate Housewives," meanwhile, will squeeze in seven new hours of shooting, including a two-hour season finale. Its first episode back is scheduled for Sunday, April 13.

The pre-strike Wednesday lineup of "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" won't be back this spring, but ABC has picked up all three series for the 2008-09 season.

Sightings

ABC Shows Set To Return

"Ugly Betty" axes two executive producers

The critically acclaimed adaptation of a popular Latin American soap about a hapless office girl went through significant behind-the-scenes changes between its first and second seasons, when five writers were let go.

For the time being, "Betty," which is expected to produce at least four more original episodes this season, is executive produced by creator Silvio Horta, Salma Hayek and Jose Tamez.

ABC Studios, which produces "Betty," would not confirm the exits.

ABC PICKUPS UP NINE SERIES FOR NEXT SEASON

"The strength of our schedule this fall was unprecedented and speaks for itself," said Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment. "We're looking forward to building on that success."

On average during Fall 2007 (10 complete weeks: 9/24-12/2/07), ABC was the No. 1 network among Adults 18-49 (3.9/10), delivering the top position in the key young adult sales demo on 7 of the first 10 weeks of the season and ranking No. 1 during the November Sweep for the third consecutive year. In addition, ABC claimed eight of the Top 20 highest-rated TV shows among young adults during the fall, including five of the Top 10 freshman series.

2008 GLAAD Media Awards

Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Exes and Ohs (Logo)
The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central)
Ugly Betty (ABC)
The War at Home (Fox)

The 2008 kudocast will follow the same format as previous years, with a ceremony first at New York's Marriott Marquis on Mar. 17. That will followed by bashes in South Florida's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Apr. 12, Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre on Apr. 26 and San Francisco's Marriot on May 10.

Salma Hayek's a 'Freak'

According to Variety, Hayek will play the Bearded Lady in "Cirque du Freak," from director Paul Weitz.

Based on the children's book series by Darren Shan, the film focuses on a vampire (Reilly) who hires a 14-year-old assistant without knowing that his young ward is only half-vampire. This escalates tensions between the vampires and the Vampanese. We don't know what that means, but it's probably bad.

Hayek and fiancee Francois Henri Pinault welcomed daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault into the world in September.

An Oscar nominee for "Frida" and producer (and sometimes guest star) of ABC's Emmy-winning "Ugly Betty," Hayek has most recently been seen in "Across the Universe," "Ugly Betty" and "Ask the Dust" (which won her Mr. Skin's top honors for best nude scene of 2006).

Hayek new pitchwoman for vaccine program

For every pack of Pampers diapers sold in the United States and Canada between April 1 and June 30, the company will donate funding to UNICEF for one maternal or neonatal tetanus vaccine.

"In our own small way, this is an opportunity for moms like me here in North America to help other mothers on a global level," the 41-year-old actress said in a statement Wednesday.

Hayek's daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, was born in September.

The Pampers-UNICEF partnership has already provided more than 25 million vaccines to moms and babies in developing countries, where tetanus kills 140,000 infants and 30,000 women each year, according to UNICEF.

UGLY BETTY (1/24)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Gabrielle Union as Renee, Paul Hipp as Phil Roth and Gene Simmons as himself.

"A Thousand Words by Friday" was written by Henry Alonso Myers & Sheila Lawrence and directed by Matt Shakman.

UGLY BETTY (1/17)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Anne Bellamy as Judge Heller, Caroline Aaron as Judge Biotch, Paul McCrane as District Attorney Weitz, Barry Bostwick as Roger Adams and Louis Giambalvo as Dr. Squazzi.

"Odor in the Court" was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY (1/10)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Bow Wow as himself, Omarion as himself, David Blue as Cliff, Derek Riddell as Stuart, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre, Wendy Benson as Veronica, Juliette Goglia as Hillary, Annie Potts as Linda, Carol Ann Susi as Mrs. Galeano, Elizabeth McLaughlin as Lindsay, Hannah Marks as Taylor and Rob Brownstein as Dr. Weiss.

"Zero Worship" was written by Dawn DeKeyser and directed by Ron Underwood.

UGLY BETTY (1/3)

James Van Der Beek ("Dawson's Creek"), Victor Garber ("Alias") Guest Star "Grin and Bear It" - Betty takes steps toward becoming a writer and invests in a class that proves to be so challenging, she tosses her own writing assignment and instead submits a Mode story written by a woman who survived a bear attack -- with disastrous results. Meanwhile Alexis, still suffering from amnesia, starts back at work with no memory of how to act like a girl; Daniel gets an ultimatum from their top advertiser (guest star James Van Der Beek) -- fire his tranny sister -- and Amanda, on the hunt to find her dad's identity, learns a deep dark secret about Wilhelmina's past, on "Ugly Betty," THURSDAY, JANUARY 3 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Victor Garber guest stars as Professor Barrett. (Rebroadcast-OAD: 10/18/07)

*Editor's Note: This episode replaces "Zero Worship," which has been rescheduled to air Thursday, January 10 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Illeana Douglas as Sheila, Victor Garber as Professor Barrett, John Cho as Kenny, James Van Der Beek as Luke Carnes, Robert Desiderio as Mr. Gallico and Rebecca Wisocky as Marsha Stein.

"Grin and Bear It" was written by Sarah Kucserka & Veronica Becker and directed by Tucker Gates.

UGLY BETTY (12/27)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, Alex Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre and Kenneth Cole as himself.

"Betty's Wait Problem" was written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally and directed by Tricia Brock.

UGLY BETTY (12/6)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Betty White as herself, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre and John Cho as Kenny.

"Bananas for Betty" was written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally and directed by Michael Spiller.

UGLY BETTY (11/29)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, Illeana Douglas as Sheila, Kurt Fuller as Mr. Tanen, Stephanie Faracy as Mrs. Tanen, Matt Riedy as Mr. Klein, Kat Sawyer as Mrs. Klein and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"How Betty Got Her Grieve Back" was written by Silvio Horta & Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (11/15)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Eliza Dushku as Cameron Ashlock, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Ileana Douglas as Sheila, David J. Steinberg as Harvey Milfree, Ron Canada as the senator and Wendy Benson as Veronica.

"Giving Up the Ghost" was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Gary Winick.

Ready & Willing

UGLY BETTY (11/08)

Fashion designer Vera Wang, who designed both Vanessa Williams' and Victoria Beckham's gowns for the episode, appears as herself.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Victoria Beckham as herself, Vera Wang as herself, Rick Fox as Dwayne, David Blue as Cliff, Vera Wang as herself, Derek Riddell as Stuart and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" was written by Silvio Horta & Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (11/01)

Scenes from the episode were filmed on location at the Pantages Theatre with the Los Angeles production company of the hit musical "Wicked."

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Marlo Thomas as Elaine Winthrop, Bailey Chase as Becks, David Blue as Cliff, Jasmine Anthony as Antonella, Juliette Goglia as Hillary, Casey Margolis as Duncan, Megan Hilty as Glinda, Eden Espinosa as Elphaba and Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

UGLY BETTY (10/25)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, John Cho as Kenny, David Blue as Cliff, Larry Dorf as Steve, Dustin Moss as Gus, Lillian Adams as Esther, Bunny Levine as Mable, Hilda Devoine as Lucille, Ashley Rickards as Sharra, Chancellor Miller as Derek and Artemis Pebdani as the cop.

"A League of Their Own" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

UGLY BETTY (10/18)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Illeana Douglas as Sheila, Victor Garber as Professor Barrett, John Cho as Kenny, James Van Der Beek as Luke Carnes, Robert Desiderio as Mr. Gallico and Rebecca Wisocky as Marsha Stein.

"Grin and Bear It" was written by Sarah Kucserka & Veronica Becker and directed by Tucker Gates.

Josh Lucas: Salma Will Be a 'Loving and Doting' Mom

"I got a text from her the other night. 7 lbs, 7 oz., and everyone is healthy and happy," Josh Lucas told PEOPLE at Tropfest@Tribeca.

Hayek gave birth to her daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault Sept. 21.

"For someone you care about and love as much as I love her, I was just so happy for her," Lucas, who dated Hayek for about nine months, said.

This is the first child for Hayek, who is engaged to the baby's father, François Henri Pinault. If the Ugly Betty star's love for her dogs is any indication, Lucas knows Hayek will be an excellent parent.

"She will be a doting and loving mother. The way she is with her dogs, I can't even imagine what she'll be like with her kid," Lucas said before the festival Sunday night.

Lucas plans to visit the first-time mother and baby in a week and a half, he told PEOPLE.

Lucas was a guest judge at the free public event that featured sixteen short films. The original Tropfest – and world's largest short film festival – takes place in Sydney.

UGLY BETTY (10/11)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, Alex Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre and Kenneth Cole as himself.

Valentina Day for Salma Hayek

The filmmaker-actress and her fiancé, French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, welcomed their first child together Friday, daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault.

"Mother and child are doing well," Hayek's publicist, Cari Ross, said in a statement.

Hayek is a first-time mom, while Pinault, 45, has two children from a previous relationship. The predominantly private couple announced both their engagement and their expectant status in March.

There's still no word on when she's planning to walk down the aisle, but it's nice that Hayek found time to have a baby this year.

In addition to guest appearances on Ugly Betty, which she also coproduces, in April the Mexican beauty teamed with MGM to form her own production company, Ventanazul, which will develop, produce and acquire between two and four Latin-themed films per year for the iconic Hollywood studio.

The past Emmy and Oscar nominee currently has a cameo in Frida director Julie Taymor's homage to the '60s and the Beatles, Across the Universe, and she is working on the Chihuahua-lost-in-Beverly Hills comedy South of the Border, which costars Drew Barrymore, Jamie Lee Curtis and a veritable who's-who of Latin and Latin-American actors, including Andy Garcia, Edward James Olmos, Cheech Marin and George Lopez. The family film is currently slated for an August 2008 release.

Meanwhile, Hayek's other pet project, Ugly Betty, had a stellar freshman year, winning the Golden Globe for best comedy series and top acting honors for star America Ferrera (a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a SAG award), and snagging a handful of trophies at the ALMA, NAACP Image, GLAAD and Satellite awards, among others.

Next up for Hayek, aside from her various production duties, are William H. Macy's feature directorial debut, the drama Keep Coming Back, and the musical comedy La Banda, in which she'll play an upperclass housewife who moonlights as a wedding singer to make ends meet after her husband leaves her.

UGLY BETTY (10/4)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Rick Fox as Dwayne, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Justina Machado as Clara, Kavi Raz as the clerk, David Dean Bottrell as the lawyer and Alex Mapa as Suzuku St. Pierre.

"Family/Affair" was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Victor Nelli Jr.

UGLY BETTY (9/27; SEASON PREMIERE)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Guest starring are Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, Illeana Douglas as Sheila, Kurt Fuller as Mr. Tanen, Stephanie Faracy as Mrs. Tanen, Matt Riedy as Mr. Klein, Kat Sawyer as Mrs. Klein and Alec Mapa as Suzuki St. Pierre.

"How Betty Got Her Grieve Back" was written by Silvio Horta & Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (9/20)

Tony-winner Kristin Chenoweth will play Diane, an orthodontic technician who becomes overly involved in her patients' lives - including Betty's. Angélica Vale, who stars as Lety in the hit Mexican telenovela "La Fea Más Bella," will guest star as her assistant, Angélica. Gina Gershon reprises her role as cosmetics mogul Fabia.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, Kristen Chenoweth as Diane, Angélica Vale as Angélica and Gina Gershon as Fabia.

"East Side Story," was written by Silvio Horta & Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (9/13)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rita Moreno as Aunt Mirta, Justina Machado as Clara, Rebecca Gayheart as Jordan, Arap Bethke as Antonio, Mykel Shannon Jenkins as Tavares, Arap Bethke as Antonio, Lillian Hurst as Yolanda, Bunnie Rivera as the nurse and Lilyan Chauvin as the curandera.

"A Tree Grows in Guadalajara" was written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally, and directed by Lev L. Spiro.

Life's beautiful for `Ugly Betty' team

"It's nice, for me at least, to look back and think, `Wow, this has been such an incredible year,'" series star America Ferrera told the Associated Press. "There has been so much blood, sweat and tears of happiness and tiredness and joy and all of that put into it."

A Hollywood adaptation of the Colombian telenovela "Yo Soy Betty La Fea," "Betty" swirls around a plain young woman who lands a job as assistant to a fashion-magazine editor. The show was an out-of-the-gate hit following its autumn 2006 debut on ABC, and has also scored well overseas.

British actor Ashley Jensen ("Extras"), who plays Betty's workplace confidante Christina, said, "I think you can see a bit of Ugly Betty in all of us, and I mean men, as well, because it's about the underdog."

On the red carpet at the swanky Skybar in Hollywood's Mondrian Hotel, the actors looked like anything but underdogs, donning duds from such heavyweight designers as Prada (Jensen), Nanette Lepore (Ferrera) and Bill Blass (Ana Ortiz, who plays Betty's sister, Hilda).

Making her way through the arrivals gauntlet, Ferrera said that in the upcoming season viewers can expect Betty to "grow up a lot," and implied she may move out of her father's house.

Eric Mabius (Betty's boss Daniel Meade) revealed that season-two guest stars will include Victoria Beckham, in an episode still to be filmed, and Freddy Rodriguez ("Six Feet Under").

Ortiz said Hilda would be dating and looking for a job. "And you know Hilda's track record with jobs!" she noted, laughing.

Rebecca Romijn was tightest-lipped, simply acknowledging she was still employed. When last we saw her character Alexis, she and Mabius' Daniel were unconscious in a smoldering crashed car. "I'm at least alive!" the newlywed (to Jerry O'Connell ) said, smiling.

And what of the ill-fated love birds Betty and Henry? In one of the final scenes, he was headed to Arizona, along with his evil, possibly pregnant, girlfriend Charlie. "Well, there is a pretty good chance that Henry comes back," revealed Christopher Gorham, his portrayer.

"I can't tell you how he comes back. I can tell you that you cannot miss the first five minutes of the first episode of season two. It's one of the funniest scenes that we have shot to date. It's a Betty, Henry, Charlie scene. It's subtitled. It's really incredible."

Incredible certainly defines the past year for Ferrera. A relative unknown 12 months ago, she is now considered the front-running nominee for the leading actress in a comedy Emmy.

"There are definitely moments when I've stepped outside myself and said, `Wow! ... But then I go home and scrub my bathroom floor, and I do what I do. Or I don't scrub my bathroom floor. You don't want to know about my bathroom floor."

"Ugly Betty" is scheduled to start its second season on September 27.

UGLY BETTY (9/6)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Cristian de la Fuente as Rodrigo, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, David Norona as Tyler, Maria Costa as Valerie, Rachel Roberts as Marla, Jonathan Slavin as Squire Josh, Shayna Rose as the younger wench, Joe Duer as Lorenzo and Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga.

"Secretaries Day," was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

UGLY BETTY (8/30)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Cristian de la Fuente as Rodrigo, Annalynne McCord as Petra, Ivana Milicevic as Lena and Mykel Shannon Jenkins as Dijan.

"Petra-gate," was written by Gabrielle Stanton & Harry Werksman and directed by Paul Lazarus.

Salma Hayek Gets Romantic With Disney

The actress will star in and produce an untitled romantic comedy for Walt Disney Pictures, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Written by Ed Decter and John Strauss ("Santa Clause" films), the story centers on a beautiful woman (Hayek) whose fiancee is a rather steady, conservative doctor who discovers to his chagrin that his lady's ex-boyfriend is an international Latin superstar who wants her back.

Hayek received an Oscar nomination for playing the titular role in 2002's "Frida." Her other credits include "Desperado," "Fools Rush In," "Wild Wild West," "After the Sunset," "Bandidas" and "Ask the Dust" (which won her Mr. Skin's top honors for best nude scene of 2006). She is also working with Disney doing voice work on "South of the Border."

She's also a Golden Globe-winning producer on ABC's "Ugly Betty," for which she made guest appearances. "Ugly Betty" has 11 Emmy nominations, including one for Hayek for guest actress in a comedy series.

UGLY BETTY (8/23)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are William Abadie as Phillippe Michel and Gina Gershon as Fabia. The episode was written by Sivio Horta and directed by Richard Shepard.

FASHION ICON KENNETH COLE TO GUEST STAR ON UGLY BETTY

UGLY BETTY (8/16)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Patti LuPone as Mrs. Weiner and Judith Light as Claire Meade.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," was written by Marco Pennette and Sarah Kucserka & Veronica Becker, and directed by Tricia Brock.

'Ugly Betty,' 'Pan's Labyrinth' win Imagen Awards

Babel, the critically praised movie that weaves stories set in Mexico and four other countries, lost in four categories Saturday.

The Imagen Awards honor contributions by and about Hispanics in the entertainment industry.

ABC's Ugly Betty, which has received 11 Emmy nominations, was named best prime-time television program. Its star, America Ferrera, who is in the running for an Emmy, was named best TV actress and also received the Imagen Foundation's Creative Achievement Award.

The show's Ana Ortiz won for best supporting actress.

Pan's Labyrinth was named best picture and Mexican director Guillermo del Toro got the directing award. Ivana Baquero, the movie's 13-year-old star, was best actress.

Mel Gibson's brutal Mayan epic, Apocalypto, lost for best picture but Gerardo Teracena and Dalia Hernandez were chosen best supporting actor and actress.

More than 2,000 people attended ceremonies at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

A complete list of 2007 Imagen Awards winners:

MOVIES:
• Best Picture: Pan's Labyrinth.
• Best Actor: Kuno Becker, Goal.
• Best Actress: Ivana Baquero, Pan's Labyrinth.
• Best Supporting Actor: Gerardo Teracena, Apocalypto.
• Best Supporting Actress: Dalia Hernandez, Apocalypto.
• Best Director: Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth.
• Best Theatrical Short or Student Film: La Primavera Communion.
• Best Theatrical Production: Macho Men & The Women Who Love Them.
• Best Documentary: Lalo Guerrero, The Original Chicano.

TELEVISION:

• Best Prime-time Series: Ugly Betty.
• Best Actor: Miguel Ferrer, Crossing Jordan.
• Best Actress: America Ferrera, Ugly Betty.
• Best Supporting Actor: Jose Yenque, Between.
• Best Supporting Actress: Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty.
• Best Variety or Reality Show: Dancing With The Stars.
• Best Children's Programming: Dora The Explorer.
• Best Local Informational Programming: Life And Times.
• Best National Informational Programming: Voces.
• Best On-Air Advertising: Splenda: Mama Yo Quiero New.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT:
• Creative Achievement Award: America Ferrera.
• Norman Lear Writer's Award: Cynthia Cidre, writer of the upcoming CBS series Cane.
• President's Award: Disney-ABC Television Group.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Walter Ulloa, chairman and CEO of Entravision Communications Corp.

UGLY BETTY (8/9)

Lucy Liu returns as "The Chin," and Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("The Class") guest stars as Dr. Farkas. Christopher Gorham and Jayma Mays reprise their roles as Henry and Charlie.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Lucy Liu as Grace Chin, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Dr. Farkas, Christopher Gorham as Henry and Jayma Mays as Charlie.

"Icing on the Cake" was written by Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by Jeff Melman.

2007 Emmy Nominations

Deadwood • HBO • Red Board Productions and Paramount Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Ernie Bishop, Set Decorator
Maria Caso, Production Designer
David Potts, Art Director

Heroes • Genesis • NBC • Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Curtis A, Production Designer
Daniel J, Art Director
Crista Schneider, Set Decorator

Rome • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with the BBC
Joseph Bennett, Production Designer
Cristina Onori, Set Decorator
Anthony Pratt, Production Designer
Carlo Serafini, Art Director

Shark • Teacher's Pet • CBS • An Imagine Television Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Suzuki Ingerslev, Production Designer
Rusty Lipscomb, Set Decorator
Cat Smith, Art Director

The Tudors • Episode 101 • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Peace Arch Entertainment, Working Title, Reveille Productions Limited, An Ireland-Canada Co-Production
Tom Conroy, Production Designer
Alan Gilmore, Art Director
Eliza Solesbury, Set Decorator

Ugly Betty • The Box And The Bunny • ABC • ABC Studios
Archie D'Amico, Set Decorator
Jim Wallis, Art Director
Mark Worthington, Production Designer

Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Jennifer McNamara, Casting By

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios
Scott Genkinger, CSA, Casting By
Junie Lowry, CSA, Casting By

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Sheila Jaffe, Casting Director
Georgianne Walken, Casting Director

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Libby Goldstein, Casting By
Junie Lowry, Casting By

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Anya Colloff, Casting By
Amy McIntyre, Casting By

Outstanding Costumes For A Series

Deadwood • Amateur Night • HBO • Red Board Productions and Paramount Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Le Dawson, Costume Supervisor
Katherine Jane, Costume Designer

Desperate Housewives • Getting Married Today • ABC • ABC Studios
Catherine Adair, Costume Designer
Joyce Unruh, Costume Supervisor
Karo Vartanian, Costume Supervisor

Rome • De Patre Vostro (About Your Father) • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with the BBC
April Ferry, Costume Designer
Augusto Grassi, Costume Supervisor
Uliva Pizzetti, Costume Supervisor

The Tudors • Episode 103 • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Peace Arch Entertainment, Working Title, Reveille Productions Limited, An Ireland-Canada Co-Production
Joan Bergin, Costume Designer
Jessica O'Leary, Costume Supervisor
Ger Scully, Costume Supervisor

Ugly Betty • I'm Coming Out • ABC • ABC Studios
Eduardo Castro, Costume Designer
Michael Chapman, Costume Supervisor

Outstanding Costumes For A Series

Deadwood • Amateur Night • HBO • Red Board Productions and Paramount Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Le Dawson, Costume Supervisor
Katherine Jane, Costume Designer

Desperate Housewives • Getting Married Today • ABC • ABC Studios
Catherine Adair, Costume Designer
Joyce Unruh, Costume Supervisor
Karo Vartanian, Costume Supervisor

Rome • De Patre Vostro (About Your Father) • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with the BBC
April Ferry, Costume Designer
Augusto Grassi, Costume Supervisor
Uliva Pizzetti, Costume Supervisor

The Tudors • Episode 103 • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Peace Arch Entertainment, Working Title, Reveille Productions Limited, An Ireland-Canada Co-Production
Joan Bergin, Costume Designer
Jessica O'Leary, Costume Supervisor
Ger Scully, Costume Supervisor

Ugly Betty • I'm Coming Out • ABC • ABC Studios
Eduardo Castro, Costume Designer
Michael Chapman, Costume Supervisor

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

30 Rock • The Breakup • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Scott Ellis, Director

Entourage • One Day In The Valley • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Julian Farino, Director

Extras • Episode 1 - Orlando Bloom • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais, Director
Stephen Merchant, Director

Scrubs • My Musical • NBC • ABC Studios
Will Mackenzie, Director

The Office • Gay Witch Hunt • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Ken Kwapis, Director

Ugly Betty • Pilot • ABC • ABC Studios
Richard Shepard, Director

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Elaine Stritch, Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios
Dixie Carter, Dixie Carter as Gloria Hodge

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios
Laurie Metcalf, Laurie Metcalf as Carolyn Bigsby

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Judith Light, Judith Light as Claire Meade

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Salma Hayek, Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Series

Dancing With The Stars • Episode Number: 303 • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions, LLC
Mary Guerrero, Department Head Hairstylist
Lucia Mace, Key Hairstylist
Cynthia P, Additional Hairstylist

Deadwood • A Constant Throb • HBO • Red Board Productions and Paramount Television in association with HBO Entertainment
De Ann, Additional Hairstylist
Carol Pershing, Assistant Department Head Hairstylist
Peter Tothpal, Department Head Hairstylist

Desperate Housewives • It Takes Two • ABC • ABC Studios
James Dunham, Additional Hairstylist
Maria Fernandez, Additional Hairstylist
Dena Green, Additional Hairstylist
Gabor Heiligenberg, Department Head Hairstylist

Rome • De Patre Vostro (About Your Father) • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with the BBC
Claudia Catini, Additional Hairstylist
Stefano Ceccarelli, Key Hairstylist
Aldo Signoretti, Department Head Hairstylist
Michele Vigliotta, Additional Hairstylist

Ugly Betty • I'm Coming Out • ABC • ABC Studios
Mary Ann, Department Head Hairstylist
Lynda K, Key Hairstylist
Norma Lee, Additional Hairstylist

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Tina Fey, Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios
Felicity Huffman, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo

The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari's Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
America Ferrera, America Ferrera as Betty Suarez

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Mary-Louise Parker, Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

Outstanding Main Title Design

Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
Eric Anderson, Creative Director
Josh Bodnar, Editor
Lindsay Daniels, Designer
Colin Davis, Main Title Producer

Hu$tle • AMC • A Kudos Film & Television Production for BBC
Joe Berger, Main Title Producer/Animator
Pascal Wyse, Designer

Standoff • Fox • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Dan Meehan, Title Designer
Michael Riley, Title Designer
Brad Simmons, Title Designer
Bob Swenson, Title Designer

The Lost Room • Sci Fi Channel • Lions Gate Entertainment
Robert Bradley, Title Designer
Thomas Cobb, Title Designer
Patrick Loungway, Director of Photography

The Path To 9/11 • ABC • Marc Platt Productions in association with ABC Studios
Lindsay Daniels, Designer
Colin Day, Designer
Dave Molloy, Editor
Matthew Mulder, Creative Director

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Yolanda Santosa, Art Director
Garson Yu, Creative Director

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

My Name Is Earl • NBC • Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Jaime Pressly, Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Jenna Fischer, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Conchata Ferrell, Conchata Ferrell as Berta

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Holland Taylor, Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams, Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Elizabeth Perkins, Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hode

Emmy Noms: Heroes, Betty In, 24 Out

Last year's big Emmy winners were Thursday's nominees—and not, as the field was revealed for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Defending Comedy Series champ The Office was in the game again, alongside HBO's hipster Entourage, CBS' traditional Two and a Half Men and the freshmen series 30 Rock and Ugly Betty of NBC and ABC, respectively.

Fox's 24, meanwhile, will have to content itself with the admiration of Vice President Cheney, because the torture-touting adventure, which claimed the 2006 Drama Series Emmy, didn't make the finals for the 2007 race. The show was edged aside in part by the rise of Heroes.

In its first year of eligibility, the capeless NBC superhero series snagged eight nominations overall, including Outstanding Drama Series and Supporting Drama Series Actor (for Heroes' own Hiro, Masi Oka).

Heroes will need to draw on all of its powers, and maybe borrow some from Superman, to prevail in the drama-series race. Its competition: veteran nominees Boston Legal (ABC), Grey's Anatomy (ABC) and House (Fox), as well as a certain former champ in its final season, The Sopranos.

The HBO crime-family drama, which ended its six-season run in June, notched a total of 15 nominations, tops for any series.

Overall, westerns ruled, with the HBO movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and the AMC miniseries Broken Trail roping in 17 and 16 nominations, respectively.

Ugly Betty was the top comedy series nominee, with 11 nods, including acting ones for guest stars Salma Hayek (she's also the show's executive producer) and Judith Light, supporting diva Vanessa Williams and star America Ferrera.

Other top multiple nominees include Grey's Anatomy, 30 Rock and USA's glitzy Hollywood miniseries The Starter Wife, all with 10.

For those who keep track of such Grey's Anatomy things, T.R. Knight was among the show's nominees—he's up for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series; Bionic Woman-bound former castmate Isaiah Washington wasn't.

Elsewhere on the snub front, ABC's Desperate Housewives and Lost got nominated, but didn't get as many glamour nominations as in the past; NBC's Friday Night Lights got renewed, but it didn't get included in the top categories (it scored nods for casting and direction); Gilmore Girls got zip, which is to say it got just one fewer nomination than all of the CW.

Among those who were nominated, Ferrera, last January's Golden Globe champ, will face off in the Comedy Series Actress category against: Wisteria Lane representative Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives); reigning Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine); Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), also nominated for her work in the Oxygen TV movie The Robber Bride; and fellow first-time acting nominee Tina Fey (30 Rock), a past winner as a writer for Saturday Night Live.

Star of 24 Kiefer Sutherland had better luck than his series, earning a berth in the Drama Series Actor category against The Sopranos' James Gandolfini, House's Hugh Laurie, Rescue Me's Denis Leary and Boston Legal's James Spader. Sutherland is the defending champ.

Law & Order: SVU's Mariska Hargitay has a shot to become a repeat Emmy winner in the Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. Her competition: The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick; Medium's Patricia Arquette; The Riches' Minnie Driver, scoring her first ever Emmy nod; The Sopranos' Edie Falco; and Brothers & Sisters' Sally Field, a two-time Oscar winner who's vying for her first Emmy win since 2001.

Back on the comedy series front, reluctant 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin will square off in the Lead Actor category against Steve Carell (The Office), 2006 winner Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men) and Ricky Gervais (Extras).

In the Reality Competition field, Fox's top-rated American Idol will try, try, try again to defeat CBS' The Amazing Race, currently on a four-year winning streak, ABC's popular Dancing with the Stars and Bravo's potboilers Project Runway and Top Chef. In a not terribly surprising development, though one that likely will be met with glee at the home of one former View cohost, Donald Trump's The Apprentice did not make the cut.

In the non-game-playing Reality Program category, Kathy Griffin's Bravo vehicle, My Life on the D-List, will give it another go against the ABC weepie Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Rounding out the field: PBS' Antiques Roadshow; National Geographic's Dog Whisperer and the Penn and Teller Showtime series that dare not speak its name in a family forum (aka Bulls--t!).

For the first time this decade, Will & Grace didn't score any nominations, not even in the guest-actor categories. (The deep-sixed sitcom's Emmy swan song was sung last year.) Former star Debra Messing earned her annual nod anyway—up for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for USA's The Starter Wife.

Messing's competition: The Robber Bride's Parker; a first-time Emmy nominee known as Queen Latifah, up for HBO's Life Support; the formidable Gena Rowlands, up for Lifetime's What If God Were the Sun; and, extending her tour of the awards-show circuit, newly minted Oscar winner Helen Mirren, back in the Emmy game for PBS' Prime Suspect: The Final Act.

The one-and-done Studio 60 earned a respectable five nominations, including one each for guest actors John Goodman and Eli Wallach, but none for star Matthew Perry. The former Friends player still got in the Emmy game, though, thanks to his Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie nomination for the TNT true-life teacher tale, The Ron Clark Story.

Perry's competition: Huffman spouse William H. Macy, up for TNT's Nightmares & Dreamscapes; Jim Broadbent, up for HBO's Longford; Robert Duvall, up for AMC's Broken Trail; and Tom Selleck, up for CBS' Jesse Stone: Sea Change.

Elsewhere, Knight and Oka will square off in the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category against Boston Legal's William Shatner, The Sopranos' Michael Imperioli and Lost's Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn.

The Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category is basically a showdown between Grey's Anatomy (Katherine Heigl, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh) and The Sopranos (Aida Turturro and Lorraine Bracco). If the stars from those two shows split the votes, then the nonaligned Rachel Griffiths, of Brothers & Sisters, might find a clear path to the podium.

Entourage hogged two spots (for Kevin Dillon and defending-champ Jeremy Piven) in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series race. The Office got one for Rainn Wilson, and none for John Krasinski's multiple facial expressions. Jon Cryer and Neil Patrick Harris of the CBS sitcoms Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, respectively, round out the category. The nod for Harris is the first for the prime-time fixture formerly known as Doogie Howser.

Two and a Half Men was the surprise dominator in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category. The sitcom's Holland Taylor and Conchata Ferrell will face off against My Name Is Earl's Jaime Pressly, The Office's Jenna Fischer, Weeds' Elizabeth Perkins and Ugly Betty's Williams.

The Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie lineup likely could get past security at the Oscars: Anna Paquin (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee); Samantha Morton (Longford); Toni Collette (HBO's Tsunami, the Aftermath); Judy Davis (The Starter Wife); and Greta Scacchi (Broken Trail). All but Scacchi are former Academy Award winners or nominees.

Ed Asner notched his 16th career nomination with an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie nod for the Hallmark Channel's The Christmas Card. The other contenders: Broken Trail's Thomas Haden Church; Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee's August Schellenberg and Aidan Quinn; and The Starter Wife's Joe Mantegna.

And in the highly competitive Original Music and Lyrics category, Family Guy's touching "My Drunken Irish Dad" and Mad TV's holiday send-up "Merry Ex-Mas" will do battle with the Saturday Night Live-produced YouTube smash love song "Dick in a Box," cowritten by Justin Timberlake and SNL's Andy Samberg, and two ditties from Scrubs' musical episode, "Everything Comes Down to Poo" and "Guy Love."

The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled to be presented Sept. 16 in a Fox telecast from Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium.

UGLY BETTY (8/2)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Lucy Liu as Grace Chin, Jerry O'Connell as Joel, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Kevin Alejandro as Santos and Bailey Chase as Beckett "Becks" Scott.

"Derailed" was written by Cameron Litvack and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (7/26)

Editors: Please note that this episode replaces "Fake Plastic Snow."

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as the masked woman and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Kevin Alejandro as Santos and Tim Gunn as the Fashion TV reporter.

"Brothers" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Lev L. Spiro.

UGLY BETTY (7/19)

Editors: Please note that this episode replaces "Lose the Boss?"

It's Fashion Week in New York and Betty is hustling to ensure "Mode's" runway show goes off without a hitch. To Betty's dismay, Daniel offers Hilda a job helping out with the show. Wilhelmina is introduced to a new "cosmetic technique," as Christina prepares for the debut of her very own designs. Marc and Amanda resume their scheming ways in a mission to steal what will be the season's hottest fashion item. Meanwhile, Daniel is moved by his father's decision to hand over the reigns of Meade Publications, when a visit from an old friend coaxes him into his old ways. But nothing can prepare them for the frenzy that ensues when the "Mode" show is abruptly halted by a shocking revelation.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as the masked woman and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Christopher Gorham as Henry, Gina Gershon as Fabia, Bailey Chase as Becks and Octavia Spencer as Constance.

"I'm Coming Out" was written by James Parriott and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

Kelsey Sells To Salma

UGLY BETTY (7/12)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Stelio Savante as Steve and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman.

"The Lyin', the Watch and the Wardrobe" was written by Donald Todd and directed by Rodman Flender.

UGLY BETTY (7/5)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Rhys Coiro as Vincent Bianchi, Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman and Stelio Savante as Steve.

"Queens for a Day" was written by Marco Pennette and directed by Jim Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (6/28)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman, Sarah Jones as Natalie Whitman, Stelio Savante as Steve, Ava Gaudet as Gina Gambarro and Cicely Daniels as Zelda.

"The Box and The Bunny" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Sheree Folkson.

'Babel, 'Ugly Betty' top ALMA awards

"Babel," which wove together stories in several languages on three continents, also earned the movie director award for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, movie actress honor for Adriana Barraza and outstanding screenplay for Guillermo Arriaga.

The outstanding movie actor was Jesse Garcia for his work in "Quinceanera.

"Babel" was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won an Oscar for best score this year.

"Ugly Betty" earned the ALMA award for outstanding television series, miniseries or TV movie. Based on a Colombian telenovela, the ABC comedy-drama centers on a dowdy young Latina with a blazing spirit who intends to make her mark on the world.

Its star, America Ferrera, was named outstanding actress, Ana Ortiz earned the supporting actress award and Silvio Horta received a writing nod for the pilot.

The National Council of La Raza, the country's largest Hispanic advocacy organization, created the ALMA Awards in 1995 to honor Hispanic performers and promote positive images of Hispanics in entertainment. ALMA stands for American Latino Media Arts and also means "soul" in Spanish.

The awards were presented at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The ceremony will be televised June 5 on ABC.

Salma Hayek sits pretty with ABC deal

Under the two-year pact with ABC Studios, Hayek and producing partner Jose Tamez will develop new series projects for the studio through their company, Ventanarosa Prods.

"Ugly Betty," which is based on the blockbuster Colombian telenovela "Betty La Fea," has been a passion project for Hayek, who was a famous telenovela star in her native Mexico before moving to Hollywood in the early 1990s, and Tamez, a former telenovela producer. Hayek was instrumental in casting America Ferrera to play the lead and also had a recurring role on the show this past season.

The two are executive producing the series with creator Silvio Horta, Ben Silverman, James Hayman and Marco Pennette.

The deal with ABC Studios marks the first overall TV pact for Hayek and Tamez, who have been ramping up their producing efforts.

Last month, the duo launched a film company, Ventanazul, in partnership with MGM to develop, produce and acquire mainstream films that either draw on Latin themes or feature Latin talent.

ABC's 2007-08 Primetime Schedule

TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Cavemen" (new comedy series)
8:30 p.m. "Carpoolers" (new comedy series)
9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show"
10:00 p.m. "Boston Legal"

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Pushing Daisies" (new drama series)
9:00 p.m. "Private Practice" (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. "Dirty Sexy Money" (new drama series)

THURSDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"
9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
10:00 p.m. "Big Shots" (new drama series)

FRIDAY:
8:00 p.m. "MEN IN TREES"
9:00 p.m. "Women's Murder Club" (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. "20/20"

SATURDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Saturday Night College Football"

SUNDAY:
7:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
10:00 p.m. "Brothers & Sisters"

UGLY BETTY (5/24)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are William Abadie as Phillippe Michel and Gina Gershon as Fabia. The episode was written by Sivio Horta and directed by Richard Shepard.

`Betty' heating up as season nears end

"There are huge developments, huge developments with Betty and Henry," teased Christopher Gorham, who plays Henry. "I can't tell you any more than that but it's exciting."

Gorham, Ferrera and other cast and crew members were gathered at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for a seminar on the show, one of this season's rare new hits.

The series, a Hollywood-produced adaptation of the Colombian telenovela "Yo soy Betty, la fea" ("I Am Betty, the Ugly One"), centers on the ordinary-looking Betty, whose down-to-earth nature and extraordinary heart affect her body-beautiful co-workers at a high-fashion magazine.

Ferrera, who won a Golden Globe award for her portrayal, told AP Television that she had an inkling the series would be successful.

"I knew that we had a show that was very special and that we had a group of people that really loved it," she explained. "You hope that the audience is going to love it and latch on, and we got really lucky."

As for other coming plot developments, Ashley Jensen, who plays seamstress Christina, said to expect a "shocking" revelation about her character. And, Vanessa Williams revealed, her scheming Wilhelmina will come within a whisker of taking over the magazine. "She's still on her unrelenting pursuit of the takeover and she's trying a lot of different avenues and one avenue is becoming very, very successful," she noted.

"Betty" is executive produced by Oscar-nominated actor Salma Hayek, who recently announced she is pregnant. (Hayek is engaged to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault.) Tony Plana, who portrays Betty's beleaguered father, Ignacio, said the pregnancy has not slowed her down at all.

"She's there, she watches all the dailies," he said. "She writes notes ... she comes to our readings, checks up on us on the set. She's just been a very strong presence in the whole development of this remarkable year that we've had."

UGLY BETTY (5/17 - SEASON FINALE)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga, Kristen Chenoweth as Diane, Angélica Vale as Angélica and Gina Gershon as Fabia.

"East Side Story," was written by Silvio Horta & Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY QUICK TAKE (5/17)

In the episode, "East Side Story," Chenoweth will play Diane, an orthodontic technician who loves romantic comedies and becomes overly involved in her patients' lives - include Betty's (America Ferrera). Vale, who stars as Lety in the hit Mexican telenovela "La Fea Más Bella," will guest star as her assistant, Angélica. Gershon will reprise her role as cosmetics mogul Fabia, who turns up at Mode to once again torment her nemesis, Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams).

UGLY BETTY (5/10)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Rita Moreno as Aunt Mirta, Justina Machado as Clara, Rebecca Gayheart as Jordan, Arap Bethke as Antonio, Mykel Shannon Jenkins as Tavares, Arap Bethke as Antonio, Lillian Hurst as Yolanda, Bunnie Rivera as the nurse and Lilyan Chauvin as the curandera.

"A Tree Grows in Guadalajara" was written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally, and directed by Lev L. Spiro.

2007 ALMA AWARDS NOMINEES

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR TV MOVIE
"George Lopez" - ABC
"Ugly Betty" - ABC
"Walkout" - HBO

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS - TELEVISION SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR TV MOVIE
America Ferrera - "Ugly Betty" - ABC
Constance Marie - "George Lopez" - ABC
Sara Ramirez - "Grey's Anatomy" - ABC
Alexa Vega - "Walkout" - HBO

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR - TELEVISION SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR TV MOVIE
Yancey Arias - "Walkout" - HBO
Jorge Garcia - "Lost" - ABC
Mark Indelicato - "Ugly Betty" - ABC
Benito Martinez - "The Shield" - FX
Tony Plana - "Ugly Betty" - ABC
Miguel Sandoval - "Medium" - NBC

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS - TELEVISION SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR TV MOVIE
Tonantzin Esparza - "Walkout" - HBO
Aimee Garcia - "George Lopez" - ABC
Belita Moreno - "George Lopez" - ABC
Marisol Nichols - "24" - FOX
Ana Ortiz - "Ugly Betty" - ABC
Roselyn Sanchez - "Without a Trace" - CBS
Nadine Velazquez - "My Name Is Earl" - NBC
Lauren Vélez - "Dexter" - Showtime

OUTSTANDING WRITING - TELEVISION SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR TV MOVIE
Marcus De Leon, Ernie Contreras, Timothy J. Sexton - "Walkout"- HBO
Adam E. Fierro (Charles H. Eglee) - "The Shield," "Enemy of Good" - FX
Silvio Horta - "Ugly Betty," "Pilot" - ABC
Dailyn Rodriguez - "Ugly Betty," "After Hours" - ABC

UGLY BETTY (5/3)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Cristian de la Fuente as Rodrigo, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, David Norona as Tyler, Maria Costa as Valerie, Rachel Roberts as Marla, Jonathan Slavin as Squire Josh, Shayna Rose as the younger wench, Joe Duer as Lorenzo and Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga.

"Secretaries Day," was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr.

Salma Hayek Opens Up About Motherhood

"Motherhood is not for everyone," the Lonely Hearts star tells Marie Claire in its May issue. "It is for me, but there's no reason women should feel rushed to have a child."

Hayek, who spoke to the magazine before announcing her pregnancy and engagement to businessman François-Henri Pinault, continues: "Society thinks if you don't have children, you've failed as a woman, even if you are CEO of a company.

"You've got to be beautiful, smart, skinny, tall, rich, successful at your job, married to the right guy – and have genius children. And by the way, you also have to be a nun!"

Even by those impossible standards, Hayek is doing pretty well: On top of all her other achievements, she's the executive producer of one of the year's biggest hits, ABC's Ugly Betty. All it took was a lot of persistence. "Everybody thinks I've got a new job, but I've been trying to get shows on the air for years," she says. "The secret is never giving up."

She also admits that the pressure to appear physically perfect isn't easy on her. "The stress is sensational," she says. "But then, you have to keep everything in perspective. It's a dress, hair, makeup – c'mon, let's go! We have to stop this obsession that starts when we're teenagers: 'Am I pretty enough?' "

It helps that she's willing to challenge people's ideas about women – especially Latin women. "I started out in Hollywood at the same time as Jennifer Lopez," she says. "Before us, Latinas only had roles that were part of the backdrop, as the maid or the prostitute. We changed that. Of course, you're always looking for those Meryl Streep parts, but I am grateful for the things I did."

UGLY BETTY (4/26)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Cristian de la Fuente as Rodrigo, Annalynne McCord as Petra, Ivana Milicevic as Lena and Mykel Shannon Jenkins as Dijan.

"Petra-gate," was written by Gabrielle Stanton & Harry Werksman and directed by Paul Lazarus.

Salma Hayek wins MGM backing for Latin-themed films

The company, Ventanazul, will be housed at MGM and be a partnership between the Hollywood film and television studio and Hayek, Oscar nominated for her movie "Frida" and producer of hit TV show "Ugly Betty." Financial details were undisclosed.

Ventanazul plans to make or acquire independent movies, and hopes to distribute two to four films a year that draw on Latin themes, feature Latino or Latina actors and cross over to mainstream audiences for broad, box office appeal.

"We want these movies to appeal to everyone, but we also hope to make Latino audiences proud," Hayek said.

As examples, Hayek pointed to "Frida," a film about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo which performed modestly well at art-house box offices, and to "Ugly Betty," which tells of young Betty Suarez, a fish-out-of-water working at a fashion magazine.

Hayek will serve as president and chief executive officer of Ventanazul and her producing partner, Jose Tamez, will be president of production.

The deal follows last year's widely touted film partnership between MGM, actor Tom Cruise and his producing partner, Paula Wagner, to re-establish the United Artists production company.

MGM is controlled by private equity firms Providence Equity Partners and Texas Pacific Group. Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE). of America and cable company Comcast Corp hold large stakes, as do DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Quadrangle Group.

UGLY BETTY (4/19)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Leslie Jordan as Quincy Combs, Ivana Milicevic as Lena, Annalynne McCord as Petra, Eric Edelstein as Ben, Jeff Meacham as Kevin, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Bailey Chase as Becks and Octavia Spencer as Constance.

"Punch Out," was written by Oliver Goldstick, and directed by Miguel Arteta.

UGLY BETTY (4/14)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Brett Cullen as Ted, Stelio Savante as Steve, Octavia Spencer as Constance Grady, Teddy Sears as Hunter and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman.

"Sofia's Choice" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Jeff Melman.

UGLY BETTY (4/12)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

ABC bringing 14 series back

They include three series that debuted this season: the surprise hit "Ugly Betty," the drama "Brothers & Sisters" and Anne Heche's Alaskan sojourn "Men in Trees."

Most of the other returnees are no surprises. "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and "Boston Legal" will all be back.

ABC is also committed to several of its successful reality shows, including "The Bachelor," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Dancing With the Stars," "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap."

The late-night "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will also be back in the fall, said ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson.

None of the network's comedies, including long-running series like "According to Jim" or " George Lopez," received an early commitment for next fall. The broadcast networks all announce their fall schedule to advertisers in May.

ABC is averaging just under 10 million prime-time viewers, down from 11.4 million a year ago. The network argues that some erosion was expected with the departure of "Monday Night Football," but it has also been hurt by the unexpected decline of "Lost" in its third season.

The network's biggest move, shifting "Grey's Anatomy" to Thursdays, has been a big success.

UGLY BETTY (4/5)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest Cast: Salma Hayek as Sofia, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Michael Urie as Marc, Ava Gaudet as Gina Gambarro, Christopher Gorham as Henry and Mini Anden as Aerin.

"Fake Plastic Snow" was written by Veronica Becker and Sarah Kucserka, and directed by Jim Hayman.

Ugly Betty Star Says Salma Hayek Will Be a 'Great Mom'

"She's a great boss so I think she'll be a great mom," Urie, 26, told PEOPLE Sunday at the John Varvatos 5th Annual Stuart House benefit in West Hollywood.

"She knows how to take care – like we have a ton of producers, and she's really caring. She's like the matriarch of the producers. She's already motherly."

A rep for Hayek, 40, announced Friday that the actress and her businessman boyfriend, François-Henri Pinault, 44, are engaged and expecting their first child.

Urie said Hayek didn't tell the cast about her pregnancy before going public: "We found out same as everyone else." Calling the news "totally exciting," he joked, "It's not mine. I know, I was disappointed."

Hayek Engaged and Expecting

The actress is engaged to her boyfriend, with whom she is expecting a child, reports People.

"Businessman, Francois-Henri Pinault, and his fiancee, Salma Hayek, are happy to announce they are expecting the arrival of their first child," Hayek's rep says in a statement, confirming rumors that Hayek was pregnant after a photo began circulating the Internet.

Pinault is the CEO of PPR, a luxury good firm that own Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Balenciaga, a french department store and national music chain.

The couple has kept a fairly low profile. Previously, Hayek dated Edward Norton and Josh Lucas.

Hayek received an Oscar nomination for playing the titular role in 2002's "Frida." Her other credits include "Desperado," "Fools Rush In," "Wild Wild West," "After the Sunset," "Bandidas" and "Ask the Dust" (which won her Mr. Skin's top honors for best nude scene of 2006). She next stars opposite Jared Leto and John Travolta in "Lonely Hearts," a crime thriller scheduled for release April 13.

She's also a Golden Globe-winning producer on ABC's "Ugly Betty," for which she made guest appearances.

UGLY BETTY (3/29)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Stelio Savante as Steve, Sal Landi as Mr. Green, Bob Clendenin as Bruno and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"Lose the Boss?" was written by Oliver Goldstick and directed by Ken Whittingham.

UGLY BETTY (3/22)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Patti LuPone as Mrs. Weiner and Judith Light as Claire Meade.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," was written by Marco Pennette and Sarah Kucserka & Veronica Becker, and directed by Tricia Brock.

Crime drama "Hearts" beats in theaters next month

The firms, currently in theaters with "Amazing Grace," plan to release the film April 13. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release it on DVD in late summer/early fall.

Screenwriter-director Todd Robinson based the film on an investigation by his grandfather, Detective Elmer C. Robinson (Travolta), into an infamous serial killing spree by "Lonely Heart Killers" Martha Beck (Hayek) and Raymond Fernandez (Jared Leto). Gandolfini will play Robinson's partner Charles Hildebrandt, Scott Caan will play another detective on the case, and Laura Dern will play a co-worker having an affair with Robinson.

Leonard Kastle's 1970 cult classic "The Honeymoon Killers" and Arturo Ripstein's 1996 Spanish-language film "Deep Crimson" (Profundo Carmesi) also covered the tale. Martin Scorsese was fired from "Killers" after a week on the job.

UGLY BETTY (3/15)

Lucy Liu returns as "The Chin," and Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("The Class") guest stars as Dr. Farkas. Christopher Gorham and Jayma Mays reprise their roles as Henry and Charlie.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Lucy Liu as Grace Chin, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Dr. Farkas, Christopher Gorham as Henry and Jayma Mays as Charlie.

"Icing on the Cake" was written by Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by Jeff Melman.

UGLY BETTY (3/8)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Brett Cullen as Ted and Kevin Alejandro as Santos. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"After Hours" was written by Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by James Hayman.

Sightings

UGLY BETTY (3/1)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Debi Mazar as Leah Feldman and Jowharah Jones as Nico. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"Trust, Lust, and Must" was written by Cameron Litvack and directed by Jamie Babbit.

UGLY BETTY (2/15)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Lucy Liu as Grace Chin, Jerry O'Connell as Joel, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Kevin Alejandro as Santos and Bailey Chase as Beckett "Becks" Scott.

"Derailed" was written by Cameron Litvack and directed by James Hayman.

SAG Award Winners

Reaction to their Oscar nods

UGLY BETTY (2/8)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as the masked woman and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Kevin Alejandro as Santos and Tim Gunn as the Fashion TV reporter.

"Brothers & Friends" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Lev L. Spiro.

Wave of white gowns hits Golden Globes

The red carpet-turned-runway at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Monday night was largely a sea of white with the glitz coming more from a smattering of metallic dresses and embellishment instead of blinding diamond necklaces.

Among the stars who wore white to the black-tie event were Jennifer Garner in a beaded V-neck dress, Heidi Klum in a strapless gown and Kyra Sedgwick in a chiffon gown with amethyst crystal trim by J.Mendel that she picked straight from the catwalk. Salma Hayek was in a draped short-sleeve gown with an open portrait neckline; Ellen Pompeo wore a Versace high-neck gown with an open back and silver trim; and Kate Winslet was dressed in a strapless white Azzaro gown.

"It was amazing because of the beautiful white dress and Kate's incredibly white, milky skin. I asked, `What will make her look the most striking?'" said Pati Dubroff, Dior Beauty's makeup artist who worked with Winslet.

Dubroff said she imagined a 1930s screen siren in a black-and-white photograph. It's what led her to choose a plum-blackberry lipstick and platinum eye shadow.

Dubroff also worked with Naomi Watts, who wore a strapless turquoise gown with metal beadwork. Watts ended up with a sultry eye — taking a cue from the metal in the dress — and a pink lip gloss to pick up on the vibrancy of the blue dress.

Cameron Diaz, with very dark hair and very red lips, wore a one-shoulder white fitted bodice with a skirt made of tiers of white tulle and a jeweled belt with a black bow. The tie trend also was spotted on Hilary Swank, who wore a fitted black spaghetti strap dress with a bow-tie waist, and on Jennifer Love Hewitt in a gold embroidered Georges Chakra gown with a bow waist.

Cate Blanchett wore a black off-the-shoulder gown by Alexander McQueen with lace sleeves, a delicate jeweled belt and an asymmetrical hem. Also stunning in black was Penelope Cruz in a scoop-neck Chanel Couture gown with a delicate ruffle around the neck.

Blanchett made W magazine Fashion Market Director Treena Lombardo's favorites list. She also liked Reese Witherspoon's canary yellow strapless cocktail dress by Nina Ricci, Drew Barrymore's blush-colored gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior and Angelina Jolie's smoky gray strapless gown by St. John, a label she models for.

"Gray was a gorgeous color because her eyes are so smoky and she has that smoky persona. It didn't seem fluffy or whimsical, she looked more of a serious classic Hollywood star. She looked like woman, not a girl," Lombardo said.

Since most stars played it safe, there weren't any glaring misses, Lombardo noted, although she would have liked to see Katherine Heigl in something more fun and playful than her very grown-up Escada black strapless gown with a fishtail hem and train. But, she added, the dress certainly showed off Heigl's voluptuous curves.

Donna Karan custom-designed Helen Mirren's dark blue jersey gown with antique silver sequined tulle, and Meryl Streep chose a blush seersucker chiffon gown by Carolina Herrera.

America Ferrara, star of the TV series "Ugly Betty," proved she could be glamorous in a draped gown by Brian Reyes in a deep indigo color. She told E! she liked it because it was "young and easy."

Sheryl Crow was in purple, too — a strapless taffeta gown by Elie Saab. "I was looking for plum-colored Uggs," she joked, but opted for heels instead.

Jennifer Hudson took her spin in the spotlight in a navy V-neck Vera Wang gown with short sleeves, while co-star Beyonce wore a metallic plunging V-neck gown with a keyhole opening on the belly for extra vavavoom.

Jessica Biel shimmered from head to toe in a silver beaded gown with spaghetti straps and an open back.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus chose a cocktail-length gold lame dress by Carolina Herrera with a corset-style bust with coinlike beading. "I'm totally freezing, but it's worth it," said Louis-Dreyfus.

She wasn't the only star feeling the chill of the unusually low 60-degree temperature: Sienna Miller was shivering in her white Marchesa cowl-neck and cowl-back gown with gold embroidery in a lattice pattern.

Jennifer Lopez also wore Marchesa. Hers was a scarf-style, one-shoulder black gown. "My husband loved it. That's usually the deciding factor," she said.

Brightly colored dresses, including Renee Zellweger's emerald green strapless gown, Jada Pinkett Smith's pleated tangerine Armani Prive gown, Rachel Weisz's red strapless Bill Blass gown and Eva Longoria's navy gown with jeweled straps and bustline by Emanuel Ungaro, were rare — and therefore really stood out.

Golden Globe Award Winners

Actress, Musical or Comedy: America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"

UGLY BETTY (2/1)

It's Fashion Week in New York and Betty is hustling to ensure "Mode's" runway show goes off without a hitch. To Betty's dismay, Daniel offers Hilda a job helping out with the show. Wilhelmina is introduced to a new "cosmetic technique," as Christina prepares for the debut of her very own designs. Marc and Amanda resume their scheming ways in a mission to steal what will be the season's hottest fashion item. Meanwhile, Daniel is moved by his father's decision to hand over the reigns of Meade Publications, when a visit from an old friend coaxes him into his old ways. But nothing can prepare them for the frenzy that ensues when the "Mode" show is abruptly halted by a shocking revelation.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as the masked woman and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Christopher Gorham as Henry, Gina Gershon as Fabia, Bailey Chase as Becks and Octavia Spencer as Constance.

"I'm Coming Out" was written by James Parriott and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

UGLY BETTY (1/25)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Stelio Savante as Steve and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman.

"The Lyin', the Watch and the Wardrobe" was written by Donald Todd and directed by Rodman Flender.

SAG Awards

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series:

America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Megan Mullaly, "Will & Grace"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Jaime Pressly, "My Name Is Earl"

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:
"Desperate Housewives"
"Entourage"
"The Office"
"Ugly Betty"
"Weeds"

UGLY BETTY JOINS iTUNES

Also this week, "Muchas Muchachas" ("Many Girls"), the second telenovelita from the breakout hit "Ugly Betty," will be posted in its entirety on ABC.com. A brief clip from the telenovelita is used every week in "Ugly Betty," but viewers will be able to watch the first of six chapters of the complete two to four-minute "Muchas Muchachas" beginning on Thursday, January 4 on ABC.com, with new webisodes every Thursday. "Muchas Muchachas" is the second telenovelita in a series of two (twelve webisodes total) that will be translated into English and rolling out on ABC.com. Starring well-known Hispanic telenovela actors (Paty Manterola, Africa Zavala, Sherlyn, Arturo Carmona, Marco Mendez and Rodrigo Nehme), "Muchas Muchachas" follows the journey of klutzy waitress Lourdes as she starts her new job at the sexy burlesque venue, Club Sparkle. Meanwhile, the two star dancers of the club resort to catfights and stealing each other's boyfriends to compete for top billing. Will Lourdes become Club Sparkle's dancing queen? Log on to ABC.com and find out!

Additionally, as part of the pro-social "Be Ugly '07" campaign that asks America to resolve to be real, be smart, be passionate, be true to yourself and be ugly, just like "Ugly Betty" in 2007, ABC is unveiling a custom T-shirt and "EmpowerRing" at an event in New York on Monday, January 8. A special appearance will be made by February's CosmoGIRL! cover girl and star of "Ugly Betty," America Ferrara, who will unveil the T-shirt and "EmpowerRing," with ABC proceeds going to the nonprofit organization Girls Inc., which inspires all girls to be smart, strong and bold. Both items will be available for purchase beginning January 8 at www.BeUgly07.com.

Platinum Atlantic Records singer/songwriter Jason Mraz has composed the original song "The Beauty in Ugly," for "Be Ugly '07." The entire song can be downloaded beginning Tuesday, January 9 at the iTunes Store, and a portion of the proceeds from "The Beauty in Ugly" will also go to Girls Inc.

'Ugly Betty' Marathon Counts Down to 2007

ABC Family will run an all-day marathon of ABC's hit show "Ugly Betty," starring America Ferrera as the intelligent and optimistic assistant of the head of Mode fashion magazine.

The marathon will help kick off ABC's "Be Ugly '07" campaign, which asks Americans to emulate the bespectacled heroine and "be real, be smart, be passionate and be true to yourself" in the coming year.

The day kicks off at 9 a.m. ET/PT with Betty landing the coveted job at Mode and meeting her womanizing boss Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius) for the first time. Through the next eleven hours, fans can watch Betty find her groove at work, sometimes at the expense of her family's needs, reconcile with her boyfriend Walter (Kevin Sussman) and deal with a trio of workplace backstabbers: Wilhelmina, Marc and Amanda (Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie and Becki Newton). The final episode of the marathon begins at 7 p.m. ET/PT, ending with Betty torn between Walter and her co-worker Henry (Christopher Gorham).

And after all this activity, there's still time to go out and party before the ball drops.

UGLY BETTY PRO-SOCIAL CAMPAIGN

"Be Ugly '07" starts on-air during "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," and hundreds of Betty look-alikes will be in Times Square and Walt Disney World handing out "Ugly Betty" masks to help people see the world through Betty's eyes, where ugly is beautiful. Also on Dec. 31, ABC Family will feature a marathon from 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET. January 1 look-alikes will distribute masks at the Rose Bowl Parade, with a SOAPnet marathon airing from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET.

ABC is teaming up with Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls, to be smart, strong and bold, on "Be Ugly '07." At an event in New York on January 8, a special appearance will be made by February's CosmoGIRL! cover girl and star of "Ugly Betty," America Ferrera (issue on newsstands Jan. 2). Unveiled at the event will be a t-shirt designed for the campaign to raise money for Girls Inc., and available for purchase at www.BeUgly07.com.

Multi-platinum Atlantic Records singer/songwriter Jason Mraz has composed an original song specifically for the campaign. "The Beauty In Ugly," will be used in a variety of mediums including the television campaign and a music video in support of "Be Ugly '07," and will also be recorded in Spanish. Jason's song can be heard in its entirety at www.BeUgly07.com, and will be released for download in January through the iTunes Store with a portion of the proceeds going to Girls Inc.

www.BeUgly07.com will act as campaign headquarters for the movement and provide a mission statement, exclusive content, a calendar of events, downloadable items such as wallpaper, posters and much more. In addition, there will be opportunities for fans to participate online in "Be Ugly '07," and viewers can catch up on all of the episodes to-date beginning Dec. 25 on ABC.com.

Co-produced by People Magazine and People En Espaqol, and created by ABC, an original half-hour special "The Beauty of Ugly Betty" will made available to ABC affiliates and The Walt Disney Companies' wholly owned cable channels in English and Spanish. The special will feature interviews with the cast and editors of the magazine, who take a look at how "Ugly Betty" has become a phenomenon and how the show has redefined "ugly."

In addition, affiliates will be offered a "Be Ugly '07" kit that will provide materials (masks, ponchos, etc.) for local markets to use at events to create additional awareness in their communities, and a "Be Ugly '07" radio promotion will launch later in first quarter.

ABC, NBC Gift-Wrap Video Streams

Both networks are making episodes of several of their shows available online during the next few weeks, when college students will be home from school and a lot of grown-ups will have time off work. The available shows include a mix of buzzworthy hits ("Grey's Anatomy," "Ugly Betty") and lower-rated critical darlings ("Friday Night Lights").

ABC will make five shows available on its web site starting on Christmas Day. In addition to "Grey's" and "Ugly Betty," viewers will be able to watch all of this season's episodes of "Desperate Housewives," "Brothers & Sisters" and "What About Brian." The latter two will be making their online-streaming debuts.

At NBC, viewers can see every episode of its freshman hit "Heroes" along with the full seasons of two shows, "Friday Night Lights" and "30 Rock," which have earned lots of critical loves but not breakout ratings.

In every case, the shows are owned by a corporate sibling of the network that airs them: Touchstone TV for ABC and NBC Universal Television Studio for NBC. The full-season archives will be in place at both networks until each show's first new episode after the calendar turns.

UGLY BETTY (1/18)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter. Stelio Savante guest stars as Steve.

"In or Out" was written by Myra Jo Martino and directed by Michael Spiller.

UGLY BETTY (1/11)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Brett Cullen as Ted, Stelio Savante as Steve, Octavia Spencer as Constance Grady, Teddy Sears as Hunter and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman.

"Sofia's Choice" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Jeff Melman.

2007 Golden Globe Nominations

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICALMARCIA CROSS- DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
AMERICA FERRERA- UGLY BETTY
FELICITY HUFFMAN- DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS- THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
MARY-LOUISE PARKER- WEEDS

UGLY BETTY (1/4)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Kurando Mitsutake as Oshi, Christopher Gorham as Henry and Jamison Yang as the translator.

"Swag" was written by James Parriott and directed by Tamra Davis.

UGLY BETTY (12/30-3)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest Cast: Salma Hayek as Sofia, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Michael Urie as Marc, Ava Gaudet as Gina Gambarro, Christopher Gorham as Henry and Mini Anden as Aerin.

"Fake Plastic Snow" was written by Veronica Becker and Sarah Kucserka, and directed by Jim Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (12/30-2)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Stelio Savante as Steve, Sal Landi as Mr. Green, Bob Clendenin as Bruno and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"Lose the Boss?" was written by Oliver Goldstick and directed by Ken Whittingham.

UGLY BETTY (12/30-1)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Brett Cullen as Ted and Kevin Alejandro as Santos. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"After Hours" was written by Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by James Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (12/28)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Rhys Coiro as Vincent Bianchi, Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman and Stelio Savante as Steve.

"Queens for a Day" was written by Marco Pennette and directed by Jim Hayman.

Hayek Tops Best Nude Scenes of 2006

As people start bundling up as the mercury drops, Mr. Skin has compiled his Top 10 picks for the year's best scene in which actresses took it off. Topping his list of the topless was Hayek in "Ask the Dust."

Hayek, who caused boiling water cooler talk the next day after her brassiered appearance on "Ugly Betty," gave it all up on screen for "Ask the Dust," a Depression-era drama that ... well, never mind that. The bottom line is that Hayek skinny dips with Colin Farrell and then bares all for a follow-up sex scene.

The usually blonde Gretchen Mol won second place recognition for taking chances as the brunette star of "The Notorious Bettie Page," playing the titular pin-up model and fetish queen. Numerous "artistic" poses abound, including a yuletide one to get viewers in the mood this holiday season.

The remainder of the Top 10 follows:

3. Brittany Daniel in "Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders" - This straight-to-DVD release shows the "Joe Dirt" actress in a menage a trois and some tub soaking.

4. Bai Ling in "Edmond" - She gives William H. Macy and the viewers an eyeful at a peep show.

5. Jennifer Aniston in "The Break-Up" - Rent the full-screen version for more of her butt during her windy walk.

6. Barbara Nedeljakova in "Hostel: Unrated Version" -You get your pick of five actresses who show skin in this film, but Barb had Mr. Skin's vote for her sex and sauna scenes.

7. Kelly Brook in "Survival Island" - A woman, her husband and their manservant engage in lots of outdoor action.

8. Kyra Sedgewick in "Loverboy" - Kevin Bacon directs his wife getting it on in the library and in various other scenes. Bonus footage of Marisa Tomei in a bath.

9. Amanda Righetti in "Angel Blade" - Shot in 2002, but released to DVD this year, this "O.C." guest star plays a stripper who likes sex and showering.

10. Lauren Lee Smith in "Lie With Me" -Alone, with a partner, with a partner and an audience ... she just likes getting nude.

Mr. Skin and his team of "skinvestigators" view all non-adult titles for their nudity content and rates them on their "skintensity." The celluloid skin expert is also known for his Anatomy Awards, which honored Anne Hathaway for 2005's best nude scene in her straight-to-DVD film "Havoc."

REBECCA ROMIJN JOINS THE CAST OF ABC'S "UGLY BETTY"

Romijn was most recently seen in this summer's blockbuster "X-Men: The Last Stand." Her extensive television work includes "Friends," "Just Shoot Me" and a series lead on "Pepper Dennis." Her film credits include a cameo in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," "The Punisher" with John Travolta, "Godsend" with Robert De Niro and Greg Kinnear, and the critically acclaimed "Femme Fatale." Next, on the big screen, she will be seen in the upcoming "Man About Town," opposite Ben Affleck, and "Lies and Alibis," alongside Steve Coogan. Romijn is currently also filming "Lake City" with Sissy Spacek."

Hayek Brings Medical Drama to FOX

The series will focus on the lives of students at an Ivy League medical, beginning on their very first day on campus.

Sachs, a graduate of Stanford medical school himself, currently serves as a co-executive producer on "E.R." He began his industry career as a medical consultant for the long-running show's first season.

Hayek and Jose Tamez's Ventanarosa banner is producing ABC's "Ugly Betty," one of the fall's biggest hits, with Reveille and Touchstone Television. The network has already ordered up a full compliment of 22 episodes for the Thursday night dramedy.

"Betty," which has featured Hayek in a recurring role, is the company's first series for an American network. Other credits for Ventanarosa have included Hayek's directing debut "The Maldonado Miracle," which premiered on Showtime, and the feature "Frida."

UGLY BETTY (12/21)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Nicholas Gonzalez as Carlo Medina, Miranda Frigon as Carol, Stelio Savante as Steve, Rhys Coiro as Vincent Bianchi and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman.

"Fey's Sleigh Ride" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Tricia Brock.

UGLY BETTY (12/16)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Debi Mazar as Leah Feldman and Jowharah Jones as Nico. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"Trust, Lust, and Must" was written by Cameron Litvack and directed by Jamie Babbit.

UGLY BETTY (12/14)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman, Sarah Jones as Natalie Whitman, Stelio Savante as Steve, Ava Gaudet as Gina Gambarro and Cicely Daniels as Zelda.

"The Box and The Bunny" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Sheree Folkson.

UGLY BETTY (12/7)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are William Abadie as Phillippe Michel and Gina Gershon as Fabia. The episode was written by Sivio Horta and directed by Richard Shepard.

'Ugly Betty' is sitting pretty

As the chastened photographer stomps from the room, he asks a top magazine editor, Sofia (Salma Hayek): "Who the hell is this woman?"

"For today, she's the boss," an impressed Sofia says.

Hayek, a guest star and an executive producer of the series, seems just as pleased with America Ferrera, the 22-year-old who has turned her Betty into one of the fall TV season's breakout characters.

"She's incredibly talented. She can do comedy. She can do drama. She's very elastic in her range," says Hayek, who wraps up a four-episode stint with the Nov. 23 episode. Betty (ABC, tonight, 8 ET/PT) has been a hit, too. It's the season's No. 2 new series with an average 14.2 million viewers, challenging CBS' Survivor on the most competitive night of the week.

Hayek, a native of Mexico who battled typecasting when she arrived in Hollywood, feels a bond with Ferrera, American-born of Honduran descent. Each is thriving in the entertainment business, which has been slow to cast minority actors. For women, the barrier can be even higher if they don't fit the thin, blond archetype. "I'm sure, like me, everyone told her, 'You'll never make it,' " Hayek says.

Ferrera doesn't miss the parallels to Betty, a determined young woman from working-class Queens who enters a foreign environment, a looks-are-everything Manhattan fashion magazine where she appears to be far from a good fit.

"With Betty going into the magazine world, and her family feeling (they) don't know what she's going through, they're trying to hold onto her. Her sister has doubts: 'Do you really belong there?' " she says. "I was the only kid in my family who wanted to be an actor, so I don't think any of my siblings understood why. They never said, 'That makes sense.' "

Early desire

Growing up in an L.A. suburb, Ferrera got the acting bug at 7, and it wasn't long before she was talking about a career in front of the camera. Her mother, also named America, who raised six children on her own after divorcing 15 years ago, discouraged her youngest.

"My idea was, 'No, I don't like it,' " says mama Ferrera, whose other five children all graduated from college, with one now working in computers, another in finance and a third as a police officer.

After one unsuccessful audition, "I said, 'You need to change your mind. You're short. You're Latino. You're not blond. You don't have blue eyes. You won't get into this business.' She said, 'You don't understand. I want to do this like a doctor wants to be a doctor, like a teacher wants to be a teacher.' " Her mother is now a big supporter and a frequent presence on set.

Ferrera appeared in commercials and a Disney Channel film before getting a surprisingly quick break: the starring role in 2002's Real Women Have Curves. Other roles followed, including a major part in last year's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. During her film projects, she spent much of her off-screen time in her trailer writing papers for college. She's one semester short of a degree at the University of Southern California.

Hayek insisted Betty retain the Latino flavor of the original Colombian telenovela YoSoy Betty, la Fea, on which the series is based. She felt a dowdied Ferrera would make a great Betty, a plain-looking young woman straddling two worlds.

Tony Plana, a trained actor who plays Betty's father, Ignacio, says Ferrera has a gift. "I said, 'Don't ever take an acting class. It'll just screw you up,' " he says. "Acting for America is like breathing. She's naturally layered and complex."

Ferrera likes the range, from physical, even slapstick comedy to a more serious tone in recent episodes, when the family learns Ignacio is an illegal immigrant who killed his wife's first husband.

Betty's conflict with her father coincides with the paternal issues confronting her privileged boss, Daniel (Eric Mabius). "We have the same problems, even though we're from completely different backgrounds," says Mabius. "She has her struggle with her father to be truthful. I have my struggle with my father to be truthful."

Becoming Betty

Mousy wig. Check. Bushy eyebrows. Check. Red glasses. Check. Braces. Uh-oh.

Ferrera's in a scene in the Suarez home, speaking to Ana Ortiz (Betty's sister, Hilda) when she stops mid-dialogue: "I do not have my braces on."

It's a rare costume mistake for Ferrera, who has come to embrace her daily, 45-minute Betty makeover. It transforms Ferrera, with black wig and glasses hiding her cheekbones, covering her shorter brown hair and disguising her figure. At times, she plays with her wig hair as if it were her own.

Psychologically too, the transformation helps Ferrera become Betty. "It was important for me to be able to feel like that character," says Ferrera. "Until I put on the right outfit, wore the right glasses and chose the right braces and the right hair, I couldn't feel like Betty."

Ferrera hints that Betty may become a bit more stylish as she feels more secure: "Her outer change will follow her inner change."

Although Betty's fish-out-of-water career gets the most attention, her home life provides crucial contrast. The Suarezes are not a traditional nuclear family: Ignacio's wife is dead, Hilda is a single mother, and Hilda's son, Justin, is portrayed as more than a little flamboyantly into fashion. But together, they're a strong family. "The way Salma puts it is, this is a beautiful family put together from a bunch of broken pieces," says Ferrera.

Ferrera is proud of the way Betty shows the complexity of this Mexican-American family, without making a big deal about it.

"What I think is successful is it's not about stereotypes. They're not hitting piñatas every weekend," she says. "More important than having Latinos on TV is having a representation of the variations of what a Latino is."

Ferrera knows she and Betty are becoming role models, watched by millions of viewers in a medium that has long neglected Latinos. "I think that this character is a very positive portrayal for young women, for young Latino women, who aspire to a certain kind of dream. But you don't have to be anything like Betty to derive an attachment to the character."

Hayek appears to be a role model for Ferrera. The young actress leans in as Hayek discusses a scene with the episode's director. The two women frequently chat, sometimes in Spanish, about everything from producing to politics to making Thanksgiving dinner. "This is the kind of role model we want out there for all girls," Hayek says.

For all of Betty's attributes, she isn't perfect. She sometimes lets her career take priority over her family. She's naïve in her personal life, with just one boyfriend in her past, says Ferrera, who has her own significant other but wouldn't discuss her relationship. Betty can mess up with her family and at work, but that's part of the character's beauty, she says.

"When Betty does fail, she gets back up and does it again, trying harder," she says.

As has Ferrera. Hayek, an actress who has become a producer and director, sees the protégé's career expanding: America "could direct and produce. She wants to. I want her to. She's going to create opportunities for new talent."

UGLY BETTY (11/30)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest cast TBD.

"Fake Plastic Snow" was written by Veronica Becker and Sarah Kucserka, and directed by Jim Hayman.

"Ugly Betty" is belle of television ball

The show, a U.S. adaptation of the hit Colombian telenovela "Yo Soy Betty, La Fea," has an ethnically diverse audience that has found a friend in the plucky Latina heroine and comfort in the universal message that real beauty is on the inside.

Walt Disney Co.'s ABC has converted the show from the traditional Latin American telenovela soap opera format that airs five nights a week into a weekly serial comedy and put it in a lucrative Thursday prime-time slot.

America Ferrera, who debuted in the 2002 film "Real Women Have Curves," stars as Betty Suarez, a capable but not-so-pretty working-class gal who lands a job as a fashion magazine assistant.

Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek, who worked on telenovelas in her home country, is an executive producer of the show.

"It's the perfect hybrid of something Latin and something American," said Carl Kravetz, chairman of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies. "Certainly, it has found a Latino audience but it has also found an 18- to 34-year-old audience and an African-American audience."

Averaging about 14.3 million viewers a week, "Ugly Betty" ranks as the most watched new series on U.S. television this season. The show ranks second in its time slot and is one of the highest rated among viewers aged 18 to 49, the group most prized by advertisers.

"ABC has taken a Latin story line and put it into an American sitcom," Kravetz said. "I think other networks will try to copy it because it is the first general-market TV series that has an American hook that appeals to Latin American sensitivities."

LATINO VIEWERS IN DEMAND

Indeed, all the major networks are angling to appeal to the huge Latino community, the fastest-growing ethnic demographic in the United States. Kravetz' group estimates that $5 billion is spent on advertising aimed at the U.S. Hispanic market.

The buying power of U.S. Hispanic consumers, numbering roughly 45 million, is expected to rise to nearly $900 billion this year and $1.1 trillion by 2010, accounting for 9 percent of all U.S. purchasing power, up from 5 percent in 1990, Kravetz said.

News Corp. Ltd. went so far as to launch a new mini-network in September dubbed MyNetworkTV, featuring a lineup of steamy, pure-form English-language telenovelas, such as "Desire" and "Fashion House," based on Colombian soaps.

MyNetworkTV has failed so far to gain much traction with American audiences. Still, News Corp. executives say they are committed to giving it a chance.

"We're planning on sticking with the novelas. It's a different way of viewing prime-time television but we think there's a void out there," said Paul Buccieri, president of programming for Twentieth Television, the News Corp. unit that produces the MyNetwork series.

"These shows are just fun, guilty pleasures. We're just trying to appeal to a mass audience, that prime-time soap opera audience who love 'Melrose Place' and 'Dynasty,"' he said. "Novelas, given time, have worked in every country they've entered into ..."

While many industry watchers believe other networks already are exploring ways to replicate the success of "Ugly Betty," some executives believe the show may, in fact, be a phenomenon unique unto itself.

"The central character, the comedic bent, the underdog rooting interest -- a lot of elements, which are specific to this telenovela and this show are what made this such a success," said Stephen McPherson, ABC Entertainment President.

UGLY BETTY (11/17)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are William Abadie as Phillippe Michel and Gina Gershon as Fabia. The episode was written by Sivio Horta and directed by Richard Shepard.

UGLY BETTY (11/23)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Stelio Savante as Steve, Sal Landi as Mr. Green, Bob Clendenin as Bruno and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"Lose the Boss?" was written by Oliver Goldstick and directed by Ken Whittingham.

UGLY BETTY (11/16)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Debi Mazar as Leah, Kevin Alejandro as Santos, Teddy Sears as Hunter, Stelio Savante as Steve and Sal Landi as Mrs. Green. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"Four Thanksgivings and a Funeral" was written by Marco Pennette and directed by Sarah Pia Anderson.

UGLY BETTY (11/9)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Brett Cullen as Ted and Kevin Alejandro as Santos. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"After Hours" was written by Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by James Hayman.

SALMA HAYEK TO GUEST ON MULTIPLE EPISODES OF UGLY BETTY

Hayek will play Sofia Reyes, a newcomer to the Mode scene who will leave a lasting impression on Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius) and Betty Suarez (America Ferrera).

UGLY BETTY (11/2)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest starring are Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, Debi Mazar as Leah Feldman and Jowharah Jones as Nico. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

"Trust, Lust, and Must" was written by Cameron Litvack and directed by Jamie Babbit.

ABC Wants a Full Season of 'Ugly Betty'

ABC made the "Ugly Betty" pick-up announcement late Friday afternoon, meaning that Friday the 13th wasn't so unlucky for executive producer Salma Hayek and not-so-ugly star America Ferrera.

It's a triumphant twist in the "Ugly Betty" story. For several years, a variety of producers and networks attempted to mount an American version of the popular Colombian telenovela "Yo Soy Betty La Fea." Different writers attempted to pitch the find the right look, tone and even length for the series.

Before the beginning of the season, ABC shifted "Ugly Betty" from an under-exposed Friday evening time period, to the ultra-competitive 8 p.m. Thursday slot that has killed many a fledgling show. Instead, "Ugly Betty" has averaged more than 15 million viewers per episode, second only to "Survivor" in its time period. In addition, the show has given ABC a 96 percent bump in total viewers and a 92 percent boost among adults 18-49 over the network's performance in the hour last season.

"In just two weeks 'Ugly Betty' has given us an impressive foothold leading into the 'Grey's Anatomy' hour on Thursday night," says ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson. "The show has proven to be competitive in a very strong time period, and we're thrilled with 'Ugly Betty's' performance."

In addition to Ferrera, who plays the title character, "Ugly Betty" also stars Eric Mabius, Alan Dale, Tony Plana, Ana Ortiz and Vanessa Williams.

UGLY BETTY (10/26)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Christopher Gorham as Henry, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Stelio Savante as Steve and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman.

"The Lyin', the Watch and the Wardrobe" was written by Donald Todd and directed by Rodman Flender.

UGLY BETTY (10/19)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Nicholas Gonzalez as Carlo Medina, Miranda Frigon as Carol, Stelio Savante as Steve, Rhys Coiro as Vincent Bianchi and Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman.

"Fey's Sleigh Ride" was written by Sheila Lawrence and directed by Tricia Brock.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES AND UGLY BETTY A SUCCES IN HISPANIC HOMES

"Desperate Housewives" on Sept. 24 ranked No. 1 for the evening with Hispanic Adults 18-49, and increased its time period delivery 16% in rating with that key demo vs. the year-ago premiere. In addition, the series increased 9% with total Hispanic viewers, 19% with Hispanic Women 18-49 and an impressive 38% with Women 18-34 vs. the year-ago premiere.

"This is an organic extension of our marketing," said Marla Provencio, senior vice president, Marketing, ABC Entertainment. "Our programming lends itself to the Hispanic market with diverse casts that are both relevant and appealing."

"Having a Hispanic targeted campaign really tapped into the estimated 44.1 million Hispanics in the United States, most of whom are bilingual and bicultural," added Mike Benson, senior vice president, Marketing, ABC Entertainment.

To reach this largely expanding market, the Hispanic targeted campaigns for both shows included Spanish on-air promo spots featuring original music; print, radio, outdoor and in-theatre campaigns; and two vehicle campaigns, one featuring customized trucks with rolling billboards, the other comprised of television screens installed in buses that aired the Spanish spots.

'Ugly Betty' on ABC is TV's top-rated

The comedy, which stars Ferrera as a plain Queens girl who pushed her way into the fashion world, was seen by 16.1 million people in its ABC debut on Thursday night, according to Nielsen Media Research.

All but about a half-dozen of the 24 new series the broadcast networks are introducing this fall have made it onto the air already, and so far "Ugly Betty" stands at No. 1.

The show did it without the advantage of a strong program airing ahead of it. Shows like "Shark" and "Brothers & Sisters" that have had strong debuts were helped because they followed "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Desperate Housewives." "Ugly Betty" opened the night at 8 p.m. ET.

It was ABC's largest audience in the time period with a scripted show since "Matlock" in 1995, according to Nielsen Media Research.

ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Co., had some inkling that "Ugly Betty," an American version of a popular Spanish-language telenovela, was attracting attention even before the first episode aired. It had originally scheduled the show for Friday nights — one of the slowest nights on TV — before switching it to Thursday over the summer.

With "Grey's Anatomy" seen by 23.3 million at 9 p.m., ABC is suddenly a player on a night considered television's most valuable because advertisers are eager to be seen there, a night it has been off the ratings radar for years.

CBS, which has dominated Thursday the past few years, had 23.5 million viewers for "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and 16.6 million viewers for "Survivor: Cook Island."

The "Survivor" episode, only its third of the season, was notable for breaking up the segregated tribes that caused some hubbub weeks ago.

This season began with separate "tribes" of black, white, Asian and Latinos on "Survivor." The segregation drew criticism, with some New York City Council members accusing CBS Corp. of promoting divisiveness.

But on Thursday the reality show producers merged those four tribes into two multi-race gangs. It wasn't in response to any of the criticism; the "Survivor" episodes were filmed before CBS had even announced the cast members.

The show had begun the season missing a few advertisers that it had in past seasons, including General Motors, although the advertisers denied that they left because of the segregation experiment.

The average viewership of the first two episodes was essentially the same as "Survivor" last year, even up slightly.

Nothing ugly about "Betty"

Telenovelas are famous for juggling several stories of equal weight. There are vestiges in "Ugly Betty" of this traditional Latin American form, like a thin story thread about high level skullduggery. Overall, to its great benefit, "Ugly Betty" focuses mostly on its title character. Anything else is little more than an afterthought.

This isn't a telenovela simply translated into English, like the two dreadful series on MyNetworkTV. This is a warmhearted comedy-drama, which gushes charm and family appeal. If you don't find yourself cheering for sweet, hardworking, slightly naive but tenacious Betty and her family and friends, you deserve a high standing on some heart transplant list.

Much has been written about this hourlong series because of its Latina star and ethnically diverse cast. Such casting is still something of a novelty, though anyone watching demographic trends knows it won't be for long. What really makes "Ugly Betty" stand out, though, is not its ethnicity but its universality. Creator-writer Silvio Horta, of Cuban heritage, gave his creation a Hispanic flavor, but the "fish out of water" premise and the idea of an underdog taking on the system are familiar to all.

The premise pilot wastes no time introducing Betty, played by America Ferrera. Her starring role in the feature "Real Women Have Curves" means she's not an unknown. Even so, when this series hits the air, she'll be experiencing a career blastoff like nothing NASA has seen. Even with overgrown bangs, bushy eyebrows, red-rimmed glasses and braces, Ferrera's Betty isn't ugly, though the contrast between her and the other denizens of the fashion world is intentionally stark.

Betty wants a career in magazine publishing. Her plain looks, Queens, N.Y., background and utter lack of fashion sense make it unlikely that her first job would be for a glossy fashion publication, but her timing is perfect. Publishing magnate Bradford Meade (Alan Dale) is looking for an assistant for his womanizing son, Daniel (Eric Mabius), newly appointed editor of Mode magazine, and Betty seems to be entirely without sex appeal.

In the pilot, Betty suffers all manner of abuse from her new boss. At the same time, cunning and stunning Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) and her foppish assistant, Marc (Michael Urie), are out to sabotage Daniel and lay claim to the editor's chair. Betty barely survives the opener but, subsequently, her new boss becomes an ally in the daily battles with Wilhelmina and others.

The pilot also gives glimpses into Betty's home life, with her widowed father (Tony Plana), outspoken sister (Ana Ortiz) and young nephew (Mark Indelicato). Although they are not much involved in the pilot story, they should provide a fertile source for story ideas. Ortiz, in particular, is a standout in this cast. So, too, are Williams and Mabius.

"Ugly Betty" originally was planned for Friday. ABC heard the buzz, recognized the potential and moved it to the leadoff position on Thursday night, ahead of "Grey's Anatomy." That will challenge CBS' "Survivor," for the first time in years, to live up to its name.

Cast:
Betty Suarez: America Ferrera
Daniel Meade: Eric Mabius
Wilhelmina Slater: Vanessa Williams
Marc: Michael Urie
Bradford Meade: Alan Dale
Ignacio Suarez: Tony Plana
Hilda: Ana Ortiz
Christina: Ashley Jensen
Amanda: Becki Newton
Justin: Mark Indelicato
Walter: Kevin Sussman

Executive producers: Silvio Horta, Ben Silverman, Jose Tamez, Salma Hayek; Co-executive producer: Teri Weinberg; Producer: James Bigwood; Director: Richard Shepard; Teleplay: Silvio Horta; Director of photography: Vanja Cernjul; Production designer: Mark Worthington; Editor: Kathryn Himoff; Music: Jeff Beal; Set designer: Diana White; Casting: Junie Lowry Johnson, Libby Goldstein.

UGLY BETTY (10/12)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Rhys Coiro as Vincent Bianchi, Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman and Stelio Savante as Steve.

"Queens for a Day" was written by Marco Pennette and directed by Jim Hayman.

UGLY BETTY (10/5)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring are Elizabeth Penn Payne as the masked woman, Sarah Jones as Natalie Whitman, Stelio Savante as Steve, Ava Gaudet as Gina Gambarro and Cicely Daniels as Zelda.

"The Box and The Bunny" was written by Silvio Horta and directed by Sheree Folkson.

Sweet, soapy "Betty" works Thursday shift

Tuesday was the hot spot in primetime last fall with NBC's "My Name Is Earl" coming on strong (before its move to Thursday), Fox's "House" taking root, ABC's "Commander in Chief" getting off to a fast start and CBS' "The Amazing Race" showing renewed spunk in the pre-"American Idol" leg of the season. For the 2006-07 campaign, all eyes are trained on the looming Thursday 9 p.m. showdown between ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and the wild-card factor of NBC's "Deal or No Deal."

But thanks to scheduling shifts made during the summer, the Thursday 8 p.m. slot has become almost as competitive as its 9 p.m. neighbor, albeit in a different way. CBS' "Survivor" is the dominant incumbent (premiering last week to good numbers but no noticeable bounce from the controversy over the racially divided tribes), but otherwise it's looking like a four-way slugfest for second place among NBC's "Earl" and "The Office," ABC's "Ugly Betty," Fox's "'Til Death" and "Happy Hour" and "Smallville" on the new-model CW network.

NBC's comedy combo of "Earl" and "Office" likely has an edge if only for the buzz factor, aided by the latter's upset Emmy victory last month for best comedy series. However, "Betty" has its own hum building. Judging by the first two episodes, the Touchstone TV's show could click with the female audience that likes a good genre mash-up, a la "Desperate Housewives," "Gilmore Girls" and "Ally McBeal," as well as feel-good aspirational stories.

"Betty" is true to its roots as Colombian telenovela phenomenon "Yo Soy Betty La Fea" -- so much so that its executive producers alongside creator Silvio Horta are former telenovela writer Jose Tamez and actress Salma Hayek, who worked on telenovelas in her native Mexico; veteran drama showrunner James Parriott and producer-director James Hayman; and Ben Silverman, who's spent a lot of time of late adapting foreign formats (including "The Office") for U.S. tastes.

"Betty," set to bow September 28, floats a half-dozen continuing story line threads in the pilot alone. Its biggest asset is a strong cast, anchored by America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a blue-collar plain Jane who lands a job as the assistant to the editor-in-chief at a glossy fashion magazine.

At first blush, it seems as if there's too much going on in "Betty" -- the pilot plants the seeds of everything from a murder-mystery plot to a hint at a developing love triangle for Betty -- but it helps to remember that it's inspired by a telenovela, something the show does subtly by showing Betty and her family frequently watching over-the-top Spanish-language serials at their home in Queens.

For all its silly soapy-ness, "Betty" benefits from the kind of earthiness that made "Earl" and UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris" stand out last season. The show can't help but comment on the clash of cultures and classes that Betty encounters when she leaves her walkup in Queens for the high-rise and Town Car atmosphere of Manhattan.

Ferrera is ably assisted in both of her worlds by colorful supporting characters, particularly Vanessa Williams as the fashionista editor Wilhelmina, who schemes in between her Botox treatments because she was passed over for the editor-in-chief job, and Ana Ortiz as Betty's hot-tempered older sister Hilda. Nobody has ever dispensed with a pesky neighbor in primetime quite like Hilda does in Episode 2 with the command: "Bitch, out my house!"

UGLY BETTY (9/28; PREMIERE)

If you took a moment to get to know Betty Suarez (America Ferrera), you'd see how sweet, intelligent and hard-working she is. But few people do, because in the world of high fashion, Betty is the oversized peg in the petite round hole.

When publishing mogul Bradford Meade (Alan Dale ) hands the reins of Mode, the bible of the fashion industry, over to this son, Daniel (Eric Mabius), he specifically hires Betty as his son's new assistant - mostly because she's the only woman in NYC Daniel won't sleep with. Though this "player" is reluctant to accept her at first, Betty's indomitable spirit and bright ideas will eventually win him over. Neither of them really knows the ins and outs of the fashion world, but the two are a formidable team against those who will do anything to see them fall.

And they really are swimming with the sharks. Diva fashionista Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) is incensed that Bradford Meade passed her over and promoted Daniel to the coveted job after the mysterious death (or was it?) of Mode's legendary editress, Fey Sommers. Wilhelmina, along with toadying assistant Marc (Michael Urie) and scheming receptionist Amanda (Becki Newton), are out to sabotage Betty any chance they get. Betty finds a friend in warm-hearted Christina (Ashley Jensen), who works as the magazine's in-house seamstress and seems to know everything about everybody who works there.

Away from work, Betty's home life is far from glamorous. Dad Ignacio (Tony Plana) and her sister, Hilda (Ana Ortiz), worry that she's just setting herself up for a fall, while nephew Justin (Mark Indelicato) encourages his aunt to dream big (even if he's aghast at her fashion sense). Nerdy boyfriend Walter (Kevin Sussman), who unceremoniously dumped Betty, keeps turning up despite her attempts to get him to stay away.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Recurring guest stars are Michael Urie as Marc and Kevin Sussman as Walter.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are William Abadie as Phillippe Michel and Gina Gershon as Fabia. The episode was written by Sivio Horta and directed by Richard Shepard.

"Ugly Betty" gets hot new ABC time slot

In its high-profile position, "Betty" will lead into the network's new Thursday anchor, the hot medical drama "Grey's Anatomy."

"Betty," based on a Latin American format, stars America Ferrera as an unattractive but talented young woman working at a fashion magazine. The buzzworthy series received a warm reception at the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour.

"Big Day" and "Notes From the Underbelly," the new comedies originally slotted in the Thursday 8-9 p.m. period, are now looking to launch Tuesday or Wednesday in one of the two "Dancing With the Stars" hour slots after the reality competition ends its third cycle.

Hayek calls reports of big fortune a "huge lie"

Local media in Mexico and Latin America reported this week that the Oscar-nominated actress had been ranked by Fortune magazine as the second-richest Latin American in Hollywood, with nearly half as much money as singer Jennifer Lopez.

"It's a huge lie. It's very, very far from reality. I don't have that amount of money," Hayek told Reuters, after reading an article in Mexican daily El Universal about a list of "Latino millionaires" in the United States.

"Somebody sent me it and I laughed. It's a bit like a joke. Obviously I have never earned $100 million and I wouldn't even want to," she said in a telephone interview from her Los Angeles home.

A spokesman for Fortune said he was not aware the magazine had published such a list. "It's certainly not a list we've done. It seems somebody got their facts mixed up," he said.

Hayek, 39, a smoldering beauty and former star of a top Mexican soap who seduced Hollywood when she appeared opposite Antonio Banderas in the 1995 movie "Desperado," is not known for flashy big-budget productions.

While famed for her curvaceous figure, she makes as many headlines speaking on violence against women and discrimination toward Hispanic migrants in the United States as she does twirling on the red carpet.

"With things as they are in Mexico, it bothers me that they put me in a group of millionaires with $100 million I don't have when there are so many people dying of hunger," Hayek said, pausing the interview in a brief panic to scoop a drowning rat out of her swimming pool.

Born to a Lebanese businessman and a Mexican opera singer, Hayek is one of Mexico's highest-profile celebrities and has raised awareness about issues like Mexico's failure to solve a spate of brutal murders of women in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez.

"If I had $100 million I would have retired and would be doing more things on an altruistic level than I can now. I would have opened centers in Mexico for violence against women and many other things," she said.

Hayek was nominated for an Oscar for her passionate 2002 portrayal of Frida Kahlo, the legendary Mexican painter who spent much of her life in bed in a plaster cast while her artist husband dallied with other women.

Despite her reputation as a straight-talking feminist, Hayek insists she is not trying to create a do-gooder image.

Her latest project is somewhat lighter: co-producing a TV series called "Ugly Betty," an American version of a Colombian soap about a plain and dumpy woman's quest for love.

Hayek an exec on ABC show 'Ugly Betty'

Asked whether the show's title might offend viewers, Hayek said, "It's sarcastic. Anybody who isn't super skinny and really tall, some people think they're really ugly. We're making fun of it. We're not really calling her ugly."

The show is based on "Yo Soy Betty La Fea," a Colombian telenovela. Telenovelas have been hugely successful in the United States on Spanish-language networks such as Univision and Telemundo.

"I'm sure that the American audience is very thirsty for something like this and they're just going to love it," Hayek said Tuesday at the Television Critics Association's summer meeting.

"It's causing a lot of excitement in the Latin community. They will definitely not be able to get enough of this Betty."

Ferrera, a 22-year-old who gained notice as a plump girl in the 2002 independent movie "Real Women Have Curves," sees Betty as representative of real women.

"I didn't even know how fat I was until I started acting. I don't feel that way inside," she said. "It seems like the roles that mean something are roles that are flawed and no one else wants."

ABC EXPANDS THE NUMBER OF SERIES DUBBED INTO SPANISH

"Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," "Dancing with the Stars," "George Lopez" and Latino television phenomenon "Ugly Betty" will be dubbed into Spanish, with the remainder of the network's regular primetime entertainment lineup available with Spanish language subtitles. In addition, select specials will also be dubbed into Spanish.

"Increasing the number of shows dubbed into Spanish reflects our commitment to successfully connecting with the millions of Hispanics who watch mostly or only Spanish language television," said Mr. McPherson. "Offering relatable programming is how ABC continues to be on the forefront in reaching diverse segments of the population. No other English language network serves the Spanish speaking audience the way we do."

Spanish subtitled versions of the shows will be found on Closed Caption 2 channel (CC2), and viewers will be able to access the programs dubbed in Spanish via the SAP (Second Audio Program) option on their televisions. ABC was the first English language broadcast network to make such a large portion of its programming available in Spanish.

Additional programming may be dubbed in Spanish in the future.

ABC Announces Fall '06

Stars: America Ferrera ("Real Women Have Curves"), Eric Mabius ("Eyes"), Ana Ortiz ("Boston Legal"), Vanessa Williams ("Chicago Hope"), Tony Plana ("24"), Ashley Jensen, Becki Newton ("Charmed"), Mark Indelicato, Alan Dale ("The O.C.")

Studio: Touchstone Television

Producers: Silvio Horta ("Jake 2.0"), Ben Silverman ("The Office"), Salma Hayek ("Frida"), Jose Tamez ("The Maldonado Miracle")

Sightings

When 'Dust' settles, it's no 'Chinatown'

People from all over are moving to the West Coast in search of fame and fortune and sunny good health. The city is full of dreamers and beautiful losers. While the movie evokes the period well, thanks mostly to the stellar cinematography of Caleb Deschanel, it is a flawed and leaden adaptation of John Fante's seminal novel.

Ask the Dust aims to be an exploration of prejudice, passion and the quest for the American dream, as seen through the eyes of Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell), the son of Italian immigrants.

Bandini moves to California from Colorado to pursue his dream to write fiction, winding up in a rundown boardinghouse.

His fortunes ebb and flow, but the story remains flaccid. Farrell does a fine job playing tortured and impassioned, but it's a leap to believe he hasn't had much experience with women and suffers from waning self-esteem.

Also seeking a better life in Los Angeles is Camilla Lopez, an illiterate but ambitious waitress, played with the right degree of fieriness by Salma Hayek.

The movie chronicles the pair's clashes, fueled by their powerful attraction, as they taunt, insult and humiliate each other. Then, almost overnight, they launch into a profound romance, and tranquility sets in. (This effect seems to have been facilitated by their time together in a beach house and the adoption of a stray dog.)

Though the film offers a meticulously rendered Depression-era L.A., it's not in the same league as Chinatown, for which Towne wrote an Oscar-winning script. Here, the characters seem shallow, their motivations murky. While Dust tries to take a vague stand against intolerance, the story feels dated. It meanders pointlessly, lumbering toward its tedious conclusion.

Hayek tackles prejudice in new film

Based on the cult novel by John Fante, the film stars Colin Farrell as Arturo Bandini, an aspiring Italian-American writer in 1930s Los Angeles who reluctantly falls in love with an illiterate Mexican waitress played by Mexican-born Hayek.

"We were talking about a time when it would say 'No Mexicans or animals,"' Hayek told Reuters in an interview, recalling a sign in the shabby hotel where Farrell's character stays in the film.

"We had the same rights as an animal, maybe not even that," she said in New York before the film's release on Friday.

Director Robert Towne, who won a screenwriting Oscar for "Chinatown," said he fell in love with Fante's book 30 years ago.

He envisaged Al Pacino playing the lead but too much time had passed for that. Now Towne is glad he did not make the movie then because he cannot imagine anyone playing waitress Camilla Lopez better than Hayek.

"You have a rare combination of somebody who is self-assured sexually, who is self-assured period, but who understands very well and has suffered from the prejudice that Mexicans historically have suffered from," Towne said.

The director, who also adapted the novel for the screen, said Hayek had turned down the part when he first approached her eight or nine years ago, fearing she would be typecast.

He recalls Hayek telling him, "I can't get a job in a science-fiction movie because they tell me there's no such thing as Mexicans in space."

Nearly a decade later and an Oscar nomination behind her for playing Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in the 2002 film "Frida," Hayek changed her mind.

YESTERYEAR LOS ANGELES

The film, produced by Tom Cruise, has a big-name cast, including Donald Sutherland as Bandini's dissolute neighbor, and paints a sepia-tinged picture of Depression-era Los Angeles that may please the nostalgic. Reviews have been mixed.

Variety said: "Hayek is in full blossom as Camilla."

"Sexy, salty and sensual, Salma Hayek ... has no trouble stealing the movie," the New York Observer wrote while slamming the movie as "long, lazy, plotless" and "a real ordeal."

After a successful TV career in Mexico, at the age of 39 Hayek has established herself as a bankable Hollywood name, but she said when she first arrived she was constantly being told that nobody wanted to hear foreign accents on screen.

"They hadn't noticed there were 38 million Latinos in the United States and that was an important market," she said. "I'd go as far as to say they were quite stupid business-wise.

"I didn't take it that personally," Hayek said. "I did have five minutes when I said, 'It's pure racism,' but it's really a lack of information."

Hayek seems to have proved the doubters wrong. She will be seen later this year alongside Spanish star Penelope Cruz in "Bandidas" about a pair of female Mexican bank-robbers.

Hayek already has directed a small film and now wants to write and direct big movies. She says she is writing a script for a movie she hopes to direct about classical music.

"I showed 15 pages to Jamie Foxx and he wants to do it," she said. "Now I just have to finish it."

Ask the Dust a well acted, beautifully photographed mess: review

After all, this is the movie veteran who wrote the Academy Award-winning script of Chinatown and the Oscar-nominated script of Shampoo. He's a native who knows the city intimately, its shimmering romanticism and seamy underbelly. He understands its rhythms and disparate inhabitants.

Which is why it's so baffling that Ask the Dust is such a mess. Granted, it's a well-acted, beautifully photographed mess, with some moments of brilliance and inspiration. But still - a mess.

Towne reportedly had dreamed of making a film of Ask the Dust for the past 30 years or so, from the time he discovered the book while working on "Chinatown." It almost feels as if he was too close to the material - felt too emotionally attached to it - and couldn't recognize that it was descending into melodrama.

He has a good thing going for a while, though. Serving as both writer and director, Towne starts out with great swagger and evocative detail, as innocent young Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell) arrives in town from Colorado with hopes of writing the Great American Novel. (In true noir style, Arturo - Fante's alter ego on the page - makes us privy to his thoughts and insecurities through frequent descriptive voiceover.)

The cinematography from five-time Oscar nominee Caleb Deschanel (The Right Stuff, The Natural, Fly Away Home, The Patriot and The Passion of the Christ) is wondrous, as always - all burnished rusts and golds, you can practically feel the hot wind and taste the dust in your mouth.

Arturo finds himself simultaneously fascinated with the place and maddeningly frustrated by it when he walks into the diner near his modest hotel (where Donald Sutherland is fabulously unpredictable as his neighbour) and plunks his last few cents down for a cup of coffee. This sparks the love-hate relationship with saucy waitress Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek) that will shape him as both a writer and a man.

Hayek is completely smouldering in her tight polyester uniform and the open-toed huaraches that give her Mexican heritage away, even as she desperately seeks a WASPy man to take care of her. Ask the Dust takes on the same issues of ethnicity, prejudice and shame through the same candid conversations that helped make Crash the well-deserved best-picture winner on Oscar night.

Arturo and Camilla are both tired of being judged for their looks, for their last names (in Depression-era L.A., Mexicans and Americans of Italian descent apparently were tantamount and interchangeable on the food chain) and they both want a better life than society will allow. They see that yearning in each other and recognize it as something familiar - and they also know it's the weapon they can use to inflict the deepest cuts.

They regard one another with mounting cruelty - like fifth-graders who have a crush but lack the maturity to act on it properly - and while their confrontations contain undeniable sparks, they also get a little tedious and repetitive.

But one step in their fledgling romance is a gorgeous scene in which Arturo and Camilla go skinny dipping in the ocean at night, with the moonlight highlighting the curves of their bodies and the waves tossing and pounding them with increasing insistency. The moment is laden with danger, and it's breathtakingly sexy.

It's also the closest Arturo has come to intimacy with a woman until he meets Vera Rifkin (Idina Menzel of Broadway's Rent and Wicked) - or rather, until she thrusts herself into his life. A nice Jewish girl who works as a housekeeper in Long Beach, Vera turns volatile when drunk, but is generous enough to show him what it's like to be with a woman, even though he'd rather be with someone else. Menzel practically trembles with vulnerability; it makes you want to see her in films more often.

After starting out in such rich, visceral fashion, though, Ask the Dust goes weirdly soft and conventional. Once they succumb to their feelings and settle into a comfy life together, all the life goes out of the film. (Their makeshift English lessons, in which Camilla learns to read with the help of a children's book, are especially clunky.)

And the absolute ending is a piece of maudlin schlock you could see in any shamelessly heart-tugging weeper - and you already have, over and over.

Two and a half stars out of four.

Hayek Helps Groups Aiding Battered Women

Hayek, nominated for a best actress Oscar for her role in the 2002 film "Frida," on Tuesday made a $25,000 donation to a battered woman's shelter in her hometown Coatzacoalcos, in Veracruz state on Mexico's Gulf Coast.

A day earlier she donated $50,000 to anti-domestic violence groups in the northern city of Monterrey, 435 miles north of Mexico City.

"No woman has to be a victim of physical abuse," Hayek told a Mexico City news conference on Tuesday. "Women have to feel like they are not alone."

The 39-year-old works with the "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence" campaign of the Avon Foundation, which cites statistics that domestic violence affects one in three women worldwide.

"Every woman who thinks she is the only victim of violence has to know that there are many more," Hayek said.

The actress was born in Coatzacoalcos and now lives in Los Angeles. She said the United States is not immune to domestic violence.

"It's not worse here or there, it's a worldwide problem," she said.

Attending the news conference with Hayek was Patricia Espinosa, who heads Mexico's National Women's Institute.

"There has to be a complete rejection of violence against women. Zero tolerance," said Espinosa, whose institute recently sponsored a gritty anti-domestic violence campaign showing national female celebrities bruised and battered under the slogan "Hit one of us, hit all of us."

Hayek is in Mexico promoting the forthcoming release of her new movie "Bandidas."

Filmed last year in the central state of Durango, "Bandidas" is a Western about two female outlaws set in 19th century Mexico. It was written and produced by French filmmaker Luc Besson and stars Spanish actress Penelope Cruz alongside Hayek.

Hayek is staying at Mexico City's Four Seasons, the same hotel where U2 is awaiting its scheduled concerts here on Wednesday and Thursday.

She said she spoke with U2 front man Bono late Monday and that the pair hope to do campaigning together in the future on various social topics affecting Mexico and the world.

'Dust' starts out strong, but loses noir edge

The love-hate romance at its center involves not only the tug of war between writer Arturo Bandini and waitress Camilla Lopez, but the tension between WASP America and the rest of us, self-realization and shame, the skyward-reaching city and the wild natural continent.

Screenwriter Robert Towne, a great chronicler of L.A. in "Chinatown" and "Shampoo," would seem the perfect bigscreen translator of the influential book, here taking the helm as well as scripting. To an extent he is, but Towne also, inexplicably, softens the story's noir edge, lapsing into melodrama and hammering at his themes instead of delving deeper into his characters. Despite what are likely to be mixed reviews, the project's literary/cinematic pedigree and stars Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek will be certain lures when the film opens March 10 in limited release, after its world premiere at the Santa Barbara fest.

Towne's fourth directorial outing is an exceptionally handsome evocation of 1930s Los Angeles (shot in South Africa), with cinematographer Caleb Deschanel ("The Passion of the Christ") casting the proceedings in a burnished desert glow, a dreamy grit like the Mojave sand that permeates the city streets. The film is faithful to the book's tone of dark ache and much of its detail, and for the most part terrifically cast. But Towne can't overcome an essential challenge of the material: Arturo and Camilla are constructs and ciphers as much as they are vivid characters -- difficult roles, to be sure. Neither the screenplay or the actors manage to get far under their skin.

The story opens as Arturo Bandini (Farrell), subsisting on oranges and cigarettes and six weeks in arrears on his $4-a-week rent, ponders what to do with his last nickel. It has been five months since the good-looking young man arrived in L.A. from Colorado, with high hopes, an Underwood typewriter and a suitcase full of copies of his one published story. Determined to be a great writer of fiction, he rents a furnished room at the Alta Loma, a residential hotel built against the slope of Bunker Hill.

Arturo meets Mexican beauty Camilla when she's waiting tables at the Columbia Cafe, the downtown establishment where he spends that last nickel on a cup of undrinkable joe. Their attraction quickly finds expression in cruelty. With a pointed stare at the huaraches in which Camilla glides about the dining room, Arturo takes great pleasure in shaking her out of her haughty self-confidence, arousing her shame about not being a "real" American. A pas de deux of one-upmanship begins, each expertly finding the other's sore spots -- easy to do when their insecurities are nearly identical. In the unenlightened parlance of the day, Camilla and Italian-American Arturo are both "spicks," a point Towne's script stresses repeatedly. It also adds an excruciating bit of business in which Arturo teaches Camilla to read English.

Towne's grasp of the story's existential core is shaky, but he turns the central romantic episode into a piece of exquisite cinema: Arturo and Camilla rushing naked into the moonlit Santa Monica surf, their exultation quickly turning to angry tussling. With haunting imagery, Deschanel captures the beauty of the two leads, tossed by the silver waves.

Farrell puts across the conflicted, virginal Catholic boy beneath the swagger, pretending to be worldly while fearfully resisting the more experienced Camilla's bold overtures. The film doesn't shy away from the ugliness of their strange courtship, but their games grow tiresome and never accrue much emotional weight. Losing steam in stretches of flat melodrama, the film ultimately lapses into bathos, nearly veering into "Love Story" territory.

Playing a character quite a bit younger than herself, Hayek has never looked more beautiful, and Camilla's tempestuous spirit finds full expression in her performance. Still, the sense of who Camilla is doesn't deepen as the story progresses. For his part, Farrell often struggles to indicate anything beyond observer Arturo's surface reactions, and the character remains opaque, even in a disturbing interlude with Vera Rivkin. Idina Menzel ("Rent") is heartbreaking as the wounded soul who sweeps into Arturo's room like a Santa Ana, all devouring gaze.

There are plenty of tantalizing performances at the edges of the narrative, especially the wonderful, pitch-perfect work by Donald Sutherland (who starred 30 years ago in the film adaptation of another revered L.A. novel, "Day of the Locust"), playing Arturo's dissolute neighbor Hellfrick. Eileen Atkins contributes a nuanced cameo as the landlady with a distaste for Mexicans and Jews, and Jeremy Crutchley makes an impression as informative barkeep Solomon. Providing the amused, avuncular voice of real-life American Mercury editor H.L. Mencken, Arturo's benefactor and deity, is real-life critic Richard Schickel.

Towne and Deschanel never lose sight of Los Angeles as a naive, impermanent interloper, most dramatically in an earthquake sequence full of buckling pavement and crumbling buildings. The South African landscape is an evocative, if not an accurate substitute (there's nary a Joshua tree in sight). Dennis Gassner's production design and Albert Wolsky's costumes re-create the period with fittingly subdued detail, as does the music of Ramin Djawadi and Heitor Pereira.

Paramount Classics presents in association with Capitol Films a Cruise/Wagner, VIP Medienfonds 3, Ascendant production.

CAST:
Arturo Bandini: Colin Farrell
Camilla Lopez: Salma Hayek
Hellfrick: Donald Sutherland
Mrs. Hargraves: Eileen Atkins
Vera Rivkin: Idina Menzel
Sammy: Justin Kirk
Solomon: Jeremy Crutchley
Voice of Mencken: Richard Schickel

Director/writer: Robert Towne; Based on the novel by John Fante; Producers: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner, Don Granger, Jonas McCord; Executive producers: Redmond Morris, Mark Roemmich, David Selvan, Andreas Schmid, Andy Grosch, Chris Roberts; Director of photography: Caleb Deschanel; Production designer: Dennis Gassner; Music: Ramin Djawadi, Heitor Pereira; Co-producers: Galit Hakmon McCord, Kia Jam, Andreas Schmid; Costume designer: Albert Wolsky; Editor: Robert K. Lambert.

Endquote

ABC orders pilot for 'Betty' adaptation

The action revolves around an unattractive but efficient secretary who works for a handsome executive at a fashion magazine. ABC's comedy "Less Than Perfect," starring Sara Rue, bears some similarities to the premise of "Betty."

The Colombian version was a sensation during its 1999-2001 run, when it aired every weeknight.

Also on board as executive producers are Silvio Horta, creator of the short-lived UPN show "Jake 2.O," who wrote the pilot, Hayek's producing partner Jose Tamez, and TV veteran Ben Silverman, who has been developing the project for more than four years.

Prince inks with Universal for new CD

The set will be preceded by the single "Te Amo Corazon," the video for which stars actress Mia Maestro ("Frida," "The Motorcycle Diaries") and was directed by actress Salma Hayek.

The clip, which was shot in Marrakesh, will be available online Tuesday (December 13) via Prince's NPG Music Club site (http://www.npgmusicclub.com).

"3121" is the follow-up to Prince's 2004 studio set, "Musicology," which was issued via a one-off deal with Sony's Columbia label. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

That release was supported by a lavishly praised tour, which drew nearly 1.5 million people and grossed $90.2 million, according to Billboard Boxscore. Prince is expected to return to the road sometime next year.

Moore, Hayek to Host Nobel Peace Concert

Moore, 44, will join 39-year-old Mexican actress Salma Hayek as joint masters of ceremony for the Dec. 11 show in Oslo that includes artists Gladys Knight, Duran Duran and Sugababes, organizers announced exclusively to The Associated Press.

Organizers last week announced that Hayek would host the concert alone. On Tuesday, however, they said the two actresses, who are friends, agreed to share the task of hosting the show, usually broadcast to about 100 countries.

"We always like to have two," concert producer Odd Arvid Stroemstad said of the change in plans.

The concert is held a day after the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo and has become a cornerstone of three days of Nobel celebrations.

ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency he leads shared the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for their drive to curb the spread of atomic weapons by using diplomacy to resolve standoffs wit Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programs.

Other entertainers expected at this year's concert in Oslo include Irish boy band Westlife, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Colombian rock star Juanes and Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins.

Moore received an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1997 film "Boogie Nights" and was twice nominated in 2002, for her performances in "Far From Heaven" and "The Hours."

Hayek, 39, received a best actress nomination for role in the film "Frida."

Salma Hayek to host Nobel Peace Prize Concert in honour of Mohamed ElBaradei

ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency he leads shared the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for their drive to curb the spread of atomic weapons by using diplomacy to resolve standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programs.

The Dec. 11 concert, held a day after the award ceremony in Oslo, will include Gladys Knight, Duran Duran and Sugababes, organizers said Tuesday.

"It is fun to have such a big celebrity and wonderful actress as host," concert producer Odd Arvid Stroemstad said of Hayek, an Oscar nominee for her role in 2002's Frida. "She is also very concerned about other things than just playing films."

Entertainers booked for this year's concert also include Westlife, Yo-Yo Ma, Juanes and Katherine Jenkins.

SIENNA SEETHES

First Look: Lonely Hearts

Cannes AIDS Benefit Raises More Than $3M

A glitzy benefit dinner Thursday on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival brought in more than $3 million, a record at the annual soiree for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, or amfAR.

Host Sharon Stone showed off her talents as a speed-talking auctioneer. When an Alfa GT went on the block, the "Basic Instinct" actress told one bidder: "You're good-looking, but you'd be better-looking in that car." It went for $90,000.

Stone hiked up the price of several items by promising a kiss to the highest bidder or offering to tag along with the buyer of a luxury vacation.

The actress recalled watching a video clip of herself at an AIDS benefit years back, when she told the audience: "There are 16 million people with AIDS, and if we don't keep working, this is just going to get completely out of control."

On Thursday, she said: "Now, there are 40 million people with AIDS, and it IS completely out of control." She asked for a moment of silence to honor AIDS victims before opening the bidding.

The first items on the block were two vanity cases that Stone designed for luggage maker Louis Vuitton. With a retail value of $12,200, they sold for $180,000 each.

Actress Milla Jovovich offered up $110,000 for Minnelli to perform "But the World Goes 'Round." Miramax co-founder Bob Weinstein bought the tennis lesson with Becker and Seles for $100,000. Spanish actress Cruz sold her strapless pearl-colored Marchesa gown to restaurateur Giuseppe Cipriani.

A lifetime supply of a custom Dior perfume went for $35,000 at the dinner, co-sponsored by Warner Home Video and Pirelli, the Italian tire company. Seats cost $2,500 each.

Actors who attended included Salma Hayek, Clive Owen, Benicio Del Toro, Brittany Murphy, Jessica Alba, Javier Bardem, Ziyi Zhang and twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Along with Stone, other chairmen of the event included designer Kenneth Cole, filmmaker Roman Polanski and Miramax co-founder Harvey Weinstein.

Hayek Joins Jury at Cannes Film Festival

Sarajevo-born director Emir Kusturica heads the jury, which also includes writer Toni Morrison, Indian actress Nandita Das, and directors John Woo, Agnes Varda, Benoit Jacquot and Fatih Akin, organizers announced last week.

This year's festival will run May 11-22. Twenty movies from 13 countries have been selected to compete. The awards will be announced May 21.

Celebs Join Inuits at Earth Day Event

The celebrities joined some 1,000 Inuit — half of whom were children — in their traditional dress and followed elders onto an ice floe to form the image of an Inuit drum dancer. From the air, photographers were able to see the humans spell out the words: "Arctic Warning: Listen."

Hayek told reporters on a conference call Friday from the Arctic frontier of Iqaluit, Nunavut that the Inuit were survivors. "We have a lot to learn from them if we follow their wonderful wisdom. Just listen to the land."

The Natural Resources Defense Council, which sponsored the event with Global Green USA, said even conservative scientific estimates show that half the summer sea ice in the Arctic will melt by the end of this century, as the region warms another 7 to 13 degrees.

The softening permafrost has already driven caribou and polar bears further north. The World Wide Fund for Nature said earlier this year that many polar bears and some seal species could face extinction in just decades because of global warming.

"Global warming is an abstract concept to most people; we know it's happening, but we can't really visualize its effect," Gyllenhaal said. "Unfortunately, the Inuit people put a human face on global warming, they are literally melting away. They are the canary in the coal mine."

Many scientists argue that global warming is caused by emissions from the burning of fossil fuels collecting in the Earth's atmosphere.

"Each of us has a stake in combatting global warming, and the Inuit have reminded us that the clock is ticking," said Matt Petersen, president of Global Green. "While our federal government in the U.S. fails to act, we must follow the lead of places, such as California and Canada, that are actively reducing their global warming emissions."

Some six million Canadians were expected to attend thousands of events to celebrate the 35th Earth Day, such as picking up garbage and planting trees. Canada has some of the world's most pristine forests and seas and Canadians are fiercely proud of efforts to protect their abundant natural resources.

Just Friends?

Salma Hayek joins Inuit protest

The protest will take the form of an art project that will see about 1,000 people gather into the shape of a gigantic Inuit drum dancer.

That image will then be photographed from the air and distributed around the world.

Hayek is using her profile as an A-list actress to draw attention to the event. She is the Mexican performer known for her turns in movies like "Frida", "Dogma" and "Desperado".

"Salma has been confirmed for a while now and she is totally behind the project," organizer Nadia Ciccone told the Canadian Press. "There will be some other celebrities as well."

Los Angeles artist John Quigley, who has co-ordinated similar projects in other settings before, is working with the Inuit Circumpolar Conference to pull the photograph off.

"It's a collaborative art form," he said from Iqaluit. "We're sending out this signal, this wake-up call, from the top of the world."

Quigley will guide the members of the crowd onto the sea ice so they form the outline of a massive Inuit drum. The silhouette of a dancer will be inside the drum, along with the word "look" in Inuktitut.

Local artists helped Quigley design the image. He got the idea for the project last year after having dinner in Vancouver with a friend who worked in Iqaluit.

"As soon as he said it, this vision became so clear in my brain. Everyone got turned on by the idea," he said.

Quigley's other pieces have been staged on parking lots, baseball diamonds, parks and beaches.

The stunt is being timed to coincide with Toonik Tyme, the annual spring festival in Iqaluit.

The community's mayor, Elisapee Sheutiapik, said Quigley will have no problems rounding up enough people to make it work.

"It's another great way of celebrating together, but what a great way to get involved in such an important message," she said.

Tidbits

Tidbits

ANNA: I'M FIRST OR I'M GONE

INSIDE GUIDANCE

Tidbits

Tidbits

Hayek and Robbins Sign up for Oscars

Hayek, 38, received a best actress nomination for her role as painter Frida Kahlo in 2002's "Frida." Her other film credits include "Desperado," "From Dusk Till Dawn," "Fools Rush In," "Dogma," "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" and the recent "After the Sunset."

She next stars in the upcoming comedy "Bandidas" opposite Penelope Cruz and the Depression-era drama "Ask the Dust" alongside Colin Farrell.

Robbins, 46, nabbed a best supporting actor award for his portrayal of the unhappy Dave Boyle in Clint Eastwood's 2003 drama "Mystic River." He was also nominated in 1995 for directing the death row film "Dead Man Walking." His other films include "Jacob's Ladder," "The Player," "Bob Roberts," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Arlington Road" and "Code 46.

He's currently filming the "War of the Worlds" remake and next appears in "The Secret Life of Words" and the children's adventure film "Zathura."

The Academy Awards ceremony will be televised live from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Hayek, Cruz Hit It Off on 'Bandidas' Set

"We've enjoyed it from the first day until yesterday," said Cruz about 14 weeks of working with Hayek, mostly in the northern Mexican state of Durango. "Now she's a one of the best companions I've ever encountered or ever will. We have an incredible communication."

Written and produced by French filmmaker Luc Besson, "Bandidas" tells the story of two women - one rich, the other poor - who overcome their differences to work together - robbing banks. Same Shepard and Dwight Yoakam also have roles in the movie, which finishes shooting this week and does not yet have a release date.

Besson testified to the close relationship between the two starring actresses, noting that the friendship verged upon the conspiratorial.

"I just want to tell you it's 100 percent true," said Besson, who recently produced the U.S. action film "Taxi," a remake of the 1998 French film he wrote. "They love each other, sometimes too much. They speak Spanish. We don't understand anything."

Hayek, who was born in Coatzacoalcos in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, said her role as a Robin Hood-style bandit came easy after a piece of advice from Besson.

"The first thing he told us was, it's very important that these women be heroes, but never stop being women, that they not be women trying to be men," Hayek said.

Sightings

FRIENDLY FUSION

We Hear...

Hayek Only a Phantom at Opera Theater Opening

The 38-year-old actress was delayed while shooting the film "Las Bandidas" alongside Penelope Cruz in Durango and wasn't able to attend the inauguration of the new theater in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, where Hayek was born, reports the AP.

The 17,000-seat municipal theater opened on Friday, Nov. 19, followed by a concert by opera star Luciano Pavarotti. When Hayek arrived late for the concert, local media made a big to-do about her conspicuous absence at the earlier ceremony.

The actress later made an apology to Veracruz radio and television stations.

Based on the comedic screenplay by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, "Bandidas" centers on two bank robbers (Hayek and Cruz) who kidnap the New York police investigator (Steve Zahn) who is looking into the recent string of Mexican bank holdups. The project is scheduled for release in 2005.

Hayek's "After the Sunset" has earned $19.3 million in its second week in release to date.

The stars bask in their 'Sunset' fun

The heist caper, which opens Friday, stars Salma Hayek and Pierce Brosnan as retired jewel thieves enjoying the beachy fruits of their illegal labors. They are thrown for a loop when an FBI agent (Woody Harrelson) shows up. Chases and misunderstandings ensue.

"It was so much fun to make, and you can really tell by watching the movie that we had a really good time," Hayek said.

Of course, shooting the flick in the balmy Bahamas didn't exactly dampen the cast's mood. "The place helped a lot. You get transported to that beautiful paradise," Hayek said.

But thanks to Manhattan's less-than-heavenly 36-degree weather, Hayek was chillin' in her sleeveless Azzaro gown.

"I'm a little cold, but not that bad," the actress acknowledged, patiently working the red carpet.

Added Naomie Harris, who plays a local cop in the action comedy: "I'm just trying to think 'warm' at the moment!"

So, could the goose-bump-covered Harris, clad in a gold Kevin Hall gown, ever pull off a life of crime for real? Not likely. "I'm terrible at telling lies! I wish!" the actress said.

Her pal Kerry Washington, now starring in the biopic Ray, showed up to lend her support for Harris, one of her "best friends." Said Washington: "We love her."

In fact, Brosnan said, the entire cast bonded during the relaxed shoot.

"Everybody got on well together. The food was good. You could just show up, be yourself and have a good time," Brosnan said. "Ultimately, the movie is a popcorn movie."

Speaking not of popcorn but martinis, Brosnan said he's done with playing secret agent James Bond in the blockbuster movie series: "It's over. Done. Dusted."

And he's also bored with being asked about his suggestion that Alexander star Colin Farrell fill Bond's slick shoes.

"I made some flippant comment, and he doesn't want to do it, and it's not up to me," Brosnan said.

His Sunset co-star Harrelson, meanwhile, paid tribute to the film's director, Brett Ratner, while they stood side by side on the red carpet. "This guy is the most fun," Harrelson said, pointing to Ratner. And Ratner repaid the compliment, praising Harrelson's pink-cheeked visage.

"You are a handsome man under these lights!" Ratner said.

Ratner particularly enjoyed working with Hayek, who displays her enviable curves in the film and whose body could start a thousand exercise regimens.

"Salma Hayek in a bikini was a blast. It was very tough," Ratner joked.

Endquote

Film Review: 'After the Sunset'

The heist itself is almost dull, and the characters aren't half as colorful or interesting as they need to be. The movie comes off more like a watered-down film version of an Elmore Leonard crime novel set in tropical climes, only without his gritty edge or sagacious take on the human condition.

Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek have their moments as a larcenous couple, but the Caribbean locations pretty much steal the show. Meanwhile, Woody Harrelson plays a renegade FBI agent whose character is too vague for the actor to really shine. And "Ocean's Eleven" refugee Don Cheadle must have been doing director Brett Ratner a favor by stepping into a thankless bad-guy role. "After the Sunset" may enjoy modest boxoffice success but will probably do better in the video market.

The film opens with an outlandish heist of an impossibly valuable diamond. Our intrepid anti-heroes, Max (Brosnan), the "king of alibis," and luscious Lola (Hayek), pull it off despite the presence of an army of cops and guards, along with FBI agent Stan Lloyd (Harrelson). The duo then whisks off to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, leaving Stan, a man whom they have bedeviled for seven years, to pick up the pieces of a shattered career in law enforcement.

Several months later, Lola is still enjoying long walks on the beach and brilliant sunsets from their beachfront cabana. Ah, but Max is bored to death and no closer to completing his marriage vows than when they arrived. Suddenly, Stan shows up, making plain his belief that these two selected this particular island outpost because a touring cruise ship with a Napoleon diamond aboard is dropping anchor for a lengthy stay. The couple seems only dimly aware of this coincidence, but temptation and the blandishments of a local gangster (Cheadle), who wants to partner with Max in its theft, set the plot in motion.

The beautiful people quotient is quite high as Brosnan, usually in a scruffy beard, and the clean-shaven Harrelson are often shirtless, Hayek rarely dresses in more than swim wear, and Naomie Harris plays a local cop with hot island sass. But the characters are tissue thin, and writers Paul Zbyszewski and Craig Rosenberg never bring them to life in compelling ways. The twists and turns feel overly schematic and fail to highlight any essential elements of the characters' personalities.

Stan particularly is a puzzle. Why his FBI superiors hold him responsible when Max and Lola outwit an entire team of guards is incomprehensible. His presence on the island is also poorly motivated. Does he seriously expect to catch the couple red-handed as they snatch the diamond? Or does he want in on the action? By hanging out with the couple, almost as if he, too, were on vacation, he virtually guarantees failure at either enterprise.

Ratner directs competently and his crew does a professional job, but the unimaginative material pretty much reduces them to ogling glorious sunsets, picturesque tourist traps and knockout island girls.

New Line Cinema

A Firm Films/Contrafilm/Rat Entertainment production

Cast: Max Burdett: Pierce Brosnan; Lola Cirillo: Salma Hayek; Stan Lloyd: Woody Harrelson; Henri Moore: Dan Cheadle; Sophie: Naomi Harris; Luc: Troy Garity; Rowdy Fan: Chris Penn; Jean-Paul: Russell Hornsby.

Director: Brett Ratner; Screenwriters: Paul Zbyszewski, Craig Rosenberg; Story by Paul Zbyszewski; Producers: Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson, Jay Stern; Executive producers: Patrick Palmer, Toby Emmerich, Kent Alterman; Director of photography: Daniel Spinotti; Production designer: Geoffrey Kirkland; Music: Lalo Schifrin; Costumes: Rita Ryack; Editor: Mark Helfrich.

We Hear

Hayek Sitting Pretty with 'Betty La Fea'

Oscar-nominated Hayek has joined forces with Ben Silverman to executive produce the show -- which has received a script commitment from the network -- through their companies Ventanarosa and Reveille.

Kerry Ehrin has been tapped to pen the pilot script for Touchstone Television, which has come on board to produce with Ventanarosa and Reveille.

In "Betty La Fea," or "Ugly Betty," Betty is an unattractive and unpopular but very efficient assistant at a fashion design company who falls in love with her handsome boss. Starring Ana Maria Orozco, the telenovela became a sensation in Colombia during its 1999-2001 run, when it aired every weeknight.

Like the original, the ABC version will be a light one-hour with comedic elements. The genre is familiar territory for Ehrin, who was a writer on ABC's "Moonlighting" and most recently wrote and executive produced the 2003 action comedy pilot "The Partners" for ABC and Touchstone.

U.S. networks first tried to translate the "Betty La Fea" format for American audiences in fall 2001, when NBC developed a half-hour based on the telenovela with writer Alexa Junge and Sony Pictures TV. The project didn't go forward.

During the same 2001-02 development season, ABC and Touchstone TV developed the comedy "Less Than Perfect," now part of ABC's TGIF comedy lineup, which bears some similarities to the premise of "Betty."

Silverman and his NBC Universal-based Reveille pacted with Colombia's RCN Television for the rights to adapt "Betty" for the United States in the fall.

Hayek, who was nominated for an Oscar for the title role in "Frida," became a famous telenovela star in her native Mexico before moving to Hollywood in the early 1990s.

The actress, who most recently starred in Robert Rodriguez's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," next appears in "After the Sunset" and "Ask the Dust."

Ehrin's credits also include Fox's "Boston Public" and ABC's upcoming "Boston Legal."

Zahn Pursues Cruz, Hayek as 'Bandidas'

Shooting on the feature begins next month in Mexico.

Zahn is slated to play a New York police investigator sent to Mexico to track a string of bank holdups. But he winds up kidnapped by bank robbers (Hayek and Cruz).

Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen penned the "Bandidas" script.

"Bandidas" reteams Zahn and Cruz, who star together in the upcoming Paramount action-adventure film "Sahara." Zahn recently appeared in Bull's Eye Entertainment's "Employee of the Month" and Lions Gate Films' "Shattered Glass."

Tidbits

The 10th year was dazzling with Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Charlize Theron, Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, Bette Midler, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand and others. (Babs brought the show its eighth consecutive Emmy nomination.) Now the 11th season is shaping up with hot, hot, hot names — beginning Sept. 27 — Natalie Portman, Mark Wahlberg, Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek, Cameron Diaz, Owen Wilson — and ta-da — Robert Redford.

BEST AND WORST BEACH BODIES

STUDIO 54 SPIRIT IN L.A.

Salma Hayek Emmy Winner

Ding Dong! -- Salma Hayek Calling

The 37-year-old looker has signed an exclusive global advertising and promotional agreement with Avon Products, Inc. to serve as the spokesperson for Avon's flagship color and fragrance brands.

In addition to appearing in print and television ads, company brochures and on the Internet for the company, Hayek will help broaden Avon's domestic violence initiative, which champions the health and well being of women globally through philanthropic efforts.

"I have such respect for Avon as a world-class beauty leader, and for what the company has accomplished in providing economic and personal fulfillment to women all over the world," says Hayek.

The actress recently appeared in Robert Rodriguez's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" and is currently filming "After the Sunset" opposite Pierce Brosnan. She was nominated for a best actress Oscar for her role in 2002's "Frida."

Sightings

Sightings

Hayek and Farrell Team for Big Screen Romance

Oscar-nominated Hayek will play a woman who dreams of marrying a wealthy American only to find herself in love with a poverty-stricken writer (Farrell).

Robert Towne ("Without Limits," "Tequila Sunrise") sits in the director's chair and also penned the screenplay based on the novel by John Fante.

Hayek is currently filming "After the Sunset" with Pierce Brosnan and Woody Harrelson while Farrell is working with Oliver Stone on "Alexander the Great."

Couple check: Who's together, who's not

First sighting: At a party in L.A. in early August

Time together: Two months

The buzz: The Frida star is fresh off a long relationship with Edward Norton, but it looks to be getting hot and heavy fast with Lucas. She was his date when his Wonderland premiered Sept. 24, and rumor is Lucas recently took his new sweetie home to Washington state to meet Mom.

Mexican actress Salma Hayek wants US citizenship after California vote

"What's a little bit sad is that although there are many of us (Latinos in California), we cannot exercise our power," Hayek said.

"So now I'm seeking dual citizenship in order to get representation up there, as well," the star of "Frida" and "Traffic" said.

Tuesday's election saw Democratic Governor Gray Davis ousted by 55 percent of votes and Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger selected to replace him with 49 percent.

A bare majority of Latinos voted for fellow Hispanic and Democratic candidate Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante.

Bustamante will retain his post as lieutenant governor in Schwarzenegger's administration.

Salma Hayek's Directing Debut Is a `Miracle' for Showtime

"I didn't know this sport existed. We didn't have this in Coastzacoalcos, actually," says Hayek, seated at a corner table in a hotel lounge here.

"I taught myself how to do gymnastics for one year. Then my father took me to the best gymnastics school in Mexico City, and I was absolutely focused and disciplined at the age of 8 or 9. And I learned that if I put my mind to something and put the hard hours into it, I could accomplish quite a lot."

Salma was so good that she was chosen to train for the Olympics. But her father forbade it. "He thought a young girl should grow up naturally with friends and family. I was very unhappy with the decision my father took, and I think that changed my life because it made me want to get out of the little town where there was no gymnasium (to go) where I could train myself to be the very best that I could be."

Hayek did grow up to be the very best she could be. But not in gymnastics. She was already a big soap opera star in Mexico when she chucked it all and moved to Hollywood to embrace another challenge.

Challenges are life's blood for Hayek, who managed to overcome Hollywood's indifference about Hispanic actors by making films like "Desperado," "Fools Rush In," "Frida" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico."

But she's done more than that. She served as working producer on the Showtime film "In the Time of the Butterflies" and on the feature film "Frida."

And on her latest film, "The Maldonado Miracle," which premieres Sunday on Showtime, she not only produces but directs for the first time. The touching film - perfect for all ages - is about a dying town which is revitalized when a small "miracle" distracts the residents from their habitual despair.

Leaning back in a green Queen Anne chair, Hayek admits that there have been many times when she wanted to quit her chosen field. "But I think that goes through everybody's life. I think if that didn't happen, it wouldn't really be a meaningful challenge - where you have to outgrow yourself to continue. I think we all have inner strength but sometimes we choose to take the position of the victim. I did it too, many times," she shakes her head, sipping mint tea.

"... Because it's easier. It's easier to whine and say, `I could've been, I could've done, but the system was like this, but I was too much of this,' or `my genes were too much of that, or this guy did this to me, or `my friend or my agent didn't get me the job.' And that's where we go weak ..."

Weak, she's not. She had no intention of directing until Jerry Offsay, president of Showtime, suggested she direct "Maldonado." At first she refused, frightened to even read the script. Finally she agreed to direct only on the condition that the network would let her rework the script. To her surprise, they agreed.

The result is a film, like Hayek herself, that's both inspiring and illuminating.

Dogged in her determination, she remembers when she was 16 she was sent one summer to study French at the Sorbonne. But Hayek, who's dressed in low-riding jeans, a white sleeveless blouse with black trim, a wide, brown leather belt, and no makeup, had other ideas.

"I was a bad girl and lied to my parents and told them the teacher, who was a private tutor who was going to teach me six hours of French every day ... I told them the teacher had died, but I found another school in the south of France."

The other school didn't open for a while so Hayek took off for Greece with her girlfriend, whose mother was Greek. "To make a long story short, I had a summer by myself in Europe with a lot of money in my pocket," she giggles, her black hair hanging in tendrils around her perfect jaw.

"... It taught me to be very, very self-sufficient and independent and have a connection with nature. And it taught me that the only way to be truly happy is when you can have a lot of good times with yourself, that you don't need a lot of people, And I was very young to learn this, and it was a blessing."

Hayek, 37, says she'd like to have children someday ("I'd be an awesome mother"). She recently broke up with her partner of four years, actor Edward Norton. She is dating another actor, she admits, but doesn't want to say who he is. (He's Josh Lucas, who co-starred in "Sweet Home Alabama.")

"If you take your relationship and offer it as a sacrifice as publicity to the masses then you have nothing left, you're really missing that part of your life," she says.

"You don't have that part of you in life that makes you balanced ... The dynamics of the relationship itself is sacred."

"The Maldonado Miracle" also airs Oct. 13, 17, 25 and 30.

Val's Gal Pal

Hayek Gets Her Coke and Drinks it Too

Directed by big-screen director Bryan Singer ("The Usual Suspects," "X-Men"), the new advertising spot, "Hollywood Restaurant," was produced in both English and Spanish and will run on national general market and Spanish-language television.

"As someone who is known to be true to herself and her roots, Salma Hayek personifies the spirit of the Coca-Cola Real campaign idea," said Esther Lee, chief creative officer of Coca-Cola North America. "This spot is also reflective of Salma's cross-cultural life as an actress who has made it in Hollywood and, at heart, a Hispanic who embraces the traditions of her Mexican homeland."

Shot on location at the trendy West Hollywood restaurant Koi, Hayek sneaks away from a dinner meeting to the kitchen, where she orders a taco and a Coca-Cola while laughing with the chef and wait staff.

Salma Dating Someone New

Once upon a time, there were three unknowns

Hayek curls up with a cigarette. Banderas plays showtunes on the piano. An apologetic Depp meanders in 15 minutes late. Rodriguez doles out hugs.

It's been two years since the filming of the last in Rodriguez's El Mariachi trilogy in the Mexican resort town of San Miguel de Allende, but much has changed. This has been a charmed year for this quartet.

Depp, who plays corrupt CIA agent Sands in Once Upon a Time, has gone from the critical darling of edgy films to the star of a summer blockbuster family film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Hayek is enjoying the afterglow of a best-actress Oscar nomination for Frida. Banderas was nominated for a Tony for Nine: The Musical. And Rodriguez just wrapped his third successful Spy Kids movie with Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico, which opens Friday, is a labor of love for the director/writer/cinematographer/composer who helped Banderas and Hayek to stardom with 1995's sequel Desperado.

Out of loyalty to Rodriguez, Hayek, who utters only one full line in the entire film, drove to the set to shoot her week's worth of scenes immediately after she wrapped Frida. Both she and Banderas signed on without seeing a finished script.

"I wouldn't have said yes to any director in those circumstances, but we started pumping in our careers when we did Desperado," says Banderas.

Hayek and Banderas did their own stunts for Once Upon a Time. She admits to a near-meltdown, which had nothing to do with spending three days swinging off a crane while chained to Banderas.

"That was very hard, but the singing gave me diarrhea," says the actress, 37, who ends the movie by crooning a tune penned by Rodriguez. "It's true."

A villain who loves pork

Rodriguez, 35, says he never planned to revisit the mythical guitar-playing gunman he introduced in 1993's El Mariachi, a $7,000 flick that was picked up by Columbia Pictures.

His final installment would have "to be epic in scope," but setting up an elaborate production isn't his style. So he waited for "technology to catch up" and shot his $29 million movie with high-definition digital cameras, which "free everyone up. You never have to call 'action,' so it feels like a rehearsal and you get a loose quality."

Rodriguez edited his movie, scored it and oversaw the special effects. He meticulously maps out the details, of his movies, such as his villain Sands' obsession with pork and proclivity for shooting the clueless cooks who make it.

"It's from my favorite Mexican restaurant in Austin, Fonda San Miguel," says Rodriguez, who lives in the Texas capital with his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan, their three sons (another baby is due this spring). "Their main dish is this flavored pork dish and it's so good, I thought, that's what Sands would be eating. The first character I wrote was Johnny Depp's."

Depp, 40, says he set out to make his ruthless, Broadway-loving secret agent "as disgusting as possible" by having him wear fanny packs, ugly sandals and T-shirts that read Cleavage Inspection Agency.

"Over the years, especially coming out of Hollywood, I've met and worked with people who were at their very base, at the very core of their existence, they're foul, they're monstrous," says Depp. "But somehow, there's a charm to them."

The sweet smell of success

Depp says morphing into a family-friendly movie star with Pirates of the Caribbean has been a new experience.

"I'm still in shock that my name is attached to a film that actually did well at the box office," muses Depp, who's shooting the thriller Secret Window in Montreal. "It's a new thing for me. Little kids come up to me now, and say, 'Captain Jack Sparrow!' Now, they're gonna go back and rent Fear and Loathing. I'll have little kids going, 'What is he huffing?' "

Even Rodriguez's nieces have become huge Depp fans, says the director, whose Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over passed the $100 million mark.

Closing out two trilogies has freed Rodriguez to work on other projects, including a thriller he's writing and hopes to start shooting this December.

What Hayek, who next stars in Robert Altman's art satire Ultraviolet, wants most is to relax. The Mexican actress, who has been spotted out and about with actor Josh Lucas, relishes redoing the garden in her Los Angeles home, cooking, sleeping late, playing with her dogs and swimming in her saltwater pool.

It's all thanks to Frida, the Kahlo biopic that earned her industry respect.

"When I was on vacation before, it was not really vacation," she says. "It was unemployment. Now, I know I have a couple of movies booked for the end of this year and next year. My priorities have changed. Before, it was about the career and now, the career has become life itself."

As for Banderas, who also appeared in Rodriguez's Spy Kids finale, it's been a banner year all around.

"It has made me think about the rest of my career, and I am now rejecting everything. I want to stop a little bit, think and do my work in a totally different way," he says. "I've had time to write a little bit, and I'd like to shoot again in Spain."

The Spanish actor's Broadway debut in Nine enabled him to spend the summer in New York with wife Melanie Griffith, who plays Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago, and their daughter, Stella.

As for Rodriguez, success hasn't gone to his head just yet. "You have to work for it, you know!" he says. "It should get harder, not easier."

Film Review: Upon a Time in Mexico

Affectionately conceived, imaginatively staged and highly entertaining, the new pic is the concluding chapter of the "El Mariachi" trilogy, the spaghetti-Western homage starring Antonio Banderas as the gun- and guitar-toting "man with no name."

The plot proves so complicated and confusing that viewers may need to see the film a second time to sort out all the crosses, double-crosses and even identities, which twist the story into a jumbo-sized pretzel -- only to unravel, Houdini-style, and make perfect sense. While not attracting the family-friendly crowds that have made the "Spy Kids" franchise such a hit, the picture should open well and stay in theaters several weeks because of generally favorable word-of-mouth. Game audiences will be up for a second viewing, on DVD or video if not on the big screen, which promises a brisk business in rentals and sales.

Rodriguez wanted the story to pick up so far after the fade-out in "Desperado," the second episode in the franchise, that he came up with the rather clever idea of creating a never-before-seen plot -- that presumably takes place between the second and third films -- and injecting flashbacks of this story line throughout the picture. These sequences not only serve to reveal what has transpired with the characters but also help to explain El Mariachi's morose attitude toward his own fate.

These new developments include a marriage to his beloved Carolina (second-billed Salma Hayek), who, for reasons that become apparent as the flashbacks proceed, appears only in the protagonist's memory. Third-billed Johnny Depp, on the other hand, is onscreen almost as much as Banderas.

The plot sounds simple enough: corrupt CIA agent Sands (Depp) tracks El Mariachi down to a tiny, secluded village south of the border and recruits him in a bid to stop an assassination plot against the president of Mexico. The man behind the plot is the nefarious Barrillo (Willem Dafoe), the top dog of the country's largest and most profitable drug cartel. El Mariachi has had past dealings with the man whom Barrillo hires to carry out the execution, which explains our hero's reasons for agreeing to help Sands.

Expertly shot by Rodriguez (who also served as editor, production designer and composer) on a Sony 24-frames-per-second digital high-definition camera, the film basks in gorgeous blasts of golden light that both reflect and accentuate the story's mythic dimensions (as does the music). Choreographed fight sequences, containing impossible leaps and kicks, turn the violence into a kind of ballet -- which isn't to say that the film isn't violent. It's easy to see why it got an R rating (though DVD and video rentals among the male, under-17 demographic should be enormous). Hundreds of bad guys are mowed down by El Mariachi and his sidekicks, while the three of them sustain only minor injuries.

The film is great fun, albeit terribly confusing at times because of the great number of ancillary characters as well as their shifting loyalties, which find them changing sides or even working for both sides. The supporting cast includes Rodriguez regulars Danny Trejo, Ruben Blades and Cheech Marin.

Banderas has his role down to a T, exhibiting just the right balance of dashing hero and anguished, isolated loner. Hayek alternately smolders and glows but is onscreen a surprisingly short time. It is Sands who shares center stage with El Mariachi. Like all of the actors, Depp obviously is having a great deal of fun here, but he sometimes seems to be coasting. It's all just too easy for him (as was his wonderful recent turn in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"), and you can't help but hope he tackles a meatier role next time around.

Editing his own work no doubt allows Rodriguez to shoot with great economy. The film reportedly was shot in a mere seven weeks, remarkable for a movie with this many crazy and demanding stunts. The story does start to get out of hand toward the end -- too much action can become stultifying -- but the fact that all the confusing motives, relationships and plot threads eventually, and rather suddenly, make sense helps the film end on a positive note. "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is one of two Rodriguez films represented at this year's festival. Like "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over," it is playing out of competition.

Columbia Pictures, Dimension Films and Troublemaker Studios.

Cast: El Mariachi: Antonio Banderas; Carolina: Salma Hayek; Sands: Johnny Depp; Barrillo: Willem Dafoe; Ajedrez: Eva Mendes; Billy Chambers: Mickey Rourke.

Screenwriter/director/production designer/director of photography/editor/music: Robert Rodriguez; Producers: Elizabeth Avelian, Carlos Gallardo, Robert Rodriguez; Costume designer: Graciela Mazon.

Hayek Attends Film Screening for Kids

Members of the film industry who flock to the annual festival don't always endear themselves to the locals who live on the Lido island off central Venice. So this year, festival organizers and Miramax Films put together a special treat for the youngsters.

"We hope that this will be the start of a new tradition in Venice and at other major festivals," Miramax co-chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein said in a statement.

About 1,700 tickets were handed out for Thursday's screening. The movie isn't scheduled for release in Italy until early next year.

This is the third in the "Spy Kids" series, directed by Rodriguez and starring Hayek and Antonio Banderas.

Depp, Hayek Descend on Venice in Shower of Bullets

The south-of-the-border adventure staged its world premier at the 60th Venice Film Festival, pitting the melodic hero against Johnny Depp, a corrupt CIA agent, and Willem Dafoe, an evil drug baron, after the death of his sweetheart, Salma Hayek.

Moviegoers were transported back to the dusty streets of Mexico and over-the-top gunfights that put Rodriguez on the cinematic map before he more recently directed the "Spy Kids" series.

Depp dominates as Sands, the devious CIA agent who tries to control the fate of Mexico from a cell phone and alternates tacky tourist T-shirts with glitzy cowboy outfits.

"It's the first time I've ever asked at the end, 'are you sure there's nothing else we can shoot?"' a scruffy-looking Depp said at a press conference in Venice. "I had a ball."

"Once Upon a Time," showing out of competition, is one of 145 titles that will screen in the lagoon city during the 11-day festival. Twenty films are vying for the prestigious Golden Lion, to be awarded on September 6.

With its exploding buses, kitschy dialogue and mind-boggling number of guitar-and-pistol tricks, the movie won applause from action fans but didn't please all the critics at its preview showing in the small hours on Thursday.

The one-liners also prompted lots of laughs. At one point the arrogant Sands demands of one of his henchmen: "Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-can't?."

"El Mariachi," a low-budget cult favorite shot in Spanish, catapulted Texan director Rodriguez to fame in 1992. It also won him Hollywood backing for the English-language sequel "Desperado," starring Banderas and Hayek as his feisty girlfriend.

Now Banderas is back and out for revenge in part three of the saga.

"I have a background as a cartoonist, so all my movies have a fantasy level to them," Rodriguez told reporters. The latest chapter is also a tribute to the "spaghetti westerns" made famous by Sergio Leone.

Britney's Teeny Weeny Bikini Shoot

Salma's Ed ache

Salma Hayek takes care of herself

Salma Hayek makes her directorial debut with The Maldonado

"I felt so honoured, but I passed," she said. "Then I went to do Frida and when I came back and I started reading scripts and I didn't like anything, I said 'I need to find something that I'm passionate about.' " The film is Hayek's directorial debut.

The Maldonado Miracle is about the testing of a small town's faith when a statue of Jesus appears to be shedding tears of blood. It stars Ruben Blades, Peter Fonda and Mare Winningham.

"She's a born leader and you want to deliver for her," Winningham told the Television Critics Association last week. "She's very inspired and excitable and bossy and creative, and you want to make her dream come true."

Hayek also was executive producer for the movie, which airs Oct. 12 on Showtime.

'Sunset' on Hayek's Horizon

John Stockwell ("Blue Crush") is directing the New Line project, which begins where most heist movies end -- with a master thief (Brosnan) sailing off to an island paradise after his last big score. However, when his lifelong nemesis, an FBI agent, shows up to make sure the thief is really retired, a new cat-and-mouse game of friendship, suspicion and thievery begins.

Production is scheduled to begin in October.

Hayek earned an Oscar nomination this year for her title role in the Frida Kahlo biopic "Frida." She's expected to follow "After the Sunset" with the lead in the Robert Altman thriller "Ultraviolet." She recently completed work on Robert Rodriguez's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico."

Hayek's directorial debut, the TV movie "The Maldonado Miracle," starring Peter Fonda and Mare Winningham, is set to premiere on Showtime in September.

Love Curse

Courtney Shows Some Love; Apologizes to Norton, Hayek

Among other things, Love revealed in a Vanity Fair article that she is still in Love with Norton, so much so that she has left him everything in her will. She also admits that she dumped him for a film role, calling her actions "shallow."

Love then turned her acid tongue on Norton's current love, Hayek, saying "He'll never marry her... for one, he can barely understand half of what she's saying."

Her claws firmly retracted, Love is now profusely apologizing.

Norton "has never made any negative comments about Ms. Hayek to me and does not discuss that part of his personal life with me, except to let me know how happy he is," she tells the New York Daily News.

"I especially apologize to Miss Hayek, who is nothing if not brilliant, with a loving relationship and a massive I.Q., not to mention a firm grip and style with the English language."

The apology is over-the-top, some industry watchers are speculating that rather than shooting from the hip, Love's outrageous interview was a carefully constructed publicity ploy designed to pique interest in the star and her impending solo album, America's Sweetheart.

Big Bust-Up

'Frida,' Hayek Top Hispanic Imagen Awards

The Imagen Foundation, established in 1984 by Helen Hernandez and Norman Lear, celebrates positive portrayals of Hispanics and promotes the advancement of Hispanics within the entertainment industry.

"Frida" earned a best picture win, and Hayek and Alfred Molina were named best actress and actor. Hayek was also the recipient of the Imagen Foundation's Creative Achievement Award. Rodriguez was named best director and was honored with the Norman Lear Writer's Award.

On the television side, Lopez received both the best primetime comedy series award for his ABC series "The George Lopez Show" and the foundation's Vision Award. He also drew the evening's biggest laughs as he accepted his prizes.

"I'm proud that (Hispanics are) the largest minority," he said told the Beverly Hilton crowd Thursday night. "We have pride in who we are. But I don't know how the census can count us -- we hide when we hear them coming."

On a more serious note, Lopez asserted that "we only succeed when we support each other" and he credited "Lopez" executive producers Sandra Bullock and Bruce Helford and co-star Constance Marie.

"I don't feel like I deserve (this award), but I'll take it," he said. "Then, one day, when I feel like I do deserve it, I'll already have it."

Many of the night's winners expressed optimism that more and better roles were becoming available to the Hispanic community in Hollywood.

Said Wanda de Jesus, who earned the television actress award for her portrayal of Mami in PBS' "Almost a Woman," which was also named best television movie: "We're starting to see more three-dimensional (Latina) characters." She added that her role was that of "a complex, courageous, full-fleshed woman in every sense of the word. I never had the opportunity to do a role like that before."

Hayek, who accepted her creative achievement award via videotape, said she valued her award because she was receiving it at a time when there are many worthy actresses to consider for such an honor. "I hope that next year the competition is tougher and there are even more projects (to nominate),"she said.

And referring to the number of agencies around town opening separate Latin divisions to address this burgeoning segment of the industry, Lopez quipped, "It's almost like sitting at the card table at Thanksgiving dinner, but we'll take it."

Other winners included Luis Guzman (supporting film actor, "Punch Drunk Love"); Lupe Ontiveros (supporting film actress, "Real Women Have Curves"); ABC's "NYPD Blue," which took home the primetime series drama award for the third time; and Nickelodeon's "The Brothers Garcia," which earned its second Imagen Award.

Talk show host Cristina accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Cuban singer Celia Cruz, who was home in Miami recuperating from an illness.

EMMA Awards

The 21-year-old added the Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy award for best British music act to her bulging collection of music industry trophies.

Ms Dynamite, who is heavily pregnant, won two Brit awards in February, three Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards last October and the Mercury Music prize last September.

The EMMA awarded this year's Legacy Honor to the memory of Martin Luther King for work in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement that tackled racism during the 1960s. His daughter Yolanda King (news) received the prize at Friday night's ceremony in London.

Soul legend Stevie Wonder received a special lifetime achievement award for excellence in the music industry over four decades.

U.S. pop heartthrob Justin Timberlake (news) won in the best international music category.

Salma Hayek's portrayal of the tortured Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in the movie "Frida" won her the best film actress award.

Jimi Mistry, who starred in the BBC soap "EastEnders," received the best film actor prize for his role in the comedy "The Guru."

Football comedy "Bend it like Beckham" picked up the best film production award, while the best TV entertainment production prize went to the BBC's "The Kumars at No 42."

Angela Griffin picked up best TV actress for her role in the BBC drama "Babyfather" and Cyril Nri won best TV actor for his part in "The Bill."

Flash!

Hayek and Franco Go 'Ultraviolet' with Altman

The film centers on the back-stabbing New York City art scene and will feature a large ensemble cast similar to Altman's "Ready-to-Wear," about the fashion industry, and the upcoming "The Company," about the world of ballet.

The project was originally in development at Focus Features, before Altman took it to Capitol with whom he made "The Company" and "Gosford Park," reports Variety.

"Ultraviolet" will be Hayek’s first acting role since last year’s Oscar-nominated "Frida."

Franco, who is currently shooting Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man II" opposite Tobey Maguire, will be starring next in "The Company" with Neve Campbell, and in John Dahl's "The Great Raid" with Benjamin Bratt.

Production on "Ultraviolet" is set to begin this September.

People En Espanol Picks '25 Most Beautiful'

Oscar nominees Salma Hayek and Andy Garcia follow close behind the 31-year-old Thalia in the magazine edition that hits newsstands on Monday, May 12.

"Our '25 Most Beautiful' represent the true value and spirit of being Hispanic," said Angelo Figueroa, who was the magazine's managing editor until May 1 and helped compile the list.

The list includes New York Yankees' Bernie Williams, magician David Blaine, Miss USA Susie Castillo, actors Adam Rodriguez, Cesar Evora, Diego Luna, Gabriel Soto (news), Reynaldo and Yancy Arias, actresses Ana Claudia Talancon, Eva Longoria and Gina Torres (news), singers Adolfo Angel, Jennifer Pena, Juanes, Mille Cortejer, Pablo Montero and Patricia Manterola (news) and television personalities Carmen Dominicci, Charytin and Marian de la Fuente.

People en Espanol, published by Time Inc., a division of AOL Time Warner, was launched in 1998.

People Magazine Names '50 Most Beautiful'

People magazine named the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" in its latest issue, which hits newsstands on Friday, with Berry's face on the cover.

The Oscar-winning actress made the list for the seventh time, while fellow Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts (news) made the list for an eighth time, the magazine said.

First on the list of men was Ashton Kutcher (news) of "That '70s Show," who described himself in the magazine as "a guy's guy... I don't comb my hair unless I have to."

Also listed were actresses Nicole Kidman (news), singer Britney Spears (news), who said her beauty secret was "lots and lots of sleep," actress Susan Sarandon (news) and her daughter, actress Eva Amurri (news), actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones (news), Salma Hayek (news), Jennifer Aniston, Queen Latifah, Julianne Moore, 16-year-old twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and singer Norah Jones.

Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis whose debut album has just been released, was also on the list and admitted to little beauty discipline.

"I smoke, I don't do yoga ... I bite the hell out of my nails," Presley said.

Also on the list were Hollywood couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, actors George Clooney, Hugh Jackman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Peter Krause, Colin Farrell, Leonardo DiCaprio, professional basketball player Tony Parker, flamenco dancer Farruquito and jockey Gary Stevens.

Comedic actor and writer Steve Martin (news) was also named as a hunk, but joked his beauty "is actually a burden."

"Sometimes I go to a party and not one of the other 49 most beautiful people is there," he said in the magazine. "That makes me feel very solitary and alone, because it means I am the most beautiful person in the room."

Sightings

Salma's Super Hair

The actress will join pal ANTONIO BANDERAS, SYLVESTER STALLONE and BILL PULLMAN in SPY KIDS 3-D: GAME OVER as a secret agent called DORA who uses her hair to fly.

The Mexican actress admits she's thrilled to play a tough spy on the big screen, but the 3-D effects presented her with many problems.

She explains, "It was great but I got a pimple and when I thought about it in 3-D I started to panic."

Meanwhile, co-star Pullman's young son JAMES got lucky during a visit to the set - he was given a role in the film.

The movie hits cinemas this July.

Hayek Writes Angry Letter to Dame Edna

The alter ego of comedian Barry Humphries, Dame Edna Everage upset readers by criticizing the language in her satirical agony column.

"Forget Spanish. There's nothing worth reading except 'Don Quixote.' As for everyone speaking it, what twaddle. Who speaks it that you are really desperate to talk to? The home help? Study French or German, where there are at least a few books worth reading, or, if you're American, try English," Everage wrote in the February edition of the magazine.

Hayek has written an angry letter in response, which will be published in April's edition of the magazine.

"Not-so-dear Damn Edna (Oops! My English is not so good) I'm sure you think that you're funny -- maybe sometimes you are, but I wouldn't know," writes the Mexican-born actress. "However, your humor in the February edition of Vanity Fair brings me to the conclusion that you are only funny looking."

"As for your statement that there is nothing in our language worth reading except 'Don Quixote,' and that García Lorca should be left on the intellectual back-burner, you could not be more sadly mistaken," the "Frida" actress writes in a tart reply. "What belongs on the backburner are your ridiculous long fake eyelashes, which are clearly keeping you from reading Nobel Prize-winners such as Gabriel García Marquez, Octavio Paz and Camilo José Cela."

"If I were you, I'd start talking to 'the help'. It seems to me they have a lot to teach you."

Doggone Shame