Ugly Betty may be the ultimate HDTV demo show of the year. There are so many artistic tones at work in the various scenes, it really shows how technology can elevate television into a true artistic medium. Maybe all of this only comes through on my own set, which is a JVC 56” projection. Technologies are so unique that some shows look different on different sets.
Ugly Betty in HD
When Betty is at home, the show gives an orange glow. Detail is crisp with cracks and chips in the old housepaint and cabinets. This contrasts with a blue hue at the office. There are lots of cold, solid sets and props so it remains almost industrial. In any scene, the colors either match or clash like the fashion world itself.
Deeper than this, the characters maintain solid colors no matter how diverse their wardrobe is. Wilhemina is usually in some white, beige or silver, but either way it’s a simple white tone. The men in suits can match shirt patterns with ties and create sometimes lavender hues despite their seemingly one-tone wardrobe.
And Betty, with all of her random colors, stands out in the scene. She could wear green and blue to make a dark impression in the uniformly lit office, or red to stand out in a crowd. And yes, those fake braces shine.
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