When You Aren't Born Beautiful

[Sohkay]

During the early phase of my relationship with my now fiancee', I would sometimes at night watch a Russian produced television drama with her, "When You Aren't Born Beautiful", or as many knew it, "Katya". This series was originally televised as a South American TV show, was picked by Sony, and then done in Russia. I watched it with zaichik moy, and while I couldn't understand all of the language, I understood some, and got much of the rest from context. What I noticed about the show was good acting, production and an excellent soundtrack (In the early versions of the show. Later versions changed to almost a stupid circus music soundtrack and they lost me then.)

Well, this show was then done here in America and called "Ugly Betty". I'm not a big fan of serial TV, but I awaited this show with much anticipation. I could hardly make it through the first ten minutes. It was the worst TV I think I have ever seen. It was as if the show was made to an American standard of fast movement, bad music, crappy writing with a heavy dose of gay characters in most scenes.

Russian TV did a magnificent job with this show, and American TV fell completely short. (What is it with American TV...why is it so many times geared to the lowest common denominator? You notice more and more commercial time? It has become soooo classless. And then on top of that, we have politicians in Washington who want to completely defund PBS. I swear, we're in a de-evolutionary cycle right now.)

Anyway, here is a link to the final wedding scene from the series. Note the last scene...the looks on the people's faces as they look at the baby, and finally the looks on Andrei and Katya's faces. It all returns to the original theme, "When You Aren't Born Beautiful".

[ScottinCrimea]

Thanks for the link.  I loved watching that show.  Very well done.  When I first moved to Ukraine I couldn't understand anything but by the end was catching most of it.  I never realized that Ugly Betty was the american version of this show as I have never watched it, and based on what you said, that's probably a good thing.

What's been interesting is watching the Russian versions of some American serials such as The Nanny (Much better in Russia) and Married....with children (Uses the American plots so just as lame but with slapstick humor enjoyed by Russians)

[Bruno]

What's been interesting is watching the Russian versions of some American serials such as The Nanny (Much better in Russia)

Yep, i like it too... and in the russian version, the majordome is a very good actor... he is perfect

And i like very much a Russian cartoon... with a wolf and a rabit... don't remember the name but say always something like "no pogadi" ( mean : i will take you ) at the end

[Simoni]

I never realized that Ugly Betty was the American version of this show as I have never watched it, and based on what you said, that's probably a good thing.

Scottie, don't believe everything you read...

Ugly Betty won two Golden Globes this year, including

***Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy  -- won by America Ferrera

***Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

ABC has renewed the show for 2008.  It's a pretty good comedy, IMHO.  Give it a watch....my girl likes it.

[LEGAL]

And i like very much a Russian cartoon... with a wolf and a rabit... don't remember the name but say always something like "no pogadi" ( mean : i will take you ) at the end

I like this cartoon to 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu,_pogodi!







Olga

[Rvrwind]

OLga...I believe that cartoon is a take off from the Coyote & Roadrunner show in America & Canada. I've seen it on occaision & find it somewhat funny at times.

Ugly Betty won two Golden Globes this year, including

***Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy  -- won by America Ferrera

***Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Sorry, but that don't make it a good show or even mediocre. I lost faith in these award bullsh!t shows a long time ago. I have seen movies & TV shows from the US & Canada that are pure crap & waste of airwaves but still won awards. Its all hype & glitter & no substance in my opinion.
It reminds me of Beevis & Butthead or the Simpsons, real intelligent stuff, for morons. If thats the best they can come up with I pitty society as a whole. Give me some good intelligent program that makes me think & I'm in, but I don't waste my time on crap that insults my intelligent & is specifically writtin' to appeal to those with no more intelligence than a broomstick!
Sorry, but I calls 'em the way I see's them. Mass media & telivision have failed the masses horendously & it shows in what goes on in the world today.

[El Rock]

Sorry, but I calls 'em the way I see's them. Mass media & telivision have failed the masses horendously & it shows in what goes on in the world today.

Life reflects art  , not the other way around.
I'm just saying