Less Than a Thousand Words About "Ugly Betty"

I finally got around to watching last week's episode of Ugly Betty ("A Thousand Words By Friday") after a busy weekend... and a Thursday night that was filled to the brim with new episodes of Chuck.

While it wasn't the greatest episode to date, it was remarkable for one thing: that simply awe-inspiring ode to parental want from Amanda, whose every scene remains one of the series' most enduring high points. Was anyone else just blown away by her singing chops and her hysterical KISS-inspired tongue-wagging while she sang a song in an effort to reach out to her biological father, Gene Simmons?

Lucky for her, Gene googles himself every day so caught wind of Amanda's gig at the Beer Hole. Like father, like daughter, I suppose.

This week's episode was sadly light on Marc-'n-Amanda goodness (with the exception of the hysterical scene where they attempt to write a song to the beat of a Casio keyboard), but did offer up some amusement in the form of a number of headscratchers: Has Christina lost her job at the magazine as she is apparently never showing up for work for the next nine months? Does Betty know--having spoken to Christina--that she's agreed to be a surrogate for Wilhelmina? Does anyone have any reaction to this bit of odder than usual news? And why is Christina a virtual prisoner at Wilhelmina's apartment?

Still, each of those questions pales in comparison to the one that's plagued me for weeks: how is it that Marc--who no longer works at Mode--can still saunter into the offices and into Fay's secret sex room? Color me confused.

So tired of Gio still. I know that some of you aren't bothered by Henry's rival, but personally, I would still rather than Betty ditch both of these guys and find someone new, without Henry's emotional baggage, unborn baby, or purple sweaters.

Elsewhere, It was a hoot to see Gabrielle Union as Wilhelmina's lil' sister Renee (formerly known as Rhonda) and I hope that she sticks around once the writers strike comes to an end as (A) I like her as a potential foil for Willie and (B) she and Daniel make a pretty darn hot couple.

But what exactly is the mystery about who Renee really is, that Wilhelmina hints about at the episode's end? Any guesses as to who or what Renee might be? Sadly, given the Alexis storyline, we won't be finding out that Daniel's current squeeze used to be a man...