Photo: ABC/REX USA.
Full disclosure: We love TV. So much so that sometimes we'd rather spend a whole weekend in front of the tube than dancing in da club. Is a lack of television service holding you back from feeling our joy? No problem! You can get by just fine on Netflix, Hulu, and the myriad other streaming services rapidly taking over the home entertainment industry (thank you, Internet!).
Some shows are just better when binge-watched. Whether it's the latest BBC comedy, a PBS miniseries from the '70s, or just that cultish show prematurely scrubbed from a network, we're hooked on the stream. Staying In(stant) is your guide to the best of streaming content. Each week, we bring you a show we're obsessed with and think you should be, too.
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This Week: Ugly Betty
Where To Watch: Netflix
How I Got Hooked: I first got hooked on Ugly Betty when it debuted in 2006. It had everything my dream TV show would have: over-the-top style (thanks to Patricia Field), a ridiculous glimpse into fashion world (at the time, I was a student in Wisconsin and craved any show with an inside look into glossy editorial land — other than The Hills, which I loved, too), and Vanessa Williams (die). So, when I stumbled upon the entire series on Netflix recently, I decided to do a full-on marathon and watch it all the way through — again. Right now, I’m pacing at least two episodes per day, sometimes more if I decide a date with my computer is better than a date with my boyfriend (it’s fine, he understands).
Best Episode: Season 4, episode 19. I'll admit it; I cried like a baby during this particular episode. No, no, not because it's the second-to-last episode of the series, but because it's the moment when Betty's nephew, Justin, finally comes out of the closet. As a gay man myself, I really connected with this story line. I only wish I had the courage to be my true self at such a young age (Justin was a young teenager). Yes, I just got real and mushy with you. Deal with it.
Why You'll Love It: It’s amazing, that’s why. It has absolutely everything you could ever want and more: humor, romance, twisted plots... And, it actually digs deep into important social issues (see above). Most of all, it serves up legit style inspiration, episode after episode. Looking for a new way to wear a full, printed skirt? Betty’s your girl. How to wear a three-piece suit and look cool, not stuffy? Turn to Marc St. James. Pat Field can do no wrong.