Million Dollar Smile
Betty dreams of a life without braces.
"Million Dollar Smile" is the 82nd episode of the American comedy series Ugly Betty, airing as the 17th episode of its fourth season. It features a dream sequence in which Betty Suarez imagines a life with perfect teeth after her braces are removed.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Ugly Betty
- Airdate
- 24 March 2010
- Writer
- Henry Alonso Myers; Chris Black
- Director
- Paul Holahan
- Season article
- Ugly Betty season 4
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Betty wakes up excited to have her braces removed, but a fire alarm interrupts the procedure at the orthodontist's office. At MODE, Marc photoshops Betty's ID photo to show her without braces and with blond hair. Justin repeatedly tries to call Austin, who is avoiding him after their kiss. Claire returns from France, and Daniel is cold toward her for lying about Tyler. Amanda lets Tyler sleep over after their dinner date; after he kisses her the next morning, she tells Daniel she is getting serious with Tyler, and Daniel tells her to leave. At an editors meeting, Daniel announces he has secured the "Million Dollar Bra" for a cover shoot. Wilhelmina reads the itinerary and informs Daniel that the bra is due to be shipped to Cairo at the same time as the shoot.
Production
Paul Holahan directed the episode, which was written by executive producer Henry Alonso Myers and co-executive producer Chris Black. It aired on ABC on March 24, 2010, as the seventeenth episode of the fourth season and the 82nd overall. Betty's "over-exaggerated" train-track braces, worn for three seasons, are removed in this episode. Series creator Silvio Horta had stated in April 2009 that the braces would come off by the end of the fourth season. Following the series' cancellation, Betty's makeover and brace removal were scheduled for this episode. Broadway actress Kathy Najimy joined the cast in February 2010 as the orthodontist, also serving as Betty's guardian angel in a dream sequence. Donna Murphy played Eve, an "ice queen lingerie executive." Other guest stars included Halley Feiffer, Ryan McGinnis, and Neal Bledsoe.
Reception
The episode was watched by 4.63 million households in its original American broadcast, with a 1.7 rating/5 share in the 18–49 demographic, an increase from the previous episode's 3.3 million viewers. TV Fanatic called the episode "entirely far fetched, but, it was highly entertaining nonetheless" and praised the handling of Betty's brace removal. Entertainment Weekly's Tanner Stransky described it as "a stunning episode" and "truly heartwarming." New York magazine, however, labeled the dream sequence "a downer" and "downright uncomfortable."
More in Television Episodes About Parallel Universes
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced