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As Zany Betty- erm, make that Ugly Betty - America Ferrera finds herself making bad choice after bad choice. Sadly, Betty’s latest series of questionable choices ends up hitting way too close to la casa. (image courtesy of ABC-TV)

Family obligations and career advancement sometimes lock horns in a person’s life, and such conflict was on display in this evening’s episode of Ugly Betty.

Betty Suarez, affectionately portrayed by America Ferrera, got herself into a mess, allowing Mode magazine’s competition- namely Elle- the opportunity to kidnap a dress that was to be worn by Keira Knightley on an upcoming Mode cover. See, in the midst of a night out collecting 40 business contacts to appease her idol- Young Editors in Training (YETI) editor Jodie Papadakis (guest star Bernadette Peters)- she got buddy-buddy with an Elle assistant named Teri (played by Hairspray’sNikki Blonksy), and inadvertently left her cell phone for Teri’s prying eyes. Teri, in turn, found out where to pick up the dress, before Betty had the chance to do so.

While Betty’s sister Hilda felt that she and her sister weren’t as close lately as they had been (Betty had broken a couple of family obligations, and she hadn’t been around much to help Hilda with the official- and legal-launch of her beauty salon/supplies shop), Betty made matters worse. When an opportunity arose for her to reclaim the dress, Betty left Hilda’s celebratory bash, promising to be right back, but Hilda wasn’t having it- she told her not to bother coming back.

Careers are important, without a doubt. But, Betty was letting what should be the most important thing in her life take a backseat to her job. She even tried to justify the behavior by saying that if for the betterment of her career, that means she misses a couple of family events, so be it. Uh huh- suuurrreeee.

Of course, being television, Ugly Bettywriters crafted one of the worst scenarios to make its point. While at a Wilhemina Slater party (no assistant has ever been invited to a Wilhemina Slater party!), Betty sees a phone call from Hilda, and puts her cell phone on silent mode. Later when she checks her calls, she sees Hilda tried calling numerous times. Turns out their father had a heart attack, and Betty races to the hospital to be at his bedside.

Will this unfortunate incident help Betty realize that her job and career advancement mean squat if she loses her family? It’s almost a certainty, but hopefully Papi Suarez won’t be sacrificed to drive that point home even more forcefully.

Will Wilhemina get her man? If so, as shocking as it sounds, it won’t be as a result of her usual conniving and scheming antics.  (image courtesy of ABC-TV)

In the meantime, Wilhemina (portrayed by the devilishly delicious Vanessa Williams) pushed Daniel to pursue Connor’s fiance, Molly. Daniel makes it known that he knows Wilhemina has more than a professional interest in Connor, but that she need not fret- he won’t hold being human against her. By episode’s end, Molly declares to Daniel that she broke up with Connor, and Connor shows up at Wilhemina’s door, where he grabs her and the two kiss passionately.

While it’s a hoot seeing Williams camp it up as uber-bitch Wilhemina, it’s also refreshing to see she indeed does have a sensitive, human side, something that’s been hinted at more than once this season (recall her visit to surrogate mother Christina’s hospital room when Christina had been pushed down a flight of stairs).

How long will Wilhemina’s bout with humanness last? Hopefully long enough to see how a Wilhemina-in-love behaves; but, we don’t want her going all soft on us. After all, a diva sans attitude, bitchiness and sass isn’t much of a diva at all.

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