fbpx
Wikipedia

A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding

October 20, 2023

"A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American television dramedy Ugly Betty and the series's 30th episode overall. It was written by Silvio Horta and Marco Pennette, and directed by James Hayman. The episode was originally broadcast on ABC in the United States on November 8, 2007. Ugly Betty centers on Betty Suarez's job at the fashion magazine MODE, despite not fitting their expectations of beauty and style. In this episode, MODE's creative director Wilhelmina Slater attempts to marry the magazine's publisher Bradford Meade.

"A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding"
Ugly Betty episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 7
Directed byJames Hayman
Written by
Featured music
Original air dateNovember 8, 2007 (2007-11-08)
Running time43 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
Ugly Betty (season 2)
List of episodes

Victoria Beckham guest-stars as herself in the episode, appearing as Wilhelmina's maid of honor who steals attention from the wedding. She was originally supposed to wear a fatsuit as part of a joke about weight gain. Vanessa Williams's ex-husband, retired basketball player Rick Fox, appears as Wilhelmina's bodyguard and lover. Vera Wang makes a cameo appearance, and designed Wilhelmina's wedding dress and Beckham's bridesmaid dress. Wang first drafted a larger taffeta wedding dress, but Williams felt it was inappropriate for Wilhelmina's age and requested a simpler design. The wedding was filmed over several days at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.

The episode was publicized through a TV Guide cover and a fictional wedding announcement in The New York Times. "A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" was well received by critics who praised Beckham's cameo and Becki Newton's cover of Kelis's 2003 single "Milkshake" during the wedding. It received two nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. The scenes about Ignacio Suarez's United States citizenship ceremony attracted attention from academic scholars. The initial broadcast of the episode was viewed by 10.9 million viewers and number one in its time slot for adults between the ages of 18 and 34.

Plot Edit

Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) has moved out of her familial home following an argument with her father Ignacio (Tony Plana) over her relationship with Henry Grubstick (Christopher Gorham), who has impregnated another woman and has decided to move to Tucson, Arizona to care for the child. As a result, Betty refuses to attend Ignacio's United States citizenship ceremony; she feels guilty about being blackmailed into lying to her boss Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius) about Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) who is having an affair with her bodyguard Dwayne (Rick Fox) in order to get Ignacio his visa. Wilhelmina used her connection with her senator father to secure the visa in exchange for Betty's silence. Betty and Henry move in together, and he encourages her to attend her father's ceremony.

Wilhelmina's assistant Marc St. James (Michael Urie) is stressed from planning her wedding to Bradford Meade (Alan Dale), the CEO of Meade Publications. Wilhelmina worries her maid of honor Victoria Beckham is stealing the spotlight, and attempts to undermine her by replacing Victoria's Vera Wang dress with a less appealing garment. Victoria, however, still attracts media attention. Meanwhile, Bradford and his daughter Alexis (Rebecca Romijn) celebrate the return of advertisers to the fashion magazine MODE, after a boycott regarding Alexis's role as its openly transgender co-editor-in-chief. Daniel feels ignored by his father, who has chosen Alexis to be his best man. Christina McKinney (Ashley Jensen), MODE's seamstress, reunites with her husband Stuart (Derek Riddell) after leaving him in Scotland years ago; he reveals he is dying of a rare disease which requires a $100,000 operation.

Daniel suspects Wilhelmina is having an affair with Dwayne, although Betty denies any knowledge of this. Prior to the ceremony, Wilhelmina has Victoria locked in a confessional booth. Following Henry's advice about the importance of family, Betty attends Ignacio's citizenship ceremony; they apologize to each other and Betty reveals how she secured his visa, and he encourages Betty to tell the truth to Daniel and stop the wedding. Betty interrupts the event to talk to Daniel in private, who then fires her for lying to him about Wilhelmina's affair. After Betty leaves the church, Daniel reveals the affair to Bradford, who refuses to believe it. During the pause in the ceremony, MODE's receptionist Amanda Tanen (Becki Newton) sings "Milkshake" while accompanied by an organ. Bradford returns to the altar and collapses, with Wilhelmina and Daniel attempting to resuscitate him. Betty watches these events from a monitor in Times Square.

Production Edit

 
Vera Wang designed the dresses for the episode and appeared as herself.

"A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" has a runtime of approximately 43 minutes;[1] it was written by Silvio Horta and Marco Pennette, and directed by James Hayman.[2] The episode includes Jeff Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's 1984 song "Hallelujah", which is heard during the ending sequence.[3] Along with Becki Newton's rendition of "Milkshake", the wedding scenes include Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney's 1982 duet "Ebony and Ivory" and Hot Chocolate's 1975 single "You Sexy Thing".[2]

In June 2007, producers requested Victoria Beckham, nicknamed "Posh Spice" during her time as a member of the Spice Girls, to appear as herself in a wedding-theme episode.[4][5][6] Eric Mabius had met her during a London awards ceremony;[7] when Beckham said she was a fan of Ugly Betty, Mabius suggested a possible guest appearance.[8] She agreed to appear on the show despite her past reluctance to pursue an acting career.[9] The casting was confirmed the following month by Pennette, who joked that Beckham's husband David would be required to come to the set.[10] She was reportedly paid £70,000 for her appearance.[7] According to The New Zealand Herald, she wanted her cameo to raise her popularity in the United States following her move there earlier in the year.[4]

In the episode's initial storyline, Beckham was to wear a fatsuit for a joke about her weight gain following her move to the U.S.[4][5] An ABC insider said; "Everyone at the wedding will be expecting skinny, beautiful Posh to show up. But they'll be horrified to see she's piled on the pounds because of major comfort-eating and American junk food."[5] This idea was later abandoned.[2][7] Prior to the episode's release, photographs of Beckham were leaked online.[11] In 2008, Beckham was rumored to be returning for regular guest appearances in future episodes,[12][13] although further guest appearances did not materialize.[14]

As well as making a cameo appearance, American fashion designer Vera Wang created the wedding dress. It was made from ivory charmeuse fabric, and included a train and appliqué details on the neckline. Wang had originally created a larger taffeta gown that Vanessa Williams felt was too comedic for the character. Williams said the final design was more "elegant, and suitable for someone Wilhelmina's age".[8] Wang also designed Beckham's bridesmaid's dress.[7] The wedding scenes were filmed over several days at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, which was used as a stand-in for a Manhattan cathedral.[15]

Alongside Beckham and Wang, Rick Fox guest-starred as Wilhelmina's bodyguard and lover.[2] Some media outlets asked whether Fox's role was awkward given his divorce from Williams,[15][16] though they said filming with each other was enjoyable.[17] Fox said he remained friends with Williams while they were co-parenting their daughter.[17]

Broadcast history and release Edit

"A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" was originally broadcast on November 8, 2007, in the United States on the ABC network.[18] A video preview featuring Beckham's guest appearance was released prior to the episode's debut.[7][19] Some media outlets promoted the episode as "The Wedding of the Year";[20][21] Ferrera, Williams, and Urie were photographed in their costumes for a TV Guide cover.[20] ABC published a fictitious wedding announcement in the "Vows" section of The New York Times.[22]

According to Nielsen, the episode was watched by 10.9 million viewers; it was number one in its time slot for adults between the ages of 18 and 34.[23] The Guardian partially attributed the ratings to Beckham's cameo appearance.[24] "A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" marked a rise in viewership compared to the previous episode "Something Wicked This Way Comes", which was viewed by 9.9 million people.[25] There was a slight drop in ratings for the following episode "I See Me, I.C.U.", which was seen by 10.7 million viewers.[26] "A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" was released on DVD as part of the second season release in 2008.[27] The episode was also made available on numerous streaming video on demand services, including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Google Play, and Vudu.[28]

Reception Edit

Critical response Edit

"A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" received two award nominations.[29][30] It was up for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, but lost to the Mad Men first-season episode "Shoot".[29] The episode was also nominated for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy Series at the 39th NAACP Image Awards,[30] although it lost to Everybody Hates Chris for the episode "Everybody Hates Guidance Counselor".[31]

The episode received a largely positive critical response. The A.V. Club's Michaelangelo Matos praised it as one of the best of the season at that point. He described the characters and their respective storylines as well-balanced, writing that "each segment was paced to breathe, and the jokes were aimed perfectly."[3] Denise Ward of the Los Angeles Times commended the episode for "pull[ing] our collective gut in all directions (and we're still deliciously dizzy)", and singled out its use of comedy and drama.[32] In a 2016 Refinery29 article, Erin Donnelly cited Wilhelmina's wedding dress as one of the top 34 most memorable in television history.[33] Entertainment Weekly's Kate Ward wrote that the episode had "all the drama with plenty of pitch-perfect comedy", citing scenes between Marc and his boyfriend Cliff St. Paul as the notable high points. Ward, however, questioned whether the time spent on Ignacio's citizenship ceremony could have been used for other characters, though she found the ending to his immigration storyline to be enjoyable.[16] On the other hand, Amina Akhtar of Vulture dismissed the episode as one of the worst in the show's history; she criticized the script as containing numerous plot holes and the costuming as too tacky given the characters' association with a fashion magazine.[34]

 
Victoria Beckham's cameo was well received by critics.

Beckham's inclusion was widely praised by television critics. Matos praised the decision to use Beckham as a running gag rather than as a serious character.[3] Dorothy Snarker of AfterEllen.com wrote that Beckham's dynamic with Wilhelmina was "destined to become a classic", but she criticized Beckham's acting.[35] TV Guide's Aimee Deeken singled out Beckham's advertisement for an energy drink during a wedding-related press interview as her favorite part of the episode.[36] The guest role was also praised in retrospective reviews. In a 2008 Entertainment Weekly article, Tanner Stransky cited Beckham as one of the better celebrity appearances in the series.[37] In a 2017 listicle for Digital Spy, Sam Ashurst considered her to be one of the eleven best cameo appearances in television. He described Beckham's role as a caricature of herself that is perfect for the show's story and tone, though he was uncertain about her acting abilities.[38]

Critics had a positive response to Newton's rendition of "Milkshake". Ward preferred it over the original, writing that she "personified train wreck during her church-y rendition",[16] and Matos referred to the performance as risky yet successful.[3] In a 2010 article looking back on Ugly Betty, The Guardian's Kira Cochrane likened its "occasional musical moments", like "Milkshake", to "the best stage spectacles, those filled with wild outfits and wilder songs, which make you laugh with one breath before ripping out your heart with the next".[39] Music journalist Paul Lester wrote that the inclusion of "Milkshake" on Ugly Betty and other television shows were signs of the song's "cultural penetration".[40] On the other hand, the inclusion of "Hallelujah" had a more mixed response. The Chicago Tribune's Geoff Edgers felt its use in the episode, as well as in other television shows, proved its status as a standard.[41] Alternatively, Mato criticized the moment as trite, referring to the song as "the biggest musical-cue cliché of the decade".[3]

Racial analysis Edit

Ignacio's citizenship ceremony was the subject of some scholarly analysis. According to Chicana/o studies professors Eliza Rodriguez y Gibson and Tanya González, the related scenes juxtapose Betty's and Ignacio's faith in the government.[42] Ignacio gains faith in the United States through citizenship, despite doing it outside the established system, while Betty loses it because she no longer views "the system of citizenship as protection".[43] Betty becomes "reduced and marginalized" as an assistant, and gets fired unfairly in a violation of the "reciprocal protections" promised by the American Dream.[44] According to Rodriguez y Gibson, the episode sends a message that "citizenship does not guarantee against marginalization nor does it offer protection, nor friendship, nor inclusion."[45] Communication studies professors Stacey K. Sowards and Richard D. Pineda criticized the convenience in which Ignacio obtained his citizenship for implying immigration issues could be solved by "knowing the right people or through hard work to pay for a lawyer that can address one's immigration positionality".[46]

References Edit

Citations Edit

  1. ^ "Ugly Betty, Season 2". iTunes. September 27, 2007. from the original on September 21, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Writer: Horta, Silvio & Pennette, Marco. Director: Hayman, James (November 8, 2007). "A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding". Ugly Betty. Season 2. American Broadcasting Company.
  3. ^ a b c d e Matos, Michaelangelo (November 9, 2007). "Ugly Betty: 'A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding'". The A.V. Club. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Posh to get 'fat' for Ugly Betty". The New Zealand Herald. August 15, 2007. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (August 14, 2007). "Posh to wear fat suit for 'Betty' role". Digital Spy. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  6. ^ Fowler, Danielle (July 28, 2019). "Victoria Beckham might reunite with the Spice Girls after all". Harper's Bazaar. from the original on July 29, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Victoria Beckham shows her Ugly side". Evening Standard. October 5, 2007. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Rorke, Robert (November 4, 2007). "Altar Ego". New York Post. from the original on January 1, 2019.
  9. ^ "Victoria Beckham to guest star on Ugly Betty". Orange County Register. August 30, 2007. from the original on January 2, 2019.
  10. ^ karenr (July 27, 2007). "Beckham's 'Betty' Cameo Confirmed". San Francisco Chronicle. from the original on March 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "Victoria Beckham is totally Posh on Ugly Betty". Today. October 12, 2007. from the original on January 4, 2019.
  12. ^ Barnett, Leisa (May 23, 2008). "A Victoria Return". Vogue. from the original on January 2, 2019.
  13. ^ Hilton, Beth (May 24, 2008). "Beckham to return to 'Ugly Betty'?". Digital Spy. from the original on January 2, 2019.
  14. ^ Boardman, Madeline (September 28, 2016). "15 of the Best Ugly Betty Guest Stars". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  15. ^ a b . TV Guide. October 31, 2007. Archived from the original on November 3, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  16. ^ a b c Ward, Kate (November 9, 2007). "Ugly Betty recap: Crashing Wilhelmina's wedding". Entertainment Weekly. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Vanessa Williams & Rick Fox On-Screen Reunion Not So 'Ugly'". Access. September 18, 2007. from the original on January 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "Showatch". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  19. ^ "Posh makes her Ugly Betty debut". Elle. May 11, 2007. from the original on January 1, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "The Cover Archive". TV Guide. November 5, 2007. from the original on January 1, 2019.
  21. ^ "Smart, 'Ugly' – All This and the Mavs, Too". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 15, 2007. from the original on January 2, 2019.
  22. ^ Mitovich, Matt (November 4, 2007). "Ugly Betty Wedding Gets with the Times". TV Guide. from the original on January 1, 2019.
  23. ^ "Quick Take for Thursday, November 8, 2007 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)". The Futon Critic. November 9, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  24. ^ Brook, Stephen (November 26, 2007). "TV Ratings: Posh draws viewers to Ugly Betty". The Guardian. from the original on October 6, 2014.
  25. ^ "Quick Take for Thursday, November 1, 2007 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)". The Futon Critic. November 2, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  26. ^ "Quick Take for Thursday, November 15, 2007 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)". The Futon Critic. November 16, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  27. ^ Ugly Betty. The complete second season, disc 2. OCLC 246725059.
  28. ^ "Season 2, Episode 7 A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding". TV Guide. from the original on December 10, 2015.
  29. ^ a b "60th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys.com. from the original on August 6, 2018.
  30. ^ a b "The 39th NAACP Image Awards". The Advocate. 115 (1): 31–32. Winter 2008. from the original on January 1, 2019.
  31. ^ Williams, Kam (March 12, 2009). "'Debaters,' Keys win big at Image Awards". Bay State Banner. from the original on January 4, 2019.
  32. ^ Martin, Denise (November 9, 2007). "Ugly Betty: Hurts so good". Los Angeles Times. from the original on December 31, 2018.
  33. ^ Donnelly, Erin (May 12, 2016). "34 Of The Most Memorable Wedding Dresses In TV History". Refinery29. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  34. ^ Akhtar, Amina (November 9, 2007). "Posh Spice Looks Good in Anything – Except 'Ugly Betty'". Vulture.com. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  35. ^ Snarker, Dorothy (November 8, 2007). "TV comes down with guest star-itis". AfterEllen.com. from the original on September 21, 2016.
  36. ^ Deeken, Aimee (November 8, 2007). . TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007.
  37. ^ Stransky, Tanner (January 11, 2008). "Ugly Betty recap: Happy Fashion Week!". Entertainment Weekly. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  38. ^ Ashurst, Sam (February 21, 2017). "11 best ever celebrity TV cameo appearances". Digital Spy. from the original on December 29, 2018.
  39. ^ Cochrane, Kira (December 21, 2010). "The beauty of Ugly Betty". The Guardian. from the original on June 2, 2016.
  40. ^ Lester (2015)
  41. ^ Edgers, Geoff (March 18, 2008). . Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019.
  42. ^ González & Rodriguez y Gibson (2015): pp. 71–73
  43. ^ González & Rodriguez y Gibson (2015): p. 72
  44. ^ González & Rodriguez y Gibson (2015): p. 73
  45. ^ Rodriguez y Gibson (2014): pp. 47–50
  46. ^ Sowards & Pineda (2013): p. 85

Book sources Edit

  • González, Tanya; Rodriguez y Gibson, Eliza (2015). Humor and Latina/o Camp in Ugly Betty: Funny Looking. Lanham: Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-7391-9750-9.
  • Lester, Paul (2015). In Search of Pharrell Williams. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-7830-5789-4.
  • Rodriguez y Gibson, Eliza (2014). "Drag Racing the Neoliberal Circuit: Latina/o Camp and the Contingencies of Resistance". In Hernández, E.; Rodriguez, E.; Rodriguez y Gibson, Eliza (eds.). The Un/Making of Latina/o Citizenship: Culture, Politics, and Aesthetics. New York: Springer Publishing. ISBN 978-1-137-43107-3.
  • Sowards, Stacey K.; Pineda, Richard D. (2013). "Immigrant Narratives and Popular Culture in the United States: Border Spectacle, Unmotivated Sympathies, and Individualized Responsibilities". Western Journal of Communication. Routledge. 77 (1): 72–91. doi:10.1080/10570314.2012.693648. S2CID 143862703.

External links Edit

  • "A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding" at IMDb

October 20, 2023
nice, posh, wedding, seventh, episode, second, season, american, television, dramedy, ugly, betty, series, 30th, episode, overall, written, silvio, horta, marco, pennette, directed, james, hayman, episode, originally, broadcast, united, states, november, 2007,. A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding is the seventh episode of the second season of the American television dramedy Ugly Betty and the series s 30th episode overall It was written by Silvio Horta and Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman The episode was originally broadcast on ABC in the United States on November 8 2007 Ugly Betty centers on Betty Suarez s job at the fashion magazine MODE despite not fitting their expectations of beauty and style In this episode MODE s creative director Wilhelmina Slater attempts to marry the magazine s publisher Bradford Meade A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding Ugly Betty episodeEpisode no Season 2Episode 7Directed byJames HaymanWritten bySilvio Horta Marco PennetteFeatured music Ebony and Ivory Hallelujah Milkshake You Sexy Thing Original air dateNovember 8 2007 2007 11 08 Running time43 minutesGuest appearancesVictoria Beckham as herself David Blue as Cliff St Paul Bud Cort as Priest Julia Fowler as Wedding Helper Rick Fox as Dwayne Jenny Lind as Reporter No 1 Arloa Reston as Reporter No 2 Derek Riddell as Stuart McKinney Alec Mapa as Suzuki St Pierre Vera Wang as herselfEpisode chronology Previous Something Wicked This Way Comes Next I See Me I C U Ugly Betty season 2 List of episodesVictoria Beckham guest stars as herself in the episode appearing as Wilhelmina s maid of honor who steals attention from the wedding She was originally supposed to wear a fatsuit as part of a joke about weight gain Vanessa Williams s ex husband retired basketball player Rick Fox appears as Wilhelmina s bodyguard and lover Vera Wang makes a cameo appearance and designed Wilhelmina s wedding dress and Beckham s bridesmaid dress Wang first drafted a larger taffeta wedding dress but Williams felt it was inappropriate for Wilhelmina s age and requested a simpler design The wedding was filmed over several days at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles The episode was publicized through a TV Guide cover and a fictional wedding announcement in The New York Times A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding was well received by critics who praised Beckham s cameo and Becki Newton s cover of Kelis s 2003 single Milkshake during the wedding It received two nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award The scenes about Ignacio Suarez s United States citizenship ceremony attracted attention from academic scholars The initial broadcast of the episode was viewed by 10 9 million viewers and number one in its time slot for adults between the ages of 18 and 34 Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Broadcast history and release 4 Reception 4 1 Critical response 4 2 Racial analysis 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Book sources 6 External linksPlot EditBetty Suarez America Ferrera has moved out of her familial home following an argument with her father Ignacio Tony Plana over her relationship with Henry Grubstick Christopher Gorham who has impregnated another woman and has decided to move to Tucson Arizona to care for the child As a result Betty refuses to attend Ignacio s United States citizenship ceremony she feels guilty about being blackmailed into lying to her boss Daniel Meade Eric Mabius about Wilhelmina Slater Vanessa Williams who is having an affair with her bodyguard Dwayne Rick Fox in order to get Ignacio his visa Wilhelmina used her connection with her senator father to secure the visa in exchange for Betty s silence Betty and Henry move in together and he encourages her to attend her father s ceremony Wilhelmina s assistant Marc St James Michael Urie is stressed from planning her wedding to Bradford Meade Alan Dale the CEO of Meade Publications Wilhelmina worries her maid of honor Victoria Beckham is stealing the spotlight and attempts to undermine her by replacing Victoria s Vera Wang dress with a less appealing garment Victoria however still attracts media attention Meanwhile Bradford and his daughter Alexis Rebecca Romijn celebrate the return of advertisers to the fashion magazine MODE after a boycott regarding Alexis s role as its openly transgender co editor in chief Daniel feels ignored by his father who has chosen Alexis to be his best man Christina McKinney Ashley Jensen MODE s seamstress reunites with her husband Stuart Derek Riddell after leaving him in Scotland years ago he reveals he is dying of a rare disease which requires a 100 000 operation Daniel suspects Wilhelmina is having an affair with Dwayne although Betty denies any knowledge of this Prior to the ceremony Wilhelmina has Victoria locked in a confessional booth Following Henry s advice about the importance of family Betty attends Ignacio s citizenship ceremony they apologize to each other and Betty reveals how she secured his visa and he encourages Betty to tell the truth to Daniel and stop the wedding Betty interrupts the event to talk to Daniel in private who then fires her for lying to him about Wilhelmina s affair After Betty leaves the church Daniel reveals the affair to Bradford who refuses to believe it During the pause in the ceremony MODE s receptionist Amanda Tanen Becki Newton sings Milkshake while accompanied by an organ Bradford returns to the altar and collapses with Wilhelmina and Daniel attempting to resuscitate him Betty watches these events from a monitor in Times Square Production Edit nbsp Vera Wang designed the dresses for the episode and appeared as herself A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding has a runtime of approximately 43 minutes 1 it was written by Silvio Horta and Marco Pennette and directed by James Hayman 2 The episode includes Jeff Buckley s cover of Leonard Cohen s 1984 song Hallelujah which is heard during the ending sequence 3 Along with Becki Newton s rendition of Milkshake the wedding scenes include Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney s 1982 duet Ebony and Ivory and Hot Chocolate s 1975 single You Sexy Thing 2 In June 2007 producers requested Victoria Beckham nicknamed Posh Spice during her time as a member of the Spice Girls to appear as herself in a wedding theme episode 4 5 6 Eric Mabius had met her during a London awards ceremony 7 when Beckham said she was a fan of Ugly Betty Mabius suggested a possible guest appearance 8 She agreed to appear on the show despite her past reluctance to pursue an acting career 9 The casting was confirmed the following month by Pennette who joked that Beckham s husband David would be required to come to the set 10 She was reportedly paid 70 000 for her appearance 7 According to The New Zealand Herald she wanted her cameo to raise her popularity in the United States following her move there earlier in the year 4 In the episode s initial storyline Beckham was to wear a fatsuit for a joke about her weight gain following her move to the U S 4 5 An ABC insider said Everyone at the wedding will be expecting skinny beautiful Posh to show up But they ll be horrified to see she s piled on the pounds because of major comfort eating and American junk food 5 This idea was later abandoned 2 7 Prior to the episode s release photographs of Beckham were leaked online 11 In 2008 Beckham was rumored to be returning for regular guest appearances in future episodes 12 13 although further guest appearances did not materialize 14 As well as making a cameo appearance American fashion designer Vera Wang created the wedding dress It was made from ivory charmeuse fabric and included a train and applique details on the neckline Wang had originally created a larger taffeta gown that Vanessa Williams felt was too comedic for the character Williams said the final design was more elegant and suitable for someone Wilhelmina s age 8 Wang also designed Beckham s bridesmaid s dress 7 The wedding scenes were filmed over several days at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles which was used as a stand in for a Manhattan cathedral 15 Alongside Beckham and Wang Rick Fox guest starred as Wilhelmina s bodyguard and lover 2 Some media outlets asked whether Fox s role was awkward given his divorce from Williams 15 16 though they said filming with each other was enjoyable 17 Fox said he remained friends with Williams while they were co parenting their daughter 17 Broadcast history and release Edit A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding was originally broadcast on November 8 2007 in the United States on the ABC network 18 A video preview featuring Beckham s guest appearance was released prior to the episode s debut 7 19 Some media outlets promoted the episode as The Wedding of the Year 20 21 Ferrera Williams and Urie were photographed in their costumes for a TV Guide cover 20 ABC published a fictitious wedding announcement in the Vows section of The New York Times 22 According to Nielsen the episode was watched by 10 9 million viewers it was number one in its time slot for adults between the ages of 18 and 34 23 The Guardian partially attributed the ratings to Beckham s cameo appearance 24 A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding marked a rise in viewership compared to the previous episode Something Wicked This Way Comes which was viewed by 9 9 million people 25 There was a slight drop in ratings for the following episode I See Me I C U which was seen by 10 7 million viewers 26 A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding was released on DVD as part of the second season release in 2008 27 The episode was also made available on numerous streaming video on demand services including Amazon Prime Video Hulu Google Play and Vudu 28 Reception EditCritical response Edit A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding received two award nominations 29 30 It was up for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single Camera Series at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards but lost to the Mad Men first season episode Shoot 29 The episode was also nominated for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy Series at the 39th NAACP Image Awards 30 although it lost to Everybody Hates Chris for the episode Everybody Hates Guidance Counselor 31 The episode received a largely positive critical response The A V Club s Michaelangelo Matos praised it as one of the best of the season at that point He described the characters and their respective storylines as well balanced writing that each segment was paced to breathe and the jokes were aimed perfectly 3 Denise Ward of the Los Angeles Times commended the episode for pull ing our collective gut in all directions and we re still deliciously dizzy and singled out its use of comedy and drama 32 In a 2016 Refinery29 article Erin Donnelly cited Wilhelmina s wedding dress as one of the top 34 most memorable in television history 33 Entertainment Weekly s Kate Ward wrote that the episode had all the drama with plenty of pitch perfect comedy citing scenes between Marc and his boyfriend Cliff St Paul as the notable high points Ward however questioned whether the time spent on Ignacio s citizenship ceremony could have been used for other characters though she found the ending to his immigration storyline to be enjoyable 16 On the other hand Amina Akhtar of Vulture dismissed the episode as one of the worst in the show s history she criticized the script as containing numerous plot holes and the costuming as too tacky given the characters association with a fashion magazine 34 nbsp Victoria Beckham s cameo was well received by critics Beckham s inclusion was widely praised by television critics Matos praised the decision to use Beckham as a running gag rather than as a serious character 3 Dorothy Snarker of AfterEllen com wrote that Beckham s dynamic with Wilhelmina was destined to become a classic but she criticized Beckham s acting 35 TV Guide s Aimee Deeken singled out Beckham s advertisement for an energy drink during a wedding related press interview as her favorite part of the episode 36 The guest role was also praised in retrospective reviews In a 2008 Entertainment Weekly article Tanner Stransky cited Beckham as one of the better celebrity appearances in the series 37 In a 2017 listicle for Digital Spy Sam Ashurst considered her to be one of the eleven best cameo appearances in television He described Beckham s role as a caricature of herself that is perfect for the show s story and tone though he was uncertain about her acting abilities 38 Critics had a positive response to Newton s rendition of Milkshake Ward preferred it over the original writing that she personified train wreck during her church y rendition 16 and Matos referred to the performance as risky yet successful 3 In a 2010 article looking back on Ugly Betty The Guardian s Kira Cochrane likened its occasional musical moments like Milkshake to the best stage spectacles those filled with wild outfits and wilder songs which make you laugh with one breath before ripping out your heart with the next 39 Music journalist Paul Lester wrote that the inclusion of Milkshake on Ugly Betty and other television shows were signs of the song s cultural penetration 40 On the other hand the inclusion of Hallelujah had a more mixed response The Chicago Tribune s Geoff Edgers felt its use in the episode as well as in other television shows proved its status as a standard 41 Alternatively Mato criticized the moment as trite referring to the song as the biggest musical cue cliche of the decade 3 Racial analysis Edit Ignacio s citizenship ceremony was the subject of some scholarly analysis According to Chicana o studies professors Eliza Rodriguez y Gibson and Tanya Gonzalez the related scenes juxtapose Betty s and Ignacio s faith in the government 42 Ignacio gains faith in the United States through citizenship despite doing it outside the established system while Betty loses it because she no longer views the system of citizenship as protection 43 Betty becomes reduced and marginalized as an assistant and gets fired unfairly in a violation of the reciprocal protections promised by the American Dream 44 According to Rodriguez y Gibson the episode sends a message that citizenship does not guarantee against marginalization nor does it offer protection nor friendship nor inclusion 45 Communication studies professors Stacey K Sowards and Richard D Pineda criticized the convenience in which Ignacio obtained his citizenship for implying immigration issues could be solved by knowing the right people or through hard work to pay for a lawyer that can address one s immigration positionality 46 References EditCitations Edit Ugly Betty Season 2 iTunes September 27 2007 Archived from the original on September 21 2015 a b c d Writer Horta Silvio amp Pennette Marco Director Hayman James November 8 2007 A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding Ugly Betty Season 2 American Broadcasting Company a b c d e Matos Michaelangelo November 9 2007 Ugly Betty A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding The A V Club Archived from the original on December 29 2018 a b c Posh to get fat for Ugly Betty The New Zealand Herald August 15 2007 Archived from the original on December 29 2018 a b c Kilkelly Daniel August 14 2007 Posh to wear fat suit for Betty role Digital Spy Archived from the original on December 29 2018 Fowler Danielle July 28 2019 Victoria Beckham might reunite with the Spice Girls after all Harper s Bazaar Archived from the original on July 29 2019 a b c d e Victoria Beckham shows her Ugly side Evening Standard October 5 2007 Archived from the original on December 29 2018 a b Rorke Robert November 4 2007 Altar Ego New York Post Archived from the original on January 1 2019 Victoria Beckham to guest star on Ugly Betty Orange County Register August 30 2007 Archived from the original on January 2 2019 karenr July 27 2007 Beckham s Betty Cameo Confirmed San Francisco Chronicle Archived from the original on March 8 2016 Victoria Beckham is totally Posh on Ugly Betty Today October 12 2007 Archived from the original on January 4 2019 Barnett Leisa May 23 2008 A Victoria Return Vogue Archived from the original on January 2 2019 Hilton Beth May 24 2008 Beckham to return to Ugly Betty Digital Spy Archived from the original on January 2 2019 Boardman Madeline September 28 2016 15 of the Best Ugly Betty Guest Stars Entertainment Weekly Retrieved July 23 2019 a b Behind the Scenes at the Betty Wedding TV Guide October 31 2007 Archived from the original on November 3 2007 Retrieved January 4 2019 a b c Ward Kate November 9 2007 Ugly Betty recap Crashing Wilhelmina s wedding Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on December 29 2018 a b Vanessa Williams amp Rick Fox On Screen Reunion Not So Ugly Access September 18 2007 Archived from the original on January 1 2019 Showatch The Futon Critic Retrieved December 31 2018 Posh makes her Ugly Betty debut Elle May 11 2007 Archived from the original on January 1 2019 a b The Cover Archive TV Guide November 5 2007 Archived from the original on January 1 2019 Smart Ugly All This and the Mavs Too Fort Worth Star Telegram November 15 2007 Archived from the original on January 2 2019 Mitovich Matt November 4 2007 Ugly Betty Wedding Gets with the Times TV Guide Archived from the original on January 1 2019 Quick Take for Thursday November 8 2007 Fast Affiliate Live Same Day Ratings The Futon Critic November 9 2007 Retrieved December 31 2018 Brook Stephen November 26 2007 TV Ratings Posh draws viewers to Ugly Betty The Guardian Archived from the original on October 6 2014 Quick Take for Thursday November 1 2007 Fast Affiliate Live Same Day Ratings The Futon Critic November 2 2007 Retrieved December 31 2018 Quick Take for Thursday November 15 2007 Fast Affiliate Live Same Day Ratings The Futon Critic November 16 2007 Retrieved December 31 2018 Ugly Betty The complete second season disc 2 OCLC 246725059 Season 2 Episode 7 A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding TV Guide Archived from the original on December 10 2015 a b 60th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners Emmys com Archived from the original on August 6 2018 a b The 39th NAACP Image Awards The Advocate 115 1 31 32 Winter 2008 Archived from the original on January 1 2019 Williams Kam March 12 2009 Debaters Keys win big at Image Awards Bay State Banner Archived from the original on January 4 2019 Martin Denise November 9 2007 Ugly Betty Hurts so good Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on December 31 2018 Donnelly Erin May 12 2016 34 Of The Most Memorable Wedding Dresses In TV History Refinery29 Archived from the original on December 29 2018 Akhtar Amina November 9 2007 Posh Spice Looks Good in Anything Except Ugly Betty Vulture com Archived from the original on December 29 2018 Snarker Dorothy November 8 2007 TV comes down with guest star itis AfterEllen com Archived from the original on September 21 2016 Deeken Aimee November 8 2007 Ebony and Ivory TV Guide Archived from the original on November 13 2007 Stransky Tanner January 11 2008 Ugly Betty recap Happy Fashion Week Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on December 29 2018 Ashurst Sam February 21 2017 11 best ever celebrity TV cameo appearances Digital Spy Archived from the original on December 29 2018 Cochrane Kira December 21 2010 The beauty of Ugly Betty The Guardian Archived from the original on June 2 2016 Lester 2015 Edgers Geoff March 18 2008 Hallelujah goes from Idol to hit Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on January 1 2019 Gonzalez amp Rodriguez y Gibson 2015 pp 71 73 Gonzalez amp Rodriguez y Gibson 2015 p 72 Gonzalez amp Rodriguez y Gibson 2015 p 73 Rodriguez y Gibson 2014 pp 47 50 Sowards amp Pineda 2013 p 85 Book sources Edit Gonzalez Tanya Rodriguez y Gibson Eliza 2015 Humor and Latina o Camp in Ugly Betty Funny Looking Lanham Lexington Books ISBN 978 0 7391 9750 9 Lester Paul 2015 In Search of Pharrell Williams London Omnibus Press ISBN 978 1 7830 5789 4 Rodriguez y Gibson Eliza 2014 Drag Racing the Neoliberal Circuit Latina o Camp and the Contingencies of Resistance In Hernandez E Rodriguez E Rodriguez y Gibson Eliza eds The Un Making of Latina o Citizenship Culture Politics and Aesthetics New York Springer Publishing ISBN 978 1 137 43107 3 Sowards Stacey K Pineda Richard D 2013 Immigrant Narratives and Popular Culture in the United States Border Spectacle Unmotivated Sympathies and Individualized Responsibilities Western Journal of Communication Routledge 77 1 72 91 doi 10 1080 10570314 2012 693648 S2CID 143862703 External links Edit A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding at IMDb Portals nbsp Comedy nbsp Television nbsp United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding amp oldid 1138400288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.