“Ugly Betty” returns to NYC
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- May
- 12
Touting the success today of the state’s recent decision to triple its film tax credit (from 10 percent to 30 percent), Gov. David Paterson announced today that production of the ABC series “Ugly Betty” would be returning to New York City. The city’s 5 percent “Made in NY” tax credit will boost that to 35 percent.
The show’s move will create 200 full- and part-time jobs and is the first time an established television show has transferred its operations to New York City, according to Paterson. The state has lost about $750 million in film and TV business in the past few years because of increased competition from neighboring states. The state tax credit is expected to cost the state $5 million this year, $10 million next year, and $15 million the third year.
New York City is one of the most desired filiming locations in the country and we are pleased to welcome ‘Ugly Betty’ into that storied history,” Paterson said in a statement. “With this hit show set to film in Manhattan and Queens, this will allow viewers to see more of our great city.”
The pilot for “Ugly Betty”—about Betty Suarez, a “fashion-challenged” Queens woman who works for a high-fashion New York City magazine— was shot in New York City three years ago, but the series has been filmed in Los Angeles for two seasons. Mark Pedowitz, president of ABC Studios, said the higher tax incentive made the return possible.
“Ugly Betty” is based on “Yo Soy Betty La Fea,” a Colombian telenovela (soap opera) that became known internationally. Salma Hayek is executive producer of the American show.
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on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 2:23 pm by Cara Matthews.
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Jay Gallagher has covered Albany for Gannett News Service since 1984 and has been Albany Bureau chief since 1989. He`s a native of the Boston area and likes to point out that in this millennium, the score is Red Sox 1 championship, the Yankees 0. 
Cara Matthews has been a statehouse correspondent in the Albany Bureau since August 2005. Prior to that, she covered Putnam County government and politics at The Journal News for nearly five years. Before that, she worked at newspapers in Connecticut and covered the state Legislature for one of them. 
