January 24, 2007 — ABC's family comedy Ugly Betty has taken a bold step forward by offering the only male-to-female transgender character on primetime television. ABC also introduced a transgender character on its daytime drama All My Children in early January.

Since Ugly Betty premiered, viewers have seen Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) plotting with a bandaged woman in a hospital to take over Mode, the Meade family's fashion magazine. With the unveiling of the mystery woman, actress Rebecca Romijn (X-Men) joins Ugly Betty as Alexis.

Why the months of veiled secrecy? Alexis recently transitioned from Alex, Daniel Meade's (Eric Mabius) believed-dead brother. After undergoing gender reassignment surgery, Alexis has teamed up with Wilhemina to exact revenge on her father.

Ugly Betty has had quite an inaugural first season. Not only does the comedy boast consistently high ratings each week, it recently won best New Series by the Family Television Awards and a Golden Globe for Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy. The LGBT-inclusive show was also nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Ugly Betty airs Thursdays at 8/7 c on ABC.

Official Site: http://abc.go.com/primetime/uglybetty/index.html