The Manhattan Project (Ugly Betty)
The Manhattan Project is the season 3 premiere of Ugly Betty, airing September 25, 2008. In this episode, Betty returns to New York after a solo cross-country trip to focus on her career and herself. She rejects Gio and Henry and sets goals to take on more responsibility at work, avoid romance drama, and find her own Manhattan apartment.
Back at Mode, Wilhelmina has reshaped the office into a colder, tougher place. Betty is sent to work with Daniel at the boisterous men’s magazine Player, where she oversees a Harley motorcycle event but must fill in when Daniel Jr. causes trouble. A Silly String fight leads to Betty’s embarrassing crash, much to Marc and Amanda’s amusement.
Betty goes apartment-hunting with Christina and briefly loses a good unit. She ends up taking a less desirable, dirty place in the same building, which her family helps fix up. She also meets a new neighbor, Jesse, a musician.
Ignacio starts a job at Flushing Burger, where his boss is Kimmie Keegan, Betty’s former bully. When Kimmie learns Ignacio is Betty’s father, she treats him poorly. Betty and Hilda confront Kimmie, they have a food fight, and Betty apologizes. Kimmie admits she’s jealous of Betty’s loving family and good life, and Ignacio gets his job back.
Claire launches a new magazine, Hot Flash, which strains her relationship with Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina wants to boost Mode’s budget and promote it on Live with Regis & Kelly, but Alexis has other plans. The interview mocks Hot Flash and criticizes Alexis for demoting Daniel, so Alexis gives Hot Flash’s Times Square spot to Mode.
At a family dinner, Claire tells Daniel that parenting isn’t easy, but he vows to do what’s best for Daniel Jr., including enrolling him in school. Hot Flash is downsized, and Wilhelmina’s plan to push the Meades away—and Alexis out—continues, though Mode keeps the Times Square spot and Wilhelmina and Marc celebrate.
Production notes: this episode is the second Ugly Betty episode produced in New York City. Filming began July 9, 2008. It marks Rebecca Romijn’s first recurring role and introduces Val Emmich as Jesse.
Music in the episode includes “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Roam” by The B-52’s, and “Rump Shaker” by Wreckx-n-Effect.
Ratings: in the U.S., about 9.78 million viewers, a 6.6/11 rating overall and 3.3 among 18-49s, down about 12% from the season 2 premiere.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:13 (CET).