Chatting up cast members at the "Ugly Betty" DVD party...

I start a two-week vacation tomorrow (no worries, between pool time and happy hour, 'Out In Hollywood' will continue since my laptop follows me everywhere) so I might have some time to check out "Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season - The Bettyfied Edition." I've seen most of the episodes but the bonus features on this look pretty stellar.
Talked to several cast members at last night's DVD kickoff party at Skybar.
"For all those people who have that excuse and say, 'I can't stay home on Thursday nights and watch television' or 'I'm working late,' here it is and in a way it's better because you don't have to sit through commercials," Eric Mabius told me. "And you get a lot of things that I thought would never be out like the gag reel that we got shown at the wrap party. I didn't know that was going to see the light of day. Commentary, everyone does one. I did one with Salma [Hayak]. It's one of the most complete DVD boxed sets I've ever seen."

I asked Eric, who plays MODE magazine editor Daniel Meade, what the ride has been like since the show debuted a year ago and become this international sensation:"None of us could have predicted things unfolding the way they have. It's mind-boggling, totally unreal. It's a good thing we work so damned hard on set because we come to an event like this or go to the [Golden] Globes or SAG Awards and it's a totally unreal universe and surrounded by some of our biggest heroes, actors and actresses, producers and directors. We get to go back to work and sort of keep our heads screwed on straight."
Mabius, a straight but gay-friendly actor, talked about how glad he is to be on a show with heart that portrays tolerance of people of different cultures and income level and sexuality.
"Being consistently employed is one thing but being a part of a show that is truly trying to, without preaching, trying to make a difference. Acotds are always sort of at odds with themselves but to be part of something that's putting good out into the world definitely helps with one's sense of self. "
I'd never chatted with Ashley Jensen before. She plays designer Christina McKinney on "Betty" and is a very delightful and thoughtful person to interview. She agrees with Mabius about the show's messages and tone:"Betty is the heart and soul of this program, she's such a sweet central character to have. Betty is sending the message that it's good to be yourself, be unique. And kind of love yourself and be honest with yourself and she stands for family and loyalty and being trustworthy and being honest and good. These kinds of things in the last few years have been a wee bit overlooked and people have been like, 'Oh, it doesn't matter just as long as I'm a size zero."
OK, so Jensen is thoughtful and perceptive. But she is also a RIOt. Here is her account of moving from the UK to LA after landing the part on the series: "What's amazing is that this time a year ago, we had all just started. I moved over to L.A. on the first of August and I was like an alien that had landed and thought: 'Oh, the streets are too big! The cappacinos are too big! The potato chips are too big! The cars are two big and I'm just this tiny little person here and I didn't understand the city. People tried to pick me up because they thought I was a hooker because I kept trying to walk places. It was such a huge undertaking to mov e over here. I rented a big, tall Hollywood house with a huge pool because I thought, 'Well, I might be going back after four episodes. Then there it was, people were liking it. An award. And another one. And another one. And we were getting viewers then it went to Britain and it was huge over there. And here we are. People really love it. I've bought a home now."

TOMORROW: More of the "Ugly Betty" party including chats with Mark Indelicato who plays fashion-loving Justin and Ana Ortiz who plays his mother Hilda as well at Christopher Gorham who plays Betty's love, Henry.