‘Friends’ Syndrome Strikes ‘Ugly Betty’

Living extravagantly in Manhattan on the wages of a masseuse or an anthropology professor worked unrealistically for Phoebe and Ross, but the ratings for “Friends” never took a hit. So why shouldn’t the same absurd combo of entry-level salary and upper class lifestyle apply to a non-gringa sitcom star like Betty Suarez? The namesake of “Ugly Betty” figures low on the totem pole in terms of real-life median salaries earned by the characters of various leading ladies on TV, according to a round-up done by online work resource Career Builder. The site speculates that Suarez probably earns even less than the average executive assistant would–about $38,000–because she works in a “notoriously low-paying media niche”. (It’s all good, Betty: we sure as hell can relate.) Slaving away at a fashion magazine is all about the perks, right? Wrong:

These fashion editorial positions do often come with perks like clothing allowances, but it’s clear Betty prefers ponchos to Prada.

Yeah, well, it’s not like you can keep warm and get a rash in a pair of leather pumps. Anyway, we’re still waiting on the premiere of “Ugly Carlos”, where Guanabee Associate Editor Carlos Nobleza Posas spends his measly pay-per-post on bottles of Patrón at the club while still living with his mom. (The lines are now open for suggestions on which washed-up Latino actor would best portray him.)

Real-World Salaries of Your Favorite TV Characters [MSN Careers]
Image [Tudor History]