In an example of well placed cross-promotion, ABC has announced that former American Idol 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee will guest star as herself in an episode of ABC's Ugly Betty hit television series that's scheduled to air on Thursday, February 1 at 8PM ET/PT. 

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In the Ugly Betty episode entitled "I'm Coming Out," McPhee will be a celebrity guest at the Mode Fashion Week runway show, where she runs into the series' title character Betty Suarez, played by America Ferrera. 

Not only will the Ugly Betty episode air on the first night of the important February 2007 Nielsen Media Research ratings sweeps period, but the broadcast will come only two days after RCA Records/19 Recordings releases McPhee's self-titled debut album on January 30.

Ugly Betty, which has finished a strong second behind CBS' Survivor in the Thursdays at 8PM ET/PT time period ratings since its premiere in September 2006, follows the daily life of Suarez, a young woman from a struggling Latino family who works as an editorial assistant at the fictional Mode fashion magazine. Most of her female co-workers are more attractive than she is and often humiliate and insult Suarez because of her appearance.  Her only friend is Christina, played by Ashley Jensen.

The Golden Globe-nominated series also stars Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as the masked woman and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
Christopher Rocchio is an entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and has covered the reality TV genre for several years.