Kristen Johnston In, Paula Abdul Out: Ugly Betty

by candice.tsuei | August 21, 2009 at 08:44 am

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Kristen Johnston will replace Paula Abdul on ABC's "Ugly Betty."

The Third Rock Emmy winner will take the recurring role of Helen, Mode's newest office temp and Amanda's elder doppelganger. Johnston's other main stage credits include The Women, Aunt Dan & Lemon, The Understudy, and Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words.

“I’ve always considered myself a poor man’s Paula Abdul,” Johnston says with a laugh. She describes her Betty character as “Amanda in 10 years. She’s still trying to get into the right clubs, wearing tight dresses… tragic. I think (Helen) sees herself as Samantha from ‘Sex and the City.’ Except, of course, she’s a temp.”

It's been a tough week for Paula - after failing to land on Dancing With the Stars, she lost her place on Ugly Betty. It has been suggested that one of the reasons the deal didn't work out between her and Ugly Betty is "due to the ex-“Idol” judge’s insane list of demands."

Ugly Betty is scheduled to return on October 9. Johnson will appear in the second half of the two-hour premiere.

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