As a TV viewer, I’m cool with green screen technology. I’m well aware that production teams don’t set up real explosions that the actors must jump away from to avoid the heat and shrapnel, although I’d appreciate it if they did, especially if that explosion was an unscripted one on the set of “Entourage.” But this excellent video lifts the curtain on just how much green screen is used in television. Like, there’s on scene from “Ugly Betty” where America Ferrera runs face first into a bus stop, only the bus stop is added with green screen technology. COME ON. I understand it’s expensive to do location shoots, but IT’S A BUS STOP. I’m probably the laziest person on the Eastern Seaboard, and even I’m like, “C’mon guys, go ahead and go outside.”

(thanks, Josh)

My biggest gripe about “Ugly Betty” — other than the completely false premise that someone with horrible fashion taste would succeed in the cutthroat world of fashion magazines — is that the America Ferrara’s character has been wearing gigantic steel braces for three years even though no adult wears braces like that, or for that long (see here).  And now dentists in the UK have totally got my back.

According to dentists train track braces are very seldom prescribed to adults and even then are not worn for more than two years.  British orthodontists said they were worried the programme could discourage young viewers from seeking corrective dental treatment.

Those crazy Brits, always looking for excuse to have terrible teeth.

Tracey Posner, of the British Orthodontic society, said: “It is irresponsible of the programme makers to portray Betty as ‘ugly’ because she wears prominent braces. Ugly Betty is in its third year on our TV screens and Betty remains in over-exaggerated, heavy ‘train-track’ braces.  This is not a true reflection of orthodontic practice. It is highly unlikely an adult would wear braces beyond two years.”

There you have it.  Vindication.  Finally, some professional experts have backed me up on this exposé.  We’ve revealed that something on TV is not 100% the way it is in the real world. My work here is done.