Based on the Colombian telenovela “Yo Soy Betty La Fea,” one of the most popular TV shows in the world, “Ugly Betty” (7 p.m., ABC) stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a spunky young woman from a close-knit family and Queens neighborhood who battles office politics and abject cruelty at a snooty fashion magazine.

While clearly qualified for her job, Betty does not and cannot affect the size-zero body type and condescending hauteur of her co-workers at Mode magazine, the fashion bible of the rich and trendy. She got her job only because magazine mogul Bradford Meade (Alan Dale) forced her on his bed-hopping son and heir apparent, Daniel (Eric Mabius). Bradford just didn’t want Daniel sleeping with the help.

Daniel the Lothario and Betty the plain are both unwitting innocents in a corporate shark tank. Betty’s co-workers sabotage her at every turn. Daniel’s arrival in a cloud of nepotism upsets the imperious editor (Vanessa Williams) and her flamboyant sycophant assistant (Michael Urie).

Betty can take refuge at home with her supportive widower father (Tony Plana), sister (Ana Ortiz) and fashion-obsessed nephew (Mark Indelicato). Betty even has an admirer of sorts, the nerdy Walter (Kevin Sussman), who once jilted Betty for a local tramp and is continually trying to make amends. In sad contrast, Daniel can find solace only in the bony arms of his nightly conquests.

Look for interesting cameos, including executive producer Salma Hayek, who appears intermittently as the sexy star of a Spanish-language telenovela seen on the television in Betty’s living room. Early in her film career, Hayek decried Hollywood’s stereotyping of Latina actresses as oversexed maids. She gets revenge of sorts by lampooning that role on this soap within a soap.

Hayek’s decision to appear in a faux telenovela on “Betty” sends mixed messages. By spoofing the very genre she is importing, Hayek makes us wonder, is “Yo Soy Betty La Fea” so popular because it’s good, or because its competition is so predictably over the top?

Season premieres

¢ Lost in the phantom zone on “Smallville” (7 p.m., CW).

¢ A duel with a demon on “Supernatural” (8 p.m., CW).

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Burt Reynolds guest stars as a local businessman on “My Name is Earl” (7 p.m., NBC).

¢ Michael, Jan and Dwight embark for Philadelphia and a convention on “The Office” (7:30 p.m., NBC).

¢ Grissom discovers a miniaturized replica of a crime scene on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ Christina meets Burke’s folks on “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m., ABC).