Four years ago, a new show began. “Ugly Betty,” a shining light for gays and Hispanics alike, rose from the depths of 2006.

Based on the popular Colombian soap opera “Yo Soy, Betty La Fea” (I am Ugly Betty), “Ugly Betty” brought a new group of characters and ridiculous storylines to the already familiar plot. Moving the storyline from the depths of Colombia to the concrete jungle of New York City gave the show its own voice.

“Ugly Betty,” breaking conventional boundaries for comedies and dramas alike, became an instant cult classic for a large group of American viewers.

Sadly, four years after its pilot episode, the show is coming to a screeching halt. ABC announced on Jan. 28, 2010 that the show’s fourth season would be its last.

Next to Conan’s booting from “The Tonight Show,” this is the most upsetting thing that has happened in the world of television over the past month. And next to canceling Adam Lambert’s appearance on “Good Morning America” in November 2009, this is the worst thing ABC has done in respect to the gay community.

“Ugly Betty” represented the right mix of campy and noir comedy for a sitcom. The only show that can match this approach is the fan-favorite “Glee.”

It would be foolish to criticize ABC of being homophobic, since the gay-centered show “Modern Family” is still running. However, when one of the most openly gay shows on TV gets the boot it does leave something to say about American culture today.

Have this in mind: The show was moved from one day of the week to another throughout its course on the network. It would also be foolish to pretend that its end was not imminent, but nobody guessed it would come this soon.

Perhaps “Ugly Betty” will become the next “Family Guy” and be revived due to DVD sales. Such a rebirth would prove to ABC what was proven to FOX back in 2005: Whether ratings are low or at an all-time high, there is still a following.

Now a few questions remain: What will become of Betty and the whole Suarez family? Will Betty finally find love, or will she be another single girl lost in the Big Apple? All we can do is watch the series finale this April on ABC. Who knows? Maybe a “Sex and the City” type of movie reunion is in the foreseeable future.