Abby Richter (KATHERINE HEIGL) is the producer of a morning TV talk show on KSXP in Sacramento. With the help of her assistant, Joy (BREE HINES), she tries to keep her show's married hosts, Larry (JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS) and Georgia (CHERYL HINES), happy despite the latter's prima donna persona and her husband's sexually frustrated life.
Abby isn't much happier in her love life, due in part to her control issues, and is thus appalled when she happens to come across a cable access show called "The Ugly Truth." Its host, Mike Chadway (GERARD BUTLER), delivers blunt commentary on why he thinks women have problems landing and keeping men, basically stating that they don't recognize their basic sexual needs. While it wouldn't seem it could get worse than her taking the bait and calling in, only to have him put her in her place, it does the next day.
And that's when she learns that he's been hired by her boss, Stuart (NICK SEARCY), for segments he hopes might boost the show's sagging ratings. Abby is upset by this development, not only because it's her show, but also because deep down she realizes Mike might be right about the whole man/woman romance issue.
Since she's found herself attracted to her new neighbor, orthopedic surgeon Colin (ERIC WINTER), she reluctantly agrees to follow Mike's advice. From that point on, she must contend with her disgust toward him and his beliefs, while he finds himself amused by her issues, with both eventually realizing there might be a spark developing between them.