Joining ABC’s Wednesday night comedy block tonight is Don’t Trust the B---- In Apartment 23, a comedy series created by Nahnatchka Khan, which puts James Van Der Beek back on the small screen, along with Krysten Ritter (Veronica Mars, Breaking Bad) and Gossip Girl’s Dreama Walker. The comedy has potential, particularly in the story of the budding friendship between the wide-eyed midwesterner and her more streetwise, occasionally swindling new roommate.
Don’t Trust the B---- stars Walker as June, a girl who moves to the city for what she believes is her dream job, only to find herself jobless and homeless almost right away. This puts her in the path of Ritter’s character Chloe, a seemingly sweet, bubbly young woman in search of a roommate. While June thinks things have turned around for her as she moves in with Chloe, she soon discovers that her roommate (aka the b---- in Apartment 23) has ulterior motives.
James Van Der Beek plays himself in the series, with an act somewhat similar to what we’ve seen of Matt LeBlanc in Showtime’s Episodes. Meaning, he plays a cockier version of himself, and he’s not above poking fun of his ’90’s fame by playing a character who’s still living off the perks of his most notable role. In the Beek’s case, that’s the flannel-wearing Dawson of Dawson’s Creek. (There’s also a nod to Varsity Blues in the pilot.) Van Der Beek pulls it off, adding a bit more humor to the series, playing Chloe’s friend and occasional co-conspirator. And the celebrity-playing-a-celebrity situation certainly leaves a window or two open for some other cameos (Attn: Joshua Jackson!), assuming the series sticks around long enough for that to happen.
Don’t Trust the B---- needs a bit of time to grow, but if ABC gives it a shot, the series really could settle into something funny, and could work well if grouped with Happy Endings and Cougar Town. Walker holds her own as the somewhat naive but fast-learning city-newbie June, while Ritter brings her usual blend of style and charisma to Chloe. Don’t Trust the B---- is fun and certainly full of potential to develop into another quirky comedy at ABC. Having seen a couple of episodes of the series already, I’m on board enough to watch more.
Don’t Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 premieres Wednesday, April 11 at 9:30 p.m., ET on ABC.
Photo Credit: ©ABC
