Saturday, August 16, 2014

'Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23' Finds New Home on Logo TV





After going through various title tweaks, "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" premiered on ABC on October 11, 2011. With its bawdy humor, New York setting, and odd couple roommates, the show combined the mismatched roommates of “Two Broke Girls” with the outrageous style of “Will & Grace.” The show managed to survive two seasons before ABC gave it the boot. Logo’s breathing new life into the defunct comedy by airing the entire series, including eight previously unaired episodes.

Pilot Plight

The pilot was a bit jarring as viewers immediately saw Chloe (Krysten Ritter) at her worst/best, scamming June (Dreama Walker) and stealing her boyfriend. Her outrageous antics were on par with Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) from "Will & Grace," but the unfamiliar character felt more shocking and repulsive than funny. Between the show's title and Chloe's personality, it seemed the show was leaning too heavily on a one-note string of bad behavior too narrow to bolster a TV series.

The B’s Flipside

Instead of stagnating, “Don’t Trust the B-----” managed to get better and better as the show went on. The world of roomies June and Chloe grew to include a quirky cast spotted with self-deprecating cameos from the likes of Busy Phillips and Dean Cain. As the show continuously pushed the limits of the friendship between sweet, naive June and morally-bankrupt Chloe, meandering plots created a genuine bond between the two women. Self-centered Chloe showed a loyal, protective side and became more relatable without losing her edge. Meanwhile, June’s doe-eyed princess persona gave way to a more street smart New Yorker.

The Beek

As a parody of himself, James Van Der Beek’s character alternated between being a stereotypically insecure, vapid actor and a spiritual guru offering guidance to June and Chloe. At times his two-in-one persona was a convenient plot device, but it allowed the show to entertain both fans and foes of The Beek with campy comedy and “Dawson’s Creek” references.

Check Logo TV for air dates.

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