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.
