ABC/RICK ROWELL
Ten seconds into the trailer for ABC’s Don’t Trust the B--- in Apartment 23 (premiering Wednesday, April 11, at 9:30 p.m. ET), and you know that the show's much-hyped gimmick -- i.e. James Van Der Beek is playing James Van Der Beek—isn't just a gimmick. He's a main character in this biting comedy about some fiercely contentious roomies in a New York City apartment. Watch the trailer here:
So, did Van Der Beek have any reservations about playing a heightened version of himself in the new comedy? Not at all. "I realized if you tell a joke at a party if it's a self-deprecating joke as opposed to if it's a self-aggrandizing one it's a lot funnier," he told reporters. "Once the residuals money ran out, it became OK to make fun of it! They've kept me around Hollywood long enough for a second coming. It's a lot more fun to not take myself so seriously."
Van Der Beek has held down a few TV jobs since his days on Dawson's Creek, including stints on One Tree Hill and on NBC's now-canceled medical drama, Mercy. But he's made the biggest, post-Dawson impression on fans as a guy doing an impression of…himself, on the website, FunnyOrDie.com.
No doubt Chloe's connection to Van Der Beek sweetens the deal, and June jumps at the chance to move in with her. Little does she know, Chloe is a selfish and smart-mouthed thief with a history of making roommates miserable. On the other hand, as Van Der Beek later attests, "She may have the morals of a pirate, but she would do anything for her friends."
