Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 is chock full of sexual humor and situations, including implied masturbation and simulated sex (no nudity). It's all tongue-in-cheek, but it's also likely that parents will want to steer their teens away from watching the comically amoral main character as she steals, cheats, and lies -- even if she occasionally redeems herself and seems to have some good sense deep down. Aside from the sexual humor, expect plenty of drinking (including one scene in which an adult gets a kid drunk in order to hear his secrets), and some language ("bitch," "screw," etc.).
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Another Filthy Show from ABC
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What's the Story?
June (Dreama Walker) is a naive small-town girl who moves to New York City to take a big corporate job, only to find that her new company has been shut down on her very first day. Looking for a roommate to share expenses until things get better, she stumbles upon Chloe (Krysten Ritter), a con artist and the titular "b----" in DON'T TRUST THE B---- IN APARTMENT 23. Somehow the two girls become friends, and with the help of Chloe's "straight gay BFF" James Van Der Beek (played by himself, with Dawson's Creek jokes intact), the two navigate life, love, and a whole lot of sex in the big city.
Is It Any Good?
It's clear that there's some talent both behind and in front of the camera here. Some of the show's throwaway jokes are blink-and-you-miss-it clever in a way that recalls 30 Rock. But this is no 30 Rock, which is sweet at its core despite being occasionally mean. There's no sweetness in Apartment 23. There are, however, some decent gags and great actors. Despite her character being written as a heartless slut, Ritter is actually appealing as Chloe, and though Van Der Beek's turn seems like a rip-off of Neil Patrick Harris' work in Harold & Kumar, he's still charming and naturally funny enough to make it work.
All in all, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 has good-enough bones, and mature viewers who appreciate cynical comedy might find something appealing in the odd-couple pairing featured here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Chloe's cruelty is presented as amusing. Do you find what she does funny? Why or why not? Do you notice any stereotypes about women or the relationship between women presented in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23? Does it do anything to challenge stereotypes?
Can you appreciate James Van Der Beek's character here without having been a Dawson's Creek fan? What do you think about celebs portraying themselves -- does it work?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 11, 2012
- Cast: Dreama Walker, James Van Der Beek, Krysten Ritter
- Network: ABC
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: July 6, 2022
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