Tuesday, January 22, 2013

James Van Der Beek: 'Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23' Has Been Canceled


James Van Der Beek just sent this e-mail to fans of "Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23":
Sad to say ABC has pulled Don't Trust the B in Apt 23 and will not be airing the 8 remaining episodes any time soon. Translation: we’ve basically been cancelled. I know most of you watched us on your own time schedule & that the competitive network scheduling game is irrelevant to you... But network TV is a business dictated by Nielson ratings. And while that’s an antiquated business model, it’s the only one they’ve got. For now. My sincerest thanks to all who tuned in. I hope you had as much fun watching as we did making it. I can’t imagine a more fun work environment with better people. But onto the next! And please, no bashing ABC. While I’m sure no one there will tell you they think they nailed it when it came to programming us this year, you’ve got to give them props for ever picking us up in the first place. They tried for something new and edgy, and I respect them for it.
Ironically, I just tried to watch this and "Happy Endings" the other day for the first time and found them both to be unbearable. I thought perhaps that after years of not watching sitcoms, something about the back-and-forth zingers just don't work for me anymore. But then I remembered that I have watched "Hot in Cleveland" and came to the conclusion that the problem is just that these two ABC shows suck.

10 comments:

S said...

If you find this show and Happy Endings to be unbearable, then what about the other 98% of 'comedies' currently on TV?

Kenneth M. Walsh said...

@S: Yeah, that's kind of the point. Can't watch sitcoms much these days.

Matthew said...

HAPPY ENDINGS is hysterical. I love how stylized it is and how fast. It's really out-there. If you give it a few episodes, it really grows on you. I've laughed until I cried more than once. DONT TRUST THE B is stupid. Not as stupid as TWO BROKE GIRLS, but stupid. No comparison with HAPPY ENDINGS, which is like SEINFELD meets FRIENDS.

Kenneth M. Walsh said...

@Matt: I actually "sold" Michael on sitting through "Happy Ending" by telling him how highly it had come recommend (by you), but then we repeatedly found ourselves turning to one another and saying: "Is THIS actually happening?" -- cringing at how bad it was. I don't doubt that repeated viewings probably helps, but not sure I should have to work that hard to be entertained, or even want to.

Blobby said...

I gave 'Happy Endings' a number of tries and actually really like it, mostly for Max, the bearish gay jew (hey, I can relate!).

I tried a half dozen times for 'Don't Trust' and it was just soul destroying. Though the Beek wasn't bad.

Anonymous said...

Wait...are you saying 'Hot in Cleveland' is your measure of TV comedy quality???

You don't look 90.

Kenneth M. Walsh said...

@Anonymous: Thanks! And yes, I think "Hot in Cleveland" is the funniest sitcom I have seen on today. The writing is hilarious -- and so is Wendie Malick (as usual)!

Frank Anthony Polito said...

NOOOO!!! I love "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23" -- what is there NOT to like? Dreama Walker totally nails the Midwest transplant living in NYC, and "The B" Kristen Ritter, I think her name is, is hi-lar-ious! And JVDB -- Can't say I ever saw a single episode of The Creek, but I think he's hysterical playing himself. I also enjoy the all to brief bits featuring the neighbor in the window next door. I could actually do less with the Asian girl down the hall who is obsessed with "The B" -- and JVDB's gay Af/Am assistant is pretty much a stereo-type, but... I just loved the chemistry between the two female leads. Sort of a modern day female "Odd Couple" really.

As for "Happy Endings..." My fave new show by far. I call it the "Friends" of 2012, and it does have a little touch of "Seinfeld" thrown in. Love, love, love the actress who plays Jane, Eliza Coupe. She can just sit there and I will watch her -- and pee my pants.

Kenneth M. Walsh said...

@Frank: Only saw "Friends" a couple times and never felt the need to make it a habit.

Anonymous said...

I also tried to watch Happy Endings (a friend's cousin is in it) but found it unwatchable, too. I managed to watch a number of episodes of Don't Trust, and it's pretty awful too, but it's nice to look at the Beek.