In what would be his first major comedy series gig, Dawson’s Creek alum James Van Der Beek is set to co-star in the ABC/20th TV comedy pilot Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apt. 23. The Nahnatchka Khan/Dave Hemingson project, to be directed by Modern Family‘s Jason Winer, centers on June (Dreama Walker), an earnest, honest, optimistic girl from the heartland who is forced to move in with Chloe (Krysten Ritter), a sexy, unstable New York City party girl who has the morals of a pirate. Van Der Beek will play Chloe’s best friend James Van Der Beek, a heightened version of himself in the vein of Neil Patrick Harris’ stint in the Harold & Kumar movies and Matt LaBlanc’s starring role on the Showtime comedy Episodes. The role, originally named after and eyed for former ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass, is being completely rewritten for Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek has always been sought after during pilot season for drama projects. But, following his viral videos for FunnyOrDie.com, for the first time this season, he fielded all comedy offers. On TV, Van Der Beek, repped by Paradigm and Brillstein Entertainment, most recently co-stared on the NBC medical drama Mercy. He also did a memorable guest spot on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother as Robin’s ex. Here is one of the Van Der Beek’s FunnyOrDie videos, in which he pokes fun at his character on Dawson’s.
I hated this guy on Dawson’s Creek, but he was actually quite fun on Mercy, so I hope this works.
Actually, he did a lead role in a comedy pilot in 2006. Sex, Power, Love and Politics.
Actually, he did a role in a comedy pilot in 2009, Eva Adams. Horrible show.
Good god, the earnest naive midwesterner and the cynical sassy city girl? Really? Oh the originality. Kill me now.
Ikr, I thought so too – but I read it – and it’s actually funny. Very fucking funny.
Brilliant. He blew us all away with Funny or Die. The hype is well deserved. He showed chops he hasn’t been given the opportunity yet, until recently.
Beek was great on Mercy, agreed.
Solid casting and production on this one. Looking forward to it.
Best. Gig. Ever. Good for him.
Awesome! Love James Van Der Beek!
It sounds like a good way to get viewers & media attention.
when i read this pilot, it was lance bass. but i think this will work. nice play.
Or like Jennifer Grey in It’s Like, You Know, which I actually think is the closest comparison out there.
You actually remember something that happened more than 10 minutes ago. You must be old.
LOVE him…This is the first I’ve heard of this show, but I’ll definitely be watching now. I hope it does well!
In Funny or Die he showed he had much more angles in him that we hadn´t seem before. I went to Sao Paulo Film Festival and was surprised to see Formosa Betrayal. James Van Der Beek was certainly a name I wasn´t expecting to see in the indie scene. Cuddles to him, though.
What a great role for him. Can’t wait to see the show.
He was great in The Rules of Attraction. Very funny and brave performance.
Why didn’t Lance Bass do it? It’s not like he’s doing anything else.
Good to see the Breaking Bad OD chick in a new role. She had a great exit: choking on her vomit.
It’ll be interesting to see what is JVDB’s persona, because I recall in the Dawson days he was known as a non-autograph signing a-hole and a lot of fans of that show called him Frankenstein(cuz’ of his forehead). He seems like an okay person and out of the four so-called stars of that show, it’s good that he doesn’t fall too far behind.
James always signs autographs, I don’t know that he didn’t before.
Must be tough being a young adult becoming an overnight success. I read an interview saying that he just burned out. He’s married with a baby now, so he must be ready for the next! Wondering if they will incorporate that or do the typical single celeb guy hitting on anything. Maybe it’ll become a part of the arc. But who else could they have possibly play his wife if his wife isn’t an actress? It would be odd to have someone else do it. She’s very pretty. Maybe she would/could play his wife.
Oh what an awful show. Could not make it thru the entire half hour.
Totally un-likable characters.
Awful and disgusting doesn’t equal quirky
PULL. THE. PLUG.