Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23: The Latest in Edgy Sitcoms

Non-white and non-skinny people not allowed in front.

It seems that sitcoms are going through a reinvention. Sitcoms of the eighties and nineties were about wacky families that despite their spats really loved each other, hilariously mismatched couples, or comedians and their mentally-challenged neighbors. Nowadays, sitcoms are going for the younger crowd, attempting to be more "edgy" and youth-focused, such as 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings, Are You There, Chelsea? (wait, that's still on?), and New Girl (ditto).

So I don't know why the premise of the upcoming Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23 surprised me. According to ABC, the premise is:

When June moves to Manhattan for a dream job, a startling series of unexpected events leaves her in debt and out on the streets. Her luck seems to change when she lands a job at a coffee shop and moves in with her deceivingly charming new roommate, Chloe. Chloe soon swindles June out of her life savings but she and her snarky friend, James Van Der Beek, learn that just because June's naïve, she isn't stupid.

According to what's been popular lately, it's a no-brainer why this was made. However, as a viewer and potential consumer, I already find the premise tired. Firstly, New York City as the only possible premise for "hip people" to live in is a bit unoriginal; I say this as a born-and-raised New Yorker. Another metropolitan area would work just as well; they'll only have about three different sets anyhow. The "country mouse" meets "city mouse" has been done a million times. I am not expecting for a sitcom to reflect reality, but a woman who had planned on living on a Wall Street-type salary would no way in hell make it a week on a coffee shop salary. And no way in hell can pay rent in New York. If the apartment they live in is larger than my shower stall, I’m calling shenanigans.

"Lighten up! It's a sitcom! It's just for fun!"- the voices in my head.

Well, you know what? I don't want to. Just because it's not produced on PBS doesn't mean that I, as the viewer, don't deserve quality and not a Frankenstein-ed sitcom made up of what marketing polls think will be a hit.

Here's Chloe's character description:

Chloe is the ultimate New York party girl. She has the morals of a pirate but would do anything for her friends. Her wild, unpredictable antics captivate and entangle those around her as she tries to live her life freely, honestly and without responsibility. And yet she still manages to make rent and pay for designer clothes. Somehow. Chloe is also the only American who can identify Banksy from the waist down.

I guess this is who is a hero to Americans: someone selfish and materialistic. Hundred bucks says the character has a Pinterest account. And the Banksy reference? I just shuddered in the desperation-to-be-relevant reference.

The most baffling aspect of this show is that it seems that James Van Der Beek has already given up. Playing a version of oneself is for has-beens or folks with a second wave of their career like Betty White or Neil Patrick Harris. Really James? Wasn't playing yourself in a Ke$ha video enough self-deprecation? Do you really think this is what your life to be like? Making self-hating comments about Dawson's Creek? You're better than this, James.

I truly hope I am proven wrong when Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23 premieres on ABC on April 11.

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